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Current Feature Articles

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  • Feb 08 Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Ham Radio 2.0
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  • Feb 05 Surfin': Viewing the New Star of Ham Radio
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  • Feb 02 300 Feet of Cooperation
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  • Feb 01 ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
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  • Feb 01 It Seems to Us: Where Are the Spots?
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  • Jan 29 Surfin': Radio-Spotting Through the Windshield
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  • Jan 27 Amateur Radio Quiz: Blasts from the Past
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  • Jan 26 Hamming on High
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  • Jan 22 Surfin': My World Is a Radio
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  • Jan 15 Surfin': Addicted to the Internet

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    The ARRL Antenna Designer's Notebook -- Now Shipping! -- A rarely presented view of antenna design-from Imagination to Aluminum!

    ARRL Periodicals CD-ROM 2009 -- Now Shipping! -- All of the 2009 issues of ARRL's membership journal, QST, ARRL's technical magazine, QEX, and the National Contest Journal (NCJ) on a fully searchable CD-ROM.

    Pocket Ref -- Now Shipping! -- All the information you need in one essential reference book. Embossed with ARRL’s logo on the cover!

    The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications -- THE standard in applied electronics and communications -- The BIGGEST Handbook EVER!

    RSGB Radio Communication Handbook -- Now Shipping! -- One of the world's largest and most comprehensive guides to the theory and practice of Amateur Radio communication.

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    Amateur Radio News and Features
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    Earlier Stories

    Feature: Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Ham Radio 2.0 (Feb 8, 2010) -- Web 2.0 is the name that has been given to the second wind of the Internet evolution, characterized by new gadgets, new developments and new ways to have fun online. Amateur Radio is also experiencing a second wind, with more hams, more activity and more ways to enjoy the hobby than ever before. We are also experiencing a new marriage with the Internet, as well as a new immersion in social media.
    Full Story


    The K7RA Solar Update (Feb 5, 2010) -- As soon as sunspot 1041 went over the horizon at the end of January, sunspot 1043 emerged, high in our Sun's northern hemisphere. The average daily sunspot number this week fell more than 13 points to 14.6, and average daily solar flux declined nearly 7 points to 75. The geomagnetic activity was up, and the average daily planetary A index rose 2 points to 5.1. Sunspot numbers for January 28-February 3 were 13, 12, 25, 14, 16, 11 and 11, with a mean of 14.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 76.3, 73.3, 75, 75.3, 75.3, 75.2 and 74.4, with a mean of 75. He estimated planetary A indices were 3, 2, 4, 3, 6, 9 and 9, with a mean of 5.1. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 0, 3, 3, 7, 7 and 7, with a mean of 4.1.
    Full Story


    Feature: Surfin': Viewing the New Star of Ham Radio (Feb 5, 2010) -- This week, Surfin' explores D-STAR via the telescope known as “the Internet.”
    Full Story


    Minutes of 2010 Annual Meeting Posted (Feb 4, 2010) -- The minutes of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors have now been posted to the ARRL Web site. The meeting -- which took place January 15-16 in Windsor, Connecticut -- saw the election of the League’s 15th President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, of Blacksburg, Virginia.
    Link to this item


    MARS Unifies Operation in Support of Haiti Relief Effort (Feb 3, 2010) -- To assist the MARS communications support effort in Haiti, the heads of the Army, Air Force, and Navy-Marine Corps MARS programs have agreed to divvy up responsibilities among the three Service MARS programs. According to Air Force MARS Public Information Officer David Trachtenberg, N4WWL/AFA3TR, this delegation of responsibility will facilitate more efficient utilization of MARS communications assets in the overall relief operation. On January 12, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing thousands and wiped out the island nation's communication infrastructure.
    Full Story


    ARRL Continuing Education Online Course Registration (Feb 3, 2010) -- Registration remains open through Sunday, February 21, 2010, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, March 5, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.
    Full Story


    Feature: 300 Feet of Cooperation (Feb 2, 2010) -- A positive approach earns Georgia hams some state owned tower space.
    Full Story


