First introduced in 2008, the ARRL’s Field Day Station Locator Service has proved a popular addition to the Field Day toolbox. This service -- an interactive map that helps amateurs or those interested in Amateur Radio find a Field Day site near them -- is free to clubs or individuals who will be operating public Field Day stations. Stations can also be listed by state or province. So far, hams...

During the early overnight hours of Saturday, June 5 through Sunday, June 6, severe weather and tornadoes ripped across an area of Northwestern Ohio, laying a large path of destruction. ARES® and SKYWARN groups in Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Wood Counties activated nets as early as 10:30 PM Saturday, with many not standing down until 4:30 AM the next day. According to ARRL Ohio Section Manager Fr...

By H. Ward Silver, N0AX
ARRL Contributing Editor
n0ax@arrl.net

Impedance matching is a function performed many times in every radio and every radio shack. Sometimes it’s done inside a circuit and out of sight. Sometimes an automatic tuning unit clicks its way to unity SWR. And sometimes we just twiddle knobs or futz with the construction of antennas until the reflected power meter says “Good enou...

Registration remains open through Sunday, June 20, 2010, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, July 2, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Design and Construction; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.

Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes....

In September 2009, Gordon Schlesinger, W6LBV, of San Diego, California, filed a Petition for Rule Making with the FCC, seeking to amend Section 97.1 of the Commission’s rules to account for changes in technology and amateur practice since the rule was adopted. On June 8, 2010, the FCC dismissed Schlesinger’s Petition.

Section 97.1 provides that the Amateur Service rules are designed to provide a...

As volunteers at the WX4NHC -- the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) In Miami, Florida -- prepare for one of the most active hurricane seasons predicted since 2005, WX4NHC Assistant Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, said he is counting on help from amateurs to relay hurricane advisories and weather data to those affected by the storms. “The surface reports that we recei...

By Duncan MacLachlan, KU0DM
ARRL Youth Editor
ku0dm@arrl.net
June 8, 2010

For five days in July, a group of young amateurs will learn what it’s like to BE the DX with the aid of contesting greats and a world renowned station.

It’s every ham’s dream: sitting in a tropical oasis, running Europe for hours on end -- with determining what band you should be on being the hardest part of the entire trip...

The National Space Weather Program Council will be conducting a forum in Washington, DC today. The Space Weather Enterprise Forum, to be held at the National Press Club, will discuss how solar storms affect today’s technological society. This is the fourth year in a row that policymakers, researchers, legislators and reporters have gathered in Washington DC to share ideas about space weather. T...

This year, the ARRL will be using Twitter to promote Field Day events. According to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, more and more people, both young and old, are using social networking sites -- such as Twitter and Facebook -- to keep their friends up-to-date with their latest activities. The account for ARRL’s Field Day actions with Twitter is ARRL_FD. Sign up to cr...

In keeping with Boy Scouts of America’s centennial theme -- Celebrating the Adventure, Continuing the Journey -- four retired badges have been brought back for the group’s 100th anniversary. The effective date for earning these new merit badges -- Carpentry (1911-1952), Tracking (formerly Stalking, 1911-1952), Pathfinding (1911-1952) and Signaling (formerly Signaler, 1910-1992) -- is April 1, 2...

The average daily sunspot numbers were up nine points to 25.3 for this week, compared to the May 20-26 period; the average daily planetary A index rose nearly 10 points to 14.3, and this rise in geomagnetic instability came with the increase in solar activity. Sunspot numbers for May 27-June 2 were 11, 12, 43, 40, 39, 14 and 18, with a mean of 25.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 72.7, 73.2, 73.7, 73, 72...

Realize it or not, like it or not, the world has gone metric. Born in 1600s and 1700s Europe, the metric system has grown to be the prevailing measurement system. It is the official system in all countries except Myanmar, Liberia and the US. Though we have been slow to adopt the metric system here in the US overall, US branded automobiles are almost completely metric worldwide now.

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Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor
June 4, 2010

This week, Surfin’ solves the mystery surrounding our little friend -- the battery.

When I was a kid, I had a love-hate relationship with batteries. I loved those circa-1959 D- and C-cells when I powered up a toy and that toy performed as expected. I hated them when I powered up a toy and nothing happened.

I hated them even more when I popped th...

In what some are calling a “goofy yet mesmerizing stunt,” a North Carolina ham crossed the English Channel on Friday, May 28 tied to a bundle of helium balloons. Hours later, he ended a quiet and serene flight in the middle of a French cabbage patch. Jonathan Trappe, KJ4GQV, of Raleigh, was strapped in a specially equipped chair below a bright cluster of balloons when he lifted off early Friday...

Students from the Trinity Christian School at Wanniassa in the Australian Capital Territory made history on May 29 with the first Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact to be held in Canberra. The event was part of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) Centenary Dinner on May 29. More than 200 people attended the event, including international guests IARU President...

Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.org

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of May.

Almost 150 ARRL staff members, officers, Board members and volunteers made their way to Dayton for the ARRL EXPO at the 2010 Day...

Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.org

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of May.

Almost 150 ARRL staff members, officers, Board members and volunteers made their way to Dayton for the ARRL EXPO at the 2010 Day...

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque  Award for May is Mert Nellis, W0UFO, for his article “Build an Ampere-Hour Meter for Portable Operations.”  Congratulations Mert! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web Page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article ...

Lots of RF will be generated on 6 meters and up the weekend of June 12-13 during the 2010 ARRL VHF QSO Party. While many amateurs think of the VHF+ bands as a “local” band for public service, emergency communications or even a bit of fun on FM repeaters, weak-signal VHF+ enthusiasts know better. Even with a modest station, it’s possible to work hundreds, or even thousands of miles, on the VHF b...