| ARRL Hosts Successful HamSCI 2026 Workshop |
The worlds of amateur radio and ionospheric science came together once again on March 14 and 15 at the 9th annual HamSCI Workshop. HamSCI 2026 was hosted by ARRL and held at Central Connecticut State University, just minutes away from ARRL Headquarters in Newington. |
HamSCI – the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation program – encourages radio amateurs to collect data that scientists use in their research on ionospheric phenomena. This year’s workshop featured 17 oral presentations, 3 tutorials, 5 demonstrations, and 31 posters, and drew researchers from MIT, Virginia Tech, Saint Francis University, Dartmouth College, Boston College, and others. |
 | | Participants toured ARRL Headquarters, including W1AW, where many had an opportunity to get on the air using the world's most famous call sign. |
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| ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, welcomed participants to the workshop. |
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The workshop opened with Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, lead organizer of the HamSCI community, who set the stage for the weekend’s activities, followed by ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, who welcomed the participants. Minster recognized the HamSCI community for its notable contributions to amateur radio. The keynote speaker at Saturday evening’s banquet was NASA astrophysicist and Citizen Science Officer Dr. Marc Kuchner. The workshop also included a field trip to tour ARRL Headquarters, and attendees were invited to participate in late-night operating from the iconic W1AW station. One overriding theme of the conference was that you don’t need to be a scientist to contribute valuable data. HamSCI’s basic Personal Space Weather Station, which costs around $100, can observe space weather effects both as a single-point measurement and as part of a larger distributed network. The group has made data collection fun, with such activities as the Solar Eclipse QSO Party and Meteor Scatter QSO Party. One presentation demonstrated how ham observations and measurements captured ionospheric effects during three recent solar eclipses. |
| A poster session was held on Sunday morning of the workshop. |
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At Sunday morning’s poster session, University of Scranton student Owen Ruzanski, KD3ALD, described a project to develop a dashboard for HF contesting, DXing, and general operations using data from the Personal Space Weather Station and other remote sources. The project is intended to enhance the real-time propagation assessments sought by amateur radio operators. For many participants, the chance to operate from W1AW was a highlight of the weekend. ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, described the atmosphere at the station as “energetic.” All six guest operating positions were occupied until closing time at 11:30 PM Saturday. Participants were treated to a first-ever 630-meter contact from W1AW, a contact with the J51A DXpedition to Guinea-Bissau, and a QSO between W1AW and a remotely-controlled station in Bonaire, operated by Inderbitzen as PJ4/NQ1R with both control operators in the same room! The roughly 35 visiting operators had a chance to use equipment from multiple manufacturers, notably Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood and FlexRadio. Ryusuke Takata, JI1VHV, who had traveled from Japan to attend the workshop, made 46 contacts in 20 minutes! Each visitor left with a personalized certificate, and several considered it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. |
ARRL extends its thanks to many partners supporting HamSCI 2026 including The University of Scranton, New Jersey Institute of Technology, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Amateur Radio Digital Communications, and others. |
The Heritage CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame Inductees |
Three amateur radio operators have been inducted into the Heritage CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame for 2026. Professor David B. Leeson, Ph.D., W6NL —Leeson was first licensed in 1952. He is the author of the ARRL book, Physical Design of Yagi Antennas, and was a designer of the IARU International Beacon Network. Since 1994, he has been a Consulting Professor at Stanford University and is faculty advisor of the Stanford Amateur Radio Club, W6YX. He drove a racecar, retiring in 1979, returning to ham radio after back-to back national championships. Richard Dean Straw, N6BV (SK) — A renowned antenna expert, Straw was part of a Navy project in the early 1990s to measure HF dipole and vertical antennas in front of a hill, on top of a hill, and behind a hill in Utah. The team used a helicopter that towed either a 3-axis receiver (RELEDOP) or a transmitter (XELODOP) that was developed by SRI International in Menlo Park, California. This system was used for measuring and verifying antenna performance, mainly for the military. Straw retired from the staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® in 2008 following 15 years of service as the Senior Assistant Technical Editor. While working for ARRL, Straw edited five editions of The ARRL Antenna Book (the most of any named editor), four volumes of The ARRL Antenna Compendium (4 – 7), and several editions of The ARRL Handbook. He became a Silent Key in 2025. Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens, NP4G — First licensed at the age of 16, Otis, known to friends and fellow operators on the air as NP4G, developed a passion for amateur radio. Born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico, he is the only amateur radio operator in his family. Otis later moved to the United States to study biology at Purdue University, where he became active with the W9YB Amateur Radio Club. Otis is very active in Puerto Rico ham radio. He is past president of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League (PRARL) and is currently president of the International DX Association (INDEXA). Otis also received the 2026 Amateur of the Year Award from the Dayton Hamvention®. You can read more about the 2026 inductees at the Heritage CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, created by CQ magazine and currently administered by the K8CX Ham Gallery. |
