THE Newest Vehicle for Code has 4-Wheel Drive

If you think you can't operate mobile CW unless you have a radio and unless you also know the Code, think again. Some automobiles on the market are making mobile CW operating easier than ever. Almost effortless, in fact.

It seems that in the last few years, operating mobile CW hasn't even required an amateur radio license.If you look at the carmakers who have embraced Morse Code as an automotive design element. In the summer of 2022, models of Jeep vehicles featured the "dit" and the "dah" across the front grille. Jeep's Dubai-based ad agency, Publicis [pub luh siss] Dubai, explained that by sporting these CW symbols upfront, Jeep owners could feel a sense of community and a spirit of adventure in remote, off-road places. This bold gesture followed a more subtle use of CW by the same carmaker four years earlier: the 2018 Jeep Compass featured Code on the driver's left footrest in a message spelling out "sand snow rivers rocks," all familiar Jeep uncharted terrain. Not to be left behind in the off-road dust, 

Hyundai has recently put four illuminated "dits" on its steering wheel - CW for the letter "H." The Code began appearing in new models such as the Santa Fe, the Kona and Hyundai's electric SUV, the Ioniq [EYE-YONNICK]. Now the Toyota Tacoma is getting into the traffic jam: This year's SUV has Morse Code symbols appear on a side panel of the dashboard. The code provides directions to a way in which car owners can find plans to build their own 3-D printed automotive accessories.

So far as we know, those instructions still don't include the most necessary element - printing a ham radio license for mobile CW operation. Drivers will still have to earn that the old-fashioned way.
Source - ARNewsline - https://www.arnewsline.org/

ARRL Systems Service Disruption

The ARRL have advised the following updates from there social media channels/website

We are in the process of responding to a serious incident involving access to our network and headquarters-based systems. Several services, such as Logbook of The World® and the ARRL Learning Center, are affected. Please know that restoring access is our highest priority, and we are expeditiously working with outside industry experts to address the issue. We appreciate your patience.

Updated 5/17/2024 - Some members have asked whether their personal information has been compromised in some way. ARRL does not store credit card information anywhere on our systems, and we do not collect social security numbers. Our member database only contains publicly available information like name, address, and call sign along with ARRL specific data like email preferences and membership dates.

MFJ Ceasing On-Site Production

MFJ Enterprises, Inc founder Martin F. Jue, K5FLU, announced that as of 17th May 2024, the company will cease on-site production at their Starkville, Mississippi, facility. Ameritron, Hy-Gain, Cushcraft, Mirage, and Vectronics brand products will be affected by the shutdown.

In a letter posted to social media, Jue said he is looking forward to retiring.

“Times have changed since I started this business 52 years ago. Our product line grew and grew and prospered. Covid changed everything [for] businesses, including ours. It was the hardest hit that we have ever had, and we never fully recovered.

I turned 80 this year. I had never really considered retirement, but life is so short, and my time with my family is so precious. ”

— Martin F. Jue, K5FLU

Jue founded MFJ Enterprises in 1972, after building a CW filter kit that sold for less than $10. Since 1990, the company has acquired several other legacy brands within the amateur radio market. Jue shared that the company will remain open to sell existing inventory because they have “a lot of stock on hand.” They will also continue to offer repair services for the foreseeable future.

Jue expressed gratitude to the many longtime employees of MFJ, some of whom have been with the company for 40 years. He also thanked MFJ dealers and radio amateurs for their patronage over the decades.

MFJ became a worldwide ham radio leader only because of you. As I turned 80, I cannot thank you all enough for 52 wonderful ham radio years. Thank you, 73s . . . Martin F. Jue, k5flu"