Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate levels
through March 15.  There is a varying chance for R1 or R2 (Minor or
Moderate) events, and a slight chance for R3 or greater events.

Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) levels on
February 28, March 9, and March 12 to 14.  Active levels are
predicted for March 1. Quiet, and quiet to unsettled conditions are
expected to...

Robert “Bob” Buus, W2OD, passed away on February 18, 2025. He has served as the ARRL Northern New Jersey Section Manager since 2020. Buus served as an Assistant Section Manager, Emergency Coordinator, and Net Manager prior to his appointment. 

Buus was born in Minnesota and was first licensed in 1950. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in electrical engineering. He wo...

Due to significant demand, ARRL has expanded the number of available spots for this month’s On the Air Live, an online training session linked to content in the current issue of On the Air magazine. The program quickly reached its original capacity. The live event will be hosted by ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF.

“It is a good problem to have,” said ARRL Education and Learning Ma...

Steve Schickel was a young high school student in the late ’80s and was introduced to amateur radio through his electronics classes. He also spent time working at a local RadioShack and watching science fiction movies at a nearby theater in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida.

Amateur radio’s next biggest influence on Steve came in 1997, on opening night of the movie “Contact,” about a scientist ...

Election results have been finalized in the ARRL Iowa Section. Barry Buelow, WØIY, received 283 votes, defeating incumbent Leilia Garner, WAØUIG, who received 146 votes.

Buelow, of Cedar Point, will assume Section Manager duties on April 1. Buelow is a veteran of the United States Air Force and has worked in aerospace engineering. He has served on the ARRL National Convention Committee and is a ...

With Solar Cycle 25 still at peak conditions, and several popular contests this time of year, there have been some interesting, if not totally rare, DX opportunities on the HF bands. Spots have been flying on DX club email reflectors this week. VK9XU on Christmas Island, V73WW on Marshall Island, 5N9DTG in Nigeria, KH7AL/KH9 on Wake Island, and 7Q2MM in Malawi have all been noted, among many ot...

ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of President’s Day. There won't be any W1AW bulletins or code practice that day. ARRL HQ will reopen on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 8 AM EST.

NOAA reports a G1 (Minor) geomagnetic Storm Watch has been issued
for 14 Feb, 2025. A coronal hole high speed stream is expected to
move into a position favorable for enhanced interaction between the
high speed stream and Earth's magnetosphere. These enhancements are
likely to cause elevated geomagnetic responses, with G1 (Minor)
storm levels likely.

From Spaceweather.com: Another solar wind stream i...

On February 12, 2025, RigExpert’s administrative office, in Kyiv, Ukraine, was destroyed by a Russian ballistic missile. All employees are reported to be safe.

RigExpert is a leading manufacturer of antenna and cable analyzers and officials said they are committed to restoring operations as soon as possible.

“Our top priority is the safety of our team and the continuity of our operations,” said A...

A $10,000 grant to the University of Scranton, from the Frankford Radio Club (FRC)in Pennsylvania, will support the development of a contest dashboard that will leverage the popularity of amateur radio operator contests to benefit science, technology, students and Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) community members.

Through the grant, a team of university students, faculty, and FR...

Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) in the Puerto Rico Section of ARRL The Narional Association for Amateur Radio® has signed a renewal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Red Cross Puerto Rico Region. The agreement establishes a framework of cooperation and a close working relationship with ARRL ARES volunteers.

Both ARES and the Red Cross agree that, with the resources of ...

Bob Naumann, W5OV, passed away at his home in Texas on February 10, 2025. Naumann was a mentor to many in the Amateur Radio Service, and well known in the ham radio contesting and DX community. He served on the headquarters staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio as Director of Operations from 2021 to 2024. He was an ARRL Life Member and a member of the ARRL Diamond Club.

ARRL C...

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN), founded on Labor Day weekend 1965, is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. The net, known for relaying surface observations into the National Hurricane Center, is also seeking volunteers to serve as net control operators. 

Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, reports HWN is preparing for what could be, yet again, an above-average hurricane season and that the net...

Amateur radio operators are known for their desire and unique ability to provide public service through communications. Whether activated for a severe weather event or a local event such as a marathon or bike ride, the utility value and versatility of the Amateur Radio Service is enjoyed by communities around the country. One critical aspect of coordinating the communications is the role of net...

Spaceweather.com reports that sunspot 3981 has produced more than 20
M-class solar flares, including two that almost reached category X.

The activity is likely to continue today. The sunspot retains a
delta-class magnetic field that harbors energy for frequent
explosions.

The current solar forecast calls for there to be no G1 (Minor) or
greater geomagnetic storms.  A potential glancing blow is possib...

ARRL is helping members get the most out of amateur radio through On the Air Live, a monthly series of training sessions. The live events are hosted by ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, and offer a deep dive into topics hams will find useful. “We had a great crowd at January’s On the Air Live,” said Greene. “We showed folks how to get started in slow scan television (SSTV).”

The ne...

Paul Szczerbinski, W9KHO, an employee of Ham Radio Outlet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received a Certificate of Honor from HRO President Robert Ferrero, W6KR, for 60 years as an amateur radio operator. This is just the second time the award has been presented.

Szczerbinski’s history in radio dates to 1964, when, after being honorably discharged from the United States Air Force, he began working for...

By Ward Silver, NØAX

Imagine a weekend without a single full-bore pro football game. (American football, my DX and soccer-aficionado friends.) Not one. No hours of pre-game jabber. No amazing on-screen graphics and gadgets. No breathless half-time reports or injury updates. What is a right-thinking person to do? How about the CW Sprint?

The NCJ North American CW Sprint runs on Saturday evening, F...