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| | | Year of the Club … Special Delivery to 7Q (Malawi) |
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It’s ARRL’s Year of the Club, and several radio clubs are helping to build up amateur radio some 8,000 miles away in the African nation of Malawi. One of them is the New Providence Amateur Radio Club (NPARC), an ARRL  Affiliated Club in New Jersey, which contributed “one very full pickup truck with antennas, coax, test instruments, and tools” to a shipping container packed with gear heading to the Jeffrey Dahn Memorial Foundation in Embangweni, Malawi. The foundation is run by Don Jones, 7Q6M, and according to its website, its purpose is to help encourage interest and skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields “through the hands-on discipline of amateur radio.”
NPARC’s relationship with this program goes back to a random QSO a few years ago between 7Q6M and NPARC activities director Sam Sealy, KC2OSR. Don’s QSL card piqued Sam’s interest, since the club had a large collection of surplus equipment that had been donated by families of Silent Keys. Making contact off-air, Don told Sam he’d take whatever they could spare. That resulted in the club’s first shipment of 140 pounds of gear destined for Malawi.
The club has recently been collecting more items, including two Hamtek oscilloscopes it purchased for use at the foundation’s technical school in Embangweni, the Jeffrey Dahn Learning Center. The newly-gathered gear from NPARC and other clubs is about to begin its journey across the Atlantic, as Don told the club this week that he’d received a shipping container in which to pack all of the equipment headed for its new home. |
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| New Providence Amateur Radio Club Activities Director Sam Sealy, KC2OSR (left), presents Don Jones, 7Q6M (right), with one of two new oscilloscopes purchased by the club for technical education in Malawi. [Photo by Al Hanzl, K2AL] |
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| Year of the Club … Keep on Truckin’ |
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One way to introduce people to amateur radio is to link it with other interests and activities. The Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum in Colonial Heights, Virginia, already has a ham station as part of its permanent exhibit, and this summer, volunteers from six area radio clubs joined museum volunteers to present a Radio Day, during which visitors not only learned about radio history, but were introduced to modern-day amateur radio.
The museum’s exhibit is built around the extensive antique radio collection of John DeMajo, K5HTZ (SK). His daughter, Kathleen DeMajo Adams, now holds that call sign and is known around the museum as “The Radio Lady.” She explained how his collection fit in with the trucks and tractors. “There were several institutions interested in my dad’s radio collection,” she said, “but ultimately it was the character of the people at Keystone that made it feel like the right home for it. They value American ingenuity, mechanical knowledge, preservation, and keeping old technology alive and working rather than simply displaying it. I felt very strongly that my dad would have respected that.”
Adams said Radio Day demonstrated that “radio history is not something locked behind glass,” but rather an experience that can still be “heard, touched, and explored.” She also pointed out that radio continues to be very important to farmers while working in the fields. And truckers, of course, rely heavily on radio while on the road.
At the August 8 event, Adams explained, visitors “tried Morse code, studied antique equipment, watched live amateur radio demonstrations and learned how radio supports emergency communication. Children followed a scavenger hunt, designed imaginary antennas and discovered that signals are moving invisibly around us all the time.”
Participating clubs included the Richmond Amateur Radio Club, Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society, and Powhatan Area Radio Club — all ARRL Affiliated Clubs — plus the Hanover Virginia Amateur Radio Club, Lower Appomattox Regional Radio Club, and the Central Virginia 6 Meter Group. |
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A 1950s vintage ham station is the heart of the permanent radio exhibit at the Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum in Colonial Heights, Virginia. [Photo by Kathleen DeMajo Adams, K5HTZ] |
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| Ukrainian/Polish Radio Club Celebrates Centennial |
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The Lviv Shortwave Club (Lwowski Klub Krótkofalowców, or LKK), known as the “cradle of Polish amateur radio,” is celebrating its centennial in 2026 with special anniversary call signs and commemorative certificates, as well  as a ceremonial meeting taking place later this month. If you look at a map of Europe, you’ll see that the city of Lviv is actually in Ukraine, and the club is based there as well. But before the border changes that occurred at the end of World War II, Lviv was in Poland, and in its early days — according to a club history provided by Nikolai Magnushevsky, UR5WHT, and Rich Assarabowski, K1CC — LKK represented Polish amateurs in the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) until the formation of the PZK, the Polish Amateur Radio Union, in 1930. The club also published its own magazine between 1928 and 1939, provided equipment for a scientific expedition in the Carpathian Mountains in 1930 and was active in emergency communications as well. LKK was also the original administrator of what is today the SP DX Contest.
