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Register now for the 2026 ARRL National Convention hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest, August 21 - 23.
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
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Washington Governor Recognizes Amateur Radio Volunteers Ahead of ARRL Field Day |
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Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has issued a video message recognizing the important role amateur radio operators play in supporting communities across the state and encouraging residents to learn more about amateur radio during ARRL Field Day
later this month.
“During emergencies and natural disasters in Washington state, [hams] may provide one of the only forms of available communications,” said Governor Ferguson.
“Field Day is a day for the public to see this communication in action with presentations and activities for all ages.”
Watch the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhBR9z7Q14k
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The video was developed and produced by the Olympia Amateur Radio Society
(OARS), an ARRL Special Service Club serving the Olympia and Thurston County area.
Club leaders said the goal was to create a message that radio clubs throughout Washington can use to help educate the public about amateur radio and encourage participation in Field Day activities.
“Several months ago, we set out to partner with Governor Bob Ferguson to produce a short but meaningful video highlighting the vital contributions amateur radio operators make to Washington residents every day,” said OARS Director of Marketing and Communications Doug Grover, N7POV. “We believe Field Day provides an excellent opportunity to amplify the message of amateur radio and emergency communications across our state.”
OARS will host its 2026 ARRL Field Day operation at Market Depot Park in Lacey, Washington, where hams will demonstrate emergency communications capabilities, offer hands-on activities for visitors, conduct license examinations, and showcase the technical and public service aspects of amateur radio.
The governor's message comes as amateurs across the US and Canada prepare for ARRL Field Day, June 27 – 28, 2026. For this year’s Field Day rules, resources, and a map-based locator of Field Day sites, visit www.arrl.org/field-day.
For more information about the Olympia Amateur Radio Society, visit www.olyham.org.
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Watch Salty Walt’s Portable Antenna Forum |
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You can now watch a featured presentation from 2026 Dayton Hamvention®, Salty Walt’s Portable Antenna Forum, on ARRL’s YouTube channel. In the session, Walt Hudson, K4OGO, demonstrates how hams can build antennas from inexpensive materials and get on the air from parks, beaches, summits, and other portable operating locations.
In the 25-minute video, Hudson goes beyond construction details to explore the larger idea that antennas are tools for exploring propagation.
He discusses how antenna design, takeoff angle, ground conditions, and operating location can dramatically affect results, and he encourages operators to experiment rather than rely on a single “one-size-fits-all” antenna.
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Drawing on his ARRL books, Salty Walt’s Portable Antenna Sketchbook and Salty Walt’s NEXT LEVEL Portable Antenna Sketchbook, Hudson shares practical, field-tested, ideas for building portable antennas that are simple, affordable, and effective.
Whether you’re new to portable operating or looking for fresh ideas for POTA, beach operations, or DX chasing, the presentation is packed with practical insights and real-world examples.
Watch the video now at youtu.be/7dXyaEV8ajU.
Thanks to Hamvention
for supporting this ARRL-sponsored forum.
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Get Ready for ARRL Kids Day 2026 |
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A young prospective ham is presented with a certificate from ARRL Kids Day last year. [Photo courtesy of and used with permission of the Mid-State Amateur Radio Club in Johnson County, Indiana] | | |
ARRL Kids Day is about a week away! Kids Day 2026 will be on Saturday, June 20, from 1800 to 2359 UTC (2:00–7:59 PM Eastern Time).
Kids Day is held twice a year, in January and June, to let young people experience hands-on amateur radio and encourage their interest in obtaining a license. The event also allows active hams to share their stations and the hobby with children, scouts, church groups, or the public in as many ways as you can imagine.
Some amateurs set up their equipment in a park or at a library, encouraging prospective hams to stop by, talk on the radio, and even experience Morse code. The rules are simple:
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Operation: Operate as much or as little as you like. You can invite kids and their parents to your station, explain how it works, and let them take turns on the air.
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Frequencies: Use any frequency from 10 – 80 meters, or your favorite repeater (with permission).
