| Climbing High and Never Looking Back |
| Denny Todd, KC7RVK, and Lynn Leighton, KG7PTC, at the 2026 NATE convention in Las Vegas. [Photo used with permission of Craig Lekutis, Publisher, Wireless Estimator] |
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For tower climber Denny Todd, KC7RVK, there is only one required tool...fear! Todd, now 86 years old, has been climbing towers for 70 years. His first was in South Dakota when he was 16, to put up an antenna so residents could receive stations from Omaha, Nebraska, 90 miles away. His climbing career was influenced by an interest in science and radio. His father was an engineer at a local AM station. Once he was up in the air, Denny never looked back...or down! “The fear, to me, meant I had to do everything, take every precaution, to climb safely,” said Todd. He also was involved in helicopter-assisted work on high towers. “You climb up a section of tower while a chopper flies in with either another section or an antenna that needs to be attached,” said Todd. “It’s a little scary trying to insert the bolts and tighten the nuts at the same time the aircraft is hovering above!” In 1962, after earning an associate degree in electrical engineering from Central Technical Institute and his FCC First Class Radiotelephone license, Todd began working for South Dakota Public Television and, in 1966, became the assistant engineering director. For the past 25 years, he has worked with his partner, Lynn Leighton, KG7PTC, also an accomplished tower climber and amateur radio operator. Last month, Todd and Leighton went to Las Vegas for the convention of the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), of which Todd was a founding member in 1995. NATE is a non-profit trade association dedicated to providing a unified voice for companies in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure construction, service, and maintenance industries. Todd tried to retire in 1978 but that didn’t work. So, when does he plan to stop climbing? “When I lay down for my ‘dirt nap,’ ” he chuckled. |
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Start Planning for ARRL Field Day 2026 |
It’s not too early to gear up and get ready for ARRL Field Day! Field Day 2026 takes place June 27 – 28 and will bring together more than 30,000 amateur radio operators for one of the most popular on-the-air events in the US and Canada. |
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This year’s Field Day theme is “Amateur Radio: A National Resource.” Combined with the ARRL Year of the Club, it provides the perfect opportunity for radio clubs to set up stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill, and service to our communities and our nation. All of the information you need to get started can be found on the Field Day web page, including how to join the ARRL Field Day Facebook Group, where you can share your plans, tips, and tricks for a successful Field Day. The overall objective for Field Day is to contact as many stations as possible on the 160-, 80-, 40-, 20-,15- and 10-meter HF bands, as well as all bands above 50 MHz, and to learn to operate in less than optimal conditions. Many clubs choose to set up in camp-style fashion with portable equipment, temporary antennas, and off-grid power sources. Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2 (North and South America). DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to submit entries. Each claimed contact must include contemporaneous direct initiation by the operator on both sides of the contact. Initiation of a contact may be either locally or by remote. Also check out the Field Day site locator page to help find participating stations near you. As an added incentive for anyone participating in ARRL’s yearlong America250 Worked All States (WAS) Award, contacts made with ARRL Affiliated Radio Clubs all year, including during Field Day, will count toward your America250 WAS Affiliated Club Endorsement. Check out those details at www.arrl.org/america250-was. For more information about ARRL Field Day, visit www.arrl.org/field-day. |
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Dayton Hamvention 2026 Award Winners Announced |
Dayton Hamvention® has announced its 2026 Awards. |
Technical Achievement Award: Robert Famiglio, K3RF Robert B. “Bob” Famiglio, K3RF, has spent almost 60 years in amateur radio, blending technical expertise, legal knowledge, and leadership in emergency communications. Licensed at age 13, Famiglio later earned a BSE in electrical engineering and a doctorate in law. For more than 40 years he has served as volunteer counsel, advising hams on PRB-1 matters, zoning and antenna ordinances, RFI enforcement, and club governance. His technical understanding of station engineering and interference resolution has informed effective legal strategies and regulatory comments. Famiglio served in many ARRL leadership roles, including EPA Section Manager, Atlantic Division Vice Director, and later Director. He also served several terms as Vice President & General Counsel of the Radio Club of America and functioned as corporate counsel for the board. In emergency communications, he served as Amateur Radio Emergency Service® District Emergency Coordinator for Greater Philadelphia, supporting regional response agencies by applying technical expertise, message handling skills, and interoperability between amateur and public safety systems. His formal training as a professional firefighter enhances his ability to align ham radio technology with operational needs of served agencies. A long-time mentor, Famiglio supports on-air training nets and club programs stressing technical competence, regulatory literacy, and readiness for public service. He believes that amateur radio’s core value lies in the skills, service, and technical capability of operators, not merely spectrum access, and he has worked to translate complex technical issues—spectrum coexistence, interference mitigation, and regulatory compliance—into clear, actionable recommendations for policymakers. His blend of engineering, legal acumen, and emergency response experience has encouraged continuous training, lowered barriers to participation, and inspired new generations of ham radio operators. |
