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John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor | October 10, 2024
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Hams Continue to Serve During Active Hurricane Season
As Hurricane Milton moved across Florida, amateur radio operators volunteering through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) were stationed in the State Emergency Operations Center, in county EOCs, and at designated shelters in local communities. The volunteers utilized the Amateur Radio Service to provide a communications link that works when all else fails.
Florida has a robust ham radio communications network called SARNET, that serves as the official link between EOCs during a storm.
SARNET has been placed in a restricted net condition to ensure traffic could flow as needed. In times of crisis, the net is limited for agency/EOC and emergency traffic only. The State of Florida provides the network a microwave backbone between individually-owned repeaters.
ARRL’s Director of Emergency Management, Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, says the radio amateurs in Florida are well prepared. “Florida hams have a lot of experience in emergency communications. They are well-trained and have the necessary infrastructure and support from the state to serve,” he said.
Across the country, ham radio operators participated in several nets to assist the National Hurricane Center with gathering surface information about the storm. The Hurricane Watch Net and VoIP Hurricane Net were both active. At the NHC, volunteer operators monitored each of these ham radio communications methods from a special station at the center, WX4NHC.
Stan Broadway, N8BHL, Assistant Manager of the Hurricane Watch Net, reports the net has concluded operation for Hurricane Milton.
“The net launched a 6-hour preparatory session October 8, 2024, to log stations anticipating the storm. We then began the morning of October 9, 2024, to collect storm data as Milton approached the Gulf Coast of Florida,” said Broadway. “Overall, the net was in operation for 33 hours, operating on 7.268 MHz and 14.325 MHz as propagation allowed. Net sessions were very busy with reports which were forwarded to the National Hurricane Center. As always, we offer our thanks to nets and operators who stood aside to allow us a clear frequency. Our prayers are with those who suffered damage and loss from the storm.”
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net, said the net secured on Thursday, October 10 at 1100 AM EDT. Informal system monitoring will occur through Thursday evening. Also, a reminder that due to the lengthy and overnight activation of the VOIP Hurricane Net for major Hurricane Milton, the VoIP Hurricane Prep Net for Saturday, October 12 is canceled. “We wish to thank the reporting stations and our net controls for their support during this activation that spanned 22 hours,” he said.
ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology Impacts 85 Educators in 2024; More Planned for 2025
The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is wrapping up its final cohort for 2024. Eight educators from across the country have gathered at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, this week to learn how to incorporate radio technology into their lessons. Eighty-five educators have gotten hands-on with radio technology through the program in 2024.
Teachers attending the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology decode satellite images of Hurricane Milton.
On Thursday, October 10, as Hurricane Milton’s remnants continued to roar across Florida, the group decoded GOES satellite images of the storm. As the decoded signals were converted to images, there were exclamations of amazement in the conference room that serves as the training center. “Wow!” said several teachers, almost in unison.
Lisa Werner, KE8BMR, of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, earned her Technician Class license during the week at TI. Experiences like the weather satellite decode opened her eyes to the broad possibilities of amateur radio. “I learned all the different things that can be done in ham radio. I thought it was just talking on the radio before coming to TI,” she said.
Radio is central to TI, but the goal isn’t just to create more hams. “It really is about getting radio and radio technology back into the front of mind for students,” said ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA.
By incorporating radio into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lessons, the importance of radio communications in all aspects of modern and future life is demonstrated for the generation that could take humans to Mars and beyond.
“We’re excited for the future, and especially for the future of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology,” said Goodgame. “2025 will be a strong year of growth for the program. We’ve continued to improve on our strong foundation and groups like this cohort give us a lot of energy to look forward.”
The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is funded entirely by donations to the ARRL Education & Technology Fund. In the last three years, 175 educators have attended TI. There are 7 cohorts of the program in 2024, and the goal is to scale it to 16 for 2025, including taking the institute “on the road” to different cities around the country.
2024 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award Recipient: Kees Van Oosbree, WØAAE
Left to right: Bill Mitchell, AEØEE, ARRL Minnesota Section Manager; Kees Van Oosbree, WØAEE, and ARRL Dakota Division Director Bill Lippert, ACØW. [Photo courtesy of KA8HDE/ACØW]
Kees Van Oosbree, WØAAE, received the 2024 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award during the ARRL Forum at the North Star Radio Convention, which hosted the ARRL Minnesota State Convention in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Van Oosbree is an active member of the amateur radio community in Minnesota and at Iowa State University, where he is treasurer of the university's radio club. He is active in the Minnesota Wireless Association and is regularly on the air with SSB, CW, RTTY, and other digital modes. In 2020, Van Oosbree was part of the Remote Ham Radio team that put NU1AW on the air for the IARU HF Contest. In January 2024, he operated in the NAQP SSB contest in the single-op low power assisted category, making over 1,000 contacts in under nine hours.
The Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award consists of a $1,500 cash award and an engraved plaque and is given annually to a licensed radio amateur under the age of 21. The awardee, who must be a current ARRL member, is recognized for their exemplary accomplishments and contributions to the community of amateur radio and the local community.
Hiram Percy Maxim was an early 20th century industrialist and inventor who founded ARRL as the American Radio Relay League in 1914. ARRL also supports youth involvement in radio and radio technology through the ARRL Youth Membership, The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, and by awarding around $725,000 in scholarships each year. Visit www.arrl.org for more information.
