ARRL-Roanoke Division

10/15/2026

Want to learn more about Contesting? Here’s your chance

Ready to try amateur radio contesting, but not sure where to start? 📡🏆

Join Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, for the next episode of On the Air LIVE on Tuesday, October 27, at 8:00 PM Eastern!

Contesting is so much more than chasing points—it’s one of the absolute best ways to sharp-tune your operating skills, build confidence, and understand propagation. Whether your goal is awards, emergency communications, DXing, or casual operating, contesting gives you hands-on experience that makes you a better, more effective operator across the entire hobby.

What you’ll learn:
▪️How newly licensed hams can easily jump in
▪️How contesting builds real-world operating skills
▪️Tips for logging, propagation, and having fun on the air

🔗 Preregistration is required! Head over to the ARRL Learning Center at learn.arrl.org to sign up and save your spot.

10/14/2026

Lots of Scout troops would still enjoy some QSOs this weekend

Calling all Scouts, Scouters, and Ham Radio operators! 📻🏕️

The world’s largest digital and on-the-air Scouting event, Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), takes place October 16–18, 2026!

Every year, millions of Scouts take to the airwaves to connect with fellow Scouts across the country and around the globe using amateur radio. It’s an incredible hands-on way to learn about science, technology, and global communication—and most importantly, it’s a lot of fun!

🔗 Learn more about how to participate, find frequencies, and get resources at the ARRL JOTA page: www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota

10/13/2026

10/10/2026

The key to successful field operations of Amateur Radio is the ability to improvise

Forgetting a key piece of gear when heading out for a portable operation is a classic ham nightmare—like realizing your 432 MHz long yagi is sitting on the workbench back home when you're already at your site! 🛠️📻

Sometimes, field operating means getting creative. With a wire POTA antenna, a roll of blue painter’s tape, a VNA, and a forest full of sticks, this hastily constructed 3-element Quad came to life.

We’ve all had to make do in the field at one time or another. What's the wilder or most unusual thing you’ve had to improvise during a contest or field activation? Drop your best makeshift rig stories in the comments! 👇

10/09/2026

ATTN: operators in NC, SC, VA and WV (ARRL’s Roanoke Division) please stay away from 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz October 10-12 because of Hurricane Isaias traffic. Thank you.

10/08/2026

November QST Magazine is HERE

Here's a snapshot of what you'll see 📸⤵️

"3Y0K: The Bouvet Island DXpedition"
🎥: Includes BONUS Video Content

“Chasing Desecheo and Bouvet from the Mountains”
🎥: Includes BONUS Video Content

“Solar Cycle 25 Update”

& much more!

ARRL Members can read the DIGITAL EDITION now:
🔗 - arrl.org/qst

10/07/2026

Please stay alert this weekend. Not much wind expected in the four states of the Roanoke Division (NC,SC, VA, WV) but lots of rain. Be aware of possible hurricane traffic from the Gulf states

🌀 Watching the Gulf

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) is closely monitoring Invest 92L, which is expected to intensify into Tropical Storm Isaias

While there is no net activation at this time, HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, notes that the potential area of concern spans a wide swath of the Gulf Coast, stretching from Louisiana to Florida.

If official hurricane watches or warnings are issued, the HWN stands ready to activate on the following frequencies:
📡 Daytime: 14.325 MHz USB
📡 Nighttime (from 1900 EDT): 7.268 MHz LSB

What you should do now:
✅Follow official updates from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and your local emergency management agencies.
✅Check for HWN status updates at www.hwn.org.
✅Ensure your ham radio emergency gear and backup power sources are tested and ready.

Stay vigilant and prepared! 📻🌐

10/04/2026

This is a BIG benefit in being an ARRL member. The lab is a helpful resource.

09/25/2026

Ready to fill the airwaves with digital audio tones this weekend? 📡✨ The CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest is here!

WHO: Amateur radio operators worldwide (all license classes welcome to hunt DX!).
WHAT: The largest digital-mode contesting event of the year, focusing exclusively on RTTY across the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10-meter bands.
WHEN: Sept 26–27 | Starts 0000 UTC Saturday and ends 2359 UTC Sunday.
WHERE: On the air! Warm up your rigs, fire up your favorite logging and decoding software, and work stations across the globe right from your shack.
WHY: Score points, work new entities, and test your station's digital performance under full-band pileup conditions.

Full rules and details: cqwwrtty.com

📸: Ana Canizares, EI5GXB

09/24/2026