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“Radio Connects” is 2025 ARRL Field Day Theme — Merchandise Available for Preorder |
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ARRL has released the logo and theme for this year’s Field Day, June 28 – 29, 2025.
The theme for 2025 Field Day is “Radio Connects” — highlighting the many ways that wireless technology connects people across distances near and far. The event is part picnic, campout, practice for emergencies, informal contest, and most of all, fun! ARRL Field Day is the most popular ham radio activity held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend in June each year, more than 31,000 hams get together with their radio clubs, schools, or friends to operate from remote locations.
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| Ham radio provides a connection — both for practical communications and to form relationships with fellow radio amateurs. No matter who you are, or what your background or interests are, if you have an interest in radio and wireless technology, radio connects you with others.
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The theme is universal, says ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager Sierra Harrop, W5DX. “Local amateur radio clubs bridge generations. Contacts made across town or around the world allow cultural exchange, right over the air. In times of crisis, radio connects those in need with information. The whole point of amateur radio is to connect, both literally and figuratively,” she said. Amateur radio also inspires the next generation of technical leaders by providing a hands-on sandbox where students can gain experience in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Make your plans to connect with radio for ARRL Field Day. Use the Field Day site locator to find a site near you. Clubs planning to host a site may list their event information there, as well.
Don’t Forget the Swag!
2025 ARRL Field Day Radio Connects merchandise is available for preorder from the ARRL Store. All the fan-favorite gear is back: tee-shirts (complete with ARRL Sections checklist on the back!), mugs, and pins are available for shipping in late April 2025. Please note: any orders from the ARRL Store that contain 2025 ARRL Field Day merchandise will be held for shipping until the Field Day items are available in late April.
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For more information about 2025 ARRL Field Day and the “Radio Connects” theme — or to start planning your activation — visit www.arrl.org/field-day.
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Dayton Hamvention® 2025 Award Winners Announced |
| The recipients of the 2025 Hamvention Awards were announced on March 11, 2025. “The selection process was highly competitive, given the outstanding quality of nominations submitted this year. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners for 2025,” said Dayton Hamvention Awards Chair Michael Kalter, W8CI.
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| Amateur of the Year: Neil Rapp, WB9VPG |
| Club of the Year: RV Radio Network (RVRN) |
| Technical Achievement Award: Dr. Kristina Collins, KD8OXT |
| Special Achievement: Julio Ripoll, WD4R |
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[Photos courtesy of Hamvention]
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ARRL Ham Radio Open House — Site Locator Live, PR Workshop Registration |
| ARRL Ham Radio Open House is a national event being hosted by local amateur radio clubs in April to coincide with World Amateur Radio Day on April 18. The event is designed to highlight technical innovations in ham radio, and show off the current state of the art. It will serve as a tool to tell the story of amateur radio being a pathway to tomorrow’s technical careers.
A site locator is now live on the ARRL Ham Radio Open House page at www.arrl.org/open-house. Participating clubs may enter their information so that local hams and members of the public may find the event.
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A public relations workshop for those organizing an event is being held via Zoom on Wednesday, March 19. It is open to any amateur radio public information volunteer, but will be especially valuable to ARRL Public Information Coordinators, Public Information Officers, Section Managers, Affiliated Club Coordinators, club presidents, and other leaders. Registration is required.
If you’re unable to make the live interactive event, a recording will be available afterward. For more information on how to create a Ham Radio Open House at your club’s station, visit www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day.
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Perfect Storm Exercise in California Gets Results |
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The ARRL San Joaquin Valley Section (SJV) conducted “Perfect Storm,” an amateur radio emergency exercise, on March 5 – 7.
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) Dan Sohn, WL7COO, asked that a section-wide exercise be created that would engage both amateur radio operators and non-amateurs to become more active in their community’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
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| There were 120 participants from 9 counties within the SJV Section, including Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, and two counties outside the section, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Both amateurs and participants equipped with General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios gathered local situational awareness data. The exercise culminated with a two-hour period during which local groups forwarded their data to a mock Incident Command Post. At the same time, leaders of the groups were asked to participate in a live “hot wash” on Zoom, where the results were reviewed, and errors could be corrected in real time.
