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| | | ARRL Partners in NASA-Funded Space Weather Education Initiative |
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|  ARRL and HamSCI are participating with the University of Scranton and four other institutions in a NASA-funded initiative to advance space weather education, scientific discovery, and public engagement through amateur radio. As part of the project, ARRL will receive grant funding to develop and deliver a new Teachers Institute program on space weather, providing high school STEM educators with hands-on professional development in solar activity, Earth's magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and the effects of space weather on radio communications.
According to ARRL Director of Education and Learning Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, the four-day program will integrate real-world data from NASA missions and a network of citizen science space weather monitoring stations, allowing educators to bring authentic scientific investigations into their classrooms. Participating teachers will also help expand the network of monitoring stations at schools, enabling students to contribute to ongoing scientific research. Through this initiative, ARRL will demonstrate the important role amateur radio plays in scientific discovery while equipping educators to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and radio amateurs.
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The program is part of “Discovering the SPARC: Space Physics Through Amateur Radio Connections,” developed by University of Scranton  Professor and HamSCI founder Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, and funded by NASA’s Science Activation (SciAct) program to the tune of nearly $5.5 million over a 5-year period. An expansion of HamSCI’s successful efforts to create a worldwide network of amateur radio operators collecting and providing data to scientists studying the ionosphere and space weather, the centerpiece of SPARC will be the installation of “discovery stations” in public venues such as schools, libraries, and museums. In addition, the grant will fund the deployment of 85 “Citizen Science Space Weather Monitor” stations around the country. Other collaborating institutions include the Space Science Institute, MIT Haystack Observatory, the University of Alabama, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. |
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| | Venusbounce (With a Message) |
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You may be familiar with amateur radio moonbounce communication, also known as Earth-Moon-Earth or EME. But what about EVE — Earth-Venus-Earth? A series of transmissions from the Netherlands on October 17 and 18 resulted in the third-ever successful amateur radio EVE reception, including the first-ever reception of a message, “VENUS ECHO.”
The first successful amateur radio EVE transmissions were made by Germany’s AMSAT-DL in 2009, a feat not repeated until 2025 by members of the C.A. Muller Radio Astronomy Station (CAMRAS) foundation at the Dwingeloo radio telescope, PI9RD, in the Netherlands. That signal was simply a long tone transmitted on 1299.5 MHz, with the echo received back at Dwingeloo and at the Stockert radio telescope in Germany. The most recent transmissions included messages in several formats and the echoes were received at multiple radio telescopes. However, the signals were so weak that it took 40 minutes of echoes to decode the entire 10-character message.
Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, CEO of Open Research Institute (ORI), which collaborated with the Dutch team on this effort, told ARRL that bouncing a message off Venus “is a big step up from a radar return, which in its own right is a very difficult technical challenge.” She explains that this is “a very challenging radio channel. It has an enormous path loss. Best case, when Venus is close to Earth, is that it's 250 dB or so at the EVE frequencies used, one way. That's roughly equivalent to the round-trip path loss for EME. So, after you deal with 500 dB path loss to Venus round trip, you have Doppler Spread. Your signal is messed up because Venus spins.” (See Thompson’s article, “A Day at Dwingeloo,” in the October 2026 issue of QST, the ORI blog post on this EVE experiment, and details on the signal modulation, coding, and theory used for the successful message transmission.)
Further transmissions were planned this past week, as EVE is possible only during Venus’s “inferior conjunction,” when it is closest to Earth. Still, the signals must travel over 26 million miles in each direction, with a round trip at the speed of light taking roughly 5 minutes. Thompson says the next EVE opportunity will be in June 2028, and ORI is looking for interested amateurs to get involved. The eventual goal is to complete a 2-way EVE QSO. |
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| Spectrogram of the reflected signal from Venus, as received at the Stockert radio telescope in Germany. [Image from CAMRAS blog] |
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| | How to Work VK9XY on 6 Meters (Hint: Extreme Long Path) |
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| The upcoming VK9XY DXpedition to Christmas Island (November 16 - December 4) is planning to have a 6-meter station on the air in addition to  its HF operations. But Christmas Island is a bit remote for traditional 6-meter contacts, so the group’s focus will be on the moon! After the HF stations are operational, according to an announcement from the Pacific Islands DXpedition Group, the team will set up a 6-meter EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) station using a Flex 6700 transceiver with a kilowatt amplifier on transmit and low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) on receive, feeding an antenna at the top of a cliff with a totally unobstructed view to the north from east to west. Operators will be watching https://livecq.n6nu.org and the ON4KST EME chat.
