The daily front page of amateur radio.

Help Ian (EI3LH) Activate Two Rare Irish POTA Islands VHF/UHF on Sunday

by Thomas (K4SWL) QRPer contributor Ian (EI3LH) will be attempting an ambitious island activation this Sunday (June 14, 2026), operating from two Irish POTA entities—IE-0266 and IE-0267—both currently POTA ATNOs…

Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 425

Hamilton Auto FT8 Hear, call, exchange, complete, log — automatically. Hamilton QSO One Connect to AllStarLink and EchoLink from Windows or Android — no hardware, no soldering, no sysop headaches. More platforms coming…

The ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity has been at low levels this past week with most of the C-level activity originating from Region 4465, including the largest flare of the week, a C2.6 observed on June 10. There are currently 7 numbered…

A Peek inside the Secret Lagercrantz Suitcase Radio

What counts as portable is somewhat a matter of opinion, especially over the years. [Helge Fykse] has a portable spy radio of Swedish origin. For its time, it was considered …read more

GB2RS News Script for 14 June 2026

Tap or click the link below to download this week’s news script News script for 14 June 2026 (MS Word document)

Keynote speaker announced for RSGB 2026 Convention

Four years ago, IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA shared his thoughts on the changes and challenges to the amateur service and what the future held for amateur radio. On Saturday, 10 October 2026, Tim returns to the…

Make use of the RSGB Full question bank

In April 2026, the RSGB Exams Team published the entire Full licence exam question bank on the RSGB website. This means that anyone studying for their Full licence has this valuable resource at their fingertips. The…

RSGB updates Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy

The RSGB is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and accessible amateur radio community in which all individuals can participate fully and safely. It aims not only to prevent discrimination, but to actively…

Also in GB2RS this week…

Have you seen the About the RSGB playlist on the Society’s YouTube channel? There are nearly 50 videos to choose from, including a number of recently released videos with RSGB representatives. You’ll be able watch RSGB…

New Products Available at DX Engineering for June 2026, including “Go Portable” Polo Shirts

Also, check out a video featuring the new COMPACtenna 40-60-80 antenna. *** Have you received the 2026 edition of the DX Engineering Amateur Radio Products Catalog? If so, we hope […] The post New Products Available at…

Three Bikes & Three Hams: Playing Hooky from Hamvention!

by Thomas (K4SWL) On May 17, 2026, Eric (WD8RIF), Len (W8VQ), and I decided to play hooky from Hamvention and head out for a park activation instead. You see, Hamvention—amazing as it is—is exhausting. This year, in…

1976 U.S. Bicentennial Callsigns

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas, In 1976, amateur radio operators in the United States were allowed the option of using a special prefix in place of their regular one to…

Alan Roe’s A-26 Season Guide to Music on Shortwave (version 3.0)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who shares his A-26 (version 3.0) season guide to music on shortwave. Alan provides this amazing resource as a free PDF download. Click here to download Music on…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2537 for Friday, June 12th, 2026

- AMERITRON, MIRAGE BRANDS SOLD TO ITU CORP. - ARREST IN COPPER THEFT AT US RADIO STATION - HAM'S EXPERIMENT WOULD ADAPT TELETEXT FOR AMATEUR RADIO - SILENT KEY: PROMINENT QATARI HAM ABDULLAH BIN HAMAD AL ATTIYAH, A71AU…

Mechanical Stability For Your Coils

If you work with radio, the chances are that before too long you’ll be winding an inductor. At radio frequencies these won’t be big chunky transformer style chokes, but often …read more

CEOs of Summit Racing & DX Engineering Meet Up at Dayton Hamvention® 2026 (Video)

The relationship between wrenching on a vehicle and refining an amateur radio station has always been strong. Both disciplines demand problem-solving skills, a passion for better performance, precision workmanship, and…

EI3LH: Sweets For My Sweet, POTA for My Honey!

Many thanks to Ian (EI3LH), who shares the following post, originally posted on his blog: Pouring Some Sugar On GB-3235, London, England. by Ian (EI3LH) I’ve visited London on business a handful of times in recent…

The GPS Numbers Station: Hidden Encrypted Messages in Plain Sight

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Scott Gamble, who writes: Hi Thomas – An interesting article was published in the most recent issue of Inside GNSS magazine that suggests that the US Military has been using an…

How will AI Affect Amateur Radio?

