H. Ward Silver, N0AX
n0ax@arrl.net

Worse than the dreaded “word problem,” this April quiz is full of backward problems where I give the answer and you pick the problem. Or something like that. You’ll figure it out!

1) 9
a. The dB equivalent of a power ratio of 4.
b. The number of wavelengths traveled by a 7 MHz signal in 1.29 µs.
c. Value of SWR if a 337.5 Ω load is connected to 75 Ω coaxial cable....

ARRL Field Day, Amateur Radio’s largest on-the-air operating event is June 22-23 -- just a little more than two months away -- so be sure to get your official 2013 Field Day gear before supplies run out.

This year’s ARRL Field Day shirt is a white t-shirt that sports the 2013 Field Day logo on the front, with the ARRL diamond logo and “Ham Radio” on the back. Shirts are available in sizes Small-...

J. Kenneth Pulfer, VE3PU, of Ottawa, Ontario, passed away Sunday, March 31 after a long illness. He was 80. In 1994, Pulfer became the Secretary, then Secretary Treasurer for the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), that country’s IARU Member Society. He also served as the RAC’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Vice President for International Affairs. When former ARRL Chief Technology Offi...

Four new poll questions have just been published on the QuickStats page on the ARRL website. Let your voice be heard!

Questions in this month’s QuickStats poll:

• Where is your primary HF vertical antenna installed?
• What is your favorite voice mode?
• How long has it been since you’ve used Ohm’s Law to help design a circuit or solve a problem?
• Does your home antenna system include any type of lightni...

The WRTC 2014 Organizing Committee will be conducting a capability and training test for the World Radiosport Team Championship stations and volunteers during the 2013 running of the IARU HF Championship, July 13-14.

According to WRTC 2014 Co-Chairman Randy Thompson, K5ZD, the organizing committee is looking for local hams and volunteers willing to visit New England during the contest to assist ...

Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.org

This feature -- including convenient web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of March.

With the assistance of ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, Montana now has a law that establishes a 100-foot by-right...

The winner of the March QST Cover Plaque Award is Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA for his article “The Sun and the Ionosphere.” Congratulations Carl! The QST Cover Plaque Award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the April issue today.

By Gary Hoffman, KB0H
ARRL Contributing Editor

Many years ago, my grandfather used to build radio sets and sell them to his neighbors. Somewhat later, just after World War II, he and my father installed radios in cars for Western Auto. They saved up their earnings and eventually started Hoffman Radio-Television Sales and Service, which was the premiere TV shop in Savannah, Georgia for a number of...

Sterling Coffey, N0SSC
ARRL Youth Editor

Moving to a new town is a big undertaking, whether as a family, a temporary move to study abroad or get work experience while in college -- or even moving to college itself. Although it’s never easy to let go of the old and become acquainted with a new place, you never know what amazing opportunities can lie ahead.

Last month, I wrote about my move to Soco...

Solar activity was down this week, with the average daily sunspot number at 49.6, less than half last week’s figure. The average daily solar flux dropped 22 points to 97, and geomagnetic activity was quiet also. Sunspot numbers for March 21-27 were 60, 54, 56, 45, 56, 41 and 35, with a mean of 49.6. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 106.1, 100.9, 98.2, 96, 92.6, 92.4 and 93, with a mean of 97. The e...

By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor

This week, Surfin’ remembers George Hart, W1NJM, and his National Traffic System.

My first professional job after graduating from college in 1977 was at ARRL Headquarters, working for ham radio legend George Hart, W1NJM.

George ran the Communications Department at the League. While I worked in the department’s Public Service Branch and reported directly t...