ARRL

Solar activity continued at moderate levels as Region 4493 produced an M3.6 flare on July 22, which was the largest event of the period and was associated with a 10.7-centimeter radio burst of 200 solar flux units (sfu). Additionally, 4493 produced a C3.4 flare on July 22, which was associated with another 10.7-cm radio burst of 150 sfu.

Kiyoshi “Kan” Mizoguchi, JA1BK, a well-known DXer, DXpeditioner, CQ DX Hall of Fame member, and former Director of International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 3 passed away in May 2026 at the age of 93. He was a member of the ARRL Maxim Society at the Fellow Class. First licensed in 1952, Mizoguchi became involved in the creation of IARU Region 3, which covers most of Asia and the Pacific, and served as a Director from 1968 to 1975.

The ARRL Solar Update Solar activity has remained at low levels, with an occasional low-level C-class flaring observed, including a C3.3/Sf flare on July 15 from Region 4489. The largest event of the period, a long-duration C8.9 flare that peaked on July 15, originated from a returning region on the eastern limb.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® announced the appointment of Tony Dowler, K6BV, of Pacifica, California, as the ARRL Santa Clara Valley (SCV) Section Manager as of July 1, 2026. Dowler succeeds James Armstrong, NV6W, of San Jose, who concluded his third term as Section Manager on June 30 after serving since 2020. Dowler has been the SCV Affiliated Club Coordinator. He has been an Amateur Radio Service licensee since 1981 and holds an Amateur Extra class license.

Contest Objective: To support amateur self-training in radiocommunications including improving amateur operating skills, conducting technical investigations, and intercommunicating with other amateurs around the world, especially IARU member society headquarters stations, using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Dates: The second full weekend of July (July 11-12, 2026). Contest Period: Begins 1200 UTC Saturday and runs through 1159 UTC Sunday.

Solar activity reached moderate levels with an M1.5/1N flare on July 8 from Region 4482. There are currently five numbered regions on the visible disk. Region 4482 demonstrated continued growth and developed a delta spot within its trailing spot group. Region 4485 displayed new flux emergence. Regions 4486 and 4487 were newly numbered during the period. Region 4481 was stable and remained an unremarkable unipolar group. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to announce that member Ben Leovy, KC3ZPQ, of Ellicott City, Maryland, has been named the winner of the 2026 ARRL Student Coding Competition. Leovy, 16, recently completed his sophomore year at Howard High School. He designed a mobile application to help users prepare for their amateur radio license examinations. Leovy will receive a $5,000 prize awarded by ARRL.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to announce that member Ben Leovy, KC3ZPQ, of Ellicott City, Maryland, has been named the winner of the 2026 ARRL Student Coding Competition. Leovy, 16, recently completed his sophomore year at Howard High School. He designed a mobile application to help users prepare for their amateur radio license examinations. Leovy will receive a $5,000 prize awarded by ARRL.

A series of M-class flares — all from Region 4479 — pushed solar activity to high levels this week. The largest of the flares was an M3.5 on July 1. An earlier flare from this region, M1.3 accompanied by a 1N H-alpha flare which peaked late July 1, appears to have been associated with dimming and a coronal mass ejection (CME) first identified in CCOR-1 imagery.

Fred Johnson, K6FRD, is an amateur radio operator in Riverside, California. Like many hams, he lives in an HOA-controlled neighborhood. For Johnson, finding practical, low-visibility, antenna solutions has become part of the fun over the years. “For years I struggled to enjoy HF because, like many amateurs in an HOA, towers and conventional outdoor antennas simply aren't an option,” said Johnson.