ARRL Newsfeed

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

  • eBay Restricts Listings of Radio Equipment, but Exempts Ham-Band-Only Gear

    ImageOnline marketplace eBay has imposed new restrictions on listings of radio transmitting equipment in response to new FCC rules that took effect this week, but responded to ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® that its new policy will not apply to gear that operates exclusively on amateur radio frequencies. The FCC’s rules are intended to use its equipment authorization program t...

  • Florida Hams Provide Communications Support During Hurricane Isaias

    Amateur radio operators from Florida’s Santa Rosa, Nassau, Lake, Pinellas, and Leon Counties played an important role in supporting emergency communications efforts during and following Hurricane Isaias, helping ensure that critical communication capabilities remained available throughout the storm.

    In Santa Rosa County, volunteer amateur radio operators staffed the Emergency Operations Center (...

  • The ARRL Solar Update

    Look for improved propagation on the upper HF bands, as both the
    sunspot numbers and 10.7-centimeter radio flux remain near or above
    100. According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC),
    the increase in activity is being fueled primarily by sunspot
    Region 4551, which is described as the largest and most complex of
    six sunspot regions currently visible on the surface of the Sun.
    Mostly quie...

  • The 2026 ARRL Online Auction Is Now Open

    The 21st annual ARRL Online Auction, sponsored by GigaParts, is open now through October 22. Browse more than 200 items and place your bids!

    This year’s selection includes gear from QST “Product Review” articles, vintage books, pre-owned equipment, signed original sketches by Salty Walt Hudson, K4OGO, from Salty Walt’s Portable Antenna Sketchbook, and four popular mystery boxes contributed by th...

  • ARRL Headquarters Closing Early on Friday, October 9, 2026

    ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® will close our headquarters at 12 PM Eastern time on Friday, October 9, 2026, for a staff event.

    The ARRL Headquarters lobby and store, as well as W1AW, will be open to visitors from 8 AM to 12 PM EDT. Members are reminded that many transactions may be completed on our website at www.arrl.org. 

    There won’t be any interruptions to the W1AW bulletin...

  • Radio Amateurs Prepare for Hurricane Isaias

    Updated Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 11 AM EDT

    As of Saturday morning, October 10, the Hurricane Watch Net remained active on both 14.325 and 7.268 MHz, collecting and forwarding post-storm reports to the National Hurricane Center and assisting with any emergency, priority or outgoing health and welfare traffic. Please keep these frequencies clear. 

    Updated Friday, October 9, 2026 @ 10 AM EDT

    Upda...

  • Watching the Gulf

    The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is closely monitoring Invest 92L, which is expected to become Tropical Storm Isaias in the next 24 hours. According to HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, the potential area of concern for this storm is a wide swath of the Gulf coast, extending from Louisiana to Florida. Graves says there is no HWN activation at this time, but the net will go into operation if offici...

  • 2026 Collegiate QSO Party is October 3 – 4

    Get ready to contact college and university radio clubs during this weekend’s Collegiate QSO Party, 0000 UTC October 3 through 2359 UTC ImageOctober 4 (Friday evening through Sunday in the US). Students, faculty, staff, and alumni will be on the air using the call sign of a college, university, or other post-secondary academic institution. Look for stations on CW, phone, and digital modes on an...

  • Remembering Four Silent Keys

    We are saddened to report this week on the passing of four well-known amateurs, including two members of the extended “ARRL family.” 

    Longtime ARRL Rhode Island Section Manager Robert George “Bob” Beaudet, W1YRC, became a Silent Key on September 10, 2026, at age 88. An ARRL Life Member, Gold-Level Diamond Club member, and Maxim Society member in the President Class, Beaudet served as Rhode Islan...

  • Video/Podcast with ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA

    ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, was a guest on episode 103 of The DX Mentor, which aired September 19, 2026. Hosted by Bill Salyers, AJ8B, with Joe Pater, W8GEX, the discussion covered highlights from the ARRL Board of Directors’ annual Second Meeting, held July 17; the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU); the August ARRL National Convention hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest, and recent supp...