Amateur Radio News and Notes Podcast

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: ARRL VHF Contest* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX?* Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio ContentAs always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com.Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: ARRL VHF ContestThis weekend brings the June 2026 edition of the ARRL VHF Contest. The stated objective of the contest is to work as many amateur radio stations in as many 2 degree by 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US and Canada may only work stations in the US and Canada. The contest starts Saturday at 1800 UTC (2 PM Eastern Time Saturday) and goes until 0259 UTC on Monday (10:59 PM Eastern Time Sunday Night). Operators can work stations on any band above 50 MHz using any mode and each station can be worked once per band. Operating categories include Single Operator (High and Low Power), Single Operator Portable, Single Operator (3-Bands), Single Operator (FM-Only), Rover (Classic, Limited, and Unlimited), and Multioperator (Limited and Unlimited). Check out the rules for details on each category. The exchange is the 4-character Maidenhead grid-square locator (for me in VA, FM18). For scoring, each QSO counts for 1 point on 6 and 2 meters, 2 points on 1.25 meters and 70 centimeters, three points on 33 and 22 centimeters, and four points for 2.3 GHz contacts. No repeaters or digipeaters may be used. Logs must be submitted within 10 days of the contest at http://contest-log-submission.arrl.org/. Online certificates will be available to all participants and awards will be given to top operators in each category. This promises to be a fun and challenging contest, and with the 6 meter band having had some openings this past week, there may be some opportunities to experience some of the magic of the “magic band” this weekend. Full rules and information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/june-vhf. Good luck!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ]* 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM]* MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Kenya (54Z/MM0ZBH, 5Z4A), French Polynesia (FO/F6CBW), Namibia (V5/N7XOB), Palau (T88RR), Lord Howe Island (VJ2L), Tanzania (5H1KB, 5H3DX), Rwanda (9X5KM), Maldives (8Q7ML), St. Martin (FS/K9EL), Cape Verde Island (D4OL, D44EC), and Curacao (PJ2/PH2M).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at NG3K’s Announced DX Operations List at https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html.Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 124 and the estimated sunspot number was 114 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 5 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 505 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares and a slight chance of X-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to minor storm levels today and at unsettled to major storm levels on Saturday and unsettled to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 5% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely with a predicted probability of 45% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 10% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world.Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/.Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the ARRL VHF Contest we spotlighted earlier as well as the PVRC Reunion, the YB ORARI DX Contest, the Asia-Pacific Sprint on SSB, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the Portugal Day Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, the REF DDFM 6 meter Contest, the GACW WWSA CW DX Contest, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, the MSTs, and the CWTs will also be on the air.The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentMark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA talk with Tim N7KOM about SOTA, the Brass Knuckle Gang, and more on Sofas on the Air - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn6xM2AUuLAJim WT1W shows the Open Source AetherSDR software for Flex Radios - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUo4g1LUnjsChris KL9A gives an aerial tour of the KM7W Antenna Farm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsUpWIRspPoKevin KB9RLW looks at an electromagnetic radiation meter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0akzLYWArrYCallum M0MCX talks coax performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT2_aSlKTZETelecom Training discusses 5/8-Wave antenna performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDMNhk71tNQWalt K4OGO advocates for more experimenters in radio - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVCV-QaHxSUTim N7KOM does SOTA from South America - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd_nPx7pdw0The History Archive talks about Morse Code history - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN2Mg1tkBZ0Mike K8MRD shows a 3D printed weather resistant case for the Packtenna - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBp2iAEr_PEGeorge VK2AOE builds an antenna for his school club - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a6RZXhB6LABobby W6IWN uses the Mercury Lite 500 Watt Amplifier for POTA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VEwaDq-k0AWalt K4OGO takes us on the USS Wisconsin to learn about the ship and activate Museum Ships On The Air - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDpjBl8mLUoKevan 2E0WMG takes us along for some kayak portable operation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfpJAkc1MB8Takeshi JS1QIZ takes us into the wilderness for camping and QRP in Japan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuSxmpxxS70Hayden VK7HH and Steve KM9G talk about a new board to work digital with the Xiegu G90 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGu0WX3DxMEVeritasium talks about the discovery of a satellite jamming GPS signals over Europe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz23G_UXCGAJosh KI6NAZ activates Pikes Peak on VHF for SOTA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_lwHxH5npUThat’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: ARRL Digital Contest* CHU Canada Shortwave Time Station Shutting Down 6/22/2026* DXpedition Spotlight: VJ2L Lord Howe Island* ARRL Announces Product Comparison Tool* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX?* Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio ContentAs always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com.Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: ARRL Digital ContestThis weekend brings the 2026 edition of the ARRL Digital Contest. The stated objective of the contest is to exchange QSO information with other amateurs using any digital mode with the exception of RTTY in modes that support the exchange of a four digit Maidenhead Grid Square. The contest starts on 1800 UTC on Saturday (2 PM Eastern Time on Saturday) and ends 2359 UTC on Sunday (7:59 PM Eastern Time on Sunday). Bands in play are the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, an 6 meter bands and observation of established band plans is strongly encouraged. Operating categories are Single Operator (Low Power and QRP) and Multioperator (Low Power and QRP). There are no high power categories. Single Operator stations can work 24 of the 30 hours and Multioperator stations can work the full 30 hours. Stations can contact any other station once per band. The exchange is the 4 digit Maidenhead Grid Square locator. For my QTH that would be FM18. Any digital mode except RTTY can be used, but FT8 and FT4 are likely to be the most popular. For scoring each QSO counts for 1 QSO point plus an additional point for each 500 km of distance between the centers of the 4 digit grid squares of the two stations, rounded up to the next highest value. There are also club competition and team competition options. All logs must be submitted electronically in Cabrillo format within 7 days after the end of the contest. This promises to be a fun contest for the digital operator. For full rules and information visit https://www.arrl.org/arrl-digital-contest. Good luck.CHU Canada Shortwave Time Station Shutting Down 6/22/2026A familiar companion on the HF bands is about to sign off the air. CHU Canada, the time signal station that broadcasts time signals on 3.330 MHz, 7.850 MHz, and 14.670 MHz is scheduled to shut down on June 22nd. CHU’s signal has been easily heard in the United States and around the world with its broadcasts of time announcement by voice and also via digital time codes. It is broadcast in Upper Sideband with a carrier reinserted to allow it to be received without an SSB radio using three atomic clocks located at the transmitter site and the signals are highly accurate. In addition to providing the time, the signals were used by many to gauge ionospheric propagation conditions. Recently HamSCI, an organization engaged in citizen science using amateur radio, released a statement on how they have been actively using the signals from CHU to further their research, formally asking the Canadian National Resource Council (NRC) which operates CHU to reverse their decision to close the station. The decision to end CHU broadcasts follows the closing of Canada’s weather radio network on March 16 earlier this year. If the station does indeed stop broadcasting this month, it will be greatly missed. For more information visithttps://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/canadas-official-time/nrc-shortwave-station-broadcasts-chuhttps://www.hamsci.org/CHUhttps://swling.com/blog/2026/05/canadas-chu-will-go-silent-on-shortwave-on-june-22-2026/DXpedition Spotlight: VJ2L Lord Howe IslandImage Courtesy https://www.dx-world.net/vj2l-lord-howe-island/A team of 7 operators started their activation of Lord Howe Island on June 1st with a focus on working as many DXCC entities and CQ Zones as possible for the 2026 DX Marathon contest. Lord Howe Island is a volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between the East Coast of Australia and Norfolk Island. The team will be focusing on 40 through 10 meters on CW, FT8, and SSB and they are livestreaming via ClubLog. As we went to press the team had logged over 6,940 QSOs and were working a big pileup on 17 meter CW. They are scheduled to continue their operations until June 14. More information about the DXpedition can be found at https://www.dx-world.net/vj2l-lord-howe-island/ and their livestream can be found at https://clublog.org/livestream/VJ2L. Good luck.ARRL Announces Product Comparison ToolThe American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has announced the release of their QST Product Review Database. It allows amateurs to compare various amateur radio products based upon metrics evaluated by the League. The site includes every lab tested device featured in QST since 2012 and allows users to filter based on the parameters most of interest to them. It also allows users to jump into the reviews in past issues of QST. To get full access to the data an ARRL membership is required. The database can be accessed at https://compare.arrl.org/.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ]* 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM]* MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Kenya (54Z/MM0ZBH, 5Z4A), French Polynesia (FO/F6CBW), Juan Fernandez Island (3G0Z), Namibia (V5/N7XOB), Palau (T88RR), Bolivia (CP7DX), Bonaire (PJ4CB), Market Reef (OJ0MN, OJ0Z), Mozambique (C91RU), Lord Howe Island (VJ1L), Macao (XX9AN), Tanzania (5H3VW, 5H1KB), Rwanda (9X5KM), St. Martin (FS/K9EL), and St. Kitts and Nevis (V47JA).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at NG3K’s Announced DX Operations List at https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html.Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 148 and the estimated sunspot number was 157 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI stayed about the same. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 481 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares and a slight chance of X-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at active to severe storm levels today and at quiet to active levels on Saturday and quiet to unsettled levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 5% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely with a predicted probability of 50% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 10% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world.Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/.Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the ARRL Digital Contest we spotlighted earlier as well as the VK Shires Contest, the PODXS 070 Club Three Day Weekend Contest, the Tisza Cup CW Contest, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, the UKSMG Summer Contest, the Kentucky QSO Party, the IARU Region 1 Field Day on CW, the RSGB National Field Day, and the Atlantic Canada QSO Party. As always the K1USN SSTs, the MSTs, and the CWTs will also be on the air.The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentMichael KB9VBR discusses using the Challenger OCF Vertical - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgY8HPHmPaMDr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses the solar storms coming our way this weekend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0J2EQJWKIAGeorge VK2AOE does a little Beaches on the Air - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gduTI0Fr610Mike K8MRD tries out the Tiny Gawant antenna - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoO1lO6xuaEDugbo KD7RT takes apart a Putikeeg TUMD paddle to see what's inside - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN-gK1B1ON4Dan WD4DAN installs the G7UFO USB Charging mod into his Elecraft KX2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq2bdpp4b_wWalt K4OGO explores Virginia's Eastern Shore for DX and POTA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxu-fVQWoYgLinas LY2H builds his own battery pack and sees how it performs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogpq5ct2BUCallum M0MCX does a 1 day build of a home brew 15 meter Yagi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEUO-tJKKn4Stuart VE9CF talks about Ionosondes and the chirp they make on the HF bands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVTIfrIUliMCiprian YO6DXE shows a shortened end-fed half-wave antenna - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V00WBSPoxsEThat’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW)* Free Online Field Day Training From Long Island CW Club* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX?* Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio ContentAs always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com.Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW)This weekend brings one of the biggest contests of the year: the CQ World Wide WPX Contest on CW. This is another contest where you can work a ton of DX, but what makes this one special is everyone can work everyone. The WPX part of it is referring to an interesting component of the contest where different call sign prefixes are the multipliers. So for me, the prefix would be “N2”, so if you worked me you’d get a multiplier. But “W2” would be another, as would “K2”, throw a different number in there and then you get still more, so the points escalate quickly and almost all contacts are “good contacts”.The contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, May 30 (8 PM ET Friday Night), and ends on 2359 UTC on Sunday (7:59 PM ET Sunday). During that period of time a single operator can work 36 of the 48 hours and any off-times must be a minimum of an hour with no contacts logged. Bands allowed for the contest include 160m/80m/40m/20m/15m/and 10m. The exchange is RST plus a serial number, so “599 42” if you’re someone’s 42nd contact. Make sure you get the serial number, as it is required to match for the QSO to count. The final score is the QSO Points x Number of Prefixes Worked. QSO Points are 3 for contacts on different continents on 10m/15m/20m and 6 points on 40m/80m/160m. On the same continent but different countries points are 1 point on 10m/15m/20m and 2 points on 40m/80m/160m. Finally contacts in the same country are 1 point on all bands. The Prefix multipliers are applied only once, regardless of band or frequency of operation. Prefixes are the combination of the letters and numbers on the first half of the call, so N4, W4, WA4, S51, LY1000, are all separate prefixes to be counted. For entry, single operator categories include High Power (not exceeding 1500 Watts), Low Power (not exceeding 100 Watts), QRP (not exceeding 5 Watts). There are also a bunch of overlay categories that can be entered alongside your main category like Tribander, Rookie, Classic, and Youth. Check the rules for details on these. There are also Multi-Operator categories including Multi-One, Multi-Two, Multi-Unlimited, and Muti-Distributed. Again check the rules for full details. Rules and more information can be found at https://www.cqwpx.com/.This is always a great contest to make lots of contacts and get all kinds of unique prefixes into your log. Have fun and good luck!Free Online Field Day Training From Long Island CW ClubThe Long Island CW Club was founded in 2017 by Howard WB2UZE and Rich K2UPS after Field Day that year in the hopes that they could get more CW operators on the air for future Field Day outings. What they started in Long Island nearly 9 years ago has since grown to an impressive scale with 8,100 members in all 50 US States, and 71 Countries around the globe. They currently teach 182 classes a week covering Morse Code as well as a wide variety of topics of interest to the radio amateur. Getting back to that founding desire to promote CW on Field Day, the club is offering free classes to all via Zoom during the month of June focusing on practical CW skills for Field Day operation. They go over the Field Day exchange, getting into the rhythm of operating, abbreviations you’re likely to hear on the air, and practical advice on building your skills in sending, receiving, and confidence on the air.I have been an instructor with the Long Island CW club for many years now teaching classes at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels and the organization’s commitment to quality education and a welcoming community is second to none. The Field Day classes are free to all and start on Monday, June 1st, 2026 in a public Zoom room. As we go to press there are classes scheduled Sunday-Thursday for both Field Day CW Training and Practice and Advanced Field Day Training being offered. A full calendar of classes with a link to the Zoom room can be found at https://longislandcwclub.org/2026fieldday/. So stop on by for some classes and get on the air with CW during this year’s Field Day and get all those extra points. Good luck!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ]* 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM]* MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXAs you would expect on a big contest weekend, there will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Galapagos (HD8R, HC8M), Western Sahara (S09S), Kenya (54Z/MM0ZBH, 5Z4A), French Polynesia (FO/F6CBW), Mauritius (3B8IDX), Juan Fernandez Island (3G0Z), Namibia (V5/N7XOB), Palau (T88PB), Tonga (A31WW), Saint Kitts and Nevis (V4/WW6W), Chatham Island (ZL7IO), Martinique (TO3E), Bolivia (CP7DX), Bonaire (PJ4CB), Azerbaijan (4K0T), Maldives (8Q7QR), Panama (3F1A), Market Reef (OJ0MN, OJ0Z), Lord Howe Island (VJ1L), Macao (XX9AN), Tanzania (5H1KB), and Rwanda (9X5KM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at NG3K’s Announced DX Operations List at https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html.Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 145 and the estimated sunspot number was 161 with 11 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 491 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and Saturday and at quiet to active levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 5% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible with a predicted probability of 40% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world.Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/.Upcoming ContestsAs we mentioned earlier, the main event this weekend is the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest, so there are not too many other contests scheduled. One exception is the Romanian Diaspora SSB Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, the MSTs, and the CWTs will also be on the air.The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentKevin W1DED and the Contest Crew talk about CQ WPX Log Checking and WRTC 2026 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9tM81wnqXoSenator Ted Cruz Thanks Amateur Radio Operators for their efforts in Emergency Preparedness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZNeMXyCQ7YMichael KB9VBR tests out the Chameleon QRP Feather Antenna - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4QJKHQ0ry0Vince VE6LK promotes the free LICW Field Day Classes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqeWpybBsv4Josh KI6NAZ takes a look at the Rak WisMesh Tag for Meshtastic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm0aANxGGv8Lewis M3HHY talks about the POCSAG protocol used for text paging - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSBaRpWykfgWalt K4OGO tries a Loop On Ground Antenna at the beach - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAxaKAt0H3MThe Broadcast Engineer talks about the physics of directional antennas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR8pse5vidQMichael KB9VBR shares what he got at Hamvention this year - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jLkndcnI6ECallum M0XXT gives a tour of his shack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-utcgmIFeMLewis M3HHY takes a look at VOR beacon antenna systems - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGb940SP0i0Dan WD4DAN shows us how he works amateur satellite SO-50 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxGO90AtufwIMSAI Guy tests out the Nano Far Field antenna radiation pattern tester - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__gNp7DgZKsGabe KL1FI hunts a radiosonde and takes a look at the radio that makes it work -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w16pjUEGrjkColin MM0OPX uses a mag mount with ham sticks to activate POTA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Cwnmgbi7sCraig KM6LYW shows how to use VHF and UHF in the backcountry to keep in contact without cell service - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RY_ZTEyDkgBobby W6IWN shows his SOTA and POTA camping location with all the amenities - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnWDAXdb4AQTim K5OHY compares 4 Vertical Antennas to see the tradeoffs of each - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHmapk7EF-ADugbo KD7RT shows us the TUMD CW Paddle in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M26oNd1zqMDan WD4DAN talks about the challenges of logging satellite contacts and his solutions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTwMpfB6sWYWalt K4OGO takes his new FTX-1 out for Sea Trials - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuu-piH7Fh4Mike K8MRD shows off his Hamvention acquisitions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swgh4tHehpIJosh KI6NAZ builds a portable kit from his Hamvention finds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCfX0uiUMVIForrest KI7QCF shows how to modify the Quansheng Mini Kong HT for CW - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzdnNWqUeL0Mike K8MRD shows a DC to DC charger to allow LiFePO4 battery charging with a car's electrical system - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbIzezGEkyAThat’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Dayton Hamvention 2026 Recap* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Dayton Hamvention 2026 RecapThe 2026 edition of Dayton Hamvention took place on May 15-17, 2026 and Amateur Radio News and Notes was there. There were new product announcements from Icom and Yaesu, scores of vendors and flea market attendees selling their wares, many forums to attend, and several awards given to individuals and organizations of note in the amateur radio hobby. Perhaps the most anticipated announcements of Hamvention were those from Icom. They had several new and upcoming items on their list including ID-5200 mobile VHF/UHF rig which was on display with support for APRS and a Bluetooth KISS TNC. A price and release date has not yet been announced, but it is likely to be released at Tokyo Ham Fair later this year. Also announced was a new microphone and the AH-6 automatic antenna tuner, and both have no announced release date. The big tease from Icom was for their X-026 prototype. They had a plastic mockup under glass, but it was just a black box with no details on it and Icom staff were more interested in getting attendees thoughts on what it could be than giving specifics. Amateur Radio News and Notes was able to get some time with Icom’s Ray Novak N9JA to talk about what they brought to Dayton.Amateur Radio News and Notes: Hey, we’re here with Ray Novak here at the Icom booth, N9JA, and of course everybody knows Ray. Ray, you’ve got a lot of things being announced here, some a little more, real than others, some still in the prototype phase. Tell me about what, what we’re looking at here, new stuff here from Icom.Ray Novak N9JA: Well, a couple of the things here, we’re in various stages of prototypeness here. We’ve got the new X026 which is in a design concept, you know, one of those molded vehicles at the auto show that everybody goes, “Oh, that is so cool,” and then in the automobile industry maybe 20 years later they finally release the Tonka version of the Bronco. That took forever.But then we’ve got a microphone that is designed by the JAIA. I’ve heard that it looks like one of the Heil microphones, the PR781, uh, had somebody else tell me it looks like a Rode microphone. I haven’t had a chance to play with it to see what the front to back looks like, but it’s got in it the, uh, buttons to trigger—like I said I haven’t had a chance, but it looks like it triggers the digital voice keyer in the radio.Uh, we’ve got two almost production prototypes here, one being the AH6 which is 160 through 6 meters, both a random wire or a coax fed antenna system. And then finally the ID5200.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Well very good. Well, I’m very excited. I know there’s a lot of buzz around the, uh, the X026. I know you and I were talking a little earlier, might be a little while before it goes to market, but a lot of lot of speculation. Do you, do you have any, any favorite guesses you’ve been hearing, because I know a lot of people have been asking about it.Ray Novak N9JA: The more favorite guesses I guess I could say isn’t the ones where they’re like speculating what bands it will do, it’s more what would you like to see outside the box. And those, those have been the ideas that I’ve liked the most because it gives me an idea of hams thinking differently.Instead of just where does the microphone plug into, how long is the remote head cable, I want to see it do this band, that band, the other, I want the typical things that you would expect out of a black box. But I’m having fun hearing some of the things like what we did in the ID5200 with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, APRS, things like that. So those, those are the fun outside... it’s definitely outside the Icom box with like the APRS.Amateur Radio News and Notes: Fantastic. Well Ray, thank you so much for your time. I know you’re busy, got a lot of people going to talk to you but I appreciate you spending some time with us and, uh, look forward to seeing all this stuff out in the market.Ray Novak: Alright, thank you very much.Another highly anticipated set of announcements was from Yaesu. They announced the latest version of their digital voice system, Yaesu System Fusion III, along with their new DR-3X Repeater Systems. No price or release dates were announced, but Amateur Radio News and Notes spoke to Cory Sickles WA3UVV to learn more about what Yaesu announced at Dayton.Cory Sickles WA3UVV: Sure, I’m I’m Corey Sickles WA3UVV.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Well very good, so looking at the release here, I know they were talking about System Fusion 3 and then the new series of the DR3 repeaters. Can you tell me a little bit about that? What’s new in 3 and what can people look forward to with the new repeaters? I know a little bit more power, right?Cory Sickles WA3UVV: Uh, it is more power. Uh, the new repeaters are now available, they have dual band, dual input receivers still... compared to the DR2X, but a single transmit output and a single band. And the reason for that is that the increased power... what’s available with today’s technology for a given price point is such that it’s easier to do in a mono band configuration. So with VHF you get 85 watts out. With UHF you get 65 watts out. 100% duty cycle, full bore... that’s kind of the story of that part of things.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Well very good. So my, the club that I run this podcast through, we we use the 2. So what would be the... so obviously more power, I noticed also some new signal processing on that.Cory Sickles WA3UVV: There is. There’s a, uh, interference avoidance system, more information will be coming out about that, I don’t want to speak about it just yet. but if you have... and this is used in some commercial applications elsewhere in the world... you have interference, the repeater can switch to a different input frequency automatically AND communicate that transfer to radios... with firmware that will be upgraded at some point to do the same thing. So it would be an additional memory you’d have for this... situational kind of thing where it goes to that.Amateur Radio News And Notes: So would this be something where you’d have members of the club would sort of program it ahead of time with some sort of a key and then it would know, okay, it’s it’s time to go based on that authentication?Cory Sickles WA3UVV: Right. Right. One one example I could give of this, and it’s not the perfect one, but for my own club, we have a repeater up in the mountains. There’s a SCADA unit not too far from us. Every day at the exact same time, a gas valve opens and it puts that noise into the repeater. We once had that thing hang and it just tied up the repeater, couldn’t do anything about it other than report it to the gas company. Because we knew who the perpetrator was based on past experience. So this is something that in that scenario, the DR3 configured accordingly and the users, it would flip.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Okay. So I imagine in tight urban areas where you have a lot of, you know, you don’t have a lot of open frequencies that might be a bit of a challenge. Or or is the idea... I know they only transmit on on the band that they’re for but they do listen on both right? So would this be a situation where would it be maybe would people be moving from say VHF to UHF for the input during that time or would it...Cory Sickles WA3UVV: That is one possibility. Let’s say it’s a UHF repeater. You know, we have 30 megahertz on the 70 centimeter band. We heavily use 10 of that. Give the satellites their due. Still a lot of open room down in the 430 range... for for auxiliary inputs if you will, for something like that. So there really, you know, when we get to that band, we really don’t have the crowding of things.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Well very good. And another thing I noticed to talk about was the ASP which I know some of your newer rigs have. So would this... is my understanding right that essentially in weak signal conditions it’s going to add a level of audio processing and then that would then be boosting or taking that processed audio on the repeater output?Cory Sickles WA3UVV: Right. It’s a very current state of the art, digital signal processing for an analog signal. Uh, if you’ve had things like, uh, picket fencing, fry eggs, uh, you know the different sounds we have... It remedies that to whatever extent it needs to that technology allows. It’s a, it’s a really great thing. I mean, somebody who has used FM since the 70s and there are just certain things you just live with... we’re now at a point where we have a delivery of something where you don’t have to live with that.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Fantastic. And then in terms of the System Fusion 3 part, so what other things can people expect from the new standard? I know it’s backward compatible, right?Cory Sickles WA3UVV: Yes, absolutely. We’re we’re not taking anything away. there will be new features via firmware for certain radios. New things, you know, to come. If you remember the old Tonight Show billboard, ‘more to come’ along with that. And and some of this is is being developed. What you have right here is a working pre-production unit. It’s a real product. The firmware software things like that... later to be released to allow some of these features.Amateur Radio News And Notes: And any timelines of when when people can expect?Cory Sickles WA3UVV: Nothing that I... I I do not know. So if I were to give you a date, it would be a lie. And and we don’t do that. But just, you know, stay tuned, pay attention to those things coming up. A lot of exciting stuff with this.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Fantastic. Well I really appreciate your time.Cory Sickles WA3UVV: If you look at the front panel, you might notice a few things over the DR2 also. Uh, USB-C input, extra RAM.Amateur Radio News And Notes: So take with what you might want to with that with programming features that sort of thing.Corey Sickles WA3UVV: Absolutely.Amateur Radio News And Notes: And is there any any pricing right now or is that still...Cory Sickles WA3UVV: None whatsoever.Amateur Radio News And Notes: Okay. Well again thank you so much for your time.Corey Sickles WA3UVV: 2 will be coming.Amateur Radio News And Notes: All right. Well thank you again for your time I really do appreciate it.Cory Sickles WA3UVV: Absolutely Ed.Another vendor showing off some of their newer releases was FlexRadio. They were highlighting their Aurora line of transmitters announced last year at Dayton. We spoke with Michael Walker VA3MW to find out more about what they had on offer.Amateur Radio News and Notes: I’m here with Michael Walker, VA3MW, at FlexRadio, and uh, Michael, what, what’s uh, what’s Flex got on offer these days? What should we know about uh, from the Flex booth?Michael Walker VA3MW: Well, it’s the second Dayton Hamvention that the Aurora radio has been out in, and it’s been our big interest, and you know what, our biggest seller. So that’s a 500-watt, not QRP, transceiver, HF from uh, 160 through to 6 meters, 200 watts on 6 meters. But it runs its new technology called polar modulation, or Envelope Elimination and Restoration, which makes it incredibly power efficient. Now, most of us don’t care, but uh, you know, 500 watts and you’re only drawing 6 amps from a typical house circuit means that you also do not have to special-wire power into your shack. And because it’s a Flex radio, uh, it also has the latest, greatest features that we build or whatever. And did you know I have a cool line that Flex radios get better as they get older? And even if you bought one of our 6000 series, I don’t know, back in 2012, it’s still better than the day you took it home.Amateur Radio News and Notes: Yeah, absolutely, they’re amazing. I’ve, I’ve been looking at the uh, the Aurora, it looks like an amazing radio. I know you have uh, like two different main models. Of course, there’s also the Maestro and the non-Maestro, and I think the difference there is whether or not it has a display or is fully network-connected. But what’s the difference between the two different models that you have uh, of those for the lesser expense and the higher expense?Michael Walker VA3MW: Right. So the radios come with one or two—well, every radio comes with something called a Spectral Capture Unit, every radio you buy today. And that’s the part where we take the energy from the antenna and convert it into whatever we’re going to do with it. And in today’s direct sampling world, where we convert that into numbers, that direct sampling is incredibly critical. FlexRadio direct samples the entire HF spectrum from 30 kHz to 54 MHz, meaning that we can use multiple receivers at the same time anywhere in the HF spectrum, not just 100 kHz away. So you could be on 160 and 6 meters at the same time. So that’s incredibly powerful uh, for a variety of reasons. So that’s if it comes with one Spectral Capture Unit and it comes with an A/B antenna switch.So the 520 series or the 8600 series come with two Spectral Capture Units, and it’s like having two radios on your desk at the same time. So if you were a 6-meter op uh, in days before, we might have our TS, oh I don’t know, our 520 or something on the desk for HF, but then another radio dedicated to 6 meters only, because if you’re a 6-meter hunter you never know when it’s going to show up. So that’s the core difference. And then you share the transmitter. Uh, so it’s not like it’s a sub-receiver, they’re all main receivers. And some radios come with two VFOs or four, we call them slices, because they’re a slice of the radio spectrum.Amateur Radio News and Notes: And while you have multiples of those, does your own transmit uh, interfere with your receive, or are they isolated in some way?Michael Walker VA3MW: Uh, they can, based on math. Uh, they’re incredibly well isolated from each other, but of course if I’m transmitting on 7150 and I’m on 20 meters at 14300, which is the second harmonic, I’m certainly going to see it. But it’s not uh, anything to really worry about, doesn’t damage anything.Amateur Radio News and Notes: And I imagine probably some people are using it for stuff like SO2R kind of stuff, right?Michael Walker VA3MW: Yeah, the, the 8600 and the Aurora 520 series, if you’re a contester, single operator two radio, uh, includes many things. If you want to build one today in another world, you’re buying two radios, two amplifiers, uh, audio switching circuitry. This is all actually built into the radio, so you can put down a single radio like an Aurora 520 on a desk uh, with being able to use different antennas, and have QRO power 520 watts and full N1MM or similar SO2R integration. And that includes the audio switching called OTRSP... yeah, I forgot what it stands for. But you know, when you need to have one VFO on one ear and the other one on the other and then quickly switch so they’re mono and you get the... and it’s all built in.Amateur Radio News and Notes: I saw a wild video, I think it was about a week ago on YouTube, where a guy took an Aurora out to a park to do POTA, and he was using one of these, you know, battery-powered power banks, but was absolutely able to incinerate the ionosphere and get all the contacts, so...Michael Walker VA3MW: So that was David. Uh, he’s in the UK, and he uh, he took a 520M I believe, and uh, uh, very uh, fun guy. I did a show with him, one of his shows. And he took a, I think it was a Bluetti, a 1000-watt Bluetti. And I had done the math on this and I said, hey, if I wanted to take this POTA-esque, and how long could I run a 1000-watt device for if I was going to do a mixture of SSB, CW, and FT8? And I dumped that into an AI and gave it a bunch of parameters, and it said, well, about 7 hours. And that’s what he came up with, an answer, right? He operated at 200 watts for, into a, was it a DX Commander Expedition?Amateur Radio News and Notes: Yeah, I think that’s what it was, yeah.Michael Walker VA3MW: Yeah, for about six or seven hours. And dead, you know, no generator running or anything, he said it was awesome.Amateur Radio News and Notes: That’s fantastic. Well, this sounds really exciting. I know what I want for Christmas, but thank you so much for taking the time, and I know you’re busy, but Michael, best 73, thank you so much.Michael Walker VA3MW: Thanks Ed, pleasure to meet you.Just across the way from FlexRadio was the American Radio Relay League booth and we stopped by to chat with ARRL CEO David Minster NA2AA about what’s happening this year with the league.Amateur Radio News and Notes: I’m here with the CEO of the Amateur Radio Relay League, David Minster, NA2AA, and, uh, wanted to ask you David, uh, what’s going on lately with the ARRL? Is there anything that listeners should know about, things they can do, and fun stuff happening coming up soon?David Minster NA2AA: Sure. So, ARRL this year, it’s the year of the club. And so there’s a lot of attention on, uh, getting clubs more active, uh, growing clubs by having special interest groups in a lot of different areas. Uh, to that end we have the Marconi program, which we encourage clubs to get involved in. And, uh, one of the things, uh, that we’re doing, uh, in conjunction with year of the club is the, uh, US semi-quincentennial. And we’ve got W1AW portable stations on the air through the course of the year. And it’s one of the endorsements that you can get for the America 250 Worked All States award. So, there’s a lot of good reasons to get on the air this year that, uh, ARRL is hoping people will take advantage of.And the other thing is we’ve got, uh, we have two new books that are out and, uh, one that you and I talked about is the fact that Salty Walt’s got his second book out, which is an absolutely great book for people that like to experiment with antennas and getting out into the field. These are very simple to deploy antennas that have, uh, that have more gain than just a vertical so you can, uh, you can play with some performance antennas that are really low price.We’ve also brought out a new satellite book. And, uh, it was written by a guy who has worked with our collegiate program since he was in college. And the book is really written for people that want to get on the air, work the birds, and, and getting on the air with satellites happens to be one of the areas in the Marconi program that I mentioned before. So lots of good reasons for folks to get on the air.Amateur Radio News and Notes: Well fantastic, well that sounds like a lot of fun. I really appreciate it. I know you’re busy and you’ve got a long line of people here, but thank you so much for your time and, and, uh, thanks for all that you do with the Amateur Radio Relay League.David Minster NA2AA: Terrific, thanks.And speaking of Salty Walt, we got to talk with Walt Hudson K4OGO about his new book which he was signing at the ARRL booth.Amateur Radio News and Notes: All right, I’m here at the ARRL booth with Salty Walt K4OGO. Of course, as you know from the podcast, we listen and watch his channel quite a bit. So Walt, you got something new today. Can you tell us about what’s going on and your new book?Walt Hudson K4OGO: Hi Ed. Yeah, second book. My first book was Salty Walt’s Portable Antenna Sketchbook. This is Salty Walt’s Next Level Portable Antenna Sketchbook, and it’s kind of a continuation from the first book, but just a little bit more challenging, a little bit more portable. Mostly portable wire antennas that anyone can build, but it takes antenna building to the next level. Pun not intended, but yeah, you know what I’m saying.Amateur Radio News and Notes: Well fantastic. Well, I know I’ve been a long-time watcher of your channel. You have a lot of inspiring designs and I love how from very simple kinds of things—you know, wire—anybody can make an antenna, and then you show not only can you make the antenna, but you can work the world with it. So thanks for all you do, Walt.Walt Hudson K4OGO: Thank you so much, I appreciate it. Thank you.In addition to the announcements, Hamvention awarded Robert Famiglio K3RF the technical achievement award, Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens NP4G the Amateur of the Year award, Martha Fell N3QBE and Joe Fell W3GMS the Special Achievement Award, and the Long Island CW Club was awarded Club of the Year. More on the achievements of these deserving recipients can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/dayton-hamvention-2026-award-winners-announced.This year’s Hamvention was a lot of fun. Thanks to all the volunteers with the Dayton Amateur Radio Association who put on such a well organized event every year. And thanks to everyone who stopped to say hello and introduce themselves to me. I’m definitely looking forward to next year.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Galapagos (HD8R, HC8M), Western Sahara (S09S), Kenya (54Z/MM0ZBH), French Polynesia (FO/F6CBW), Mauritius (3B8IDX), Juan Fernandez Island (3G0Z), Namibia (V5/N7XOB), Palau (T88JH, T88KY, T88IL, T88PB), Tonga (A31WW), Saint Kitts and Nevis (V4/WW6W), Ascension Island (ZD8KX), Cyprus SBA (ZC4RJ), Chatham Island (ZL7IO), Martinique (TO3E), Bolivia (CP7DX), Bonaire (PJ4CB), Azerbaijan (4K0T), and Maldives (8Q7QR).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at NG3K’s Announced DX Operations List at https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html.Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 118 and the estimated sunspot number was 67 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 490 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and Saturday and at quiet levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 5% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible with a predicted probability of 25% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend is the calm before next weekend’s CQ WW WPX CW storm, so there are only a few contests on the air this weekend. This weekend brings Real Time Contest and the QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, the MSTs, and the CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentDugbo KD7RT shows us why he does SOTA as he goes to where summits have no name on his mountain bike - Walt K4OGO reveals which QRP radio he has selected to take to an upcoming trip to Australia - Forrest KI7QCF tries out the new Palm Radio Mini Mic on his first ever SSB activation - Kevin KB9RLW shows how he modeled a snag-free pulley using 3D printing - Mark KD7DTS activates SOTA with Becky W6BKY and Devin W6DVN - Josh KI6NAZ shows us the reveal of the new Icom 5200 and X-026 - Stuart VE9CF discusses the DX Marathon - Josh KI6NAZ does a walk through of the Four Days in May Vendor Night - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Dayton Hamvention Starts Today May 15-17, 2026* QRPARCI Four Days in May Recap* Elecraft Announces New AX4 Antenna* Yaesu Announces System Fusion III and DR-3X Repeaters* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Dayton Hamvention Starts Today May 15-17, 2026Image courtesy https://www.make-it.ca/hamvention/Today kicks off the 2026 edition of the Dayton Hamvention at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. Dayton Hamvention is the biggest hamfest in the world with last year’s attendance of 36,814 attendees. Hamvention starts Today May 15th, 2026 from 9 AM to 5 PM and continues Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM. This year’s theme is “Radio Adventure” and as always there will be a ton of vendors, tailgate sellers, and an extensive lineup of forums. Amateur Radio News and Notes on the scene in Xenia to report on the latest developments. I will be walking around on Friday and Saturday at the Fairgrounds, so If you’re going this year and see me definitely say hello. For more information about Dayton Hamvention including lists of vendors and scheduled forums visit https://hamvention.org/.QRPARCI Four Days in May RecapImage Courtesy https://qrparci.org/Yesterday, Thursday May 14, 2026 the QRP Amateur Radio Club International’s Four Days in May conference took place in Fairborn, Ohio. This year there were a lot of great talks. Harold KE6TI started out the day with a talk about his journey in the world of homebrewing radios from a young novice to his career in electronics. Next up was Anthony K8ZT who reminded us that life is NOT too short for QRP with a talk that gave a lot of tips on how to succeed in QRP operations (his talk can be found at https://tiny.cc/qrptips). Then we were treated to a fascinating talk by Jonathan KM4CFT about the design philosophy of his CFT1 QRP radio that discussed his objectives and methods to create and release his popular radio. The next talk was from Thomas K4SWL about how he and his community in Swannanoa, NC dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene using amateur radio and the power of community (see his coverage of at http://qrper.com/tag/helene-aftermath). His talk highlighted the resilience and resourcefulness of the community and provided some practical tips about how to be better prepared for future disasters. Jerry AC4BT had a talk about some of the methods he uses to build his CW skills. Stewart G3YSX gave a talk about how “Vibe Coding” using Artificial Intelligence is changing amateur radio with some practical examples and information. Al AC8GY and Jack W8TEE showed their clever magnetic loop antenna controller which allows for the automatic tuning of the notoriously difficult to tune magnetic loop antennas. Their result was impressive and they have released their code as open source so you can build your own. And last, but not least, Ross VK1UN showed us how he was able to design antenna tuners for the 160 meter, 630 meter, 2200 meter, and 8900 Hz bands allow him to have his QRP signals received thousands of miles away through ingenious engineering and circuit modeling. Then in the evening Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE gave a talk about his LARCSET 40 meter transceiver kits that allow builders to get on the air for around 30 dollars. The evening was capped off with vendor night, with many QRP vendors in attendance including Adam K6ARK, Packtenna, N6ARA Electronics, Halibut Electronics, Tufetln, HF Signals, Spootenna, POTA Cat, QRPMe, DX Engineering, and many more. It was a busy and fun filed day in Fairborn, Ohio.Elecraft Announces New AX4 AntennaImage Courtesy ElecraftJust ahead of Dayton Hamvention, Elecraft announced the next release in their AX line of compact antennas, the AX4. The new antenna maintains a compact form factor while allowing 100 Watts of output on CW and SSB and 50 Watts on digital modes. It is designed to be clamped to a table or bench, or put on a tripod with a 1/4-20 mount and has a longer 8 foot long whip that boasts a 6 dB gain improvement on then previous 4 foot whips. The antenna is resonant on 7, 10, 14, and 21 MHz and with the use of an antenna tuner the antenna can be used from 40 meters through 10 meters. The BL3 Balun unit keeps RF off the feedline and is an essential part of the 100 Watt power handling capacity of the antenna. The unit weights 15 oz, the main unit is 6.7 inches long and the whip is 13 inches collapsed and comes with a bag. As we go to press Elecraft has not announced a price, but they did have one on hand at FDIM’s Vendor Night. For more information about the antenna and to sign up for their wait list visit https://elecraft.com/products/ax4.Yaesu Announces System Fusion III and DR-3X RepeatersImage Couresy Yaesu USA YouTube ChannelJohn Kruk N9UPC announced on Yaesu USA’s YouTube channel that Yaesu will be announcing the latest version of their System Fusion system, version 3 at Dayton Hamvention today. The new version is fully backwards compatible with existing radios, and details about the new capabilities in version 3 will be discussed in more detail at Hamvention today. Also announced were two new repeater systems, the DR-3XV and the DR-3XU. The V version transmits on 2 meters with an increased output power of 85 Watts and the U version transmits on 70 centimeters with an increased power of 65 Watts. The radios are rated for a continuous duty cycle and implement the new features of System Fusion III. The modulation method remains the same C4FM with automatic mode selection, but an added feature is the inclusion of their ASP (Audio Signal Processor) functionality seen in some of their newest VHF/UHF rigs which they claim will increase receive capabilities and signal intelligibility in weaker signals. They also mention a Interference Evasion System that purports to deal with intentional interference and reroute radios to an alternate frequency until the interfering signal disappears. Additional details are forthcoming at today’s Hamvention. For the full podcast announcement visit MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Galapagos (HD8R), Western Sahara (S09S), Rodrigues Island (3B9G), Kenya (54Z/MM0ZBH), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), French Polynesia (FO/F6CBW), Mauritius (3B8IDX), Corsica (TK/F4FTV), Iceland (TF/WE9G), Greenland (OX3LX), Saint Kitts and Nevis (V4/EI8KN, V4/EI7BR), Thailand (E25VCR/p), and Tonga (A31AA).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at NG3K’s Announced DX Operations List at https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html.Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 106 and the estimated sunspot number was 60 with 4 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 496 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at active to major storm levels today and at unsettled to minor storm levels on Saturday and Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 5% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible with a predicted probability of 40% today, 30% Saturday, and 25% Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the UN DX Contest, the NZART Sangster Shield Contest, the His Majesty King of Spain Contest on CW, the EU PSK DX Contest, the Arkansas QSO Party, the Feld Hell Sprint, the Baltic Contest, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, the MSTs, and the CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentYaesu USA announces System Fusion III and the DR-3X repeaters - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent solar weather - Dave G3LRC takes the Flex Radio Aurora out to the field - Mark KD7DTS takes a K6ARK dipole to a summit for SOTA fun - Josh KI6NAZ briefs you on what you should know about Dayton Hamvention - Thomas K4SWL takes a look at some new pressure paddles for the Elecraft KH1 and activates POTA - Thomas K4SWL tests out some custom accessories for the Elecraft KH1 and activates POTA - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* United States Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Saturday, May 9, 2026* Dayton Hamvention May 15-17, 2026* QRPARCI Four Days in May Thursday, May 14, 2026* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.United States Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Saturday, May 9, 2026Saturday brings the Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test to the air. The United States Department of Defense runs the event which is open to all licensed amateur radio operators. It is designed to test crossband two-way communications between military stations and radio amateurs as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. Several military stations at locations around the United States will transmit on military frequencies and will announce the frequencies on the Amateur Radio bands they will monitor. Full details of stations and frequencies can be found at https://www.dodmars.org/mars-comex-information-website/armed-forces-day. Dayton Hamvention May 15-17, 2026Image courtesy https://www.make-it.ca/hamvention/Next weekend brings the 2026 edition of the Dayton Hamvention at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. Dayton Hamvention is the biggest hamfest in the world with last year’s attendance of 36,814 attendees. Hamvention starts on Friday May 15th, 2026 from 9 AM to 5 PM and continues Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM. This year’s theme is “Radio Adventure” and as always there will be a ton of vendors, tailgate sellers, and an extensive lineup of forums. Amateur Radio News and Notes will be there again this year to take in the show and report on the latest developments. If you’re going this year and see me definitely say hello. For more information about Dayton Hamvention including lists of vendors and scheduled forums visit https://hamvention.org/.QRPARCI Four Days in May Thursday, May 14, 2026Image Courtesy https://qrparci.org/Thursday May 14, 2026 brings the 2026 edition of the QRP Amateur Radio Club International’s Four Days in May conference in Fairborn, Ohio. Four Days in May is the preeminent conference relating QRP operation and it is always filled with fascinating talks. This year there is something for everyone with talks about homebrewing, effective QRP operations, the design of the CFT1 radio, learning CW, using amateur radio in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, vibe coding for amateur radio, building a remote magnetic loop antenna, and developing automatic antenna tuners for the 640 meter, 2200 meter, and 1800 Hz bands. In addition to the talks during the conference, Hans Summers G0UPL or QRP Labs and Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE of HF Signals have evening talks to give announcements. Amateur Radio News and Notes will be on the scene once again this year to keep you in the loop. While the in person registrations are no longer available, the Zoom webinar is still available as we go to press on the QRPARCI site. For more information visit https://qrparci.org/fdim.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Rodrigues Island (3B9G), Kenya (54Z/MM0ZBH), Azores (CU2/HB9BIN), South Cook Islands (E51TLM), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), French Polynesia (FO/F6CBW), Galapagos (HD8R), Western Sahara (S09S), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), and Colombia (HK3JCL).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ and at NG3K’s Announced DX Operations List at https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html.Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 117 and the estimated sunspot number was 59 with 4 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 423 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to active levels today and Saturday and at quiet to unsettled levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible with a predicted probability of 45% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 10% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the Flemish Windmill Contest, the VOLTA WW RTTY Contest, the CQ-M International DX Contest, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the Canadian Praries QSO Party, the 50 MHz Spring Sprint, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, the MSTs, and the CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentCaitlin K8FAE and Mike K8MRD have a challenging activation at Okeechobee Battlefield State Park - Kevin W1DED talks to Nick VK9DX about his thoughts on ham radio from Norfolk Island between Australia and New Zealand - Craig KM6LYW looks at the Tidradio TD-H9 for use in digital modes - IMSAI Guy does a 6-part series on understanding filters for RF - Takeshi JS1QIZ goes camping and operates QRP CW in Japan during a contest (in Japanese) - Walt K4OGO tests out the Micro PA50 and Micro PA100 Amps in the field - Michael W8CI tells you what to expect at this year’s Dayton Hamvention - Hayden VK7HH gives his soldering tips for success - Josh KI6NAZ takes the spectrally impure anniversary Baofeng and replaces the radio with a compliant one - Ciprian YO6DXE builds an EFHW antenna with a FT140-43 for QRP operation - Michael KB9VBR experiments with a center loaded vertical modification - Ramon EA5IW takes us to the mountains of Spain for a 2 Watt QRP contact with Belgium - Mike K8MRD makes a beginner friendly DIY HF antenna - Forrest KI7QCF re-activates his first SOTA and announces a CW paddle giveaway - Hans G0UPL shows an improvement to the QMX and QMX+ firmware to improve power supply performance - Bobby W6IWN shows a DIY 3 Element Yagi for portable - Ben VE6SFX shows his new antenna winder design - Tim K5OHY shows different 1/4 wave vertical setups and how to get gain via parasitic elements - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Icom Teases X-026 Radio Ahead of Dayton Hamvention* Hamlib Wins 2026 Amateur Radio Software Award * The FCC Grants AST SpaceMobile Limited Use of 70 cm Amateur Band* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Icom Teases X-026 Radio Ahead of Dayton HamventionImages Courtesy IcomIcom’s Japanese Facebook page teased a prototype radio to be shown at this month’s Dayton Hamvention called the X-026 in a short video. In the video a radio with what appears to be a detachable head and separate base unit is shown along with a car having two different antennas. As you can imagine, speculation online abounds, but one of the leading theories is that we may be looking at a mobile HF/VHF/UHF rig being shown in Dayton as a potential successor to the Icom 7100. The 7100 is still in production and was originally shown at the Tokyo Ham Fair in 2012 and released generally in 2013, so it may be ready for a refresh. That said, details are few, so we’ll have to stay tuned to see what develops. Amateur Radio News and Notes will be at Dayton Hamvention again this year, so we’ll make sure to give you all the details as they become available. To see the teaser reel from Icom visit https://www.facebook.com/reel/1740855356941241.Hamlib Wins 2026 Amateur Radio Software Award Image Courtesy Amateur Radio Software AwardThe Amateur Radio Software Award committee announced that the 2026 recipient of the Amateur Radio Software Award will be the Hamlib project. The Hamlib project allows for other software applications to access and control a wide array of amateur radio rigs and devices. The project allows for the abstraction of the control logic so other applications don’t need to know the details of each individual rig interface. Hamlib has existed for over a quarter century, but is still actively maintained by its core development team. Congratulations to the Hamlib team for this well deserved award. For more information about the award visit https://arsaward.com/ and to check out Hamlib visit https://hamlib.github.io/.The FCC Grants AST SpaceMobile Limited Use of 70 cm Amateur BandThe Federal Communications Commission published its Authorization and Order DA 26-391 on April 21, 2026 authorizing AST & Science, LLC’s AST SpaceMobile service to utilize frequencies in the amateur radio 70 cm band on an emergency basis. The application to use those frequencies had brought significant pushback from the amateur radio community as the AST SpaceMobile constellation seeks to launch 248 satellites in non-geostationary orbit for the purpose of providing space-based mobile phone services with the authority to deploy 223 additional satellites. While the primary frequencies in use are the bands used by cell phones and in the SHF bands for backhaul, they requested and were given the right to utilize the frequencies of 430.5, 432.3, 434.1, 435.9, and 439.5 MHz with a bandwidth of 50 kHz in the 70 cm bands for what are termed “Emergency Operations Only” outside the U.S. only. The FCC noted significant opposition to the operation in the bands but said “AST has shown that harmful interference from AST’s transmissions to other authorized operations, including to amateur operations, in the 430-440 MHz band is extremely unlikely, and, if such interference, should occur, AST is capable of ceasing such transmissions.” The Authorization and Order continues “Regarding objections and concerns raised by members of the amateur radio community, see AST Modification Grant n.15, we have continued to not receive any complaints of harmful interference for AST’s already-authorized operations in the 430-440 MHz band. In addition, we will continue to limit AST operations in the band to emergency operations when no other bands are available for the 223 additional satellites authorized herein for a period not to exceed 24 hours. We find that this will further mitigate any possibility of harmful interference”. The full Authorization and Order can be found at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-391A1.pdf.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Rodrigues Island (3B9G), Bonaire (PJ4TB), Kenya (54Z/MM0ZBH), Ogasawara (JD1BMH), Azores (CU2/HB9BIN), South Cook Islands (E51TLM), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), French Polynesia (FO/F6CBW), Gambia (C5B, C5C), Comoros (D60DX), Central Kiribati (T31TTT), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and South Orkney Islands (LU1ZA).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ and at NG3K’s Announced DX Operations List at https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html.Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 143 and the estimated sunspot number was 142 with 6 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 5 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 530 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and Sunday and at quiet levels on Saturday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 10% today through Saturday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely today with a predicted probability of 65% today through Saturday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 10% chance predicted today through Saturday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the RCC Cup, the SBMS 2.3 GHz and Up Contest and Club Challenge, the Microwave Spring Sprint, the ARI International DX Contest, the F9AA Cup on PSK, the 7th Call Area QSO Party, the Indiana QSO Party, the Delaware QSO Party, the New England QSO Party, and the WAB 7 MHz Phone Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, the MSTs, and the CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentKevin W1DED talks with Mark K1RX about how POTA skills can translate into contesting - George VK2AOE builds an inexpensive 70 cm beacon for a Fox Hunt - Stuart VE9CF talks to Molly W3NY and Julius AK9IT about their POTA expedition to the Dry Tortugas - Josh KI6NAZ takes a look at the 25th Anniversary Baofeng with disappointing spectral purity - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW takes a look at solar flares and recent space weather - Andreas HB9BLA builds a programmable signal generator for receiver testing - Mike K8MRD shows how to use a slicer to get your call sign on 3D prints - Shortwave Investigations takes a look at mystery signals on the shortwave bands - Stuart VE9CF talks about ways to protect your privacy in amateur radio - Michael KB9VBR talks about POTA interactions with Nets and shows how he deals with conflict - Josh KI6NAZ speculates about the Icom X-026 - Ara N6ARA does a speed-build of the Pebble HF kit radio - Lewis M3HHY talks about places where radio scanners are illegal - Josh KI6NAZ tries out a 3D printed antenna launcher - Walt K4OGO talks about getting the most performance out of your end fed half wave antenna - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* SteppIR Communication Systems to Return to the Amateur Radio Market* MVARC Breakfast and Meeting Tomorrow 4/25/2026* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.SteppIR Communication Systems to Return to the Amateur Radio MarketSteppIR Communication Systems, maker of remotely tunable Yagi-Uda antennas announced they are returning to the amateur radio market. SteppIR announced their departure from the amateur market in June of 2025 to focus on their commercial customers. In their most recent announcement they say that they will be able to return many of their amateur products to the market with warranty support and services in place. They have also teased new products on the horizon and reduced prices. Along with the return of Cushcraft and Hy-Gain last week, the amateur radio antenna market is regaining a lot of options for operators looking for more gain. More information can be found at https://consumer.steppir.com/MVARC Breakfast and Meeting Tomorrow 4/25/2026Photo Courtesy Corey KN4YZYTomorrow, Saturday, April 25, 2026, is the date of our next monthly breakfast. As usual we will meet up at 8 AM in the IHOP at 7694 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia for great conversation, camaraderie, and breakfast too. We have been having a great turn out in the last few months and there is always room for you to join in the fun. After the breakfast we have our monthly in-person meeting will be held at 10:30 AM at the Gerry Hyland Government Center, at 8350 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia where our speaker will be Nick AJ4YB who will be talking to us about the club’s repeater with a look at the current facilities and a bit of history as well. We hope to see you there.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Marquesas Islands (TX9W), Bermuda (VP9KF), Gambia (C5B, C5C), Comoros (D60DX), Central Kiribati (T31TTT), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and South Orkney Islands (LU1ZA).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 128 and the estimated sunspot number was 71 with 4 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at high levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 496 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate levels with a slight chance of X-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today, at quiet to active levels levels Saturday, and quiet to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 10% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely today with a predicted probability of 55% today and a 60% chance predicted on Saturday and Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 10% chance predicted today and a 15% chance predicted Saturday and Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the Tipalayo DX Contest, the SP DX RTTY Contest, the UK/EI DX Contest on CW, QRP to the Field, the Helvetia Contest, the Nebraska QSO Party, the Florida QSO Party, the UA1DZ Memorial Cup, the Samuel Morse Memorial Contest, and the BARTG Sprint 75. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentColin MM0OPX shows us how he packs and prepares for portable operations - Kevan 2E0WMG goes for a paddle by kayak and shows us his maritime mobile antenna setup while operating on an island - Craig KM6LYW shows us new features in the beta version of DigiPi - Gabe KL1FI shows us how he received SSTV signals from the International Space Station - Hayden VK7HH talks about used radios and potential pitfalls to look out for - Mike K8MRD takes a look at the Sky Hook and the Pod for vertical antennas - Adam K6ARK and Mark KD7DTS have some “Type 2 Fun” on a very challenging SOTA activation - Bobby W6IWN takes a look at the Chameleon CFM34 carbon fiber mast - Adam K6ARK and Mark KD7DTS activate Edgar Peak for an ATNO SOTA activation - Dugbo KD7DUG takes us along for an SOTA activation and asks where amateur radio will take you - Josh KI6NAZ takes a look at the W0AEZ batteries for Icom rigs - Callum M0MCX shows us his 160 meter vertical antenna project - Forrest KI7QCF shows the Spooltenna Ultra antenna in action - Ara N6ARA gives an extensive behind the scenes of how he built his April Fools Day Retro Rig - Stuart VE9CF talks about reciprocal licensing issues between the US and Canada - Patrick KJ7SZU of Geochron does a head to head comparison of the performance of their different products - Steve KM9G shows the All in One Cable for digital modes - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: CQMM DX Contest* MFJ Sells Cushcraft and Hy-Gain Brands to ITU* Event Spotlight: Parks on the Air Support Your Parks Weekend April 18-19, 2026* World Amateur Radio Day is April 18, 2026* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: CQMM DX ContestThis weekend brings the 2026 edition of the CQMM DX Contest from 0900 UTC on Saturday, April 18 (5 AM Eastern Time on Saturday) until 2359 UTC Sunday (7:59 PM Eastern Time Sunday). This contest seeks to promote unity and integration of amateur radio operators around the world, support the chase for two CWJF awards in Brazil, and to promote the art of CW around the world. To that end, it is a CW only contest on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. Although it is organized in Brazil, it is an international contest and participants are grouped by continents. Power classifications include High Power up to 1500 Watts (or local maximum power), Low Power up to 100 Watts, and QRP up to 5 Watts. Operating categories include Multi Operator-Single Transmitter All Band for HP/LP, Single Operator-Single Transmitter All Band for HP/LP/QRP, Single Operator Single Band for HP/LP, and Single Operator All Band for a station run by a YL. The rules allow for the use of DX clusters and skimmers during the contest. Contacts are considered valid when validated in both ops logs, unless the missing op is in at least 5 logs, so if you participate, it is recommended you submit a log even if just participating casually. Contacts may be made 1 QSO per band per station. When calling CQ it is recommended to to send “TEST CQMM CALL” where call is your call sign, but “CQ TEST MM” is also acceptable. For the exchange members of the CWJF will send RST + Continent + M (so for a South American station it would be “599 SAM”), non-Members will send RST and Continent (so for North American stations “599 NA”), QRP stations will send “RST + Continent + Q” (so European QRP would be “599 EUQ”), YL Stations send “RST + Continent + Y” (so a YL in Oceania would send “599 OCY”), and Multi-Op stations would send “RST + Continent + C” (so an African club would send “599 AFC”). Valid continent abbreviations are Africa (AF), South America (SA), North America (NA), Asia (AS), Europe (EU), Oceania (OC), and Antarctica (AN). QSO Points are 1 point within the same DXCC entity, 2 points on the same continent but different DXCC entity on 10/15/20 meters and 4 points on 40/80 meters, 3 Points between different continents on 10/15/20 meters and 6 points on 40/80 meters, 10 points with CWJF members and YLs regardless of location, and 3 points for Maritime Mobile /MM stations regardless of location. Multipliers include different prefixes in South America valid for all 5 bands separately, and DXCC entities valid once. Maritime mobiles don’t count as a valid multiplier. The final score is the sum of points for all bands multiplied by the sum of multipliers. Certificates will be available for all participants and plaques will be awarded for the highest score in each category regardless of continent. Logs should be submitted electronically to [email protected] in Cabrillo 3.0 format by July 30th. More information on the contest and the full rules can be found at https://www.cqmmdx.com/rules. This promises to be a fun one, so give it a try this weekend. Good luck.MFJ Sells Cushcraft and Hy-Gain Brands to ITUMFJ Enterprises announced that they have sold the Cushcraft and Hy-Gain brands to ITU corporation. Cushcraft and Hy-Gain have a long history of making antennas for the amateur radio market along with other related accessories. In May 2024 MFJ shut down on-site production at their Starkville, Mississippi facility which impacted the production of these brands products. With the acquisition of the brands by ITU the brands should return to manufacturing. ITU plans to open a production facility in Linton, Indiana that is expected to bring 20-50 jobs to to the area. All the designs, equipment, and rights for the brands were included in the sale. ITU estimates it will take about two months to move the equipment from Mississippi to Indiana. More information can be found at https://www.lintonnews.com/itu-corporation-re-purposes-linton-armory-facility-to-house-iconic-amateur-radio-manufacturing-free-article/.Event Spotlight: Parks on the Air Support Your Parks Weekend April 18-19This weekend brings Parks On The Air’s Support Your Parks Weekend. The weekend is a quarterly event which encourages operators to get out into the parks and on the air to have as much fun as possible. The excitement begins at 0000 UTC on Saturday (8 PM Eastern Time Friday Night) until 2359 UTC on Sunday (7:59 PM Eastern Time Sunday). Usually there are hundreds of operators out in the parks and lots of opportunities to get less frequently activated parks and locations in the log. There are also special awards to win for activating or hunting during the event. For more information and spotting assistance visit https://pota.app/. Good luck.World Amateur Radio Day is April 18, 2026Saturday, April 18th marks the 101st anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and to celebrate amateurs around the world are getting on the air for World Amateur Radio Day. The American Radio Relay League, an IARU member society, is encouraging amateurs to celebrate by having an amateur radio “Open House” by getting on the air and getting the word out to the community. There are likely to be several IARU member societies on the air during the day, so check on the bands and spotting networks to find stations to celebrate with on the air. More information including maps of expected open house events can be found at https://www.arrl.org/open-house and https://www.iaru.org/on-the-air/world-amateur-radio-day/. Good luck.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Svalbard (JW5E), Marquesas Islands (TX9W), Bermuda (VP9KF), Gambia (C5C), Comoros (D60DX), Central Kiribati (T31TTT), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and South Orkney Islands (LU1ZA).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 105 and the estimated sunspot number was 57 with 3 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 1 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 355 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to major storm levels today, at unsettled to major storm levels Saturday, and unsettled to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible today with a predicted probability of 30% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the CQMM DX Contest on CW we mentioned earlier, the World Wide Holyland Contest, the ES Open HF Championship, the Worked All Provinces of China DX Contest, the Dutch PACCdigi Contest, the World Time Zone Challenge, the EA-QRP CW Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, the International Vintage Contest HF, the ARRL Rookie Roundup on SSB, Florida State Parks on the Air, Texas State Parks on the Air, Georgia State Parks on the Air, the Michigan State QSO Party, the Ontario QSO Party, the Quebec QSO Party, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMichael KB9VBR tries out the Spooltenna Ultra - Sean W9FFF shows his DX-PERt Antenna System - Tim K5OHY shows a remote band switching relay using Bluetooth - Mike K8MRD talks about links for End Fed Half Wave antennas - Lewis M3HHY talks about why the FCC banned cellular capable scanners - Hayden VK7HH gives his 5 favorite used amateur radios - Stuart VE9CF uses a parasitic vertical array to get gain and work DX while portable - Josh KI6NAZ uses the $40 Cardputer to operate FT8 with a QMX - Kurt ON7OFF shows an implementation of Thetis SDR on the web - Walt K4OGO uses a Yaesu FT-897 on the beach - Mike K8MRD shows how he builds his “Ultimate Linked PackTenna” - Stuart VE9CF talks about mitigating noise to pull out weak signals - Hayden VK7HH builds a long range Meshcore repeater - Mike K8MRD looks at the Digitenna EFHW spool based antenna - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party* FCC Warns Licensee About Out-of-Band Transmissions* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: QRP ARCI Spring QSO PartyThis weekend brings the latest QRP Amateur Radio Club International Spring QSO Party from 0000 UTC until 0600 UTC on Saturday, April 12 (that’s Friday from 8 PM until Saturday at 2 AM Eastern Time). The contest focuses on QRP operation, so that means 5 Watts or less. Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. And the number of points per QSO are 5 points for members, 4 points for a non-member on a different continent, and 2 points for a non-member on the same continent. Since it is a QRP contest, the multipliers relate to power. More than 5 Watts has a multiplier of 1, 1 to 5 Watts gets a multiplier of 7, 250 milliwatts to 1 Watt gets a multiplier of 10, 55 milliwatts to 250 milliwatts gets a multiplier of 15, and 55 milliwatts or less gets a multiplier of 20. The total score is the number of points for all bands multiplied by states/provinces/countries for all bands, multiplied by the power multiplier. The exchange is RST. State/Province/Country, and ARCI Member number for members and RST, State/Province/Country, Power Output for non-members. So for me in Virginia, my exchange would be “599 VA 17399”. Suggested centers of operation are at 1810, 3560, 7030, 14060, 21060, and 28060 kHz and they ask you listen around 7040 for ops using rock bound rigs. Logs are due at https://www.qrpcontest.com/ on or before April 28. This will be a great way to test your operating skill and equipment. For more information and full rules visit https://qrparci.org/contest/spring-qso-party. Good luck.FCC Warns Licensee About Out-of-Band TransmissionsThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a warning to a Pennsylvania amateur radio operator who was causing interference to local emergency public service communications on 470.4375 MHz. The operator appeared to be unknowingly transmitting on that frequency by using a BTech UV-Pro HT that has a feature called “Audio Relay” that acts as a simplex repeater on a frequency, receiving and retransmitting audio received on a frequency. That HT allows users to transmit on frequencies outside the amateur radio bands, so the operator was essentially echoing emergency communications on that frequency. When agents identified the signal as coming from the operators residence, he surrendered the radio to the agents and the interference stopped. This is a reminder that many radios have the ability to transmit on frequencies outside of the amateur band privileges, so it is important to make sure you stay within the amateur bands. More information about the warning can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-warns-licensee-on-out-of-band-transmissions.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Rouma (3X3A), Ghana (9G5RR, 9G5CC, 9G5ZP), Bermuda (VP9KF), Gambia (C5C), Comoros (D60DX), Central Kiribati (T31TTT), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and South Orkney Islands (LU1ZA).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 96 and the estimated sunspot number was 103 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 2 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 426 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to minor storm levels today, at unsettled to minor storm levels Saturday, and quiet to active levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 5% today and at 1% Saturday and Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible today with a predicted probability of 25% today and unlikely on Saturday and Sunday with a 5% chance predicted. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party we mentioned earlier, the JIDX CW Contest, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the OK/OM DX Contest on SSB, the Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest, the IG-RY World Wide RTTY Contest, the DIG QSO Party on CW, the RSGB FT4 International Activity Day, the New Mexico QSO Party, the Missouri QSO Party, the Georgia QSO Party, the North Dakota QSO Party, the Africa FT4 DX Contest, the Hungarian Straight Key Contest, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentCallum M0MCX talks about why he set up an unconventional tower setup - Stuart VE9CF tries out the Guohetec DP200 antenna - Walt K4OGO uses the REZ Portable Delta Loop - Tim K5OHY activates the Guadalupe Mountains for SOTA and POTA - Stuart VE9CF interviews Walt K4OGO and talks portable DXing - Lidi KQ3Q shows how to go hands free with an IC-7300 and an inexpensive gaming headset - Hayden VK7HH looks at using LoRa for APRS - Save it for Parts tries tor receive signals from the Artemis II moon mission - Craig KM6LYW looks at several HTs to see which has a better in-built TNC - Mike K8MRD activates with POTA Power in Texas - Ara N6ARA debuts his “RetroRig” for April Fools Day - Mike K8MRD talks about “POTA Platinum” for April Fools Day - Stuart VE9CF talks to Holy Cluster creator 4X1XP - Jason KM4ACK talks about the BTech UV Pro feature that caused the FCC warning to be issued for interference - Kevan 2E0WMG activates Honey Island - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide WPX Contest* DXpedition Update: CY0S Sable Island* DXpedition Update: S21WD Bangladesh* Amateur Radio News and Notes on Spring Break Next Week* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide WPX ContestThis weekend continues the fun of contest season with the CQ World Wide WPX Contest on SSB (CW comes at the end of May). WPX is one of the most popular contests of the year and an easy way to work a ton of DX very quickly. The objective of this contest is to make as many contacts with as many different prefixes as possible during the 48 hours of the contest. The fun starts on 0000 UTC on Saturday, March 28 (that’s 8 PM Eastern Time Friday Night) until 2359 UTC on Sunday (that’s 7:59 PM Eastern Time on Sunday Night). The bands of operation are the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. The exchange is RST plus a progressive serial number starting with 001. So for my 42nd contact, the exchange would be “59 42”. The score is the total number of QSO points multiplied by the number of distinct prefixes worked. For the purposes of the contest a prefix is the letter and number combination forming the first part of the call. So for me (N2EC) my prefix would be N2. As you can imagine, there are a lot of prefixes out there, so these multipliers can escalate quickly, and the contest encourages a lot of rare prefixes and special event stations on the air. QSO points between stations on the same continent but different countries are worth 1 point on the high bands (10, 15, and 20 meters) and 2 points on the low bands (40, 80, and 160 meters). North American stations only get 2 points on the high bands and 4 points on the low bands. Contacts between stations on different continents are 3 points on the high bands and 6 points on the low bands. Entry categories include Single Operator All Band or Single Band at QRP (5 Watts or less), Low Power (100 Watts or Less), and High Power (up to 1500 Watts). There are also overlay categories for Single Operators for Tribander or Single Element antennas, a Rookie category for ops licenesed less than 3 years, Classic Operator where ops only run 24 of the 48 hours and use no spotting assistance, and Youth with ops 25 years of age and younger. For Multi-Operator categories (all band only) there are Single Transmitter or Multi-One at High and Low Power, Two Transmitter or Multi-Two, and Multi-Transmitter or Multi-Unlimited with a maximum of 6 transmitters, one per band, at any one time. There is also a Multi-Transmitter Distributed or Multi-Distributed which allows up to 6 signals from different locations so long as they are in the same DXCC Entity and CQ Zone. Logs must be submitted within 48 hours of the end of the contest. The full details and rules can be found at https://cqwpx.com/rules/. Good luck.DXpedition Updates: CY0S Sable Island Image Courtesy https://www.dx-world.net/cy0s-sable-island-dxpedition-2026/ As we went to press the CY0S DXpedition in Sable Island had over 76,000 QSOs in the log on their ClubLog Livestream. They have been all over the bands and loud to the East Coast. This week Tim K3LR of DX Engineering interviewed the team from Sable Island and got an idea of how their operation has been going and what the setup looks like. They’ll be on Sable Island until March 31st, so if you haven’t gotten them in the logs, now is the time.More information can be found at:https://www.dx-world.net/cy0s-sable-island-dxpedition-2026/https://www.qrz.com/db/CY0Shttps://t-rexsoftware.com/cy0s/index.htm#reloaded Good luck.DXpedition Update: S21WD BangladeshImage Courtesy https://next-generation-dx.com/s2/Another active DXpedition is S21WD in Bangladesh who had logged over 38,000 QSOs as we went to press in the log on their ClubLog Livestream. This DXpedition is being led by a group of young amateurs and has been very successful so far. They plan to be on the air until April 1st, so look for them on the bands. More information can be found on their site at https://next-generation-dx.com/s2/. Good luck!Amateur Radio News and Notes on Spring Break Next WeekAmateur Radio News and Notes will be taking the week off next week for Spring Break, so there won’t be an edition next week. We plan to be back in action on April 10 for the next episode. In the meantime, we wish you and yours a great start to Spring and good DX.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air in the next two weeks. Stations on the air include Sable Island (CY0S), Bangladesh (S21WD), Montserrat (VP2M), Saint Kitts and Nevis (V47T), Madeira Island (CQ3W), Martinique (TO7O, FM/EA1BP), Bermuda (VP9/AA1AC), Central Kiribati (T31TTT), Antigua (V62K), Greenland (OX3LX), Cook Islands (E51ANQ), Macau (XX9W), Vanuatu (YJ0CA), Ghana (9G5RR, 9G5CC, 9G5ZP), Sint Maarten (PJ7AA), South Orkney Islands (LU1ZA), Austral Islands (TX5EU), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Solomon Islands (H44MS). A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 152 and the estimated sunspot number was 103 with 7 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 543 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and Sunday and at quiet levels on Saturday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 30% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the CQ World Wide WPX Contest on SSB, the Sasquatch Stomp, the Bill Windle QSO Party, and the Africa All Mode International DX Contest. Next weekend brings the Louisiana QSO Party, the Mississippi QSO Party, the YBDXPI SSB Contest, the PODXS 070 New Member Jamboree, the EA RTTY Contest, and the SP DX Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentMort G4BSK shows how to test QRP Labs QMX Power PCBs - Stuart VE9CF tells you why you should do CQ WPX this weekend - Craig KM6LYW makes a radio data go box - Mike K8MRD shows us the impressive mobile setup of David N0LUV - Kevan 2E0WMG takes us along for a paddle in his kayak as the tides rise - Walt K4OGO gives his top 5 Vertical Antennas and announces his new book - Tim K3LR talks to the CY0S team from Sable Island - Stuart VE9CF talks to Tim K3LR about radio contesting - Thomas K4SWL shows us the new handheld Pebble HF rig - Stuart VE9CF shows how to customize the output of PoLo for your activations - Walt K4OGO deploys an NVIS antenna on the beach - Ben VE6SFX shows his slot antenna design for 2 meters and 70 centimeters - Hayden VK7HH talks about using WSPR for antenna testing - James KE8PZN does some satellite work while portable - Mike K8MRD talks about 3D prints for Amateur Radio - Pia DL7PIA talks about her mother Petra DL5PIA’s award winning run for the YL WWA 2026 - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: Virginia QSO Party* DXpedition Spotlight: CY0S Sable Island* Voice of America Staff Reinstated by U.S. District Court* Indiana Passes HOA Bill* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: Virginia QSO PartyThis weekend brings the 2026 edition of the Virginia QSO Party. The fun starts on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 1400 UTC (10 AM on Saturday Eastern Time) until Sunday, March 22 at 0400 UTC (Midnight Saturday Night Eastern Time) and then continues at 1200 UTC on Sunday (8 AM Eastern Time Sunday) until 2400 UTC Sunday (8 PM Eastern Time Sunday). The VA QSO Party is always one of the best organized and most participated in QSO parties of the year. This year there is a twist for the Bonus Stations with a series of of 6 1x1 calls with a K4 prefix that spell out “LOVERS” with their suffixes to commemorate the “Virginia Is For Lovers” slogan with 50 points being awarded per station. There is even a certificate for those who get a clean sweep of all the lovers stations. There is another bonus competition to work Virginia club stations with 20 points per bonus station. As always there are 28 plaques for the high achievers and tools including a DX Cluster and mobile tracker on the VAQP Site. The exchange is serial number and County or Independent City for VA stations and Serial Number and State/Province/or “DX” for non-VA stations. So for my 42nd contact at my QTH in Fairfax County, Virginia my exchange would be “42 FFX”. All bands except the WARC bands are permitted and use of spotting clusters is permitted. Operating categories include QRP (under 5 Watts), Low Power (150 Watts and under), and High Power (over 150 Watts). Stations can be worked once per band and mode. Modes allowed are CW, Phone, and Digital, but you need to be able to get the exchange, so FT8 isn’t practical while RTTY will work. Operating classes include Single Operator, Multi-Single, and Multi-Muli with Fixed, Mobile, Expedition, and Rover categories for Multiple and Single Band entries. Logs must be submitted by April 15. This is always a blast, and your author hopes to join in this weekend, so if you hear me give me a call. Full rules and a whole lot of information can be found at https://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2026_VQP/2026_VQP_Main.html. Good luck.DXpedition Spotlight: CY0S Sable IslandImage Courtesy https://www.dx-world.net/cy0s-sable-island-dxpedition-2026/ The highly anticipated CY0S DXpedition to Sable Island is already underway and as of 0040 UTC they had 13,422 QSOs in the log with some truly massive pileups. Sable Island is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean about 95 nautical miles southeast of Nova Scotia. It is a narrow sandbar that is about 26 miles long but only 0.75 miles wide at its widest point. It is known for wild horses. The CY0S team plans to be on the island until March 31st. The team plans to work 160 meters to 6 meters as well as EME on 23 centimeters. For FT8 they plan to run Super Fox in times of heavy pileups and Fox/Hound mode later on. Being so close to the East Coast, they have been loud and busy. More information can be found at:https://www.dx-world.net/cy0s-sable-island-dxpedition-2026/https://www.qrz.com/db/CY0Shttps://t-rexsoftware.com/cy0s/index.htm#reloaded Good luck.Voice of America Staff Reinstated by U.S. District CourtImage Courtesy https://www.voanews.com/For the last year Voice of America employees have been on paid administrative leave as the current administration sought to reduce the state run broadcaster to its “statutory minimum”. