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Five Steps to Get Ready for April’s Ham Radio Open House |
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We’re only days away from April and ARRL’s month-long Ham Radio Open House (HROH). Radio clubs, schools, and other groups that operate a shared ham radio station are urged to join the nationwide event to raise the visibility of amateur radio and related technology.
April is also Science Citizen Month, and April 18 is World Amateur Radio Day.
It’s also the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), making the month a perfect backdrop for engaging the public in an introduction to ham radio.
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You know the experience when a newcomer visits your amateur radio station: they have a bit of overwhelmed amazement, taken back by all the new sights and sounds.
You explain to them what each component does, but oftentimes they’re gripped in a wide-eyed wonder about all the exciting technology in front of them; the gear, displays filled with radio signal waterfalls and other graphical interfaces, and the variety of sounds, from Morse code and digital to the voices of faraway people.
Look out the window, and eyes are gazed on antennas of all shapes and sizes.
In the best of situations, that sensory overload turns into getting on the air, turns into a new member of this hobby-of-hobbies, turns into a new radio amateur! That’s the energy we are tapping into for ARRL Ham Radio Open House.
Show off all the cool things that can be done in amateur radio — leading with our technological innovations, how radio works, and what we can do with our signals. Follow up with getting the visitor hands-on — let them participate in several of the 1 million acts of science that SciStarter
is working to document as part of April being Citizen Science Month.
Get the visitor on the air! Make them feel a part of it, from the moment they walk in.
ARRL wants your club to be successful.
Here are the steps to prepare for your club’s ARRL Ham Radio Open House:
1. Pick a date
Select a date (or dates) any time in the month of April to host your club station’s open house to maximize visitor traffic to your operation.
2. Use the media kit
ARRL has created a comprehensive media kit
prepared by veteran PR professionals on the ARRL Public Relations Committee. These pros want to help you shine and have given you a turn-key solution. Use as much or as little of it as you’d like – but its all there: Sample press release, PR tip sheet, media outreach timeline, and more. Find it on www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day.
3. Location, Location, Location!
The ARRL Ham Radio Open House locator tool is available at www.arrl.org/Open-House. It is a two-way street. Add your club’s information to the interactive tool or use it to find an activation already planned in your area.
This is the same tool many are accustomed to using to find ARRL Field Day sites.
4. Be a social media superstar
Social media is how many people find activities.
Make sure your club is using the power of this outreach tool to spread the word of your event.
In the HROH media kit, you’ll find a section devoted to social media best practices.
5. Be ready for next steps
You’ve planned for weeks, visitors are showing up in droves, they’re having a great time getting on the air.
Don’t leave them hanging on what’s next! Have a plan to get back in touch with them and welcome them to your next club meeting.
Prepare a licensing class to enable them to dive right into becoming a ham.
Let them know about your club’s ARRL Field Day plans and have them be a part of them.
The majority of active hams are ARRL members, so let them know the value you get from an ARRL membership and encourage them to join. Don’t forget about the free student membership for those aged 21 and under. www.arrl.org/membership.
ARRL thanks HamSCI
-- Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation -- and SciStarter
for help preparing and promoting this event.
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Sign Up Now for the ARRL Youth Rally at Dayton Hamvention! |
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Registration is now open for the ARRL Youth Rally at Dayton Hamvention®. This amazing event is set to be a great day full of hands-on radio activities for people aged 11 to 21.
Join fellow young people who are interested in ham radio, led by volunteers from the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Program, as they make a fun day out of getting to know radio – and each other. There will be an on-the-air sprint, contacts with a parachute mobile station, a kit built in the youth lounge, and a fox hunt!
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2024 ARRL Youth Rally group at Dayton Hamvention | | | |
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While Hamvention offers free tickets for youth aged 12 through high school, advance registration
for the Youth Rally is recommended. The Youth Rally registration fee is $20 and includes a t-shirt (to wear on Saturday), badge, lanyard, and reusable tote bag.
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The event is led by ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, a former teacher. Young people are empowered to take leading roles in the hobby by participating in the ARRL Youth Rally. In 2024, then-sixth-grader Cameron Frey, KD9VGV, talked about his success as a Parks on the Air® operator. “I’ve done more than 100 activations, and more than 40 different parks. I’ve also hunted more than 700 different parks,” he said.
The ARRL Youth Rally is always a day full of smiles, fun, and empowerment — make sure your young ham joins us in Dayton!
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Caribe Wave 2025 Tsunami Exercise in Puerto Rico |
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By: Angel Santana, WP3GW
Amateur radio operators in Puerto Rico participated in the Caribe Wave 2025 Tsunami exercise on March 20.
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ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Carmen Greene, KP4QVQ (R), and PREMB Zone 5 Director A. Trabal (L) in Mayagüez study a coastal map of Puerto Rico while monitoring the tsunami bulletin alerts to pass on amateur radio nodes. | | | |
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The event is an annual tsunami exercise, designed to validate and advance tsunami preparedness efforts in the Caribbean and adjacent regions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Tsunami Information Center (CTIC) served as exercise coordinators.
