|
|
Radio, Learning, and Community at the 2026 ARRL National Convention and Huntsville Hamfest |
|
by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation
Alabama’s Huntsville Hamfest proudly promotes itself as “The World’s Friendliest Hamfest!” It’s been only a few days since the convention ended, and that sentiment is still resonating among those of us who attended the 2026 ARRL National Convention hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest, August 21 – 23.
You could feel the welcome almost immediately.
|
 |
|
|
ARRL’s National Convention program on Friday drew attendees from 37 states. The day started early with three full-day workshops, each attracting a different slice of the amateur radio community.
In Mini Contest University, organized by Tim Duffy, K3LR, and sponsored by DX Engineering, first-time and veteran contesters settled in together to learn, compare notes, and sharpen their skills.
In the room next door, the Emergency Communications Academy brought together amateurs who volunteer when their communities need communications support, sharing experiences and practical lessons from the field.
Then there was the Portable Antenna Workshop, where ARRL author “Salty Walt” Hudson, K4OGO, teamed up with Michael Martens, KB9VBR, of YouTube’s KB9VBR Antennas, and ARRL Digital RF Engineer John McAuliffe, W1DRF. It was the kind of session that captures what amateur radio does so well: take a popular activity, put a group of curious people in a room, and start figuring it out together.
|
|
|
Huntsville Hamfest Association Chairman Mark Brown, N4BCD (center), receives a plaque recognizing the association’s efforts to host the 2026 ARRL National Convention. Presenting are ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R (left), and President Rick Roderick, K5UR (right). | | |
And then there was the setting itself.
Huntsville is a natural place for a gathering centered on radio and technology. The connection was especially apparent at dinner Friday evening, when National Convention attendees gathered for a fundraiser at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to support the ARRL Education and Technology Program. Surrounded by reminders of America’s history of exploration and technological achievement, amateur radio’s role in advancing technology and inspiring young people felt right at home. ARRL Director of Education and Learning Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, delivered an inspiring message, sharing his lifelong journey as a radio amateur while highlighting ARRL’s commitment to developing educators who can ultimately reach thousands of young people. Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL, encouraged additional donations, noting that the cost to sponsor and cover all expenses for an educator attending the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is $4,000.
The evening also included special recognition of the Huntsville Hamfest Association for hosting the National Convention, with ARRL presenting a plaque to Chairman Mark Brown, N4BCD.
|
|
|
CEO David Minster, NA2AA (center), and Second Vice President Rick Niswander, K7GM (right), were among the ARRL Officers greeting convention attendees. | | |
That spirit carried onto the hamfest floor.
Crowds flooded in when the doors opened on Saturday morning to the familiar sounds of a major hamfest – conversations, laughter, the occasional “Hey, good to see you!” and plenty of discussion about radios, antennas, operating, technology, and everything in between.
That energy was also evident throughout the sprawling ARRL EXPO.
Attendees had the opportunity to talk with ARRL staff and volunteers, ask questions, learn more about programs and services, and put faces to the people behind the organization.
For ARRL, being present at major conventions such as Huntsville is an important part of being a member association.
We can communicate through QST, the ARRL Letter, email and social media, but there is something different about sitting across the table from a member and having a conversation.
That was especially apparent in the area of the EXPO where ARRL Officers spent time meeting with attendees.
President Rick Roderick, K5UR; CEO David Minster, NA2AA; First Vice President Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, and Second Vice President Rick Niswander, K7GM, spoke with hundreds of attendees who stopped by to ask questions, share ideas, or simply say hello.
|
 |
|
|
Members of the Rambler Radio Club, W4LMS, from Lafayette, Georgia, joined ARRL staff members Josh Johnston, KE5MHV (left), and Max Freedman, N4ML (right), at the hamfest. The middle school club members are all radio amateurs. | | | |
|
|
Youth Lounge volunteers Charlie Hibbs, KR4LXJ (front), and Todd Cline, N7KDT, operating the Get On the Air – GOTA – station from the 2026 Huntsville Hamfest. | | |
The ARRL Lab tested over 100 handheld radios for spurious emissions during the weekend while also promoting the ARRL Technical Information Service.
“The Lab booth had lots of traffic, and as usual, it was super fun,” said Senior Laboratory Engineer Rick Ciervo, W1CIE. “It was great to meet so many members who recognize and appreciate the work ARRL does for amateur radio.”
At Saturday afternoon’s ARRL Membership Forum, Emergency Communications and Field Services Director Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, presented Year of the Club newsletter and website contest
awards to representatives of ARRL Affiliated Clubs.
|
|
|
Attendees who shared how their radio clubs are helping grow amateur radio were invited to spin the wheel at the ARRL Year of the Club booth. | | |
Three days went by quickly. There was plenty to see, learn, buy, discuss, and experience. But what stood out most was the people. If “The World’s Friendliest Hamfest!” sounds like a bold claim, those of us who spent the weekend in Huntsville might suggest that they have a pretty good case.
You can see even more photos from the 2026 ARRL National Convention on Facebook.