Amateur of the Year Award: Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens, NP4G Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens, NP4G, was born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico. He was first licensed at the age of 16 and is the only amateur radio operator in his family. Vicens studied biology at Purdue University, where he became active with the W9YB Purdue University Amateur Radio Club. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine and completed a specialty program in Pediatric Dentistry at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. In 2008, Vicens returned to his hometown of Humacao to begin practicing orthodontics. One of his early memories of service through amateur radio was in 1998, when Vicens helped provide communications support in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Georges. During the 2017 Puerto Rico hurricane disasters, he helped coordinate amateur radio emergency communications across eastern Puerto Rico. Vicens recalled attending the DX Forum at Dayton Hamvention, where presentations on major DXpeditions inspired him to someday be a part of future adventures. He has now participated in many DXpeditions from all over the world including Bouvet Island (3Y) and most recently as Team Leader for KP5/NP3VI, the Desecheo Island DXpedition of 2026. He is a past President of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League (PRARL), and is currently President of the International DX Association (INDEXA). |
| [Ron Medykiewicz, WA3VEE, photo] |
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Special Achievement Award: Martha Fell, N3QBE, and Joe Fell, W3GMS Martha and Joe Fell’s journey began in 1966 when Joe earned his Novice license (WN3GMS) at the age of fourteen. Shortly thereafter, he met Harry I. Davis, W3FDY (SK), who mentored him for four years. Harry taught him to think critically, design circuits, and execute projects with precision. His guidance was life-changing, and Joe pledged to honor his request to give back to others just as Harry had done for him. To fulfill this promise, Joe chose to retire at age 56, following a 34-year corporate career and the successful launch of his own company. The success of this mission is thanks to his wife, Martha, whose dedication to overseeing administration and logistics has greatly benefited their students. Their program’s reach has grown significantly over the decades. In 1976, Joe designed and built a repeater for his mentor’s radio site which remains operational 50 years later, serving a group of approximately 85 operators. Their weekly technical net has become a primary resource for both new and seasoned amateurs, including many professional electrical engineers. Today, Martha and Joe Fell mentor students of all ages and interests. While their first student is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at MIT, their youngest started at just eight years old. |
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Long Island CW Club (LICW) is an online Morse code training community built to help hams become confident and proficient CW operators. The club emphasizes high standards alongside a welcoming culture, focusing on teaching practical operational skills while fostering mutual respect and a spirit of learning for fun. LICW offers structured classes from beginner through advanced, a wide range of topical forums and practice resources that help students move from “copying characters” to true conversational flow. Instructors are volunteers who remember what it felt like to be new, and who coach students through plateaus with clear, effective teaching methods, encouragement, and accountability. LICW includes strong participation and leadership across generations, including more than 400 women who serve as instructors and club leaders, along with programs that support youth and hams with disabilities. LICW is a community where people show up for each other, celebrate progress, and share the joy of CW on the air. Read the complete 2026 Hamvention Awards announcement at hamvention.org/event-details/awards. The 2026 Dayton Hamvention® will be held Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center, 210 Fairground Road, Xenia, Ohio. |
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Section Manager Nomination Results |
The nomination period for the 2026 spring season Section Manager election cycle concluded on Friday, March 6. There will be no balloted elections because only one nominee per section was received at ARRL Headquarters. Wisconsin will have a new Section Manager starting on July 1, 2026. Myron Oestreich, KB9STB, was declared elected as the sole nominee. He is currently the Wisconsin Public Information Coordinator. Oestreich will take the reins of the Wisconsin Field Organization from Jason Spetz, KC9FXE, of Menomonie, who has been Section Manager since 2022. The following incumbent ARRL Section Managers did not face opposition and were declared elected for their upcoming new terms of office beginning July 1, 2026: Thomas Beebe, W9RY, Illinois; Bob Burns, AK9R, Indiana; Scott Roberts, KK4ECR, Northern Florida; Scott Rosenfeld, N7JI, Oregon; and Paul Gayet, AA1SU, Vermont. Nominations will be re-solicited for Section Manager positions in Maine and Santa Clara Valley in January 2027 QST because no nominating petitions were received by the deadline on March 6. Phil Duggan, N1EP, decided not to run for another term of office as Section Manager of Maine, a position he has held since December of 2021. In Santa Clara Valley, James Armstrong, NV6W, decided not to run for a new term of office after serving as Section Manager since August of 2020. |
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Amateur Radio in the News |
“Cleveland Heights elementary students reach around the world in amateur radio competition” / WKYC (Ohio) March 4, 2026 -- Saint Ann School's Amateur Radio Club. “We the People | The role of the radio: ham operators” / WSAZ (West Virigina) March 4, 2026 -- The Museum of Radio and Technology. “Radio club to hold Intro to Ham Radio presentation” / The Times - Gazette (Ohio) March 4, 2026 -- The Highland Amateur Radio Association. “Sussex County Emergency Management Partners with Rehoboth Beach Hotel to Host Amateur Radio Equipment” / WGMD Radio (Delaware) March 9, 2026 -- Sussex County AuxComm. |
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. |
The Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club (FMARC) in Florida will be hosting the return of "Hamwaves of History," a live commemorative amateur radio event taking place from March 17 – 19, 2026. This tribute honors the men and women who served at Buckingham Army Airfield (BAAF) during World War II, a site that was once the largest airfield in Florida. The public is invited to visit the Lee County Mosquito Control District Homestead House (the former site of the airfield), 15140 Homestead Rd., Lehigh Acres, FL 33971 on March 17 and 18, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and March 19, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Admission is free. During the event, FMARC operators will operate live with an event call sign of W4LX from the historic grounds where nearly 50,000 gunners graduated to defend Allied bombers in the skies over Europe and the Pacific. Visitors can watch operators use modern and vintage radio technology to connect with other enthusiasts worldwide, sharing the story of Buckingham’s pivotal role in achieving Allied air superiority. For more information, see the press release at https://fmarc.net/fmarc-press-releases/. |
In Branson, Missouri, SKYWARN Youth, a group of young amateur radio operators dedicated to weather spotting, emergency communication, and community education, will operate special event station NØA for the next two weeks to promote severe weather awareness. NØA will operate March 15 – 29, 2026, at various times — day, and night — as time permits, using SSB & FT8/FT4 on 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters, as well as FT8 on 160 and 30 meters. For operators without HF access, SKYWARN Youth invites check-ins to their weekly nets on Sundays — March 15, 22, and 29 — at 7:30 PM Central time, via multiple repeaters and VoIP networks. All check-ins to those nets will be officially added to the NØA special event log. “Being prepared and establishing situational awareness during severe weather events is crucial and will help you and your family to stay safe,” said SKYWARN Youth Net Manager Caleb Sfair, KEØFOE. “Our goal with this special event station is to educate the amateur radio community about the dangers of severe weather and the importance of being prepared.” All amateur radio operators are encouraged to spread the word and participate in this effort to strengthen weather safety networks worldwide. More information is available at www.skywarnyouth.net. |
Attention y’all’s amateur radio! The Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society (WCARS), an ARRL Special Service Club, now has its own hamfest theme song! It’s a bluegrass tune composed for the Waynesville Hamfest by Zach Thompson, KM4BLG, and the up-and-coming bluegrass band, “CQ DX and the 73s.” You can listen to this unique amateur radio composition at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxUAwN9Wme8&list=RDgxUAwN9Wme8&start_radio=1 |
Open Positions at ARRL Come join the headquarters staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®! We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the following positions: W1AW Station Manager -- NEW OPENING Development Associate -- NEW OPENING Membership Manager RFI Lab Engineer Public Relations and Outreach Manager IT Support Specialist Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at www.arrl.org/careers. ARRL is an equal opportunity employer. |
| Solar image courtesy of NASA/SDO March 12, 2026. |
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ARRL Solar Report for March 12, 2026 Solar activity was very low to low. Only low-level C-class activity was observed from Regions 4384 and 4389. Slight growth was observed in Regions 4384 and 4391. New Region 4392 was numbered. The rest of the spot groups were either stable or in decay. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed. Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a slight chance for M-class (R1-R2/minor-moderate) flares, through March 14. Solar wind parameters were enhanced through March 11. Solar wind speed ranged from approximately 480 to 570 km/s during this time but decreased to around 400-460 km/s through the rest of the period. Near nominal levels are expected to return on March 12 before enhancements are again expected around midday on March 13 due to the onset of a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream. HSS activity will persist through March 14. The 10.7-centimeter flux: March 12, 120; March 13, 115; March 14 – 18, 110. Predicted sunspot numbers: March 12, 115; March 13, 110; March 14, 120; March 15, 106; March 16, 126; March 17, 103; March 18, 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 14 -- YB DX RTTY Contest (digital)
- March 14 - 15 -- SARL VHF/UHF FM Contest (phone)
- March 14 - 15 -- SARL Field Day Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- March 14 - 15 -- Commonwealth (BERU) Contest (CW)
- March 14 - 15 -- DIG QSO Party SSB (phone)
- March 14 - 15 -- EA PSK63 Contest (digital)
- March 14 - 15 -- South America 10m Contest (CW, phone)
- March 14 - 15 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
- March 14 -- AGCW QRP Contest (CW)
- March 14 - 15 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
- March 14 - 15 -- Oklahoma QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- March 14 - 16 -- Idaho QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- March 14 - 15 -- TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest (CW)
- March 15 -- North American Sprint RTTY (digital)
- March 15 -- YOTA Contest (CW, phone)
- March 15 - 16 -- Wisconsin QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- March 15 - 16 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- March 16 -- Bucharest Digital Contest (digital)
- March 16 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (digital)
- March 18 -- IRTS 80m Counties Contest (CW, phone)
- March 19 - 20 --14 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)
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Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information. |
Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
- March 15 | WINTERFEST 2026 - The National Capital Area Ham Radio Fair, ARRL Virginia State Convention, Vienna, Virginia
- 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
- May 3 | Warminster Amateur Radio Club Annual Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol, Pennsylvania
Remember to search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area. |
- March 14 - 15 | HamSCI 2026 Workshop, hosted by ARRL in New Britain & Newington, Connecticut (No on-site registration; Zoom available)
- 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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