Summary
SARC's November 2026 ham radio guidance: winter antennas, DC power, cold-weather batteries, SWR checks, Sweepstakes, and CQ WW CW dates.
Monthly focus: Finish accessible antenna work, test your station under load, and build confidence before winter operating.
November gives Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club members a practical goal: make the station easier to trust when outdoor repairs become harder. A saved antenna sweep, a sound power connection, and a tested battery can each make a useful difference.
This report continues our October Ham Radio Station Guidance. Bring out last month’s measurements and compare them with the station you have today. If you are new to the hobby, start with one band and one clear record.
Prepared November 1, 2026. Space-weather figures below are dated forecasts, not predictions for the entire month. Event dates and rules were checked against organizer sources; check those sources again before operating.
1. November Space Weather: Use the Newest Forecast
NOAA’s three-day forecast issued November 1 at 1230 UTC reports a maximum observed three-hour Kp of 6 during the previous 24 hours, corresponding to a G2, or moderate, geomagnetic storm. It forecasts periods of G1, or minor, storming on November 1 from a high-speed solar-wind stream associated with a coronal hole.
Predicted Kp values are lower on November 2–3. The forecast expects no R1 or greater radio blackouts, although its listed probabilities are not zero. Read the latest NOAA Three-Day Forecast before judging a difficult radio path.
The NOAA 27-Day Space Weather Outlook issued October 26 forecasts 10.7-centimeter solar radio flux of 80–84 solar flux units (sfu) for November 1–21. That outlook does not cover the late-month CQ WW CW weekend. Use newer forecasts as they become available.
These figures help guide band checks; they cannot guarantee a contact. The NOAA Space Weather Scales explain the difference between geomagnetic storms and flare-related radio blackouts.
2. Reset Local Clocks and Confirm UTC
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time. Chicago returns to Central Standard Time, or CST, which is six hours behind Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. See NIST’s Daylight Saving Time Rules.
The November contest times below use CST. Keep contest logs in UTC, confirm your computer’s time zone, and check that automatic time synchronization is working before operating digital modes. A 0000 UTC Saturday contest start falls on Friday evening here.
3. Make a Flexible November Band Plan
Use this suggested plan to decide where to listen. HF means high frequency; DX means distant contacts. It is a starting point, not a forecast of specific openings.
| Band | What to try | Station priority |
|---|---|---|
| 80 meters | Evening regional contacts; explore longer paths when conditions allow | Measure both the voice and digital areas you actually use |
| 40 meters | Regional daytime contacts and evening DX | Keep one dependable lower-band antenna ready |
| 20 meters | Daytime DX and checks around the daylight-to-dark transition | Use consistent listening times when comparing results |
| 15 and 10 meters | Daylight openings; listen before assuming the bands are closed | Keep higher-band elements and connections in service |
| 2 meters and 70 centimeters | Local simplex and repeater contacts | Verify memories, coverage, and backup power |
Paths depend on the ionosphere, time, frequency, and conditions at both ends. Explore ARRL’s Propagation of RF Signals resources, then compare the theory with your own log.
4. Inspect Antennas Before Snow and Ice Complicate Access
SARC’s Winter Storm Causes Antenna Problems article documented damaged and ice-loaded member antennas after a November 2018 storm. That is a local reminder to inspect now, not a forecast for this November.
On a dry, calm day, check accessible supports, strain relief, connector seals, coax jackets, and places where cables rub. Look for loose hardware and wire tension that leaves little allowance for movement. Follow the antenna and support manufacturers’ installation instructions.
Photograph the installation before changing it. Keep antennas and supports clear of power lines, including where they could fall. Arrange qualified help for climbing or structural work. ARRL’s Antenna and Tower Safety guidance explains why wind and ice loads matter.