Looking ahead: There are tentative plans to host the next ARRL National Convention at Pacificon in San Ramon, California, in October 2028.
|
|
|
|
Check out the National Convention recap on the ARRL YouTube channel. | | | |
|
|
|
Route 66 has been celebrating its centennial, 1926 – 2026, all year. The 100th anniversary still has events scheduled across the country, and there is time left to join the fun...especially if you’re an amateur radio operator!
Route 66 on the Air 2026 is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, September 20 ... a nine-day window for amateur radio operators to participate.
Twenty-five special event stations under the 1×1 W6 call sign have been set up for this event.
The goal is to commemorate the history of the “Mother Road” connecting the eastern and western United States.
Through stories, songs, and TV shows, the highway came to symbolize the spirit of the freedom of the open road, inspiring many to see America.
Established on November 11, 1926, Route 66 was part of the U.S. highway system and stretched approximately 2,448 miles, from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, passing through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Known as the “Main Street of America” and later dubbed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in his 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath, it became an iconic symbol of American mobility and opportunity.
However, the demise of Route 66 began in the 1950s as the U.S. began building the interstate highway system, and the highway was officially decommissioned in 1986. Today, small portions of the U.S. Highway 66 still exist in towns and rural areas in several states.
Much of the original Highway 66 has been rerouted into a fast-moving interstate, bypassing many of the small towns and interests of this nation.
Every year, Route 66 on the Air takes place to remember, celebrate, and share the enthusiasm and memories that Highway 66 represented in its time… and even today.
A map of the original highway shows its route from Santa Monica, California to Chicago, Illinois.
To find stations participating in Route 66 on the Air, browse the calendar at www.route66centennial.org. The ARRL Special Events Stations
database also includes listings.
Search for the keyword "66".
|
 |
|
|
The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in 2020. The Act creates a commission, with representatives from each of the eight Route 66 states, to recommend activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary in 2026. | | | |
|
|
|
Mark your calendars now.
This year’s second ARRL EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) Contest weekend is September 5 - 6, 2026, 0000 UTC on Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday, and encompasses the bands 2.3 GHz and up.
The contest objective is to work as many amateur stations as possible via the EME path on the bands associated with the above weekend dates.
“Our goal is scoring – while grid squares are shown in the contest log upload for every QSO reported,” said ARRL Radiosport and Field Services Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ.
“What is transmitted over the air to complete the QSO may simply be your 4-digit grid square, OR a report in any mutually understood format if station size or propagation prohibit grid squares from being exchanged (e.g., these typical exchanges have included, T/M/O {weak-signal CW}, RST {CW or voice}, or -R## {digital}). Then, when submitting your log to ARRL, you would enter your 4-digit-grid-square and the 4-digit-grid-square of the station you contacted,” added Jahnke.
Beginning this fall, with all ARRL contests after September VHF, and for the future, all EME contest logs must be uploaded to the dedicated EME Electronic Submission page. For those with electronic spreadsheets or paper logs, a utility for converting log files in non-Cabrillo format to Cabrillo is available at www.b4h.net/cabforms.
|
 |
|
|
Moon photo from Arizona, March 2026. [Photo courtesy of NOAA] | | | |
|
Rules for the next two EME weekends, 3 and 4 ... 50 to 1296 MHz, October 31 - November 1, and November 28 - 29, are posted at www.arrl.org/eme-contest.
As a “prequel” to the September ARRL EME Contest, you can enjoy an almost blood moon lunar eclipse. On August 27 - 28, 2026, a very deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, Africa, North America, and South America, with just over 96% of the moon passing into Earth's shadow. That event will turn the moon into shade of crimson in light filtered and refracted by Earth’s atmosphere.
|
|
Amateur Radio in the News |
|
“Looking up: French radio enthusiast captures ISS signals from his garage” / RFI (Radio France International) August 25, 2026 -- Vincent Plousey, FØGXR.
|
|
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 won’t replace lab-grade testing, they can reveal useful information about your radio’s 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
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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 radio’s role in it, as a follow-up to the July/August 2026 issue’s article “Ham Radio and the Hurricane Season” by Rick Palm, K1CE. More info
| Listen on Blubrry
| Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
|
|
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.
08/26/2026 New York W1AW/2 (hosts WU2M, NQ2U, KD2QLH)
08/26/2026 Oklahoma W1AW/5 (host N5HZR)
08/27/2026 Wyoming W1AW/7 (host WY7AA)
09/02/2026 North Carolina W1AW/4 (host N1X1)
09/02/2026 Colorado W1AW/0 (host K1DDN)
09/09/2026 Kentucky W1AW/4 (host W4NHO)
09/09/2026 North Dakota W1AW/0 (WØND)
|
|
The Handiham Program’s 59th Anniversary Radio Camp QSO Party will be held September 9 - 16, 2026, sponsored by the Handiham Radio Club & Handiham Radio Club of Minnesota. The object is for Handiham members, and all amateur radio operators, to work as many stations as possible during the operating period.