SJV Section Manager Steven Hendricks, KK6JTB, said the Perfect Storm exceeded expectations and SEC Sohn reported the exercise was a resounding success.
“We wanted to engage many different organizations and especially young hams,” said Hendricks. “It’s important to tap into their excitement and engage them so when a disaster does strike, they can become a vital part of team.”
The SVJ Section is now planning to have two exercises every year.
For more information about the ARRL San Joaquin Valley Section, visit their Facebook page San Joaquin Valley Section – ARRL | Facebook.
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Results of ARRL Section Manager Elections |
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The following volunteers have been elected to two-year terms as ARRL Section Managers, beginning July 1, 2025.
New Section Managers:
Craig S. McVeay, NØCSM, has been elected ARRL Nevada Section Manager. He will replace John Bigley, N7UR, who has been Section Manager since 2015.
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| In the ARRL Northern New Jersey Section, Nomar Vizcarrondo, NP4H, has been appointed Section Manager effective March 10, 2025, ahead of the term to which he was elected. He succeeds Bob Buus, W2OD, who passed away in February. Vizcarrondo previously served as Director of the ARRL Hudson Division from 2023 – 2024 and had been Vice Director from 2022 – 2023.
Reelected Section Managers:
Chris Van Winkle, AB3WG, Maryland/DC Section
Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, Rhode Island Section
Steven Hendricks, KK6JTB, San Joaquin Valley Section
David Overton, W5JDO, West Texas Section
The ARRL Field Organization is comprised of local volunteers who serve the frontline mission of the association. ARRL has 71 Sections, and the Section Manager coordinates the volunteer efforts by appointing other key positions within the sections. Section Managers are elected to two-year terms, as voted on by ARRL members who reside in the section. For more information, or to get involved in your local ARRL Section, visit www.arrl.org/field-organization.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
Have a Ham Radio Open House in April
World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) is April 18 every year, and in 2025, WARD is extra special. ARRL invites radio clubs and schools to organize a Ham Radio Open House in April, 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 STEM fields for the next generation. ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager Sierra Harrop, W5DX, and Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering at the University of Scranton, Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, join the On the Air podcast to talk about what a Ham Radio Open House might include, and how your club or group can start organizing one.
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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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| Montana’s Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club (GFAARC) and Great Falls Masonic Amateur Radio Club (GFMARC) are joining together to sponsor the annual Spring Thaw event for 2025. The event will take place Saturday, May 3, from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Cascade County DES Office in Great Falls. This year’s theme is centered around the “makers” in the amateur radio hobby who like to build equipment to use in their radio shacks. Demonstrations include building high power batteries for portable operations, basic soldering skills, and building antennas for QRP operations. There will also be an opportunity for hams to acquire many types of new old stock (NOS) electronic components at low prices. Thousands of components available include capacitors, resistors, ICs, transistors, diodes, and connectors. In addition to a swap meet, special activities include an “All About Ham Radio” display provided by KA2ODP to introduce non-hams — and potentially new hams — to the hobby, and an equipment test station to allow checking basic equipment power and continuity functions. For more information, contact: Rod Jackson, AE7JJ, at hamae7jj@gmail.com or by cell at 406-899-8253.