5. Check Your 40- and 80-Meter Coverage
A simple half-wave dipole remains a useful project. The construction estimate in ARRL’s Single Band Dipoles guide is:
Total wire length in feet = 468 ÷ frequency in MHz.
| Band | Example design frequency | Total length | Each leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 meters | 3.850 MHz | 121.6 ft | 60.8 ft |
| 40 meters | 7.200 MHz | 65.0 ft | 32.5 ft |
| 20 meters | 14.250 MHz | 32.8 ft | 16.4 ft |
| 15 meters | 21.300 MHz | 22.0 ft | 11.0 ft |
| 10 meters | 28.400 MHz | 16.5 ft | 8.2 ft |
These rounded values are estimates, not final cutting dimensions or reserved operating frequencies. Leave extra wire for trimming and measure in the installed position. Height, nearby objects, and construction affect the result.
One favorable standing wave ratio, or SWR, reading does not establish coverage across 80 meters. Check your intended operating frequencies, and follow your license privileges and permitted modes.
6. Recheck Multiband Elements and Vertical Connections
For a fan dipole, save a sweep on every supported band before making adjustments. A useful tuning sequence is to begin with the lowest-frequency element, work upward, and then recheck all bands. Treat that as a method to try; interacting elements may require another pass.
For a ground-mounted quarter-wave vertical, inspect accessible radial connections and damaged wires. Follow the design’s requirements rather than applying one radial count to every antenna. A ground rod alone can introduce substantial RF loss in this type of installation.
ARRL’s Grounding guidance distinguishes antenna RF return paths from other grounding needs. Elevated and ground-mounted verticals need different treatment.
7. Match the DC Supply and Wiring to the Radio
Direct current, or DC, power needs attention at the equipment, not just at the supply meter. As one example, the Kenwood TS-590SG Specifications list 13.8 V DC ±15% and transmit current of 20.5 amps or less. The voltage tolerance is not a target for acceptable cable loss.
Check the supply’s continuous rating against the radio and every accessory sharing it. With power disconnected, inspect crimps, fuse holders, insulation, polarity, and terminal security. Cable length and voltage drop matter as well as current capacity.
Use the manufacturer’s cable and protection requirements. The TS-590SG Instruction Manual specifies a supply capable of at least 20.5 amps peak, warns against substituting smaller-gauge DC cable, and identifies 25-amp fuses in its supplied DC cable. Other radios may differ.
8. Measure Voltage During Transmit
Use a properly rated dummy load for a short, controlled check within the equipment’s duty-cycle limits. Duty cycle describes how much of a period the equipment transmits. Measure supply-terminal voltage and radio-input voltage under the same load using safe, secure test connections.
For a calculated example, suppose the supply stays at 13.8 V while the radio receives 13.2 V at 20 A:
Voltage drop = 13.8 − 13.2 = 0.6 V.
Total cable-and-contact resistance = 0.6 V ÷ 20 A = 0.03 ohm.
Power lost in that path = 20 A × 0.6 V = 12 watts.
This is an example, not a measurement of your station. If the supply voltage also falls, investigate the supply and its loading. If the supply holds steady, trace losses through both DC conductors, connectors, and fuse holders. Disconnect power before repairs.
9. Give Backup Power a Real Operating Test
Test the equipment you expect to use together: radio, computer, interfaces, and any other essential loads. Record battery condition, receive and transmit voltage, power setting, operating time, and any resets.
A battery’s amp-hour capacity describes stored charge; it does not establish its permitted transmitter current. Check the exact pack’s continuous discharge rating, connector rating, and source-side cable protection. Bioenno explains current-related protection shutdowns in its Battery and Charger FAQ.
For planning, estimated runtime in hours equals usable amp-hours divided by average current in amps. Actual runtime depends on temperature, battery condition, transmit time, and cutoff behavior. Use a measured operating trial to improve the estimate.
10. Check Battery Temperature Before Charging
Cold-weather charging deserves a separate check. Bioenno advises against charging its lithium iron phosphate, or LiFePO4, batteries below 0°C (32°F) because that can damage the cells. Review its Battery and Charger FAQ and the instructions for your exact model.
A battery brought indoors may still be cold inside. Follow the manufacturer’s permitted cell-temperature range before connecting a charger. Use the specified charger, and confirm whether your battery management system includes low-temperature charging protection.
