The ARRL Letter for September 10, 2026 undefined

 

 

 

The ARRL Letter

 

, Editor | September 10, 2026

 

In this Issue:

 

Answering the Call

Twenty-five years ago tomorrow, September 11, 2001, the United States came under attack from Al Qaeda terrorists who hijacked passenger planes and flew them into buildings in New York City and Washington, DC, as well as a field in western Pennsylvania when passengers fought back. Communications infrastructure sagged under the weight of destruction in some places and overwhelming usage in others. Amateur radio operators answered the call, not only in New York and Washington, but around the country with ARES® and RACES teams going on alert to provide backup communications as needed.

 

In New York City, amateurs took to the airwaves within minutes of the attacks on the World Trade Center, and emergency nets were active — and busy — for nearly two weeks afterward, with close to 500 hams in total responding to calls for volunteers. In the Washington, DC, area, more than 100 hams answered a call to support the Salvation Army’s volunteer effort at the Pentagon, which was active for a week after the attacks. Amateurs in western Pennsylvania also supported the Salvation Army, providing three linked repeaters for SATERN — the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network — to relay messages between the plane crash site and the regional Salvation Army headquarters in Pittsburgh.

 

Amateur radio received high praise from emergency response officials, including Red Cross communications officer John MacInnes, who told then-ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP (SK), “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the ham radio operators.” Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, noted that “amateur radio performed exactly as it was supposed to … We responded to the need to provide communications where none were available.” [Ed. Note: Details in this article were culled from the November 2001 QST article, “9/11/01: ‘This is Not a Test’ ” by Rick Lindquist, N1RL, and Diane Ortiz, K2DO]

 

 

Hamvention Names First Woman as General Chair

2027 Dayton Hamvention® General Chair Hazel Everetts, N8PTL. [Photo courtesy Dayton Amateur Radio Association]

The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) has named Hazel Everetts, N8PTL, as General Chair of the 2027 Dayton Hamvention®. She is the first woman to hold the top spot in Hamvention’s 75-year history. The DARA board of directors also named Steve Keller, AE8AT, as Assistant General Chair, according to board spokesman Michael Kalter, W8CI.

 

Everetts has been a Hamvention volunteer since she was first licensed in 1989 and has served as Assistant General Chair for the past two years. She is also a past vice president of DARA. Everetts holds a General-class license and enjoys contesting.

 

Keller is also a contester. He holds an Amateur Extra-class license, regularly volunteers at DARA exam sessions, and serves as a radio operator for the Air Force Marathon. He is an active Hamvention volunteer and is currently Senior Trustee on the DARA board of directors.

 

“Hazel and Steve have both put in the work behind the scenes for years, and it shows,” said Kalter. “Hamvention is in great hands, and we couldn't be more excited to see what they build together for 2027.” The 2027 will be held on May 21-23 at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.

 

 

Honoring James Clerk Maxwell

It’s likely there will always be debate over who is the “father” of radio, but there is very little doubt about its “grandfather,” Scottish physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell. Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetic radiation laid the foundation for all modern electronic communication techniques, yet the average person knows little or nothing about him. The community where he is buried hopes to change that, as does the James Clerk Maxwell Radio Society, MMØPMS.

 

The Parton Kirk (background) and churchyard where physicist James Clerk Maxwell is buried. The community in Scotland hopes to purchase the church building and turn it into the James Clerk Maxwell Science and Community Centre. [Photo by Richard Hopkins, MM1BHO]

The burial site of James Clerk Maxwell, his wife, and his parents, at Parton Kirk in Scotland. Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetic radiation is the foundation of all modern electronic communications. [Photo by Richard Hopkins, MM1BHO]

Maxwell died in 1879 and is buried at the kirk, or church, in Parton, Scotland. The Church of Scotland, trying to consolidate its properties, has put Parton Kirk up for sale. The community has been given priority to purchase the building but has a November 1 deadline to raise the roughly $95,000 US needed to do so.

