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Get Ready for “Ham Radio Open House” on World Amateur Radio Day 2025 |
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To help promote amateur radio science and technology, and to honor the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), ARRL is inviting radio clubs and schools to organize a Ham Radio Open House in April, built around World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) on April 18.
The event is intended to highlight the Amateur Radio Service for its development and practice of the latest radio communications and technology, and as a hands-on pathway into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields for the next generation.
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| In April, amateur radio clubs, school stations, and other groups will have the opportunity to advance public knowledge about ham radio by welcoming their communities into their stations for the Ham Radio Open House, as part of World Amateur Radio Day. The focus will be on scientific advancement and demonstrating cutting-edge technology. This is a chance to not only shape the conversation about modern ham radio but also to show how it serves as a steppingstone and testbed for many young people pursing STEM education and future high-tech careers.
ARRL has teamed up with HamSCI — Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation — and the science community organization SciStarter to invite the public to participate in One Million Acts of Science during April, which is Citizen Science Month. By hosting a Ham Radio Open House at your group’s station on April 18, you’ll introduce individuals who might never otherwise find out about today’s amateur radio, where science and technology intersect with fun and learning.
ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager Sierra Harrop, W5DX, said ARRL is excited to work with HamSCI and SciStarter on this project. “This is an exciting opportunity to really reclaim the public’s image of ham radio and show them the modern, cutting-edge technology that’s in use by many amateurs,” she said.
Clubs are encouraged to showcase the latest weak-signal modes, such as FT8 using WSJT-X, or other digital modes. This could be a great opportunity to explore new areas of amateur radio and demonstrate how the service is at the cutting edge of electrical engineering.
Look for resources to help organize and promote the event soon. Find details at www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day.
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ARRL Club Grant Program Awards a Half Million Dollars to Grow Ham Radio |
| Thirty-seven amateur radio clubs benefitted from $500,502 in grants through the ARRL Club Grant Program to implement projects that educate, recruit, train, and promote amateur radio in their communities. Funding for the grants comes from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC).
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There were 110 applicants to the 2024 ARRL Club Grant Program, with applicants from all ARRL Divisions and 40 states, requesting nearly $1.6 million in support, in amounts ranging from as small as $1,000 to as large as the maximum of $25,000. Funds were distributed to the clubs in December of 2024.
Some examples of the work that will be accomplished via these grants include upgrades to antennas within Florida’s SARNet, a statewide linked UHF repeater network that is used extensively by emergency managers during hurricanes; enhancement of amateur radio-based telemetry systems onboard Illinois Space Society projects, and many programs targeting youth outreach.
“These grants are possible because of the strong partnership between ARRL and ARDC,” said ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL, “and provide transformational impact for the next generation of amateur radio clubs.”
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ARRL Club Grants Fund Hardware for Florida students to make contact with the International Space Station |
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| NASA astronaut Sunita Lyn “Suni” Williams currently on board the ISS. (NASA photo) |
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Pine View School for the Gifted (PVS) in Osprey, Florida, has an opportunity to achieve a historic milestone on Tuesday, January 28, at 12:21 PM (EST), when students and faculty make live contact with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The event marks the first time any school in Sarasota County has been selected to take part in the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program and reflects PVS’s commitment to inspiring future scientists, engineers, and explorers.
Partnering with the Tamiami Amateur Radio Club (TARC), an ARRL Affiliated Club in Venice, Florida, PVS will use radios, antennas, and expert operators to facilitate this rare connection. Sixteen students will engage in a live two-way conversation with astronaut Sunita Lyn “Suni” Williams, asking questions and receiving answers in real time. The ISS will be in communication range for just 11 minutes, traveling at over 17,500 MPH.
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| The station’s equipment and satellite tracking ground station were funded by a grant from the ARRL Foundation, secured by TARC last summer. TARC members will assist in assembling the station and training students in its operation.
“Connecting with astronauts on the ISS will inspire these students for years to come, emphasizing curiosity, exploration, and the limitless possibilities of science and technology,” said TARC president Paul Nienaber, KN4BAR.
Nienaber added that TARC has played a pivotal role in preparing for this event by training students, parents, and faculty to earn amateur radio operator licenses. So far, 13 students and five adults at PVS have earned their FCC licenses, paving the way for the establishment of a school amateur radio club. With equipment on long-term loan from TARC, the club will soon operate a fully functional amateur radio station, capable of global communication.
The Sarasota County School District will live stream the event on its YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@SarasotaSchools).
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Ham Radio Demonstration Helps Survivors of Violence at Camp |
| Camp Family Justice serves pediatric survivors of violence in Contra Costa County, California, providing them with an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment surrounded by support services, including a medical clinic. The camp provides the opportunity for children to decompress, learn resiliency skills and build a path forward. Children who applied this year, and attended last year, are now reporting that they worked diligently in school to earn the privilege of attending Camp Family Justice for a second year.
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| Spencer Holmes, KM6SJ, shows how to use an handheld amatuer radio to students at Camp Family Justice. |
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Also contributing to Camp Family Justice is Spencer Holmes, KM6SJ, a popular science teacher at Heritage High School in Brentwood and adviser for the school’s amateur radio club, W6HHS.
A few weeks ago, Holmes brought a box full of radios to the camp. “The kids were excited,” said Holmes. “They had a lot of questions and two of campers took two GMRS radios and talked to each other for hours.” Holmes also set up a mini HF station. He was able to make contact with several stations and allowed the youth to talk, on a first-name basis, with other amateur radio operators.
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| “Clearly, it was chaotic fun,” he added. “But it allowed them to enjoy a safe environment and a sense of community.” Holmes is one of the only teachers in the state to receive a national supporting grant from ARRL to facilitate radio communication education.