The Courage Kenny Handiham Program provides tools for people with disabilities to learn amateur radio and technology skills, and to earn their amateur radio licenses.
Handiham Radio Club of Minnesota will be active on all amateur bands and modes to make contacts including digital and VOIP modes, calling “CQ Radio Camp.” The exchange is simply name and state, province, or country.
Stations will be using their own call signs, and contact might be possible with the club call signs, WØZSW and WØEQO, as well as special event call sign WØH.
Suggested HF operating frequencies (MHz):
-
28.050 CW & 28.350 SSB
-
21.050 CW & 21.350 SSB
-
14.050 CW & 14.250 SSB
-
7.050 CW & 7.200 SSB
For more information, visit Courage Kenny Handiham Program – Amateur Radio and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities.
|
.gif?cb=898607)
|
|
|
Calling all amateur radio instructors! Sharing your knowledge and helping newcomers earn their licenses is one of the most rewarding ways to support the future of amateur radio. The ARRL National Instructor Program
supports volunteer instructors with resources, updates on programs and opportunities, and access to the Instructor/Teacher Discount Program. You’ll also receive periodic updates from ARRL National Instructor Gordon West, WB6NOA. If you teach or plan to teach amateur radio licensing classes, register today for the ARRL National Instructor Program and join a community helping prepare the next generation of radio amateurs. Register at www.arrl.org/license-instructor-registration.
|
|
Known as the largest amateur radio activation of beaches in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico will be holding its Mega BOTA 2026 on September 6. Spearheaded by ARRL Puerto Rico Section Affiliated Club Coordinator Juan López, KP4KJ, this special event will include various clubs which will be on the air from different beaches around the island for those who are award chasers for the Beaches on the Air (BOTA) program. "It is a way to interest clubs to get on the air from as many beaches as possible, the same way as a POTA (Parks on the Air) operation, and at the same time to bring awareness to the importance of our beaches," said López. “There are now more than 20 clubs, including two from the Dominican Republic, which will be part of this special event.” López also organized the Mega POTA event in May. For more information about BOTA 2026 and a list of activations, visit www.beachesontheair.com.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Solar disk image courtesy of NASA/SDO, August 27, 2026 | | |
ARRL Solar Report August 27, 2026
Solar activity reached moderate levels this week.
Region 4513 was responsible for an M2.2/1B flare that reached its peak on August 26. This event was accompanied by a 10.7-centimeter radio burst that reached 140 solar flux units (SFU) and a type II radio sweep with an estimated shock speed of 930 km/s despite its relatively impulsive nature.
No resulting coronal mass ejection (CME) has been observed in available coronagraph imagery as of the time of this report.
Other activity of note since the last reporting period included an easterly CME first seen in two LASCO C2 coronagraph imageries on August 25.
The first event likely originated from the vicinity of Region 4513 around August 25 while no definitive source could be identified with any confidence for the latter.
Nevertheless, both of these events are currently being modeled and assessed to determine the presence of an Earth-directed path.
Solar activity will likely remain at minor-moderate (R1-R2) levels, with a slight chance for strong (R3) activity, through August 28, mostly due to the flare history and potential of Region 4513.
Solar wind parameters were at undisturbed levels with solar wind speeds between ~300-340 km/s, total field at or below 5 nT and Bz northward or near neutral.
Phi angle was predominantly negative.
Nominal solar wind conditions are expected to continue until midday August 27, when the onset of a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) influence is anticipated.
Additional solar wind disturbances, with increased solar wind densities and total IMF, are likely on August 28 due to the impact of the CMEs that left the Sun on August 25.
The 10.7-centimeter flux: August 27 – 31,120; September 1, 120; September 2, 115.
Predicated sunspot numbers: August 27, 95.4; August 28, 89; August 29, 102; August 30, 83; August 31, 105; September 1, 75; September 2, 110.
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.
|
-
August 28 - 30 -- SCRY/RTTYOps WW DX RTTY Contest (digital)
-
August 29 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
-
August 29 - 30 -- ALARA Contest (CW, phone)
-
August 29 - 30 -- U.S. Islands QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
-
August 29 - 30 -- World Wide Digi DX Contest (digital)
-
August 29 - 30 -- Kansas QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
-
September 2 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone)
-
September 3 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
-
September 3 - 4 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
-
September 5 - 6 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)
-
September 5 - 6 -- All Asian DX Contest (phone)
-
September 5 - 6 -- Russian RTTY WW Contest (digital)
-
September 5 -- AGCW Straight Key Party (CW)
-
September 5 - 6 -- RSGB SSB Field Day (phone)
-
September 5 -- CWOps CW Open (CW)
-
September 5 - 6 -- PODXS 070 Club Jay Hudak Memorial 80m Sprint (digital)
-
September 6 - 7 -- Tennessee QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
-
September 7 - 8 -- MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint (CW)
-
September 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
-
September 10 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
|
|
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 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
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
|
|
|
|
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 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.
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 that’s 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 System message-relay network), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest 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.
|
|
| |
| | | |
.png?cb=652606)