Artificial intelligence is on the brink of changing amateur radio. It will simultaneously make the hobby easier, smarter, more accessible—and perhaps more controversial. Hams have always embraced technology, from…

CHU Closure on June 22, 2026

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following article from Radio World about the impending shutdown of Canada’s iconic CHU shortwave time station. We’ve covered CHU’s imminent closure…

Downbeat, country music and a record room

Hi to all SWLing Post community. Here’s news of what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to those shortwave bands this week. We have the fourth programme in the Downbeat on Shortwave series via Shortwave Gold, where…

Brain Health and Parks on the Air

Got my N3ZN Single-Lever Paddle out of storage, along with most of my POTA station. Despite being homeless and living in the hotel for the last few months (see my personal story on my website), I am trying to keep my…

Operating W1AW/0 on Pikes Peak

In 2026, the ARRL is running a program to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States (America250). One part of this program is having designated hams activate W1AW (portable) in all 50 states. The operating is…

Dayton Hamvention® 2026 Wrap-Up—What a Show!

Nearly 38,000 hams representing more than 40 countries and every U.S. state took the trip to slightly chilly, sometimes rainy, and occasionally sun-drenched southern Ohio for Dayton Hamvention® 2026, a […] The post…

Shortwave Memories — World Radio-TV Handbook

by Karl D. Forth Reading through the 1971 World Radio-TV Handbook only as a reference source was interesting, but as I started listening more I also realized I felt part of what was happening – I could hear many of the…

Texas Radio Shortwave: Schedule for July and August, 2026

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following schedules for Texas Radio Shortwave (click image to enlarge):

24 Hours of Le Mans 2026 Special Event

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who shares the following announcement: 24 Hours of Le Mans 2026 During the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans Automobile race, the amateur radio operators of the Sarthe…

From NPOTA to POTA: En Route to Dayton and Making New Friends from Down Under

by Thomas (K4SWL) Picking up where I left off after the last field report, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Eric (WD8RIF) and I completed our activation at Tar Hollow State Park that morning, then enjoyed a nice lunch and…

How to Advocate for Youth in Amateur Radio as a Young Person

I’ve heard plenty of comments from longtime amateur radio operators who are concerned about the lack of young people in the hobby. Those concerns are very much justified. However, while […] The post How to Advocate for…

LHS Episode #619: The Weekender CXL

Hello and welcome back everyone! This is episode 619 of Linux in the Ham Shack, and our 140th weekender, of the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! This week we're sharing what we've been up to - along…

Button, button. Who’s got the button?

If you’ve read my blog at all in the past, you know I’m not a fan of David Minster, NA2AA, ARRL’s current CEO. He’s driving down membership, which is now well under 20% of licensed radio amateurs. He’s driving away…

Is anyone running for the board this year in the Great Lakes Division?

Yesterday, someone reminded me recently that Great Lakes Division seat is up for election this year, and that the deadline for filing petitions is two months away. I know that I’m late with this, but I’m trying to find…

The MLite-880: A more thorough performance assessment

By 13dka Following up on the article I recently wrote about the MLite-880, I still had a comparison with a reference radio on a proper antenna on my to-do list. I wasn’t in a hurry because I got pretty fascinated with…

Tippecanoe and POTA Too (or, A Tale Of Two Activations)

by Paul (WD9GCO) Hi. I’m new around here. My name is Paul, and I’m a POTAholic. [Hello, Paul!] This all started in 2023. I thought POTA sounded fun, but I’d never done anything like that. And I didn’t have any HF gear…

Ham College 140: Beginning General Class Studies

Ham College episode 140 is now available for download. General Class Exam Questions Part 1. G1A – General class control operator frequency privileges. Primary and secondary allocations. https://hamcollege.tv Download…

ANS-158 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-158June 7, 2026 In this edition: Deadline for Candidate Nominations for 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election is June 15 HADES-SA / SpinnyOne Designated Spain-OSCAR 127 (SO-127) AMSAT Submits…

Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 424

Radio Amateur Delay-tolerant Interplanetary Networking Testbed RADIANT brings Delay-Tolerant Networking to Amateur Radio, enabling store-and-forward messaging across disrupted links from terrestrial ground stations to…

