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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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Manu Siebert, LU9ESD, working the pileup as MB5P. [Lukas Bartkus, LY7J, 2026, photo] | | |
The World Radiosport Team Championship 2026, held in the United Kingdom, July 8 – 13, featured 50 teams of two operators each competing under identical conditions in a 24-hour continuous IARU HF contest.
The top 3 teams were extremely close, reflecting a highly competitive event.
Highlights of the event included over 260 thousand contacts across multiple bands, live scoring and real-time leaderboard updates, plus worldwide livestream coverage and commentary.
The Champion (gold) team was Yaroslav Oliinyk, UW7LL, and Yuri Onipko, VE3DZ, operating as MB2M. The second-place (silver) team was Manfred Wolf, DJ5MW, and Ulrich Ann, DM5EE, operating MB5O; and the third-place team (bronze) was Emir-Braco Memic, E77DX, and Sven Lovric, DJ4MX, on air as MB1I.
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The 2026 WRTC podium: (left to right) Second-place (silver) winners Ulrich Ann, DM5EE, and Manfred Wolf, DJ5MW; Champions (gold) Yuri Onipko, VE3DZ, and Yaroslav Oliinyk, UW7LL, and third-place (bronze) winners Sven Lovric, DJ4MX, and Emir-Braco Memic, E77DX. [Lukas Bartkus, LY7J, 2026, photo] | | | |
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Also competing this year on the Youth #3 Team was an ARRL HQ staff member, Education & Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML, and his teammate, Willow Mauldin, W7WLW, operating as MB4X.
“Overall, it was great experience,” said Freedman. “I’m hoping to participate in the 2030 WRTC event.”
You can watch YouTube videos of the WRTC 2026 event at their YouTube Channel.
At the close of WRTC 2026, the WRTC Sanctioning Committee announced it has extended the period for accepting applications to host the 2030 World Radiosport Team Championship.
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School May Be Out, But the Teachers Are Here |
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While students across the country are soaking in their summer vacations, some of their teachers are at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, participating in the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI).
“This is the most valuable professional development I have ever attended!” said Colleen Campbell, KB8VAQ, from Columbiana, Ohio, a teacher attending this week’s TI-1 session. The course introduces educators to the basics of electronic principles, radio frequency propagation, and antennas.
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ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF (far right), with educators participating in the July 13-16 TI-1 cohort of the ARRL Teachers Institute. [Gregory Sulla, KC1YNI, photo] | | | |
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The session is one of several held at ARRL Headquarters throughout the summer as part of a significant expansion of the program to reach more educators each year.
Additional sessions have also been held at locations around the country, bringing wireless technology education to more classrooms and communities.
The growth of the Teachers Institute reflects ARRL’s commitment to developing the next generation of radio amateurs by reaching students through the educators who inspire them.
This week’s instructor is ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, of Brunswick, Georgia, who is teaching six TI sessions this year.
"Generations of radio amateurs credit ham radio with sparking their interest in science, engineering, and technology,” said Greene. “Through hands-on experiences with topics such as radio-enabled high-altitude balloons, satellite communications, radio astronomy, and wireless security, we are equipping teachers to bring that same spark into their classrooms.
Each educator we reach has the potential to inspire hundreds of students who may be our next radio amateurs, innovators, and technology professionals."
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ARRL TI includes both classroom instruction and hands-on field activities. Teachers return home with the classroom resources and activities they experienced during the weeklong session. [Gregory Sulla, KC1YNI, photo] | | | |
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Campbell added, “Our instructor, Wayne, has so much knowledge to share and does so in the most humorous ways.
His attention-getting demonstrations will mesmerize my students in the same ways they have the other teachers and me this week!”
For more information about the program, visit www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology. Individuals and radio clubs who can help expand opportunities for educators and students are invited to consider supporting the ARRL Education & Technology Fund.
