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2025 ARRL Division Elections: Voting Ends November 21 |
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Elections are underway for seats on the ARRL Board of Directors. Members in the Pacific, Southeastern, and Southwestern Divisions have until noon Eastern Time on November 21, 2025, to vote. You may vote in the election if you were a Full member in the Division as of September 10, 2025. Check your email and mail for voting instructions from Election Services Co. (ESC). If you haven’t received your ballot information, contact the ESC helpdesk at 866-720-4357 or email ARRLElection@ElectionServicesCorp.com. ARRL is governed by its Board of Directors. Elections are held for contested seats in five of the 15 ARRL Divisions each year, for terms of 3 years. Winners of the current election cycle will assume their roles beginning January 1, 2026.
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Images from Space Celebrate 25 Years of Ham Radio on the ISS |
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Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) will mark two major milestones this month with a special slow scan television (SSTV) event aboard the International Space Station (ISS). From November 12 through November 20, the station will transmit a series of 12 commemorative SSTV images, pausing only for a scheduled educational contact.
The “SSTV Spacetacular” will highlight both the recent World Scouting movement’s Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) and the 25th anniversary of ARISS ham radio operations on the ISS.
ARISS first went on the air on November 13, 2000, when the ISS Expedition 1 crew made the inaugural ham radio contact using an Ericsson VHF radio. That same year, the first scheduled school contact linked ISS Commander Bill Shepherd, who had call sign KD5GSL, with students at Luther Burbank School in Burbank, Illinois. Since then, ARISS has connected an estimated 200,000 students, educators, and enthusiasts each year with astronauts living and working aboard the orbiting laboratory.
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| This SSTV image transmitted from the International Station Station, and celebrating Jamboree-on-the-Air, was captured by Zhanh, BI6PUW, from the People’s Republic of China, on November 12, 2025. Pictured is NASA Astronaut Loral O’Hara, KI5TOM. |
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For this month’s event, scouts, educators, students, and amateur radio operators worldwide are invited to receive and decode the transmitted images. Participants may upload their received pictures to the ARISS SSTV gallery to earn a commemorative electronic award certificate.
In ARISS’s most recent SSTV campaign — held in early October to celebrate World Space Week — nearly 9,000 images were submitted by more than 3,600 participants on all continents, including three from Antarctica.
For the latest SSTV schedules, frequencies, and event details, follow ARISS on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Thanks to ARISS for the information in this news release.
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Get Ready for the 2025 ARRL November Sweepstakes — Phone! |
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One of amateur radio’s most anticipated weekends of the year is almost here! The 2025 ARRL November Sweepstakes phone (SSB voice) contest takes place November 15 – 17, beginning at 2100 UTC Saturday and running through 0259 UTC Monday. The CW (Morse code) event was held 2 weeks ago.
Sweepstakes is more than just a contest — it’s a long-standing tradition in amateur radio self-training and operating skill. Participants throughout the US and Canada share a unique exchange of information designed to simulate message-handling procedures. The event traces its roots back to 1930, making it the oldest domestic radio contest. After a pause during World War II, it returned stronger than ever, continuing to connect generations of radio amateurs.
Each station may be contacted only once, and multipliers are limited to the 85 ARRL and RAC (Radio Amateurs of Canada) Sections. There are no changes to Sweepstakes multipliers for 2025. Contacting all of them earns a “Clean Sweep” and the bragging rights that come with the coveted Clean Sweep coffee mug — a badge of honor for many hams.
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| Looking Back: 2024 ARRL November Sweepstakes — Phone
Last year’s phone weekend, held November 16 – 18, 2024, delivered solid activity and good participation across the bands. A total of 1,457 logs were submitted, representing 356,085 valid contacts after log-checking.
