Bill's Weekend Update for 9/10/2026

By: Bill (KC3FOX)

It’s time for all the news that is the news for your Weekend Update, keeping you up to date on everything that will keep your radio humming, and your antennas tuned for this weekend.

Weather

The weekend weather isn’t looking terrible at least. Mostly cloudy throughout the weekend with rising chances of rain in the forecast, and AM showers on Sunday. Highs are in the low 80’s with lows in the high 60’s. This is almost camping weather!! The solar conditions show an SFI of 115 (solar flux index (SFI) is the intensity of solar radio emissions. Higher the better up to about 300, so not great, and a drop from 122 last week), A index of 9 ( daily numerical average of the K Index of Earth’s geomagnetic field and activity. The lower the better from 0-400, and a rise from 4 last week), and K index of 2 (lower is better, 2= quiet and stable Earths magnetic field, a rise from 1 last week). 10-12m are poor, with the rest of the bands being fair to good.

Events

• September 12th, 2026, 9am-4pm -  2026 Hagerstown Wings & Wheels Expo! – A little out of norm for us, but showcased on the Antietam Radio Association. Featuring the Hagerstown Aviation Museum’s extensive collection of vintage aircraft built in Hagerstown. 14211 Basore Dr. and parking at 18450 Showalter Rd.
• September 12 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Baltimore Amateur Radio Club - POTA / FOXHUNT – Sept? Place Soldier’s Delight Natural Area US-6396 - The main Lot will be for the fox hunt start. It is important for visitors and their pets to stay on the trails. Pre-planned triangulation from the trails.
• September 13 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm - Clearfield County Amateur Radio Club, CCARC - 2026 Central Pennsylvania Hamfest at Clearfield PA (about 3 hours from APL)- Hamfest season has begun!! 8 AM Hamfest opens, 8 AM ARES® Meeting, 9 AM SKYWARN Spotter Training, 10 AM ARRL Atlantic Division Director & Section Manager, 11AM VE Testing, 11:30AM Prize Drawings, 12 PM Close. $5 Inside Vendor Table: $10 Tailgate Spaces: $5

Special Events Stations

• Aug 29-Sep 12, 1300Z-2300Z, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival Special Event Station K9A, Auburn, IN. Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association. 7.180MHz 14.250MHz 28.350 MHz. Certificate & QSL. Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association, P.O. Box 145, Auburn, In 46706-0145. Contact [email protected].
• Sep 9-Sep 16, 0000Z-2359Z, Handiham Radio Camp W0ZSW, Minneapolis, MN. Handiham Radio Club. 28.050 CW & 28.350 SSB 21.050 CW & 21.350 SSB 14.050 CW & 14.250 SSB 7.050 CW & 7.200 SSB. QSL. Handiham Program, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Mail Route 78446, Minneapolis, MN 55422. In honor of the Handiham Program’s 59th Anniversary, the Handiham Radio Club and the Handiham Radio Club of Minnesota are sponsoring a QSO party during the 2026 Radio Camp. The object is for Handiham members to work as many stations as possible during the week of camp. We also will use this opportunity to promote and give more details about the Handiham Program and the Handiham Radio Clubs for those who are interested. We will be active on all amateur bands and modes to make contacts including digital and VOIP modes. The exchange is simply name and state, province, or country. Stations may be using their own call signs in addition to the club and special event call signs, W0ZSW, W0EQO, and W0H. Please listen for stations calling CQ Radio Camp, and give us a contact! Sponsored by the Handiham Radio Club & Handiham Radio Club of Minnesota. Contact [email protected]
• Sep 11-Sep 12, 1200Z-0100Z, Pentagon 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 - K4AF, Fairfax, VA. K4AF. 20 meters 40 Meters. QSL. K4AF, P. O . Box 2322, Arlington, VA 22202.
• Sep 11-Sep 13, 1300Z-1700Z, The RC Jamborie Weekend W2A, Red Hook, NY. OMARC. 7 14 21 28. QSL. Scott Miller, 141 Bruynswick Road, New Paltz, NY 12561.
• Sep 12, 1500Z-2100Z, 60th Anniversary Special Event Station - WA0CJU, Waseca, MN. Viking Amateur Radio Society. 14.074 14.250 7.074 7.225. Certificate & QSL. Kevin F Dirks, 1705 Clear Lake Drive, Waseca, MN 56093. QSL information is on our QRZ page. SASE will be required. Certificate will be folded to fit SASE provided. Contact [email protected].
• Sep 12, 1700Z-2359Z, 9/11 25th Anniversary - NI6IW, San Diego, CA. USS Midway Museum Ship CV-41 COMEDTRA NI6IW. 7.250 14.320 14.070 PSK31 DStar on PAPA System Repeaters. QSL. USS Midway Museum Ship CV-41 COMEDTRA NI6IW, 910 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.
• Sep 12, 1330Z-2100Z, Baltimore Defender’s Day - K3S, Port of Baltimore. Nuclear Ship Savannah ARC. 7,14,18,21,28 MHz. QSL. Ulis Fleming, 980 Patuxent Rd, Odenton, MD 21113.
• Sep 12-Sep 20, 0000Z-2359Z, Route 66 On the Air - W6H, Rio Rancho, NM. Albuquerque DX Association. 7266 14074 14266 18080. QSL. Bill Mader W6H, 4701 Sombrerete Rd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.
• Sep 12, 1500Z-2100Z, VARS 60th Anniversary Special Event Station - WA0CJU, Waseca, MN. Viking Amateur Radio Society. 14.275 MHz 7.250 MHz 14.074 MHz 7.074 MHz. Certificate & QSL. Kevin Dirks, 1705 Clear Lake Dr, Waseca, MN 56093. Certificate and QSL information, along with a brief history, may also be found on QRZ. Contact [email protected].
• Sep 13, 1000Z-1600Z, Blue Ridge Bonanza - W4CA, Roanoke, VA. Roanoke Valley ARC. 7.220 14.250. QSL. Roanoake Valley ARC, PO Box 2002 , Roanoke, VA 24009. Blue Ridge Bonanza is a yearly celebration of the creation of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Members and others will be at different locations on the parkway with stations ex W4CA/Mile Marker.

State QSO Contests

Contests

ARRL Contests

• September VHF Contest - September 12-14 - For amateurs in the US and Canada (and their possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US & Canada (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions) and Canada.

Other Contests

International Contests not ARRL but more information can be found at the Weekly Contest Calender site.

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