Some of the kids will be cycling through again this year to Camp Family Justice. Holmes thinks he might start talking about how to become an amateur radio operator and how he can make that happen.
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| Registered Nurse Adrianna Goyette (left) and Spencer Holmes, KM6SJ, reunited at Camp Family Justice. |
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Holmes is known for his dedication to education and his long-standing commitment to the East County community. What makes this year at Camp Family Justice especially meaningful for Holmes is an unexpected reunion with Registered Nurse Adrianna Goyette. Goyette, it turns out, was once Holmes’s student at Heritage High School. Both are now giving back to the community, contributing their time and expertise to the camp’s violence prevention program. Their story reflects the strength of the East County community, the power of mentorship, the lasting impact of education and a tip of the hat to amateur radio.
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Former QST Columnist, Dr. Emil Pocock, W3EP, Silent Key |
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Dr. Emil Pocock, W3EP, has become a Silent Key. He passed away on January 10, 2025, at the age of 78. From 1992 to 2002, Pocock edited “The World Above 50 MHz” for ARRL’s membership journal, QST. He served as a volunteer in the ARRL Laboratory for many years.
Pocock was first licensed at the age of 12 and found a career as an academic. He was well-regarded by colleagues at ARRL as always being willing to help and teach. Longtime QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, led the publication during Pocock’s tenure. “Emil was a respected QST columnist for many years and had extensively studied VHF propagation. His contributions to the amateur community will be missed,” said Ford.
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| According to his obituary, Pocock is survived by his wife of more than 37 years, Ann; and two nieces, Rebecca Pocock and Juniper Downs, and their families. A celebration of life will be scheduled in the future.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
Slow-Scan TV: Sending Pictures by Radio
Listen to the latest episode of the On the Air podcast. In preparation for the first On the Air Live interactive livestream launching on January 28, we take a look at the topic: slow-scan TV (SSTV), a ham radio mode that allows you to use RF to send static images. Steve Ford, WB8IMY, author of “SSTV: When a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” in the January/February 2025 issue of On the Air, joins the podcast to share the basics of this mode. Visit learn.arrl.org to register for the January 28 livestream!
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ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week’s top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews and other features.
The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry, iTunes, and Apple Podcasts.
On the Air | ARRL Audio News
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| A reminder that Winter Field Day (WFD), hosted by the Winter Field Day Association, is scheduled to run from 1600 UTC (11 AM EST) Saturday, January 25 through 21:59 UTC (4:59 PM EST) Sunday, January 26, 2025. Stations may begin setting up as of 1600 UTC (11 AM EST) on Friday, January 24. However, cumulative set-up time may not exceed 12 hours. You can review all of the rules at Rules – WFDA. Also, remember to mark your calendar for 2025 ARRL Field Day on June 28 – 29. For additional information, visit Field Day (arrl.org).
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| The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will be conducting a research campaign January 27 – 31, 2025, and amateur radio operators can help monitor the transmissions. Operating frequencies and times will vary, but all HAARP transmissions will be between 2.75 and 10 MHz. Actual transmit days and times are highly variable, based on real-time ionospheric and/or geomagnetic conditions. All information is subject to change and information on times and dates can be found at haarp.gi.alaska.edu. This campaign is being conducted in support of research proposals from the U.S. Air Force, the University of Florida, the Naval Research Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the University of Houston. HAARP is a program of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Reception reports are appreciated and may be submitted online at: haarp.gi.alaska.edu/form/reception-reports. In addition to the research campaign, HAARP is also supporting the Ground Imaging to Rocket Investigation of Auroral Fast Features (GIRAFF) sounding rocket mission, which will be launched from Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. The GIRAFF launch window is January 21 to approximately February 5, 2025. More information on GIRAFF is available here.
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The 76th annual International DX Convention, sponsored by the Northern California DX Club, will be held at the Visalia Conference Center in Visalia, California, from April 11 – 13, 2025. This year’s theme is “Back to Basics,” an opportunity to learn effective tips and techniques to work DX and have fun doing it. The convention will feature a contest forum, DX forum, Contest Academy, DX Academy and the all-new full-day Next Generation DXing Program. There are seminars for everyone from the beginning DXer to the seasoned pro. The registration fee for all youth up to age 18 has been waived and allows free access to the convention programs, forums, and the exhibit hall. Meals, raffle tickets and the bus tour are not included with the free registration. Additionally, shirt orders must be made by 00:00 UTC on February 27 and convention pre-registration ends at 00:00 UTC on April 3. To register, visit Registration – International DX Convention.
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| The National Traffic System (NTS) 2.0 subcommittee and its working groups have completed a number of projects and initiatives. Examples include: the NTS Treasure Hunt, the Radiogram Portal, certificates, enhancing numbered texts and handling instructions, and creation of The NTS Letter. More projects are planned or in the works. The committee is looking for individuals who would like to be a part of this exciting initiative! A callout meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST for anyone who is interested in learning more about the future of NTS and NTS 2.0. The URL is bit.ly/406jokl. You are not required to download or install any additional software or apps. Just type the URL into your browser. For questions, contact ARRL New England Division Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, at k9hi@arrl.org.
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| The Southeastern VHF Society (SVHFS) will hold its annual conference on April 4 – 5, 2025 at the Quality Inn, Clarksville, Tennessee. Clarksville, located about 45 miles north of Nashville, is known as a hub for country music and entertainment. Details will soon be available on the Southeastern VHF Society website. The deadline date for the submission of papers for the 2025 conference has been extended to February 15. Details for submissions can be found here. When submitting a paper or presentation, indicate whether you plan to attend the conference and present your paper in person, or if you are submitting solely for publication. Papers and presentations are being handled by Mike Stipick, KC4RI, and should be sent to kc4ri@att.net. Stipick can also be contacted at the same e-mail address if you have any questions.
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