 

According to James Clerk Maxwell Radio Society co-founder Richard Hopkins, MM1BHO, the town has “an ambitious vision to preserve the kirk and develop it as a James Clerk Maxwell Science and Community Centre, celebrating his life and scientific legacy while providing a valuable facility for the local community.” More information is available on the group’s or its on QRZ.com.

 

Foxes and Grasshoppers

Erin Hammer, competing in the W-35 category, crosses the 2-meter finish line in the 2026 ARDF national championships. [Photo by Woody Jackson, Mt. Hood Orienteering]

Competitive amateur radio direction-finding, also known as ARDF or foxhunting, is difficult in its own right, but it gets even more challenging when you add in a forest fire near your course. This year’s combined USA national and International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 ARDF championship was held last month in the Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon, hosted by Mt. Hood Orienteering. The original plans called for separate courses in different areas for each of the four events: Sprint, Foxoring (which mixes foxhunting with orienteering), 2-meter Classic, and 80-meter Classic. But those plans were disrupted by a forest fire, dubbed the Grasshopper Fire, that threatened two of the four areas planned for competition. Less than a week before the competitors started arriving, organizers got permission from the US Forest Service to consolidate all four courses in a single area, the Skyline Sno-Park.

 

William Allen, KG4OQO, starts the 2-meter course in the 2026 ARDF national championships. He competed in the M-21 category. [Photo by Woody Jackson, Mt. Hood Orienteering]

ARRL ARDF Coordinator Charles Scharlau, NZØI, and Dale Hunt, WB6BYU, were co-directors and course designers. “Courses designed for other terrain had to be replaced, and all four competitions, along with associated model and equipment-check activities, had to fit onto the Skyline map,” explained Scharlau. “The change meant repeated use of the same general terrain and Classic courses that were, for many categories, shorter than the target lengths normally specified in the rules.”

 

The fire was still burning when the competition began. “Fortunately,” said Scharlau, “wildfire and smoke conditions improved enough for the championships to proceed on schedule. The remaining question was whether four competitions compressed onto one relatively compact map could still provide an appropriate championship challenge. The competitors generally thought they did, and the results support that assessment.”

 

Former ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, KØOV, provided an alphabetical list of the winners in each category (broken down by gender, age group, and event/events):

 

 

Additional photos and complete results are on the .

 

The ARRL Orienteering Committee maintains information about upcoming events at https://www.arrl.org/radio-orienteering.

 

 

Video: Educator Shows How Amateur Radio Is Inspiring Students

Everton Henriques, KD2ZZT, Engineering and Technology Teacher at Staten Island Technical High School.

Educator Everton Henriques, KD2ZZT, shared his experience using amateur radio to inspire students and bring engineering and technology to life in the classroom during his keynote at the 2026 ARRL New England Division Convention, hosted by Northeast HamXposition in Massachusetts on August 15. A video recording is available on ARRL’s .

 

Everton is an Engineering and Technology Teacher at Staten Island (NY) Technical High School. He has also participated in the ARRL , a donor-funded professional development program he describes as “amazing week-long immersions in electronics, wireless technology, remote sensing, amateur radio, and curriculum development.”

 

In his presentation, Henriques describes how a high-altitude balloon project led to amateur radio, a student radio club, and an expanding program incorporating antenna building, transmitter hunting, robotics, solar power, mesh networking, HF communications, and more. His students have earned amateur radio licenses and applied their skills to robotics competitions, underwater ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), emergency communications, and a solar car that went on to earn awards in competition.

 

“We weren't building solar cars, we weren't building antennas, and we weren't winning cheap trophies. We were building students. We were building engineers,” said Henriques. The presentation offers a compelling example of how ARRL and educators are working together to inspire youth and develop the next generation of radio amateurs.

