From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.misc

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February 17, 2026
Editor: Josh Johnston, KE5MHV [ mailto:jjohnston@arrl.org ]

ARRL Home Page
https://www.arrl.org/

Icom when you want to give those you love the very best [https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/amateur/]


In this Issue:

Start Planning Now for Ham Radio Open House in April
Club QSO Party in the Year of the Club
On The Air Live Offers Learning Opportunities for ARRL Members
Club Spotlight
Submitting Info for this Newsletter
How to Plan and Apply for an ARRL Hamfest or Convention
Important Links

Start Planning Now for Ham Radio Open House in April

It's the Year of the Club and the second annual ARRL Ham Radio Open House
event in April offers a chance to show off your club's hi-tech gear and
skills to your community! ARRL is encouraging radio clubs and schools to help promote amateur radio science and technology by opening their stations to the public with an open house during the month of April.

In addition, groups are encouraged to set up in public places or conduct outdoor activities, such as a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation or satellite contact.

The event is built around World Amateur Radio Day on Saturday, April 18, but your open house may be scheduled at any point in the month.


[https://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL&_zs=PW9Um&_zl=f74f3]



Ham Radio Open House 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.

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. As ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, writes in his March QST editorial, "the notion of hams
sitting in Grandpa's basement listening to tube radios is quickly dispelled when visitors see a modern transceiver and computer being used to work the world!"


Clubs are encouraged to showcase the latest digital modes, such as FT8 using WSJT-X, or others. 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. Imagine your open house visitors seeing a Software-Defined Radio (SDR) waterfall display and then hearing what the
signal they see on the screen sounds like and seeing the message it contains.


World Amateur Radio Day, held on April 18 each year, is celebrated worldwide
by radio amateurs and their national associations, which are organized as member-societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). It was on this day in 1925 that the IARU was formed in Paris.

American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim was its first president.

The first Ham Radio Open House event last year was tied to IARU's centennial celebrations.

This year's activity is part of ARRL's "Year of the Club" theme.

Look for resources to help organize and promote the event soon, including an interactive Ham Radio Open House Locator. Find details at www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day [ http://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
] .


[http://hamsci.org/hamsci2026]


Club QSO Party in the Year of the Club

The genesis of a national club QSO party dates back to nearly a year ago
during a South Jersey Radio Association Board meeting.

The Board was brain storming how best to celebrate the club's 110th
anniversary coming up in June of 2026. Ten years earlier then President Ken Botterbrodt, K2WB spearheaded the club's QSO party to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This anniversary was no small accomplishment for any club, but
an especially proud moment for SJRA that has continuously met for over one hundred years, suggesting that it is the oldest continuously meeting amateur radio club in North America.


The idea of another QSO party to celebrate our 110th anniversary gained some traction as the board followed Ken's explanation of a plan to repeat what had been done ten years earlier, but with some new twists. Some of us asked
r-yWhat if we could engage more clubs in sponsoring a QSO Party'? And, in the spirit of the ARRL's Year of the Club theme for 2026, why not market our idea to ARRL clubs across the entire US?


A series of online meetings with the presidents of the Phil-Mont Mobil Radio Club in Pennsylvania and the Kent Amateur Radio Society in Maryland generated more enthusiasm for the idea.

The objective, we decided, would be simple - work as many Amateur Radio Club members and registered Amateur Radio Club Stations as possible in a 48 hour period from 00:00 UTC June 20th, 2026 to June 21st 23:59 UTC. This coincides closely with the founding of SJRA on June 16th 110 years ago and would be a good warm up for Field Day just a week away.


Contest operations will be valid on all amateur radio bands with the
exception of 60m, 30m, 17, and 12m, and all modes will qualify including repeater contacts, satellite and EME QSOs. The objective is to make as many clubs Radio Active across the US as possible!


Members of clubs would sign their call/age of their affiliated club, and the exchange should also include their club's acronym. For example, as a member
of the South Jersey Radio Association my exchange would be W2JAZ/100 + SJRA. Club stations are encouraged to contact other club stations (increasing their multiplier) as well their own club members and members of other clubs.

It is not necessary for club stations to be in a permanent location.
Member of the club can use the club call from any station as long as they
have permission from the trustee.

For example co-sponsor Kent Amateur Radio Society's club station K3ARS/40
might contact the SJRA club station K2AA/110. Non-club members who
participate will use their call + their name. Stations outside the US should give their affiliated club acronym if they are a club member.


The exchange is designed to encourage club activity, reinforce club history
and build nationwide relationships between amateur radio clubs. Clubs should register in advance, though this is not required. They must also activate
their club station for a minimum of 2 hours during the 48 hour period.


Logging and Log Submission

Logs are required to be kept but it is only necessary to submit summaries.
The summary submission form is available as a PDF download from the Club QSO Party website. Logs should include the following:

r-oDate of QSO
r-oUTC time of QSO
r-oCall sign/## of station contacted
r-oClub acronym exchanged if given
r-oOperator's name
r-oFrequency/Band of operation
r-oMode

While no logging program currently offers a template for this event work is under way to create a Club QSO Party template for N1MM Logger+. It may also
be possible to use other popular logging applications.


Why Participate in a Club QSO Party?

Participating in a club QSO party offers a blend of camaraderie, skill development, and networking, making it a valuable activity for new and experienced amateur radio operators alike.


Community & Social Aspects: QSO parties, which are organized by local radio clubs, provide an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow club members
and the broader ham radio community, both over the air and at in-person operating events.