In Puerto Rico, the exercise was coordinated by the Puerto Rico Seismic Network
(PRSN) in conjunction with NOAA and the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau (PREMB). Prior to the event, a meeting was held between PRSN representatives, ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Emmanuel Cruz, NP4D, and regional emergency coordinators to delineate a plan to disseminate all messages directly by PRSN personnel to the local amateur radio packet BBS systems and then retransmit them via voice on all radio services including GMRS, FRS, MURS, CB, and amateur radio.
The scenario chosen for Caribe Wave 2025 was a tsunami generated by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake located approximately 168 miles off the coast of Portugal, with the expected tsunami wave arriving 8 hours later. The exercise started at 11 AM EST with an alert on radio and TV stations made by the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Some cellphone companies also sent the tsunami alert, and all systems stated very clearly that it was a test.
As the PRSN began to receive the tsunami alert bulletins, sent thru the KP4NTS and KP4DOG packet nodes, the information was sent to different coordinated amateur radio frequencies for emergency events on VHF, 40 meters and 5403.5 MHz island-wide. ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Carmen Greene, KP4QVQ, was stationed at the Zone 5 PREMB office in Mayagúez to follow how the bulletins were sent thru various amateur radio outlets.
The exercise for the amateur radio part concluded at 1 PM.
Siren systems were also tested, evacuation drills were practiced in coastal cities, and some amateur radio groups formed special nets to gather information on how they received the advisory alert. For more information on the Caribe Wave exercises, visit www.tsunamizone.org.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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“Golden Empire Amateur Radio Club hosting Parks on the Air event at North Forebay Park in Oroville” / Allen Media Group (California) March 20, 2025 -- The Golden Empire Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club
“Nothing amateur about radio” / The Mexico Ledger (Missouri) March 21, 2025 -- The Audrain Emergency Communications Incorporated.
“Amateur Radio Club to hold open house” / The Daily Courier (Pennsylvania) March 25, 2025 -- The Uniontown Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
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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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The GERATOL NET’s 52nd anniversary will be held April 6 – 13, 2025. Special event station W1G will operate on 3.668 MHz each evening starting at 0100 UTC. In addition, W1G will be operating from the West Coast at 0300 UTC, also on 3.668 MHz. Officially, the GERATOL (Greeting Extra Radio Amateurs Tired of Operating Lately) Net is a worked all states (WAS) net and all contacts must be made in the Extra Class portion of the 80-meter band. All Extra Class operators are invited to participate and there will be a certificate and QSL card available. For more information, visit geratol.net.
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Get ready for 2025 ARRL Field Day, June 28 - 29. This year’s theme is “Radio Connects.” Get all the resources to start preparing for your participation at www.arrl.org/FieldDay, and order t-shirts and other official gear at www.arrl.org/shop/FieldDay. The June issue of QST magazine will include a special section with additional advice and tips for Field Day, sponsored this year by LDG Electronics. The digital edition of June QST will be available on May 2, 2025.
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Jack Purdum, Ph.D., W8TEE, February 2025 QST Cover Plaque award winner [Photo courtesy of Scott Yonally, N8SY] | | |
Jack Purdum, Ph.D., W8TEE, is the February 2025 QST Cover Plaque award winner for his story, “Solutions for Winding Toroids.” ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Scott Yonally, N8SY, presented Purdum the award on Friday, March 21. “Even though this was not his first cover plaque, he was still very excited and grateful in receiving it, almost as much as I was in being able to present it to him.
It was an honor for sure,” said Yonally. Purdum shared the November 2017 QST Cover Plaque award for “Build Your Own Arduino-Based Antenna Analyzer” with Farrukh Zia, K2ZIA. Jack received his Novice license in 1954, upgraded to General in 1955 and has been continuously licensed ever since (K8MGT, WØODF, W9NMT, W8TEE). He currently holds an Amateur Extra Class license.
Purdum retired from the Computer Technology Department at Purdue University in 2009 and was Vice President of the Milford Amateur Radio Club from 2016-2021.
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A 2-hour interview with ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, is available on The DX Mentor Podcast, hosted by Bill Salyers, AJ8B. Minster talked about a wide range of topics from how he got started in amateur radio as a shortwave listener, to the importance of mentoring new licensees. He also answered many questions from Salyers about ARRL membership, matters involving the Board of Directors, and last year’s cyber-attack
which disrupted many systems and services. Minster also talked about the organization’s work promoting and protecting amateur radio in Washington, D.C., and ARRL’s new strategy to develop the next generation of hams
and to inspire youth. The DX Mentor can be found on your favorite podcast platform, and on YouTube.