Discharge and charging limits can differ. Record both in your portable-station notes so a successful outdoor operating session does not lead to an unsuitable charging routine afterward.
11. Save an Untuned November SWR Reference
Physically disconnect the transmitter from the analyzer’s measurement path and bypass the antenna tuner. Compare the same antenna, feed line, adapters, and measurement point used in October.
| Record | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Date, weather, and antenna position | Shows whether conditions changed between measurements |
| SWR at actual operating frequencies | Tracks the match where you use the station |
| Frequency of minimum SWR | Shows movement in the matching curve |
| Resistance and reactance, if available | Preserves more information than SWR alone |
| Calibration point and cable arrangement | Makes later comparisons more useful |
If you have no earlier record, this becomes your reference. Keep the trace and a short station sketch together.
12. Calibrate the Analyzer at the Test Connection
For an antenna reflection measurement, first set the sweep range. Then perform open, short, and 50-ohm load calibration at the point where the antenna system will connect. Include the test jumper when calibrating at its far end.
Apply or save the calibration as your instrument requires, verify it with a known load, and then connect the antenna. A focused sweep makes a small shift easier to see than a very wide display.
The NanoVNA V2 User Manual states that changing its frequency range clears active calibration. Other NanoVNA versions can behave differently; follow your own instrument’s instructions. Never transmit into an analyzer.
13. Separate Matching from Antenna Efficiency
A shack tuner can present a suitable load to the radio while the antenna-side feed line remains mismatched. Loss in that line still depends on its type, frequency, and mismatch. ARRL’s More About Antenna Tuners explains this distinction.
Use untuned measurements to investigate changes, then check the tuned system for operation. A low SWR reading alone cannot prove that a cable has low loss or that an antenna radiates efficiently.
Also keep resonance and matching separate. Resonance means the measured reactance is zero at a stated measurement point. Minimum SWR describes the best match to the instrument’s reference impedance; the two frequencies need not coincide.
14. Troubleshoot the Change You Can Measure
| Observation | What to investigate next |
|---|---|
| SWR changes after rain, snow, or a thaw | Moisture, connector seals, and changed surroundings |
| The reading changes when coax moves | Loose connectors, cable damage, or current on the cable exterior |
| The radio resets during transmit | Radio-input voltage under load, power connections, and RF interference |
| SWR rises as a transmission continues | Heating, intermittent connections, and component power ratings |
| Signals weaken while SWR stays steady | Propagation, local noise, receiver settings, and feed-line loss |
These are investigation leads, not diagnoses. Change one item at a time. For interference associated with transmission, a suitable current choke may help control RF current on cable exteriors; select it for the bands and power involved. Review ARRL’s Grounding guidance before adding wires or changing current paths.
15. Establish a Noise Reference Before Holiday Lighting
Some lighting electronics can cause radio frequency interference, or RFI. Before adding seasonal lights or new power adapters, save a receive-noise reference on your usual bands. See ARRL’s Lighting Devices resources.
Keep receiver gain, bandwidth, antenna, and frequency consistent. If noise appears, compare suspected devices off and on individually when practical. Note whether it follows a device, a band, or a time of day.
A repeatable comparison is more useful than an isolated S-meter number. Do not open mains-powered equipment to investigate interference.
16. Keep Local Communications and Station Protection Ready
Make a short local contact with the VHF or UHF equipment you expect to use during an interruption. Confirm saved repeater settings against current local information, test handheld batteries, and check coverage from your normal operating location.
Inspect accessible cable-entry, bonding, and surge-protection hardware. Electrical safety, lightning protection, and RF-current control have different purposes. Use ARRL’s Lightning Protection resources and qualified installation help.
If antenna placement, power, or operating duty cycle changes, review your station’s RF Exposure assessment. A move indoors can change how close people are to an antenna.
