ARRL Letter Issue
The ARRL Letter for September 17, 2026
Richard Moseson, W2VU, Editor | September 17, 2026
In this Issue:
Contest University Celebrates 100 Years of Yagis
WRTC 2026 Organizers Honored by FOC
Get Ready for Jamboree on the Air
AMSAT Youth Initiative Course
Amateur Radio in the News
ARRL Live Events and Podcasts
Announcements
In Brief...
The ARRL Solar Report
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events
Contest University Celebrates 100 Years of Yagis
The Yagi-Uda beam antenna was invented 100 years ago, in 1926, and
Contest University (CTU) is celebrating its centennial with a live Zoom
webinar this Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 1600 UTC (noon Eastern).
The free webinar, titled The Yagi Turns 100, will be presented by Greg
Ordy, W8WWV, and will be available online at w3lif.org/yagi. Ordy will
walk through the history of this amazing antenna that has been a
mainstay of amateur radio DXing and contesting for a century.
There is no pre-registration for this event.
Click on the link (above) before 1600 Zulu on Saturday to watch.
Contest University Chairman Tim Duffy, K3LR, and Scott Jones, N3RA, will
be monitoring the chat during the presentation and will relay questions
from viewers to Ordy at the conclusion of his talk.
Duffy says the webinar will be recorded, and the recorded link will be
posted on the CTU website
next week.
WRTC 2026 Organizers Honored by FOC
The First Class CW Operators Club (FOC) has awarded its highest honor,
the Al Slater, G3FXB (SK), Memorial Award, to the World Radiosport Team Championship 2026 (WRTC 2026) Organizing Committee in recognition of its
work not only in planning and executing last Julys competition, but also
in its response to allegations of cheating by some participants.
FOC President John Warburton, G4IRN, said the award recognizes an
individual, group, or organization whose contribution to amateur radio
reflects the qualities that Al embodied throughout his life: operating excellence, friendship, encouragement of others, and service to the
hobby.
According to a report in The Daily DX, Warburton said FOC determined
that the WRTC committee demonstrated those qualities on an exceptional
scale, [creating] an environment that showcases the very highest
standards of amateur radio operating, rewarding skill, fairness,
technical competence, and ethical conduct. He added that the judging
committees careful verification work ensured that these standards were
upheld and that the results reflected the true performance of those who competed within the rules. This was a reference to the Organizing
Committees recent announcement that several stations, including the
original winner, had been disqualified due to rule violations discovered
after the contest.
The award was presented at FOCs annual gala dinner on September 12 in
Cheshire, England.
Get Ready for Jamboree on the Air
We've got scouts, we've got a special event call sign, and we'd love as
many hams as possible near and far to come find us on the air. Thats
how Sal Mancuso, W6SAL, is promoting Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) 2026 on
behalf of the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council of Scouting America
(formerly Boy Scouts of America). JOTA is an annual worldwide event, on
the air and on the internet (as JOTI), with the goal of promoting
friendship and global citizenship via amateur radio and the internet.
This years event will be held from October 16-18, and now is a good time
for radio clubs and individual hams to reach out to local scout units to
set up JOTA experiences.
For Mancuso, it has meant getting a special event call sign K6S and
setting up a public demonstration station on October 17 for scouts from throughout the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council. The council serves
10,000 youth across Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz
counties in California. We'll have approximately seven licensed
operators of varying license classes (Technician through Extra) on hand, running HF, VHF, and UHF simultaneously, all signing K6S, explains
Mancuso. Scouts will be hands-on at the mic and keyboard the whole time
this is their event, not just something they're watching ... We'll be
active on HF SSB and FT8, with packet possible as well. Planned HF SSB frequencies are 7.090, 14.290, 18.140, and 28.990 MHz, but Mancuso noted
that We'll also be posting our actual live frequencies on Spotted Hams
as the day goes, since real-world band conditions may shift our plan a
bit.
More information on setting up a JOTA/JOTI operation may be found at www.jotajoti.info. ARRL has resources to assist volunteers who are
working with scouts, including a flyer promoting Radio Communications
for Scouts
(PDF) and the ARRL Radio and Wireless Technology Patch Program. For
additional ideas, visit www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-and-scouting.
AMSAT Youth Initiative Course
An online course titled Satellites and Astronomy is now available as
part of the AMSAT Youth Initiative programs Satellites in Space Help Us
Live a Better Life on Earth series. This is the fifth course in the
series, produced by AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, and
posted on its youth-focused website, buzzsat.com. AMSAT says the goal of BuzzSat is to encourage youth to pursue careers in aerospace and
communications by studying science, technology, engineering, art, and
math (STEAM). Other courses in the series include An Introduction to
Satellite Meteorology, Satellites and Climate Change, Satellites and
Pollution Control, and Satellites and Natural Resources.
Amateur Radio in the News
Amateur Radio Club event to show interested persons about ham radio /
The Daily American (Somerset, PA), September 15, 2026 -- Somerset County Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
Its Teletext, But On the Radio / Hackaday, September 1, 2026 --
Highlights Ceefax Station software by Tobias Franklin, M7TJF, which
emulates Ceefax teletext service that ran on BBC television from 1974
until 2012.
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 wont replace lab-grade testing, they can reveal useful
information about your radios 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, learn.arrl.org. Preregistration is required and can be accomplished through the Learning Center.
