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Interview with ARRL CEO: Details on Recent Board Meeting, Huntsville Hamfest, Legislative Advocacy, and DX |
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ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, is the guest on The DX Mentor
YouTube channel this week. The hosts of the popular show – Bill Salyers, AJ8B, and Joe Pater, W8GEX – spoke with Minster at length about many topics of interest to ARRL members. They touched on the recent introduction of the DXCC® Trident Plaque, which recognizes the achievement of amateur radio operators who have confirmed two-way radio contacts with 100 or more DXCC Award countries (entities) on three modes. Minster also talked about the newly announced 10-Band DXCC
award.
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ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, was the guest on The DX Mentor YouTube channel | | | |
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The importance of radio clubs and 2026 being designated the ARRL Year of the Club
was also a topic of discussion. Minster also answered questions about decisions made at the recent Second Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors.
The trio talked about this year’s Huntsville Hamfest, which held its annual convention in Alabama earlier this month. Huntsville Hamfest
will host the ARRL National Convention next year, August 22 — 23, 2026.
Other topics of interest included the impact of social media on amateur radio, and ARRL leadership and governance. Minster also talked about the ARRL DX Advisory Committee
(DXAC).
Watch the 2-hour interview on YouTube at https://youtu.be/fFIIXj0KKVY
or listen to The DX Mentor podcast on your favorite platform.
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Resilience Through Amateur Radio for National Preparedness Month 2025 |
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September is National Preparedness Month, which is a good time to look at your personal, family, and community resilience levels. For 2025, the National Preparedness Month theme is “Preparedness Starts at Home.”
Amateur radio is a valuable resource for communication and community service before and during times of crisis, and can be a significant factor in your home’s level of preparedness.
“Now is the time to make sure everything is in order,” said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV. For hams, it means taking the time to check their equipment – from the ground to the antenna, so that it is ready. “Many hams already participate in daily, weekly, and monthly nets that help them hone their communication skills, but if you’re not already active in one, this could be a good opportunity to get into it,” said Johnston.
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Hurricane Watch Net Marks 60 Years of Service |
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This Labor Day weekend, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN)
celebrates its 60th anniversary of providing critical communications support to the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) and communities impacted by hurricanes.
As Hurricane Betsy was pummeling the Caribbean on Labor Day weekend 1965, a ham radio operator started hearing calls for information from operators in the Bahamas. Jerry Murphy, K8YUW, sprang into action. He began relaying surface data and storm conditions to help those in the path.
That first net paved the way for what would become the Hurricane Watch Net.
HWN has been active for 156 landfalling hurricanes, including 60 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). Of those, 12 struck as Category 5 hurricanes. The net’s longest continuous activation occurred during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, when operators remained on the air for 151 hours straight. Among the deadliest storms ever recorded by the net was Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which claimed more than 11,000 lives in Central America.
HWN operates
on 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz, often simultaneously, with net control stations strategically positioned throughout the region to maximize coverage.
“The Hurricane Watch Net continues to serve the public interest by helping save lives during hurricanes. We are proud to carry forward the vision of our founder, Jerry Murphy, who passed earlier this year at age 88,” said HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV.
For more information about the HWN, or to get involved as a volunteer, visit www.hwn.org.
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FCC Batch Filing System Unavailable |
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As of Monday morning, August 25, 2025, the FCC’s Electronic Batch Filing (EBF) system—used by all VEC organizations to file exam sessions, individual applications, and club license applications—is not processing submissions.
This outage means that applications for new and upgraded licenses, as well as individual and club filings, are not currently being processed or issued.
ARRL VEC alerted FCC staff, who are working to resolve the problem. While the system briefly processed a small number of Monday’s submissions on Wednesday, it has since gone down again. Thousands of applications remain pending on the FCC side.
ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, reported that the FCC has not provided an estimate on when the system will be restored.
Please check back on this ARRL News page for updates on the FCC outage as more information becomes available.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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“Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association offering fall licensing course” / Daily Sentinel (New York) August 28, 2025 -- The Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
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ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
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On the Air LIVE
On the Air Live for August is all about September National Preparedness Month. Catch the replay of Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, ARRL Education and Learning Education Specialist, as he covers how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other organizations encourage everyone to be prepared for emergencies and disasters of all sizes, and things you can do to become prepared.
See the replay in the ARRL Learning Center.
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On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
Getting in on the POTA Fun
Portable operating in the Parks On the Air (POTA) program is one of the most popular ham radio activities these days. Colin Wheatley, W9UPK, author of the July/August 2025 On the Air article, “POTA Activators and Hunters: The Great Symbiosis,” joins the podcast to explain more about how POTA works, and how to get in on the fun. Listen Now
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ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews and other features.
The ARRL Audio News is now broadcast on FM low power radio stations KQRZ-LP 100.7 and 96.7 MHz FM in Spokane, Washington every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:00 AM PDT.
The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry, iTunes, and Apple Podcasts.
On the Air
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Amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners are invited to participate in a unique event on August 30, 2025. The Maritime Radio Historical Society’s (MRHS) annual 'cryptographic challenge' will begin at 2000Z. Using the facilities of coast station KPH (San Francisco Radio), an encrypted message, using the famous Enigma machine, will be transmitted in 5-letter groups in Morse and RTTY on 6 different commercial frequencies. Listeners are invited to receive and decrypt the messages. Certificates are awarded for successful decodes. Last year there were 162 participants from 12 countries. More information, including frequencies, can be found on the MRHS website at radiomarine.org. The MRHS was formed on July 12, 1999, the date of the last commercial Morse transmission in the United States.