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Upcoming: 2026 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) |
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The annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test
(SET) will be held October 3 – 4, 2026. The September 2026 issue of QST will include a one-page announcement for this year’s test. As always, local and Section SET teams are encouraged to conduct their exercises on another date throughout the autumn season (or practically any date throughout the calendar year) if those dates happen to be better for their group, groups, or Section and served agencies with which they are working.
This nationwide exercise is the chance to test your personal emergency operating skills and the readiness of your communications equipment and accessories in a simulated emergency deployment.
ARRL Field Organization leaders at the Section and local levels, and many other volunteers who are active in public service and emergency communications, are developing scenarios in consultation with a variety of served agencies and organizations.
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Station readiness, personal training, and practice are tenets of the Amateur Radio Service.
Any time we spend on the air contributes to developing and practicing our personal radio communication capability.
The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), the National Traffic System® (NTS®; see also the NTS 2.0 Project), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), SKYWARN™, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN), and other allied groups and public service-oriented radio amateurs are among those who are eligible to participate in the simulated exercise and to practice emergency operation plans, nets, and procedures.
More information is available at www.arrl.org/simulated-emergency-test.
Thanks to the The ARES Letter® Editor Rick Palm, K1CE, for his update.
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Nearly 40,000 members subscribe to the print edition of QST. All members can access the digital edition and archives – from anywhere! | | |
With a heat wave stretching across most of the US, there are a few ways to beat the heat while keeping up with the latest in amateur radio. First, pull up a chair in your ham shack and get on the air! Second, read the latest from QST!
A photo from Antarctica graces the cover of the August 2026 issue of QST, introducing members to one of the most remote installations of HamSCI’s Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS) project, led by Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., W2NAF. Read more about HamSCI – the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation – in this issue’s special section, which explores PSWS, other HamSCI projects, and their 2026 workshop hosted by ARRL.
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The August issue of QST revisits the classic Tuna Tin Transmitter 50 years later with an adapted design by Bob Fontana, AK3Y. | | |
Also in this issue, QST Reviews the QRP Labs QMX+ 160 – 6 meter QRP Transceiver, the West Mountain Radio N8XJK Super Booster, and the Chameleon Antenna CHA FSR System.
There’s also a recap of Dayton Hamvention® 2026, including a roundup of new products from the event.
Did You Know?
Nearly 40,000 members subscribe to the print edition of QST. All members can access the digital editions and archives of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ. Download the ARRL Magazines app or bookmark www.arrl.org/arrl-magazines. And here’s a tip: remember to download current issues before you head off on your next vacation.
As you travel this summer, share with us
where you’ve carried QST – print or digital. We might include your photo in a future issue of The ARRL Letter!
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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“Ham radio operators test emergency skills at Field Day event” / San Diego Union-Tribune (California) July 8, 2026 -- Poway Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club
“Midland Amateur Radio Club reconnects through Field Day event” / Midland Daily News (Michigan) July 12, 2026 -- The Midland Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club
“Ham Radio Event Prepares Jersey Shore For Emergencies” / Jersey Shore News (New Jersey) July 13, 2026 -- Ocean-Monmouth 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
What is your family’s backup plan when phones, texts, or internet are not available? Join ARRL’s Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, for the next On the Air Live as we explore the P.A.C.E. plan—Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency—and how it can help families build a practical communications plan before a crisis happens. We’ll talk about where amateur radio fits, how to layer your options, and how to make the plan simple enough for the whole family to use. The livestream will air on the ARRL's learning center, learn.arrl.org, July 28th at 8pm Eastern. Preregistration is required and can be accomplished through the Learning Center.
📅 Date: July 28th, 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
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.
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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.
