| Register now for the 2026 ARRL National Convention hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest, August 21 - 23. Agendas for ARRL Training Tracks are available (PDF). Step 1 Register for the National Convention Program on Friday, August 21. Register Now Step 2 Get your Huntsville Hamfest tickets for Saturday & Sunday, August 22 – 23. Hamfest Tickets |
Talking to a Satellite Over Norway |
An interesting experiment took place last week in the skies over Oslo, Norway. Amateur radio operators from the Oslo Group of the Norwegian Radio Relay League (NRRL), using an experimental satellite and homebrew ham equipment, successfully reprogrammed the satellite to respond to voice control. On July 27, 2026, a verbal command, sent via a 23-centimeter signal from the roof of the Oslo Group's club station, was received, transcribed, and executed on board the OPS-SAT PRETTY satellite. The satellite then activated the game DOOM in response, and downloaded images of the game as confirmation. Voice control of a satellite was a reality, performed by radio amateurs in the Oslo Group! The spacecraft is operated by Graz University of Technology in Austria and the experimentation is coordinated by the European Space Agency’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. The OPS-SAT PRETTY is a 3U CubeSat (10 x 10 x 34 cm) with a reconfigurable processing platform that allows a wide range of custom software and firmware experiments, and is tightly connected to an onboard software defined receiver (SDR). |
 | | The amateur radio operator speaking into the microphone in the evening pass is Jon Bergli Heier, LB9BJ. [Photo courtesy of Truls Johansen, LA7IJ] |
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Everyone involved in the experiment agreed that amateur radio infrastructure can support technically meaningful spacecraft experiments when RF design, signal processing, craft software, and disciplined operations are treated as one system. Can the satellite be programed to talk back in an AI human voice? “For this satellite, the Satellite Experimental Processing Platform (SEPP) where the experiments run, is connected to an SDR, receive only,” said team member Eskil Hadland, LB6AJ. “As far as I know, the TMTC (Telemetry and Telecommand) is outside of the SEPP. So I do not believe this satellite will be able to talk back to us. Unlike other satellite operations for amateurs, where you can listen when you are aiming directly, we have been shouting towards the stars, and gotten data back hours later.” So what is next step with voice command communications? “As for the next step, we are also curious about what it will be,” added Hadland. “This experiment has been initiated by Georges Labrèche, whom together with Ólafur Waage, were the first to successfully run the game DOOM on the OPS-SAT back in 2023 (Not OPS-SAT PRETTY). Neither of them are radio amateurs, but are into the software development field. Labrèche has suggested, as mentioned in our report at doom.lb6aj.net/#future, that a next step might be e.g., "PRETTY TURN OFF SDR" to act on an actual payload of the satellite, making it a control interface. But this might meet resistance from the team at ESA. We also have some other ideas regarding amateur radio, building further on this experiment, but we are not sure yet. But time will tell.” The Project Page at partner Tanagra Space tells the whole story from end to end, with the postcard the satellite composed on board and the gameplay sequence it captured as it flew: tanagraspace.com/opssat-pretty-doomed. Thanks to the Oslo Group of the Norwegian Radio Relay League for taking time to talk with the ARRL Letter about their accomplishments. |
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Order Your ARRL America250 Worked All States Award Certificate |
If you've already confirmed contacts with all 50 states during the ARRL America250 Worked All States (WAS) operating event, you can now order your commemorative award certificate. The attractive, frame-worthy certificate celebrates your participation in this once-in-a-lifetime event honoring America's 250th anniversary. ARRL is a Supporting Partner of America250 and the ARRL America250 WAS operating event complements the 2026 ARRL Year of the Club. Icom America is the Official Sponsor of the ARRL Year of the Club. Together, ARRL and Icom are supporting activities that spotlight the vital role of amateur radio clubs in communities across the country. The America250 WAS event runs through December 31, 2026, and is based entirely on Logbook of The World® (LoTW®) confirmations. Earning the basic award requires confirmed contacts with all 50 states made during 2026. america250.arrl.org |
Once your confirmations appear in your LoTW account, visit the America250 WAS web page america250.arrl.org, sign in using your existing LoTW account credentials, and view your WAS Account to see your award progress. If you don’t already have an LoTW WAS Award Account, you’ll need to create one first. When you’ve qualified for the award — and any endorsements — submit your order online! America250 WAS Endorsements Even after you've earned the basic award certificate, there's still plenty of time this year to qualify for endorsements. Participants can earn up to three: - WAS W1AW Portable — Contact the W1AW/portable activation in all 50 states.
- WAS ARRL Affiliated Clubs — Contact ARRL Affiliated Club call signs in all 50 states.
- WAS Triple Play — Confirm all 50 states on CW, phone, and digital modes.