 

 

 

 

ARRL Live Events and Podcasts

On the Air LIVE

Join ARRL Director for Learning and Education Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, for the September episode of OTA Live on Tuesday, September 22 at 8 PM Eastern, where he will explore an inexpensive and practical way to evaluate the performance of your handheld (HT) radio. Using a low-cost Software Defined Radio (SDR) dongle, free SDR software, and free audio-editing software, Wayne will demonstrate several tests that can help you get a better idea of how well your HT is working. While these measurements won’t replace lab-grade testing, they can reveal useful information about your radio’s performance. Wayne will also demonstrate how to use these tools to identify CTCSS tones and DCS codes. The livestream will air on the ARRL's learning center, . Preregistration is required and can be accomplished through the Learning Center.

 

📅 Date: September 22, 2026

🕗 Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific

👉 | ⏪

 

 

 

ARRL Audio News

Listen to , 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. | | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.

 

On the Air

Sponsored by Icom

 

About the New QST Product Review Comparison Tool for ARRL Lab-Tested Devices

 

Some of the products seen in QST Product Review, including transceivers, receivers, and amplifiers, are tested in the ARRL Lab to see how they stack up against the manufacturer’s claims. Those test results are included in the published review to help you make more informed buying choices. ARRL’s new online interactive for ARRL Lab-Tested Devices makes it even easier to refer to, compare, and understand the test results. ARRL Digital RF Engineer John Jobin McAuliffe, W1DRF, visit the podcast to talk about what the tool does and how to use it to better inform your radio purchases. | | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.

 

 

 

Announcements

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 . Review your award progress and order your certificate and endorsements at .

 

09/16/2026 New Hampshire W1AW/1 (Host KC1WNM)

09/16/2026 Illinois W1AW/9 (host W9KXQ)

09/16/2026 Tennessee W1AW/4 (host W4CMG)

09/23/2026 Vermont W1AW/1 (host W1SJ)

 

 

 

In Brief...

Students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s campus in Prescott, Arizona, promoted the university’s amateur radio club, N7ERU, during the Student Organization Fair on September 3. According to Rachel Jones, KO4HLC, an ARRL Teachers Institute graduate and an assistant professor at Embry-Riddle, students this year “are breathing new life into N7ERU, bringing amateur radio back to campus and growing a new generation of radio enthusiasts.”

 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University radio club officers promote the club during the school’s Student Organization Fair. From left: Treasurer McKenzie Carr, KO6OCU; President Liam Van Citters, KN6QXK, and Vice President Andrew Berg, KN6ZFI. [Photo courtesy Rachel Jones, KO4HLC]

 

Looking for a chance to work ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, on the radio, and get some island DX credit at the same time? The Daily DX reports that Rick will be operating from a beach in Providenciales (IOTA NA-002) in Turks and Caicos through September 17. He’ll be on 40, 30, 20, and 10 meters — and possibly 80 and 160 — operating mainly on CW and FT8. QSLing is via Logbook of The World only.

 

Special event station VO1911G to operate on 9/11. Air travel in the US was briefly shut down after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and 38 aircraft already in flight were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, where the local population accommodated nearly 7000 passengers for several days. The Daily DX reports that ARCON, the Amateur Radio Club of Newfoundland, Central, will commemorate the helping hands offered 25 years ago by operating VO1911G on September 11, 2026. That’s prefix VO1 for Newfoundland, 911 for 9/11, and G for Gander.

 

Remembering longtime radio amateur Rankin Armstrong “Army” Curtis, Jr., AE5P, Silent Key. Curtis, of Nacogdoches, Texas, died August 16, 2026, at age 85. An ARRL Life Member, he served as an Assistant Section Manager in the ARRL North Texas Section, participated in contests, provided emergency communications, and operated phone patches for offshore naval personnel and their families. He also was an electrical engineer with expertise in electrical power distribution and antenna design and was a longtime member of the Nacogdoches Amateur Radio Club. His obituary is available .

 

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

Technical Editor

RFI Lab Engineer

Public Relations and Outreach Manager

Advertising Sales Manager

 

Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at .