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George Jacobs, W3ASK, Silent Key |
George Jacobs, W3ASK, an icon in the worlds of amateur radio and shortwave broadcasting, passed away last July. Jacobs, a World War II veteran and ARRL Life Member, was perhaps best known to hams as CQ magazine’s Propagation Editor for more than 50 years, from early 1951 until the end of 2001. Former CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, recalled that “George’s primary goal, throughout his tenure as Propagation Editor, was to make ionospheric science understandable to the average ham, and to relate what we now call ‘space weather’ to the conditions amateurs might expect on the bands. The tables he developed for The CQ Shortwave Propagation Handbook helped hams make their own propagation predictions before the days of computers and the internet.” Jacobs also contributed an annual propagation summary for many years to the World Radio-TV Handbook. In addition, he was part of the Project OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) team that built and launched the first amateur radio satellites, and was instrumental in the formation of AMSAT – The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation – to carry on the amateur satellite program. In the world or shortwave broadcast engineering, Jacobs led the design and development of the Voice of America’s worldwide network, starting in 1949, and he oversaw technical development and operations for VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Marti, retiring in 1980 as Director of Engineering for the State Department’s Board for International Broadcasting. A founding member of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, Jacobs continued to work in the field as a private consultant until his passing on July 3, 2025, just days short of his 101st birthday. |
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Growing an Army of Young Hams in New York |
| Rich Balas, W2RB, mentors a McKee High School student as he makes his first HF contact. [Photo by Steve Goodgame, K5ATA] |
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A high school teacher in New York City, with help from the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI), has successfully licensed nearly 700 students in the past two years as part of a wide-ranging program that is teaching students in two schools that radio today is a central part of just about everything! On March 12, ARRL Director of Education and Learning Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, and Hudson Division Director Ed Wilson, N2XDD, traveled to Staten Island Technical High School to help lead teacher Everton Henriques, KD2ZZT, administer license exams to 143 students, resulting in 131 new hams and 14 upgrades. According to Goodgame, Henriques’s formula for success is “getting kids engaged, with lots of hands-on stuff.” He says everything is project-based and there is lots of crossover to the school’s robotics program. “Now,” adds Goodgame, “he’s working with a teacher at the adjacent McKee High School, |
| Students on the Seagull Solar Car team work together to measure the output of an electric motor for their project. [Photo by Steve Goodgame, K5ATA] |
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which is a vocational high school, and the students are working together on a solar car program.” Wilson noted that he’s very impressed to see “the vocational kids and the technical kids working together, teaching each other their respective skills.” Goodgame says Staten Island Technical High School is the donor-funded Teachers Institute’s first “model school,” which makes it eligible for additional resources and equipment. He notes that the school was the site of a TI session last year and will host another this year. Goodgame adds that Henriques has completed two TI modules and is now an institute instructor, as well as being a facilitator for Math for America and co-developer of a 9-week course for teachers on “How to Use Amateur Radio in the Classroom.” |
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ARRL is seeking talented individuals to join our team and help advance the Amateur Radio Service. We are currently hiring for several impactful positions: RFI Lab Engineer Support ARRL’s mission to protect and enhance spectrum access by managing and resolving Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) cases. This role includes database management, coordination with the FCC and participation with standards bodies (IEEE & C63), and contributions to ARRL’s Technical Information Service, publications, and member support. Candidates should have strong RF systems knowledge, EMC & RDF experience, and excellent communication skills. More info W1AW Station Manager This is a rare opening and exciting opportunity to lead operations at W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station. Responsibilities include overseeing daily station operations, maintaining and troubleshooting equipment and antennas, ensuring compliance with emission standards, coordinating schedules and staffing, and supporting the ARRL Laboratory when needed. More info Public Relations & Outreach Manager Lead initiatives that elevate the visibility, credibility, and impact of ARRL and amateur radio. Responsibilities include developing and executing national PR and outreach strategies, managing media relations, creating content across print, digital, and social platforms, and supporting advocacy communications. You’ll also provide tools and training for ARRL’s network of public information volunteers. The ideal candidate is a creative storyteller who can translate technical concepts into accessible language, build strong relationships, and deliver compelling campaigns that inspire new interest in amateur radio. More info Additional Openings: • Awards Program Supervisor • Development Associate • IT Support Specialist • Logbook of The World Support Associate • Membership Manager We value in-person collaboration, and these roles are 100% on-site at our headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at www.arrl.org/careers. To apply, please email your resume & cover letter to hr@arrl.org. ARRL is an equal opportunity employer. |
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Amateur Radio in the News |
