Text 16812, 561 rader
Skriven 2026-08-15 21:24:20 av Sean Dennis (1:18/200)
Ärende: The ARRL Letter
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Hello All,
I wrote a Python script that scrapes the ARRL Letter from the ARRL site and
will post it in here every Thursday afternoon Eastern time. I did a test run
of last Thursday's letter and the script works, so I'll manually paste it in
here this time.
If any of you are having issues reading the whole letter, please let me know
ASAP. I'll figure out a way to post it in chunks.
=== Cut ===
ARRL Letter Issue
The ARRL Letter for August 13, 2026
John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor | August 13, 2026
In this Issue:
10-Year-Old Receives Ham License and More
Colombian Amateurs Help in Earthquake Response; Clear Frequencies
Requested
ARRL Year of the Club Contests Celebrate Outstanding Club Websites and
Newsletters
ARISS Receives Challenger-7 Recognition
ARRL Live Events and Podcasts
Announcements
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Conventions and Major Events
10-Year-Old Receives Ham License and More
Ten-year-old new ham Reynaldo Mangual, KM7HFU, is presented with his
certificate of successful completion of the Technician exam by Maricopa
Amateur Radio Club president and 4-H group leader Michael Mills, NO7S.
[Photo courtesy Maricopa Amateur Radio Club]
Ten-year-old new ham Reynaldo Mangual, KM7HFU, is presented with his
certificate of successful completion of the Technician exam by Maricopa
Amateur Radio Club president and 4-H group leader Michael Mills, NO7S.
[Photo courtesy Maricopa Amateur Radio Club]
A brand-new young ham in Arizona got more than he was expecting after
passing his Technician class license exam earlier this month.
Along with getting his call sign, KM7HFU, from the FCC, 10-year-old
Reynaldo Mangual was presented by the Maricopa Amateur Radio Association
(MARA) with an almost-new Yaesu FT-857D HF/VHF/UHF multimode
transceiver, an LDG YT-100 automatic antenna tuner, and power supply.
The station had been donated anonymously to the club with the
stipulation that it be presented to a deserving young person upon
successfully earning an amateur radio license.
In addition the club reports that, in an effort to introduce him to
Morse code, Reynaldo was also given a fully-restored World War II-era
J-38 telegraph key by club member Steve Miller, W6DSM, who collects and
restores historic keys.
Reynaldo joined ARRL this week! He is also a member of the Pinal County
4-H Amateur Radio Club, whose youth program is supported by 4-H, MARA,
the Arizona 4-H Foundation, and a grant from the Amateur Radio Council
of Arizona.
Reynaldo is now MARAs youngest member. The Maricopa Amateur Radio
Association is an ARRL-Affiliated Club.
ARRL offers a no-cost membership option for full-time students aged 21
years or younger. Free Student Membership is available at
www.arrl.org/student.
Colombian Amateurs Help in Earthquake Response; Clear Frequencies
Requested
Amateur radio operators in Colombia are providing significant
communications support following the major earthquake and aftershocks
that struck the country on August 10, 2026. The death toll has
reportedly exceeded 200 people, with many more still missing, and major
damage is reported to buildings and infrastructure.
International Amateur Radio Union, Region 2 (IARU R2) Emergency
Communications Coordinator Carlos Alberto Santamaria Gonzalez, CO2JC,
provided an update Thursday morning, August 13, from Faber Mosquera,
HK6F, the emergency coordinator for the Liga Colombiana de
Radioaficionados (LCRA), Colombias national amateur radio association.
Mosquera said amateurs from various radio clubs and associations across
the country have been helping to maintain and/or restore communications
in affected areas.
Volunteers from the Liga Radio Quindio were heading to Cerro Campanario,
a peak at an altitude of 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) above sea level, to
attempt to restore the club's repeater stations using solar panels and
batteries.
This peak hosts repeater stations for both the amateur radio service and
the municipal and departmental risk management systems in the area.
Another group of amateurs, from the Asociacion de Radioaficionados del
Eje Cafetero, was working at their repeater site at the time of the
earthquake.
They reported that cellular and Wi-Fi networks immediately went down,
and the repeaters also failed because the backup transfer system to the
power generator did not activate.
However, within 15 minutes, they had reactivated not only the amateur
repeaters but also those of other services that share the site.
Mosquera reported that amateur radio clubs from other parts of the
country were providing additional support to restore and maintain
communications.