Washington Governor Highlights Amateur Radio Volunteers Ahead of ARRL Field Day

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has issued a video message recognizing the important role Amateur Radio Operators play in supporting communities across the state and encouraging public awareness of Amateur Radio as…

Find the Right Rig: New Comparison Tool for ARRL Members

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to introduce a new member benefit: the QST Product Review Comparison Database. This online tool makes it easier to compare amateur radio transceivers…

Ten Years Later! A Three-Fer at Tar Hollow with Eric (WD8RIF)

by Thomas (K4SWL) On the morning of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, I was in Athens, Ohio, at the QTH of my good friend, Eric (WD8RIF). As we do every year, we get together and travel to Four Days in May and the Dayton…

How Ham Radio Teaches Young People to Communicate

When I got my amateur radio license at ten years old, communication was still very much a weak spot for me. I was terrified of having a speaking role in […] The post How Ham Radio Teaches Young People to Communicate…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2536 for Friday, June 5th, 2026

- HAMSCI ASKS CANADA TO RECONSIDER SHORTWAVE SHUTDOWN - NEW CREW BOARDS CHINA'S SPACE STATION - UNLICENSED RADIO OPERATOR GETS NEWEST WARNING FROM FCC - NEW QUESTION POOL FOR TECHNICIAN CLASS EXAM - DOUBLE CENTENNIAL…

Tecsun PL-520: An Excellent Upgrade

by Dan Robinson The Tecsun PL-520 has been out for some time now though units have been getting into the hands of more reviewers such as myself in recent weeks. There are a number of excellent overview videos available…

Ohio NVIS Day 2026: A Tale of Two Different but Effective Antennas

There is so much talk in our hobby about making that rare DX or a faraway contact using resonant beams and vertical antennas. While that’s great—and I think most of […] The post Ohio NVIS Day 2026: A Tale of Two…

Make Your Ceiling Disappear With ADS-B and Short-Throw Projector

If you’re into airplanes, you’ve probably had the experience of hearing an unusual aircraft and rushing outside to try and catch a glimpse of it, all while fumbling with a …read more

Web-Based Control for a CB Radio

There was a time when a CB radio was a simple affair: a small box with a channel selector, volume, and squelch controls. No longer it seems, because they can …read more

Don’t Worry… You’re Doing Fine

by Thomas (K4SWL) As you might imagine, I’m at the receiving end of a lot of emails and messages from readers. Sometimes people have questions. Sometimes they’re sharing field reports, telling me about an activation, or…

Ham Radio Tech: Do Nearby Metal & Trees Significantly Affect Antennas?

Antennas may look simple—just a piece of metal in the air—but they are surprisingly sensitive to their surroundings. Nearby metal objects and trees can dramatically affect how an antenna performs, […] The post Ham Radio…

Radio Bulgaria: QSL Card Features Radio Sofia’s 1939 Broadcast Van

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following news: In 2026, Radio Bulgaria is issuing a new series of 12 QSL cards to confirm listeners’ reception reports. Each card highlights a key…

More 250 year celebrations and WHFM

Hi to all SWLing Post community. Here’s news of what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to the ionosphere this week. We have the second episode of Radio 250 via Shortwave Gold, which is full with all sorts of genres of…

A Guide to June 2026 Ham Radio Contests—Field Day Edition

With May’s downpour of amateur radio activities done for the year, it’s time to focus on the next big event on the ham calendar—ARRL Field Day 2026. OnAllBands has been […] The post A Guide to June 2026 Ham Radio…

Shortwave Memories — Ghana’s North American Service

by Karl D. Forth Many of the African nations achieved independence in the 1960s, and as they raised their new national flag they wanted to be connected to the outside world. One of the first things they often did was…

Lake Alma State Park by Brompton: A Hamvention Week Warm-Up POTA Activation With Friends

by Thomas (K4SWL) Tuesday, May 12, 2026, was a long but wonderful day—and the perfect prelude to a week filled with amateur radio activity. Hamvention week is always equal parts crazy and fun. Typically, I’m away from…

TX9W Marquesas Islands Wrap-Up: DX Engineering Coaxial Cable Plays Major Role

The TX9W DXpedition from Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands (April 19-30) is in the books! The TX9W team, which included members of the Oklahoma DX Association, logged more than […] The post TX9W Marquesas Islands…