“Amateur radio group gets new emergency coordinator” / The Miner Newspapers (Washington) March 6, 2026 -- Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES)®. “Introduction to Amateur Radio - Week 6 (Communicating with other HAMs)” / OU Daily March 14, 2026 (Oklahoma) -- South Canadian Amateur Radio Society. “Roosevelt accepts radio tower” / The Eastern New Mexico News (New Mexico) March 10, 2926 -- The Greyhound Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club. “Hamwaves of History event set for March 17-19” / Pine Island Eagle (Florida) March 12, 2026 -- The Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club. “Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association nominated for KGET-TV17 'Best of' Awards” / KGET TV (California) March 16, 2026 -- The Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club. |
ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
On the Air LIVE Join ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, on the next On the Air LIVE as we discuss how to build a rugged 2-meter VHF ground-plane antenna from simple, easy-to-find wire—no exotic parts, no machine shop required. This isn’t a fragile attic experiment; we’ll design it stout enough for real outdoor duty and then take it a step further with an unconventional deployment method that gets the antenna up to 50+ feet—without a tower. The episode will be live on the ARRL's Learning Center, learn.arrl.org, on March 24th at 8PM Eastern. Preregistration is required and can be accomplished on the learning center. 📅 Date: March 24, 2026 🕗 Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific 👉 Register Now | ⏪ Previously Recorded Sessions |
ARRL Audio News Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews and other features. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. |
On the Air Sponsored by Icom Build a 2-Meter Ground Plane with OTA and OTA Live ARRL Education Specialist — and host of On the Air Live — Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, joins the podcast to explain the merits of the antenna presented in his March/April 2026 On the Air article “Building and Installing a 2-Meter Ground-Plane Antenna,” and details how to register for the March 24 On the Air Live session in which he’ll take real-time questions about the construction and use of the antenna. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. |
W1AW Portable Activations In 2026, ARRL is commemorating America’s 250th birthday with a yearlong on-the-air celebration: the America250 Worked All States (WAS) Award. Running now through December 31, this special operating event challenges amateurs of all license classes to contact all 50 US states and confirm those QSOs via ARRL’s Logbook of The World (LoTW). Look for the following W1AW/portable activations. Operations begin 0000z on Wednesday, and end on 2359z Tuesday (7 days total for each activation). See the complete schedule at www.arrl.org/america250-was. 03/25/2026 North Dakota W1AWØ (host WØND) 03/25/2026 Oklahoma W1AW/5 (host Altus Hamfest, March 28) 04/01/2026 California W1AW/6 (host NZ6Q) 04/01/2026 Mississippi W1AW/5 (host W5UE) 04/01/2026 North Carolina W1AW/4 ( host N4XI) |
The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is seeking net control operators. Among the criteria sought from operators and stations are those who are located in the central and western regions of the US, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean, and available for overnight operations (midnight to 7:30 AM Eastern Time). Bilingual operators (Spanish and English or French/Creole and English) are especially encouraged to apply. Because net control stations must manage stations across a wide geographic area during difficult propagation conditions, having a well-equipped amateur station is highly beneficial: a tower-mounted beam antenna for 20 meters; reliable 20- and 40-meter HF capability; amplifier capability for strong, consistent signals; reliable internet connectivity, as net control stations coordinate through the HWN internal chat system during activations; and operators willing to make themselves available when hurricanes threaten. As HWN marks 62 hurricane seasons of watching, preparing, and activating whenever hurricanes threaten land in the Atlantic Basin, it is preparing for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which forecasters suggest could once again be an above-average season. Amateur radio operators interested in training to become a net control operator for the Hurricane Watch Net can learn more by visiting hwn.org/about-us/ncs_info.html, on the net’s website, www.hwn.org. |
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ARRL announced the release of a fresh design for this year’s limited edition 2026 Spectrum Defense mug and companion Spectrum Defender pin. This year’s theme honors America’s 250th Birthday, with prominent red, white, and blue colors throughout. These limited-edition pieces are part of the annual Spectrum Defense Campaign, which supports ARRL’s efforts to protect and enhance access to radio spectrum for radio amateurs in the United States and throughout the world. With your support of $50 or more you can wear the 2026 Spectrum Defender pin to show your support for this critical advocacy. A limited edition 2026 Spectrum Defense mug can be yours with a gift of $100 or more. To make your gift easily online, visit www.arrl.org/Defense. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, gifts to ARRL, including the Spectrum Defense Fund, may be tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. For questions about this important advocacy, contact the ARRL Development Office at development@arrl.org. |
2025 Cass Award Winners Rikk Lewis, WE9G, has won the 2025 Single Operator Cass Award by working 11,296 unique stations from Micronesia as V6WG. Vasily Pinchuk, R7AL; Slav Rodin, OK8AU; Leo Berezhnoy, RW9JZ; Hal Turley, W8HC; Wlodek Herej, SP6EQZ; Mike Alekseev, RU3UR; Vic Filimonov, UA3QLC; Ark Voloshin, UA4CC; Nick Tolkunov, R5EC, and Andrei Soldatkin, RA4DX, have won the 2025 Unlimited Cass Award by working 41,361 unique stations from Burundi as 9U1RU - a new record! Presented annually by Club Log, the Northern California DX Club, and DXLab, the Cass Awards encourage DXpeditions to maximize the number of DXers worked with a plaque for the single-operator DXpedition that works the most unique callsigns within 2 weeks or less, and another for the "unlimited" multi-operator DXpedition that works the most unique callsigns within 4 weeks or less. The awards honor the memory of Hugh A. 'Cass' Cassidy, WA6AUD (SK), whose stories in the West Coast DX Bulletin taught a generation of DXers that DX IS! For more information, see www.cassaward.com. |