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| Join the Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club (FMARC) as it honors World War II heroes at Buckingham Field, Fort Myers, Florida, March 18 – 20, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EDT for a special live radio event. W4LX will operate daily on 28.360, 21.360, 14.270, and 147.345 MHz. A special certificate is available. Guests attending will be able to watch and listen as operators make contacts to honor the men and women who trained at the base. Whether you’re a history buff, radio enthusiast, or just curious, you can experience ham radio in action and be part of this unique tribute! Established in 1942, and originally known as Buckingham Army Airfield, it was a significant military training base during World War II. The base played a crucial role in training aerial gunners who served on bombers like the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator. At its peak, the airfield had thousands of personnel, multiple runways, and extensive facilities, including barracks, mess halls, and training ranges. Today it remains a historical landmark in the Fort Myers area, reflecting southwest Florida’s contribution to the war effort. Much of the former base has been redeveloped, but remnants of its past, such as old buildings and infrastructure, can still be found. For more information, contact the FMARC at fmarc.net.
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| This image was taken on March 13, 2025. [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI] |
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ARRL Solar Report March 13, 2025
The Earth is currently experiencing high-speed solar wind stream effects from a long coronal hole in the Sun’s southern hemisphere. These effects are expected to persist March 13 – 15. Solar flare activity remains categorically low due to only C-Class flares being observed, but the frequency of the flares has increased. There have been nearly 20 C-Class flares observed from an unclassified region of the sun, but no Earth-directed CMEs were observed.
The solar wind speed increased on March 12, ranging mostly between 350 km/s and 560 km/s and is currently at around 560 km/s.
The 10.7-centimeter solar flux for March 13 – 14 is 160; 170 on March 15; 175 on March 16, and 180 on March 17. No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours.
There will be a total eclipse of the Moon tonight (March 13). The full Worm Moon is about to pass through Earth’s shadow, producing a total lunar eclipse visible from North and South America.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read “What the Numbers Mean…,” and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.
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- March 13 — BCC QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- March 15 — PODXS 070 Club St. Patrick’s Day Contest (digital)
- March 15 – 17 — BARTG HF RTTY Contest (digital)
- March 15 – 16 — Russian DX Contest (CW, phone)
- March 15 – 16 — F9AA Cup, SSB (phone)
- March 15 — AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
- March 15 – 16 — Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- March 15 – 24 — AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest (CW, phone)
- March 16 — UBA Spring Contest, SSB (phone)
- March 16 – 17 — Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- March 17 — Bucharest Digital Contest (FT4)
- March 17 — RSGB FT4 Contest (FT4)
- March 19 — IRTS 80m Counties Contest (CW, phone)
- March 20 – 21 — Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information.
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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
- March 15 | 69th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
- March 29 | Central Dakota Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, hosting the ARRL North Dakota State Convention, Bismarck, North Dakota
- April 5 | RARSfest, hosting the ARRL North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
- April 11 – 12 | Green Country Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
- April 25 – 27 | Big Bear HamEscape, hosting the ARRL Orange Section Convention, Big Bear Lake, California
- April 26 | Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo, hosting the ARRL Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
- April 26 | Spokane Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley, Washington
- May 4 | Warminster Amateur Radio Club – Annual Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol, Pennsylvania
- May 10 | Lincoln Amateur Radio Club, hosting the ARRL Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
- May 30 – June 1 | SEA-PAC, hosting the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
Remember to search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area.
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The ARRL A-1 Operator Club has 6,359 all-time members as of May 2024. Launched in May of 1933 by ARRL’s then-Communications Manager Ed Handy, W1BDI, the spirit of the A-1 Operator Club membership is to “bring attention to good operating as a paramount issue, and to give it something of the importance it deserves.”
Membership is available to all currently active, licensed, amateur radio operators. Membership comes after nomination by two club members who find the nominee qualified to be a member of this elite group. Those who gain membership to an A-1 Operator Club will receive a gold seal, A-1 Operator Club certificate. Pins recognizing this achievement are available in the ARRL Store.
For more information on how to nominate someone for this prestigious membership and to see the nomination guidelines, please visit www.arrl.org/a-1-op.
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ARRL — Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information
Join ARRL or renew today! No other organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.
NCJ — National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprints, and QSO parties.
QEX — A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
Free of charge to ARRL members…
Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts, and much more!
Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Threads, X, and Instagram. |
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 51 times each year. ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their profile at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.
Copyright © 2025 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission.
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