The Big 94 Celebrates 2nd Anniversary On The Air

It was November 8th 2020, when the new 146.940 repeater took to the air with a new Motorola repeater, a new high end controller, a new antenna, and a new call sign. The former W2GBO repeater was christened K2RHI. Special thanks to Bob K2RHI for all his work building the new repeater and getting it …

Amateur Radio Operators Invited to Participate in Scientific Experiments

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will be conducting their largest experiment and research campaign from October 19 - 28, 2022. Amateur radio operators are invited to listen and participate. The research will last for 10 days and include 13 experiments, with transmissions taking place between 1400 - 0600 UTC daily. The transmission experiments …

ARRL Foundation Accepting Applications for Club Grants and 2023 Scholarships

The ARRL Foundation is now accepting applications for grants to amateur radio organizations and for its 2023 Scholarship Program.The grants program awards limited funding to organizations for eligible amateur radio related projects and initiatives, particularly those with a focus on educating, licensing, and supporting amateur radio activities. Youth-based projects and initiatives are especially encouraged. The …

The Largest Commercial Communications Array Ever Just Launches

Expect to see it – it’s huge and bright The problem is, it might outshine all stars and planets On the weekend SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched a giant satellite into space. Called BlueWalker 3, it’s a prototype by American company AST SpaceMobile, which is to create a space-based mobile broadband network. This is only one …

ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program

The ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program, in effect since April 19, 2022, will cover the one-time $35 application fee for new amateur radio license candidates younger than 18 years old for tests administered under the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) program."We are thrilled that we are able to provide this opportunity to our youth candidates," …

New Amateur Radio License Applications Fee To Become Effective April 19, 2022

A Public Notice released by the Federal Communications Commission on March 23rd, 2022, in M-D Docket No. 20-270, announced that new application fees for Wireless Telecommunications Bureau applications will become effective onApril 19th, 2022. The new fees, mandated by Congress, apply to applications for Amateur Radio licenses including those associated with filing Form 605, the …

Amateur Radio in Ukraine Ordered Off the Air in State of Emergency

A state of emergency was declared in Ukraine just prior to the Russian military invasion, except for eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts starting on February 24th. The parliament approved the decree introduced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 23rd, as the threat of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine continues to grow. The International Amateur Radio …

FCC Re-issues Warning: Amateur Service Licensees May Not Use Radio Equipment to Commit Criminal Acts

The Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau, on February 24th, has re-issued an earlier Enforcement Advisory that licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services, are prohibited from using radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts. The Bureau recognizes that these services can be …

Some New Rules Going into Effect For ARRL Field Day 2022

After taking a few detours over the past couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ARRL Field Day rules are being updated on a permanent basis starting this summer. ARRL conducted a Field Day community survey with invitations propagated far and wide, and direct emails sent to more than 15,000 individuals and ARRL-affiliated clubs. …

Heil Sound Changes Hands

Heil Sound has changed hands. Founded by Bob Heil, K9EID, and based in Fairview Heights, Illinois, Heil Sound is a manufacturer of microphones, microphone accessories, and audio accessories for both professionals and amateurs. The new owners are Heil Sound President and CEO Ash Levitt and Director of Operations Steve Warford. Sarah Heil, who was co-owner of …