 

ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.

 

The ARRL Solar Report

ARRL On the Air

Solar image on September 9, 2026 [Photo courtesy NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center]

ARRL Solar Report

 

Solar flare activity was at low levels in the past week with isolated C-class flare activity, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The largest flare of the period was a C3.4 on September 8 from otherwise stable Region 4528. Region 4530 developed asymmetric penumbra on both its leading and trailing poles while undergoing consolidation in its intermediate area. New flux emergence in the intermediate area was observed late in the period. Region 4521 began to show signs of possible flux emergence and pore development as it produced three C2-class flares on September 8. Solar activity is likely to be at low levels due to isolated to occasional C-class flare activity, with a slight chance for M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) through September 11.

 

Solar wind parameters have been at or close to nominal levels, but enhanced solar wind conditions due to positive polarity CH HSS (coronal hole high speed stream) influences are expected to continue through September 10. On September 11, a separate additional positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream is likely to arrive, bringing a mildly disturbed solar wind environment. Quiet to unsettled levels in the geomagnetic field are expected to prevail on September 10 and continue into September 11 as another positive polarity CHHSS becomes geoeffective.

 

The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre predicts that degraded HF propagation conditions on September 9 would begin to clear up on September 10 and 11, leading to normal or normal-fair HF propagation through all latitudes as we approach equinoctial propagation conditions.

 

Predicted 10.7-centimeter radio flux: Sep 10, 105; Sep 11, 108; Sep 12, 105; Sep 13, 102; Sep 14-17, 105.

 

Send your tips, questions, or comments to .

 

For more information concerning radio propagation, the ARRL Technical Information Service, "What the Numbers Mean...," and the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

 

A propagation bulletin is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the website.

 

your reports and observations.

 

 

Just Ahead in Radiosport

  • September 10 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
  • September 11 -- K1USN SST Open (CW)
  • September 12 - 13 -- WAE DX Contest, SSB (phone)
  • September 12 - 13 -- SEANET Contest (CW, phone)
  • September 12 - 13 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
  • September 12 -- Ohio State Parks on the Air (CW, phone)
  • September 12 - 13 -- New Jersey QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 12 - 13 -- Colorado QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 12 - 14 --
  • September 13 --
  • September 14 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
  • September 17 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest – NA (digital)
  • September 17 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
  • September 17 -- BCC QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 17 - 18 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
  • September 19 - 21 --
  • September 19 - 20 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW (CW)
  • September 19 - 20 -- Iowa QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 19 - 20 -- Texas QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 19 -- QRP Afield (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 19 -- Wisconsin Parks on the Air (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 19 - 20 -- New Hampshire QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
  • September 19 - 20 -- Washington State Salmon Run (CW, phone)
  • September 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
  • September 20 --
  • September 20 -- BARTG Sprint PSK63 Contest (digital)
  • September 20 -- ARS Flight of the Bumblebees (CW)
  • September 20 - 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

 

Remember to visit the for more events and information.

 

 

Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events

 

ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions (next 60 days)

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database at to find events in your area.

 

September 26 | , hosting the ARRL Minnesota State Convention, Moorhead, Minnesota

 

October 3 | , hosting the ARRL Santa Barbara Section Convention, Camarillo, California

 

October 3 | , hosting the ARRL Kansas Section Convention, Wichita, Kansas

 

October 9 – 10 | , hosting the ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Sedalia, Missouri

 

October 10 | , hosting the ARRL Dakota Division Convention, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

 

October 11 | , hosting the ARRL Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut

 

October 11 | , hosting the ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention, Mullica Hill, New Jersey

 

October 16 – 18 | , hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California

 

October 24 | , hosting the ARRL Mississippi Section Convention, Ridgeland, Mississippi.

 

October 30 – 31 | , hosting the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia.

 

November 7 | , hosting the ARRL Arizona State Convention, Mesa, Arizona

 

 

Have News for ARRL?

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