Endorsements are available as commemorative gold stickers that can be added to your ARRL America250 WAS certificate. Certificates are $30 for ARRL members and $35 for non-members, plus shipping and handling. Endorsement stickers are $5 each plus shipping and handling. Track your progress on the ARRL America250 Worked All States web page, and learn more about Celebrate America250 with ARRL. America250 is the national, nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to lead the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a milestone that marks America’s semiquincentennial. |
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New ARRL Maine Section Manager |
| Cory Golob, KU1U, ARRL Maine Section Manager [Photo courtesy of Cory Golob, KU1U] |
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Cory Golob, KU1U, of Sabattus, Maine, has been appointed as the ARRL Maine Section Manager as of August 3, 2026. Golob succeeds Philip Duggan, N1EP, who concluded his term as Section Manager on June 30 after serving since December 2021. “I want to do the very best for amateur radio in the ARRL Maine Section and build on what our previous Section Manager, Phil Duggan has accomplished,” said Golob. “I want to appoint a Section Youth Coordinator to help interest students, and teachers, in amateur radio.” Golob said his first goal would be to work with local radio clubs to help them engage with all 16 schools in the county. “One club per school, giving the next generation of amateur radio operators the knowledge and skills they need to build for the future.” Golob is active in the ARRL Field Organization as an Official Relay Station and has served as an Assistant Section Manager and Affiliated Club Coordinator. His term as Section Manager continues through June 30, 2027. |
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Amateur Radio Supports Wisconsin Tornado Recovery |
On July 27, July 30, and August 1, 2026, members of the Green Bay Mike and Key Club, who are also members of the Brown-Kewaunee County Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), deployed to Winnebago County, Wisconsin, following a tornado that struck on July 27. The tornado hit Appleton and caused severe damage in Menasha, Fox Crossing, and nearby communities, with peak winds estimated at 140 mph and a 12.1-mile path up to 1,500 yards wide. Pamela Evenson, KDØGPH; Sam Reid, W9SJR, and Sam Martin, KN9SAM, responded to a request from the Winnebago County Emergency Management Office for ARES radio assistance. When they arrived, team members were paired with other volunteers from Community Emergency Response Teams and local officials to form damage assessment teams assigned to specific areas. While deployed, Evenson, Reid, and Martin conducted damage assessment operations. There were no deaths and only 60 injuries reported as a result of this tornado. Amateur radio provided radio communication between team members and the net control station at the volunteer coordination center. |
Amateur Radio Operators Certified for Honor Flight |
Attention: You are clear for Mission 156! A trio of amateur radio operators in Columbus, Ohio, Dan Merrill, KE8KJX, Steve Robeano, WD8JKX, and John Ross, KD8IDJ, have been certified for Honor Flight Mission 156 on October 14, 2026. This is an not an ordinary group of Veterans. For over 60 years, they have traveled the same paths, had the same experiences, and acquired the same interests, and now they will complete Honor Flight together. Last year, they made history at the Columbus Hamfest by just being at the same place together for the first time. All are ARRL members, all have Amateur Extra-class licenses, all are musicians and Masons, and they all served in the same army unit after active duty — the 338th Army Band. In fact, this Honor Flight mission is unique. 19 members of the 338th Army Band and friends are going along, as well as 60 other Veterans from the central Ohio area. |
 | | Photo caption: Left to right: Dan Merrill, KE8KJX; Steve Robeano, WD8JKX, and John Ross, KD8IDJ, at last year’s Columbus Hamfest. [Photo courtesy of John Perone, W8RXX] |
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“It is hard to put into words,” said Ross. “We don’t know the reasons why and how we all ended up together, but we’re certainly glad it happened. I can’t image going through all we’ve been through, and all the while being friends.” Ross and Merrill are still working musicians with the Aladdin Temple Shrine Band in Grove City, Ohio. Ross has been a trumpet player for 68 years and directs the Shrine Band. He will be the Bugler for Honor Flight Mission 156. John Ross, KD8IDJ, is the News Editor for the ARRL Letter and host of ARRL Audio News. |
FCC Cites GMRS Licensee for Illegal Linked Repeater Network |
The FCC Enforcement Bureau has issued a Notice of Violation to Gary M. Beckstedt, Sr., of Newnan, Georgia, for operating a network of nearly two dozen linked General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) repeaters in violation of FCC rules for the service. Beckstedt is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of North Georgia GMRS, Inc., and licensee of GMRS station WQYU407. He also holds amateur radio license WB4GMB. According to the FCC Notice, “There are only eight repeater frequency pairs shared nationwide by more than 300,000 active GMRS licensees and millions of Family Radio Service users. Because GMRS spectrum is so limited, the service only works as intended when local users can hear each other and cooperate in the sharing of channels. Linking multiple repeaters is not in the public interest because it enables the retransmission of messages over much larger geographic areas, thereby limiting localized availability of the GMRS channels, monopolizing a limited spectrum resource, and increasing the potential for interference.” It notes that GMRS repeaters may be connected to the telephone network “or other networks” (such as the internet) only for the purpose of remote control. Repeater linking is permitted in the Amateur Radio Service, but not for GMRS communications for the reasons explained in the Notice. Enforcement Bureau agents monitored several of Beckstedt’s GMRS repeaters this past February, according to the Notice, and observed that the repeaters were connected via the internet and “were being used to convey messages to multiple repeaters for simultaneous transmission on the repeaters’ respective over-the-air output frequencies, in violation of section 95.1749 of the Commission’s rules.” Beckstedt was given 20 days to “fully explain the violation” and spell out “the specific action(s) taken to correct the violation and preclude recurrence.” |