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Third-party rules: Follow restrictions when making DX contacts.
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Suggested exchange: First name, age, location, and favorite color.
And the fun doesn’t stop there! Take pictures and share your experience on the ARRL Kids Day Soapbox page
or email to contests@arrl.org
with a signed youth photo release form
for publication in QST and other ARRL publications. Tells us their story, tell us your story.
All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate and there is no waiting! You can download a certificate
and complete it on-site with the participant's name and date of the contact.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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“Tri-States Amateur Radio Club Hosts Field Day Operations June 27-28” / Chattanoogan.com (Tennessee) June 8, 2026 -- Tri-States Amateur Radio Club
“Ham radio volunteers in Angelina County stand ready to help when disaster strikes” / KLTV (Texas) June 8, 2026 -- The Deep East Texas Amateur Radio Club
“Amateur Radio Emergency Services tests backup emergency communication system” / WEYN ( New York) June 9, 2026 -- Chemung County Amateur Radio Emergency Services
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ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
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On the Air LIVE
Join ARRL's Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, as he compares the most popular portable antennas, including the ubiquitous end-fed half-wave, random wire, linked dipole, and the 17-foot vertical. We will compare performance and packing tradeoffs and deployment requirements. Whether you are headed to a park, going on a hike, paddling a canoe, or just your backyard, this session will help you choose an antenna that fits the operating conditions. The livestream will air on the ARRL's learning center, learn.arrl.org, June 23rd at 8pm Eastern. Preregistration is required and can be accomplished through the Learning Center.
📅 Date: June 23, 2026
🕗 Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific
👉 Register Now
| ⏪ Previously Recorded Sessions
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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.
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On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
Introduction to Digital Modes
ARRL Technical Editor Conrad Trautmann, N2YCH, joins the podcast to talk about what digital modes are, why it’s worth it for hams of all classes to use them, and how to get started. More info
| Listen on Blubrry
| Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
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Orlando HamCation is seeking nominations for its 2027 awards recognizing those who make outstanding contributions to amateur radio. As in past years there are three award categories: the Gordon West Ham Ambassador of the Year, the Carole Perry Educator of the Year, and the Amateur Radio Hero of the Year. Criteria for each award and the nomination forms can be found at www.hamcation.com/award. HamCation
2027 is February 12 – 14 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park in Orlando, Florida.
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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.
06/10/2026 Tennessee W1AW/4 (host W4CMG)
06/10/2026 Alaska W1AW/KL7 (host KTØW)
06/17/2026 Arkansas W1AW/5 (host K5DB)
06/17/2026 Nebraska W1AW/Ø (host KAØBOJ)
06/24/2026 No activations...ARRL Field Day
07/08/2026 No activations... IARU HF Contest
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ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Scott Yonally, N8SY, was the guest speaker at the Central Ohio Radio Club’s (CORC) June meeting. Yonally discussed several ARRL programs and services, including the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI), which equips educators at all grade levels with tools and strategies to introduce wireless technology into their classrooms, and the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program which supports student radio amateurs pursuing higher education.
He also highlighted the ARRL Learning Center, a membership benefit featuring an ever-growing collection of online courses, videos, and downloadable resources.
“You can log in with the same credentials used for the ARRL website,” said Yonally. One CORC member noted, “We appreciate Scott pointing out the many services offered by ARRL, especially renewing a license.” Yonally said that ARRL can help any member who needs assistance with renewing or updating their license by contacting the ARRL VEC.
He encouraged attendees to get to know their ARRL Director as a source for information and assistance.
The Central Ohio Radio Club is both an ARRL Affiliated Club and an ARRL Special Service Club.
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ITU Industries of Indiana, which earlier this year acquired the Hy-Gain and Cushcraft antenna lines from MFJ Enterprises, Inc., has now added Ameritron and Mirage amplifiers to its inventory. ITU CEO Dave Carpenter had previously indicated there might be other MFJ brands acquired as the company completed renovation of a closed National Guard armony on a 15-acre site in Linton, Indiana.