07/13/2026 Georgia W1AW/4 (host KJ4CNC)
07/15/2026 Indiana W1AW/9 (host AK9R)
07/15/2026 Pennsylvania W1AW/3 (host K3LR)
07/15/2026 Utah W1AW/7 (host NA7C)
07/22/2026 Rhode Island W1AW/1 (host N1SXB)
07/22/2026 South Carolina W1AW/4 (host KG9V)
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Entries are still coming in for ARRL Field Day 2026. As of this date, July 16, there were 3527 entries. A reminder that entries must be postmarked or submitted via web app at field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php by Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and late entries cannot be accepted. To see if your entry has been received, see field-day.arrl.org/fdentriesrcvd.php. If your entry is missing any required document or bonus point proof, the status will be listed as "pending." Participants may upload additional documentation to the entry for up to 30 days after the entry deadline. The official 2026 Field Day results will be available at fieldday.arrl.org/fdresults.php and in December 2026 QST. For a downloadable CSV (comma separated values) file of Field Day scores, visit field-day.arrl.org/fdresults.php. You can also view the Results Articles
from previous Field Days. Field Day Soapbox
is a busy place! Check it out for photos and stories about Field Day 2026.
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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, July 16, 2026 | | |
ARRL Solar Report July 16, 2026
Solar activity has remained at low levels, with an occasional low-level C-class flaring observed, including a C3.3/Sf flare on July 15 from Region 4489. The largest event of the period, a long-duration C8.9 flare that peaked on July 15, originated from a returning region on the eastern limb.
This region is not yet numbered and will be assessed once it has become visible from Earth’s perspective, but the latest imagery from Solar Orbiter suggested only a simple and rather average bipolar group with a relatively small penumbra.
There are two numbered sunspot regions on the visible disk.
Region 4482 showed minor new flux emergence behind its mature primary spot, developing a bipolar configuration.
As Region 4489 rotated further into view and limb foreshortening effects decreased, very small opposite-polarity trailing spots became visible, making it a stable bipolar group.
Additionally, a small, magnetically simple, region tracked in Solar Orbiter imagery has begun to rotate over the east limb near S10.
No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery.
Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels through July 18, with a slight chance for M-class (R1-R2/minor-moderate) flares, primarily driven by active regions anticipated to rotate onto the visible disk over the next few days.
Solar wind parameters reflected possible combined glancing coronal mass ejection (CME) effects and subsequent weak positive polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (+CH HSS) influences.
A return to more ambient-like conditions is expected over the next three days.
The 10.7-centimeter flux: July 16, 137; July 17, 131; July 18, 141; July 19, 128; July 20, 144; July 21, 122; July 22, 148
Predicted sunspot numbers: July 16, 100; July 17, 93; July 18, 106; July 19, 88; July 20, 110; July 21, 80 July 22, 114
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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July 16 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
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July 16 - 17 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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July 16 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
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July 16 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
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July 18 - 19 -- LABRE DX Contest (CW, phone)
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July 18 -- Russian Radio Team Championship (CW, phone)
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July 18 -- Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge (CW, phone, digital)
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July 18 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
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July 18 - 19 -- CQ Worldwide VHF (digital)
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July 18 - 19 -- IARU Region 1 70 MHz Contest (CW, phone)
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July 18 - 19 -- North American QSO Party RTTY (digital)
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July 19 -- RSGB International Low Power Contest (CW)
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July 19 -- YOTA Contest (CW, phone)
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July 19 - 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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July 22 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
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July 23 -- RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data (digital)
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July 15 - 26 -- RSGB IOTA Contest (CW, phone)
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July 25 -- Alabama QSO Party (CW, phone)
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July 26 -- ARS Flight of the Bumblebees (CW)
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July 27 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (digital)
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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.
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, Augusta, Maine
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
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
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In last week’s edition of the ARRL Letter (July 9, 2026), there were three mistakes in the story about new Santa Clara Valley Section Manager Tony Dowler, K6BV. Here are the corrections: Dowler is from Pacifica, California. He is a past president of both NCDXC and the San Francisco Radio Club. Dower is currently a Director of the NCDXC. We apologize for the errors.
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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 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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