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| Mason Matich, KC3WNY, operated as part of the W6YX Stanford Amateur Radio Club team during the 2024 ARRL November Sweepstakes — Phone Contest. The team placed fifth overall in the School Club category, reporting 569 contacts in 84 Sections. [David Jaffe, WD6T, photo] |
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While band conditions weren’t spectacular, they were better than the previous year, with 10 meters showing impressive early activity — carrying 14% of all QSOs in the first two hours. Twenty meters proved to be the workhorse band, accounting for 32% of all contacts, while 40 meters contributed 25% and 15 meters accounted for 20%. The Single Operator, Low Power category once again led the pack, making up 42% of entries. Overall, Single Operator categories represented 94% of all submissions. The Limited Antennas Overlay, introduced in 2023, continued its momentum with 483 participants choosing that option.
Youth participation also ticked upward, with 19 logs submitted in the Youth Overlay. Among them, Levi Jefferies, K6JO (operating as ND7K), reclaimed the top Youth Overlay position and placed seventh overall in Single Operator, High Power. Sweepstakes newcomer Max Freedman, N4ML (today, he’s a member of the ARRL headquarters staff), made a strong showing in Single Operator Unlimited, High Power, with the second-highest youth score of 158,000 points.
Join the Fun This Weekend!
Whether you’re a seasoned contester, a casual operator, or taking part in your first major event, ARRL November Sweepstakes — Phone — is your chance to be part of one of amateur radio’s greatest traditions. Fire up your rig, check your logging software, and get ready to make some memorable contacts this weekend!
For complete information, including full rules and entry details, visit the ARRL Sweepstakes page.
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Save the Date: Annual ARRL YouTube Telethon to Support Teachers Institute |
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Save the date for the fun and entertaining annual ARRL YouTube Telethon to raise money for the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, which will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, on the Ham Radio Crash Course YouTube channel. In past years, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised to support this important program to invest in the next generation of amateur radio!
Hosted this year by YouTuber Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, hear from several amateur radio content creators and technical contributors who will join Nass and others on the stream. ARRL Director of Education and Learning Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, will also join to discuss details of the Teachers Institute and its successes.
The ARRL Teachers Institute is a donor-funded professional development program designed to help classroom teachers elevate their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs through the use of wireless technology. There were 13 sessions conducted in 2025.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
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On the Air LIVE
Join ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, as he discusses the Winlink system and how it can be used to send messages to loved ones outside of a disaster area.
Up Next:
📅 Date: November 25, 2025
🕗 Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific
👉 Register Now
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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. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. |
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On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
Preparedness Takes Practice
Jessica Crotty, CEO of C. Crane, a northern California company known for designing and supporting quality radios and communication products, visits the podcast in support of her November/December 2025 On the Air article “Confidence in Preparedness Starts with Knowing Your Equipment.” The conversation centers on the importance of not only having a license and a radio, but also knowing the ins and outs of using that radio, long before the day you need it. Listen Now
More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
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| The Nuclear Ship Savannah Amateur Radio Club will commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the first transatlantic amateur radio QSO on November 15, 2025, 1430Z – 2200Z. Special event station K3S will operate from the ship, berthed at Canton Marine Terminal #13 in Baltimore, Maryland, on 7, 14, 18, 21 and 28 MHz. The shipboard station uses a high-powered HF transceiver and 500W amplifier with wide-spaced parallel dipoles 50 feet above the deck. An award certificate will be available. Additional information available at QRZ.com.
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| The Samuel F. Morse Amateur Radio Club, W6SFM, in Sacramento, California, will host the Bug Roundup November 15 – 17, 0000Z – 0000Z, a special time to bring “bug” operators together on the air. A “bug” is a semi-automatic key on which dits (dots) repeat as long as the paddle is held, but dahs (dashes) are made manually. In the same spirit as ARRL’s Straight Key Night, participants are encouraged to make simple, conversational, “rag chew” QSOs using their bug-type key. Club members say this is an opportunity to share and exhibit an operator’s personalized fist. Frequencies to be used are 3.533, 7.033, 14.033 and 28.033 MHz. A QSL card will be available, and participants are encouraged to Call “CQ BR” so operators will know you are a Bug Roundup participant.
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| ARRL Roanoke Division Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, presented a certificate of appreciation to the American Legion Post 111 club, KA4ATL, in Conway, South Carolina, on Tuesday November 1, for hosting a Veterans Day station. There are eleven ARRL-affiliated American Legion radio clubs in the United States.