After World War II, Lviv found itself in Ukraine, but LKK’s membership stretched across both sides of the border, and continues to do so today. That is reflected in the special call signs you may encounter on the air, Ukrainian calls EN1ØØWLKK, EN1ØØWQ, EM1ØØW, EN1ØØW, and EM1ØØWD, as well as Polish calls 3Z1ØØLKK, HF1ØØLKK, SN1ØØLKK, SO1ØØLKK, SPØLKK, SP1ØØLKK, and SQ1ØØLKK. Details on the commemorative certificates are at https://radiodyplom.pl/ses/282 (You’ll need to use your browser’s translation service to read it in English).
The culmination of the anniversary celebrations will be a ceremonial meeting which will take place in the main hall of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, the largest university in Ukraine, as part of the International Conference on Advanced Trends in Radioelectronics and Infocommunications (ATRIC-2026) on October 15-17, 2026. In an acknowledgement of the ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, it is noted by UR5WHT and K1CC that the hall “is equipped with a bomb shelter, which allows the ceremony to proceed safely even in the event of an air raid alert.” |
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| 2026 Collegiate QSO Party is October 3 – 4 |
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Get ready to contact college and university radio clubs during this weekend’s Collegiate QSO Party, 0000 UTC October 3 through 2359 UTC  October 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 any band except 12, 17, 30, and 60 meters. The exchange is call sign, US state, Canadian province, or DX, and signal report. Points are scored for each mode and band worked. There’s another reason to work these college radio clubs. Many are ARRL Affiliated Clubs and can count toward the Affiliated Clubs endorsement for the ARRL America250 Worked All States Award, provided the club uploads its QSOs to Logbook of The World® (LoTW®). Schools interested in participating should register now. Visit the Collegiate QSO Party website for registration details and operating information. Among the registered schools so far are Bursa Uludağ University, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Indiana University, Kansas State University, Lehigh University, Michigan State University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, New York University, North Carolina State University, Purdue University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, The Ohio State University, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Wisconsin–Stout, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Visit the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Program at www.arrl.org/WeWantU for other ways to support and promote amateur radio among students and ham radio clubs at colleges and universities.
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| Amateur Radio in the News |
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“Gadsden Hamfest draws amateur radio enthusiasts” / Gadsden Messenger (Gadsden, AL), September 25, 2026 -- Gadsden Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club
“Amateur radio provides communications for MICL” / The Garrett County Republican (Clarksburg, WV), September 24, 2026 -- Garrett County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
“Pi Pico Recreates the Heathkit Pocket Packet” / Hackaday (Online), September 25, 2026
“Youth needed to ensure future PNW ham radio emergency coverage” / Oregon Public Broadcasting (Portland, OR), July 11, 2026 -- Clark County Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Special Service Club |
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| | ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
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On the Air LIVE  Contesting for the Beginning Radio Amateur
Join Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, ARRL Director of Education and Learning, for the October episode of On the Air Live on Tuesday, October 27, at 8 PM Eastern. Wayne will introduce the fun and benefits of amateur radio contesting, with a special focus on how newly-licensed hams can get started.
Contesting is more than chasing points and making contacts. It’s a great way to improve your operating skills, gain confidence on the air, learn about propagation, and become a more effective operator—all while having a lot of fun. Whether you’re interested in casual operating, awards, emergency communications, DXing, or eventually competing in major contests, contesting can help sharpen skills that carry across the hobby. 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: October 27, 2026 🕗 Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific 👉 Register Now | ⏪ Previously Recorded Sessions |
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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. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. |
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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 manufacturer’s claims. Those test results are included in the published review to help you make more informed buying choices. ARRL’s 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. |
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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.
