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| | | FCC and HHS Initiate New Proceedings on RF Exposure |
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ARRL is following two new federal proceedings concerning radio frequency (RF) exposure. On September 17, 2026, the FCC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiated parallel comment periods on RF safety issues. Neither inquiry changes the current FCC RF exposure rules that apply to all radio amateurs but could lead to changes in later proceedings if the current rules are found to be deficient.
The FCC’s Public Notice is narrowly focused on specific RF exposure issues remanded to the Commission in 2021 by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The Commission emphasizes that it will give particular weight to submissions reflecting specialized expertise in health and safety matters. The HHS Request for Information (see also HHS press release) broadly seeks evidence and information concerning the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), RF radiation, and wireless technologies.
Comments on the HHS inquiry are due October 21, with comments on the FCC issues due by October 22.
The current rules governing RF exposure took effect on May 3, 2021, and are discussed in the September 2021 and May 2023 issues of QST. The ARRL website features additional information, including an RF exposure calculator, the RF Safety section from the 100th Edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications, an explanatory video, FAQs, and more. ARRL has made these resources available to everyone in the amateur radio community without regard to membership. ARRL urges all licensees to stay compliant and safe. |
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The California Historical Radio Society is teaming up with the Girl Scouts of Northern California to offer a series of Junior Detective badge workshops focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) topics. The first one, coming up on October 3, will use Morse code as the basis for a program on coded communications. According to the group’s website, “Juniors will learn how detectives and investigators use coded communication by exploring the history of Morse code and creating a custom beaded bracelet or keychain that spells out a secret message in dots and dashes. This hands-on activity strengthens observation, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills while introducing participants to one of history’s earliest wireless communication systems. Juniors will earn and receive the Detective badge in this workshop.” Junior Girl Scouts are in grades 4 and 5.
The California Historical Radio Society is a museum and preservation organization focused on radio and broadcasting. The organization’s Director of Marketing and Partnerships, Michael Toedman, says many of the group’s 800-plus members are ham radio operators and that the museum includes an active ham shack and club station, W6CF. That is the call sign of longtime ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Maxwell (SK), whose wife, Trudy, donated Jim’s station and library to the society following his passing. |
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Girl Scout Junior Detective |
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| Remembering Four Silent Keys |
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We are saddened to report this week on the passing of four well-known amateurs, including two members of the extended “ARRL family.”
Longtime ARRL Rhode Island Section Manager Robert George “Bob” Beaudet, W1YRC, became a Silent Key on September 10, 2026, at age 88. An ARRL Life Member, Gold-Level Diamond Club member, and Maxim Society member in the President Class, Beaudet served as Rhode Island Section Manager from 2002 to 2023. In 2020, the ARRL Board of Directors recognized his contributions to the Field Organization with the Knight Distinguished Service Award. An ARRL Volunteer Examiner, Bob took part in over 340 license exam sessions, and was a long-serving member of the DX Advisory Committee. Just a week before his passing, the nursing home where he’d lived since 2025 reported on Facebook about a carefully-organized “jailbreak” in late July, in which Bob was able to briefly return home and once again take to the airwaves as W1YRC, joining a Wednesday night net with more than 40 other Rhode Island hams. Current Rhode Island Section Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, noted in an email that “amateur radio in Rhode Island owes a lot to Bob.” Read the full obituary.
Perry T. Green, WY1O, of Winsted, Connecticut, is also now a Silent Key. A U.S. Army Veteran, he passed away on September 14, 2026, at age 79. Perry was on the ARRL Headquarters staff from 2002 to 2017. He was Assistant Manager of the ARRL VEC Department and had served as a member of the Question Pool Committee for the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, recalled that “Perry had a special gift for connecting with people. He built lasting personal relationships with many of our Volunteer Examiners and customers and … made people feel welcome and appreciated.” Somma added that Green’s “dedication, kindness, and ability to connect with others made him a valued colleague and important part of the ARRL VEC team.” An obituary is available.
Charles “Uncle Chuck” Lee Wyrick, N1UC, of Stuarts Draft, Virginia, became a Silent Key on September 1, 2026, at age 82. An ARRL member, he was a longtime employee of Ham Radio Outlet (HRO), joining the staff there in 1989. He was the company’s National Operations Manager from 2007 until his retirement in 2017. According to the HRO website, Wyrick was responsible for bringing the company “into the 21st century” by implementing a networked point-of-sale application which connected all HRO stores and allowed sharing of sales and inventory control data among all locations. Chuck was also an active satellite operator and was a control operator of the AO-27 satellite. Read the full obituary.
Doug Hendricks, KI6DS, passed away on September 18, 2026. A co-founder of the NorCal QRP Club and founder/owner of Hendricks QRP Kits, he helped start and fuel the popularity of kit-building among QRP (low power) enthusiasts. Hendricks was also a long-time master of ceremonies for the OzarkCon QRP conference and a regular presenter at Four Days in May, the QRP gathering that precedes the Dayton Hamvention® each year. Off the ham bands, Doug taught science and math, and coached basketball, at Dos Palos High School in California, where he was responsible for more than 300 victories and the school’s first-ever league championship.
