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10-Year-Old Receives Ham License and More |
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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 MARA’s 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.
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Colombian Amateurs Help in Earthquake Response; Clear Frequencies Requested |
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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 González, CO2JC, provided an update Thursday morning, August 13, from Faber Mosquera, HK6F, the emergency coordinator for the Liga Colombiana de Radioaficionados (LCRA), Colombia’s 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.
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Volunteers from the Liga Radio Quindío 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 Asociación 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.
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ARRL Year of the Club Contests Celebrate Outstanding Club Websites and Newsletters |
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As part of ARRL’s 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.
There’s 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.”
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Outstanding Club Newsletters
Newsletter entries were judged in three membership categories: Large Clubs (more than 120 members), Medium Clubs (60–120 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
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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.
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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
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Newsletter contest judges were: -
ARRL Director of Publications and Editorial Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY
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ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
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NCJ Editor and PVRC Newsletter Editor John Pescatore, K3TN
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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.
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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.
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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
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Website contest judges were:
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ARRL New England Division Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN
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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 ARRL’s 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.”
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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 21–23 in Huntsville, Alabama, and will also be featured in a 2026 issue of QST.
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ARISS Receives Challenger-7 Recognition |
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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 crew’s 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 Center’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
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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] | | | |
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“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 crew—to 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 Janet’s Planet.
Read the ARISS News Release here.
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ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
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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
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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
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.
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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.
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)
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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 York’s 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.
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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 you’ve 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.
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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
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.
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August 13 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
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August 15 - 16 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest (digital)
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August 15 - 16 -- Russian District Award Contest (CW, phone)
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August 15 - 17 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)
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August 15 -- SARL Youth QSO Party (phone)
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August 15 - 16 -- Keyman's Club of Japan Contest (CW)
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August 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
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August 15 - 16 -- North American QSO Party, SSB (phone)
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August 15 - 16 -- 2100 1.8-28 CVA DX Contest (CW)
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August 16 -- NJQRP Skeeter Hunt (CW, phone)
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August 16 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY (digital)
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August 16 - 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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August 20 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA (digital)
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August 20 - 21 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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August 20 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
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August 22 - 23 -- YO DX HF Contest (CW, phone)
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August 22 - 23 -- ARSI VU DX Contest (CW, phone)
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August 22 - 23 -- Ohio QSO Party (CW, phone)
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August 22 - 24 -- Hawaii QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
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August 23 -- CVA DX Contest, SSB (phone)
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August 23 -- SARL HF CW Contest (CW)
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Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar
for more events and information.
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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.
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
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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.
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.
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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 © 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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