09/30/2026 No activations scheduled 10/07/2026 New Mexico W1AW/5 (host KA8JMW) 10/07/2026 South Dakota W1AW/Ø (host KØBBC) 10/07/2026 Connecticut W1AW/1 (host W8ZY) 10/14/2026 California W1AW/6 (host NZ6Q) 10/14/2026 Georgia W1AW/4 (host AF4DN) 10/14/2026 Missouri W1AW/Ø (host NØAX)
Look for college and university radio clubs this weekend during the 2026 Collegiate QSO Party, Oct. 3-4. Many are ARRL Affiliated Clubs, and contacts with these stations confirmed via Logbook of The World (LoTW) may count toward the Affiliated Club endorsement for the America250 WAS Award. |
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Peter Nowinski, W3LIX, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, was honored by the Antietam Radio Association and the family of Steve Struharik, WA8EIH (SK), of Myersville, Maryland, for his response to events that led to the discovery of Steve’s sudden passing on May 27, 2026. According to the club’s Activities Manager, Joe Maguire, WA1ZZQ, Stuharik was net control of the group’s weekly Four-States Net when he suddenly stopped responding to check-ins. After repeated calls on the radio and to his cellphone went unanswered, the local sheriff’s office was asked to make a welfare check. That was delayed due to other calls, so Nowinski drove 45 minutes to Stuharik’s home to check on him. He arrived at the same time as the sheriff’s deputy. Steve’s wife, Jean, answered the door, having no idea there might be a problem. Maguire said that Peter and the deputy went to Steve’s shack and discovered that he had passed away in his chair. “Through his incredible compassion and selflessness, Peter was there in Steve’s family’s hour of need,” said Maguire, adding that Steve’s family had a “Special Service Award” plaque made for Peter, which was presented at the club’s August meeting. The Antietam Radio Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club. |
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Beware of email scams! ARRL reminds members to be very careful about responding to emails that “don’t look right,” even if they appear to be from a known sender. We’ve received several reports recently from members who received emails claiming to be from ARRL that contain only a link, button, or some other suspicious element. A closer look at these messages and the “From” field will show a non-ARRL address as the “originating station,” to borrow a phrase from message-handling. These are likely “phishing” messages designed to get you to click or respond in an attempt to steal personal information or plant malware in your computer, or spam messages trying to separate you from your cash. If something doesn’t look right in (any) email you’re not expecting, delete it, or contact the person or organization it claims to be from using a new message or another trusted method to ask whether it’s legit. |
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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:
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. |
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Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels in the coming days, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, with a slight chance of a minor to moderate solar flare (coronal mass ejection, or CME). One CME observed on September 28 may cause the Earth’s geomagnetic field to reach minor storm levels on October 2. Another flare observed on September 30 is expected to deliver a weak glancing blow to Earth on October 4.
Australia’s Space Weather Forecasting Centre predicts normal to normal-fair HF propagation in the middle latitudes in coming days, with the degradation due to anticipated geomagnetic activity.
The W3LPL Propagation Forecast from the Daily DX suggests that the low bands are your best bet for DXing right now, as the sunspot cycle continues to decline, although 20 meters still offers good DX opportunities. Long-distance propagation on 10 and 12 meters is generally poor, with good openings on 17 and 15 meters when the solar flux index is 100 or higher (it’s currently hovering right around 100; see below). Good DX conditions can be expected on 20 meters throughout the day and into the night, says W3LPL, with 30, 40, and 80 meters offering excellent DX during hours of darkness.
Predicted 10.7-centimeter solar flux: Oct 1, 105; Oct 2, 100; Oct 3, 95; Oct 4, 90; Oct 5-6, 91, Oct 7, 92. (Source: NOAA SWPC)
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. |
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| Solar image on October 1, 2026 [Photo courtesy NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center] |
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| | Just Ahead in Radiosport |
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| October 1 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest - NA (digital) October 1 - 2 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW) October 2 -- URC DX RTTY Contest (digital) October 3 - 4 -- Collegiate QSO Party (CW, phone, digital) October 3 -- German Telegraphy Contest (CW) October 3 -- 50 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital) October 3 - 4 -- Russian WW Digital Contest (digital) October 3 - 4 -- International HELL Contest (digital) October 3 - 4 -- California QSO Party (CW, phone) October 4 -- UBA ON Contest, SSB (phone) October 4 -- Peanut Power QRP Sprint (CW, phone) October 6 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW) October 7 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone) October 7 - 8 -- 432 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital) October 8 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest NA (digital) October 10 -- QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party (CW) October 10 -- 10-10 Int’l 10-10 Day Sprint (CW, phone, digital) October 10 - 11 -- Makrothen RTTY Contest (digital) October 10 - 11 -- Oceania DX Contest, CW (CW) October 10 - 11 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest, SSB (phone) October 10 - 11 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW) October 10 - 11 -- Arizona QSO Party (CW, phone) October 10 - 11 -- Pennsylvania QSO Party (CW, phone) October 10 - 11 -- South Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone) October 10 - 11 -- PODXS 070 Club 160m Great Pumpkin Sprint (digital) October 11 -- UBA ON Contest, CW (CW) October 12 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone) October 14 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW) October 15 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest NA (digital)
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| Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events |
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| 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.
October 3 | Rock Hill Hamfest, hosting the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South Carolina
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 |
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A story in last week’s ARRL Letter (September 24, 2026) incorrectly identified the agency that cooperated with the Trilogy Amateur Radio Club on installation of its new repeater in Bonney Lake, Washington. The agency is East Pierce Fire & Rescue, not the Bonney Lake Fire Department. East Pierce serves the communities living in and around Bonney Lake, Sumner, Lake Tapps, the Ridge Communities, South Prairie, Tehaleh, Edgewood, and Milton.
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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.
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NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprints, and QSO parties.
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| | | The ARRL Letter is published on 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 © 2026 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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