MFJ stopped on-site production for MFJ and its sister companies May 17, 2024, including such well-known brands as Ameritron, Hy-Gain, Cushcraft, Mirage, and Vectronics.
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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
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.
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Solar disk image courtesy of NASA/SDO, June 11, 2026 | | |
ARRL Solar Report for June 11, 2026
Solar activity has been at low levels this past week with most of the C-level activity originating from Region 4465, including the largest flare of the week, a C2.6 observed on June 10. There are currently 7 numbered sunspot regions on the disk with Region 4467 decaying to plage.
There was a Type-II radio sweep detected by the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) on June 10. That radio emission was associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) first observed at the NE quadrant by ground-based coronagraph imagery from HAO/MLSO coronagraph late June 10, and later by space-based coronagraph LASCO/C2. Modeling indicates there is no Earth-directed component.
Other CME activity was observed in the coronagraph imagery later in the period, but preliminary analysis indicated no Earth-directed component.
Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels, with a chance for M-class flares and a slight chance for X-class flares.
NOAA’s SOLAR-1 satellite became operational early on June 11, becoming the Space Weather Prediction Center’s primary source of solar wind data.
Solar wind speeds continued to decrease after the passage of a weak transient, reaching 374 km/s at the end of the period.
Background solar wind conditions are expected through midday June 11 when a coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) is anticipated to become geoeffective through June 13.
The 10.7-centimeter flux: June 11, 138; June 12, 134; June 13, 143; June 14, 130; June 15, 146; June 16, 125; June 17, 149.
Predicted sunspot numbers: June 11, 103; June 12, 95; June 13, 107; June 14, 90; June 15, 111; June 16, 83; June 17,116.
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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June 10 - 12 -- PVRC Reunion (CW, phone, digital)
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June 11 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
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June 13 -- YB ORARI DX Contest (phone)
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June 13 -- Asia-Pacific Sprint, SSB (phone)
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June 13 - 14 -- Portugal Day Contest (CW, phone)
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June 13 - 14 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
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June 13 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
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June 13 - 14 -- REF DDFM 6m Contest (CW, phone)
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June 13 - 14 -- GACW WWSA CW DX Contest (CW)
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June 13 - 15 -- ARRL June VHF Contest (CW, phone, digital)
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June 15 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
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June 15 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (digital)
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June 17 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
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June 18 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
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June 18 - 19 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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June 18 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
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June 20 -- Pajajaran Bogor DX Contest (phone)
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June 20 - 21 -- All Asian DX Contest (CW)
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June 20 - 21 -- SMIRK Contest (CW, phone, digital)
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June 20 - 21 -- SKCC QSO Party (CW)
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June 20 - 21 -- IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest (CW, phone)
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June 20 - 21 -- LZ International 6-Meter Contest (CW)
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June 20 - 21 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
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June 20 - 21 -- West Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
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June 20 -- ARRL Kids Day (phone)
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June 21 -- WAB 50 MHz Phone (phone)
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June 21 - 22 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar
for more events and information.
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Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events |
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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.
June 13 | Knoxville Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee
June 14 | BreezeShooters Hamfest, Computer and Electronics Show, hosting the ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Butler, Pennsylvania
June 19 – 20 | Flagstaff HamFest, hosting the ARRL Arizona Section Convention, Flagstaff, Arizona
July 11 | SVARC Hamfest, hosting the ARRL North Dakota Section Convention, Minot, North Dakota
July 17 – 19 | Glacier Waterton Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Montana Section Convention, Essex, Montana
July 25 | ARRL South Dakota State Convention, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
July 25 | ARRL West Virginia State Convention, Sutton, West Virginia
August 1 | ARRL Maine State Convention, August, Maine
August 7 – 8 | Shreveport-Bossier Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Delta Division Convention, Shreveport, Louisiana
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.
June 26 – 28, 2026 | 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, 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
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
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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
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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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