The latest news from the American Radio Relay League
- The ARRL Solar Update January 23, 2026Solar activity reached moderate levels with two M-class flaresearlier this week. The first flares occurred on January 21 in regions 4345 and 4349.Region 4345 continued to show development, as well as region 4342.Region 4341 was a main contributor to the C-level activity of theday, including a larger C-class flare on January 21. NoEarth-directed CMEs were ob […]
- Now Shipping: the 2026 edition of The ARRL Repeater Directory® powered by RepeaterBook January 22, 2026ARRL is excited to announce that the 2026 edition of The ARRL Repeater Directory® is once again powered by RepeaterBook, amateur radio’s worldwide repeater database. New for 2026, The Repeater Directory features a City Quick Find Index, making it faster and easier than ever to locate nearby repeaters.“Each year The ARRL Repeater Directory continues to set th […]
- ARRL Honorary Vice President John Cadwallader Kanode, N4MM, Silent Key January 21, 2026John Cadwallader Kanode, N4MM (SK), of Boyce, Virginia, passed away on January 13, 2026. He was 88 years old. First licensed in 1952, Kanode served on the Board of Directors of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio for 21 years, first as Roanoke Division Vice Director, then Director, and Vice President. He was a member of the ARRL Maxim Society (Pr […]
- The ARRL Solar Update January 16, 2026Solar activity reached moderate levels due to an M1.6 flare onJanuary 14 from new region AR4341. Spot classification of thisregion is complicated by limb proximity and foreshortening effects.New Region AR4342 rotated around the NE limb and was also numbered.No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. Solaractivity is expected to be low wit […]
- New 60-Meter Frequencies Available as of February 13 January 15, 2026The new 60-meter frequencies approved by the FCC in December will become available to amateurs as of February 13, 2026, along with new power restrictions on those frequencies. It’s a bit confusing, as different rules apply to different segments of the band. The changes result from the FCC’s action to approve a worldwide 60-meter amateur allocation made by th […]
- Bob Jones, VE7RWJ, Silent Key -- Former ITU Official and IARU Expert January 15, 2026Robert W. “Bob” Jones, VE7RWJ, a former top official of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Canadian telecommunications regulator, passed away on January 7, 2026, at age 82. His early fascination with amateur radio led to a career in telecommunications and engineering, according to his obituary.Jones was Director General of the Canadian Radio […]
- FCC Poised to Exempt Amateurs from Foreign Adversary Reporting Requirements January 15, 2026At the urging of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to exempt radio amateurs from foreign adversary reporting requirements. These rules would have applied to citizens of the listed countries (see below), including those living in the United States, who hold or are applying for an FCC lice […]
- The ARRL Solar Update January 9, 2026Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) geomagneticstorm levels on January 13 and 14, and then from January 17 to 20.Unsettled levels are likely on January 12, and then from January 21and 22. All enhancements in geomagnetic activity are due to theanticipated influence of multiple, recurrent, coronal holes. Theremainder of the outlook period […]
- Richard Dean Straw, N6BV, ARRL “Antenna Expert,” Silent Key January 8, 2026by Mark Derks, KC1RVQ, ARRL Headquarters StaffRichard Dean Straw (“Dean”), N6BV, died on July 9, 2025. Amateur radio was one of his passions.Dean retired from the staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® in 2008 following 15 years of service as the Senior Assistant Technical Editor.***In 2006, the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) wa […]
- ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Bouvet DXpedition January 5, 2026ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has awarded a $5,000 Colvin Award grant to the Delta-Xray Group, organizers of the upcoming 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet Island, scheduled for February and March, 2026. Bouvet is a remote island in the Southern Ocean, populated only by seals and penguins, and known for treacherous weather and surf conditions. It […]