The antenna is a 6M8GJ on a 24-foot mast that will allow elevation to about 75 EME station up and running. The team notes that it has the required experimental license in hand to allow 1000 watts PEP (425 average) between 50.180 and 50.220 MHz. |
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| | ARRL Foundation Opens Applications for 2027 Scholarship Program |
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The ARRL Foundation will begin accepting applications for its 2027 Scholarship Program on Friday, October 30, 2026, offering students an opportunity to secure financial support for their educational goals. More than 150 scholarships, ranging from $500 to $25,000, will be available to eligible students pursuing higher education. |
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Applications must be submitted online by 12 PM EST on December 21, 2026. All applicants must be licensed amateur radio operators pursuing higher education.
Made possible through the generosity of donors who believe in the promise of the next generation, the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program helps students pursue their academic ambitions while encouraging them to explore the opportunities amateur radio offers in science, technology, engineering, wireless communications, and other related fields.
In 2026, the ARRL Foundation awarded 163 scholarships totaling $813,000, helping students take the next step toward their educational and career goals.
Students are encouraged to explore the available opportunities and apply. Learn more and access the online application at www.arrl.org/scholarship-program. |
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| | | | Amateur Radio in the News |
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“From Scranton to space: University of Scranton professor receives $5.5 million NASA grant to study impact of space weather” / WVIA (Pittston, PA), October 23, 2026 (Also see "ARRL Partners in NASA-Funded Space Weather Education Initiative” above)
“Ham radio enthusiasts tune up and tune in” / Courthouse News Service (Online), October 23, 2026 -- San Diego ARES®
“Learn Guide Update: ARISS SSTV on Fruit Jam” / Adafruit blog (online), October 26, 2026
“Sarasota Military Academy reaches out to International Space Station” / Sarasota Observer (Sarasota, FL), October 25, 2026 plus WWSB-TV (Sarasota, FL), October 22, 2026, and Fox13 Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL) October 22, 2026 -- Tamiami Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club |
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| | ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
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| On the Air LIVE  Learning CW — From Zero to Your First QSO
Interested in learning Morse code but not sure where to start? Join ARRL Director of Education and Learning Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, for the November edition of On the Air Live as we explore practical ways to learn CW and put your new skills to work on the air. Wayne will discuss proven learning methods, free training resources, common mistakes to avoid, and how to build an effective practice routine. Whether you're completely new to CW or have tried learning before, this episode will help you take the next step toward your first CW contact. The livestream will air on Tuesday, November 24th at 8 PM Eastern at the ARRL Learning Center, learn.arrl.org.
📅 Date: November 24, 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
Get Ready for Contest Season ARRL Director of Education and Learning and host of On the Air LIVE, Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, joins the podcast to talk about what goes into an on-air contest, and what you, as a new ham, can get out of participating in one. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. |
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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. Review your award progress and order your certificate and endorsements at america250.arrl.org.
10/28/2026 Michigan W1AW/8 (host K8NGW) 10/28/2026 Nevada W1AW/7 (host NØCSM) 11/4/2026 Arizona W1AW/7 (host W7RAP) 11/4/2026 Virginia W1AW/4 (host WA8AHZ) 11/4/2026 Oklahoma W2AW/5 (host N5HZR) 11/11/2026 Kansas W1AW/Ø (host KSØJD) 11/11/2026 Wyoming W1AW/7 (host WY7AA) 11/11/2026 Maryland W1AW/3 (host K2EJ) |
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Last call for schools to apply for grants from ARRL’s Education and Technology Program (ETP). The application deadline is October 31. The grants assist schools and teachers in the purchase of radio equipment, software, and other radio-related resources for school ham stations. The program offers two types of grants: ETP School Station Grants for schools providing a plan to use amateur radio as part of in-classroom learning or an enrichment program; and ETP Progress Grants for teachers already using amateur radio in their classrooms to purchase additional resources or for those teachers needing resources in order to start teaching about electronics and wireless technology using amateur radio. Details are on the ETP page of the ARRL website. |
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Voting is now under way for members of the ARRL Board of Directors in three Divisions. ARRL members are choosing between two candidates for Director in the Delta, Great Lakes, and Midwest Divisions, and two candidates for Vice Director in the Midwest Division. The Director positions in the Atlantic and Dakota Divisions are unopposed, as are the Vice Director positions in the Atlantic, Dakota, and Delta Divisions. The Great Lakes Division had no candidates for Vice Director.
