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 …

Upcoming Amateur Events Looking for Volunteers

More upcoming events: September 16- October 2 ---- If you feel like hopping in your car anddriving to Western Mass, the coordinators for the Big E (Eastern StatesExposition) are looking for several volunteers to help with the AmateurRadio booth.  Learn more here:  https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e (https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e) Sunday October 2nd --- After a few years of hiatus the …

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 …

Geomagnetic Storm Leads to Loss of up to 40 Starlink Satellites

A geomagnetic storm on February 4 “significantly impacted” the launch of some 49 Starlink satellites. The company said the satellites were intended to achieve low-Earth orbits after being sent aloft on a Falcon 9 launcher. Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX to provide satellite internet access. SpaceX said it initially deploys its …

ARRL Announces New World Wide Digital Contest

The ARRL World Wide Digital Contest will debut at 1800 UTC on June 4, ending at 2359 on June 5, 2022. All non-RTTY modes are permitted. Going forward, RTTY will be the sole mode for the ARRL RTTY Roundup, which will continue to take place in January. In broad strokes, this will be an HF …