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| Rick Dux, WB4LZW; Larry Heinz, W2FTV; TALARC (The American Legion Amateur Radio Club) President Harry Chinery, KN4IEF; ARRL Roanoke Division Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP; Bob Chapman, WB4FTU, and Marc Blazer, N5BWX. [Photo courtesy of Bill Morine, N2COP] |
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ARRL has published its 2024 Annual Report. Included is a summary of the July 2024 decision made by the ARRL Board of Directors to approve a strategic direction, adding “Inspiring and Educating Youth” as a third advocacy priority, alongside ARRL’s longstanding commitments to Promoting and Protecting Amateur Radio. Also included is ARRL’s Report to America, which recognizes the contributions of radio amateurs, particularly those involved with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), in supporting emergency response efforts during various natural disasters. The report concludes with copies of the 2024 and 2023 financial statements and an independent auditor’s report.
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| Open Positions at ARRL
Come join the headquarters staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®! We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the following positions:
Membership Manager
Senior RFI Lab Engineer
Public Relations and Outreach Manager
Purchasing Associate
Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at www.arrl.org/careers.
ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.
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| Solar Image from the Learmonth Solar Observatory via Australian Spaceweather.com November 13, 2025. |
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ARRL Solar Report November 13, 2025
There were two nights of visible aurora throughout the continental US and dead HF bands due to a severe geomagnetic storm caused by what space.com calls “a colossal X5.1 class solar flare” and associated coronal mass ejection (CME) on Tuesday November 11.
Meanwhile, Region 4274 was responsible for multiple low- to mid-level C-class flares. The largest was a C4.5/Sf on November 12. Slight decay was observed in Region 4274. Motion along the inversion lines was minimal within the group. The rest of the spot groups were either stable or in decay. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed.
Solar activity is now forecast to be high, with R1-R2 (minor – moderate) expected and X-class (R3-strong) activity likely on November 13 – 15, mostly due to the flare potential of Region 4274.
Solar wind parameters continued to reflect persistent negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream influences (CH HSS). Total field strength observed on several readings was near 8, but averaged near 5 nT. The Bz component was mostly north, but did see a brief period sustained southward near -6 nT. Solar wind speeds were between 450 km/s and 600 km/s. Phi was variable through the first half of the period before turning mostly negative for the second half. The solar wind environment was likely to become mildly enhanced with CME influences on November 10 as the November 7 CME passed in close proximity to Earth. Stronger solar wind disturbances were likely over November 11-12 due to the anticipated arrival of the November 9 asymmetric halo CME.
The 10.7-centimeter flux: November 13, 185; November 14, 180; November 15, 170; November 16, 165; November 17, 170; November 18, 165; November 19, 160.
Predicted sunspot numbers: November 13, 125; November 14, 119; November 15, 131; November 16, 116; November 17, 132; November 18, 112; November 19, 143.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read A Quick Guide to HF Propagation Using Solar Indices, and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.
For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.
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- November 15 – 16 — Ham Spirit Contest (CW, phone)
- November 15 — All Austrian 160-Meter Contest (CW)
- November 15 — REF 160-Meter Contest (CW )
- November 15 – 16 — South American Integration Contest (CW )
- November 15 — Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
- November 15 — RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest (CW )
- November 15 – 17 — ARRL November Sweepstakes, SSB (phone)
- November 16 — FISTS Sunday Sprint (CW)
- November 16 — Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment Party (CW)
- November 16 – 17 — Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- November 17 — RSGB FT4 Contest (digital)
- November 19 — 1.2G VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest (digital)
- November 20 – 21 — Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- November 20 — NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
- November 20 — NTC QSO Party (CW)
- November 22 – 23 — LZ DX Contest (CW, phone)
- November 23 — North American SSB Sprint Contest (phone)
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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
- November 15 | Superstition ARC Superfest & Electronics Expo, hosting the ARRL Arizona State Convention, Mesa, Arizona
- December 12 – 13 | The Tampa Bay Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida
- January 10 | Ham Radio University, ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville, New York
- January 16 – 17 | Southwest Florida Regional Hamfest, ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers, Florida
Remember to search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area.
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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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