| New solar disk image courtesy of the Learmonth Solar Observatory, March 19, 2026 |
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ARRL Solar Report March 19, 2026 Solar activity was at moderate levels following an M2.7 flare from Region 4392 on March 18. This region has shown sporadic growth and reorganization in the peripheral spots, but has remained relatively unchanged in its magnetic configuration. New Region 4397 rotated further onto the visible disk and was numbered, yet remained mostly inactive. The remaining regions were relatively stable and quiescent. The M2.7 flare was accompanied by a tenflare and Type II radio burst with an estimated velocity of 740-860 km/s. An EUV wave is visible in GOES SUVI, along with faint field line movement in the NW quadrant. The associated coronal mass ejection (CME) became visible in SOHO LASCO C2 imagery early March 18. Analysis indicated a possible arrival at Earth early on March 21. Confidence is fairly low with the fit of this event, due to limited C2/C coronagraph imagery. Solar activity is expected to be low March 19 – 21, with a chance for M-class (R1-R2; minor-moderate) level events, due primarily to the minor instability and variability of Region 4392. Solar wind parameters reflected near background conditions. Solar wind speed gradually decreased from 450 km/s to end the period at around 380 km/s. The phi angle was predominantly positive. The solar wind environment is expected to become enhanced on March 19 as the March 16 - 17 CMEs are expected to arrive near midday. The disturbed solar environment is likely to continue as CME passage persists into March 20. By March 21, the CME from March 18 is expected to arrive in conjunction with the onset of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). The 10.7-centimeter flux: March 19-20, 105; March 21, 100; March 22, 102; March 23, 105; March 24,110; March 25, 100 Predicted sunspot numbers: March 19, 115; March 20,110; March 21, 120; March 22, 106; March 23, 126; March 24, 103; March 25, 129. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read A Quick Guide to HF Propagation Using Solar Indices, and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website. |
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- March 19 - 20 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- March 19 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
- March 21 -- PODXS 070 Club St. Patrick's Day Contest (digital)
- March 21 - 23 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest (digital)
- March 21 -- Popov Memorial Contest (CW, phone)
- March 21 - 22 -- Russian DX Contest (CW, phone)
- March 21 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
- March 21 - 22 -- Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- March 21 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
- March 25 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
- March 25 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (CW)
- March 27 - 28 -- Sasquatch Stomp (CW)
- March 28 - 29 -- CQ WW WPX Contest SSB (phone)
- March 28 - 29 -- Africa All Mode International DX Contest (CW, phone, digital)
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Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information. |
Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
- March 21 | St. Patrick's Day Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
- March 28 | Central Dakota Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, hosting the ARRL North Dakota State Convention, Bismarck, North Dakota
- April 4 | RARSfest, hosting the ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
- April 10 - 11 | Green Country Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
- April 18 | Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo, hosting the ARRL Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
- May 3 | Warminster Amateur Radio Club Annual Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol, Pennsylvania
- May 9 | ARRL Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
Remember to search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area. |
- April 4 | RARSfest, hosting the ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
- May 15 - 17 | Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, Ohio
- June 5 - 7 | SEA-PAC, hosting the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
- June 26 - 28 | HAM RADIO, International Amateur Radio Exhibition, Friedrichshafen, Germany
- August 7 - 8 | Shreveport-Bossier Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Delta Division Convention, Shreveport, Louisiana
- August 13 - 16 | Northeast HamXposition, ARRL New England Division Convention, Marlborough, Massachusetts
- August 15 | Cincinnati Hamfest℠, hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention
- August 22 - 23 | Huntsville Hamfest, hosting the 2026 ARRL National Convention, Huntsville, Alabama
- October 10 | North Star Radio Convention, hosting the ARRL Dakota Division Convention, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
- October 16 - 18 | Pacificon, ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California
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Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to news@arrl.org. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor |
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information Join ARRL or renew today! No other organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ. Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology. NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprints, and QSO parties. QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals. Free of charge to ARRL members... Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts, and much more! Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Threads, X, and Instagram. |
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 51 times each year. ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their profile at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out. Copyright © 2026 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission. |
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