CQ WW WPX CW results

This CQ WW WPX contest was my first major contest in a few years, as we are usually away on vacation and I end up missing it.This year, my best bands were 20m during the daytime and early evening, before moving over to…

LHS Episode #618: Andy Stewart KB1OIQ – Andy’s Ham Radio Linux

Hello and welcome back everyone! This is episode 618 of Linux in the Ham Shack, the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! This week we're telling you about what we've been up to - along with talking to…

A New Media Tech Museum Opens in Kansas City

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following news item about a new museum dedicated to the history of media and communications technology. Located in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts…

EI3LH: Sibling CW POTA Rivalry!

Many thanks to Ian (EI3LH), who shares the following post, originally posted on his blog: Two Elecraft Siblings Fight Each Other To The Death For My Last Rolo. by Ian (EI3LH) It’s been a funny old week here in Ireland…

ANS-151 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-151 May 31, 2026 In this edition: * AMSAT Opens Candidate Nominations for 2026 Board of Directors Election * 2026 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting * AMSAT Field Day 2026 * RADIANT…

What was your first major receiver?

I started in the ham radio and shortwave listening hobby in 1972. By 1975, this was my first real receiver. It heard very well, and ignited my lifelong passion for radio. This old radio, the R-366/TRR-5, which is…

Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 423

Free Field Day CW training and practice The Long Island CW Club (LICW) is pleased to offer focused Field Day CW training during the month of June. These sessions are open to all Amateur Radio operators. LICW Tiles on…

BOGO Sale on the Bioenno 12V 3Ah LiFePO4 Battery Pack

Many thanks to Bob (WB4SON), who notes that Bioenno has a BOGO (buy one, get one free) sale on my favorite battery size: their 3Ah, 12V pack. Bob notes: “A pair costs about $56 shipped. Add $15 if you need a charger.”…

ICQPodcast Episode 484 – New Lead Free Solder

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Martin Rothwell (M0SGL), Frank Howell (K4FMH), Bill Barnes (WC3B) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds…

Registration is Open for the 2026 ARRL National Convention in Huntsville

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio ® and the Huntsville Hamfest will host the 2026 ARRL National Convention and Huntsville Hamfest, August 21 - 23, in Huntsville, Alabama. The convention will kick off on…

CQ WW WPX CW contest outlook

I have been running my WSPR desktop unit for almost 24 hours to get a better feel for band conditions ahead of this weekend’s CQ WW WPX contest. The bands I focused on were 10m, 15m, 20m, and 40m, using my Hustler 4BTV…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2535 for Friday, May 29th, 2026

- CANADA TAKES TIME-KEEPING SHORTWAVE STATION OFF THE AIR - BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SABLE ISLAND QSL CARDS - DOUBLE THE CELEBRATION FOR AMATEURS IN GIBRALTAR - 13 COLONIES EVENT RETURNS WITH CHANGES - HALL OF FAME INDUCTS…

RAC Vice-President Brent Taylor, VY2HF, Silent Key

by Allan Boyd, VE3AJB/VE3EM, President, Radio Amateurs of Canada Radio Amateurs of Canada has received the sad news that RAC Vice-President Brent Taylor, VY2HF, became a Silent Key on May 21, 2026, at the age of 66. The…

Connecting at Hamvention 2026

We had a great time at Hamvention 2026, catching up with folks from the community and meeting many new faces along the way. Throughout the weekend, we welcomed a steady stream of visitors to the ARDC booth to learn more…

Decoding the Tianwen-2 Sample Return Mission’s Telemetry Signal

China’s Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission launched on 28 May of 2025 and is scheduled to arrive at its target – near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamo’oalewa – in June 2026. This gives …read more

So Long, CHU, and Thanks for All the Time Signals

In the long ago, pre-internet days when your clock project wasn’t an ESP32 getting its timing via NTP over WiFi, it was still possible to build a wirelessly-updating clock. All …read more

Videos: HS ham club in NH, yet another Heathkit history, Cruz thanks ham radio

Students go hands on with ham radio Here’s a nice news story about a new ham club at a high school in New Hampshire. Yet another Heathkit history Here’s another YouTube video on the history of Heathkit. The author has…

Senator Ted Cruz Highlights Amateur Radio Public Service (Memorial Weekend 2026)