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The United Nations General Assembly has designated April 2 of every year as World Autism Awareness Day. Autism Awareness week this year is March 28 – April 3, and World Autism Awareness Day 2025 is on Wednesday, April 2. Again this year, there will be a special amateur radio event with participation from around the world. This will be the event’s third year, and we are very happy to be growing each year,” said James Gallo, KB2FMH, the event's coordinator. “The time span this year for W2A, and many other international calls is April 2 through 8, and amateur operators will be on all bands from UHF to 160 meters, using modes of their choice.” So far, the following stations will be participating: W2A, W2A/KL7 W2A/KH6; GB2AA, GB2AAW, GB2WAA; GBØAAW, GB4AAW, GB5AAW, GB6AAW, GB9AAW, 8A2AAW; 9M4CSI, 9A24WAW; HIØAUT; S76; VC2AA; PA24WAAD, PD2024AAW; VO1BIG/VE3; A6ØWAAD, and 7A2M. “We are still developing more participants so the listings will be updated as we go,” he added. If you want to volunteer as an operator for the W2A call, send an email to hamradioevents@gmail.com. For more information visit the W2A QRZ page.
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The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, in conjunction with the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, announces expanded hours for the museum during 2025 Dayton Hamvention®. The museum will be open Thursday May 15, 12:00 to 9:00 PM; Friday May 16, 12:00 to 9:00 PM; Saturday May 17, 12:00 to 9:00 PM, and Sunday May 18, 12:00 to 5:00 PM. Admission is $10.00 at the door. Amateur radio station WC8VOA will be on the air to operate.
The museum is a short drive from Hamvention, down either Interstate 75 or Route 42 from Xenia. GPS use Crosley Blvd.
The address is 8070 Tylersville Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Phone number is 513-777-0027.
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This image was taken on March 27, 2025. [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI] | | |
ARRL Solar Report March 27, 2025
Solar activity reached moderate levels due to a large flare on March 26.
A Type II radio emission was also observed on March 26. This is likely associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) that is believed to be from beyond the southwest limb but, due to its location, is not considered to have an Earth-directed component. No additional Earth-directed CMEs were observed.
The arrival of the coronal hole (CH) high speed stream (HSS) is expected to bring an influx of electrons to geostationary orbit through March 29. Strong solar winds, currently near 600 km/s, will compress the Van Allen belts, which will decrease the number of electrons observed by the NOAA GOES satellite.
As winds ease, the flux will rebound towards or above the 1000 solar proton flux unit (pfu) threshold.
The 10.7-cm Radio Flux for March 27 through March 29 is 160, and 165 for March 30 - 31.
Radio blackouts reaching R1 levels were observed over the past 24 hours. The largest was on March 26 at 0809 UTC.
The predicted sunspot number for the remainder of March is 132 with a high of 139 and a low of 132.
On Saturday, March 29, a deep partial solar eclipse, the first of the year, will be visible across much of the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada, as well as in northwestern Europe, northwestern Africa and northern Russia, as the moon takes a "bite" out of the sun from our perspective on Earth. Thirteen states will have views of the sunrise solar eclipse, officially beginning at 4:50 AM EDT and ending just under four hours later, at 8:43 AM EDT. Solar eclipse glasses are recommended to view the event.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit
the ARRL Technical Information Service, read
"What the Numbers Mean...," 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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March 27 -- RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB (phone
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March 28 - 29 -- Sasquatch Stomp (CW)
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March 29 - 30 -- CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB (phone)
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April 2 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone)
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April 3 - 4 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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April 3 -- SARL 80m QSO Party (phone)
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April 3 -- NRAU 10m Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
Remember to visit the ARRL Contest Calendar
for more events and information.
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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
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March 29 | Central Dakota Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, hosting the ARRL North Dakota State Convention, Bismarck, North Dakota
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April 5 | RARSfest, hosting the ARRL North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
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April 11 - 12 | Green Country Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
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April 25 - 27 | Big Bear HamEscape, hosting the ARRL Orange Section Convention, Big Bear Lake, California
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April 26 | Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo, hosting the ARRL Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
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April 26 | Spokane Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley, Washington
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May 4 | Warminster Amateur Radio Club – Annual Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol, Pennsylvania
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May 10 | Lincoln Amateur Radio Club, hosting the ARRL Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
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May 16 - 18 | Dayton Hamvention®, Xenia, Ohio
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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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Each month, ARRL honors the passing of radio amateurs in QST magazine’s Silent Key column. Notifications are accepted from family members, friends, or other amateurs. A Silent Key report must be confirmed by one of the following means: a copy of an obituary notice (must include date of death), a copy of a death certificate, or a letter from the family lawyer or the executor. A notification report form and additional information can also be found at www.arrl.org/silent-key-submission-guidelines. Please contact the ARRL Silent Key Administrator if you have any questions: sk@arrl.org
or tel. 860-594-0286.
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Have News for ARRL?
Submissions for The ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to news@arrl.org. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
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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.
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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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