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In response to the Radio Amateurs of Canada
(RAC)’s recent addition of a new Yukon Section, the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee is reviewing Canadian Section multipliers for ARRL contests that use Sections as multipliers. While this review is ongoing, the 2024 multiplier list will be used for the remainder of 2025. Stations located in Yukon should continue to send “TER” (Territories) for the 2025 November Sweepstakes CW/SSB and ARRL 160-Meter Contests. In Sweepstakes, stations in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) exchange information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on the 160-, 80-, 40-, 20-, 15- and 10-meter bands. The 2025 ARRL November Sweepstakes will be active the first full weekend of the month (November 1 - 3) for CW and the third full weekend (November 15 - 17) for phone.
For contest information, contact contests@arrl.org
or (860) 594-0232.
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To celebrate the 2025 Handiham Radio Camp, along with the Handiham Program’s 58th anniversary, the Handiham Radio Club
and the Handiham Radio Club of Minnesota are sponsoring a QSO party during Radio Camp. The object is for Handiham campers to work as many stations as possible during the 48-hour operating period. The QSO party will be on the air September 5 – 7, 2100Z – 2100Z , using call sign AB8WF, on 14.250, 7.200, 28.350, and 14.050 MHz. Suggested HF operating frequencies: 28.050 CW and 28.350 SSB; 21.050 CW and 21.350 SSB; 14.050 CW and 14.250 SSB; 7.050 CW and 7.200 SSB. There will be activity on all amateur bands and modes to make contacts including digital and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) modes. The exchange is simply name and state, province, or country. Stations will be using their own call signs in addition to the club call signs. Please listen for stations calling CQ Radio Camp. For more information about the Handiham Program, contact handiham.org.
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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:
Membership Manager
Administrative Coordinator
Technical Editor
W1AW Operator
Assistant Editor
Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at www.arrl.org/careers.
ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.
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ARRL
Headquarters will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of the Labor Day federal holiday. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice transmissions. ARRL Headquarters will reopen on Tuesday, September 2, at 8 AM EDT (1200 UTC). Visit the ARRL Special Events Stations
database to find on-the-air events and commemorations this weekend.
ARRL wishes its members and friends a safe and enjoyable holiday!
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This image was taken on August 28, 2025. [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI] | | |
The ARRL Solar Report
Solar activity decreased to low levels with only C-class flare activity.
No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery.
Solar activity is likely to reach moderate levels through August 30 due to M-class flare activity with a slight chance for an isolated X-class flare event.
Solar wind parameters reflected nominal levels.
Total field and Bz were both at benign values.
Solar wind speeds were mostly below 400 km/s. Phi was predominantly negative.
Slightly enhanced solar wind conditions are possible through August 29 due to occasional influences of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS).
The 10.7-centimeter flux: August 28 - 31, 158; September 1 - 2, 155; September 3 - 4, 145.
Predicted sunspot numbers: August 28, 135; August 29, 131; August 30, 142; September 1, 127; September 2, 150; September 3, 119.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit
the ARRL Technical Information Service, read A Quick Guide to HF Propagation Using Solar Indices, and check out
the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.
For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.
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August 29 - 31 -- SCRY/RTTYOps WW RTTY Contest (digital)
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August 30 - 31 -- U.S. Islands QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
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August 30 - 31 -- World Wide Digi DX Contest (digital)
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August 30 - 31 -- Colorado QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
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August 30 - 31 -- Kansas QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
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September 1 - 2 -- MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint (CW)
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September 3 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone)
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September 4 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
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September 6 -- CWOps CW Open (CW)
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September 6 - 7 -- SARL Field Day Contest (CW, phone, digital)
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September 6 - 7 -- IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB (phone)
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September 6 - 7 -- RSGB SSB Field Day (phone)
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September 7 - 8 -- Tennessee QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
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September 10 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, CW (CW)
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Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar
for more events and information.
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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
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August 30 - September 1 | Shelby Hamfest, hosting the ARRL North Carolina Section Convention, Shelby, North Carolina
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September 7 | Southern New Jersey Conference and HamFest, hosting the ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention, Mullica Hill, New Jersey.
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September 12 - 13 | Slidell EOC Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Louisiana State Convention, Slidell, Louisiana
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September 19 - 21 | Duke City Hamfest, hosting the ARRL New Mexico State Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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September 20-21 | Midwest Superfest, hosting the ARRL Central Division Convention, Chillicothe, Illinois
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September 27 | ARRL Dakota Division Convention, Moorhead, Minnesota
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October 4 | Rock Hill Hamfest, hosting the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South Carolina
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October 10 -12 | Pacificon, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California
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October 10 - 11 | Melbourne Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida
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October 10 - 11 | SPARK-CON, hosting the ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Sedalia, Missouri
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October 11 | North Star Radio Convention, hosting the ARRL Minnesota State Convention, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
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October 12 | Nutmeg Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut
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October 23 - 26 | HamCon Colorado 2025, hosting the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Grand Junction, Colorado
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November 1 | Stone Mountain Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Remember to search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention
Database to find events in your area.
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Have News for ARRL?
Submissions for The ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to news@arrl.org. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
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ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information
Join ARRL or renew today!
No other organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly to the Blind-hams Groups.io
email group. The group is dedicated to discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.
NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprints, and QSO parties.
QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
Free of charge to ARRL members...
Subscribe
to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts, and much more!
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 51 times each year. ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their profile at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.
Copyright © 2025 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated.
Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution.
All other purposes require written permission.
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