The Colombian amateur radio community is doing vital work by making its
communication systems and human resources available for rescue,
recovery, and locating individuals affected by this disaster, said IARU
Region 2 Emergency Coordinator CO2JC, adding, This makes us proud to be
amateur radio operators.
CO2JC has also requested that all amateurs avoid transmitting on the
IARU Region 2 emergency frequencies of 3985, 7060, 7240, 7275, 14300,
and 21360 kHz, as well as 146.520 MHz for those in VHF range of
Colombia, in order to minimize potential interference to emergency
communications.
See ARRL News
for updates to this story as they become available.
ARRL Year of the Club Contests Celebrate Outstanding Club Websites and
Newsletters
As part of ARRLs 2026 Year of the Club
spotlight, Affiliated Clubs were invited to show how they use two
important communications tools their websites and newsletters to
engage members, strengthen their organizations, and promote amateur
radio.
The response was enthusiastic, with more than 80 entries submitted in
each contest from clubs across the country.
The contests were designed not simply to identify the best-looking
website or newsletter, but to recognize radio clubs that are using these
tools effectively to serve their members.
A good club website can make it easy for prospective and current members
to find information, learn about activities, and get involved.
A good newsletter can keep members connected between meetings, share
technical knowledge and operating opportunities, celebrate club
accomplishments, and give members another reason to stay engaged.
The goal was to highlight the many creative ways radio clubs communicate
with their members, said ARRL Director of Publications and Editorial
Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY. We hope these winning websites and newsletters
will give other clubs ideas they can adapt to their own organizations.
Theres no single formula for an effective club communication what
matters is understanding your audience and giving them useful,
interesting reasons to connect and keep connected with the club.
Outstanding Club Newsletters
Newsletter entries were judged in three membership categories: Large
Clubs (more than 120 members), Medium Clubs (60120 members), and Small
Clubs (fewer than 60 members). Judges considered the navigability and
attractiveness of the publications, as well as the variety and quality
of their content. Two entries also earned special commendations for
doing an outstanding job serving specialized audiences.
The winners are:
Large Clubs
First Place: Gloucester County Amateur Radio Club, W2MMD, Pitman, New
Jersey CrossTalk, edited by Jeffrey Garth, WB2ZBN
Second Place: Long Island CW Club, W2LCW, Global Long Island CW Club
Newsletter, edited by Richard Spohn, WB2GXM
Ozaukee Radio Club, W9CQO, of Grafton, Wisconsin, is the winner of the
ARRL Club Newsletter Contest in the Medium Clubs category. The Ozaukee
Radio Club Newsletter is edited by William Shadid, W9MXQ.
Medium Clubs
First Place: Ozaukee Radio Club, W9CQO, Grafton, Wisconsin The Ozaukee
Radio Club Newsletter, edited by William Shadid, W9MXQ
Second Place: East Greenbush Amateur Radio Association, W2EGB, East
Greenbush, New York Sidebands, edited by Bryan Jackson, W2RBJ
Honorable Mention: Providence Radio Association, W1OP, Johnston, Rhode
Island The Old Professor, edited by Thomas Greenwood, W1ER
Small Clubs
First Place: Peekskill/Cortlandt Amateur Radio Association, W2NYW,
Greater Peekskill/Cortlandt Area, New York PCARA Update, edited by
Malcolm G. Pritchard, NM9J
Second Place: Morongo Basin Amateur Radio Club, W6BA, Morongo Basin,
California MBARC Beacon, edited by Aaron Chesney, KM6IAU
Special Commendations
Best Newsletter for a Specialized Audience: Families and Youth: Sci-Tech
Amateur Radio Society, W1STR, Natick, Massachusetts Sci-Tech Amateur
Radio Society News, edited by Robert F. Phinney, K5TEC
Best Newsletter for a Specialized Audience: Global Audience: Young
Ladies Radio League, K4LMB, Global YL Harmonics, edited by Kathleen
Houlihan, WA5DUC
Newsletter contest judges were:
ARRL Director of Publications and Editorial Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY
ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
NCJ Editor and PVRC Newsletter Editor John Pescatore, K3TN
ARRL News Editor, past Ohio Section PIC, and past coordinator of the
Ohio Section Newsletter Contest John Ross, KD8IDJ
Outstanding Club Websites
The website contest focused on three key areas: layout, content, and
accessibility. Judges with extensive experience in website development,
systems administration, and web infrastructure evaluated the entries to
identify sites that effectively serve their clubs and their audiences.
Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club, W3ACH, serving south-central
Pennsylvania, is the winner of the ARRL Club Website Contest. The
webmaster is Caleb C. Jacobs, KC3VPB.
The winners are:
First Place: Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club, W3ACH, Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania www.w3ach.com, webmaster Caleb C. Jacobs, KC3VPB
Second Place: Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club, W6EK, Auburn,
California www.w6ek.org, webmaster Mike Smitty Smith, WB1G
Third Place: Ventura County Amateur Radio Club, K6MEP, Ventura,
California k6mep.org, webmaster David Schmidt, AI6VX
Website contest judges were:
ARRL New England Division Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN
ARRL member Erica Zavaleta, W7WXR. Erica is currently a DevOps Engineer
managing web infrastructure for a regional ISP.
The winning websites and newsletters are worth a visit not only to
congratulate the clubs, but also to see how they organize information,
promote activities, welcome newcomers, and communicate what makes their
clubs active and relevant. They offer examples of different approaches
to content, design, and audience demonstrating that success doesn't
have to follow a particular template.
The contests are part of ARRLs broader Year of the Club effort to
celebrate the vital role that amateur radio clubs play in building and
sustaining the amateur radio community. Clubs are where many radio
amateurs first find a mentor, learn a new skill, participate in an
event, or make the connections that keep them active in the hobby.
Club leaders, newsletter editors, and webmasters: take a look at what
these clubs are doing and borrow an idea or two for your own club, said
ARRL Emergency Communications and Field Services Director Josh Johnston,
KE5MHV. Year of the Club is a celebration of what clubs accomplish and
an invitation to keep building on that success.
ARRL and the contest judges are grateful for the enthusiastic response
to the call for contest entries, and commend all entrants on the talent
and time they devote to the creation of these important club
communication tools.
The contest winners will be honored at the 2026 ARRL National
Convention, hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest, August 2123 in Huntsville,
Alabama, and will also be featured in a 2026 issue of QST.
ARISS Receives Challenger-7 Recognition
ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, has been
honored with the prestigious Challenger-7 Recognition, a national honor
celebrating organizations whose work reflects the spirit, vision, and
values of the seven crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger mission
STS-51-L.
This recognition is a tribute, not a competition, says the Challenger
Center.
It honors those who embody the Challenger crews values of exploration,
learning, and inspiration, while also celebrating trailblazing
organizations and programs that will carry this mission forward into the
future.
Nominations from nonprofit STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math) programs that have a national-level impact on STEM learning and
other STEM advocates were submitted by members of the broader Challenger
Center community, with honorees selected by an appointed committee.
The recognitions are part of the Challenger Centers 40th anniversary
celebrations.
ARISS representatives Frank Bauer, KA3HDO (middle), and Jackie Blumer,
KC9LEH (right), accepted the Challenger-7 Recognition from Challenger
Center's Mike Kincaid (left) during the organization's 40th anniversary
celebration. [Challenger Learning Center photo]
The ARISS team is humbled to receive the Challenger-7 recognition, said
ARISS-USA
Executive Director and ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO. We
thank the Challenger Center community for this honor as well as treasure
our long-standing partnership with them.
The outcomes of our ARISS on-board astronaut experiences emulate the
exploration and education spirit of the Challenger crewto engage and
educate our next generation of explorers in STEM while giving them the
tools and inspiration to prepare them for future STEM careers.
Other awardees this year include AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics, American Rocketry Challenge, and Janets Planet.
Read the ARISS News Release here.
ARRL Live Events and Podcasts
On the Air LIVE
What if you need to send a message from a disaster area, but all forms
of communication are down? The ARRL National Traffic System could be
your tool to get the message out. Join ARRL Education Specialist Wayne
Greene, KB4DSF, and learn about the history of the National Traffic
System, how it works, and how you can become a regular user and be
prepared to send and relay traffic. The livestream will air on the
ARRL's learning center, learn.arrl.org, August 25th at 8 PM Eastern.
Preregistration is required and can be accomplished through the Learning
Center.
Date: August 25, 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
Hams and Hurricane Season
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo,
KD1CY, joins the podcast to talk about the Atlantic hurricane season and
ham radios role in it, as a follow-up to the July/August 2026 issues
article Ham Radio and the Hurricane Season by Rick Palm, K1CE. More info
| Listen on Blubrry
| Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
Announcements
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.