Club Engagement: Participation contributes to your club's overall score in
the club competition category, fostering a sense of teamwork and collective achievement.


Mentorship: Clubs often use these events as a way to welcome and mentor newcomers, providing a supportive environment for new operators to gain experience with HF operations, logging software, and contesting strategies.


Operating Practice: QSO parties are a great, low-stress way to practice operating techniques, get comfortable with radio equipment, and test new antennas or station setups in a friendly environment.


Contesting Skills: Shorter duration events have a more relaxed pace compared
to major international contests making them an ideal entry point for learning the tactics and strategies of competitive operating.


Technical Knowledge: Setting up portable stations, dealing with varying propagation conditions, and optimizing your station for performance all helps hone technical skills.


Getting the Word Out

The most challenging aspect of this Club QSO party is getting the word out to other clubs across the US. Fortunately the ARRL is a source for a data base
of affiliated clubs who will receive notification about this ambitious
program. Hopefully, our enthusiasm will be contagious and they will help to promote the event in their own regions and locales.


A website has been created to provide detailed information about logging, how to register a club, scoring and prizes for the highest scores in various
entry categories.

The website is found at www.clubqsoparty.org [ http://www.clubqsoparty.org ]
. Rules and regulations along with club registration forms can be easily downloaded from the site.

After reading through the rules and Frequently Asked Questions section on the website, additional questions about the Club QSO Party should be sent to clubQSO@SJRA.org [ mailto:clubQSO@SJRA.org ] . Get Radio Active and join us June 20-21, 2026 in celebrating your club's history and get acquainted with
the many ARRL clubs across the country! --Richard Lawn, W2JAZ


On The Air Live Offers Learning Opportunities for ARRL Members

The monthly On the Air Live offers a monthly opportunity for hams to receive instructional content each month from ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF. Wayne provides a monthly topic that is related to various
capabilities, practices and abilities within amateur Radio.

"My goal is to inspire ham radio operators to try something new or try different approaches to enhance their ham radio experience." Says Greene. "In the past year we have covered topics including how to use your HT, a deep
dive into APRS, how to send and receive SSTV images, and how to use your ham radio privileges to keep in contact with family and loved ones outside of a disaster area where you may be at that moment."


On the Air Live airs on the ARRL learning center, learn.arrl.org, on the
fourth Tuesday of each month at 8PM eastern.


[https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zNDkxNDk0JnA9MSZ1PTU1Nzg3MzYyMiZsaT00MDU5MjgwOQ/index.html]



Get your club together like the Metrocrest Amateur Radio Society in Argyle, Texas, did and take a photo to send to QST. Each 2026 issue of QST will
include club group photos. Get all the details at
www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club [ https://www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
] .


Club Spotlight

ARRL would like to know how your club greets and deals with new members r-" especially those who are new hams. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey at Club Spotlight on New Members [ https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Dx2iugFz_kC91gPUQ6jCGDsmxCob7GVAnZ9ahNWG_EtUQzFUSjFXUzBJODRVV1A3NEZQMVFNNVUyTS4u
] . Your answers may be featured in future publications.


Submitting Info for this Newsletter

ARRL Club News is for radio clubs to show how they are working in the
community and the hobby to advance amateur radio.

If your club completes a project, supports an event, does an EmComm
activation, or activates a park, we want to hear about it.

You can submit your newsletter article to us at clubs@arrl.org [ mailto:clubs@arrl.org ] . We like to get them as text or Word files instead
of PDFs.

If you have pictures, please submit them with caption information, as well as the name and call sign of the photographer.

We want to highlight the good work being done by the clubs and show others in the community.

Think of this as a chance to show off your club and your programs.

How to Plan and Apply for an ARRL Hamfest or Convention

If your amateur radio club is planning to host a convention, hamfest,
tailgate, or swapfest, please consider applying for it to be an
ARRL-sanctioned event. To learn what it means to be an ARRL-sanctioned event, and to get some ideas on how to prepare for and conduct a hamfest or convention, visit www.arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-events [ http://www.arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-events?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
] .


To have your event sanctioned, complete the online application at www.arrl.org/hamfest-convention-application [ http://www.arrl.org/hamfest-convention-application?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
] .


Please send a copy of the application that returns to you to Steve Ewald at sewald@arrl.org [ mailto:sewald@arrl.org ] .


The ARRL Hamfests and Conventions Calendar can be found online at www.arrl.org/hamfests [ http://www.arrl.org/hamfests?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
] . In addition, the Convention and Hamfest Calendar that runs in QST each month also presents information about upcoming events.


Important Links

ARRL Home: www.arrl.org [ http://www.arrl.org/?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

Find an ARRL Affiliated Club: www.arrl.org/clubs [ http://www.arrl.org/clubs?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

Find your ARRL Section: www.arrl.org/sections [ http://www.arrl.org/sections?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
]

Find a license class in your area: www.arrl.org/class [ http://www.arrl.org/class?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

Find a license exam in your area: www.arrl.org/exam [ http://www.arrl.org/exam?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

Find a hamfest or convention: www.arrl.org/hamfests [ http://www.arrl.org/hamfests?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
]

Email ARRL Clubs: clubs@arrl.org [ mailto:clubs@arrl.org ]

ARRL Club News is published every month (12 times each year). ARRL members
may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out [ http://www.arrl.org/opt-in-out?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
] .


Copyright -(c) 2026 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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