Date: September 22, 2026
Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific
Register Now
| Previously Recorded Sessions
Listen to , available every Friday. is a summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews
and other features. More info
| Listen on Blubrry
| 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 manufacturers claims. Those test results are
included in the published review to help you make more informed buying
choices. ARRLs new online interactive Comparison Tool
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, visits the podcast to talk about what the tool does
and how to use it to better inform your radio purchases. More info
| Listen on Blubrry
| Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
Announcements
ARISS, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program, has announced an application deadline of September 30, 2026,
for schools and other educational groups in the US to schedule an
amateur radio contact with the International Space Station between
January 1 and June 30, 2027. Proposals must follow guidelines posted at www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html. Different
deadlines apply for schools in other parts of the world.
ARDC, the Amateur Radio Digital Communications foundation, is recruiting volunteers to serve on its teams and committees in 2027. Applications
are due by October 30, 2026. Seats are open on the groups Grants
Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, Grants Evaluation
Team, Grants Communications Team, and Conduct Review Committee. More information about these opportunities, including eligibility
requirements, time commitments, and how to apply can be found at: www.ardc.net/volunteer-with-ardc-in-2027.
Order your certificate at america250.arrl.org
Order your certificate at america250.arrl.org
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 www.arrl.org/america250-was.
Review your award progress and order your certificate and endorsements
at america250.arrl.org.
09/23/2026 Vermont W1AW/1 (host W1SJ)
09/30/2026 No activations scheduled
10/07/2026 New Mexico W1AW/5 (host KA8JMW)
10/07/2026 South Dakota W1AW/ (host KBBC)
10/07/2026 Connecticut W1AW/1 (host W8ZY)
In Brief...
Watch Duty is a real-time wildfire and flood tracking alert app with
active reporting in all 50 states. ARRL Idaho Assistant Section Manager
Dan Marler, K7REX, brought it to our attention, along with a video
explaining how it works
thats posted to the RATPAC YouTube channel. (RATPAC is the Radio Amateur Training Planning and Activities Committee.) For more information on the
free Watch Duty app, visit watchduty.org.
Russell L. Woirhaye, KVXU, who helped originate the 'CW Pileup'
competition at the Kansas City DX Club's Dayton hospitality suite,
became a Silent Key on September 8, 2026, at age 81. Woirhaye was a past president of the Kansas City DX Club and had been a ham for 67 years,
according to a report in The Daily DX. A longtime DXer, he had 334/348 (current/total) confirmed entities in the ARRL DXCC Mixed standings.
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:
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
www.arrl.org/careers.
ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.
The ARRL Solar Report
Solar image on September 17, 2026 [Photo courtesy NOAA Space Weather
Prediction Center]
Solar image on September 17, 2026 [Photo courtesy NOAA Space Weather
Prediction Center]
Solar flare activity is expected to remain at very low levels, with a
chance for isolated C-class flares through September 19, according to
NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). Solar wind speed was
steady near 530 km/s, and negative polarity CH HSS (coronal hole high-
speed stream) effects are anticipated to persist through September 18,
with additional enhancements likely today due to flanking influences
from CMEs (coronal mass ejections) that departed the Sun on September 13
and 14. Geomagnetic activity is expected to reach active to G1 (minor)
storm levels today due to combined CH and CME influences.
Unsettled to active conditions are likely on September 18-19 as
enhancements wane.
The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre reports that there are currently three numbered sunspot regions on the solar disk, and that all
three are stable.
No flares are expected over the next several days.
The global HF propagation forecast for middle latitudes is normal to
fair today, followed by normal propagation in the days that follow.
Predicted 10.7-centimeter radio flux from the SWPC: Sep 17, 93; Sep
18-19, 90; Sep 20, 95; Sep 21, 100; Sep 22, 110; Sep 23, 105.
Send your tips, questions, or comments to
w2vu@arrl.org.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit
the ARRL Technical Information Service, read
"What the Numbers Mean...," and check out
the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.
A propagation bulletin archive
is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP
Online for Ham Radio
website.
Share
your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
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 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest
(CW, phone, digital)
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 -- North American Sprint, RTTY
(digital)
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)
September 21 - 22 -- 144 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
September 23 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
September 26 -- Bill Windle QSO Party (CW)
September 26 - 27 -- CQ World Wide DX Contest, RTTY (digital)
September 26 - 27 -- YU DX Contest (CW, phone)
September 26 - 27 -- Maine QSO Party (CW, phone)
September 26 - 27 -- AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party (phone)
Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar
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 www.arrl.org/hamfests
to find events in your area.
September 26 | Red River Radio Amateurs Hamfest, hosting the ARRL
Minnesota State Convention, Moorhead, Minnesota
October 3 | Third Annual Micro Expo, hosting the ARRL Santa Barbara
Section Convention, Camarillo, California
October 3 | Wichita Area Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Kansas Section
Convention, Wichita, Kansas
October 9 10 | SPARK-CON 2026, hosting the ARRL Midwest Division
Convention, Sedalia, Missouri
October 10 | North Star Radio Convention, hosting the ARRL Dakota
Division Convention, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
October 11 | Nutmeg Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Connecticut State
Convention, Meriden, Connecticut
October 11 | HamFest, hosting the ARRL Southern New Jersey Section
Convention, Mullica Hill, New Jersey
October 16 18 | Pacificon, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division
Convention, San Ramon, California
October 24 | ARRL Day in the Park, hosting the ARRL Mississippi Section Convention, Ridgeland, Mississippi.
October 30 31 | Stone Mountain Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia.
November 7 | Superstition ARC Superfest, hosting the ARRL Arizona State Convention, Mesa, Arizona
November 14 | Montgomery Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Alabama State
Convention, Montgomery, Alabama
Have News for ARRL?
Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to
news@arrl.org. -- Richard Moseson, W2VU, ARRL News Editor
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