Candidates in contested elections are:
Director, Delta Division: Incumbent David Norris, K5UZ, and challenger David Thomas, KM4NYI
Director, Great Lakes Division: Incumbent Scott Yonally, N8SY, and challenger Michael Kalter, W8CI
Director, Midwest Division: Incumbent Art Zygielbaum, KØAIZ, and challenger Drew Vonada-Smith, K3PA
Vice Director, Midwest Division: Ron Ochu, KOØZ, and Todd LeMense, KKØDX Successful candidates will be announced in November. Candidates declared elected will assume their roles for terms beginning January 1, 2027. ARRL is governed by its Board of Directors. Elections are held for five of the 15 ARRL Divisions each year, for terms of three years. |
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ARRL Honorary Vice President Jay Holladay, W6EJJ, of La Canada, California, became a Silent Key on September 5, 2026, at age 90. An ARRL Life Member, Holladay served for 21 years on the ARRL Board of Directors, as Vice Director and Director of the Southwestern Division, and as First Vice President before being named an Honorary Vice President in 1996. Holladay was also president of the Southern California DX Club in 1969, and DXer of the Year in 1970. In his professional life, Jay was an engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, where he worked on unmanned space missions. A celebration of his life will be held in Pasadena on November 14. |
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ARRL’s annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is traditionally held in early October, but Section Field Organization leaders have the option of scheduling their drills at a different time, and that’s what’s happening in New Hampshire. Section Public Information Coordinator Skip Camejo, AC1LC, reports that NH-ARES will be conducting its SET on Saturday, November 7, from 8 AM to 2 PM. The scenario will be the ARES response to a major hurricane that disables cellular service, public safety radio and amateur radio repeaters throughout the state. Participants will focus on passing simulated emergency traffic via FM simplex and Winlink email, with the goal of passing messages without changes or errors to a simulated state emergency operations center, and to a simulated American Red Cross communication center, both in Concord, the state capital. In a news release to state media, Camejo notes that “the public may see NH-ARES radio operators located at various high elevation points along the side of roadways, in parking lots or other locations that enhance point to point radio communication.” |
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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:
Technical Editor RFI Lab Engineer Public Relations and Outreach Manager
Membership Marketing Analyst
Instructional Specialist
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 activity is expected to be at very low levels in the coming days, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), as one sunspot region (4561) rotated out of view and a second (4562) was quiet and in decay. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed. The geomagnetic field has been quiet, although an enhancement is expected late on October 30, with a minor geomagnetic storm possible on the 31st, as a result of a recurrent equatorial positive-polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS).
The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre predicts normal to fair HF propagation conditions for the middle latitudes, with generally quiet conditions on the sun.
The W3LPL Propagation Forecast from the Daily DX is predicting mostly normal propagation on the 15- through 80-meter bands -- good DX during the day on 15, 17, and 20 meters; and at night on 30, 40, 60, and 80 meters -- with generally poor DX on 12 and 10 meters as the maximum usable frequency (MUF) dips below 24 MHz due to low sunspot activity.
Predicted 10.7-centimeter solar flux is much lower than last week: Oct 29-Nov 1, 84; Nov 2-5, 82. (Source: NOAA SWPC)
Share your reports and observations. Send your tips, questions, or comments to w2vu@arrl.org. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...," and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website. |
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Solar image on October 29, 2026 [Photo courtesy NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center] |
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| | | | Just Ahead in Radiosport |
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| October 30 -- Zombie Shuffle (CW) October 31 - November 1 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital) October 31 - November 1 -- Russian WW MultiMode Contest (CW, phone, digital) October 31 - November 1 -- UK/EI DX Contest, SSB (phone) November 1 -- North American SSB Sprint (phone) November 1 -- EANET Sprint (CW, phone, digital) November 1 -- High Speed Club CW Contest (CW) November 1 -- Real Time Contest (CW, phone) November 1 - 4 -- Classic Exchange, CW (CW) November 2 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data (digital) November 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW) November 4 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone) November 5 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity, NA (digital) November 5 -- NRAU 10m Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital) November 5 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW) November 5 - 6 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW) November 7 -- IPARC Contest, CW (CW) November 7 - 8 -- YBDXPI FT8 Contest (digital) November 7 - 9 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes, CW (CW) November 8 -- IPARC Contest, SSB (phone) November 8 -- FIRAC HF Contest (phone) November 9 -- Four States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone) November 10 -- DARC FT4 Contest (digital) November 11 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB (phone) November 12 -- VHF/UHF FT8 Activity Contest (digital)
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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. October 30 – 31 | Stone Mountain Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia. November 7 | Superstition ARC Superfest, hosting the ARRL Arizona State Convention, Mesa, Arizona November 14 | Montgomery Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
December 11 – 12 | Tampa Bay Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida |
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Join ARRL at these Division Conventions and other major events throughout the upcoming year, 2027.
February 12 – 14 | Orlando HamCation, hosting the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida
April 3 | RARSfest, The Raleigh Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
April 17 | Ham Radio University, hosting the ARRL Hudson Division Convention, Brookville, New York
May 21 – 23 | Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, Ohio
August 14 | Cincinnati Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention, Owensville, Ohio |
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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.
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 on 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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