Amateur Radio in the News |
“Old-school ham radios can save lives when hurricanes hit cell towers, phone lines” / MSN - The Post and Courier (South Carolina) August 6, 2026 -- South Carolina Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team "Amateur radio in the classroom: How Long Island teachers plan to use the technology to teach STEM concepts” / NEWSDAY (Long Island, NY) August 5, 2026 -- The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, in conjunction with the Suffolk County Radio Club, an ARRL Affiliated Club. |
ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
On the Air LIVE What if you need to send a message from a disaster area, but all forms of communication are down? The ARRL National Traffic System could be your tool to get the message out. Join ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, and learn about the history of the National Traffic System, how it works, and how you can become a regular user and be prepared to send and relay traffic. The livestream will air on the ARRL's learning center, learn.arrl.org, August 25th at 8 PM Eastern. Preregistration is required and can be accomplished through the Learning Center. 📅 Date: August 25, 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 A Passion for POTA Evan McPartland, KC2NRB, visits the podcast to talk about how he got hooked on Parks on the Air operating. Familiarly known as POTA, this popular program involves setting up temporary stations in parks that have a specific alphanumeric POTA designator. Evan expands on information shared in his July/August 2026 On the Air article “Rediscovering Ham Radio Through POTA,” and offers information on how to join the POTA fun. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. |
The following America250 W1AW Portable Activations begin 0000z on Wednesdays, and end 2359z on Tuesdays (7 days total for each activation). See the complete schedule at www.arrl.org/america250-was. 08/05/2026 Iowa W1AW/Ø (host WBØGAG) 08/05/2026 New Jersey W1AW/2 (NP4H) 08/05/2026 Louisiana W1AW/5 (host N5YS) 08/12/2026 Idaho W1AW/7 (host ND7L) 08/12/2026 Ohio W1AW/8 (host K8ZT) 08/12/2026 Massachusetts W1AW/1 (host W1AST) |
The Rhode Island Parks on the Air (RI POTA) will host a three-day POTA Activation-a-Thon on September 11 – 13, 2026, with a soft start planned for September 10. The event is an opportunity to activate all 61 Rhode Island POTA locations. To register, go to Activate All RI 2026 | Rhode Island POTA to activate one or many POTA locations during the event. Tell your friends, POTA connections, clubs and even post about this event on your QRZ page. POTA hunters are advised to look for helpful online tools to help organize the hunt for new RI parks, including a real-time on-the-air status dashboard during the event, and a complete schedule of parks to be activated. |
The 2025 ARRL Annual Report is now available online, highlighting the organization's work to advance amateur radio and serve its members. The report shares accomplishments across education, advocacy, emergency communications, publications, technology, and member services, while recognizing members, volunteers, and the generosity of donors who make ARRL's mission possible. This year's theme, Developing the Next Generation of Radio Amateurs, reflects ARRL's growing investment to inspire and educate youth. The Annual Report also includes a Report to America, highlighting the impact of Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers and the wider amateur radio community in serving their communities during disasters, emergencies, and public service events. Read the full report to learn more about ARRL's impact in 2025. ARRL’s 2025 IRS Form 990 is also available. |
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AMSAT Canada (Amateur Radio Satellites and Systems - Canada, AMSAT-CA) has announced the start of membership intake for its organization, formed in 2023 as the 28th informal AMSAT affiliate. The organization promotes, develops, and supports amateur radio in space, including satellite communications, experimental technology, natural satellite communications, and STEM education. AMSAT-CA invites amateur radio operators, educators, makers, and space enthusiasts to join in building a stronger Canadian presence in space-based amateur radio activities. For more information, visit amsat-ca.org/membership. |
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: Membership Manager Technical Editor RFI Lab Engineer Public Relations and Outreach Manager Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at www.arrl.org/careers. ARRL is an equal opportunity employer. |
| Solar disk image courtesy of NASA/SDO, August 6, 2026 |
