American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
- The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity reached moderate levels early this week. Thestrongest event was an M1.4 flare observed on February 11 in Region4366. This region also produced nine C-class flares. Region 4373 produced a C1.8/Sf flare on February 11. This regiondisplayed some minor area growth. Regions 4369 and 4371 exhibitedsome minor decay. The other spotted regions remained unchanged. NewRegion 4375 was number...
- Radio Clubs Encouraged to Plan Now for April Ham Radio Open House
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is inviting radio clubs to participate in the second annual Ham Radio Open House in April. Hosting an Open House gives clubs and schools the opportunity to promote amateur radio science and technology by opening their stations to the public and showcasing their hi-tech gear and operating skills.In addition, clubs are encouraged to set up in publi...
- ARRL Mourns the Loss of Sharon Taratula, Awards Manager
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is saddened to share the news that Sharon Taratula, who served the League with dedication and distinction for 32 years, passed away on February 4, 2026.Sharon joined ARRL on January 31, 1994, as DXCC Awards Technician. She later served as Administrative Assistant (1996), MVP Administrative Manager (2011), and from 2016 until her passing, as Award...
- The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity was at high levels for most of the week, dominated byRegion 4366. The most notable event was an impulsive X4.2 flare fromthat region on February 4. Throughout the period, Region 4366continued to exhibit a slight reduction in area and a modestsimplification of its magnetic complexity. The remaining numberedregions on the visible disk remained stable or in a state of slightdecay. T...
- NCVEC Question Pool Committee Removes Three Questions from Use
- ARRL Joins America250 as a Supporting Partner for the Nation’s 250th Anniversary
- Former FCC official John B. Johnston, W3BE, Silent Key
John B. Johnston, W3BE (SK), of Derwood, Maryland, passed away on January 7, 2026. He was 98 years old. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Johnson was a World War II veteran and served in the Pacific Theater. He was first licensed on March 15, 1954, as KN2HHR. Following military service and college, he worked for the General Electric Company, and then as an engineer for the Federal Communications Commis...
- The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity continued at low levels this week. Low level C-classflares were observed from Regions 4342 and 4353. The majority of theregions were either stable or in decay. New Regions 4359, 4360, and4361 emerged on the disk and were numbered. No Earth-directedCoronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. The forecast calls forsolar activity to remain at low levels with a chance for M-classfla...
- North Carolina Students Scheduled to Make Contact with the International Space Station
580 students at Conn Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina, will participate in a conversation with an astronaut on board the International Space Station (ISS). Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has confirmed the contact, scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, just after 10:00 AM EST. Radio communications will be provided by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Socie...
- ARRL to announce winner of Icom® Dream Station at HamCation®