08/12/2026 Idaho W1AW/7 (host ND7L)
08/12/2026 Ohio W1AW/8 (host K8ZT)
08/12/2026 Massachusetts W1AW/1 (host W1AST)
08/19/2026 Alabama W1AW/4 (host KI4KWR)
08/19/2026 Hawaii W1AW/KH6 (host AD6E)
08/19/2026 Oregon W1AW/7 (host N7JI)
The North East USA SOTA
Club invites activators and chasers of all experience levels to the 4th
annual W2 Fall Campout, September 10 13, in New Yorks Adirondack
Mountains. Throughout the long weekend (Thursday Sunday), look for
Summits on the Air activators calling "CQ SOTA" from various peaks
across the Adirondack Mountains on VHF 146.58 MHz and across the HF
bands using CW, SSB, and FM. For POTA chasers, this is a great
opportunity to get US - 2001 in the log as many of the summits are
within the Adirondack State Park. Activators will be base-camped at the
Wilmington Notch Campground in Wilmington, New York, with a group dinner
and meetup on Saturday, September 12, at the Twisted Raven in
Wilmington. For more information on Summits on the Air and getting
started with activating and/or chasing, visit www.sota.org.uk and
connect with the North East USA SOTA Club on Facebook.
A new ARRL video provides tips on applying for the new ARRL America250
Worked All States (WAS) Award. Available on the ARRLHQ YouTube channel,
the video features Education & Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman,
N4ML, who walks viewers through logging into Logbook of The World
(LoTW), creating a new LoTW Worked All States account or selecting an
existing account, adding a QSO Set and related rules, and viewing award
progress at america250.arrl.org. Once youve qualified for the award,
return to america250.arrl.org to apply for and purchase your
certificate. View the new video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRKSIbLFj5w.
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
Technical Editor
RFI Lab Engineer
Public Relations and Outreach Manager
Advertising Sales Manager
Member Services Representative
Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at
www.arrl.org/careers.
ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
August 13 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
August 15 - 16 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest (digital)
August 15 - 16 -- Russian District Award Contest (CW, phone)
August 15 - 17 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)
August 15 -- SARL Youth QSO Party (phone)
August 15 - 16 -- Keyman's Club of Japan Contest (CW)
August 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
August 15 - 16 -- North American QSO Party, SSB (phone)
August 15 - 16 -- 2100 1.8-28 CVA DX Contest (CW)
August 16 -- NJQRP Skeeter Hunt (CW, phone)
August 16 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY (digital)
August 16 - 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
August 20 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
August 20 - 21 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
August 20 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
August 22 - 23 -- YO DX HF Contest (CW, phone)
August 22 - 23 -- ARSI VU DX Contest (CW, phone)
August 22 - 23 -- Ohio QSO Party (CW, phone)
August 22 - 24 -- Hawaii QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
August 23 -- CVA DX Contest, SSB (phone)
August 23 -- SARL HF CW Contest (CW)
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.
August 13 16 | Northeast HamXposition, hosting the ARRL New England
Division Convention, Marlborough, Massachusetts
August 15 | Cincinnati Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division
Convention, Owensville, Ohio
August 21 23 | Huntsville Hamfest, hosting the 2026 ARRL National
Convention, Huntsville, Alabama
August 28 30 | Wyoming HamCon, hosting the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division
Convention, Casper, Wyoming
September 4 5 | Shelby Hamfest, hosting the ARRL North Carolina State
Convention, Shelby, North Carolina
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
Save the Date
Join ARRL at these Division Conventions and other major events
throughout the year.
Beginning in the fourth quarter, this list will also include significant
events scheduled for the following year.
October 16 18 | Pacificon, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division
Convention, San Ramon, California
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
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 , 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.
On the Air. Published bimonthly for newer hams, featuring introductions
to popular activities and key concepts, equipment buying guides, and
practical projects with step-by-step instructions all in language thats
easy to understand.
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 NTS Letter (monthly news about the ARRL National Traffic
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newsletter), Division and Section news alerts, and much more!
Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Threads, X, and Instagram.
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 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.
ARRL
225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1400
www.arrl.org 860-594-0200
2026 - ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio
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-- Sean
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--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240209
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)
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