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that shutdown violated federal administrative law. His order requires full-time employees to return to work by March 23 and resume international broadcasting. More information can be found at https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/17/voice-of-america-firings-illegal-judge-finds/.Indiana Passes HOA BillEarlier this month the State of Indiana passed House Bill 1152 which stipulates “A homeowners association may not adopt or enforce a regulation, rule, or other policy that has the effect of prohibiting a person from maintaining an amateur radio antenna on a property that the person owns, rents, or leases.” This law will go into effect on July 1, 2026 and should greatly assist amateurs in enjoying their hobby from their homes. While this applies only to the State of Indiana, there is legislation currently being considered by the U.S. House and Senate (H.R. 1094 and S. 459) that would enact similar protections nationwide. As the new law in Indiana shows, protections like this are possible. The ARRL has been encouraging amateur radio operators around the country to visit https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ and fill out the form to have letters sent in support of the measure to your members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to extend protections like those enacted in Indiana nationwide. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Sable Island (CY0S), Saint Kitts and Nevis (V47T), Maderia Island (CQ3W), Central Kiribati (T31TTT), Antigua (V62K), Bangladesh (S21WD), Belize (V31YL, V31WX), Greenland (OX3LX), Macau (XX9W), Austral Islands (TX5EU), Vanuatu (YJ0CA), Ghana (9G5RR, 9G5CC, 9G5ZP), Sint Maarten (PJ7AA), South Orkney Islands (LU1ZA), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Solomon Islands (H44MS). A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 106 and the estimated sunspot number was 38 with 2 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 1 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 428 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a slight chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at unsettled to major storm levels today, at active to major storm levels on Saturday, and at unsettled to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 15% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the Virginia QSO Party, the PODXS 070 Club St Patrick’s Day Contest, the John Moyle Memorial Field Day, the BARTG HF RTTY Contest, the Popov Memorial Contest, the Russian DX Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, and the UBA Spring Contest on SSB. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentWalt K4OGO operates beach portable with the Yaesu ATAS 25 antenna - Stuart VE9CF talks to Sebastian KI2D about Ham2k Portable Logger - Mike K8MRD tests out the LDG Z-11ProII automatic antenna tuner - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW takes a look at an Earth directed solar storm - Ian 4F1EBD shares footage of the 3Y0K DXpedition leaving Bouvet - Tim K5OHY talks about the CFT1 QRP Radio Kit - Save it for Parts does satellite radio work through the International Space Station - Lewis M3HHY looks at the MLite-880 Shortwave Radio - Tim K3LR talks to Michael W8CI about the recently announced Hamvention award winners - Josh KI6NAZ upgrades his Elecraft KX2 to allow for USB C charging - Hayden VK7HH does SOTA and POTA from Tasmania - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Dayton Hamvention Announces 2026 Award Winners* HamSci Conference This Weekend* Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition Update* Guinea-Bissau J51A DXpedition Breaks QSO World Record* MVARC at Vienna Wireless Association Winterfest This Weekend* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Dayton Hamvention Announces 2026 Award WinnersImage Courtesy https://hamvention.org/This week the Dayton Amateur Radio Association announced the winners for their 2026 Awards to be presented at Dayton Hamvention. This year’s Technical Achievement award will be presented to Bob Famiglio K3RF. Bob has spent almost 60 years as an amateur radio operator and has served as volunteer counsel for more than 40 years helping amateurs navigate the legal world as it intersects with radio. He has also been elected for multiple terms and offices at the ARRL as EPA Section Manager, Atlantic Division Vice Director, and most recently Atlantic Division Director. His dedicated service to the amateur radio community has helped many get on the air and enjoy the hobby more fully.This year’s Amateur of the Year award goes to Dr. Otis Vicens NP4G. Otis grew up in Humacao, Puerto Rico and went to university at Purdue University and then got his dental degree from the University of Puerto Rico school of Dental medicine, completing a speciality program in Pediatric Dentistry at Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. He then returned to Puerto Rico to practice orthodontics. He has been active in DXpeditions including Bouvet, been the president of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League in 2012, and helped in emergency coordination during the aftermath of Hurricane Georges in 2017. He is now the president of the International DX Association and was a part of the team that just activated Desecheo Island.The Special Achievement award goes to Martha and Joe Fell (N3QBE and W3GMS). They work to mentor students and their first student is pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering at MIT and their youngest mentee began with them at 8 years old.The Club of the Year award goes to the Long Island CW Club. LICW is an organization with over 7,800 members in all 50 states and 70 countries that is dedicated to helping amateurs learn and enjoy using Morse code. The club has 182 classes a week taught by dozens of volunteers over Zoom videoconferencing (your author currently teaches Intermediate and Advanced classes with LICW). The club is a welcoming and inclusive organization with a very active community and a strong focus on continuous improvement of curriculum and methods. In addition to the adult classes, the club has a vibrant kids program that has taught hundreds of kids Morse code and seen many go on to be active and proficient operators. The club also has several weekly forums on topics ranging from portable operations, antennas, boat anchors, 3D printing, and more.Congratulations to all the winners this year. Amateur Radio News and Notes will be at Dayton again this year, so look for more coverage in the weeks ahead. This year’s Dayton Hamvention will be May 15-17, 2026. More information about this year’s awards can be found at https://hamvention.org/event-details/awards/.HamSci Conference This WeekendImage Courtesy https://hamsci.org/hamsci2026This weekend brings the HamSci 2026 Conference hosted by the ARRL at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut. HamSci promotes citizen science investigation using amateur radio. This year there will be talks about personal space weather stations, methods for ionospheric propagation measurement using the HF bands, analysis of the effects of solar eclipses on the HF bands, analysis of potential impacts on medium wave broadcasts due to earthquakes, an analysis of noise as it relates to WSPR, and a tutorial session on baseband processing. And that’s just on Saturday! On Sunday there will be talks on meteor scatter science, an amateur radio HF channel sounder, antenna receive performance validation, data analysis from personal space weather stations, and a lot more. Registration for the in-person event closed a while back, but there is a link to register for the sessions on Zoom on their web site at https://hamsci.org/hamsci2026. This promises to be a fascinating look at the intersection of science and amateur radio.Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition UpdateImage Courtesy https://3y0k.comThe 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island has been continuing operations this week. The latest log upload at press time was from March 12th where they reported a total of 98,711 QSOs with 22,654 on CW, 58,815 on FT8, and 17,123 on SSB. The team had made contact with 188 DXCC entities and the percentage of duplicate contacts was 5.79%. You can see if you’re in the log and see the latest posted statistics at https://www.m0oxo.com/oqrs/logsearch.php.In an update from QSL Manager M0OXO on DX News from March 11, it was announced the team will be tearing down a large part of the camp this weekend including Yagi antennas and most tents. Only a small team with 4 radios will remain after that time.As a reminder, for CW and SSB the DXpedition (like most DXpeditions) will be working split. This means that the team is transmitting on one frequency and will be looking above their frequency for replies. Do not transmit on the same frequency you hear them on as they won’t be listening on that frequency and you will be making it very difficult for others to be able to hear the station in Bouvet. It is important to operate in a courteous manner so that as many operators as possible can participate in the fun together. More details on the band plan and operating details of the DXpedition can be found on their official site. Good luck.Links with more information can be found at:The Official Site: https://3y0k.com/ DX News Coverage: https://dxnews.com/3y0k/ Guinea-Bissau J51A DXpedition Breaks QSO World RecordImage Courtesy https://www.dx-world.net/acknowledging-a-qso-world-record/The J51A team in Guinea-Bissau made history as they surpassed 213,021 QSOs on their DXpedition originally set by the T32C Kiritimati (Christmas Island) DXpedition in 2011. The team has been running an excellent DXpedition, and I have been able to work them on the 12, 15, 17, 30, and 40 meter bands. J51A will continue operations until this Sunday, March 15th at around 1200 UTC with the low band and RX antennas going down first and the Spiderbeams going down a little later. If you haven’t gotten them in the log yet, now is the time. Congratulations to the J51A team for their incredible achievement. MVARC at Vienna Wireless Association Winterfest This WeekendImage Courtesy https://viennawireless.net/wp/winterfest/This Sunday brings the Vienna Wireless Society’s 50th Winterfest hamfest at Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia. The event starts at 8 AM and goes until 2 PM. This year they’ve sold out all the indoor tables with more than 65 indoor and tailgaiting vendors expected. The Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club will be there as will your author, so stop by and say hello. Winterfest will also be hosting the 2026 ARRL VA Section Convention from 10 AM to Noon. For those unable to attend the convention in person, Zoom connection information is provided on the Winterfest web site. Winterfest is always a fun hamfest, so stop by this Sunday and we hope to see you there. More information can be found at https://viennawireless.net/wp/winterfest/.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Bouvet Island (3Y0K), Svalbard (JW8EKA), Cayman Islands (ZF2CA), Saint Kitts (V47JA), Gambia (C5SP), Guinea Bissau (J51A), Austral Islands (TX5EU), Palau (T8OK), Mayotte (FH/UR9IDX), Ogasawara Islands (JD1BON), Vanuatu (YJ0CA), Anguilla (VP2EAD, VP2ELX, VP2EWE), Ghana (9G5RR, 9G5CC, 9G5ZP), Sint Maarten (PJ7AA), South Orkney Islands (LU1ZA), Bangladesh (S21WD), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Solomon Islands (H44MS). A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 121 and the estimated sunspot number was 116 with 9 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels in the last 24 hours and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 486 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to minor storm levels today and Saturday and quiet to active levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 20% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the YB DX RTTY Contest, the SARL VHF/UHF FM Contest, the SARL Field Day Contest, the Commonwealth (BERU) Contest, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the EA PSK63 Contest, the F9AA Cup on SSB, the South America 10 Meter Contest, the DIG QSO Party on SSB, the AGCW QRP Contest, the Oklahoma QSO Party, The Idaho QSO Party, the Wisconsin QSO Party, the Stew Perry Topband Challenge, the TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest, the North American Sprint on RTTY, the UBA Spring Contest on 6 meters, the YOTA Contest, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMike K8MRD turns his QMX into a HT with 3D printing - Josh KI6NAZ talks to Rob Sherwood NC0B about the Sherwood Engineering List - Stuart VE9CF talks about updates to the Holy Cluster DX spotting site - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW talks about space weather this week - Hadrian YO2BTW shares video recorded by Chun at Bouvet during the DXpedition- Ian 4F1EBD shares video of a typical day on Bouvet - Kevin KB9RLW uses a flag pole as a temporary antenna mast - Ralph WA2PUX shows how to build an RF sampler - IMSAI Guy takes a look at an FM Stop filter - Craig KM6LYW plays with AI on amateur radio - Ian 4F1EBD shows footage of the arrival of the 3Y0K team at Bouvet - Michael KB9VBR talks about the upcoming price increases from Yaesu - Kevan 2E0WMG and Richard G0NAD operate HF portable from Tenerife - Josh KI6NAZ talks about poor operators on the air - Ramon EA5IW takes us along for some mountaintop QRP - Mike K8MRD puts up a 915 MHz Yagi for Meshcore - Ben VE6SFX makes a slot antenna for VHF - Ara N6ARA shows us his new TinyFilter portable 2 Meter Bandpass Filter - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: ARRL International DX Contest on SSB* Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition Update* Yaesu Radio Prices to Increase* Amateur Radio News and Notes Podcast Celebrates Its First Year* MVARC Breakfast and Meeting Recap* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: ARRL International DX Contest on SSBThis weekend brings one of the biggest DX contests on the air, the ARRL International DX Contest this time on SSB. There is so much DX that it may even be possible to get DXCC (100 countries) in a weekend. If you like working DX, this is a great time to get on the air. The contest starts 0000 UTC on Saturday, March 7 (that’s 7 PM ET Friday night) and continues through 2359 UTC Sunday, March 8 (6:59PM ET Sunday). To participate, the DX stations can only work US and Canadian stations, this means this is a contest where the DX is chasing you!The exchange for the contest on the US/Canada side of things to send a signal report and state/province. DX stations send signal report and power as a number or abbreviation. So for me in Virginia, my exchange would be “59 VA”. Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters and power classifications are QRP (5 Watts and below), LP (Above 5 W to 100W), and HP (up to 1500 Watts). You can work stations once per band and each QSO is worth 3 points. For US/Canada multipliers are each DXCC entity once per band and for DX it is each State or Province (including DC) once per band. Total score = QSO Points x Multipliers. Logs need to be submitted within 7 days of the end of the contest. Full rules and details can be found at https://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx. Good Luck! Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition UpdateImage Courtesy https://3y0k.comThe highly anticipated 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island was able to land on Bouvet and logged its first QSO on March 1, 2026. The latest log upload at press time was from March 5th where they reported a total of 24,180 QSOs with 5,721 on CW, 13,558 on FT8, and 4,901 on SSB. North America received 17.6% of the QSOs while Europe got 42.5%, Asia got 31.1%, Africa got 1.3%, Oceania got 1.9%, and South America got 5.6% with the rest being “not determined”. In all the team had made contact with 131 DXCC entities and the percentage of duplicate contacts was 3.28%. You can see if you’re in the log and see the latest posted statistics at https://www.m0oxo.com/oqrs/logsearch.php.In an update from DXpedition Pilot James KB2FMH on the 3rd he said that both camps had been established with 8 tents in total. One of the camps is situated to maximize conditions toward North America. At that time they had 10 ICOM 7610 radios and 10 assorted ACOM amplifiers with antennas on all bands but 10 meters. He expected the 10 meter antennas to go up on the 4th. Looking at their logs, it appears they were successful. The operation is expected to continue until March 18-20th.Your author has not yet been successful getting in the logs and the pile-ups have been intense. Sadly, there has been significant deliberate interference (DQRM) so far with stations keying up over the Bouvet station and trying to make it difficult to contact them. A reminder, for CW and SSB the DXpedition (like most DXpeditions) will be working split. This means that the team is transmitting on one frequency and will be looking above their frequency for replies. Do not transmit on the same frequency you hear them on as they won’t be listening on that frequency and you will be making it very difficult for others to be able to hear the station in Bouvet. It is important to operate in a courteous manner so that as many operators as possible can participate in the fun together. More details on the band plan and operating details of the DXpedition can be found on their official site. Good luck.Links with more information can be found at:The Official Site: https://3y0k.com/DX News Coverage: https://dxnews.com/3y0k/ Yaesu Radio Prices to IncreaseIn a post to their web site dated March 3rd, Yaesu distributor GigaParts announced they had received new wholesale pricing increases from Yaesu for their North American products effective March 1st. As part of those changes, GigaParts expects prices to rise for consumers with the next shipments they receive from 4% to 58% for some products. GigaParts says that existing stock will remain at the current prices until stocks are depleted at which time new shipments will be priced according to the new rates. They cite rising material and manufacturing costs, updated tariffs, and volatility in logistics and operations as bringing on these costs. They also report that previous increases had been absorbed by them in the past, but the new increases no longer make that possible. At press time we didn’t see other retailers referencing these changes, but prices between the retailers is usually the same. GigaParts full statement can be found at https://connect.gigaparts.com/t/important-update-upcoming-pricing-adjustments-for-yaesu-products/2361.Amateur Radio News and Notes Podcast Celebrates Its First YearWith today’s episode, Amateur Radio News and Notes celebrates a year of keeping you up to date with amateur radio in podcast form. We sent out our first podcast version on March 7, 2025 and a year later, this is our 50th episode. It has been a lot of fun seeing things grow each week and we’re honored that you have taken the time to make us a part of your weekly routine. In addition to distributing the podcast online, we’re delighted to be broadcast each week by 88.3 FM KRHJ in Lamar, Colorado at 6 PM Mountain time on Fridays.Before it was in podcast form, Amateur Radio News and Notes started as a weekly newsletter on February 23, 2024 sent out to the members of the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club. Shortly thereafter we started posting it on our Substack and things started growing from there. It has been a fun two years with lots of fun events and developments in amateur radio along the way. We really are glad you’re here.If you find anything of interest you think would be good to share here or have any feedback about what you like or what could be improved, feel free to reach out. I’m good on QRZ.MVARC Breakfast and Meeting RecapImage Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast Saturday the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club got together for our weekly breakfast at the IHOP in Hybla Valley. After breakfast we made it over for our in-person meeting where we had an introduction to the club’s new Discord server. It was great seeing everyone, and we look forward to seeing you again this month.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXAs you would expect on a big DX contest weekend, there will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Bouvet Island (3Y0K), Bonaire (PJ4G), Guam (AH2R), Dominica (J75A), Guinea Bissau (J51A), Austral Islands (TX5EU), Gambia (C5SP), Palau (T8OK), Mayotte (FH/UR9IDX), Anguilla (VP2EAD, VP2ELX, VP2EWE), Ghana (9G5RR, 9G5CC, 9G5ZP), Sint Maarten (PJ7AA), Bangladesh (S21WD), Minami Torishima (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Solomon Islands (H44MS).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 146 and the estimated sunspot number was 73 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 2 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 456 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to minor storm levels today and quiet to active levels on Saturday and Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 20% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the ARRL International DX Contest on SSB we mentioned earlier as well as the Novice Rig Roundup, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, the Russian YL/OM Contest, the UBA Spring Contest on CW, the FIRAC HF Contest, the Classic Exchange on CW, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentThe ICQ Podcast Interviews Former ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bob Famiglio K3RF about By Law 46 - https://www.icqpodcast.com/download-the-show/2026/2/22/icqpodcast-episode-477-arrl-bylaw-46-changesHadrian YO2BTW shares video recorded by Chun at Bouvet during the DXpedition - Lewis M3HHY talks about strange FSK signals plaguing the 40 meter band and other shortwave disturbances - Adam K6ARK does SOTA by motorcycle - Stuart VE9CF gives a quick intro to N1MM for contest logging - Josh KI6NAZ shows us his Orlando Hamcatation haul - Jason KM4ACK upgrades the battery in an EMCOMM trailer - Ara N6ARA shows us how he manufactures the TinyGawant antenna kits - Michael KB9VBR talks about air travel with lithium batteries - Lewis M3HHY talks about Iran using bubble jammers to block shortwave signals - Mike K8MRD shows the K5ACP Molle BNC Antenna Clip - Colin MM0OPX talks about how to tune a ground-mounted vertical properly - Alan W2AEW shows how to update the firmware for the SV4401A handheld VNA - Linas LY2H takes a look at HF whip antennas to see how good they are - Sean W9FFF shows his POTA Pounder antenna mount - George VK2AOE shows part 3 of his homebrew QRP 40 meter transceiver build - Mike K8MRD trades his Yaesu FTX-1F for an Icom 7300MK2 and explains why - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest* DXpedition Spotlight: J51A Guinea Bissau* Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition Update* Desecheo Island KP5/NP3VI DXpedition to be QRT March 3* HamClock Gets New Community Backend * MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide 160-Meter ContestThis weekend brings the latest edition of the CQ World Wide 160-meter contest on SSB. The contest starts at 2200 UTC on Friday, February 27th (5 PM Eastern Time Friday) and ends at 2200 UTC Sunday, March 1 (5 PM Eastern Time Sunday). The contest is all about having amateurs from around the world make as many contacts with U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and countries as possible using the 160-meter band. For single operator assisted stations only, operators are able to use one remote receiver within 100 kilometers of the main transmitter if conditions (like local noise) require. This includes WebSDRs, but they must be within the 100 km limit. The unassisted entries may not use a remote receiver. Single operator stations can work as much as 30 hours of the 48 hour period. Operating categories include Single Operator with no QSO finding assistance allowed for High Power up to 1500 Watts of power, Low Power up to 100 Watts of power, and QRP up to 5 Watts of Power. There is also the Single Operator Assisted categories (High Power, Low Power, and QRP) with spotting assistance allowed and a remote receiver is permitted within 100 km of the station. The exchange is the RST, State for US, Province for Canada, or CQ Zone for DX. So for me in Virginia, my exchange would be “59 VA”. Multipliers are the 48 contiguous US States plus DC, the 14 Canadian Provinces (VO1 and VO2 count as two provinces), and DXCC countries including WAE countries. Points are awarded as 2 for QSOs in ones own country, 5 points for other countries on the same continent, and 10 points for contacts on other continents. Maritime mobile counts for 5 points but no multiplier. Logs must be submitted by March 6, 2026 at 2200 UTC. This is a great opportunity to make a lot of contacts on the top band. Good luck.DXpedition Spotlight: J51A Guinea BissauImage Courtesy https://www.dx-world.net/j51a-guinea-bissau/The J51A DXpedition to the Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea Bissau has been very active on the bands in the last week. Your author was able to work them on 15, 17, and 30 meters CW with a strong signal into the East Coast. Yesterday the team reported they had logged 61,300 QSOs in 69 hours of operation. The operators include several members from the Bavarian Contest Club. They are currently scheduled to operate until March 15. Guinea Bissau is a country on the West coast of Africa with a population of about 2 million people. It is currently listed as #84 on the ClubLog Most Wanted List. For more information about the DXpedition with photos, live streams, log searches, and team updates visit https://www.qrz.com/db/J51A and https://www.dx-world.net/j51a-guinea-bissau/. Look for them on the bands and good luck.Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition UpdateImage Courtesy https://3y0k.comThe highly anticipated 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island departed from Cape Town, South Africa in the last week and has been steadily making its way to Bouvet. On February 25th the team provided an update saying that the boat was in an area of bad weather which was slowing down their journey. They slowed their speed for safety since they would not be missing any weather windows for landing. They were 140 miles from the island when they posted on the 25th and believe that their ETA will be Friday the 27th around 6 PM Local Time (Noon Eastern Time).The 3Y0K DXpedition is one of the most expensive and logistically complicated in history with a reported budget of around $1.7 million. The plan is to have a 3 week DXpedition although with extreme weather at Bouvet, they will be dependent on weather windows to get to the island via their helicopter. The 3Y0K team has mentioned that they have received reports of individuals pirating the call sign on-air. They ask you not to work the pirates and do say there will be official communications from pilots or a team leader when the team is operational.Links with more information can be found at:The Official Site: https://3y0k.com/ The Ship Tracker: https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=7104752DX News Coverage: https://dxnews.com/3y0k/ Desecheo Island KP5/NP3VI DXpedition to be QRT March 3Image Courtesy https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/ The KP5/NP3VI Desecheo DXpedition has had very successful and extended run with its remote operations with the total number of QSOs exceeding 100,000 as we went to press. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and this DXpedition is no exception. They are scheduled to be QRT on March 3, 2026. If you haven’t gotten Desecheo in your logs, you still have time, but make sure to act fast. For more information including schedule plans and log searching visit https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/ . Good Luck.HamClock Gets New Community Backend Image courtesy https://qso365.co.uk/2024/01/hamclock/The announcement that the popular HamClock software would stop working after the passing of its creator Elwood Downey WB0OEW set the community into action to provide alternatives to the amateur radio community. This week the team at https://hamclock.com/ announced that they have created a back end server that allows HamClock to continue to function. They have instructions on their site for how to modify your installation to have it work with their back end. Their site says they are already serving over 2,700 HamClock installations. For more information visit https://hamclock.com/.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Ethiopia (ET3AA), Bouvet Island (3Y0K), Guinea Bissau (J51A), Gambia (C5SP), Palau (T8OK), Anguilla (VP2EAD, VP2ELX, VP2EWE), Bangladesh (S21WD), Desecheo Island (KP5/NP3VI), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Solomon Islands (H44MS).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 130 and the estimated sunspot number was 43 with 3 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 613 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and Saturday and at unsettled to active levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 25% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest on SSB, the UBA DX Contest on CW, the South Carolina QSO Party, the North Carolina QSO Party, the North American QSO Party on RTTY, the NA Collegiate Championship on RTTY, the UBA Spring Contest on 2m, the NSARA Contest, the SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emergency Contest, and the WAB 3.5 MHz Phone Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentStuart VE9CF talks about the scheduled shut down of Canadian Weather Radio - Tim K5OHY builds and tests a 300 Ohm Ladder Line Fed Doublet - Mike K8MRD looks at the new community backend for HamClock and shows you how to switch - Walt K4OGO takes us behind the scenes at “Shack Day” in Chesapeake, VA - Dugbo KD7DUG does 2m CW for SOTA - Jason KM4ACK shows his Hamvention haul - Mort G4BSK shows how he builds his 3D Printed microphones - Bob WV1W takes a look at the Xiegu VK-6 Paddles - Lewis M3HHY listens in to pirates jamming Russian military signals - Forrest KI7QCF talks about what QRP means to him - Yuri UT4LW shows his 2BSIQ run for ARRL DX CW - Mike K8MRD takes us along at the Greater Houston Hamfest - Lidi KQ3Q builds a 17-five antenna and gets it on the air for POTA - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW talks about the first spotless sun in years - Steve KM9G takes a look at a portable solar power bank for portable operations - Forrest KI7QCF shows part of his ARRL DX CW run - Colin MM0OPX tells you why you should be using the 10 meter band right now - Mark KD7DTS takes us aboard the Battleship Iowa to see the radio facilities - Peter VK3YE shows what you can do with 10 meters of wire to get on the air - Mike K8MRD activates POTA with Caitlin K8FAE - Matt M0DQW takes a look at FT2 for digital communications - Steve KM9G shows how he uses an inexpensive Z-Match antenna tuner - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: ARRL International DX Contest* ARRL Delta Division Assistant Director Frank Howell K4FMH Resigns* Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition Update* FCC Updates Rules to Require FRN Updates Within 10 Days of Changes* MVARC George Washington’s Birthday Special Event Station Recap* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Contest Spotlight: ARRL International DX ContestThis weekend brings one of the biggest DX contests on the air, the ARRL International DX Contest on CW (SSB is the first week of March). There is so much DX that it may even be possible to get DXCC (100 countries) in a weekend. If you’re a CW op, this is the time to get on the air. The contest starts 0000 UTC on Saturday (that’s 7PM ET Friday night) and continues through 2359 UTC Sunday (6:59PM ET Sunday). To participate, the DX stations can only work US and Canadian stations, this means this is a contest where the DX is chasing you!The exchange for the contest on the US/Canada side of things to send a signal report and state/province. DX stations send signal report and power as a number or abbreviation. So for me in Virginia, my exchange would be “599 VA”. Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters and power classifications are QRP (5 Watts and below), LP (Above 5 W to 100W), and HP (up to 1500 Watts). You can work stations once per band and each QSO is worth 3 points. For US/Canada multipliers are each DXCC entity once per band and for DX it is each State or Province (including DC) once per band. Total score = QSO Points x Multipliers. Logs need to be submitted within 7 days of the end of the contest. Full rules and details can be found at https://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx. Good Luck! ARRL Delta Division Assistant Director Frank Howell K4FMH ResignsFrank Howell K4FMH, who served as the Assistant Director of the Delta Division for the ARRL for 12 years, resigned on February 13, 2026. In his letter to Delta Division Director David Norris K5UZ he cited the recent changes in the ARRL By-Laws, specifically By-Law 46 as the reason for his resignation. The by-law requires directors to annually “recertify” that they have “read, understand, and agree to comply with the ARRL Board Member Statement“ or be made ineligible to serve on the board. The statement requires a Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience. Of particular concern to those who have not signed the document or resigned due to its enforcement is the clause concerning the “Duty of Loyalty” which requires directors “maintain confidentiality to ensure candid deliberations and effective strategic and tactical planning”. Some have interpreted that clause to be in conflict with the responsibilities of the directors to the membership and potentially in conflict with Connecticut state law.Howell stated that due to Director Norris signing the statement he “cannot support [his] actions under this stipulation as [he] believe[s] it is not a good outcome for the members of the League. This is a principle issue in [his] eyes. Therefore, [he is] resigning as an Assistant Director of the Delta Division”. This follows the removal of Atlantic Division Director Robert Famiglio K3RF and the resignation of Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Bob Wilson W3BIG in the last few weeks. Howell’s full letter can be found at https://k4fmh.com/2026/02/13/why-i-resigned-after-12-years-as-assistant-director-of-the-arrl-delta-division/.Bouvet Island 3Y0K DXpedition UpdateImage Courtesy https://3y0k.comThe highly anticipated 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island reached a milestone this week. The transport ship Argus arrived in Cape Town, South Africa. The arrival comes after the announcement in January that the team was expecting a delay of about two weeks due to vessel maintenance requirements. The location of the Argus can be tracked at https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=7104752. The 3Y0K DXpedition is one of the most expensive and logistically complicated in history with a reported budget of around $1.7 million. They plan to leave from Cape Town, South Africa and sail to Bouvet for a 3 week DXpedition, but at press time an exact date of departure has not been announced. The 3Y0K team has mentioned that they have received reports of individuals pirating the call sign on-air. They ask you not to work the pirates and do say there will be official communications from pilots or a team leader when the team is operational.Links with more information can be found at:The Official Site: https://3y0k.com/ The Ship Tracker: https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=7104752 DX News Coverage: https://dxnews.com/3y0k/ FCC Updates Rules to Require FRN Updates Within 10 Days of ChangesThe Federal Communications Commission amended section 1.8002(b)(2) of the Commission’s rules to require that individuals who register with the FCC for a FCC Registration Number (FRN) must update the information in that registration within 10 business days of that change. According to the ARRL, this is a change as there was no specific deadline for those updates previously. All amateurs must have an FRN to file applications. Since that information is separate from the license applications, it needs to both be maintained via different updates via CORES and the License Manager System. The FCC issued a public notice to clarify this change on February 6. MVARC George Washington’s Birthday Special Event Station RecapPhoto Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast weekend the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club operated as K4US from the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to celebrate his 294th birthday. The event was very successful with many members of the club and the community joining us on site and on the air. We operated two 100 Watt stations on the 20 and 40 meter bands using an Icom 7100 and Yaesu FT-991A connected to an N2EC VersaHex antenna in V-dipole mode and a Chelegance MC-750 vertical antenna. All in all we got over 220 QSOs in the log working the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Belgium, and England as well as 26 states and 3 Canadian Provinces. As always, the club is deeply grateful for Mount Vernon hosting us again this year. Thanks for everyone who made this such a fun event.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXAs you would expect on a big DX contest weekend, there will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include the Azores (CR2X), Bermuda (VP9I), Martinique (TO4A), Belize (V3T, V3O, V31KO), Barbados (8P5A, 8P9XB), Costa Rica (TI7W), Bonaire (PJ4K), Aruba (P44W), Guyana (8R1WA), Gambia (C5SP), Guinea Bissau (J52EC, J51A), Desecheo Island (KP5/NP3VI), Mali (TZ1CE), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Solomon Islands (H44MS).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 119 and the estimated sunspot number was 43 with 3 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 558 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a slight chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and at quiet levels on Saturday and Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 10% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the ARRL International DX Contest on CW we mentioned earlier as well as the REF Contest on SSB, the Russian PSK WW Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, the World Wide Argentina DX Contest, the High Speed CW Contest, and the Classic Exchange on Phone. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMatt M0DQW looks at the new FT2 mode for digital communication - Michael KB9VBR builds an inexpensive Yaesu headset adapter - Mike K8MRD puts up an antenna with his dad - Kevin W1DED gives a POTA update for February 2026 - Matt M0DQW looks at the Allstar Radioless Node Z2 - Bob WV7W talks about antenna efficiency - Josh KI6NAZ looks at the new BuddiPole BuddiHex Mini - Stuart VE9CF talks about his favorite DX cluster - Craig KM6LYW talks about the differences between various digital modes - Lewis M3HHY uses a spectrum analyzer and directional antenna to hunt for signals - Matt M0DQW looks at an automatic antenna switch - Kevin KB9RLW shows how to integrate the DX cluster into QLOG - Andy DL6FA has a CW QSO with Reto 5Z4GO in Kenya - Manuel WP4TZ works the massive pileups as KP5/NP3VI remote to Desecheo - Ed W4EMB and Chris N8PEM talk about delta loop antennas on the CW Corner Podcast - Steve KM9G looks at the Raddy RF919 shortwave receiver - George VK2AOE shows us part 2 of his 40 meter QRP Transceiver build - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* New U.S. 60 Meter Band Allocation Effective Today 2/13/2026* KP5/NP3VI Desecheo DXpedition To Continue Operations Until 3/3/2026* MVARC Special Event Station at George Washington’s Mount Vernon This Weekend 2/14/2026-2/15/2026* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.New U.S. 60 Meter Band Allocation Effective Today 2/13/2026Today marks the effective date of the new 60 Meter Band allocation in the United States. The main change relates to spectrum around the former channel at 5358.5 kHz which has been replaced by an allocation from 5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz. The new allocation is limited to no more than 9.15 Watts Effective Radiated Power (ERP) which is a change from the previous limit of the channel of 100 Watts ERP. The other channels at 5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405 kHz remain as before with 100 Watts ERP. Bandwidth on the 60 meter band is limited to 2.8 kHz and amateurs are reminded that our privileges on the band are secondary to other stations authorized by the FCC and NTIA, other nations in the fixed service, and all other nations in mobile with the exception of aeronautical mobile.This is an exciting new addition on a very useful band and the low power levels will make it a great place to enjoy QRP communications. More information about the changes can be found at:* https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-60A1.pdf* https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/14/2026-00587/implementation-of-the-final-acts-of-the-world-radiocommunication-conference-geneva-2015-wrc-15-other* https://www.arrl.org/news/new-60-meter-frequencies-available-as-of-february-13 KP5/NP3VI Desecheo DXpedition To Continue Operations Until 3/3/2026Image Courtesy https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/ On February 10, 2026 the KP5/NP3VI team announced that the Desecheo DXpedition has been extended until March 3, 2026. The remote Radio-in-Box systems were initially slated to be retrieved on February 12, but deteriorating conditions at sea prompted the schedule to be delayed. As a result, the team will continue remote operations to get more operators in the log. As of the 10th the team reported over 66,000 QSOs with 14,771 stations, for a total of 3,674 All-Time-New-Ones (ATNOs). Your author was able to get KP5/NP3VI in the log on 30 meters CW on 2/8/2026 and the contact was confirmed on Logbook of the World and Club Log within minutes.The team also announced what they’re calling ATNO Day which is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 0000 UTC (Saturday Night at 7 PM ET) until Monday, February 16, 2026 at 0000 UTC (Sunday Night at 7PM ET) where the team will be focusing on operators who have never made a contact with Desecheo (so for them, it would be an ATNO). They will focus on FT8 from 1200-1400 UTC after which time they will focus on SSB with frequencies being in the U.S. General bands. They ask that ops who have them in their logs already let those who do not have them in their logs get their ATNO on this day. Operating schedules and updates can be found on their web site at https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/. Good luck!MVARC Special Event Station at George Washington’s Mount Vernon This Weekend 2/14/2026-2/15/2026This weekend the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club will be operating as K4US from the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to celebrate his 294th birthday. The club plans to get on the air around 1500 UTC on Saturday (10 AM ET) until 2000 UTC (3 PM ET) and then again on Sunday from 1330 UTC (8:30 AM ET) until 1600 UTC (11 AM ET). Look for us on spotting networks and around centers of activity around 7.042 and 14.042 for CW and 7.242 and 14.242 for SSB. QSL cards will be available via the address on the K4US QRZ page. We look forward to celebrating on the air and hope to get you in the log. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Gambia (C5SP), Guinea Bissau (J52EC, J51A), Desecheo Island (KP5/NP3VI), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG, OX3LX), Mali (TZ1CE), Cambodia (XU7O), Belize (V3O, V31KO), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 129 and the estimated sunspot number was 82 with 7 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 461 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a slight chance of M-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet levels today, at quiet to unsettled levels on Saturday, and at quiet to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 10% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the YLRL YL-OM Contest, the CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, the PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint, the Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint on CW, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the KCJ Topband Contest, the Dutch PACC Contest, the OMISS QSO Party, the WAB 1.8 MHz Phone Contest, the RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest, the Balkan HF Contest, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMatt M0DQW takes a look at the Anytone AT-D890UV DMR and NXDN HT - Mike K8MRD fixes his base station antenna installation and sings the praises of TennTennas - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW takes a look at some space weather conditions from earlier this week - Half as Interesting talks about an experiment to enhance propagation by sending millions of needles to space - Hayden VK7HH talks about how take-off angles change with antenna elevation and how to make it work to your advantage - Walt K4OGO discusses long path and short path propagation for DX - Josh KI6NAZ talks about using Linux for amateur radio - Save it for Parts experiments with receiving satellite signals from his geodesic radar dome - Mr. Carlson’s Lab explains how to extend the life of your soldering iron tips - Geerling Engineering shows how broadcast TV sports are produced - Tim N7KOM takes a look at the quick-to-deploy BeeTenna Yagi - Dan WD4DAN looks at new features for OpenHamClock - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: North American Sprint on CW * Creator of Hamclock Elwood Downey WB0OEW Silent Key* ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Bob Wilson W3BIG Resigns After Removal of Atlantic Division Director Robert Famiglio K3RF* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: North American Sprint on CW This weekend brings the latest edition of the North American Sprint on CW from 0000 UTC on Sunday, February 8 (7 PM ET Saturday Night) until 0359 UTC Sunday (10:59 PM ET Saturday Night). The object of this contest for North American stations is to make as many contacts as possible, and for those outside North America to make as many contacts with North American stations as possible. This is a Sprint contest, so there is a special QSY rule that states that if you solicit a contact (e.g. call CQ, say “QRZ”, or solicit a frequency change like “UP 5”) you need to change your frequency after that contact. This basically means you can’t just stay on a single frequency and “run”. Entry classifications are High Power (up to 1,500 Watts), Low Power (up to 100 Watts), and QRP (up to 5 Watts). The Sprint is single operator only and use of spotting information of any kind is prohibited. The mode is, of course, CW, and the bands of operation are 80, 40, and 20 meters only. The organizers suggest frequencies above 3.525 MHz, 7.025 MHz, and 14.025 MHz. The exchange is the other station’s call sign, your call sign, a sequential serial number, your name, and your location (State/Province/Country or DX for those outside North America). So if I were working K4US for my 42nd contact the exchange would be “K4US N2EC 42 Ed VA”. For the contact to be valid, you have to log all the information correctly. The score is the number of contacts multiplied by the sum of contacted States, Provinces, and Countries (not including the US and Canada). Logs must be submitted no later than 7 days after the Sprint in Cabrillo format. Certificates will be available for top scorers from the NCJ web site after the event. So get on the air this weekend and give the North American Sprint a try. Rules and information can be found at https://ncjweb.com/Sprint-Rules.pdf. Good luck. Creator of Hamclock Elwood Downey WB0OEW Silent KeyImage courtesy https://qso365.co.uk/2024/01/hamclock/Elwood Downey WB0OEW, the creator of the popular HamClock software passed away January 29, 2026. His contributions to the amateur community are substantial and he will be greatly missed. HamClock allowed amateurs to visualize greyline location, ionospheric propagation conditions, VOACAP predictions, as well as spots from the DX Cluster, POTA, and SOTA. It was able to run on a wide variety of hardware and was made freely available to the amateur community. The servers that keep HamClock running will shut down in June of 2026, at which point it is expected that the software will cease to function. The final version of HamClock is 4.22.There are several projects that are trying to create alternatives to HamClock including Open HamClock, Open HamClock Backend, Ham Dashboard, along with several others. We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Elwood Downey WB0OEW.ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Bob Wilson W3BIG Resigns After Removal of Atlantic Division Director Robert Famiglio K3RFImage Courtesy ARRL EPA Section Web Site In a post to the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Web Site, Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Bob Wilson W3BIG resigned from his position as EPA Section Manager. The post has since been removed from the site at the request of ARRL management, according to Wilson, but remains available in social media posts. In his statement, Bob Wilson stated that he believes “the leadership of the ARRL has deteriorated in such a fashion that [he] can no longer remain a part of the Field Service Division in good faith”. He cites the removal of Atlantic Division Director Bob Famiglio K3RF covered last week as a key reason for his own departure. Wilson writes that Bob Famiglio “is one of the most dedicated and tireless individuals [he has] ever met” and details his concerns with the policies and actions that led to his removal. He concludes by thanking the members of the EPA Section for their friendship, dedication, and generosity during his tenure. As we go to press the ARRL has not yet updated their section pages to remove his name or announce his successor.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Lakshadweep Islands (AU7RS), Tanzania (5H3DX), Gambia (C5SP), Guinea Bissau (J52EC), Desecheo Island (KP5/NP3VI), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG, OX3LX), Mali (TZ1CE), Cambodia (XU7O), Rwanda (9X2AW), Guadeloupe (FG4KH), South Sudan (Z81D), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 167 and the estimated sunspot number was 166 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at high levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels and the Kp index reached 5 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 659 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate levels with a chance of X-class flares today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at unsettled to minor storm levels today, at quiet to active levels on Saturday, and at quiet to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 30% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 80% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 40% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the Vermont QSO Party, the Minesota QSO Party, the British Columbia QSO Party, the LABRE-RS Digi Contest, the 10-10 International Winter Contest on SSB, the Mexico RTTY International Contest, the European Union DX Contest, the F9AA Cup on CW, the FYBO Winter QRP Sprint, the AGCW Straight Key QSO Party, and the North American Sprint on CW. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentCraig KM6LYW takes a look at the Baofeng Mini for Packet Radio - Mike K8MRD plays with a wire delta loop antenna - Chris N8PEM shows his Hidden Woodsman M55 Haversack POTA kit - Ciprian YO6DXE shows off his modified Pixie kit for the 20 meter band - Tim K5OHY shows us some modeling and real world results for the KJ6ER Marauder Antenna - Dan WD4DAN talks about OpenHamClock as a potential replacement for the sunsetting HamClock - Save it for Parts builds a model satellite kit - Alan W2AEW shows his Hidden Woodsman M55 Haversack go bag for his Elecraft KX2 - Jason KM4ACK shows a flaw in APRS message handling on the BTECH UV Pro - Pablo VA3HDL takes a look at OpenHamClock as a replacement for HamClock - Matt M0DQW looks at the Blackview Xplore 1 Android DMR radio - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW gives a review of recent solar weather - Mike K8MRD shows 9 useful 3D prints for amateur radio - Kevin W1DED talks to young op Si WD5JR about his POTA and DXpedition adventures - Nanofix talks about the differences between various solder alloys - Lidi KQ3Q takes us along as she activates as K3Y/4 for Straight Key Month - Mort G4BSK shows us his custom microphone for the QMX and other compact rigs - Steve KM9G takes a look at the Xplore 1 Android DMR radio - Mike K8MRD takes a look at the MAT-TUNER MAT-1F Antenna Tuner - Jason KM4ACK talks about how he was able to use APRS during the snow storm to get information out - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: North American SSB Sprint* ARRL Atlantic Division Director Declared Ineligible For Office* Desecheo DXpedition Update* MVARC Winter Field Day Recap* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News & Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: North American SSB SprintThis weekend brings the latest edition of the North American SSB Sprint. This contest starts at 0000 UTC on Sunday, February 1, 2026 (7 PM Eastern Time Saturday) and goes until 0359 UTC Sunday (10:59 PM Eastern Time Saturday). The objective for the contest is for North American stations to make as many contacts as possible and for non-North American stations to contact as many North American stations as possible. One feature of the contest that makes this one a bit different is the QSY rule that makes it a “sprint” which stipulates that any station that calls CQ, says QRZ, or says “Going Up 5” or something to that effect to solicit a contact needs to change frequency by at least 1 kHz after the completion of that contact. Essentially, you can’t stay on a single frequency and make more than a single contact if you’re calling CQ. The exchange for the contest is the other station’s call sign, your call sign, your sequential serial number (starting with 1), your name, and your location (State/Province/Country with DX for outside of North America stations). So if I was contacting K4US for my 42nd QSO, my exchange would be “K4US N2EC 42 Ed VA”. Participants can enter as QRP (5 Watts or less), Low Power (100 Watts or less), and High Power (1500 Watts or less). The contest is limited to 20, 40, and 80 meters with suggested frequencies between 14200-14275 kHz, 7125-7225 kHz, and 3700-3825 kHz (but stay out of the DX window from 3790-3800 kHz). The multipliers are US States, Canadian Provinces, and North American countries listed in the rules. DX doesn’t count as a multiplier, but does count for QSO points. Logs must be submitted within 7 days of the event and Cabrillo format is preferred.This should be a fun contest to test your skills and get a bunch of contacts in the log. More information can be found at https://ssbsprint.com/. Good luck! ARRL Atlantic Division Director Declared Ineligible For OfficeImage Courtesy ARRL.org In a bulletin to members sent on January 28, 2026 the American Radio Relay League announced that Atlantic Division Director Robert Famiglio K3RF was made ineligible to remain in his elected position due to him not signing a recertification of the “Board Member Statement on Authority, Responsibility, and Expectations” that had been added to the ARRL By Laws section 46(d) last year in the July 2025 board meeting. In a separate communication from Robert Famiglio he wished to make it clear that he is not resigning, but “being removed without [his] consent by the application of the new code of conduct rules passed in July of 2025”. Famiglio, who is also a lawyer, believes that the new rules “now limit or prohibit a director’s ability to advise his division of matter involving important board decisions without advance permission”. He continues that his “interpretation of the new rules and required confidentiality agreement, and that of other lawyers [he has] consulted, contradicts [his] obligations under Connecticut law to [ARRL members].” He adds that he “cannot in good conscience sign the new director’s oath of confidentiality that is now demanded by the new bylaws”.As a result of his removal as director, Marty Newingham AG3I, the previous Vice Director for the Atlantic division, has assumed the role as Atlantic Division Director.Desecheo DXpedition UpdateImage Courtesy https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/ In an update on their web site on January 28, 2026 the KP5/NP3VI DXpedition announced that they had made over 43,000 QSOs with over 10,700 unique call signs in 123 DXCC entities. They have been working through the challenges of operating the station remotely under renewable battery power. They state that low power and efficiency are key to their operations, band choices will follow real-time propagation, and adjustments will be made as necessary. They plan to continue operations on CW, SSB, and digital. They also have been posting provisional schedules for modes and targets on their web site at https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/. Good luck.MVARC Winter Field Day RecapPhoto Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast Saturday the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club operated Winter Field Day in Alexandria, Virginia as K4US. We were a 2O station (2 transmitter outdoor station) and despite temperatures in the morning of 12 degrees Fahrenheit we had a great turn out. The club was hosted by club president Corey KN4YZY and his wife who made sure everyone felt welcome and had plenty of warm food and drink. Ed N2EC brought a double-sized ice fishing hut and a diesel heater to allow for the operating team to have a warm shelter that got up into the mid-80s during the event. We made 58 contacts on CW and 73 on SSB for a total of 131 QSOs including the first HF contact ever for a new operator who joined us. We operated primarily on the 15 and 20 meter bands using the N2EC VersaHex Antenna and a Chelegance MC-750 attached to an Icom 7100 and a Yaesu FT-991A. We decided to call it a day in the late afternoon as the severe snow event was barreling down on the Eastern half of the US and we wanted to make sure that everyone got home safe and sound. Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun to help us set-up, get on the air, socialize, and take down the station. It was an absolute blast.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Saint Kitts (V47JA), Rwanda (9X2AW), Guadeloupe (FG4KH), Tanzania (5H3DX), Gambia (C5SP), Guinea Bissau (J52EC), Desecheo Island (KP5/NP3VI), South Sudan (Z81D), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 129 and the estimated sunspot number was 135 with 9 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 781 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a slight chance of an M-class flare today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to active levels today, at quiet to unsettled levels on Saturday, and at quiet levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 15% today and 10% Saturday and Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the Feld Hell Sprint, the UBA DX Contest on SSB, the North American SSB Sprint, the Marconi Club ARI Loano Slow CW QSO Party, and the Real Time Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentThe Long Island CW Club has a presentation about the CW journey of members - Dugbo KD7DUG gets QRP DX to Japan with a straight key from a mountain - Ciprian YO6DXE shows off his new Spy Transceiver with just 3 transistors - Duff WA7BFN gives another edition of the Long Island CW Club Podcast with the NAQP, Arduino Programming, DXpeditions, and AI - Mike K8MRD gives us a tour of his ham shack - Peter VK3YE’s tin can transmitter is heard 2,500 km away - Matt M0DQW shows off his desktop SSTV receiver system - John AE5X does Winter Field Day from Florida by motorcycle - Mike K8MRD saves an old Kenwood HT from the trash bin and shows it to us - Walt K4OGO daydreams about a 100 Watt Xiegu rig he wishes would exist - Fact Quickie talks about why circuit boards are generally green - Callum M0XXT builds a vertical from scrap materials and gets it on the air - Kevan 2E0WMG shows how amateur radio and kayaking are a “match made in heaven” - Craig KM6LYW talks about the MeshCore messaging platform - Jeff KF0MYB takes a look at a portable Fnirsi oscilloscope - Steve KM9G looks at a flexible solar panel setup for his portable operations - Rob N1NUG asks us to be kind and helpful in our interactions with newer operators - George VK2 AOE does round two of his Tasmanian portable operations - Save it for Parts tests faraday bags for RF isolation - Matt M0DQW tests out the MLite-880 Portable Receiver - Mike K8MRD builds an inexpensive linked dipole - TJ K9KJ talks about working DXpeditions and using ClubLog to find if you’re in their log - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Winter Field Day This Weekend (1/24/2026-1/25/2026)* Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide 160 Meter Contest on CW* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Winter Field Day This Weekend (1/24/2026-1/25/2026)This weekend beings the 2026 edition of Winter Field Day. Winter Field Day is an annual event that like its Summer counterpart seeks to get amateur radio operators out in the field to make contact with stations around the world and practice their skills in emergency communications and field operations. Like Summer Field Day, there are a wide array of operating categories and possibilities, with plenty of ways to test your skills and develop new ones. While you can operate from anywhere, field operations under emergency power are incentivized along with using a diversity of antennas and making contacts via satellite.The event starts at 1600 UTC on Saturday the 24th (11 AM ET Saturday) and continues for 30 hours until 2159 UTC Sunday (4:59 PM ET Sunday). Station classes include Home, Indoor, Outdoor, and Mobile. Bands of operation are all bands except for 12, 17, 30, and 60 meters. All modes except WSJT modes are permitted. The reason for excluding WSJT modes is that this is meant to be an emergency preparedness exercise, and modes like FT8 don’t allow for passing information and the required exchange. The exchange is the category (number of transceivers running simultaneously) and operating class and a location identifier (ARRL/RAC section for US and Canadian stations, MX for Mexico, and other stations send DX). So for the Mount Vernon club, which will be running as K4US with 2 transceivers outdoors in Virginia, the exchange would be “K4US 2O VA”. QSO Points are 2 for CW and digital modes and 1 for Phone. Multipliers include operating on alternative power, operating away from home, using multiple antennas, making an FM satellite contact, making a SSB/CW satellite contact, sending and receiving a Winlink message, copying the Field Day Bulletin, making at least 3 contacts on 6 different bands, making at least 3 contacts on at least 12 different bands, using multiple modes, operating QRP, and operating for at least 6 hours. All stations are limited to 100 Watts PEP. Logs must be submitted electronically by 2359 UTC on March 1st.Whether you go out into the field or operate from home, this promises to be a fun event. So give Winter Field Day a try this year and get on the air this weekend. More information including rules and announced stations on the air can be found at https://winterfieldday.org/. Good luck. Contest Spotlight: CQ 160 Meter Contest on CWThis weekend brings the latest edition of the CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest on CW. This is always a busy contest on the top band and a great way to get a ton of contacts. The fun starts at 2200 UTC on Friday, January 23 (5 PM ET Friday) and goes until 2200 UTC on Sunday (5 PM ET Sunday). The objective is to make as many contacts with as many U.S. States, Canadian provinces, and countries as possible using the 160 meter band. Categories include Single Operator (no assistance allowed, 1500 Watts maximum), Single Operator/Low Power (no assistance allowed, 100 Watts maximum), Single Operator Assisted High Power (assistance allowed, 1500 Watts maximum), Single Operator Assisted/Low Power (assistance allowed, 100 Watts maximum), QRP (assistance allowed, 5 Watts Maximum), and Multi-Operator (assistance allowed, 1500 Watts maximum). The exchange is RST and state for US, province for Canada, and CQ Zone for DX. So for me, the exchange would be “5NN VA”. Points are 2 points for QSOs in the same country, 5 points for QSOs with other countries on the same continent, 10 points for QSOs with other continents, and 5 points for maritime mobile QSOs. The final score is the total of QSO points multiplied by the sum of multipliers (states, provinces, and dx countries). Logs must be submitted by 2200 UTC on January 30, 2026. Full rules and details can be found at https://cq160.com/. Good luck. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Saint Kitts (V47JA), Rwanda (9X2AW), Guadeloupe (FG4KH), Santa Elena Ecuador (HC1MD/2), Tanzania (5H3DX), Gambia (CY5K), Aruba (P40AA), Desecheo Island (KP5/NP3VI), Curacao (PJ2ND), Roatan Island (VE3VSM/HR9), South Sudan (Z81D), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 194 and the estimated sunspot number was 206 with 12 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. The past week brought very high solar storm activity with G4 level storms. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels and the Kp index reached 5 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 679 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate levels with a slight chance of an X-class flare today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to active levels today and at quiet to unsettled levels on Saturday and Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 10% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 60% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 15% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings Winter Field Day, the CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest, the Kawanua DX Contest, the REF Contest on CW, the BARTG RTTY Sprint, and the Australia Day Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentSteve KM9G takes a look at a car based charging system for solar generators - Save it for Parts builds an antenna for receiving Military Satellite Communications and compares it to a commercial antenna - Forrest KI7QCF shows us some CW operations in Sint Maarten - Steve KM9G shows how to update the firmware on the Xiegu XPA125B - George VK2AOE operates portable from Tasmania with his QMX Plus - Adam Savage talks about flaws in 18650 cells discovered by CT scans - Mike K8MRD shows a version of HamClock for the Mac - Jason KO4TFE modifies his QMX Plus to get increased output and voltage tolerance with additional BS170 transistors - Matt M0DQW builds a WSPR beacon for less than $20 - Dugbo KD7DUG works 2m CW for POTA 74 miles away - Chuck KK6USY designs a 3D printed dipole center - Alan W2AEW installs a 500 Hz CW filter in his FT-857D - Jason KM4ACK looks at ham made accessories for power switching - Tim K5OHY looks at a HOA Friendly 40m and 30m antenna - Mike K8MRD tests the Yaesu FC-80 ATU against other solutions and does not like what he finds - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party SSB* United States 60 Meter Band Changes Effective 2/13/2026* DXpedition Spotlight: KP5/NP3VI Desecheo Island* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party SSBThis weekend brings the latest edition of the North American QSO Party to the air, this time on SSB. The goal of this contest is to work as many North American stations as possible during the contest. It runs from 1800 UTC on Saturday, January 17th (1 PM ET Saturday) until 0559 UTC on Sunday, January 18 (12:59 AM ET on Sunday). For the purposes of the contest North American stations are defined by the ARRL DXCC list, plus Hawaii. The exchange is a simple one: operator name and location (state, province, or country). So for me in Virginia, my exchange would be “Ed VA”. For non-North American stations the exchange is just their name. Operating categories include Single Operator (no spotting assistance permitted), Single Operator Assisted (spotting assistance permitted), and Multioperator Two Transmitter. Power is limited to 100 Watts for the Low Power category and 5 Watts and under for QRP. Allowed bands include 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Multipliers are all 50 US states and DC the 13 Canadian provinces and territories, and other North American DXCC Entities. Non-North American entities don’t count as a multiplier, but do count for QSO credit. The score is the number of valid QSOs multiplied by the sum of multipliers worked on each band. There is also a team competition that allows you to have your score added to a cumulative team score. Logs are due no later than 7 days after the end of the contest and electronic submission via Cabrillo format is preferred. For more information check out the contest rules at https://www.ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf. Good luck. United States 60 Meter Band Changes Effective 2/13/2026The modifications to the US 60 Meter Band that were announced in FCC Report and Order 25-60 was published in the Federal Register Document Number 2026-00587 which means the changes will be effective February 13, 2026. The main change relates to spectrum around the current channel at 5358.5 kHz which will cease to exist and be replaced by an allocation from 5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz. The new allocation will be limited to no more than 9.15 Watts Effective Radiated Power (ERP) which is a change from the previous limit of the channel of 100 Watts ERP. The other channels at 5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405 kHz remain as before with 100 Watts ERP. Bandwidth on the 60 meter band is limited to 2.8 kHz and amateurs are reminded that our privileges on the band are secondary to other stations authorized by the FCC and NTIA, other nations in the fixed service, and all other nations in mobile with the exception of aeronautical mobile. In an update to ARRL Roanoke Division members, Division Director Jim N2ZZ and Vice Director Bill N2COP remind amateurs of that secondary status, saying “When we were originally given channels in this band, we were limited to 50 Watts PEP. Afterwards, our power level was increased to 100 Watts PEP because we were ‘good neighbors’. We hope that this will happen once again. Enjoy our new privileges!”. This is an exciting new addition on a very useful band and the low power levels will make it a great place to enjoy QRP communications. More information about the changes can be found at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-60A1.pdf and https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/14/2026-00587/implementation-of-the-final-acts-of-the-world-radiocommunication-conference-geneva-2015-wrc-15-other.DXpedition Spotlight: KP5/NP3VI Desecheo IslandImage Courtesy https://desecheo2026.com/ A highly anticipated DXpedition to Desecheo Island in Puerto Rico is currently underway. Desecheo Island is one of the most sought after DXCC entities on the Club Log Most Wanted List currently ranked as #14 on the list. The island is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is currently closed to the public due to the presence of unexploded military ordinance from its previous use as a bombing range from 1940-1964. As such, it is quite challenging to make contact with this DXCC entity. Image Courtesy US Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81262995 The island is relatively small at 360 acres of rugged and mountainous terrain with a semi-deciduous dry forest and grassland. The island has no source of fresh water. The island has also been part of extensive efforts to restore the the island to its prior status by successful invasive species eradication efforts from 2003 until 2017 when the island was declared free of invasive mammals. The KP5/NP3VI team was able to obtain a special use permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service for a very special type of DXpedition. They are using a state of the art remote operating system which allows for radios to be on the island and for the operators to be off the island helping to ensure the safety of both the native species on the island and the DXpeditioners. A small team deployed two Remote Deployable Units (RDUs) that should allow the team to operate 24 hours a day for 30 days. The RDUs were made by the Manyana DX Foundation and are run on battery power and are recharged using solar panels helping to ensure a minimal environmental impact while allowing operations from 160-6 meters. This DXpedition from Desecheo is the first organized by a Puerto Rican team in over 46 years and the and the first time in 17 years that Desecheo has been activated. The pileups have been intense and the signals to the Eastern US have been strong. There is a large group of operators making this DXpedition a reality so that Desecheo can get into the logs of as many amateurs as possible. They are livestreaming their operations on Club Log and have facilities for operators to verify they are in the log. The organizers hope that this will be a model for future operations in ecologically sensitive areas, allowing more DX to be on the air. More information about the island and operations can be found at https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/, https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/log-search/, and https://www.fws.gov/refuge/desecheo. Get on the air and in their log. Good luck.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Rwanda (9X2AW), Tanzania (5H3DX), Aruba (P40AA), Desecheo Island (KP5/NP3VI), Curacao (PJ2ND), Gambia (CY5K), Roatan Island (VE3VSM/HR9), South Sudan (Z81D), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 139 and the estimated sunspot number was 123 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has stayed about the same. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 675 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate levels with a slight chance of an X-class flare today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to active levels today and at quiet to minor storm levels on Saturday and unsettled to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 55% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 10% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the AWA Linc Cundall Memorial CW Contest, the Hungarian DX Contest, the PRO Digi Contest, the RSGB AFS Contest on SSB, the North American QSO Party on SSB, the NA Collegiate Championship on SSB, the ARRL VHF Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentMike K8MRD gives an unfavorable review of the Yaesu FC-80 Antenna Tuner - Dugbo KD7DUG punches through pileups with his QRP Labs QMX - Ed W4EMB does a POTA Pack Mule activation on CW - Stuart VE9CF advocates for less negativity in radio - Josh KI6NAZ builds a crystal radio kit - The Smokin Ape looks at the RF Explorer as a field strength meter - Save it for Parts builds a satellite station to receive HamTV from the ISS - Michael KB9VBR talks about lithium battery safety - Mark KD7DTS and Adam K6ARK livestream the first activation of some SOTA summits - Mike K8MRD talks about charging DIY Solar Generators - Colin MM0OPX builds the feed point for a phased vertical antenna system - Mr Carlson’s Lab talks about why crystals are needed in radios - Matt M0DQW takes a look at a B210 clone SDR - Peter VK3YE builds a direct conversion receiver on a tin can with 4 transistors and hears intercontinental DX - Crazy Checkov updates his Yaesu FT-897 with modern internal batteries for a truly all-in-one rig - George VK2AOE works on his 40 meter homebrew transceiver - The ARRL talks about the America 250 Worked All States Operating Event - Mike K8MRD talks about power options for QRP Labs QMX transceivers - TJ K9KJ talks about the Micro PA100 Portable HF Amplifier - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party CW* ARRL Announces America250 Worked All States Award* QRZ.com Announces USA250 Award* Youth on the Air Camp Accepting Applications for 2026 YOTA Camp* Reminder: Free Extra Class Course Online Starting January 15, 2026* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party CWThis weekend brings the latest edition of the North American QSO Party to the air, this time on CW. The goal of this contest is to work as many North American stations as possible during the contest. It runs from 1800 UTC on Saturday, January 10th (1 PM ET Saturday) until 0559 UTC on Sunday, January 11 (12:59 AM ET on Sunday). For the purposes of the contest North American stations are defined by the ARRL DXCC list, plus Hawaii. The exchange is a simple one: operator name and location (state, province, or country). So for me in Virginia, my exchange would be “Ed VA”. For non-North American stations the exchange is just their name. Operating categories include Single Operator (no spotting assistance permitted), Single Operator Assisted (spotting assistance permitted), and Multioperator Two Transmitter. Power is limited to 100 Watts for the Low Power category and 5 Watts and under for QRP. Allowed bands include 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Multipliers are all 50 US states and DC the 13 Canadian provinces and territories, and other North American DXCC Entities. Non-North American entities don’t count as a multiplier, but do count for QSO credit. The score is the number of valid QSOs multiplied by the sum of multipliers worked on each band. There is also a team competition that allows you to have your score added to a cumulative team score. Logs are due no later than 7 days after the end of the contest and electronic submission via Cabrillo format is preferred. For more information check out the contest rules at https://www.ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf. Good luck. ARRL Announces America250 Worked All States AwardImage Courtesy ARRL2026 brings the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and several celebrations are planned to mark this milestone. The ARRL has announced they will be running a year-long Worked All States operating event to commemorate the occasion with their America250 WAS event. The event is also part of their “Year of the Club” initiative and will see participation from ARRL affiliated club stations as well as several W1AW/portable stations. Even if you’ve already achieved WAS, this will be a fun way to get a commemorative certificate (shown above) that is available for purchase. There will also be endorsements for WAS by contacting W1AW/portable stations, WAS by contacting ARRL Affiliated Club Stations, and a WAS Triple Play by contacting all states on 3 modes (phone/CW/digital) that can be received after being awarded the America250 WAS. You can monitor your progress for the award and apply on ARRL’s Logbook of the World. More information can be found on page 76 of the January 2026 QST magazine and at https://www.arrl.org/america250-was. Good luck!QRZ.com Announces USA250 AwardImage Courtesy QRZ.comQRZ.com announced that they’ll be issuing the USA 250 Award during 2026 to commemorate the semiquincentennial. To get the award operators need to make 250 confirmed QSOs (on QRZ.com) with US-based amateur radio stations. All operators in any location are eligible and QSOs need to take place in 2026 and be logged and confirmed on the QRZ logbook. Endorsements based on mode are also available. Applications for the award are free. This is another fun way to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. More information about the event can be found at https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/announcing-the-usa250-award.976740/. Good luck!Youth on the Air Camp Accepting Applications for 2026 YOTA CampImage Courtesy https://youthontheair.org/ Youth on the Air (YOTA) Camp is accepting applications for their session this Summer, June 14-19 2026, in Huntsville, Alabama. YOTA Camp is for licensed amateur radio operators between the ages of 15 and 25 years old. This year the theme of the camp will be “Space”. The application process is free and the process continues until May 1, but for the best chance at being selected they recommend completing applications by January 15, 2026 at 2359 UTC. If accepted a $100 deposit is required, although scholarships and waivers are available to those in need. Up to 50 campers will be accepted this year with a priority being given to first time attendees. For more information check out the YOTA web site at https://youthontheair.org/huntsville2026/ and apply at https://youthontheair.org/campapply/.Reminder: Free Extra Class Course Online Starting January 15, 2026Rol Anders K3RA and the National Electronics Museum will be starting a 11 week online course to help operators study for the Amateur Extra Class license. Classes will be held on Zoom on Thursdays at 6:30 PM ET from January 15, 2026 until March 26, 2026. Attendees should hold (or be studying for) the General Class license. If you’ve been considering upgrading your license and learning a lot more about the hobby, these free classes are a fantastic opportunity. To sign up contact Rol at [email protected]. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Palau (T88HS), Burkina Faso (XT2MAX), Lakshadweep Islands (AU7RS), Cambodia (XU7GNY, XU7O), Aruba (P40AA), Gambia (CY5K), Roatan Island (VE3VSM/HR9), South Sudan (Z81D), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 140 and the estimated sunspot number was 95 with 6 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 442 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of an M-class flare today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to minor storm levels today and at quiet to active levels on Saturday and quiet to unsettled levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 10% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 45% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 10% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the YB DX Contest, the Old New Year Contest, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the UBA PSK63 Prefix Contest, the North American QSO Party on CW we spotlighted earlier, the NRAU Baltic Contests on SSB and CW, the DARC 10 Meter Contest, the RSGB AFS Contest on Data, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentJason KM4ACK talks about problems with APRS on the new Retevis Ailunce HA2 - Ed W4EMB talks about choosing a portable radio on the second edition of his podcast - Michael KB9VBR finds a budget headset that he likes for POTA activations - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Ailunce HA2 - Craig KM6LYW puts a webcam on the air via Winlink - Jason KM4ACK upgrades the USB jack on his Icom 705 - Steve KM9G talks about a Xiegu G90 firmware upgrade that breaks FT8 and how to fix it - Linas LY2H uses the FX-4CR to activate a park on 20 Watts - Bob WV7W talks about antenna marketing hype and how to be informed about your purchase - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the new PACTOR modem from SCS - Steve KM9G experiments with a Chameleon remote antenna tuner - Mike K8MRD builds a 3D Printed PowerPole Distribution box - Mark KD7DTS and Di KO6BTM activate SOTA in Australia - Rob N1NUG takes a look at an abandoned AM transmitter site for sale in Connecticut - Mike K8MRD gets signal reports from his new Icom 7300MK2 - George VK2AOE has a challenging POTA activation at a nude beach in Australia - Peter VK3YE builds a QRP transmitter on a tin can - Callum M0XXT talks antennas for small yards - Kevan 2E0WMG activates island portable with his new IC-705 - Matt M0DQW takes a look at Intercept software for RTL-SDRs - Paul OM0ET compares the Mobile-Whip active antenna to a telescoping whip - Colin MM0OPX talks about his experience using a doublet antenna for 9 months - Steve KM9G gets a RT95 on the air with the TOADs DI and Direwolf - Mr. Carlson’s Lab explains why air variable capacitors have cuts in their plates and how to use them - Matt M0DQW shows an inexpensive WSPR transmitter - George VK2AOE looks at a cheap 60 MHz Function Generator - Dugbo KD7DUG gets on 2m SSB with a Quansheng HT - Hayden VK7HH talks about GPS disciplined frequency references and why you might need one - Callum M0XXT talks about why he prefers a superhetrodyne receiver to an SDR - Kevin W1DED talks to Manuel WP4TZ about SOTA and contesting from Puerto Rico - Mike K8MRD talks about FME Series cables from ABR Industries - Rob N1NUG talks to Tom of Tom’s Radio Room about whether Shortwave is still alive - The Broadcast Engineer looks at Cincinnati Public Radio’s transmitter site - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Amateur Radio News and Notes on New Years Break Next Week* Straight Key Night Returns New Years Day* ARRL Kids Day 1/3/2026* Reminder: Free Extra Class Course Online Starting January 15, 2026* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading MVARC News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Amateur Radio News and Notes on New Years Break Next WeekAmateur Radio News and Notes will be taking a break next week to enjoy the coming of the New Year and get on the air with Straight Key Night. We’ll return for our next edition on January 9, 2026. We wish you and yours a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year filled with great DX and fun on the air.Straight Key Night Returns New Years DayNew Year’s Day brings one of the most fun operating events of the year: ARRL Straight Key Night. From 0000 UTC on New Year’s Day (7 PM ET New Year’s Eve) until 2359 UTC New Year’s Day (6:59 PM ET New Year’s Day) people will be on the air using their straight keys and bugs. The idea behind the event, which is not a contest, is to celebrate our CW heritage utilizing manual keys like straight keys or bugs. This is always a fun event, with a laid back pace, and a social feel. I’ve had many great ragchews on Straight Key Night and had some great conversations. Since it isn’t a contest, all bands are fair game. I particularly enjoy working it on New Year’s Eve (on the East Coast) as it is always a whole lot more entertaining than the countdown shows trying to get you to watch more advertising before the year’s end. Slow things down a bit and get out your favorite old key and get on the air for a great way to close out 2025 and welcome 2026. If you end up having an interesting QSO you can submit it to the ARRL as well. For more information visit https://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night. Good luck.ARRL Kids Day 1/3/2026On Saturday, January 3, 2026 the ARRL will host the next edition of their Kids Day special event. The event is designed to build excitement about Amateur Radio with kids and the community at large. The idea is to get kids on the air with licensed amateurs to make contacts around the country and the world. The event runs from 1800 UTC (1 PM ET) until 2359 UTC (6:59 PM ET) and the ARRL encourages you to operate as much or as little as you like. The suggested exchange is Name, Age, Location, and Favorite color. If the operator changes, working the same call sign again is encouraged. When calling CQ say “CQ Kids Day” to let people know what you’re doing. The ARRL encourages you to submit stories and pictures on the Kids Day Soapbox page and there is a printable certificate you can give to young ops who get on the air. This is a great way to get kids on the air. I know from events I have done with kids that this brings out some of the kindest and most welcoming ops in the hobby to share the magic of radio. For more information including suggested frequencies and stories about past Kids Day operations visit https://www.arrl.org/kids-day. Good luck. Reminder: Free Extra Class Course Online Starting January 15, 2026Rol Anders K3RA and the National Electronics Museum will be starting a 11 week online course to help operators study for the Amateur Extra Class license. Classes will be held on Zoom on Thursdays at 6:30 PM ET from January 15, 2026 until March 26, 2026. Attendees should hold (or be studying for) the General Class license. If you’ve been considering upgrading your license and learning a lot more about the hobby, these free classes are a fantastic opportunity. To sign up contact Rol at [email protected]. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air over the next two weeks. Stations on the air include South Sudan (Z81D), Morocco (CN2DM), Cambodia (XU7GNY), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG), Gambia (C5YK), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Palau (T88HS), Colombia (HK3JCL), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 134 and the estimated sunspot number was 103 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 663 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a chance of an M-class flare today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and at quiet levels on Saturday and Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 40% today and 45% on Saturday and Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsSince Amateur Radio News and Notes will be taking a break next week, here are the highlights on the contest calendar over the next two weeks. This weekend brings the Stew Perry Topband Challenge, the Original QRP Contest, and the RAEM Contest. During the week we’ll see the YOTA Contest, the Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, the QRP Fox Hunt, and the Bogor Old and New Contest. Next weekend will bring the PODXS 070 Club PSK Fest, the Marconi Club ARI Loano QSO Party Day, the WW PMC Contest, the RSGB AFS Contest on CW, the ARRL RTTY Roundup, ARRL Kids Day, the EUCW 160 meter Contest, and the FOC Old School Classic 1960s QSO Party. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentSteve KM9G assembles some All-In-One-Cable boards - Sean W9FFF transforms a Spotify Car Thing into a radio controller using AI - SAQ Grimeton makes its annual Christmas Eve transmission on VLF and we get a tour - Adam K6ARK climbs a challenging summit with friends with zero SOTA Activations - Ciprian YO6DXE tries to listen to SAQ’s VLF transmission using an upconverter - Kevin KB9RLW designs and 3D prints a wrist mounted set of CW paddles - Craig KM6LYW shows how to use AX.25 to connect to BBSes via Packet Radio - Ciprian YO6DXE shows us how he built his VLF up-converter - Tim K5OHY shows us the SaVVy Portable Yagi by Jacob KC7WXD - Steve KM9G shows off his TOADS DI6 board and gives a demo - Matt M0DQW talks about PoC radios that use the cellular networks to communicate - Ara N6ARA gives us part 3 of the build and test of his Tiny Gawant antenna - Mike M0MSN refines his mobile installation - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Special Event Spotlight: The 12 Days of Christmas* Contest Spotlight: ARRL Rookie Roundup CW* Free Extra Class Course Online Starting January 15, 2026* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Special Event Spotlight: The 12 Days of ChristmasThe 7th annual 12 Days of Christmas Special Event station is currently underway from December 14th through the 25th. There will be 12 1x1 calls to represent the lines from the classic 12 days of Christmas song including 12 Drummers Drumming (W2D), 11 Pipers Piping (K2P), 10 Lords a-Leaping (K2L), 9 Ladies Dancing (W2L), 8 Maids a Milking (W2M), 7 Swans a Swimming (W2S), 6 Geese a-Laying (W2G), 5 Golden Rings (W2R), 4 Calling Birds (W2C), 3 French Hens (W2F), 2 Turtle Doves (W2T), and a Partridge in a Pear Tree (W2P). There will also be a bonus station WP3S in Puerto Rico. If you work any of the stations you’ll be eligible for a certificate, and if you get them all you’ll get a Full Sweep endorsement. Ops will be on all bands on both CW and Phone. More information can be found on the QRZ pages for each of the special event calls and on https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/tis-the-season-12-days-of-christmas-is-on-the-air.975349/. Happy Holidays and Good Luck! Contest Spotlight: ARRL Rookie Roundup CWThis weekend brings the latest edition of the ARRL Rookie Roundup. This contest is a 6 hour event that focuses on newly licensed amateur radio operators who have been licensed in the last 3 years. The event runs Sunday from 1800 UTC (1 PM ET) until 2359 UTC (6:59 PM ET) and this edition is entirely on CW. The purpose is to get newly-licensed ops (which the ARRL calls “Rookies”) in North America on the air. Experienced ops are very much encouraged to participate. The bands of operation are 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters and power is limited to 100 Watts. The exchange is the call sign of the station worked, your call sign, your first name, the two digit number of the year you were first licensed (called a “check”) and your state/province (or DX for all others). For example if I were working K1ABC my exchange would be “K1ABC DE N2EC ED 90 VA”. For scoring, each rookie-to-rookie QSO gets 2 points and rookie-to-non-rookie QSOs get 1 point. Contacts not with a Rookie station are not valid for the purposes of the contest. Multipliers are each US State and DC, Canadian Provinces, Mexican Call Sign Areas, and 1 DX multiplier for all other areas.Logs need to be submitted within 72 hours of the end of the event. The top 5 rookies in each US call area, Canadian province, Mexican call areas, and DX will get electronic certificates emailed and all rookies who submit a score get a participation certificate. This is a great way to dip your toes into CW contesting if you’re a new op, or a great way to give back to the next generation of ops if you’re more experienced. More information and full rules can be found at https://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup. Get on the air this weekend and have some fun. Good luck.Free Extra Class Course Online Starting January 15, 2026Rol Anders K3RA and the National Electronics Museum will be starting a 11 week online course to help operators study for the Amateur Extra Class license. Classes will be held on Zoom on Thursdays at 6:30 PM ET from January 15, 2026 until March 26, 2026. Attendees should hold (or be studying for) the General Class license. If you’ve been considering upgrading your license and learning a lot more about the hobby, these free classes are a fantastic opportunity. To sign up contact Rol at [email protected]. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include South Sudan (Z81D), Madagascar (5R8IC), Mali (TZ4AM), Colombia (HK3JCL), Gabon (TR8CR), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG), Gambia (C5YK), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 116 and the estimated sunspot number was 68 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 723 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a slight chance of an M-class flare today through Sunday. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be at quiet to unsettled levels today through Saturday and at quiet levels Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 15% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the AGB-Party Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, the OK DX RTTY Contest, the RAC Winter Contest, the Croatian DX Contest, the ARRL Rookie Roundup on CW, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMark KD7DTS, Ara N6ARA, and Josh KI6NAZ talk SOTA, YouTube, and Antenna on Sofas on the Air - Jerry KM4ZKB builds a 1:1 choke balun for his ZS6BKW antenna - Walt K4OGO give his top 5 portable commercial HF antennas - Peter VK3YE shows how to support a mast with your own body weight - Matt M0DQW tests out the Xiegu GPA100 100 Watt amplifier - Mike K8MRD does an A/B comparison between the Icom 7300 and the Icom 7300 MK2 - George VK2AOE talks about some issues he’s had with his QMX radio - Farhan VU2ESE demonstrates the newly available Larcset 40 meter radio kit - Peter VK3YE shows the FreeDV mode on HF and how it provides power efficient voice communication - Steve KM9G tests the ATU-10 QRP ATU - Mike K8MRD takes a first look at the Icom 7300 MK2 - Matt M0DQW looks at the HamGeek 6699 radio - Rob N1NUG builds a hidden transmitter for foxhunting - Evan K2EJT shows his most used radios of 2025 - Alan W2AEW uses a TinySA to measure keyer speed on a Kenwood TS-890S - The Long Island CW Club has a new promo video with a voice you may recognize - Kevin W1DED reads “Twas the Nite B4 Ten Opened” by Mike VE9AA - Walt K4OGO builds a Rhombic Antenna - Mike K8MRD builds an antenna with paracord like RSE line - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Parks on the Air Delists Virginia WMAs and State Fishing Lakes From The POTA Database* HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO Party* Contest Spotlight: ARRL 10 Meter Contest* FCC Expands Access to the 60 Meter Band* MVARC Holiday Party Recap* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Parks on the Air Delists Virginia WMAs and State Fishing Lakes From The POTA DatabaseLogo Courtesy Parks on the AirParks on the Air Virginia mapping coordinator Sean Pyne W4BKR announced on a Facebook post that all State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and State Fishing Areas in the Commonwealth of Virginia have been inactivated on the POTA.app site. He states that there have been increasing conservation officer contact with activators at many WMAs and most State Fishing Lakes due to not having a Special Use Permit (SUP). When activators have filed for an SUP that request has been denied. Sean notes that authorities have indicated that all future requests would also be denied. The reasoning is that “amateur radio activity is considered outside the intended purpose of these areas”.Allen Graves AG4VA sent a follow-up email on the SOTAppalachia groups.io to address the SOTA side of things and recommends suspending SOTA activations in Virginia in State WMAs including Blue Mountain, Fork Mountain, Jack Mountain, Fort Lewis Mountain, and Short Hills High Point which all reside in various WMAs. Allen goes on to share some research he has done about the WMAs and Fishing lakes and the legal basis for these issues. The properties are designated for primary uses only (to include hunting, fishing, wildlife restoration, habitat protection, and boating and angling access). Anything not on that list is defined as a special use (including bird watching, photography, hiking, amateur radio, and school groups among others). The need for special use permits predates the existence of POTA and SOTA. He advocates some solutions in his email including pursuing blanket exemptions, simplified permits, or partnerships with the agencies. Hopefully some progress can be made in those directions, but for now, it is best to refrain from radio operations in Virginia WMAs and State Fishing Lakes.This highlights the importance of ensuring that we do our best as amateur radio operators to maintain positive interactions with those who manage the public areas we use for portable operations. To that end, Sean had some advice. Always try to keep your activation footprint small and minimize impact on the environment and other park users. If you do have an encounter with the authorities it is important to be respectful and polite. If you are asked to leave, do not argue. If you have permits, show them, but don’t escalate the situation. And finally, if you have problems contact the state mapping representatives so they are aware and can work to address them.More information can be found at https://qrper.com/2025/12/pota-sites-deactivation-in-virginia-wildlife-management-areas-and-fishing-lakes/ and https://groups.io/g/SOTAppalachia (requires membership). HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO PartyOn December 12-13 HamSCI is hosting their Meteor Scatter QSO Party. The QSO Party is a combination of an operating event and a citizen science endeavour that seeks to better understand propagation via meteor scatter. Activity will be on 6 meters (50.260 MHz) and 10 meters (28.145 MHz) using the MSK144 mode during this year’s Geminid meteor shower. They need stations that can both be Two-Way (transmit/receive) and Monitor stations (receive only) and will be using reception reports sent to PSKReporter (so make sure to set your software to report as described on their web site). If you run FT8, you’re already setup as WSJT-X supports MSK144. This is a great way to be a part of scientific exploration into our hobby while having a whole lot of fun. For more information check out the HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO Party site at https://www.hamsci.org/msqp. Contest Spotlight: ARRL 10 Meter ContestThis weekend brings this year’s highly anticipated ARRL 10 meter contest on December 13-14, 2025. This is a great contest that can be worked by all amateurs, regardless of license class. Since we are near the top of Cycle 25 propagation should be excellent to make lots of contacts around the globe. The contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday (7 PM ET Friday) and goes until 2359 UTC Sunday (6:59 PM ET Sunday). The band will, of course, be the 10 meter band. Contacts can be made on Phone and CW and you can contact stations only once per mode. Categories of operation include Single Operator and Single Operator Unlimited which can enter as CW Only, Phone Only, or Mixed-Mode. Multioperator stations can only enter as Mixed-Mode. The Single Operator category can’t use spotting assistance, however Single Operator Unlimited and Multioperator stations may use spotting assistance. Power levels include High (more than 100 Watts), Low (between 5 and 100 Watts), and QRP (5 Watts or less). There is also a Limited Antennas Overlay for those using single element antennas no more than 50 feet elevation at its highest point. The exchange for US, Canadian, and Mexican stations is to send their State or Province. DX stations send a serial number, and Maritime Mobile stations send their ITU region. So for me in Virginia, my exchange would be “599 VA”. Phone contacts count for 2 QSO points while CW contacts count for 4 QSO points. Multipliers include US States, Canadian Provinces, Mexican States, DXCC entities, and ITU Regions. Total score is QSO Points multiplied by the sum of Multipliers. Logs must be submitted within 7 days of the conclusion of the event, with Cabrillo formatted logs being the preferred method.This may be one of the last opportunities to work this contest during Solar Cycle 25, so get on the air and have some fun this weekend. Full rules and details can be found at https://www.arrl.org/10-meter. Good luck.FCC Expands Access to the 60 Meter BandOn December 9, 2025 the FCC released its Report and Order FCC 25-60 which among other actions, expands the Amateur Radio allocation on the 60 meter band to include a new region of spectrum from 5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz. This is in addition to the discrete channels already assigned at 5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405 kHz. This new allocation harmonizes with a proposal from WRC-15 to allocate it globally in all ITU regions with a maximum of 15 Watts equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) which is about 9.15 Watts effective radiated power (ERP). This means that inside the new 15 kHz allocation we are limited to 9.15 Watts ERP. The FCC decided to limit it to this lower level to protect the Federal operations on the band which are the primary users. (the Amateur service is permitted usage on a secondary basis). The four channels that are outside this range are still permitted to run at 100 Watts. The amendments to the rules should be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The full Report and Order can be found at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-60A1.pdf and the sections relating to the 60 meter band allocation are on pages 18-24. Additional coverage can be found at https://qrper.com/2025/12/welcome-breaking-news-our-60-meter-band-just-got-bigger/. MVARC Holiday Party RecapImage Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast night, we had a great turn out to our annual MVARC Holiday Party at the Hybla Valley Denny’s. We had lots of great conversation and enjoyed each other’s company. We hope that you and yours have an absolutely wonderful holiday season.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include South Sudan (Z81D), Madagascar (5R8IC), Mali (TZ4AM), Colombia (HK3JCL), Gabon (TR8CR), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG), Gambia (C5YK), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 147 and the estimated sunspot number was 123 with 7 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to major storm levels and the Kp index reached 6 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 500 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate levels with a slight chance of an X-class flare Friday and moderate conditions through Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 10% today, 5% Saturday, and 1% on Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 65% today, 60% Saturday, and 55% on Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 10% chance predicted today and 5% Saturday and Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the ARRL 10-Meter Contest we spotlighted earlier as well as the PODXS 070 Club Triple Play Low Band Sprint, the TRC Digi Contest, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the ARI 40/80 Contest, the International Naval Contest, the QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Sprint, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentJosh KI6NAZ talks about the new 60 meter band allocation - Bob WV1W gives his 10 tips for CW head copy - TJ K9KJ shows us how to use Remote Ham Radio - Mike K8MRD uses iFTX on his iPhone to run FT8 while portable - Thomas K4SWL, Scott VA3EKR, and Vlado N3CZ activate SOTA together - Walt K4OGO builds a portable cubical quad antenna - Jeff KF0MYB and Joe KF0MYJ take a look at the radio station in Stranger Things to see how accurate it was - The Smokin Ape talks counterpoises for End Fed Half Wave antennas - Mike K8MRD goes over some hacks to elevate your Baofeng experience - Mort G4BSK looks into fixing his QMX radio - Walt K4OGO does hotel balcony portable with a small MA-01 antenna system - EarthSky talks about why the earliest sunset isn’t usually on the shortest day - Paul OM0ET shows us how to flash the firmware on the Quansheng UV-K1 - Michael KB9VBR talks about the Virginia POTA State WMA and Fishing Lake removals - Callum M0XXT shows us how he fixed his 40 meter 4-Square antenna system - The Broadcast Engineer shows us the new Cincinnati Public Radio broadcast studios - Mark KD7DTS celebrates his SOTA goat milestone with friends - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the SharkRF M1KE digital mode transceiver - Craig KM6LYW gives a 6 month update for his Packet Radio node - Jerry KM4ZKB shows us how he builds, tunes, and deploys his ZS6BKW antenna - Tim K5OHY shows us his Challenger PVC Mount for fast portable deployment - Kevin W1DED debriefs Dan N6MJ on his CQ WW CW Win at EF8R - Kevin W1DED debriefs Chris KL9A on his CQ WW CW 2nd Place Finish at CQ9A - George VK2AOE talks about his love of QRP Labs - Kevin KB9RLW shows how to install Satdump on Linux - Evan K2EJT shows his Winter SOTA Loadout - Mike K8MRD shows his QMX Go Bag - Stuart VE9CF talks about the Virginia POTA WMA and Fishing Lake removals - Linas LY2H shows us his first Beverage Antenna - Walt K4OGO takes a look at a V-Beam Antenna - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* The Santa Net returns for its 20th Year* Special Event Spotlight: AU2JCB Jagadish Chandra Bose Birthday Celebration* Contest Spotlight: ARRL 160 meter CW* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com Thanks for reading MVARC News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.The Santa Net returns for its 20th YearThe Santa Net returns for its 20th year on 3916 kHz giving girls and boys the ability to talk to “Santa” at 8 PM Eastern time (0100 UTC) on December 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. Check-ins start at 7:45 PM ET. According to the Santa Net site there are “strategically placed operators who relay the voice of Santa”. When it started 20 years ago they connected with 10 kids, and this year they expect to connect with over 1,000. More information including videos of kids talking to Santa and live stream links can be found at https://www.cqsanta.com/. Special Event Spotlight: AU2JCB Jagadish Chandra Bose Birthday CelebrationImage Courtesy http://www.setileague.org/photos/wghorn.htm AU2JCB is currently on the air for a special event to commemorate the birth of Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose who was born on November 30, 1858. Bose was a pioneer of microwave radio, providing some of the first understanding of the nature of those higher frequencies. He was the first to use a semiconductor junction for radio wave detection and made many components still used in microwave work today. His research was decades ahead of its time. In addition to groundbreaking research on microwaves, he also founded the Bose Institute, studied botany, and wrote science fiction. Fitting of the legacy of such an important scientist, the special event seeks to measure solar radiation, solar flares, and solar storms as Solar Cycle 25 is near its peak. The event will be run by VU2DSI from November 28, 2025 until December 15, 2025. Additionally, VU2XPN will operate as AU5JCB. Look for AU2JCB on 28545, 28520, 28490, 28350, and 29600 kHz on 10 meters and 21235, 21310, 21350, and 21360 kHz on 15 meters. Also look on 14215, 14250, and 14310 on 20 meters and 7040 and 7150 kHz on 40 meters and 3650 kHz on 80 meters. Also on FM look for them on 50800, 51500, and 29700 kHz. QSL direct to VU2DSI. For more information visit https://www.qrz.com/db/AU2JCB and good luck!Contest Spotlight: ARRL 160 meter CWThis weekend brings the ARRL 160 meter contest on CW. This is a DX contest, so DX to DX QSOs don’t count for credit, which means that US stations will be in-demand. Stations located in overseas and non-contiguous US territories get to double dip and work both US and DX stations. The contest starts at 2200 UTC on Friday (5 PM Friday ET) and ends on 1559 UTC on Sunday (10:59 AM Sunday). The entire 42 hour period is open to operate without limitation, so get your coffee pot fired up! The exchange for US and Canadian stations is the signal report and ARRL/RAC section. So for me that would be “599 VA”. DX stations just sent a signal report. Certificates will be awarded for the top scoring QRP, low-power, and high power single operator stations as well as low-power and high-power unlimited stations in each ARRL/RAC section and DXCC country as well as the top scoring Multioperator High and Low Power stations in each ARRL division and continent. This is a great opportunity to get some DX on the Top Band. More information and rules can be found at https://www.arrl.org/160-meter. Good luck!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lot of DX on the air this week. Stations on the air include Sint Maarten (PJ7UK), Saint Martin (TO9W), Colombia (HK3JCL), Gabon (TR8CR), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG), Madagascar (5R8IC), Mali (TZ4AM), Solomon Islands (H44MS), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 220 and the estimated sunspot number was 165 with 7 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at high levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at active to minor storm levels and the Kp index reached 5 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 771 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate levels with a chance of M-class flares through Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 15% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 75% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 25% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsThis weekend brings the ARRL 160-Meter Contest, the Kalbar Contest, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, the PRO CW Contest, the INORC Contest, and the FT Challenge. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentPia DL7PIA activates POTA from a snowy Black Forest - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW goes over last week’s space weather - Sean W9FFF shows off his “DX Commando” prototype multi-band vertical - Tim K5OHY continues his deep dive into the EFHW Antenna and looks at DX performance - Matt M0DQW looks at the new Quansheng UV-K1 - IMSAI Guy looks at a push-on SMA connector - Walt K4OGO turns a JPC-7 into a delta loop antenna - Steve KM9G takes a look at a new Gabil RF Power Meter - Kevin KB9RLW shows how to make a call sign desk sign using 3D Printing - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the new Choyong WT2 internet radio and UHF/PoC radio - IMSAI Guy takes a look at a Si4732 radio - George VK2AOE updates his workbench ahead of lots of homebrewing - Kevin W1DED talks to Chris KL9A about his preparation at CQ9A for CW WW CW - Ramon EA5IW takes us along for mountain QRP with the uSDX+ V2 - Mark KD7DTS takes us to a summit to see his ultralight coffee setup for SOTA - Ciprian YO6DXE starts his build of a Matchbox Transceiver - Dan N6MJ shows himself operating during CQ WW CW at EF8R - Mike K8MRD shows us his favorite “hidden gems for ham radio” at Harbor Freight - IMSAI Guy looks at a new F-Nirsi power supply - Kevin W1DED talks to Dan N 6MJ about his plans for last week’s CQ WW CW Contest - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide DX Contest on CW This Weekend* Special Event Spotlight: K2K Krampusnacht on the Air Interview with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT* FCC Experiencing Continued Systems Degradation and ARRL VEC Processes Most of Backlogged Applications* MVARC Breakfast and Meeting Recap* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Thanks for reading MVARC News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As always, links to all referenced content can be found in the show notes, or at our Substack at mvarc.substack.com. Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide DX Contest on CW This WeekendThis weekend brings one of the most popular contests of the entire year: CQ World Wide CW. For operators who love DX, it is like Christmas comes a month early! The contest usually has over 35,000 contestants that get on the air the last weekend of November for to work the world on CW. The event starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, November 29 (so 7 PM Eastern Standard Time on Friday) and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday (or 6:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday). The goal is to make as many contacts with different DXCC entities and CQ Zones as possible. The opportunities for working DX in this contest cannot be overstated. In contests like this, some folks have managed to get a DXCC in a single weekend. Even working more casually, getting 50 or more countries isn’t unlikely. Even if you’re not planning on submitting a contest entry, working the stations is a great way to get some incredible DX in your log, and the QSOs count for them too, even if you don’t submit a log. Of course, submitting one is encouraged and helps their software do proper log checking, so if you can, join in the fun. There are operators around the globe with powerful stations waiting for your call.The contest is limited to the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands and the exchange is a signal report along with your CQ zone. For East Coast folks that would be “599 05” -- so quite a simple exchange and no serial numbers to worry about. QSO points are 3 points for contacts on different continents, 2 points for North American contacts in different countries, 1 point for contacts on the same continent but different countries (outside North America), and 0 points for contacts in the same countries (but you do get CQ Zone and Country multipliers for those QSOs). The score is the total number of QSO Points multiplied by the sum of zone and country multipliers. There are several categories you can enter at various power levels. For Single Operators there is the classic Single Operator category where no spotting assistance is permitted and the Single Operator Assisted category where you can use QSO spotting networks. Power levels are High Power (over 100 Watts), Low Power (Over 5 Watts up to 100 Watts), and QRP (5 Watts or less). Entries may also be Single Band or All-Band. In addition to the main categories there are overlays like “Classic Operator” which specifies no spotting assistance and operating for up to 24 of the 48 hours, Rookie for ops licensed within the last 3 years, and Youth where the op is 25 years of age or under.For Multi-Operator categories (All-Band Only) there is Multi-Single where only one transmitted signal on one band is permitted during any 10 minute period with power levels either High or Low. Multi-two has a maximum of 2 signals on 2 different bands. Multi-Multi allows all 6 bands to be activated simultaneously with one signal per band at any time. And Multi-Distributed has a maximum of 6 transmitted signals with one per band at a given time from stations in different locations (but the same DXCC entity and CQ Zone).There is also a club competition where you can add a club you’re a member of and within a 250 mile radius circle from the center of the club area for additional awards. Participants get certificates automatically from the site and plaques will be awarded for top performance in categories. Logs must be submitted in Cabrillo format within 5 days of the end of the contest (2359 UTC December 5, 2025). Full rules can be found at https://cqww.com/rules.htm. This is always an exciting contest, and I encourage you to get on the air and work the world this weekend. Good luck!Special Event Spotlight: K2K Krampusnacht on the Air Interview with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUTImage Courtesy Rod Eyer and Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUTNext week, a special event station will be on the air to celebrate Krampusnacht. From 00:00 UTC on Thursday, December 4th—that’s 7:00 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday night—until 23:59 on Friday, December 5th, or 6:59 PM on Friday night, a team of operators operating as K2K will head to the air with their paddles and microphones to celebrate ahead of the official observance of St. Nicholas Day on Saturday, December 6th.To find out more about the history of Krampusnacht and what operators can expect from K2K Special Event, I’m joined by Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GVT, who’s been coordinating this year’s on-air celebration. Caryn, welcome to Amateur Radio News and Notes.Caryn: Thank you so much, Ed, and thank you for the invitation. I’m very, very excited.Ed: Me too. And I know Krampusnacht has a long and storied history, especially in Europe. But for any of our listeners who may not be familiar with what Krampusnacht is, and the Krampus for whom the event is named... who they... who they are—and also, maybe, because there might be more than one—the Krampus... and what happens on Krampusnacht? Maybe you can tell us a little bit about that.Caryn: Absolutely. It is in the plural, actually. It is who really are the Krampuses? Or... it’s not the “Krampii.” I have been doing a lot of reading in preparation for this because I wanted to know more about this fascinating creature. And one of the books I read indicated that the plural of Krampus is Krampuses. I thought it would have been Krampii. Whatever the plural may be, we want our hunters, our chasers, to work as many Krampuses or as many Krampi among us as they can.Who is Krampus? Who are the Krampus? The Krampus is a folkloric figure. If you’ve ever met him, you would remember him. He is a large, horned, goat-like figure who carries chains that he rattles and switches, and he menaces children. He started menacing them in the Alpine regions of Europe, but now he’s kind of expanded his territory. He’s here in the U.S. People have taken up the cause of Krampus and Krampusnacht and had their own parades and celebrations of him.He usually comes right before St. Nicholas Day, when the bearded fellow—not to be confused with the other bearded fellow—shows up and brings sweets to children. Krampus, the Krampus, reminds children to be good. Um... I don’t want to draw any comparisons, but I’m sort of thinking there’s the Enforcement Bureau of the FCC, and then there’s Krampus, who shows up before Santa Claus. So, Krampus is fearsome, but in recent years he’s been a little more gentle. He may grab a kid and roar at him, but I don’t think he’s been stuffing them in his sack and carrying them off anymore.Ed: Well, that definitely sounds like a lot of fun, and I’m glad that they’re not getting hauled away in the sack. You do have a big group of operators this year. I know I’m honored to be a part of the team. How will the folks on the air be celebrating Krampusnacht with the world?Caryn: Well, we’re going to be talking a lot about Krampus, the Krampus, which is why we’re using conversational modes. We’re using Sideband, we’re using Phone. And we’re using CW for those who’d like to ragchew a little bit about the Krampus. We even have DMR. We’ve been very fortunate to have a DMR channel made available to us, a talk group that has a bridge to D-STAR and Fusion.So we are using conversational modes to talk about the Krampus and to hear people’s stories. You do know one of our ops has a... I don’t want to say personal acquaintance, but at least personal knowledge and experience with a Krampus, and that would be Mike, N2PPI, who was personally terrorized by a Krampus or two during his childhood when he spent the holiday season in Bavaria.Ed: Well, hopefully, he has lived to tell the tale and has some good stories to tell on the air. Now, one thing I’ve heard is that the people who are going to be running this event, that they all have their own Krampus names. So I know I’m going to be Belsnickel this year, who is a disheveled Krampus who carries a switch to beat the naughty children, and also brings cakes, nuts, and candies for those who are good. I’m going to try to be more in the cake, nut, and candy category. But he traditionally hails from the southwestern part of Germany and is also popular mythology with the Pennsylvania Dutch communities as well. What is going to be your Krampus name this year, and is there anything that we should know about your version of the Krampus?Caryn: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I am Knecht Ruprecht. I am not going to attempt to send that full name when I am operating CW. So I encourage listeners to this podcast to not be afraid to come back to me if you hear me calling CQ Krampus. I will not make you copy Knecht Ruprecht in CW. I will be using it definitely during my time on phone, though.My Krampus... not too different from your Krampus. Filthy, filthy person... or creature, I should say. With soot and ashes. Giving nuts and candies and fruits to the kids who’ve behaved well, and giving, you know what, to the others. Switches, punishment, and instilling great fear in them.Now, one thing I did learn about Knecht Ruprecht—a very privileged thing—Knecht Ruprecht apparently had a composition Robert Schumann wrote in 1848. It’s on his Album for the Young. It’s one of, I think, 43 pieces he composed. So, I am probably representing the most musical of the Krampuses. I’m kind of happy about that because it’s not all screaming, yelling, and chain-rattling.Ed: Very good. So how can operators around the world who want to join in the fun this year get involved with the K2K Krampuses on the air? And you said the modes—conversational going to be CW and Sideband—so tell us a little more about that.Caryn: Yeah. We’re going to be on HF. Since this is not a contest, we can be on 10 meters for CW... uh, we can basically be on the bands where casual operating is allowed. Sideband and CW. And for those who don’t have either or are not able to get to us because of operating privileges—as we have in different countries—the good people at the ICQ Podcast are giving us use of their channels for 48 hours, and we will be using the DMR talk group that they have there, which has a bridge to Fusion and D-STAR as I mentioned before. And all of that information is on our page on QRZ. You’ll see the numbers of the channels and where to tune.I will be monitoring those channels. I know I’ll be on during the day on one or the other of those. And in the evenings, I will be on one of the HF modes, either CW or Sideband, or probably both. Because you cannot... you cannot get enough of Krampus. We’ll be posting on the clusters, so look for us.Ed: Fantastic. And since this is the festive season for giving, is there anything that Krampus chasers can expect to fill the stockings in their hamshacks?Caryn: Well, I can tell you there are some things you don’t want to find in your stockings if you’re dealing with Krampus. Krampus does not give rigs or linear amps. You got to go to the big guy in the red suit for that. No, I think Krampus chasers, the most you can get from him perhaps is forgiveness for bad behavior.And a beautiful downloadable certificate that was crafted by a person very close to me—my husband—who has been most patient since he is not a ham radio operator, but he knows how I love Krampus, and he is a graphic designer. And so anybody working a Krampus this year will get that certificate. You’ll get a link to it that you can download with the confirmation of your QSOs.Ed: And I can confirm I’ve seen some of the artwork; it is absolutely beautiful. Really, really cool. So I’m... in fact, you can get a taste of it on the QRZ page. Definitely worth checking that out. And, of course, getting in the log so you can get one yourself. This really does sound like it’s going to be a blast. Is there anything else we should know?Caryn: Well, yes, and thank you. Thank you for the kind words about the certificate. Yeah, I think everybody should know that we are all excited. And this is the first time we’re doing this, so we don’t know how it’s going to go. And we’re counting on everybody who either has experienced a Krampus or wants to experience a Krampus... God, it almost sounds like crumpets, doesn’t it? Crumpets are tasty; this Krampus is not.This should be fun. This is a part of folklore and culture that is important to share. Amateur Radio is about being global and sharing one another’s cultures and educating one another on cultures. And yeah, we’re getting a little crazy and having a little fun and talking about this wild goat-like creature named the Krampus, but we’re also educating folks on history, culture, and welcoming the holiday season. Because once Krampusnacht is over, then we get into the good stuff. We get the sweets and the presents and everything else.So what I’d like to advise everybody is, if you’re listening to this: Have you been good? Or will you be visited by Krampus?Ed: Well, I’d like to think I’ve been good. I’m very excited for this year’s special event. So, hey, thank you so much for talking with us today. And also for doing all the hard work to make this happen. This is the fun part of Amateur Radio, and I really do want to say thank you for all of your hard work, and I can’t wait to see this unfold in the next week.Caryn: Well, thank you, Ed. Or should I say, Belsnickel? That is your Krampus name. And thank you for your enthusiasm and all your support. I think we’re going to have a lot to talk about once the two-day event is over. So we’ll see everybody on the air.Ed: Fantastic. Well, thank you so much. And more information about the event can be found on the QRZ page. That’s at https://qrz.com/db/k2k. And we do hope you’ll join us for two days and nights of fun on the air.FCC Experiencing Continued Systems Degradation and ARRL VEC Processes Most of Backlogged ApplicationsThe ARRL reported in this week’s ARRL Letter that the ARRL VEC has processed most of the more than 2,500 backlogged license applications that could not be filed as a result of the shutdown of the federal government. I can confirm that a person who I know who passed her exam during the shutdown has been issued her license. Congratulations! That said, there are still issues with FCC systems including the Universal Licensing System (ULS), Antenna Structure Registration (ASR), Tower Construction Notification System (TCNS), and Electronic Section 106 System (E-106). As mentioned last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it would extend the filing deadline to March 5, 2026 for any licenses that were set to expire during the period between October 1, 2025 and March 5, 2026 in their Public Notice DA-25-943. This means anyone whose license renewal deadlines were missed during the period now has more time to complete the filings and continue operations. The FCC’s site reported that users should expect delays in search results, delays in processing of applications, intermittent timeouts of submissions, general sluggishness, and inability to complete fee payments. While they’re working to resolve the issues the FCC asks that users postpone non-urgent filings and refrain from repeated submissions if there are errors. According to the FCC “FCC technical staff and contractors are actively investigating the cause and are working to restore normal system performance as quickly as possible. This issue is being treated with the highest priority.” More information can be found at:https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-revised-filing-deadlineshttps://www.fcc.gov/wireless/uls-asr-tcns-experiencing-significant-performance-degradation MVARC Breakfast and Meeting RecapImage Courtesy Corey Law KN4YZYLast weekend MVARC had another great turnout for our monthly breakfast at IHOP. Afterward we went to the Mount Vernon Governmental Center where Ed N2EC gave a talk about his VersaHex Antenna system. We look forward to the upcoming holiday dinner in December , so stay tuned for more updates. Due to the holidays, we don’t have a December meeting, but will resume our monthly meetings in January. We look forward to seeing you soon.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXRemember how I mentioned that CW World Wide CW is like Christmas coming early for DXers? Well in this week’s DX report, you’ll see what I mean. There will be a ton of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Aland Islands (OH0Z), Mauritius (3B8M), Thailand (E2A), Sao Miguel Island in the Azores (CR2M), Cape Verde Cabo Verde (D4P), Corsica (TK0C), Bonaire (PJ4A, PJ4K), Oman (A44A), Barbados (8P5A), Saint Martin (TO9W), Sint Maarten (PJ7UK), Martinique (TO7A, FM/KL7WA), New Providence Island Bahamas (C6AQQ), Antigua (V26K), Guyana (8R1/AG6UT), Greenland (OX7A, OX7AM, OX7AKT, OX3LG), Bermuda (VP9I), Cambodia (XU7RRC), Aruba (P44W), Cayman Islands (ZF1A), Chatham Islands (ZL7IO), Bhutan (A52AA), Vanuatu (YJ0GC), Saint Kitts and Nevis (V47T), Sint Eustatius (PJ5C), Grenada (J38W), San Andres (5J0EA), Lord Howe Island (VK2/LZ1GC), Ghana (9G5ZZ), Uganda (5X1XA, 5X1DF, 5X7W), Gabon (TR8CR), Rodrigues Island (3B9KW, 3B9/M0CFW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Madagascar (5R8IC), Mali (TZ4AM), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM). If that doesn’t make you want to work CQ WW CW this weekend, I don’t know what will! Good luck.A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 120 and the estimated sunspot number was 85 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has stayed about the same. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to minor storm levels and the Kp index reached 5 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 779 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a slight chance of M-class flares through Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 15% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/ . A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsAs we spotlighted earlier, the big contest this weekend is CQ World Wide CW. As a result there aren’t any other big contests on the calendar over the weekend. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentForrest KI7QCF gives his 5 favorite QRP radios still on the market - Michael KB9VBR does a second look at the Alpha Hextenna, this time as a vertical - Matt M0DQW talks about HAARP conspiracy theories why they’re nonsense - Steve KM9G tests an LCR meter and power supply from Fnirsi - Mike K8MRD builds the Just OK Mini 20 meter antenna - Tim K5OHY continues his deep dive into the end-fed half-wave antenna and looks at deployments - Kevin W1DED talks to Jose CT1BOH about the battle for CQ WW CW this weekend - Kevin W1DED talks to the European Contest Crew about CW WW CW - Kevin KB9RLW builds a ground isolated antenna switch and compares it with a common ground switch - Rob N1NUG hacks an old microphone to use with his zBitx radio - Craig KM6LYW talks about how to find packet radio modes in your area - Mike K8MRD gives his 10 most innovative radio accessories for QRP - Walt K4OGO tests out an AlexLoop magnetic loop antenna - Vince VE6LK shows how he keeps track of the discharge levels of his Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW gives her space weather updates - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the 10 meter capable President Washington radio - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* FCC Extends Filing Deadlines and ARRL Prepares To Send Backlog of License Filings* MVARC Club Meeting Tomorrow 11/22/2025: Learn about the N2EC VersaHex Antenna* MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow 11/22/2025* Contest Spotlight: North American SSB Sprint* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content FCC Extends Filing Deadlines and ARRL Prepares To Send Backlog of License FilingsThe Federal Communications Commission announced that it would extend the filing deadline to March 5, 2026 for any licenses that were set to expire during the period between October 1, 2025 and March 5, 2026 in their Public Notice DA-25-943. The shutdown of the federal government earlier in the month was the reason for this extension. This means anyone whose license renewal deadlines were missed during the period now has more time to complete the filings and continue operations. The shutdown also caused a large backlog of new license applicants who passed their tests but were not able to get their FRN or have their licenses issued. The ARRL VEC announced that they will be submitting over 2,500 amateur radio license applications that were held up during the shutdown as soon as possible. The Electronic Batch Filing system used for that purpose has had problems this week and is no longer accepting applications. The FCC’s site reported that users should expect delays in search results, delays in processing of applications, intermittent timeouts of submissions, general sluggishness, and inability to complete fee payments. While they’re working to resolve the issues the FCC asks that users postpone non-urgent filings and refrain from repeated submissions if there are errors. According to the FCC “FCC technical staff and contractors are actively investigating the cause and are working to restore normal system performance as quickly as possible. This issue is being treated with the highest priority.” More information can be found at:https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-revised-filing-deadlineshttps://www.fcc.gov/wireless/uls-asr-tcns-experiencing-significant-performance-degradation https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-vec-ready-to-file-2-500-ham-radio-license-applications-fcc-extends-renewal-filing-deadline MVARC Club Meeting Tomorrow 11/22/2025: Learn about the N2EC VersaHex AntennaTomorrow at 10:30 AM is the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club’s next club meeting at the Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22309. Our speaker this month is club member Ed N2EC who will be talking about the 3D printed antenna he designed, the N2EC VersaHex. It is a portable antenna designed for versatility and experimentation and supports use as a v-dipole as well as a vertical with the ability to add loading coils, extensions, tripods, and ground plane systems for resonant operation from 40 meters to 6 meters. If you’ve joined us for our recent POTA activations, ARRL Field Day, the George Washington’s Birthday Special Event Station, or the Masonic Lodges on the Air event this year, you’ve seen it in action. Now learn how it was designed and tested and how you can 3D print and build your own for a modest investment in parts. More information about the VersaHex Antenna can be found on Ed’s blog at https://n2ec.us/project/the-n2ec-versahex-antenna/. We look forward to seeing you in-person or online at tomorrow’s meeting.MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow 11/22/2025Tomorrow, Saturday, November 22, 2025, is the date of our next monthly breakfast. As usual we will meet up at 8 AM in the IHOP at 7694 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia for great conversation, camaraderie, and breakfast too. We have been having a great turn out in the last few months and there is always room for you to join in the fun. We hope to see you there.Contest Spotlight: North American SSB SprintThis weekend brings the fall edition of the North American SSB Sprint Contest. The Sprint is a relatively short four hour contest running from 0000 UTC Sunday November 23 (or 7 PM ET Saturday, November 22) until 0359 UTC (or 10:59 PM ET Saturday) running on SSB on 20 meters, 40 meters, and 80 meters. This contest has some interesting quirks having to do with the “sprint” portion. If you’re running (i.e. calling CQ or saying QRZ) you can only make one QSO on the frequency you’re running. After that QSO you have to QSY (change frequency) at least 1 kHz to answer another station or 5 kHz if you want to call CQ again. This has the effect of somewhat equalizing the field between those who run and those who search and pounce. The organizers suggest activity in the following ranges 14.200-14.275 MHz on 20 meters, 7.125-7.225 MHz on 40 meters and 3.700-3.825 MHz on 80 meters (with the exception of the DX window from 3.790-3.800 MHz).The exchange for the contest is the other station’s call sign, your call sign, a serial number starting at 1, your first name, and your State/Province/Country. So if I was having my 42nd QSO with K1ABC the exchange would be “K1ABC N2EC 42 Ed Virginia”. Stations outside of North America should give “DX” as their location. For the purposes of the contest North America is defined by the rules of CQ World Wide DX Contests plus KH6. In terms of multipliers each US state plus DC count as multipliers as are the 13 Canadian provinces and territories. There are also several listed North American countries listed in the rules as well. Logs must be submitted within 7 days of the sprint. Cabrillo formatted logs sent via the web form on their site is preferred, with a mailed CD or paper log being other options. Check out their web site at https://ssbsprint.com/ for rules and more information. If you’re looking to try something a little different this weekend, give the sprint a try. Good luck.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Saint Kitts (V47JA), Benin (TY0RU), Aruba (P44W), Cambodia (XU7RRC), Bahamas (C6AQQ), Bermuda (VP9I), Bhutan (A52AA), Chatham Islands (ZL7IO), Sint Eustatius (PJ5C), Vanuatu (YJ0GC), Grenada (J38W), San Andres (5J0EA), Lord Howe Island (VK2/LZ1GC), Ghana (9G5ZZ), Uganda (5X1XA, 5X1DF, 5X7W), Gabon (TR8CR), Rodrigues Island (3B9KW, 3B9/M0CFW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Madagascar (5R8IC), Mali (TZ4AM), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 121 and the estimated sunspot number was 51 with 4 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 456 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at low levels with a slight chance of M-class flares through Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 15% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsIt is a bit of a quiet weekend for contests as we are in the calm between the storms of ARRL Sweepstakes SSB last weekend and CQ World Wide CW next weekend. That said, we do have a couple events in store. On the contest calendar this weekend we will see the LZ DX Contest and the North American SSB Sprint Contest we spotlighted earlier. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentRob N1NUG tests out the ATU-100 Antenna Tuner - George VK2AOE tries to diagnose a failure in his QMX radio - Hayden VK7HH talks about different size LiFePO4 batteries - Simon VA7BIX experiments with a remote antenna tuner - Imsai Guy reviews the FNIRSI LC1020 LCR Meter - Dave KE0OG talks about the ZS6BKW antenna - Chris K2CJB muses about the perceived decline of amateur radio - Thomas K4SWL activates rainy day POTA with a Vibroplex bug - The Slow Mo Guys join Jeff KF0MYB and Joe KF0MYJ to see how RF burns from broadcast antennas look in slow motion - Dugbo KD7DUG activates the wind swept peak of Sugarloaf Mountain for SOTA - Mike K8MRD takes a look at the Micro PA50 Gen 3 Amplifier - Peter VK3YE builds a tin can delta loop antenna - Hayden VK7HH takes a look at an integrated power station and how it impacts HF - Matt M0DQW looks at the Sirio Monsoon 5/8 wavelength 10 meter antenna - Hayden VK7HH encourages you to get on the bands while we’re near the top of the solar cycle - Sean W9FFF builds a multi-band multi-vertical antenna - Walt K4OGO reviews the POTAbeam Hexbeam for 10 meters - Tim K5OHY goes over the basics of the End Fed Half Wave antennas - Steve KM9G takes a look at a bluetooth mic from VGC - Mike K8MRD looks at the Meshnology N39 V4 Meshtastic node - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Amateur Radio on the ISS Celebrates 25 Years with SSTV Transmissions* Contest Spotlight: ARRL Sweepstakes on SSB This Weekend* Solar Weather Brings Aurora and Challenging Conditions* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Amateur Radio on the ISS Celebrates 25 Years with SSTV TransmissionsImage Courtesy https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is celebrating 25 years of operation with continuous transmission of Slow Scan TV (SSTV) images from November 12 through November 19. ARISS started their operations on November 13, 2000 with the ISS Expedition-1 Crew and have continued to make contacts with about 200,000 students, educators, and enthusiasts every year with people in orbit. ARISS encourages any decoded SSTV images to be uploaded to the ARISS SSTV gallery at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ and you can also see the images that have been received by others. SSTV is being transmitted on 145.800 MHz except when there are scheduled contacts with schools and current transmitter status can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html. ISS passes can be calculated at https://www.amsat.org/track/?lang=en&satellite=ISS. It is always fun to receive a picture from the ISS. Good luck.Contest Spotlight: ARRL Sweepstakes on SSB This WeekendHot on the heels of the CW version two weekends ago, this weekend brings the second installment of one of the oldest and most unique contests on the air: the ARRL Sweepstakes on SSB. The contest starts at 2100 UTC (4 PM EST) on Saturday, November 15 and runs through 0259 UTC Monday (9:59 PM EST Sunday night). The objective of November Sweepstakes is to encourage “self training in radiocommunications” with a focus on message passing. To that end, Sweepstakes has one of the most involved contest exchanges on the air. The exchange includes a serial number (starting with 1), a precedence, your Call Sign, and your ARRL/RAC Section, and a Check (consisting of the last 2 digits of the year the operator was first licensed). Those precedence values include “Q” for Single Operator QRP, “A” for Single Operator Low Power (5-100 Watts), “B” for Single Operator High Power (>100 Watts), “U” for any Single Operator Unlimited Power Category, “M” for Multioperator stations, and “S” for School Clubs. So as an example, for me my exchange for a 1 person 100 Watt station for my 30th contact would be “30 A N2EC 90 VA”. As you can imagine, this really ups the challenge, and acts as more of a simulation of an actual emergency message passing operation than your average contest. Stations in the Sweepstakes can work no more than 24 of the 30 hours. If you work more than that time, only the first 24 hours of QSOs will be counted. Any “off time” needs to be at least 30 consecutive minutes without operating (and listening counts as operating in the rules). Logs need to be submitted within 7 days after the event is over and can be sent electronically in Cabrillo format (which is the preferred method) or via mail. Certificates for top operators will be issued for each ARRL/RAC section and division and all overall and division winners will get a plaque. Participation pins and coffee mugs are also available for purchase. The CW version was quite busy and I had a blast making contacts with 149 stations in a total of 62 sections. SSB promises to be a lot of fun this year as well. This is a great way to test your mettle and operating skill, so give it a go this weekend and have some fun. Rules and more information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes. Good luck! Solar Weather Brings Aurora and Challenging ConditionsPhoto Courtesy Richard KE4WLEThere have been a lot of solar storms in the last week which brought widespread Aurora to Northern latitudes. The picture above was taken by my friend Richard KE4WLE in Ohio during one of the storms. The conditions were quite extreme with G4 level storms being experienced and Kp index values of 8. In addition to the light show, the storms had wide-ranging impacts. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket mission to Mars with two NASA ESCAPADE spacecraft was postponed due to the geomagnetic effects of the aurora. Additionally, radio propagation was severely impacted with R1 to R3 radio blackouts reported and auroral flutter being heard on the HF bands. In the podcast version of Amateur Radio News and Notes you can hear what some of that auroral distortion sounded like on the evening of November 11th in a QSO I had with N3VO on 40 meters. The forecast is looking more favorable in the days ahead for communications, but it was certainly an exciting week for space weather.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Palau (T88MZ), Saint Kitts (V47JA), Benin (TY0RU), Togo (5V7RU), Chatham Islands (ZL7/LZ1GC), Burundi (9U1RU), Tanzania (5H3MB), Ghana (9G5ZZ), Uganda (5X1XA, 5X1DF, 5X7W), Madagascar (5R8IC), Mali (TZ4AM), Rodrigues Island (3B9KW, 3B9/M0CFW), Gabon (TR8CR), Colombia (HK3JCL), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN, FT4YM).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 156 and the estimated sunspot number was 104 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has remained about the same. Solar activity has been at low levels in the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to severe storm levels and the Kp index reached 7 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 999 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at high levels with the G1 to G2 (Minor to Moderate) storm conditions today with conditions calming by the end of the day with quiet to unsettled levels Saturday and Sunday until a coronal hole high speed stream arrives bringing likely G1 storm conditions. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 40% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are expected in the near term with a predicted probability of 70% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 30% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. Despite the current stormy conditions, it remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the ARRL Sweepstakes on SSB as mentioned earlier as well as the Ham Spirit Contest, the All Austrian 160 meter Contest, the REF 160 Meter Contest, the South American Integration Contest on CW, the Feld Hell Sprint, the RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest, the Fists Sunday Sprint, the Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment Party, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentJohn AE5X unboxes a new Apache Labs Anan-10E - Walt K4OGO builds and tests a Bobtail Curtain Antenna - Simon VA7BIX builds an antenna with parts from AliExpress and gets on the air - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Antuner ATR-1000 Antenna Tuner - Michael KB9VBR reviews the Alpha Antenna HexTenna - Vince VE6LK shows a tool to eliminate ground loops on USB connections - Jasonoid bulds a Harbor Freight Power Station - Mellow Labs hacks a cheap multimeter to give it WiFi capability - Ben VE6SFX shows the new antenna wire he made with nickel coated carbon fiber in a paracord sheath - Vince VE6LK tests out Ben VE6SFX’s new antenna wire/paracord - Mike K8MRD goes POTA activating in rough conditions - Vince VE6LK takes a look at the Little Dude 6 Mast - Steve KM9G tests out some attenuators - Mike M0MSN starts setting up a radio van - Matt M0DQW looks at the latest ATS Mini V4 receiver - Craig KM6LYW shows “a day in the life” as a amateur radio operator - Rob N1NUG looks at a digital microscope - Josh KI6NAZ tries out the VGC BMH-88 Bluetooth Mic with multiple rigs - Mike K8MRD shows some silicone cable ties for organization - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: Worked All Europe DX RTTY* MVARC Gets Prepared at Mount Vernon Hospital* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Thanks for reading MVARC News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: Worked All Europe DX RTTYThis weekend brings the Worked All Europe DX Contest on RTTY from 0000 UTC on Saturday, November 8 (so 7 PM ET on Friday) until 2359 Sunday, November 9 (6:59 PM ET on Sunday). The exchange consists of signal report and a serial number starting at 001. If a station does not send a serial number, 000 should be logged. Bands of operation will be 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters. Operating categories include Single-Op LOW (100 Watts or less), Single-Op HIGH (Over 100 Watts), and Multi-Op. Single-Op stations can only work 36 of the 48 hours of the contest and off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes. Multipliers for non-European stations are the number of countries defined in the WAE Country List and for European stations they are every non-European DXCC entity with some exceptions in the rules. Country multipliers are also weighted by band so 80 meter mults are multiplied by 4, 40 meter mults by 3, and 20/15/10 meter mults by 2. The total multiplier is the sum of the weighted multiplier points of all bands. Unlike the SSB and CW variants, in the RTTY version everyone can work everyone. The only intercontinental requirement is in QTC traffic. And what is QTC traffic? Well, it is a unique part of the WAE contests where you can get additional points by reporting contest QSOs to DX stations. These are involved message passing style reports consisting of time, call sign, and serial number. So the example given in the rules is “1307 DA1AA 431” which means that the station DA1AA was contacted at 1307 UTC and sent serial number 431. Those QTCs can only be sent once, and if transferred correctly count for a point to the sender and receiver. Up to 10 QTCs can be sent by two stations. There are some involved rules for sending multiples, so make sure to check out the rules for details. Final scores are the total QSOs plus QTCs on all bands multiplied by the band-weighted multipliers. Full details and rules can be found at https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/wae-dx-contest/en/wae-rules/. The WAE contests are a great way to work a bunch of DX and test your message passing mettle with the QTCs. Good luck.MVARC Gets Prepared at Mount Vernon HospitalPhoto Courtesy Corey KN4YZYThis week MVARC went to Mount Vernon Hospital to check the radio gear that is in place for potential emergencies. Ken W4RUS, Corey KN4YZY, Gersohn KO4IUK, and Jim K4HYT made sure everything was working as needed. Jim provided a new microphone for the setup as the existing one had a cracked cable. They also updated the memories programmed into the FTM-400XDR with the latest information for frequencies around the area. It was a successful outing and the team followed it up with lunch. Thanks to the team for their hard work to keep us prepared to assist the hospital in times of need.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Cambodia (XU7O), Ogasawara Islands (JD1BMH), Sierra Leone (9L8MD), Madagascar (5R8IC, 5R8TT, 5R8XX), Togo (5V7RU), Chatham Islands (ZL7/LZ1GC), Tanzania (5H3MB), Burundi (9U1RU), Gabon (TR8CR), Mali (TZ4AM), Rodrigues Island (3B9KW, 3B9/M0CFW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 163 and the estimated sunspot number was 104 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at G1 (minor) to G3 (strong) storm levels and the Kp index reached 7 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at nearly 700 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate to high levels with geomagnetic activity at G3 (strong) storming levels today due to the anticipated arrival of a full halo coronal mass ejection, at G2 storming levels Saturday due to the arrival of a second coronal mass ejection, and at unsettled to active levels Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is at 20% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are expected in the near term with a predicted probability of 80% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 35% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. Despite the current stormy conditions, it remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the ARRL EME Contest, the WAE DX Contest on RTTY, the PODXS 070 Club Triple Play Low Band Sprint, the FISTS Saturday Sprint, the 10-10 International Fall Contest on Digital, the JIDX Phone Contest, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the OK/OM DX Contest on CW, the CQ-WE Contest on CW, the AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party, the FIRAC HF Contest, and the 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentTim K5OHY takes a look at the NorCal Doublet Antenna - Mark KD7DTS, Ara N6ARA, and Justin K5EM talk about building community through radio sport for Sofas on the Air - Randy K5ZD talks CQ WW RTTY with Gabry IT9RGY and Prezmek SQ9ORQ - Today I Found Out explores the origins of SOS as a Universal Distress Call - Steve KM9G takes a look at versions 2 and 3 of the SI4732 radios - Mike K8MRD takes a look at chokes made by KF8ASE - George VK2AOE builds a digital VFO for a 49er kit - Walt K4OGO builds and tests the ARRL Momobeam Moxon and Yagi for 10 and 6 meters - Rob N1NUG takes a look at the zBitx QRP radio - Walt K4OGO tests out a phased vertical array using the Performance Z-Arrays system - Matt M0DQW takes a look at a portable Vivid RTL-SDR from UUGear - Josh KI6NAZ compares and contrasts the Baofeng Mini and TidRadio H3 and H3 Plus - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: ARRL Sweepstakes on CW This Weekend* MVARC POTA Activation Recap* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Thanks for reading MVARC News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: ARRL Sweepstakes on CW This WeekendImage Courtesy ARRLThis weekend brings one of the oldest and most unique contests on the air: the ARRL Sweepstakes on CW. The contest starts at 2100 UTC (5 PM EDT) on Saturday, November 1 and runs through 0259 UTC Monday (9:59 PM EST Sunday night - note the change from EDT to EST this weekend). The objective of November Sweepstakes is to encourage “self training in radiocommunications” with a focus on message passing. To that end, Sweepstakes has one of the most involved contest exchanges on the air. The exchange includes a serial number (starting with 1), a precedence, your Call Sign, and your ARRL/RAC Section, and a Check (consisting of the last 2 digits of the year the operator was first licensed). Those precedence values include “Q” for Single Operator QRP, “A” for Single Operator Low Power (5-100 Watts), “B” for Single Operator High Power (>100 Watts), “U” for any Single Operator Unlimited Power Category, “M” for Multioperator stations, and “S” for School Clubs. So as an example, for me my exchange for a 1 person 100 Watt station for my 25th contact would be “25 A N2EC 90 VA”. As you can imagine, this really ups the challenge, especially on CW, and acts as more of a simulation of an actual emergency message passing operation than your average contest. Stations in the Sweepstakes can work no more than 24 of the 30 hours. If you work more than that time, only the first 24 hours of QSOs will be counted. Any “off time” needs to be at least 30 consecutive minutes without operating (and listening counts as operating in the rules). Logs need to be submitted within 7 days after the event is over and can be sent electronically in Cabrillo format (which is the preferred method) or via mail. Certificates for top operators will be issued for each ARRL/RAC section and division and all overall and division winners will get a plaque. Participation pins and coffee mugs are also available for purchase. This is a great test to test your mettle and operating skill, so give it a go this weekend and have some fun. Rules and more information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes. Good luck! MVARC POTA Activation RecapImage Courtesy Philip AK4KMLast Saturday, the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club had another successful activation for Parks on the Air. We had a nice turnout at Belle Haven Park and ended up with 70 QSOs in the log at a very sociable outing. Operators included Joseph WB9KMJ, Ed KJ4WJC, and Ed N2EC. Since the CQ World Wide SSB contest was in full effect that weekend, we decided to operate on the 17 meter band and conditions were quite good. We ran at 100 Watts using a Yaesu FT-897 into an N2EC VersaHex Antenna working SSB and CW. Image Courtesy Philip AK4KMWe worked all over the United States and Canada as well as Germany, Austria, Norway, Scotland, Poland, France, and England with great signal reports all around. The weather held up for us and we had a beautiful morning down by the Potomac River. We were concerned that the park might have been closed due to the government shutdown, but while other park areas were closed along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Belle Haven was open. Thanks to everyone who joined us on Saturday, both in-person and on-the-air. A map of our QSOs is below. We hope to see you at our next activation.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Madagascar (5R8IC, 5R8TT, 5R8XX), Sierra Leone (9L8MD), Burundi (9U1RU), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (J88PI), Gabon (TR8CR), Galapagos Islands (HD8R), Rodrigues Island (3B9KW, 3B9/M0CFW), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FW5K), Gambia (C5R), Tanzania (5H3MB), Colombia (HK3JCL), Cyprus (ZC4RH), Ogasawara Islands (JD1BMH), Chatham Islands (ZL7/LZ1GC), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Mali (TZ4AM), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 120 and the estimated sunspot number was 68 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at very low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 5 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 677 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be low with geomagnetic activity at unsettled to active levels today and at quiet to unsettled levels over the weekend. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 5% today and Saturday and 10% on Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the ARRL Sweepstakes we highlighted earlier as well as the YBDXPI FT8 Contest, the IPARC Contest on CW, the Silent Key Memorial Contest, the UK/EI DX Contest on SSB, the IPARC Contest on SSB, the EANET Sprint, the High Speed Club CW Contest, and the Classic Exchange Phone Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentDr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent solar conditions and her forecast - Forrest KI7QCF looks at a 3D Printed case to make the QMX compete with a KX1 - Michael KB9VBR takes a look at the CentyLab Pocket PD USB power supply - Matt M0DQW builds a VLF receiver to listen to natural phenomena - Di KO6BTM takes Ormoo the cat on a SOTA adventure - Tim K5OHY takes a deep dive on doublet antennas and finds a lot to like - Mike K8MRD operates remote from PJ2T in Curacao from a living room - Valery RA1AOM shows one of his new paddles at QRQ - Anton discusses solar cycles and recent discoveries - Steve KM9G tests carbon fiber whips as antennas - Jeff KF0MYB and Joe KF0MYJ talk about lighting on antenna towers - Matt M0DQW revives an old satellite setup for QO-100 - Callum M0MCX talks about numbers in the NATO phonetic alphabet - Kevin KB9RLW shows us a new Fnirsi LCR Meter - Craig KM6LYW announces the release of DigiPi 2.0 - Mike K8MRD looks at the latest features in WSJT-X version 3 - Nanofix goes over some basics of oscilloscopes - Callum M0MCX shows how to get started with N1MM for contest logging - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide SSB This Weekend* MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow 10/25/2025* MVARC POTA Activation Planned Tomorrow 10/25/2025* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Thanks for reading MVARC News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Contest Spotlight: CQ World Wide SSB This WeekendThis weekend brings one of the most popular contests of the entire year: CQ World Wide SSB. The contest usually has over 35,000 contestants that get on the air the last weekends of October for SSB and November for CW. The event starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday October 25 (so 8 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Friday) and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday (or 7:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday). The goal is to make as many contacts with different DXCC entities and CQ Zones as possible. The opportunities for working DX in this contest cannot be overstated. In contests like this, some folks have managed to get a DXCC in a single weekend. Even working more casually, getting 50 or more countries isn’t unlikely. Even if you’re not planning on submitting a contest entry, working the stations is a great way to get some incredible DX in your log, and the QSOs count for them too, even if you don’t submit a log. Of course, submitting one is encouraged and helps their software do proper log checking, so if you can, join in the fun. There are operators around the globe with powerful stations waiting for your call.The contest is limited to the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands and the exchange is a signal report along with your CQ zone. For East Coast folks that would be “59 05” -- so quite a simple exchange and no serial numbers to worry about. QSO points are 3 points for contacts on different continents, 2 points for North American contacts in different countries, 1 point for contacts on the same continent but different countries (outside North America), and 0 points for contacts in the same countries (but you do get CQ Zone and Country multipliers for those QSOs). The score is the total number of QSO Points multiplied by the sum of zone and country multipliers. There are several categories you can enter at various power levels. For Single Operators there is the classic Single Operator category where no spotting assistance is permitted and the Single Operator Assisted category where you can use QSO spotting networks. Power levels are High Power (over 100 Watts), Low Power (Over 5 Watts up to 100 Watts), and QRP (5 Watts or less). Entries may also be Single Band or All-Band. In addition to the main categories there are overlays like “Classic Operator” which specifies no spotting assistance and operating for up to 24 of the 48 hours, Rookie for ops licensed within the last 3 years, and Youth where the op is 25 years of age or under.For Multi-Operator categories (All-Band Only) there is Multi-Single where only one transmitted signal on one band is permitted during any 10 minute period with power levels either High or Low. Multi-two has a maximum of 2 signals on 2 different bands. Multi-Multi allows all 6 bands to be activated simultaneously with one signal per band at any time. And Multi-Distributed has a maximum of 6 transmitted signals with one per band at a given time from stations in different locations (but the same DXCC entity and CQ Zone).There is also a club competition where you can add a club you’re a member of and within a 250 mile radius circle from the center of the club area for additional awards. Participants get certificates automatically from the site and plaques will be awarded for top performance in categories. Logs must be submitted in Cabrillo format within 5 days of the end of the contest (2359 UTC October 31, 2025). Full rules can be found at https://cqww.com/rules.htm. This is always an exciting contest, and I encourage you to get on the air and work the world this weekend. Good luck!MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow 10/25/2025Tomorrow, Saturday, October 25, 2025, is the date of our next monthly breakfast. As usual we will meet up at 8 AM in the IHOP at 7694 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia for great conversation, camaraderie, and breakfast too. We have been having a great turn out in the last few months and there is always room for you to join in the fun. We hope to see you there.MVARC POTA Activation Planned Tomorrow 10/25/2025Tomorrow, Saturday October 25, 2025 the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club is planning another club activation as K4US for Parks on the Air. We plan to meet at Belle Haven Park near the North end of the parking lot to activate together starting around 10 AM. We are hoping that the park will be open as it has been periodically closed during the federal government shutdown. The park was open on Thursday evening, so we’re hoping that it remains so for Saturday. The plan is to start in the morning and continue until at least Noon with a 100 Watt HF setup. Conditions have been fantastic of late, and with the CQ World Wide DX contest we’re likely to be able to work a whole lot of DX. We’ll have control operators on hand so no matter what kind of license you have (or even if you don’t have a license) you can get on the air and have some fun with us in the park. We hope to see you there!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a lots of DX on the bands this week due in large part to this weekend’s CQ WW SSB Contest. Stations on the air include Antigua (V62B), Martinique (FM/VE3LA, TO2M), Rhodes (SX5P), Peru (OA4O), Saint Kitts and Nevis Islands (V47T), Belize (V31VP), Aruba (P44W, P40W), Hawaii (KH7M), Montserrat (VP2MPN), Gambia (C5Y), Lakshadweep Islands (VU7T), Cape Verde (D4D), Barbados (8P5A), Saint Barthelemy (TO4K), Saint Vincent (J8K), San Andres (5K0UA), British Virgin Islands (VP2VRX), Galapagos Islands (HD8R), Somalia (6O3T), Canary Islands (EF8R), Rodrigues Island (3B9KW, 3B9/M0CFW), Angola (D2A), Saba Island (PJ6A, PJ6Y), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FW5K), Bonaire (PJ4K), Tanzania (5H3MB), Madagascar (5R8IC), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 130 and the estimated sunspot number was 117 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 2 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 501 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be low with geomagnetic activity quiet levels today and Sunday and at quiet to unsettled levels on Saturday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 10% today and at 1 % on Saturday and Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are unlikely in the near term with a predicted probability of 15% today through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the CQ World Wide DX Contest on SSB as well as the 902 MHz and Up Fall Sprint and the Classic Exchange on CW. The calendar is relatively quiet otherwise as CQ World Wide will be this weekend’s big event. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentDr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent solar conditions and her forecast - Kevin W1DED talks to the contest crew about CQ WW SSB - Kevin W1DED talks to the European Contest Crew about CQ WW SSB - Mike K8MRD takes a look at Messi and Paoloni Airborne 5 coax - Brian KC9USB takes a look at his favorite radio accessories at Harbor Freight - George VK2AOE talks about upcoming homebrew projects he has planned - Mark KD7DTS, Ara N6ARA, and Tim N7KOM talk SOTA, memes, and fun on Sofas on the Air - Hayden VK7HH builds a flower pot antenna for 2 meters - Matt M0DQW looks at the MX-S3 SDR TR Switch - Walt K4OGO experiments with co-phased antennas - Red NJ7V reviews the KM4CFT Iambic Paddles - Geochron announces and demonstrates the new Atlas Pro - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* PJ6Y Youth DXpedition to Saba Island Underway* Event Spotlight: DX Marathon Sprint * Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Thanks for reading MVARC News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.PJ6Y Youth DXpedition to Saba Island UnderwayImage Courtesy https://pj6y2025.com/ As we go to press the PJ6Y Saba Island DXpedition should now be underway. The PJ6Y DXpedition will be activating the island of Saba (IOTA NA-145) with a team of fourteen young operators from around the world with nine of those ops being first-time DXpeditioners. Additionally, there will be 30-40 young amateurs who will participate remotely using NexGen2 RiBs made possible from a Northern California DX Foundation grant. The DXpedition is set to run from October 15 until October 29, 2025. Saba island is in the Caribbean and is the smallest special municipality of the Netherlands. The dormant volcano Mount Scenery dominates the landscape with a height of 2,854 feet or 870 meters. The island’s population was 2,158 in January 2025 and it has the smallest territory by permanent population in the Americas. Look for them on the bands and check out their web site for more information at https://pj6y2025.com/. Event Spotlight: DX Marathon Sprint This weekend marks the start of the 2025 CQ DX Marathon Sprint. The sprint aims to promote DXing activity with new and existing entrants of the CQ DX Marathon which is a year-long annual event. The sprint itself is a 10-day event which follows the majority of the same rules, just for a shorter time. All contacts on all bands that are direct (not using repeaters, satellites, or the Internet) count when operated from a single location. Participants submit logs to the DX Marathon site and a point is awarded for each new country or entity as well as a point for each new CQ zone worked. Contacts for the Sprint also count for the Marathon itself. For more information on rules and how to participate, visit https://dxmarathon.com/rules/2025-sprint/. Good luck.Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness ActImage Courtesy: United_States_Capitol_-west_front.jpg: Architect of the Capitol derivative work: O.J. - United_States_Capitol-_west_front.jpg, Public Domain, LinkThe American Radio Relay League is asking American amateur radio operators to contact their representatives and senators in support of the “Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act”. The legislation seeks to give amateur radio operators rights equal to users of antennas for broadcast television, wireless internet, and flagpoles. The bills, H.R. 1094 in the House of Representatives and S.459 in the Senate seek to prevent overly restrictive homeowner’s association (HOA) regulations that prohibit the installation of antennas, even when placed inconspicuously. The ARRL asks that all amateur radio operators go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ which will allow for a letter to be sent on your behalf to your Representative and Senators. More information can be found at http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin?issue=2025-09-17 https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-launches-nationwide-grassroots-campaign-to-pass-amateur-radio-emergency-preparedness-act-1 MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Vanuatu (YJ0CA), Manihiki Atoll North Cook Islands (E51MWA), Niue (E6AD), Greenland (OX3LX), Montserrat (VP2MPN), Gambia (C5Y), Lakshadweep Islands (VU7T), Saint Barthelemy (TO4K), Aruba (P40W), Saint Vincent (J8K), British Virgin Islands (VP2VRX), San Andres (5K0UA), Canary Islands (EF8R), Angola (D2A), Rodrigues Island (3B9KW, 3B9/M0CFW), Saba Island (PJ6A, PJ6Y), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FW5K), Bonaire (PJ4K), Tanzania (5H3MB), Guatemala (TG9BBV), Madagascar (5R8IC), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 161 and the estimated sunspot number was 132 with 7 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at high levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 2 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 498 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be moderate with geomagnetic activity at unsettled to minor storm levels today, quiet to active levels on Saturday and Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 10% through Saturday and at 5% Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 60% through Saturday and at 40% Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 15% chance predicted today through Saturday and 5% on Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the the JARTS WW RTTY Contest, the 10-10 International Fall Contest on CW, the New York QSO Party, the Illinois QSO Party, the Worked all Germany Contest, the Stew Perry Topband Challenge, the Feld Hell Sprint, the Argentina National 7 MHZ Contest, the Asia-Pacific Fall Sprint on CW, the UBA ON Contest on 2m, the YLRL DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentDr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent solar conditions and her forecast - Mike K8MRD shows us some ambulance conversions for amateur radio and camping - Nanofix takes a look at an inexpensive thermal camera for electronics work - Mike K8MRD shows the launch of a Pico Balloon - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the new SenHaiX HT with HF reception - Josh KI6NAZ takes a look at the new Baofeng UV-5R Mini - Dugbo KD7DUG takes us along as he participates in the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon - Nanofix shows his methodology for diagnosing faults for electronics repair - Kevin KB9RLW shows how to use 3D Modeling to make a fan grill for the spooky season - Patrick F2DX shows us the amazing logistics and beautiful scenery behind the FP5KE DXpedition to St. Pierre and Miquelon - Mike K8MRD shows us a 10 meter Yagi on a pneumatic mast - Mike M0MSN shows us the Retevis Ailunce H1 DMR HT - Tim N7KOM paints his navy flameproof key for a whole new look - Josh KI6NAZ discusses whether the IC-705 is still worth it 5 years in - Steve KM9G makes a Raspberry Pi Weather Station with an eInk display - Kevin W1DED talks to Tim K3LR about his legendary contest station and Multi-Multi Operations - Walt K4OGO makes a telescopic vertical antenna with a reflector and gets it on the air - Matt M0DQW tests out the AntRunner Satellite Tracker Azumith/Elevation Rotator - Kurt ON7FF shows us what’s new in the latest version of the Thetis SDR software for the Hermes Lite 2 - Callum M0XXT gets his new 4 square setup ready for testing - Sean W9FFF builds a spool fed Rybakov antenna - Mike K8MRD does a POTA rove in the Puget Sound - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the PortaRF HackRF Radio - Practical Engineering shows the engineering behind the bases of large antenna towers - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Ken Villone KU2US Founder of 13 Colonies Special Event Silent Key* Update: FCC Licensing Systems Unavailable Due to Government Shutdown* Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Ken Villone KU2US Founder of 13 Colonies Special Event Silent KeyImage Courtesy Legacy.comKen Villone KU2US, the founder of the very popular 13 Colonies Special Event, has passed away. Ken served in the United States Army from 1968-1973 and had a career as a real estate appraiser. The 13 Colonies special event has become an annual staple of the amateur radio calendar around Independence Day where operators chase stations from the 13 original colonies and from the UK and France. Each year it has grown dramatically and brought a lot of excitement to the community. Ken and his contributions to our hobby will be greatly missed. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. His obituary can be found at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kenneth-villone-obituary?id=59654052.Update: FCC Licensing Systems Remain Unavailable Due to Government ShutdownThe ARRL reports that the CORES registration system used by new applicants to get an FCC FRN, which is a requirement for those who wish to take the test and do not already have one, remains offline due to the government shutdown. In the interim the ARRL has established procedures to allow for tests with the ARRL VEC to be taken before having a FRN so the process can be completed when one is able to be obtained by the applicant. FCC systems went off-line around 1 PM Eastern time October 1st, so the FCC is not processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown. This includes individual, club, and exam session applications for new and upgrading licensees. Details and updates from the ARRL can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-licensing-update-during-us-government-shutdown Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness ActImage Courtesy: United_States_Capitol_-west_front.jpg: Architect of the Capitol derivative work: O.J. - United_States_Capitol-_west_front.jpg, Public Domain, LinkThe American Radio Relay League is asking American amateur radio operators to contact their representatives and senators in support of the “Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act”. The legislation seeks to give amateur radio operators rights equal to users of antennas for broadcast television, wireless internet, and flagpoles. The bills, H.R. 1094 in the House of Representatives and S.459 in the Senate seek to prevent overly restrictive homeowner’s association (HOA) regulations that prohibit the installation of antennas, even when placed inconspicuously. The ARRL asks that all amateur radio operators go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ which will allow for a letter to be sent on your behalf to your Representative and Senators. More information can be found at http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin?issue=2025-09-17 https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-launches-nationwide-grassroots-campaign-to-pass-amateur-radio-emergency-preparedness-act-1 MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Svalbard (JW7XK, JW6VM, JW9DL, JW5X), Manihiki Atoll North Cook Islands (E51MWA), Chatham Islands (ZL7IO), Vanuatu (YJ0CA), Niue (E6AD), Greenland (OX3LX), Guatemala (TG9BBV), Madagascar (5R8IC), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 122 and the estimated sunspot number was 87 with 4 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 1124 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be low with geomagnetic activity at quiet levels today, quiet to active levels on Saturday, and at unsettled to minor storm levels Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 5% today through Saturday and at 1% on Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 25% through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the the ARRL EME Contest, the Makrothen RTTY Contest, the QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party, the Nevada QSO Party, the Arizona QSO Party, the Pennsylvania QSO Party, the South Dakota QSO Party, the Oceania DX Contest on CW, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the Scandinavian Activity Contest on SSB, the PODXS 070 Club 160 meter Great Pumpkin Sprint, the UBA ON Contest on CW, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentDr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent solar conditions and her forecast - Evan K2EJT discusses his favorite field keys - Josh KI6NAZ tests the Comet Ground Independent mobile antennas - Walt K4OGO answers some questions about great circle maps, salt water effects, and classic radios - Sn0ren takes a look at the HackRF PortaRF - Mike K8MRD tests using USB PD to get full output on a Yaesu FTX-1F - Nanofix compares Kester solder with the Sainsmart brand - Steve KM9G tests Chameleon coils - Kevin KB9RLW tests out a delta loop on ground antenna - Matt M0DQW builds a 10 meter Moxon antenna - George VK2AOE goes portable in New Zealand - Walt K4OGO talks about the HOA bill before congress and asks for your help - Mike K8MRD activates in Arkansas - Kevin W1DED talks about the upcoming CQ WW CW contest with Dan N6MJ - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* FCC Issues Notice of Violation to Amateur for One-Way Transmissions and Denial of Inspection* FCC Licensing Systems Unavailable Due to Government Shutdown* MVARC Breakfast Recap* MVARC Masonic Lodges on the Air Activation Recap* Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Thanks for reading Amateur Radio News and Notes. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.FCC Issues Notice of Violation to Amateur for One-Way Transmissions on 7.200 MHz and Denial of InspectionThe Federal Communications Commission issued a Notice of Violation for Unauthorized One-Way Transmissions and Denial of Inspection to an amateur radio licensee operating from his residence in Brookfield, Connecticut. He was reportedly transmitting on 7.200 MHz with one-way transmissions where he was “talking” with another station with a made up call that is not assigned to any licensee in violation of 47 CFR § 97.113(b). According to FCC notice the amateur “admitted to an agent that he was engaging in one-way communication that was neither allowed nor exempted under the rules”. Additionally the amateur reportedly denied FCC agents access to his station for inspection in violation of 47 CFR § 97.103(c). The 7.200 MHz frequency is known as a center of activity for bad behavior on the air, and this may be the beginning of enforcement actions to combat this. The licensee has been instructed to respond to the notice within 20 days of its issuance. The FCC filing and more information from the ARRL can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/document/mike-f-conte-licensee-amateur-station-ka2fpz and https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-issues-notice-of-violation-for-unauthorized-one-way-transmissions-and-denial-of-inspection. FCC Licensing Systems Unavailable Due to Government ShutdownThe ARRL reports that the CORES registration system used by new applicants to get an FCC FRN, which is a requirement for those who wish to take the test and do not already have one, is offline due to the government shutdown. FCC systems went off-line around 1 PM Eastern time Wednesday, so the FCC will not be processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown. This includes individual, club, and exam session applications for new and upgrading licensees. The ARRL is discussing continuing to hold licensing sessions to temporarily allow testing without a FRN. They ask that interested parties keep monitoring the ARRL web site for future updates. Further information can be found at: https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-licensing-update-during-us-government-shutdown and https://www.fcc.gov/document/impact-potential-lapse-funding-commission-operations-0MVARC Breakfast RecapImage Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast Saturday MVARC had another big turnout for our monthly breakfast with plenty of friendly faces both new and familiar. Our monthly breakfasts are held on the 4th Saturday of each month, and we hope to see you at the next one.MVARC Masonic Lodges on the Air Activation RecapImage Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast Saturday MVARC participated in its third Masonic Lodges on the Air event from the grounds of Mount Vernon Lodge No. 219 and we had a wonderful time on the air with 5 operators getting behind the microphone. Conditions were favorable and we got 74 QSOs in the log with contacts from Utah to Florida to Nova Scotia. We used a Yaesu FT-897 at 100 Watts and an N2EC VersaHex antenna. Thanks to the Mount Vernon Lodge No. 219 for hosting us once again and to everyone who joined us both on the air and behind the scenes to make this event so fun and successful.Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness ActImage Courtesy: United_States_Capitol_-west_front.jpg: Architect of the Capitol derivative work: O.J. - United_States_Capitol-_west_front.jpg, Public Domain, LinkThe American Radio Relay League is asking American amateur radio operators to contact their representatives and senators in support of the “Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act”. The legislation seeks to give amateur radio operators rights equal to users of antennas for broadcast television, wireless internet, and flagpoles. The bills, H.R. 1094 in the House of Representatives and S.459 in the Senate seek to prevent overly restrictive homeowner’s association (HOA) regulations that prohibit the installation of antennas, even when placed inconspicuously. The ARRL asks that all amateur radio operators go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ which will allow for a letter to be sent on your behalf to your Representative and Senators. More information can be found at http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin?issue=2025-09-17 https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-launches-nationwide-grassroots-campaign-to-pass-amateur-radio-emergency-preparedness-act-1 MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including the Federated States of Micronesia (V6D), Palau (T88PB), Bhutan (A52G), Svalbard (JW7XK, JW6VM, JW9DL, JW5X), Manihiki Atoll North Cook Islands (E51MWA), Uganda (5X2I), Greenland (OX3LX), Guatemala (TG9BBV), Madagascar (5R8IC), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 184 and the estimated sunspot number was 161 with 9 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to severe storm levels and the Kp index reached 7 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 861 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be moderate with geomagnetic activity at unsettled to minor storm levels today and at unsettled to active levels this weekend. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 5% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 55% through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 10% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the the Collegiate QSO Party, the TRC DX Contest, the Oceania DX Contest on Phone, the Worked All Provinces of China DX Contest, the IARU Region 1 UHF/Microwaves Contest, the California QSO Party, the International HELL-Contest, the UBA ON Contest on SSB, and the Peanut Power QRP Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMark AA3K takes a look at a battery box on Amazon - Craig KM6LYW takes a look at the TOADS Digital Interface - Steve KM9G attempts to track down RFI with a TinySA - Mike K8MRD takes a look at the Just OK Mini antenna - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent solar conditions - Dugbo KD7DUG shows us how he does FT8 with the QMX - Mike K8MRD shows us the RigExpert AA-55 Zoom antenna analyzer - Dan WD4DAN talks about the violation notice handed down from the FCC this week - Walt K4OGO builds a 3 element vertical beam - Steve KM9G compares two SWR meters - Matt M0DQW tests out the InnovAntennas 2m Monoband LFA Yagi - Walt K4OGO talks Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries - Hayden VK7HH builds a filter to make a dirty Baofeng clean - Sean W9FFF checks out the PowerPAL - Simon VA7BIX builds a simple multiband antenna in the field - Mike K8MRD shows how h is Modern Morse QRZombie CW Paddle was made - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act* NOAA SWFO-L1 Space Weather Satellite Successfully Launched * QRP Labs Announces Pre-Orders for Morserino M32 Pocket* Equatorial Guinea DXpedition Updates From YL2GM* MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow 9/27/2025* MVARC Participating in Masonic Lodges On The Air Tomorrow 9/27/2025* MVARC Member David KU8V Has Some Epic POTA Activations* MVARC Nets on the Air* What’s happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness ActImage Courtesy: United_States_Capitol_-west_front.jpg: Architect of the Capitol derivative work: O.J. - United_States_Capitol-_west_front.jpg, Public Domain, LinkThe American Radio Relay League is asking American amateur radio operators to contact their representatives and senators in support of the “Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act”. The legislation seeks to give amateur radio operators rights equal to users of antennas for broadcast television, wireless internet, and flagpoles. The bills, H.R. 1094 in the House of Representatives and S.459 in the Senate seek to prevent overly restrictive homeowner’s association (HOA) regulations that prohibit the installation of antennas, even when placed inconspicuously. The ARRL asks that all amateur radio operators go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ which will allow for a letter to be sent on your behalf to your Representative and Senators. More information can be found at http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin?issue=2025-09-17 https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-launches-nationwide-grassroots-campaign-to-pass-amateur-radio-emergency-preparedness-act-1 NOAA SWFO-L1 Space Weather Satellite Successfully Launched Image Courtesy: NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Domain, LinkWednesday morning at 7:32 AM Eastern Time NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On - Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SWFO-L1’s mission is to monitor solar storms from Lagrange Point 1 nearly a million miles from Earth. Lagrange points are points where gravitational forces are at equilibrium. Being at this location will allow the satellite to continuously monitor solar wind and energetic particles on their way to Earth. It will also have a compact coronagraph (CCOR) capable of imaging coronal mass ejections. This new satellite will ensure continued ability to monitor the sun, as the existing satellites at Lagrange Point 1 are already past their design lifetimes. NOAA reported Wednesday that the satellite was already successfully sending telemetry and is on track to reach Lagrange Point 1 in January 2026 and begin operations in mid-2026. More information can be found at https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/swfo-l1-successfully-launched. QRP Labs Announces Pre-Orders for Morserino M32 PocketWilli OE1WKL and Hans G0UPL announced that the long-awaited update to the Morserino morse code practice device is now available for pre-order from QRP Labs. The Morserino is an open source hardware device that acts as a keyer, trainer, decoder, and in some instances a non-conventional transceiver. Previous versions were available as a kit. Due to the microcontroller platform it used having been discontinued, it had become unavailable. The community that maintains Morserino put in significant work to develop a new version called the M32 Pocket. Available for pre-order now from QRP Labs it is a fully assembled device and is a much more compact form factor than the original. I have built one of the original version and enjoyed using it to improve my CW skills. It is great to see the new version getting back on the market. For more information about the Morserino M32 Pocket and to pre-order visit https://qrp-labs.com/morserino.html. Equatorial Guinea DXpedition Updates From YL2GMImage Courtesy NordNordWest, Licence: Creative Commons by-sa-3.0 deShortly after we went to press last week there was an update from Yuris YL2GM that gave his side of the story of the ill-fated DXpedition to Equitorial Guinea for 3C0W and 3C3W. According to Yuris there were travel complications getting to Annobon, but they eventually got there. One of the license requirements was that equipment and antennas needed to be inspected by an ORTEL representative before they could go on the air, and the inspector was to fly in for this purpose. While waiting for the inspector they went to the police station to register and show documents and were told that they didn’t have an entry permit from the Ministry of Security and were made to leave their luggage at the police station. After a few days with no progress they decided to return to Malabo and booked a flight for Friday, September 12th and then the authorities said Wednesday there was a flight that day and that a hotel had been arranged for them. Instead another police unit took them to the police station in Malabo where they were held. The next day the ORTEL representative arrived with documents, license, and the equipment and said all was in order. Their violation was apparently arriving without the ORTEL representative, and they were not sympathetic to their travel issues. Eventually they were allowed to leave and do not plan to return. The story from Yuris can be found at https://www.dx-world.net/story-of-3c3w-and-3c0w-dxpedition/.Another DXpedition to Equitorial Guinea, 3C2MD, announced on September 24, 2025 that they would be postponing their DXpedition due to the continued suspension of amateur radio licenses stemming from the 3C0W DXpedition. More information about that postponement can be found at https://www.dx-world.net/3c2md-equatorial-guinea/. MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow 9/27/2025Tomorrow, Saturday, September 27, 2025, is the date of our next monthly breakfast. As usual we will meet up at 8 AM in the IHOP at 7694 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia for great conversation, camaraderie, and breakfast too. We have been having a great turn out in the last few months and there is always room for you to join in the fun. We hope to see you there.MVARC Participating in Masonic Lodges On The Air Tomorrow 9/27/2025Tomorrow following the MVARC Breakfast MVARC will be participating in Masonic Lodges On The Air (MLotA) event. MVARC is being hosted by Mount Vernon Lodge No. 219 A.F. and A.M at 8117 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22308. Many of the folks going to the breakfast that morning plan on going directly from there to the Mount Vernon Lodge to set-up and the event itself runs from 10 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. We expect to start at 10 and encourage everyone to stop by and join in the fun. Contest rules and frequently asked questions can be found at https://cqmorelight.com/. MVARC Member David KU8V Has Some Epic POTA ActivationsImage Courtesy David KU8VDavid KU8V recently took a trip up to Delaware to US-1734 Delaware Seashore State Park and had absolutely stunning results. On Monday he limited himself to 20 watts and ended up with 116 QSOs with 24 DXCC Entities, 23 States, and 3 Provinces. David’s Contacts on MondayOn Tuesday using his Icom IC-7300 and Chelegance MC-750 antenna and 100 Watts he got 330 contacts with 32 DXCC Entities, 34 States, and 5 Provinces on 5 bands including the incredibly rare DX of ZD9BV in Tristan de Cuhna island (the most remote inhabited place on Earth where only one Amateur lives). David also got Australia, Israel, Poland, Hungary, and a ton of Europe.David’s Contacts on TuesdayCongratulations David! What an absolutely epic activation. If you have adventures you’d like to share, drop me a line and I may be able to add them to a future Amateur Radio News and Notes.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What’s Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including the Federated States of Micronesia (V6D), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Bhutan (A52G), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 170 and the estimated sunspot number was 155 with 10 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 548 km/s. Solar activity is predicted low with geomagnetic activity at quiet levels today, at quiet to unsettled levels tomorrow, and at quiet to active levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 35% through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been quite good lately with the higher bands opening on most days. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the CQ Worldwide DX Contest on RTTY, the Bill Windle QSO Party, the YU DX Contest, the Maine QSO Party, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, Masonic Lodges on the Air, the AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party, and the UBA ON Contest on 6 meters. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentWalt K4OGO talks about his favorite antennas with telescoping elements - Hayden VK7HH shows how to test antennas with a NanoVNA - Kevin W1DED and the Contest Crew talk with Levi K6JO about his performance in the WAE contest - Matt M0DQW looks at the Radtel RT-950 Pro - Mike K8MRD Activates a Rove with Sean W9FFF and Aaron AE0LZ - Hayden VK7HH uses a NanoVNA to test coaxial cable - Kevin W1DED talks to Kylee KE0WPA about her growth in the hobby - Mike K8MRD tells us his 10 favorite features of the Yaesu FTX-1F - Steve KM9G repairs a Yaesu FT-8800 - Mike K8MRD goes car camping and activates POTA in Arkansas - Josh KI6NAZ talks about whether amateur radio is “pay to win” - Forrest KI7QCF talks about his CW “10 Essentials” - Tim K5OHY builds and tests a half-square antenna - Walt K4OGO builds and tests a half-square antenna - George VK2AOE freshens up his Yaesu FT101E - Kevin W1DED is interviewed by his wife about his re-entry into amateur radio - Sean W9FFF builds a Hermes Lite 2 SDR - Kevin KB9RLW builds an off-grid laptop power supply with low RFI - Evan K2EJT gives us his thoughts on the new Xiegu CW keys - Vince VE6LK asks Eric WD8RIF what he’d tell his younger self about amateur radio - That’s it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Equatorial Guinea Suspends Amateur Radio Licenses* DXpedition Spotlight: V6D in the Federated States of Micronesia* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Equatorial Guinea Suspends Amateur Radio LicensesImage Courtesy NordNordWest, Licence: Creative Commons by-sa-3.0 deLast week, the Government of Equatorial Guinea suspended all amateur radio licenses in the country. AhoraEG reports that the temporary suspension was due to a foreign amateur radio operator accessing "sensitive areas such as Annobon and Batete using telecommunications equipment not authorized for his activity". The article does not specify the operator in question, however, during the period there was a DXpedition being held by Yuris YL2GM and Eugene EA5EL in the country. On their website they mentioned that when they attempted to operate from Annobon they "returned back to Malabo, with some 'adventures'" and were planning to return home. Yuris and Eugene had been operating earlier from Malabo in a hotel near the ocean as 3C3W and had logged 21,544 QSOs to Clublog. Updates have been few in the last week, but hopefully amateur radio licensing will be reinstated in Equatorial Guinea and the situation will resolve favorably. Some sources of information can be found at:https://www.dx-world.net/equatorial-guinea-suspends-amateur-radio-licenses/ https://lral.lv/3c0w_3c3w_2025/index.html https://ahoraeg.com/politica/2025/09/10/quedan-suspendidas-temporalmente-en-malabo-todas-las-licencias-de-radioaficionados-tras-la-deteccion-de-irregularidades-en-su-emision/ (in Spanish)DXpedition Spotlight: V6D in the Federated States of MicronesiaImage Courtesy V6D Web SiteThe V6D team is getting ready to bring Weno Island in the Chuuk State of the Federated States of Micronesia on the air from September 22 to October 6, 2025. The team includes several experienced operators from Germany. They will be bring transceivers from Elecraft, a mix of amplifiers, verticals with elevated radials for 160 meters to 30 meters, loops and rhombic loops for 40 meters to 6 meters, a 5 band wire beam for 20 meters to 10 meters, and other necessary gear. They plan to operate a mix of modes on 160/80/40/30/20/17/15/12/10/and 6 meters and will be running split, so don't call them on their transmission frequencies. They plan to upload their logs daily to Clublog. At their last update on September 10 they said they were distributing luggage to the team and that each of them will carry "well over 20 kg of radio equipment". They'll fly from "Berlin via Helsinki, Tokyo, and Guam to Chuuk". This promises to be an exciting DXpedition to chase and they plan on having QSL cards available via Clublog OQRS. The V6D site can be found at https://v6d.mydx.de/ for more information. Good luck and good DX.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including the Federated States of Micronesia (V6D), Market Reef (OJ0W, OJ0YL), Sint Maarten (PJ7K), Svalbard (JW6VDA), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FP5KE), Christmas Island (VK9/SP9FIH), Karpathos Island (SV5/HB9OAU), Norfolk Island (VK9NT), Palestine (E44OM), Tanzania (5H3DX), Rwanda (9X2AW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 150 and the estimated sunspot number was 119 with 7 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 2 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 614 km/s. Solar activity is predicted low with geomagnetic activity at quiet levels today and tomorrow at quiet to active levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 35% through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, the Scandinavian Activity Contest on CW, the New Jersey QSO Party, the Texas QSO Party, the Iowa QSO Party, the New Hampshire QSO Party, the QRP Afield Event, the Washington State Salmon Run, Wisconsin Parks on the Air, the North American Sprint on RTTY, the BARTG Sprint PSK63 Contest, the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, and the ARS Flight of the Bumblebees QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentTop SOTA Chaser Jon NT6E does his first SOTA activation with friends - Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA talk SOTA, microwave operation, contesting, and cats on Sofas on the Air - Michael KB9VBR looks at Chameleon's new CHA M25 loading coil - IMSAI Guy looks at a cheap DC power supply and finds lots of noise - Steve KM9G looks at some new keys from Xiegu - Matt M0DQW looks at the upgraded TIDRadio H3 Plus - Jason KM4ACK talks about APRS retransmissions - Colin MM0OPX mods his QMX+ to have an internal battery - John AE5X tests his Hermes Lite 2 for receiver performance and spectral purity - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent space weather conditions - Dugbo KD7DUG hunts POTA on the go with his KH-1 - Manuel WP4TZ does a photo walk of old San Juan, Puerto Rico and activates POTA - Sn0ren takes a look at the Meshtastic capable Cardputer ADV - Walt K4OGO uses the GH-V5 V-Dipole while camping - Mike K8MRD ups his bushcrafting game with a tarp to provide shelter for POTA - Steve KM9G looks at some USB PD and PPS power solutions - Craig KM6LYW sets up a super low cost data hotspot for VHF using a DigiPi - Matt M0DQW looks at the uSDX+ HF transceiver - Ramon EA5IW takes us along for some mountain-top QRP - Tom N3WS shows a simple wireless rotator for the BuddiHex antenna - Rob N1NUG looks at the Choyong LC90 - Walt K4OGO tries out the HF Signals zBitx - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* DXpedition Spotlight: FP5KE at Saint Pierre and Miquelon Islands* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content DXpedition Spotlight: FP5KE at Saint Pierre and Miquelon IslandsImage Courtesy FP5KE Site Starting Monday, September 15, 2025 the F6KOP team will be starting their DXpedition to Saint Pierre and Miquelon Islands. They'll be on the air until September 26th. Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a very interesting island off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. While just a few miles off the coast of Canada, it is actually an overseas collectivity of France. The islands are an archipelago consisting of eight islands totaling 93 square miles with a population of 5,819 as of the 2022 census. The islands rank 103rd on the most wanted list on clublog.org. Being so close by, there should be a lot of good opportunities to work the team and get in the log. They plan to focus on "human modes" like CW, SSB, and RTTY while still working FT8 and FT4. The F6KOP club are prolific DXpeditioners and have a history of many successful DXpeditions. As always, they will be working split, so don't call them on their transmission frequency. For CW they will be up 1-10 kHz, for SSB 5-20 kHz, and for RTTY up 3-10 kHz. They will be bringing an armada of rigs, amplifiers, and antennas with multiple hexbeams for the higher bands, VDA antennas from 20 meters to 10 meters, verticals from 160 meters to 30 meters, and a beam on 6 meters. They also plan to work satellite modes and earth-moon-earth. With their skill and equipment, this promises to be a big DXpedition that should be fairly easy to get in the log. Good luck and good DX!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Sint Maarten (PJ7K), Svalbard (JW6VDA), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FP5KE), Christmas Island (VK9/SP9FIH), Karpathos Island (SV5/HB9OAU), Norfolk Island (VK9NT), Annobon Island (3C0W), Palau (T88DF), Banaba Island (T33TTT), Tanzania (5H3DX), Rwanda (9X2AW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Palestine (E44OM), Equatorial Guinea (3C3W), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 115 and the estimated sunspot number was 92 with 7 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 502 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to unsettled levels today and at quiet levels Saturday and at quiet to active levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1% today through Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 30% through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the ARRL EME Contest, the WAE DX Contest on SSB, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the Africa FT4 DX Contest, the ARRL September VHF Contest, the North American Sprint on CW, the IRTS 70 cm Counties Contest, the IRTS 2 m Counties Contest, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentAdam K6ARK, Mark KD7DTS, and Tim N7KOM activate multiple SOTA peaks ... with a bug! - Walt K4OGO shares his favorite sites for checking propagation conditions - Kevan 2E0WMG does some DXing at dawn - Alan W2AEW shows how to characterize a directional coupler with a VNA - Matt M0DQW shows off a new portable shortwave radio using both the SI and TEF chipsets - Mike K8MRD sets up a shelter to activate portable in the woods - Tom N3WS talks about his thoughts about the Buddihex antenna - Josh KI6NAZ tries to do 3 mode POTA with a sub-one pound setup - Walt K4OGO takes the QRP Labs QMX+ beach portable - Mike K8MRD evaluates new lower loss RG-174 from ABR - Nanofix teaches his wife how to solder with tiny surface mount components - Hayden VK7HH talks about how to best wrap your coax - Sean W9FFF takes a look at the Malahit DSP 2 radio - Nanofix talks about what diode mode is on your multimeter and how to use it - Matt M0DQW takes a look at network attached storage to archive files from an SDR - Kevin KB9RLW tests out a loop-on-ground antenna for receive - Walt K4OGO gives an overview of the USDX/USDR radios and his thoughts on them - Rob N1NUG builds a doublet antenna - Mike M0MSN installs a Yaesu 101 MP in his shack - Oystein LB8IJ builds a paddle with a potato for POTA! - George VK2AOE installs a CW filter in a Yaesu FT101E - Steve KM9G looks at cheap and fun antennas - Mike K8MRD shows his new bag for his QMX - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Markus Baseler DL6YYM Maker of BaMaTech CW Keys Silent Key* FCC Batch Filing System Restored* September Flight of the Bumblebees Event Issuing Bumblebee Numbers * MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Markus Baseler DL6YYM Maker of BaMaTech CW Keys Silent KeyImage Courtesy DL6YYM QRZ ProfileMarkus Baseler DL6YYM, maker of highly regarded CW keys and accessories by BaMaTech in Germany has passed away according to an announcement on the https://www.bamatech.net/ web site. He produced the very popular TP-III portable CW keys along with several other products and was an avid portable radio operator. Earlier in the year he operated from the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, and was scheduled to operate from Greenland before unexpected illness caused him to cancel that trip. The BaMaTech web site indicates that they are clearing out inventory and will be closing operations of their business. I have been a happy owner of a special edition TP-III paddle and enjoy taking it out into the field whenever I can. His products are beautiful, precisely machined, and highly reliable in the field. His contributions to our hobby will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.FCC Batch Filing System RestoredThe ARRL reports that the Federal Communication Commission's Electronic Batch filing system was restored to normal operations on Friday, August 29, 2025. It is used by all Volunteer Examination Coordinator organizations to submit exam sessions, applications, and club license applications. Some issues still remain with payment email requests not being issued and license emails not being sent. The ARRL has details on how to deal with those issues at https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-batch-filing-system-unavailable.September Flight of the Bumblebees Event Issuing Bumblebee Numbers The next edition of the Adventure Radio Society's Flight of the Bumblebees will be happening on Sunday, September 21, 2025. It is a fun QRP event where "Bumblebee" stations go out into the field to operate QRP and other QRP stations chase them in a 4 hour event. The Bumblebees are issued a number for the event to send in their exchanges, so if you are interested in going out in the field for the event, it is a good time to sign up for your own number. If you're going to play from home, no number is required. For details on the event and how to get a number, visit https://ars-qrp.com/FOBB/FOBB.html. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Lord Howe Island (VK2/SP9FIH), Benin (TY2AA), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Greenland (OX3LX), Annobon Island (3C0W), Palau (T88DF), Banaba Island (T33TTT), Tanzania (5H3DX), Rwanda (9X2AW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Equatorial Guinea (3C3W), Palestine (E44OM), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 172 and the estimated sunspot number was 128 with 10 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 675 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to minor storm levels levels today and Saturday and at quiet to active levels Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 10% today and Saturday and 5% Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 55% today and Saturday and 40% Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 10% chance predicted today and Saturday and 5% Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the All Asian DX Contest on Phone, the CWOps CW Open, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, the SARL VHF/UHF FM Contest, the SARL Field Day Contest, the Russian RTTY WW Contest, the IARU Region 1 Field Day on SSB, the RSGB SSB Field Day, the AGCW Straight Key Party, Ohio State Parks on the Air, the IARU Region 1 145 MHz Contest, the PODXS 070 Club Jay Hudak Memorial 80m Sprint, the WAB 144 MHz Phone Contest, and the Tennessee QSO Party. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php.Interesting Online Radio ContentMike K8MRD installs a "Smart" shunt on his battery setup - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Radtel RT-950 and likes what he sees - Morten LB0FI looks at a compact power and SWR meter - Hayden VK7HH takes a look at the IC-2730A Black Edition Full Duplex Mobile VHF/UHF rig - Josh KI6NAZ tries the Radioddity HF-009 Antenna - Bob WV1W encourages you to experiment and try new things in Amateur Radio - Mike K8MRD does some Winlink in the woods - Matt M0DQW gives a negative review of the Retevis A3 - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW talks about recent solar conditions - Steve KM9G talks about his new TOADs DI USB Digital Interface - Nanofix looks at the Hakko Omnivise for soldering - Ramon EA5IW climbs a mountain to attempt 2m CW as the sun rises - Kevin W1DED talks to Dr. Nathaniel Frissell N2NAF of HamSci about citizen science and radio - Ciprian YO6DXE tests his QRP Labs 50 W RF Amplifier - Kevin KB9RLW reviews the F-NIRSI DPOS350P oscilloscope - Steve KM9G shows the giant mat from Quirky QRP - Mike K8MRD goes in the woods with his QRPLabs QMX for a SSB activation - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* MVARC In the Park: Club POTA Activation Recap* MVARC Breakfast Recap* FCC Batch Filing System Unavailable* Icom Announces IC-7300 MK2 and Updated ID-5200 at Tokyo Ham Fair* Great Band Conditions Expected as Autumn Approaches* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content MVARC In the Park: Club POTA Activation RecapImage Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast weekend the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club activated seven parks at once for Parks on the Air. We had a great turnout at the parks and had eight operators get on the air as K4US: Larry KN4XW, Joseph WB8KMJ, Clayton KI5YFN, Paul WC9A, David KU8V, Eric N0UVD, Ed N2EC, and Gersohn KO4IUK. We activated at 100 Watts using a Yaesu FT-897 and an N2EC VersaHex Antenna. We made a total of 83 QSOs with 70 being made on Single Sideband and 13 being made on CW all on the 20 meter band. Our signals made it coast-to-coast in the US and Canada despite some challenging propagation conditions. A QSO map can be seen below. The outing was such a success that we may look to do another one soon. Thanks to everyone who made it such a fun day at the park.MVARC Breakfast RecapImage Courtesy Corey KN4YZYLast Saturday, MVARC had its weekly breakfast and we had a fantastic turnout with 19 people joining us. We had so many folks joining us we had to split up into multiple groups because the room wasn't big enough for a full length table! It was great seeing everyone and we look forward to having you join us next month.FCC Batch Filing System UnavailableThe ARRL reports that the Federal Communication Commission's Electronic Batch filing system is currently unavailable. It is used by all Volunteer Examination Coordinator organizations to submit exam sessions, applications, and club license applications. As a result applications for new and upgraded licenses and other filings are not currently being processed. The ARRL reports that the FCC has been notified and they are working to fix the issue. There is no estimated time of resolution. For updates on the status of the situation visit https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-batch-filing-system-unavailable.Icom Announces IC-7300 MK2, Updated ID-5200, and AH-6 at Tokyo Ham FairImage Courtesy Icom JapanLast weekend brought the 2025 Tokyo Ham Fair and Icom used the event to announce some new radios and equipment. The biggest announcement was of the IC-7300 MK2 -- the next version of one of the most successful radios ever produced in Amateur Radio. The new version improves RMDR and phase noise performance to help reduce adjacent signals, better power efficiency (they report a 23% reduction in RX standby current consumption), an HDMI port for external display usage, a built in CW decoder, a separate connector for RX antennas, USB type C connectivity with virtual COM ports for simultaneous FT8 and logging, and a LAN connection to remote using their RS-BA1 software without the use of a server computer.Image Courtesy Icom UKIcom also announced the next edition of their ID-5200 2 meter/70 centimeter mobile radio which supports dual reception of FM, FM-DV, and DV-DV signals as well as having a color touchscreen, broad receive, WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity, an Internal Gateway for networking, and a DV repeater monitor. Also announced was the AH-6 Automatic Antenna Tuner with support for 50 Ohm and long-wire antennas, coverage from 160 meters to 6 meters, and a power rating of 100 Watts.Information about the new products can be found at https://www.icomjapan.com/news/4411/ and https://icomuk.co.uk/ICOM-Announces-New-ID-5200-AH-6-Concept-Models-at-Tokyo-Ham-Fair-2025/2/5240/. Great Band Conditions Expected as Autumn ApproachesIf you've been on the air in the last few days you may have noticed that we appear to have moved out of the Summer doldrums and into better conditions on the HF bands. Forecasters are predicting that conditions will be quite good through the end of the month due to elevated sunspot activity, quiet geomagnetic conditions, low solar winds, few coronal mass ejections, and very low coronal hole activity. This means it is a great time to get on the air and enjoy the conditions. In the past week I was able to work Kiribati, Hawaii, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Argentina, and all over Europe. Get on the air and enjoy these great conditions. Good luck and good DX to all!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Lord Howe Island (VK2/SP9FIH), Benin (TY2AA), South Sudan (Z81D), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Kuwait (9K2HN), Rhodes Island (SV5/DJ5MN), Palau (T88DF), Banaba Island (T33TTT), Tanzania (5H3DX), Rwanda (9X2AW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Annobon Island (3C0W), Equatorial Guinea (3C3W), Palestine (E44OM), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 232 and the estimated sunspot number was 227 with 13 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has dramatically increased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 2 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 421 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to unsettled levels levels today and at quiet levels over the weekend. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 15% today and 10% over the weekend. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 60% today and 65% this weekend. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 10% chance predicted today and 15% over the weekend. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the SCRY/RTTYOps WW RTTY Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, the ALARA Contest, the U.S. Islands QSO Party, the World Wide Digi DX Contest, the Colorado QSO Party, and the Kansas QSO Party. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentElle Marie KJ5LXP give an introduction to Meshtastic - Josh KI6NAZ takes a look a the TX-500MP Manpack HF Radio - Kevin KB9RLW shows how to use an oscilloscope to sniff RF noise - Chris K2CJB shows an trailer hitch mount for a Spiderbeam 10 meter mast - Lewis M3HHY takes a look at the Choyong LC90 LW/MW/SW/FM/Internet Radio - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Liligo T-Embed SI4732 and CC1101 radios - Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA talk to Umesh KK6TXI about batteries, camping, and SOTA on Sofas on the Air - Walt K4OGO takes a look at the T41-EP SDR and talks to its creators - Kevan 2E0WMG builds a POTA Performer from off-the-shelf parts - Kevin W1DED talks to the contest crew about Single Operator 2 Radio Secrets and plans for CQWW - George VK2AOE compares tubes for his QRP Rig (Part 1) - George VK2AOR compares tubes for his QRP Rig (Part 2) - TJ K9KJ takes us around the Tokyo Ham Fair - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW talks about recent solar activity - Kevan 2E0WMG does QRP operation from a tiny island via kayak - Sean W9FFF has a less than stellar experience with the Heltec Meshpocket - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Baofeng UV-5R Mini - Di KO6BTM does SOTA on VHF and SHF with SOTA Cat Ormoo - Walt K4OGO does beach portable with the Guohetec PMR-171 - Alan W2AEW takes a look at the SV4401A Vector Network Analyzer - Hayden VK7HH takes a look at the newly announced Icom IC-7300MK2 - Mike K8MRD looks at the Buddipole PowerPro - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* MVARC In the Park: Club POTA Activation Tomorrow (8/23/2025)* MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow (8/23/2025)* Operating Spotlight: International Dog Day Special Event Stations* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content MVARC In the Park: Club POTA Activation Tomorrow (8/23/2025)Tomorrow MVARC will be activating POTA after our monthly breakfast at Belle Haven Park. It will be great to spend the morning together and have a lot of fun. Also, we'll be running a full 100 W station on battery power and the band conditions have been favorable recently. If you've ever had interest in doing portable operations but weren't sure how to get started, come out and join us. There will be Extra Class licensees on hand, so if you're a Technician (or even unlicensed) and want to see what it is like to operate on the HF bands, this will be a fun way to dip your toe into the world of HF. We'll activate with our club call K4US, and if you have a call of your own we can add it to the operator log so you'll get credit for your part of the activation, too. I've done 310 POTA activations so far, so I'd be glad to assist and provide any information you need. Family, friends, and the ham-curious are welcome to join in the fun as well. We hope to see you there.MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow (8/23/2025)Tomorrow, Saturday, August 23, 2025, is the date of our next monthly breakfast. As usual we will meet up at 8 AM in the IHOP at 7694 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia for great conversation, camaraderie, and breakfast too. We have been having a great turn out in the last few months and there is always room for you to join in the fun. We hope to see you there.Operating Spotlight: International Dog Day Special Event StationsTuesday, August 26, 2025 brings International Dog Day and a team of operators around the world have been operating to celebrate and will continue until the 26th. In the US look for special event station K2D and internationally look for DA0DOG, DL0DOG, GB4DOG, and YL1DOG on the airwaves to celebrate our furry friends. The event seeks to promote adoption and rescue of dogs, raise awareness about their needs, and encourage responsible pet ownership. More information about the event can be found at https://www.qrz.com/db/K2D. Good luck.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Vanuatu (YJ0CA), Zanzibar Island (5H1UM), Benin (TY2AA), South Sudan (Z81D), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Kuwait (9K2HN), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 121 and the estimated sunspot number was 59 with 6 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 2 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 672 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to unsettled levels levels today and at quiet levels over the weekend. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 15% today and and tomorrow and 20% Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the Turkey HF SSB Contest, the Hawaii QSO Party, the YO DX HF Contest, the ARSI VU DX Contest, the Ohio QSO Party, the CVA DX Contest on SSB, and the SARL HF CW Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentSteve KM9G experiments with loading coils for portable operations - Michael KB9VBR tests the 34 foot Alpha Antenna SS34+ Whip - Kevan 2E0WMG plays radio from an island and gets QRM from a biplane - Ray KC3RW talks to some of POTA's top activators at Huntsville Hamfest - Matt M0DQW tries the Radtel RT-920 with new firmware and finds it versatile - Vince VE6LK bikes into the backcountry to attempt an ATNO - Walt K4OGO talks ionospheric blanketing - Kevin W1DED talks to Neil WB9VPG about Youth on the Air (YOTA) - Hayden VK7HH gets on 160m with the Big Dog Coil - Callum M0MCX talks QRP - Matt M0DQW sings the praises of the Xiegu G90 - Doug N4HNH suggests you give 12 meters a try - Takeshi JS1QIZ goes camping in Japan and works some QRP in the rain (in Japanese, but has translated closed captioning) - Elle Marie KJ5LXP attempts SOTA with some friends - Kevin KB9RLW uses a Si4732 as a CW receiver with a QRP rig he designed - Manuel WP4TZ activates SOTA in Arizona - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party (SSB)* Contest Spotlight: NJQRP Skeeter Hunt* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party (SSB)Saturday, August 16, 2025 brings the next edition of the North American QSO Party on SSB. The objective of this contest is to contact as many North American stations during the contest. The fun starts at 1800 UTC Saturday (2 PM ET) and goes until 0559 UTC on Sunday (1:59 AM ET Sunday). The bands in play are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters with operating classes of Single Op, Single Op Assisted, Single Op Youth, and Multi-Two. North American stations are defined by the ARRL DXCC List with the addition of Hawaii. The exchange is Name and State/DC/Province/Country for North American participants and just Name for non-North American participants. Stations can be worked once per band and QSO points are 1 per QSO for NA stations and 1 per QSO with a NA station for Non-NA stations. Multipliers are each State/DC once per band, each Canadian province or territory once per band, and each North American country (excluding the US and Canada) once per band. The total score is QSO Points x Total Multipliers. Power is limited to 100 Watts and under and the QRP category is for 5 Watts and under. Power over 100 W is only suitable for check logs. This should be a fun way to get on the air and make a bunch of contacts. Good luck.Contest Spotlight: NJQRP Skeeter HuntImage Courtesy https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/Are you looking for a challenge to see just what your station can do when you turn down the power? Well, this weekend you can test your mettle with the 14th Annual NJQRP Skeeter Hunt Sunday, August 17th from 1700 UTC (1 PM ET) until 2100 UTC (5 PM ET). The objective is to get QRP ops out into the field with a special focus on the use of homebrewed or kit built radios (although commercial rigs are allowed, too). Applications for "Skeeter Numbers" have already closed, but you can still try to work them if you don't have one. You'll hear them calling "CQ QRP" or "CQ BZZ". The skeeters exchange is RST State/Province/Country and Skeeter Number, non-Skeeters are RST State/Province/Country and Output Power. Since we're talking QRP here, the maximum power is 5 Watts for CW and 10 Watts on SSB. Points-wise, when you work a Skeeter you get 3 points, a non-Skeeter (but still QRP) station is 2 points, and working a QRO (full power) station is 1 point. Stations can be worked on multiple bands, but the S/P/C multiplier only counts once. There is also a bonus points competition going on called "Skeeter Hunt Blackjack" going on this year where if you work enough call sign numbers to add up to exactly 21 you'll get 1000 Bonus Points. The rules and full details can be found at https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/. Turn down the power and turn up the fun this weekend. Good luck.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Guatemala (TG4/KT8X), Benin (TY2AA), Market Reef (OJ0JR), Zanzibar Island (5H1UM), Mayotte (TO3K), South Sudan (Z81D), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Kuwait (9K2HN), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 140 and the estimated sunspot number was 157 with 13 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has stayed about the same. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels to active levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 547 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to active levels levels today and at quiet levels over the weekend. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 5% today and 1% over the weekend. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 35% today and 30% over the weekend. R3 or greater blackouts are less likely with a 10% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the SARTG WW RTTY Contest, the ARRL EME Contest, the Russian District Award Contest, the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest, the SARL Youth QSO Party, the Feld Hell Sprint, the North American QSO Party on SSB, the CVA DX Contest on CW, the FISTS Sunday Sprint, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt, the ARRL Rookie Roundup on RTTY, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMike K8MRD car camps ahead of the Huntsville Hamfest - Matt M0DQW takes a look at a 4-way remote antenna switch - Dugbo KD7DUG activates POTA with a vintage Kenwood TS-430S - Kevin KB9RLW shows how to use a test fixture to get more functionality out of your NanoVNA - Elle-Marie KJ5LXP sets up her Yaesu FTM-510D for Wires -X - Forrest KI7QCF shows how to modify a Quansheng to be a $27 CW radio - Colin MM0OPX takes a look at a 7:1 End Fed Transformer and talks about its use - Kyle AA0Z talks to Don WA4MCM about his PSR-100 Satellite Rotator Kit - Kyle AA0Z shows his trick to make the Arrow Antenna Satellite antenna easier to deploy - Kevin W1DED talks to Doug K1DG about his DX operations around the globe - Matt M0DQW looks at the GH-V5 Multi-band V-dipole antenna - Thomas K4SWL shows a new KH1 Kneeboard and activates POTA in Quebec - Imsai Guy takes a look at the RT97L 22W GMRS Repeater - Walt K4OGO has fun with an Si4732 mini "spy" radio - Hayden VK7HH follows up on the threat to the 70 cm band with a response from AST Spacemobile - Ciprian YO6DXE does a deep dive on firmware updates and operations of the Tidradio TD-H3 Plus - Jason KM4ACK takes a look at using various HTs for different purposes - Walt K4OGO looks at the Guohetec PMR-171 and really likes it - Evan K2EJT activates POTA at Tangier Island during the IOTA contest - Mike K8MRD reviews the Lil Dude 6 Carbon Fiber Mast from HRD Industries - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: The Worked All Europe DX Contest* MVARC In The Park: KU8V and KN4XW Activate POTA in DC* Contest Spotlight: The Maryland-DC QSO Party* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Contest Spotlight: The Worked All Europe DX Contest Image Courtesy DARCThis weekend brings the Worked All Europe (WAE) DX Contest on CW. Only intercontinental DX counts, so the European DX will be eagerly answering your calls. The fun starts at 0000 UTC on August 9th (so 8 PM EDT tonight) until 2359 UTC on August 10 (7:59 PM EDT Sunday) on CW on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. Operating classes include Single Op who are limited to 36 hours of total operation and Multi-Ops who can work all 48 hours. The exchange is RST + Serial Number and stations can be worked once per band. This can be a great way to get DX from Europe in the log. There is an interesting twist in this contest you should know about: QTC Traffic. QTCs are a way to get additional points by sending additional information back to a European station. The QTC must include a time, call sign, and a serial number of the reported QSO. In the rules they give an example QTC as "1307 DA1AA 431" which would mean that DA1AA was worked at 1307 UTC and sent serial number 431. Each QSO can only be recorded once (and not back to the original station) and when correctly transferred gives one point to the sender and one point to the receiver. Up to 10 QTCs can be sent maximum and it can be done via several contacts. They can be sent via a series so if you were going to send 5 and were on your 3rd one, you would send "3/5" for the QTC. This is somewhat unique in contests, and if someone asks you to send a QTC and you don't want to, you can just say no, but it is a challenging way to get some extra points in the mix.Multipliers in the contest are the number of countries defined in the WAE Country List (see the rules for that) worked per band. For European stations every non-European DXCC entity is a multiplier with some exceptions laid out in the rules. There is also a multiplier bonus for a "band weighting": 80 meter countries get multiplied by 4, 40 meter countries get multiplied by 3, and 20/15/and 10 meter bands get multiplied by 2.Final scoring is the total number of QSOs plus QTCs on all bands multiplied by the sum of all multipliers weighted by the band factor. There is a lot going on in this contest, so definitely peruse the DARC site for rules and additional details https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/wae-dx-contest/en/. Have fun and good luck!MVARC In The Park: KU8V and KN4XW Activate POTA in DCOn Thursday, August 7, 2025 MVARC members Larry KN4XW and David KU8V activated parks for POTA in Washington DC. They worked on several bands on SSB as a dual operator activation on an absolutely beautiful day. Your author swung by on the way home from work to see them in action and they were fielding a steady pileup on 40 meters on an absolutely gorgeous evening. If you have fun activities you'd like to share with Amateur Radio News and Notes, drop me a line and I may include it in a future edition.Contest Spotlight: The Maryland-DC QSO PartyImage Courtesy W3VPR.org This weekend brings the 2025 edition of the Maryland-DC QSO Party. The action starts at 1400 UTC August 9 (10 AM EDT Saturday) and goes until 0400 UTC August 10 (Midnight EDT Saturday). Bands in play are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters on CW and Phone with 5 classes (Club, Rover, Portable, Mobile, and Fixed) and 3 power classes High Power (>100 Watts), Low Power (100 Watts), and QRP (5 Watts). The exchange is County and City for Maryland and DC stations and State/Province/Country for everyone else. Points are 3 per CW QSO, 1 per Phone QSO, 50 bonus points for working W3VPR, 200 Points for working 13 of the 25 MDC jurisdictions, and 500 points if you work all 25 jurisdictions. The multipliers for MDC participants are each MD county, DC, and Baltimore City once only, and each state (except MD), province, and country once only. For non MDC participants the multipliers are each MD county, DC, and Baltimore City once only. Total score is (QSO Points x Power Multiplier x Category Multiplier x County/State/Province/Country Multiplier) + bonus points, so things can escalate quickly. Full rules and details can be found at https://www.w3vpr.org/Maryland-DC_QSO_Party. Good luck! MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Bermuda (K9GY/VP9), Saint Kitts Island (V47JA), Mayotte (TO3K), South Sudan (Z81D), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Kuwait (9K2HN), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 152 and the estimated sunspot number was 140 with 9 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has stayed about the same. Solar activity has been at moderate levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 1 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 476 km/s. There were R1 radio blackouts recently with the largest being on the 7th at 1131 UTC. Solar activity is predicted to be at moderate levels levels today and Saturday. Geomagnetic fields are expected to be enhanced today and tomorrow with the arrival of a coronal mass ejection at Earth and a co-rotating interacting region ahead of a coronal hole high speed stream. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 15% today and 5% over the weekend. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 55%. R3 or greater blackouts are less likely with a 10% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the WAE DX Contest on CW, the FISTS Saturday Sprint, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the YB Bekasi Merdeka Contest, the Maryland-DC QSO Party, Kentucky State Parks on the Air, the 50 MHZ Fall Sprint, the NCCC 55th Anniversary Fiesta, the SARL HF Digital Contest, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentJosh KI6NAZ shows new firmware for the VGC and BTech Radios to work satellites - Veritasium explores the history and electrochemistry of Lithium-ion battery technology - Hayden VK7HH talks about difficulties finding Alinco radios - Mike K8MRD takes a look at a compact and inexpensive 100 Ah LiFePO4 battery - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Discovery Dish for Satellite reception - Chuck KK7USY makes a DIY mobile antenna mount for his truck - Ramon EA5IW takes us along for some beach portable CW - Calum M0MCX and Dave G0OES talk about 40 meter antennas - Kevin W1DED talks to Tim K3LR about the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation - Walt K4OGO talks about his favorite antenna experiment - Kevin W1DED talks to Tom 8P5A/W2SC about station design and contesting in the Caribbean - Matt M0DQW takes a look at version 2 of the KV4P HT for Android phones - Colin MM0OPX talks about improving reception with SDRs - Kevin W1DED talks to Frank W3LPL and Rol K3RA about the best and worst radios for Field Day - Elle-Marie KJ5LXP experiments with cross-band repeating on VHF/UHF - Ciprian YO6DXE builds a simple FM receiver from minimal parts in 2 videos - and Craig KM6LYW builds an off grid packet radio digipeater complete with AX.25 and Winlink - Kevin KB9RLW reviews a new portable USB powered soldering iron - Matt M0DQW reviews the RF Power Nanny web enabled HF Power Meter - George VK2AOE amplifies his Hermes Lite 2 with a homebrewed amplifier - Hayden VK7HH builds a battery box for portable operations - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the ATS Decoder Mega SDR - Dugbo KD7DUG shows how to get CW and SSB on a Quansheng HT - Brian NR7Y shows some mods to use a Quansheng HT without an adapter cable - Ciprian YO6DXE looks at the new Tidradio TD-H3 Plus HT - George VK2AOE builds his "QRP Playground" - Great Scott Gadgets announces the HackRF Pro SDR - Mike K8MRD uses a ladder as an antenna for POTA - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Amateur Radio News and Notes on Vacation Next Week* Contest Spotlight: RSGB Islands on the Air (IOTA) Contest* Contest Spotlight: Adventure Radio Society Flight of the Bumblebees* Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party (CW)* Berryville Hamfest Next Weekend (8/3/2025)* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Amateur Radio News and Notes on Vacation Next WeekAmateur Radio News and Notes will be on a break next week for some Summer fun. To tide you over we've got DX and contest information for the next couple weeks. We'll be back to our regular schedule August 8, 2025.Contest Spotlight: RSGB Islands on the Air (IOTA) ContestImage Courtesy https://www.iota-world.org/ The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) is hosting this year's Islands on the Air (IOTA) contest at 1200 UTC July 26th to Sunday, July 27th at 1200 UTC. The IOTA program tracks contacts to islands all around the world and is active all the time. Since this is the weekend for the contest, there will be a whole lot of islands on the air for you to contact (check out the What's Happening with DX section for some examples). For the contest the 80 meter, 40 meter, 20 meter, 15 meter, and 10 meter bands will be in play. As always, IOTA has a lot of rules, so check out the rules at the RSGB site. The exchange for island chasers is RST and Serial Number (starting from 1) and for Island stations will be RST, Serial Number, and IOTA Reference. For scoring, island chasers get 2 points for each QSO with another chaser and 15 points for each island station. The multipliers are the total number of different IOTA references contacted on each band on CW plus the total contacted on SSB. Total score is QSO Points multiplied by total multipliers. Full rules and details can be found at https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/riota.shtml. Good Luck!Contest Spotlight: Adventure Radio Society Flight of the BumblebeesSunday, July 27th 2025 the Adventure Radio Society will be hosting this year's Flight of the Bumblebees from 1700 to 2100 UTC. This is a fun contest focused on QRP (low power) CW operations with stations in the field. The Bumblebee stations are stations who are out in the field, sign with a /BB, and are assigned a bumblebee number. Everyone else works from home and tries to work the bumblebees. The maximum power output is 5 Watts for both bumblebees and home stations and bands operated are 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters around the standard QRP frequencies. The exchange for bumblebees is RST State/Province/Country and Bumblebee Number. For home stations it is RST State/Province/Country and Power in Watts. You can work each bumblebee or home station once per band. Scores are calculated as the total number of contacts multiplied by the number of bumblebees multiplied by 3. Many bumblebees will be running POTA and SOTA while running the contest, too. For more information about the contest, how to get a bumblebee number, and the rules visit https://ars-qrp.com/FOBB/FOBB.html. Good luck!Contest Spotlight: North American QSO Party (CW)The North American QSO Party on CW is happening again the first full weekend of August which is 1800 UTC August 2nd to 0559 UTC August 3rd this year. The objective of the NAQP is to work as many North American stations as possible during the contest period. For the purposes of the contest that includes North American DXCC entities plus Hawaii. There are entry classifications for Single Operator (no spotting networks allowed), Single Operator Assisted (with spotting networks allowed, including self-spotting), and Multioperator Two Transmitter. For this running of the NAQP it will be CW only, with bands of 160 meters, 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters. The exchange is operator name location (S/P/C for NA and no location for DX). The same name must be used throughout the contest. Multipliers are all 50 US States plus DC and all 13 Canadian provinces and territories. Other North American entities use the DXCC entity name. Stations can be worked once per band and scores are total valid contacts multiplied by the number of multipliers on each band. Full rules and details can be found at https://www.ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf. Good luck!Berryville Hamfest Next Weekend (8/3/2025)On Sunday, August 3, 2025 the Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club will be hosting the 74th annual Berryville Hamfest. MVARC has a table once again this year and the grand prize this year is a Yaesu FT-710 transceiver. In addition to lots of vendors and tailgaters they will have the ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, a BBQ Beef and Chicken Dinner, and an ice cream truck. Gates open at 6 AM and admission is $10 as are tailgate spots. It is always a fun trip so if you're close by give them a visit and make sure to swing by the MVARC table in the Ruritan building. For more information visit https://svarc.us/hamfest/. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands the next two weeks, especially with this week's IOTA contest. Stations on the air include Tiree Island in Scotland (GM2T), Thailand (E2X), Aquidneck Island (AA1AC), Isle of Man (MD7C), Benbecula Island (GM7V), Schouwen Duiveland Island (PA/OQ4T), Cotijuba Island (PX8Z), Rodrigues Island (3B9SP), Tangier Island (K4T), Fuerte Island (5K0C, 5K0T), Bermuda (K9GY/VP9), Saint Kitts Island (V47JA), Mayotte (TO3K), Greenland (OX3LX), Nicaragua (YN2RP), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Kuwait (9K2HN), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 156 and the estimated sunspot number was 85 with 10 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has stayed the same. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active to levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 818 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to active levels levels today and at quiet levels on Saturday, and at quiet to minor storm levels on Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 30%. R3 or greater blackouts are less likely with a 5% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the FRAPR 10M Contest, the RSGB IOTA Contest, the ARAM 50 MHz Contest, the Alabama QSO Party, and the ARS Flight of the Bumblebees. Next weekend brings the 10-10 International Summer Contest on SSB, the European HF Championships, the North American QSO Party on CW, the ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest, the Hemus VHF Contest on 144 MHz, and the SARL HF Phone Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentSteve KM9G activates SOTA with a 25 foot whip - Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6KRA talk to Devin W6DVN about Microwave SOTA for Sofas on the Air - Hayden VK7HH talks about what ham bands work best for which uses - The Oxford Shortwave Log talks about the Shortwave Bulletin newsletter - Linas LY2H uses his IC-705 Go Bag in the field - Josh KI6NAZ and Adam K6ARK take Josh's kids out for a Eastern Sierras Adventure - Mike K8MRD reviews a 100 Watt PD Power Bank - Elle-Marie KJ5LXP uses EchoLink to connect to a distant repeater over the internet and RF - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the new HydraSDR RFone Software Defined Radio - Kevin W1DED talks to the Contest Crew about their experiences in the IARU HF Championships - Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA use the QMX to activate SOTA and show Ara's new paddle mount - Steve KM9G takes a look at the new VR-N7600 Mobile rig - Mike K8MRD tests out the ATAS 120A on 40 Meters - George VK2AOE gives "12 Rules" for Hams to aspire toward - Lidi KQ3Q receives ISS SSTV Signals using an Anytone 878 - Dugbo KD7DUG activates SOTA and shows why two is one and one is none in the field - Hayden VK7HH talks about a threat to the 70 cm ham band from a proposed satellite service - Steve KM9G gets his mind blown by the Radioberry - Kevan 2E0WMG does QRP contesting from a boat - Matt M0DQW shows how to fix an issue with the amp on a HackRF Portapack - Di KO6BTM builds a Morserino-32 - Kevan 2E0WMG plays in the IARU HF Championships on an island - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* DXpedition Spotlight: PJ2Y Youth DX Adventure in Curacao* Contest Spotlight: The YOTA Contest 2025* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content DXpedition Spotlight: PJ2Y Youth DX Adventure in CuracaoImage Courtesy https://youthdxa.org/ The Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure is back on the air July 17-22 this year. They will be operating at the Caribbean Contesting Consortium's super contest station PJ2T in Curacao. The youth team will be operating as a DX special event station for four days with round-the-clock operations being anticipated. The youth team includes Isaiah Russell KJ5CMP, Josiah Russell WD5JR, Agnes Wagner AD8IR, and Ben Wagner AD8FQ. Joining the kids will be John Russell N5VOF and JoAnn Russell. I've been fortunate enough to meet Isaiah and Josiah through teaching CW with the Long Island CW Club and I am very excited to get the team in the log on this exciting DX adventure. Congratulations to the entire team and we wish them good luck and great DX. For more information check out the Youth DX Adventure site at https://youthdxa.org/. Contest Spotlight: The YOTA Contest 2025Image Courtesy https://www.ham-yota.com/ This weekend brings round two of the Youth on the Air (YOTA) Contest organized by the IARU R1 Youth Working Group and the MRASZ (Hungarian Amateur Radio Society). The purpose of the contest is to increase activity by youth on the airwaves and to build support for youngsters across the globe. The contest gets started on July 19th at 1000 UTC (5 AM EDT) until 2200 UTC (5 PM EDT) and is open to all amateurs and also to YOTA defined as any operator 25 years of age or younger. The bands of operation will be 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m and the modes will be CW and SSB. There are several different operating categories for both all ops and YOTA with different numbers of bands, operating hours, and numbers of operators. In the contest everyone can work everyone and you can work the same station on the same band in CW and SSB. The exchange is RS(T) and Age on January 1 for single ops and RST and average of ages on the 1st of January for multiple operator stations. QSO points for a station over 25 are 1 point in the same continent and 2 points for another continent. QSOs with youngsters (regardless of continent) are 13 points for under 12 years old, 12 points for 12-16 years old, 11 points for 17-21 years old, and 10 points for 22-25 years old. Different ages worked act as multipliers and the final result is the sum of points earned per band and mode multiplied by the sum of multipliers worked per band, so points can escalate quickly. This promises to be a fun contest for everyone, so give it a go this weekend and support the YOTA stations. Full rules and details can be found at http://yotacontest.mrasz.org/rules. Good luck!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Svalbard (JW0V), Fuerte Island (5K0C, 5K0T), Greenland (OX3LX), Nicaragua (YN2RP), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Benin (TY5AD), Kuwait (9K2HN), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 156 and the estimated sunspot number was 182 with 11 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at active to minor storm levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 789 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to active levels today and at quiet to unsettled levels over the weekend. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 10%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 60%. R3 or greater blackouts are less likely with a 15% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the LABRE DX Contest, the Russian Radio Team Championship, the Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge, the YOTA Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, the CQ Worldwide VHF Digital Contest, the IARU Region 1 70 MHz Contest, the North American QSO Party on RTTY, the RSGB International Low Power Contest, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentKevin W1DED and the Contest Crew talk to Rol K3RA and Frank W3LPL about the record breaking W3AO Field Day team - Mike K8MRD does a Late Shift POTA Activation - Elle-Marie KJ5LXP shows her mobile FTM-510D radio installation - Kevin KB9RLW takes a look at the Elikliv 4K Digital Microscope - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the VGC VR-N7600 mobile rig with a full KISS TNC - Forrest KI7QCF is the DX as he operates CW from the beach in Jamaica - Matt M0DQW finishes his 70 cm Amplifier build - The Solar Lab gives the basics on using solar panels in series and parallel configurations - Josh KI6NAZ gives his favorite portable HF antenna pick - Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA talk Field Day and lots more on the latest Sofas on the Air - Dan WD4DAN talks about the shutdown of Hamshack Hotline - Elle-Marie KJ5LXP goes on a road trip and makes contacts on her mobile VHF rig - Lidi KQ3Q Activates Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Florida with CW - Nanofix talks soldering temperatures and techniques for electronics work - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Katie Campbell KE8LQR Named Young Ham of the Year 2025* Prominent POTA Activator Tripp Owens N4NTO Silent Key* Hamshack Hotline VoIP Service To Shut Down August 29, 2025* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Katie Campbell KE8LQR Named Young Ham of the Year 2025Photo Courtesy KE8LQR's QRZ Profile Amateur Radio Newsline announced that this year's recipient of the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award is Katie Campbell, KE8LQR, of Columbiana, Ohio. Katie is a remarkable 17 year old young woman who has been very active in the hobby. I have been fortunate to know her through her involvement as an instructor in the Long Island CW Club's kids program where she has led the advanced CW classes. In addition to her CW instruction she has been very active in contesting participating in the 2023 K3LR IOTA Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure in 2023, and also in 2024 at K3LR to lead CW operations. She has also been an attendee and part of the organizing staff for Youth on the Air (YOTA) camps where she acts as a mentor and social media manager. She has also made several presentations at Dayton Hamvention, Orlando Hamcation, and SEAPAC. She also does a lot of work to build youth engagement in the hobby serving as ARRL Assistant Youth Section Coordinator for Ohio, a Net Control of the Ohio Section Youth Net, the Young Ladies Radio League youth chairwoman, and participating many other activities. For a more full list of her activities, check out her QRZ profile. Congratulations to Katie on this well deserved award, I'm sure her best is yet to come. Kevin W1DED interviewed Katie a year ago on his YouTube channel at . The press release from Amateur Radio Newsline can be found at https://www.arnewsline.org/2025-yhoty Prominent POTA Activator Tripp Owens N4NTO Silent KeyTripp Owens, N4NTO, passed away in a tragic accident on the 4th of July while activating Averasboro Battlefield Historic Site (US-11375) when his antenna contacted overhead power lines as he was shutting down his activation, causing him to be electrocuted. Tripp was 57. He was was a prolific POTA activator with 663 successful activations in 84 parks with 19,464 QSOs as an activator. He was also an avid contester focusing on CW and a member of CW Ops and PVRC. There has been an outpouring of remembrances from those who knew him in the amateur radio community. He will be deeply missed.This is an unfortunate reminder that one of the most dangerous things we encounter in the field are power lines. Please make sure to look up and around you when you set up antennas and ensure that you stay well clear of utility lines. All it takes is a gust of wind or a failed guy line to cause a disaster. Thomas K4SWL has a post with more information on his site and recommendations for best practices for safe antenna deployment at https://qrper.com/2025/07/a-tragic-reminder-safety-must-come-first-in-the-field/. Our deepest condolences go out to Tripp's family and friends. Tripp's obituary can be found at https://www.carlislefuneralhome.com/obituary/AmbroseTripp-OwensIII Hamshack Hotline VoIP Service To Shut Down August 29, 2025The popular voice over IP telephony network for amateur radio operators, Hamshack Hotline, announced that they will be shutting down their project effective August 29, 2025. The service started in 2018 as a way to allow amateurs to connect using IP telephones allowing them to call each other on their own hotline numbers. It was a popular service that had over 7,000 users at its peak, but it appears to have become a victim of its own success as it scaled so did the demands on the volunteers who allowed the service to operate. The organization plans to donate the remaining cash reserves from the operation to a charity supporting veterans to be announced soon. Their full statement can be found at https://hamshackhotline.com/. Thanks to subscriber Corey KN4YZY who alerted me to this story. If you come across amateur radio related news you think would be good to share on Amateur Radio News and Notes feel free to send me a message.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Miquelon Island (FP/KV1J), Avidimou Beach SBA (ZC4MK), Svalbard (JW0V), Fuerte Island (5K0C, 5K0T), Nicaragua (YN2RP), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Benin (TY5AD), Kuwait (9K2HN), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 129 and the estimated sunspot number was 96 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has remained about the same. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels and the Kp was at 1 yesterday evening. The solar wind reached 428 km/s yesterday. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet levels today and at quiet to unsettled levels tomorrow. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1%. A slight chance of R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 35%. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs of all license classes to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the IARU HF World Championship, the QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint, and the 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentSteve KM9G experiments with a NVIS setup with his Spooltenna - Dugbo KD7DUG does a VHF Packtenna Activation from Black Mountain - Mike K8MRD shows his new DenCo 5.5 Ah LiFePO4 Battery - Jason KM4ACK looks at a 12 V powered PC to take over from his Raspberry Pi - Matt M0DQW looks at the RADE V1 Codec for FreeDV - Save it for Parts looks at the HackRF Portapack - Mort G4BSK fixes a broken antenna with 3D printing - Duff WA7BFN gives us another edition of the Long Island CW Club Podcast - Jason KM4ACK shows a radio repair toolkit he put into a compact case - George VK2AOE looks at an inexpensive RF attenuator - Kevin W1DED talks to Les KI5GTR about his POTA Activations - Mike K8MRD looks at a "mini" LiFePO4 battery - Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA talk to Tim N7KOM for the second episode of "Sofas on the Air" - Di KO6BTM gives an animated intro to Morse Code - Matt M0DQW gives a Loop On Ground antenna a try - Dan WD4DAN makes a tribute to Tripp N4NTO (SK) - Dugbo KD7DUG takes us on a Mountain Morse Journey - Rob N1NUG activates the highest point in Rhode Island for POTA - Mike K8MRD finds a USB-C PD Outlet that works with the FTX-1F - Mike K8MRD takes a look at firmware updates for the FTX-1F - Josh KI6NAZ takes us along for the W6TRW Field Day and SOTA extravaganza - Thomas K4SWL shows us what's in his field radio backpack for his Canada vacation - Kevan 2E0WMG goes portable and gets some unfavorable audio reports from Slovenia - Kevin W1DED talks to Mike SJ2W about his Swedish contest station - Kevan 2E0WMG goes to the Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station in Prince Edward Island - Steve KM9G gets some returned Amazon gear and "repairs" it - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* MVARC Field Day Recap* MVARC Breakfast Recap* The 13 Colonies Special Event Happening Until 7/7/2025* ARRL Logbook of the World Back Online After Systems Upgrade* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content MVARC Field Day RecapMVARC had a lot of fun last weekend for ARRL Field Day. We had a lot of ops join in as we operated 5A once again this year with the club getting hundreds of QSOs in the log. We were also visited by members of the community including a couple Fairfax County Police officers and also Sandy KQ4DNE of the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security. We were lucky with the weather this year and did not have to deal with any rain or thunderstorms. However, it was quite hot outside, which put a damper on the festivities a bit during the day. In the early evening on Saturday we had our club picnic with catered BBQ and had a good turnout and ample food. Also at the picnic the club awarded the member of the year award to Ed N2EC (of the third person) for which I am very much honored.As day turned to dark we had a contingent of operators who stayed through the night to get those contacts. 15 meters stayed open well into the evening and contacts were made to Australia, Hawaii, and Alaska on digital. CW and SSB operations focused on 80, 40, and 20 meters and fought with many close in signals and a high noise floor. As morning came members and their families brought the team donuts and coffee and after a bit more operating the group helped to take down the setup.All in all I think this year's Field Day was a great success. We had lots of members of the club and the community join us, and most importantly, we had a lot of fun. I definitely look forward to next year's Field Day.MVARC Breakfast Recap Photo Courtesy Corey KN4YZYJust before the start of the Field Day festivities we had our monthly breakfast at the Hybla Valley IHOP. We had a great turnout as usual and great conversation over a delicious breakfast. Our breakfasts are held on the 4th Saturday of each month and we look forward to seeing you at the next one.The 13 Colonies Special Event Happening until July 7Image courtesy https://www.13colonies.us/ The 17th Annual 13 Colonies Special event started on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 and the activity on the bands has been quite exciting with big pileups on offer. This event seems to get more and more popular each year.The event is staffed by volunteers in each of the states from the original 13 colonies as well as Great Britain and France, and it can be a fun challenge to see if you can get them in the log. If you do find one of the stations, they ask that you give them a spot on DX Summit at http://www.dxsummit.fi/, which is also a great place to find spots for the stations you need. The event tends to be VERY active on CW and SSB and may also be on RTTY and Digital. Activity will be on all bands (including the WARC bands) except 60 meters. I hope to be able to make a clean sweep on CW this year and always enjoy this event. Each of the stations has special QSL cards you can send for if you make a contact, and you can apply for a certificate for the event as well. They request a $5 donation to cover costs, but if that is a hardship will provide them free of charge.More information about the event can be found at https://www.13colonies.us/. Good luck!ARRL Logbook of the World Back Online After Systems Upgrade Logbook of The World, the popular system used for logging on the Worked All States, DX Century Club, VHF/UHF Century Club, CQ WPX, and CQ WAZ awards programs returned to service on Wednesday.ARRL CEO David Minster NA2AA said in a press release that "LoTW [received] major upgrades to the operating system it is running on, the relational database system it uses to store and access logbook and awards data, and server hosting, where it will be fully migrated to the cloud. These changes will, among other improvements, ensure LoTW performance needs can be better met based on user demand.". His full statement can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-announces-logbook-of-the-world-systems-upgrade. Anecdotally speaking, LoTW does seem to be running faster than before and appears to be much more responsive.MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Cayman Islands (ZF2AE), Miquelon Island (FP/KV1J), Avidimou Beach SBA (ZC4MK), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Benin (TY5AD), Kuwait (9K2HN), Falkland Islands (VP8DPD), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 125 and the estimated sunspot number was 148 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels and the Kp was at 4 yesterday evening. The solar wind reached 411 km/s yesterday. Solar activity is predicted to reach active levels for the 4th of July holiday with a chance for G1 level storms due to persistent coronal mass ejection effects. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1%. A slight chance of R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 20%. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 1% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs of all license classes to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we will see the Venezuelan Independence Day Contest, the FOC Old School Classic 1960s QSO Party, the NZART Memorial Contest, the TA VHF/UHF Contest, the CQ Worldwide VHF SSB/CW Contest, the Marconi Memorial HF Contest, the Original QRP Contest, and the PODXS 070 Club 40m Firecracker Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentMatt M0DQW takes another look at the Quansheng TK11 - Steve KM9G has some issues with his Xiegu 6200 and resolves them - Kevan 2E0WMG operates from an island in Canada as VA3WMG/P - Matt M0DQW takes a look at a GPS NTP time server suitable for off grid FT8 - Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW takes a look at recent solar weather - Walt K4OGO takes a look at the Choyong LC90 Radio - Jeff KF0MYB and Joe KF0MYJ talk about Software Defined Radio (SDR) - George VK2AOE builds an RF tap - HistoryX takes a look at the Titanic's Radio Room and the effort to remove the Marconi radio from it - Kevin W1DED and the Contest Crew talk about the HF World Championship - Chuck KK6USY starts his build of the Advanced Antenna Research Phasing Controller - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* ARRL Field Day This Weekend (6/28/2025-6/29/2025)* MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow Morning (6/28/2025)* The 13 Colonies Special Event Starts July 1 (7/1/2025-7/7/2025)* ARRL Logbook of the World Offline for Systems Upgrade (6/27/2025-7/2/2025)* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content ARRL Field Day This WeekendThe biggest event in amateur radio is happening this weekend on June 28-29th. The ARRL predicts over 31,000 amateurs will be setting up to test their skills and preparedness in this popular annual operating event. MVARC will be operating at a new location this year as a 5A station behind the George Washington REC Center at 8426 Old Mt Vernon Rd, Alexandria, VA 22309. We will head over to the site right after our monthly breakfast to start setting up. In addition to our 5 primary stations, we plan on having a "Get on the Air" (GOTA) station to allow for those without licenses or who haven't been active on the air to have some fun on the bands with the assistance of our club members. We will also have our club picnic on Saturday evening at 5 PM at the Field Day site with the presentation of our MVARC Member of the Year award. If you're able to make it, we would love to have you join us.ARRL Field Day is a special event that many consider amateur radio's "open house". As the ARRL says on their site, amateurs "set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio."The event is not technically a contest, but rather an operating event. That said, scores are kept and standings published in QST. The objective is to make as many contacts as possible in the operating period June 28-29, 2025 (2 PM ET to 3:59 PM ET). All non-WARC bands are fair game (160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters on HF and 6 meters and above for VHF/UHF bands). 1 point is awarded for each Phone QSO and 2 points for each CW and Digital QSO. There are also lots of bonus points to be had for things like operating a Get on the Air (GOTA) station, operating on VHF, message passing, working satellites, and public outreach. The exchange for the event is ARRL section, entry category, and operating class. For the MVARC station, running as a 5 transmitter entry category, and the A class (club/non-club portable) our exchange would be "5A VA". Other classes include A (Battery) which is limited to 5 W, B for one or two person portable (there is a also a Battery option for 5W or less), C for mobile stations, D for home stations, E for home stations under emergency power, and F for stations at an Emergency Operations Center.Field Day is a whole lot of fun, and a big part of the excitement is being out with your fellow amateurs. I heartily recommend finding a local Field Day to stop by and visit (and if you're in the Alexandria, VA area, come join MVARC). A field day locator site can be found at https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator. Even if you stay home, run as a class D or class E station and see how many stations you can get in the log.More information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/field-day. We hope to see you out in the field and on the air. Good luck!MVARC Breakfast Tomorrow Morning (6/28/2025)Tomorrow, Saturday, June 28, 2025, is the date of our next monthly breakfast. As usual we will meet up at 8 AM in the IHOP at 7694 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia for great conversation, camaraderie, and breakfast too. We have been having a great turn out in the last few months and there is always room for you to join in the fun. We will also head to the Field Day site after we're done enjoying breakfast. We hope to see you all there.The 13 Colonies Special Event Starts July 1 (7/1/2025-7/7/2025)Image courtesy https://www.13colonies.us/ The 17th Annual 13 Colonies Special event starts on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. This event seems to get more and more popular each year, so get ready to try to break some pileups and collect the colonies to make a clean-sweep! The event has operating stations for each of the 13 original colonies each with its own 1x1 call. K2A in New York, K2B in Virginia, K2C in Rhode Island, K2D in Connecticut, K2E in Delaware, K2F in Maryland, K2G in Georgia, K2H in Massachusetts, K2I in New Jersey, K2J in North Carolina, K2K in New Hampshire, K2L in South Carolina, and K2M in Pennsylvania. There are also bonus stations available for GB13COL in the United Kingdom, TM13COL in France, and WM3PEN in Philadelphia.The event is staffed by volunteers in each of the states, and it can be a fun challenge to see if you can get them in the log. If you do find one of the stations, they ask that you give them a spot on DX Summit at http://www.dxsummit.fi/, which is also a great place to find spots for the stations you need. The event tends to be VERY active on CW and SSB and may also be on RTTY and Digital. Activity will be on all bands (including the WARC bands) except 60 meters. I hope to be able to make a clean sweep on CW this year and always enjoy this event. Each of the stations has special QSL cards you can send for if you make a contact, and you can apply for a certificate for the event as well. They request a $5 donation to cover costs, but if that is a hardship will provide them free of charge.More information about the event can be found at https://www.13colonies.us/. Good luck!ARRL Logbook of the World Offline for Systems Upgrade (6/27/2025-7/2/2025)Logbook of The World, the popular system used for logging on the Worked All States, DX Century Club, VHF/UHF Century Club, CQ WPX, and CQ WAZ awards programs will be offline starting today for a systems upgrade. ARRL CEO David Minster NA2AA said in a press release that "LoTW will be receiving major upgrades to the operating system it is running on, the relational database system it uses to store and access logbook and awards data, and server hosting, where it will be fully migrated to the cloud. These changes will, among other improvements, ensure LoTW performance needs can be better met based on user demand.". His full statement can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-announces-logbook-of-the-world-systems-upgrade. QRZ.com CEO Jamie Jeffries KF7WIS whose service allows for automated uploads to LoTW also released a statement saying that "this planned outage by LOTW will affect QRZ users with LOTW integration and will prevent transferring QSOs to and from LOTW from QRZ for the duration of the outage. [QRZ] will be disabling the controls for LOTW imports and exports until such time as we become aware that the LOTW service is back online." Her full statement can be found at https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/planned-lotw-outage-and-the-impact-to-qrz-users.958105/. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]Please Note: Due to Field Day the MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable and Cherry Tree Nets will be off the air this week.What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Dominica (J79BH), Miquelon Island (FP/KV1J), Avidimou Beach SBA (ZC4MK), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Tokelau (ZK3ZK), Kuwait (9K2HN), Falkland Islands (VP8DPD), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 117 and the estimated sunspot number was 90 with 5 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels and the Kp was at 4 yesterday going to 5 last night. The solar wind reached 849 km/s yesterday. NOAA forecasts that minor G1 storms are likely early today with a peak Kp of 4.67 forecast. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 5%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 35%. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs of all license classes to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend things are a bit sparse due to Field Day, but we can look forward to the technically not a contest ARRL Field Day, the UFT QRP Contest, and the His Majesty King of Spain Contest on SSB. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentSave it For Parts hunts "zombie" satellites - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the FreeStar network - Kevin W1DED and the Contest Crew talk Field Day 2025 - Dugbo KD7DUG activates SOTA and works the ARRL June VHF Contest - Linas LY2H tests out an inexpensive Manual Antenna Tuner - Mike N 2MAK and Ben W2BMK do some mountain top work for the ARRL June VHF Contest - The Broadcast Engineer goes "pirate" hunting with radio direction finding gear - Kevan 2E0WMG does kayak portable as VA3WMG/P and deals with some aggressive flies - Mike K8MRD makes a go bag for his FTX-1 - Kyle AA0Z takes a look at a new rig control app for the FT-891 - Chuck KK6USY starts his build of a phased 40 meter vertical array - Hayden VK7HH looks at a power bank for portable ops and sees if it is RF quiet - Kevin W1DED talks to Jeff N5TJ about his CQ WW World Record of 10,000 QSOs in 48 hours - Kevin W1DED talks to Randy K5ZD about the World Wide Award event - Matt M0DQW starts converting a commercial amplifier for amateur use - Walt K4OGO adds a capacitance hat to a vertical antenna - George VK2AOE works on an amplifier for his Hermes Lite 2 rig - Mike K8MRD recommends a drive over mast mount - Kevin KB9RLW takes a look at an inexpensive multimeter, oscilloscope, and signal generator - Steve KM9G makes a mod for easier mounting of the Radioddity HF-009 antenna - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* ARRL Field Day Next Weekend* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content ARRL Field Day Next WeekendThe biggest event in amateur radio will be happening next weekend on June 28-29th so save the date! The ARRL predicts over 31,000 amateurs will be setting up to test their skills and preparedness in this popular annual operating event. MVARC will be operating at a new location this year as a 5A station and we're excited to join in the fun. There will be more information on the event next week here on Amateur Radio News and Notes. Until then, more information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/field-day. We hope to see you out in the field and on the air. Good luck!MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Palau (T88PB, T88CL), Turkmenistan (EZ/DL7ZM), Saint Kitts Island (V47JA), Greenland (OX3LX), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Tokelau (ZK3ZK), Kuwait (9K2HN), Falkland Islands (VP8DPD), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 137 and the estimated sunspot number was 120 with 6 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has stayed about the same. Solar activity reached high levels on Thursday and an X-class flare of X1.91 hit Earth causing a R3 radio blackout last night. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp was at 4 yesterday going to 3 last night. The solar wind reached 692 km/s. NOAA forecasts that minor G1 storms are likely today with a peak Kp of 4 forecast. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 10%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are expected in the near term with a predicted probability of 70%. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 20% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs of all license classes to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we can look forward to the All Asian DX Contest on CW, the SMIRK Contest, the Pajajaran Bogor DX Contest, the SKCC QSO Party, the IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest, the LZ International 6-Meter Contest, the Stew Perry Topband Challenge, the West Virginia QSO Party, ARRL Kids Day, the Feld Hell Sprint, and the WAB 50 MHz Phone Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentDr. Tamitha Skov catches us up on some big flares and recent solar conditions - Mark KD7DTS takes us along to see the Queens of the Mountains activate SOTA - Forrest KI7QCF shows us the FC-80 snap-on tuner for the Yaesu FTX-1 - Thomas K4SWL has a relaxing lakeside POTA on CW - Save it for Parts installs some Meshtastic gear on top of a silo - Mike K8MRD takes a look at an operating mat from Quirky QRP - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Ailunce H1 DMR HT - Steve KM9G looks at the Heltec MeshPocket Meshtastic Node and Phone Charger - Matt M0DQW takes a look at the SkyRoof Satellite Tracking Software - Josh KI6NAZ builds the loading coil designed by Adam K6ARK for his Elecraft KH1 - Sebastian KI2D talks to Ara N6ARA about SOTA and Ham2k Portable Logger - James N0WRL talks to Mark M0DXR about WRTC 2026 - Steve KM9G installs 73 Linux on a small form factor PC - Steve VE6WZ builds a 75 foot vertical antenna - Kevin W1DED talks to Kay K6KJN about the Digital Library of Amateur Radio Communications (DLARC) - Ed W4EMB sends a father's day message in Morse Code - Kevin KB9RLW measures his QRPp rig's output with an oscilloscope - Ramon EA5IW takes us up a mountain for some QRP fun - Lidiette KQ3Q makes her first 6 meter QSO with a BNC binding post - Becky N4BKY and Mike N4FFF announce their new automated QSL service - James KE8PZN works the SO-50 satellite - Kevan 2E0WMG has some trouble with a boost converter and his FX-4CR - Alan W2AEW reviews the Ham Radio Duo Straight Key - Tim K5OHY talks batteries for POTA - IMSAI Guy uses an oscilloscope to look at coax delay and impedance - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com

In the log this week* Contest Spotlight: ARRL June VHF Contest* MVARC Nets on the Air* What's happening with DX? * Solar Activity Update* Upcoming Contests* Interesting Online Radio Content Contest Spotlight: ARRL June VHF ContestThis weekend brings the ARRL June VHF Contest from 1800 UTC on Saturday until 0259 UTC on Monday. Despite being called the "VHF" contest, participants can make contacts on some UHF bands as well, with QSOs being valid on 50, 144, 222, 432, and 902 MHz as well as 1.2 GHz. The objective of the contest is to get QSOs with as many 2 degree by 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible within the United States and Canada. The exchange is simply that Maidenhead grid square, so for me, that would be FM18. All legal modes are permitted. There are several Single Operator categories (High and Low Power, Portable, 3-bands, and FM Only) as well as Rover categories (Classic, Limited, and Unlimited), and Multi-Operator categories (Limited and Unlimited). The rules have specific details for power and band operations for these different categories, so definitely check out the rules for details. We have had some openings on the 6 meter band lately, so this may be a great opportunity to get a lot of contacts if the magic band cooperates this weekend. Full rules and contest information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/june-vhf. Good luck. MVARC Nets on the Air* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ] * 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM] * MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]What's Happening with DXThere will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week. Stations on the air include Saipan Island (KH0N), Cyprus (ZC4RH), Bermuda (VP9/WA4PGM), Saint Kitts Island (V47JA), Saint Martin Island (FS/K9EL), Greenland (OX3LX), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Tokelau (ZK3ZK), Kuwait (9K2HN), Falkland Islands (VP8DPD), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/ Solar Activity UpdateAs we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 142 and the estimated sunspot number was 133 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently with the geomagnetic field being at unsettled levels and the Kp was at 5-6 last night. The solar wind reached 513 km/s on Thursday and polarity was mostly negative. G1 level storms were present. Today solar wind is expected to return to nominal conditions and tomorrow positive polarity coronal hole high speed streams are expected with a chance of the coronal mass ejections from June 8th to have a glancing blow at Earth. Geomagnetic storms at minor to moderate G1-G2 levels are expected today and tomorrow moderate to strong G2 to G3 storms are possible. Sunday these conditions are expected to lessen as the coronal hole and mass ejection effects are reduced. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 5%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible with a predicted probability of 40%. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. While the storms may make things challenging this weekend, HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs of all license classes to get on the air and work the world. Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/. Upcoming ContestsOn the contest calendar this weekend we can look forward to the YB ORARI DX Contest, the Asia-Pacific Sprint (SSB), the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the Portugal Day Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, the REF DDFM 6m Contest, the GACW WWSA CW DX Contest, the ARRL June VHF Contest, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air. The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.phpInteresting Online Radio ContentDr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW gets us up to speed with solar weather this week - Kevin W1DED talks to Sebastian KI2D about Ham2k Portable Logger - Matt M0DQW takes a look at SDR++ Brown - Colin MM0OPX reviews an inexpensive portable paddle - Hayden VK7HH takes a look at his favorite radio finds on AliExpress - Ara N6ARA and Mark KD7DTS do their first edition of the Sofas on the Air Podcast and talk about Ara making his SOTA Goat - Kevin W1DED and the Contest Crew answer viewer questions - Thomas K4SWL activates POTA pedestrian mobile - Steve KM9G takes a look at the W0AEZ QRP Battery - Walt K4OGO shows us Museum Ships on the Air and a day in the Norfolk and Portsmouth Harbor - TJ K9KJ starts his build of the CFT1 - Evan K2EJT gives us his thoughts on the good, bad, and ugly of the FTX-1 - Mike K8MRD installs his FTX-1 for mobile - Walt K4OGO takes a look at the Xiegu X6200 - Steve KM9G encourages amateurs to ignore negativity and experiment - George VK2AOE restores some classic straight keys - Dugbo KD7DUG activates SOTA with a Cricket 20M kit, Elecraft KH1, and 2M Slim Jim - Evan K2EJT activates POTA with the FTX-1 Optima - That's it for this week.Best 73,EdN2EC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mvarc.substack.com