ARRL

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

  1. Get On the Air for the ARRL International DX Contest

    We’re seeing peak conditions from Solar Cycle 25 just in time for the ARRL International DX SSB Contest. It gets underway this weekend at 0000 UTC on Saturday, March 1, and concludes at 2359 UTC on Sunday, March 2. 

    ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, is gearing up to operate as part of a multi-operator, single-transmitter station for the event. He is eager to get started. “This is...

  2. The ARRL Solar Report

    A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) associated with a filament eruption
    became visible on February 26 at 1448 UTC.  Model analysis
    determined this CME to be a miss ahead of the Sun/Earth line.

    Unsettled to active levels are likely on February 28 to March 1 as a
    Coronal Hole influence continues, and a glancing blow is possible
    from a Coronal Mass Ejection that occurred on February 25.

    Solar activity is fore...

  3. Colorado High School Students Visit the Plishner Radio Astronomy and Space Sciences Center

    In late January 2025, 17 students and staff members from Las Animas High School (LAHS) in Colorado visited the Deep Space Exploration Society Radio Telescope (DSES) located at the Plishner Radio Astronomy and Space Sciences Center near Haswell, Colorado. They also got an introduction to amateur radio.

    “This first field trip visit of high school students reflected the dreams of Michael Lowe, form...

  4. ARRL’s “On the Air Live” Continues to Grow

    ARRL is equipping the next generation of radio amateurs with the knowledge to get active on the air. “On the Air Live” is a monthly interactive webinar series that does deep-dives into topics aimed at the new and intermediate ham. It complements material found in On the Air magazine. February’s event had nearly 130 people in attendance. 

    The events are hosted by ARRL Education Specialist Wayne G...

  5. The ARRL Solar Report

    Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate levels
    through March 15.  There is a varying chance for R1 or R2 (Minor or
    Moderate) events, and a slight chance for R3 or greater events.

    Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) levels on
    February 28, March 9, and March 12 to 14.  Active levels are
    predicted for March 1. Quiet, and quiet to unsettled conditions are
    expected to...

  6. Bob Buus, W2OD, ARRL Northern New Jersey Section Manager, Silent Key

    Robert “Bob” Buus, W2OD, passed away on February 18, 2025. He has served as the ARRL Northern New Jersey Section Manager since 2020. Buus served as an Assistant Section Manager, Emergency Coordinator, and Net Manager prior to his appointment. 

    Buus was born in Minnesota and was first licensed in 1950. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in electrical engineering. He wo...

  7. More Seats Available for On the Air Live

    Due to significant demand, ARRL has expanded the number of available spots for this month’s On the Air Live, an online training session linked to content in the current issue of On the Air magazine. The program quickly reached its original capacity. The live event will be hosted by ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF.

    “It is a good problem to have,” said ARRL Education and Learning Ma...

  8. High School and a Sci-Fi Movie Spark Interest in Amateur Radio

    Steve Schickel was a young high school student in the late ’80s and was introduced to amateur radio through his electronics classes. He also spent time working at a local RadioShack and watching science fiction movies at a nearby theater in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida.

    Amateur radio’s next biggest influence on Steve came in 1997, on opening night of the movie “Contact,” about a scientist...

  9. Changes in the ARRL Iowa Section

    Election results have been finalized in the ARRL Iowa Section. Barry Buelow, WØIY, received 283 votes, defeating incumbent Leilia Garner, WAØUIG, who received 146 votes.

    Buelow, of Cedar Point, will assume Section Manager duties on April 1. Buelow is a veteran of the United States Air Force and has worked in aerospace engineering. He has served on the ARRL National Convention Committee and is a...

  10. YLRL Scholarships Available for Students