17. November 2026 On-Air Opportunities
Choose one event and a manageable goal: a few accurate contacts, a second band, or practice with contest logging. CW means Morse-code operation. Phone means voice; SSB, or single sideband, is a common HF voice mode.
| Event | UTC operating period | Local operating period, CST |
|---|---|---|
| ARRL November CW Sweepstakes | November 7, 2100 UTC–November 9, 0259 UTC | Saturday, November 7, 3:00 p.m.–Sunday, November 8, 8:59 p.m. |
| ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes | November 21, 2100 UTC–November 23, 0259 UTC | Saturday, November 21, 3:00 p.m.–Sunday, November 22, 8:59 p.m. |
| CQ World Wide DX Contest, CW | November 28, 0000 UTC–November 29, 2359 UTC | Friday, November 27, 6:00 p.m.–Sunday, November 29, 5:59 p.m. |
Both contests use 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters, within your license privileges. They exclude 30, 17, and 12 meters. Sweepstakes permits up to 24 operating hours within its 30-hour window; consult the rules for off-time requirements.
These are opportunities for individual operating. Check SARC’s current announcements for any organized club participation.
18. Prepare the Exchange and Submit Logs Promptly
Listen to several contacts before calling. In Sweepstakes, send the sequential contact number, precedence, your call sign, check, and ARRL/RAC section. Precedence identifies your entry type; check is the last two digits of the year the operator or station was first licensed. Follow the ARRL November Sweepstakes Rules for the complete exchange and category definitions. Each station may be contacted only once in each Sweepstakes event, regardless of band.
CQ WW CW uses an RST signal report and the CQ zone of the transmitter’s location. Review the CQ World Wide DX Contest Rules, including assistance restrictions, before setting up logging software or using spotting tools.
| Event | UTC log deadline | Local deadline, CST |
|---|---|---|
| ARRL CW Sweepstakes | November 16, 0259 UTC | Sunday, November 15, 8:59 p.m. |
| ARRL Phone Sweepstakes | November 30, 0259 UTC | Sunday, November 29, 8:59 p.m. |
| CQ WW CW | December 1, 2359 UTC | Tuesday, December 1, 5:59 p.m. |
Two current submission rules deserve attention. CQ WW shortened its log deadline from five days to 48 hours for 2026. Its 2026 Rule Changes announcement confirms the December 1 CW deadline.
ARRL’s current Sweepstakes page requires online Cabrillo log submission, effective September 30, 2026 for ARRL/IARU HF contests. Cabrillo is a standard contest-log text format. Follow that current submission notice rather than older paper-mail instructions, and retain your upload confirmation.
November Operating Plan
| Period | Suggested focus |
|---|---|
| November 1–8 | Confirm CST and UTC settings, save antenna references, test DC power, and try CW Sweepstakes |
| November 9–15 | Finish accessible outdoor repairs, test backup power, and submit the CW Sweepstakes log by its deadline |
| November 16–22 | Check lighting-related noise, review voice coverage, and try Phone Sweepstakes |
| November 23–30 | Try CQ WW CW, submit the Phone Sweepstakes log, and prepare the CQ WW upload ahead of December 1 |
November Priority Checklist
- Compare November antenna sweeps with your October records.
- Inspect accessible supports, strain relief, coax, and connector seals.
- Measure the frequencies you actually use on 40 and 80 meters.
- Check radio-input voltage while transmitting into a suitable load.
- Test the complete backup-power setup and record its behavior.
- Confirm the battery’s charging-temperature and discharge-current limits.
- Save a receive-noise reference before adding seasonal electronics.
- Confirm local communications and review changed RF exposure conditions.
- Choose an operating event, prepare its exchange, and note its log deadline.
Bring Your November Results to SARC
You do not need a large station to contribute. Bring an antenna sketch, analyzer trace, voltage reading, or question to a SARC Monthly Club Meeting. Meetings are open to visitors; check the page for current details.
If you are getting started, explore SARC Membership and ways to get involved. A small, well-documented project gives other members something useful to discuss with you.
Finish one useful improvement, put it on the air, and share what you learn. That is a practical way to head into winter with a station you understand better.