ARRL sends condolences to the families and friends of these four leaders of the amateur radio community. |
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| Bob Beaudet, W1YRC (SK) | 1938 – 2026 (left). Doug Hendricks, KI6DS (SK) | 1947 – 2026 (right). [Tommy Gober, N5DUX, photo] |
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| Will RADE Be the Next SSB? |
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It’s been a half century since single sideband (SSB) supplanted amplitude modulation (AM) as the most popular voice mode on HF, due largely to its spectrum efficiency, occupying roughly half the bandwidth of an AM signal. Now, there’s a new digital voice mode from FreeDV called Radio Autoencoder, or RADE, that occupies half the bandwidth of an SSB signal and reportedly provides more natural-sounding speech. According to Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), which funded research that advanced RADE’s development, “FreeDV RADE combines machine learning with classical digital signal processing (DSP) and can operate at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) as low as -2 dB. Its design also addresses spectrum use, speech quality, and power efficiency, all important considerations for voice communications over HF.”
Most significantly, ARDC reports that manufacturers are beginning to integrate the mode directly into their radios, starting with a module that can be downloaded and installed on certain FlexRadio models. Users of other transceivers may run the mode through computers connected to their radios. More details are available from FreeDV and on the ARDC website. |
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| Caption: The FreeDV RADE digital voice signal occupies only 1.5 kHz, half the bandwidth of an SSB signal. |
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| | Amateur Radio in the News |
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| “Radio enthusiasts gather for 68th annual Midwest Superfest” / Central Illinois proud.com (WMBD-TV), September 20, 2026 -- Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
“The 28.6-kilogram amateur-radio satellite AO-7 went silent in mid-1981 after its batteries shorted. Then, on 21 June 2002—21 years later—British radio ham Pat Gowen heard it transmitting again” / Space Daily, September 17, 2026 “Mission Notes” column.
“Concord Historical Society to host local ham radio operators” /Springville Journal (Springville, NY), September 17, 2026 -- Southtowns Amateur Radio Society, WB2ELW. “Beauregard Parish E911 Partners With Beauregard Amateur Radio Group” / West Central’s Best (Leesville, LA), September 17, 2026 -- Beauregard Amateur Radio Group. “Pakistan’s amateur radios are tuned in for the apocalypse” / Dawn (Karachi, Pakistan), August 26, 2026 -- Pakistan Amateur Radio Society is an IARU Member Society. |
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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 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) |
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| | ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, was a guest on episode 103 of The DX Mentor, which aired September 19, 2026. Hosted by Bill Salyers,  AJ8B, with Joe Pater, W8GEX, the discussion covered highlights from the ARRL Board of Directors’ annual Second Meeting, held July 17; the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU); the August ARRL National Convention hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest, and recent support from major donors. Minster also answered questions submitted by listeners and viewers. The DX Mentor podcast is available on many major platforms, and the video interview is available on YouTube at youtu.be/Sd1Rt092BM8. |
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| | ARRL Oregon Section Manager Scott Rosenfeld, N7JI, reports that hams in his Section were very busy making Oregon-based special event QSOs this summer, making more than 12,000 contacts from multiple operations. W1AW/7 accounted for 3,800 QSOs in its first week and 3,270 contacts in its second; the Lewis and Clark Trail special event logged 3,309 contacts over 16 days; W7O had 1,285 QSOs in 12 days of operation at the Oregon State Fair, and W7S at the Springfield Block Party rounded things out with 74 contacts in just 4 hours on the air. |
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| | An ARES®/RACES team in Texas was called out to help with communications following an apparent carbon monoxide incident at a local middle school on August 27. Team member Liz Brown, K5EMB, reports the school’s roughly 1200 students were evacuated to a nearby stadium. Staff members found it difficult to communicate from one side of the facility to the other, so the city’s Emergency Management Coordinator requested help from the Carrollton-Farmers Branch-Addison ARES®/RACES group. While the communications problems were quickly resolved, the hams were asked to remain and “shadow” certain school officials until all students and parents were reunited about 4 hours later. |
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| | The Trilogy Amateur Radio Club in Bonney Lake, Washington, has a new repeater in service that is dedicated to use by the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) during exercises and emergencies. At other times, it is open for general amateur use. The repeater was funded largely by a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) and installed in cooperation with the Bonney Lake Fire Department. It is located inside a fire station and its antenna is on the station roof at a height of roughly 800 feet above sea level, providing broad coverage of the East Pierce County area. |
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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 likely to continue at low levels with isolated to occasional C-class flare activity, along with a slight chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) M-class flare events, through September 25, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The SWPC reports that nine sunspot regions are on the visible disk, including a new Region 4541. There were three solar flares observed in the past week, none of which was directed toward Earth.
A disturbed solar wind environment was expected to arrive late yesterday, followed by positive polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (+CH HSS) influences continuing through September 25.
Unsettled to active geomagnetic field conditions levels are expected as of today under early +CH HSS effects, including isolated periods of G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming today and tomorrow.
The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre’s global HF propagation forecast for middle latitudes is for mild degradation today due to forecast geomagnetic activity, followed by normal propagation in the days that follow. We are currently in a period of equinoctial propagation, during which conditions are relatively uniform around the world.
Predicted 10.7-centimeter radio flux from the SWPC: Sep 24, 100; Sep 25-26, 105; Sep 27, 100; Sep 28, 105; Sep 29, 110; Sep 30-Oct 1, 115.
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 September 24, 2026 [Photo courtesy NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center] |
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| | Just Ahead in Radiosport |
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| September 26 - 27 -- CQ World Wide DX Contest, RTTY (digital) September 26 - 27 -- YU DX Contest (CW, phone) September 26 - 27 -- Maine QSO Party (CW, phone) September 26 - 27 -- AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party (phone) 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 -- German Telegraphy Contest (CW) October 3 -- 50 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital) October 3 - 4 -- Collegiate QSO Party (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)
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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.
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 3 | Rock Hill Hamfest, hosting the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South Carolina
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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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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