Amateur Radio in the News
“When cell towers and internet fail, ham radio operators can still talk. How to get involved” / The Charlotte Observer (North Carolina) October 3, 2024 -- The Raleigh Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
“Forget cell phones -- amateur radio shines in the wake of Helene” / WQAD - TV (North Carolina) October 4, 2025
“Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club seeks new home for headquarters building” / KSBY -TV (California) October 4, 2024 -- The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
“Through Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Amateur Radio Triumphs When All Else Fails” / WIRED Publication (Boone, Iowa) October 8, 2024. Amateur radio helps victims in North Carolina.
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ARES® Task Book Updates
The ARES® Task Book, an important resource and reference for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service®, is used by amateurs who want to be of service to their communities. ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast to talk about the task book’s place in a ham’s training, as well as recent updates to the book.
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.
In Brief...
The Piedmont Amateur Radio Club (PARC), K4PAR, an ARRL Affiliated Club, launched an ambitious program to provide emergency communication following interruptions in power and internet during disasters the Southeast. PARC was authorized to set up six Winlink gateways perched atop the Georgia fall line, which is the geological boundary between the piedmont and coastal plain areas of the state. With the help of a grant from the ARRL Foundation, PARC also constructed a remote satellite station.
PARC’s service was further improved when the club pointed its 20-/40-meter beam toward the predicted landfall of a hurricane. Right on cue, this year’s hurricane season has resulted in considerable Winlink traffic and put an even greater load on PARC’s six gateways. During Hurricane Helene, one local hospital activated its station, donated by PARC.
On Friday October 25, 2024, the University of Scranton will dedicate a state-of-the-art amateur radio station that serves students in the university’s W3USR Amateur Radio Club. The station is also used for physics courses and research by students and faculty participating with the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) project led by Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., W2NAF, associate professor of physics and engineering at Scranton. Research conducted using the facility has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, the Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) foundation and other organizations.
Located on the fifth floor of the Loyola Science Center, the main station has floor-to-ceiling glass walls with sweeping views of the city of Scranton. Last academic year, a 40-foot tower with an HF antenna for 14, 21, and 28 MHz, as well as VHF/UHF satellite and microwave antennas – some with rotating mounts – were installed, in addition to heavy-duty controllers, all-mode transceivers, speakers, desktop microphones and other components.
A public dedication ceremony, station open house, and ticketed buffet dinner are planned. More information is available at scranton.edu/w3usr-dedication.
The K7RA Solar Update
This image was taken on October 10, 2024 [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI]
For this Friday’s ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP041:
Only four new sunspot groups emerged this week. The first was on October 4, another on October 6 and two more on October 7.
The average daily sunspot number moved from 164.7 to 160, and average daily solar flux from 213.1 to 261.3.
Predicted solar flux is 245, 240 and 235 on October 10 - 12; then 230, 220, 210 and 230 on October 13 - 16, and 170 on October 17 - 21; then 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 215, 230, 240, 250 and 255 on October 22 - 31; then 230 and 215 on November 1 - 2; followed by 205 on November 3 - 4; 200 and 185 on November 5 -6; 175 on November 7 - 12, and 170 on November 13 - 17.
Predicted planetary A index reveals a huge disturbance at 80, 126, 45 and 12 on October 10 - 13; 5 on October 14 - 21; then 15, 10, 5, 5, 12 and 8 on October 22 - 27; 5 on October 28 until November 2; 12 and 8 on November 3 - 4; 5 on November 5 - 7; 8 on November 8, and 5 on November 9 - 17.
Sunspot numbers for October 3 - 9 were 180, 173, 167, 164, 165, 164, and 107, with a mean of 160. The 10.7 -centimeter flux was 311.9, 291, 277.3, 277, 227, 224.7, and 220.3, with a mean of 261.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 8, 7, 16, 55, 58, and 19, with a mean of 21.4. Middle latitude A index was 8, 6, 8, 13, 33, 29, and 15, with a mean of 16.
Send your tips, questions, or comments to [email protected].
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website. 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.
Share your reports and observations.
A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
- October 12 - 13 -- Makrothen RTTY Contest (digital)
- October 12 -- QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party (CW)
- October 12 - 13 -- VHF/ UHF Nevada QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
- October 12 - 13 --Oceania DX Contest CW)
- October 12 - 13 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest, SSB (phone)
- October 12 - 13 -- Arizona QSO Party (CW, phone)
- October 12 - 13 -- Pennsylvania QSO Party (CW, phone)
- October 12 - 13 -- South Dakota QSO Party CW Ph
- October 12 - 13 -- PODXS 070 Club 160m Great Pumpkin Sprint (digital)
- October 12 -- Argentina National 7 MHz Contest (phone)
- October 13 -- UBA ON Contest (CW)
- October 13 - 16 -- Classic Exchange (phone)
- October 14 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
- October 16 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening (CW)
- October 16 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data (digital)
- October 17 - 18 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- October 17 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information
Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
- October 12 | Rock Hill Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South Carolina.
- October 13 | Nutmeg Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut
- October 18 - 20 | Pacificon, sponsoring the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California
- November 2 | Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference 2024, sponsoring the ARRL Wisconsin State Convention, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
- November 2 - 3 |Stone Mountain Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area.
Have News for ARRL?
Submissions for The ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to [email protected]. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
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