    NCVEC Releases Second Technician Question Pool (Feb 2, 2010) -- In January, the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVECreleased the 2010 Technician (Element 2) Question Pool. Upon further review of the pool, members of the QPC found and corrected more than 50 minor typographical errors and clarified the questions and answers, making them easier to understand. These adopted changes are now incorporated in a revised question pool. The errata list, as well as the revised Technician question pool, is available on the NCVEC Web site. The previously released pool dated January 4, 2010 is invalid for use. The newly revised Technician question pool will become effective for all examinations administered on or after July 1, 2010; it will remain valid until June 30, 2014. The current Technician question pool that became effective July 1, 2006 will expire June 30, 2010. The new Technician pool contains approximately 400 questions, from which 35 are selected for an Element 2 examination; it will contain graphics and diagrams, something new for this element. The current General class question pool was effective July 1, 2007 and is valid through June 30, 2011. The current Amateur Extra class pool was effective July 1, 2008 and is valid until June 30, 2012.
    Link to this item


    2010 Field Day Packets Now Available (Feb 2, 2010) -- It’s that time of year again -- time to start gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 26-27, 2010! ARRL’s flagship operating event -- always held the fourth full weekend in June -- brings together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are now available for download and include the complete rules (including changes for 2010), as well as other reference items such as forms, ARRL Section abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines for getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA stations, a kit to publicize your event with the local press and more.
    Link to this item


    Illinois Teams with Amateur Radio Operators to Create RACES Program (Feb 2, 2010) -- A newly forged partnership between Amateur Radio operators throughout the state of Illinois and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will provide an additional layer of emergency communications during disasters. The agreement creates the State Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) program. Under the agreement, IEMA Director Andrew Velasquez appointed ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator Brad Pioveson, W9FX, of Benton as the volunteer State RACES Officer. Pioveson will serve as the single point of contact between IEMA and the Illinois Amateur Radio community.
    Full Story


    Feature: ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately? (Feb 1, 2010) -- This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of January.
    Full Story


    Phil Salas, AD5X, Wins January QST Cover Plaque Award (Feb 1, 2010) -- The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for January is Phil Salas, AD5X, for his article “160 and 80 Meter Matching Network for Your 43 Foot Vertical -- Part 2.” Congratulations, Phil! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the February issue by Sunday, February 28.
    Link to this item


    Feature: It Seems to Us: Where Are the Spots? (Feb 1, 2010) -- Sunspots, that is. Those of us who follow solar activity the way most people follow the weather had expected that by now our Sun would have developed a nice pox. Instead, we seem to be stuck in a trough of low solar activity.
    Full Story


    FCC Notes Amateur Radio Response to Haitian Earthquake (Jan 29, 2010) -- In a posting on January 28 to the FCC’s blog, Mindel DeLaTorre -- the Commission’s International Bureau Chief -- noted how Amateur Radio operators are assisting with communications support in earthquake ravaged Haiti. “The amateur radio community is also contributing to the relief efforts,” she wrote. “In the aftermath of the earthquake, the amateur radio community in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere has dedicated equipment and spectrum resources to the relief efforts.” DeLaTorre reiterated that those who want to assist in the relief effort must go through the proper channels: “For anyone wanting to help, to protect against harmful interference, it is important to go through the Haitian government before any radio equipment or spectrum resources are used in Haiti.”
    Link to this item


    Former ARRL President Named QCWA President Emeritus (Jan 29, 2010) -- Harry Dannals, W2HD -- who led the ARRL as President from 1972-1982 and was named ARRL President Emeritus in 1984 -- has been named President Emeritus of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA). Dannals also served as President of QCWA from 1989-1994; he is the only person to ever serve as President to both organizations. In addition to his work with the QCWA and ARRL, Dannals is a Fellow in the Radio Club of America (RCA), a member of the Society of Wireless Pioneers (SOWP), the Old Old Timers Club (OOTC) and the Veteran Wireless Operators Association (VWOA). In 2002, he was inducted into the CQ Magazine Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. “I was pleased to learn that the QCWA’s leadership has conferred upon Harry Dannals this very well-deserved accolade,” said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. “As the only person to have served as President of the ARRL and the QCWA, he is unique among amateurs.”
    Link to this item

    Earlier Stories


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