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ARRL Solar Report August 6, 2026 Solar activity has been at low levels, with occasional B-class flaring and isolated low-level C-class flares observed. The largest event of the period was a C1.6/Sf flare on August 5 from Region 4502. The six numbered sunspot regions on the visible disk are mostly stable or in varying stages of decay. Region 4498 showed a slight decrease in penumbral extent. Region 4499 declined in length and area, though limb foreshortening hindered complete characterization of its magnetic structure. Region 4500 weakened in its leading spot. Region 4501 lost its trailing spots, decaying into a unipolar group. Region 4502 exhibited consolidation across both magnetic poles. Region 4503 was limited by foreshortening near the southeast limb, but appeared to show modest new flux emergence in its trailing spots to become a bipolar group. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery. With ongoing region decay and several active regions in the western hemisphere expected to rotate off the disk over the coming days, there is a decreasing chance for M-class (R1-R2/minor-moderate) flares August 6. Current Solar Orbiter Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) imagery suggests no significant returning regions during the forecast period. Solar wind parameters remained at quiet, ambient, levels throughout the period. Solar wind speeds reflected a slow wind regime, gradually declining from early values near 400 km/s down to approximately 345 km/s late in the period. The phi angle remained predominantly in the positive (away from the Sun) sector. Solar wind parameters are expected to remain in a slow wind regime through early August 7. Later in the day, enhancements are anticipated to begin due to the arrival of CMEs that departed the Sun on August 3. These CME enhancements may persist into August 8, alongside potential weak influences from a negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (-CH HSS) that is likely too far south to become significantly geoeffective. The 10.7-centimeter flux: August 6 - 7, 110; August 8 - 12, 105 Predicted sunspots: August 6, 95; August 7, 89; August 8, 102; August 9, 83; August 10, 105; August 11, 75; August 12, 110 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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- August 6 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
- August 6 - 7 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- August 6 -- NRAU 10m Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- August 6 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)
- August 8 - 9 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- August 8 - 9 -- WAE DX Contest (CW)
- August 8 - 9 -- YB Bekasi Merdeka Contest (CW, phone)
- August 8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
- August 8 -- Kentucky State Parks on the Air (CW, phone, digital)
- August 8 - 9 -- Maryland-DC QSO Party (CW, phone)
- August 9 -- SARL HF Digital Contest (digital)
- August 10 -- States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
- August 11 -- DARC FT4 Contest (digital)
- August 12 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
- August 12 - 14 – MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- August 13 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
- August 15 - 16 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest (digital)
- August 15 - 16 -- Russian District Award Contest (CW, phone)
- August 15 - 17 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- August 15 -- SARL Youth QSO Party (phone)
- August 15 - 16 -- Keyman's Club of Japan Contest (CW)
- August 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
- August 15 - 16 -- North American QSO Party, SSB (phone)
- August 15 - 16 -- 2100 1.8-28 CVA DX Contest (CW)
- August 16 -- NJQRP Skeeter Hunt (CW, phone)
- August 16 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY (digital)
- August 16 - 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information. |
Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events |
ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions (next 60 days) Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database at www.arrl.org/hamfests to find events in your area. August 7 – 8 | Shreveport-Bossier Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Delta Division Convention, Shreveport, Louisiana August 13 – 16 | Northeast HamXposition, hosting the ARRL New England Division Convention, Marlborough, Massachusetts August 15 | Cincinnati Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention, Owensville, Ohio August 21 – 23 | Huntsville Hamfest, hosting the 2026 ARRL National Convention, Huntsville, Alabama August 28 – 30 | Wyoming HamCon, hosting the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Casper, Wyoming September 4 – 5 | Shelby Hamfest, hosting the ARRL North Carolina State Convention, Shelby, North Carolina September 26 | Red River Radio Amateurs Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Minnesota State Convention, Moorhead, Minnesota October 3 | Third Annual Micro Expo, hosting the ARRL Santa Barbara Section Convention, Camarillo, California October 3 | Wichita Area Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Kansas Section Convention, Wichita, Kansas Save the Date Join ARRL at these Division Conventions and other major events throughout the year. Beginning in the fourth quarter, this list will also include significant events scheduled for the following year. October 9 – 10 | SPARK-CON 2026, hosting the ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Sedalia, Missouri October 10 | North Star Radio Convention, hosting the ARRL Dakota Division Convention, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota October 16 – 18 | Pacificon, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California |
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. On the Air. Published bimonthly for newer hams, featuring introductions to popular activities and key concepts, equipment buying guides, and practical projects with step-by-step instructions — all in language that’s easy to understand. 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 NTS® Letter (monthly news about the ARRL National Traffic System message-relay network), 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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