Senator Ted Cruz, in this pre-Memorial-Day message, thanks amateur (ham) radio volunteers who serve the public through emergency communications, readiness to meet public communications needs, and are ever-ready…

Senator Ted Cruz Praises Amateur Radio Volunteers for Emergency Preparedness

Senator Ted Cruz, in a strong pre-Memorial Day message, publicly highlighted the critical role that Amateur Radio Service volunteers play during disasters, praising and thanking ham radio operators who provide essential…

Powerhouse History: WLW, W8XAL, WSAI

The photograph, below, captures a compelling moment of technical mastery during the formative years of American broadcasting, set deep within the inner workings of the Crosley Radio operation in Cincinnati, Ohio, during…

Dayton Hamvention 2026: Day 3, Friday, May 15 – Forums

The forums at this year’s Hamvention were pretty good—and I’m not just saying this because I was on the schedule. I spent most of Friday morning cruising the vendor booths and schmoozing with people I know. I stopped by…

ANS-144 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-144 May 24, 2026 In this edition: * OrigamiSat-2 Receives Fuji-OSCAR 126 (FO-126) Designation from AMSAT * AMSAT Opens Candidate Nominations for 2026 Board of Directors Election * AMSAT Forum…

The End of POTS is Nigh. An Amateur’s Professional Perspective: COMMENTARY.

A generational split. There’s good chance those under the age of 50 live in a home without a traditional, hard-wired dial up phone. If you’re under the age of 40 you probably never, not once in your life, called through…

ARRL Solar Update

Solar activity continued at low levels during the past 24 hours with four active regions on the visible disk. The largest events were a C1.0 on May 20 from the northeast limb and a C1.0/Sf, also on May 20, from Region…

Interview with the ARRL CEO: Remote Operating

ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, and Dick Strassburger, N9EEE, Editor of Solid Copy , the monthly newsletter of CWops, were guests on episode 94 of The DX Mentor (May 15, 2026) for a discussion about remote operating. The…

Report from the World’s Largest Hamfest

Radio amateurs from around the world descended on Xenia, Ohio, last weekend for Hamvention® 2026. The three-day event featured five indoor exhibit halls for vendors and organizations, four parallel tracks of forums, and…

Outstanding Contesters and DXers Recognized

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2534 for Friday, May 22nd, 2026

- ARISS ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR MOON-BASED HAM RADIO - AMSAT-DL SEEKS INPUT FROM SATELLITE ENTHUSIASTS - SILENT KEY: MARATHON VOLUNTEER, LIMARC OFFICER, JERRY ABRAMS, WB2ZEX - INNOVATIVE TRAILER MAKES DEBUT AT HAMVENTION…

Dayton Hamvention 2026: Day 3, Friday, May 15

I feel a little guilty. I haven’t paid for a Hamvention ticket in several years. When I worked for ARDC, I had a vendor pass. That was nice because I could park in the vendor parking lot directly behind the fairground…

Findings from the 2026 Grants Evaluation Team (GET)

As ARDC’s grants program continues to evolve, understanding the outcomes of funded projects remains an important part of our work. The Grants Evaluation Team (GET), now in its third year, helps support this effort by…

Dayton Hamvention 2026: Day 2, Thursday, May 14

Day 2 started out pretty early. The Four Days in May (FDIM) seminar starts at 8 am! After a short drive from my hotel, I arrived at the DoubleTree Hotel a little after 7:30 am, expecting to sail in and claim a seat. I…

ANS-140 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin

ANS-140 May 20, 2026 In this special edition: * OrigamiSat-2 is Designated Fuji-OSCAR 126 The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS…

Dayton Hamvention 2026: Day 1, Wednesday, May 13

Last Wednesday, I began my annual trek to the Dayton Hamvention. I live pretty close (three and a half hours driving), but I like to attend QRP-ARCI‘s Four Days in May on Thursday, so I head down early. I used to…

2026 Hamvention Wrap-Up -- Weather or Not…

It’s a tradition for Hamvention® … it must rain for at least part of at least one day … and this year didn’t disappoint! Showers and even the occasional downpour popped up on and off Saturday, prompting flea market…

ANS-137 AMSAT News Service Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-137 May 17, 2026 In this edition: * AMSAT “Radio Adventure” at Hamvention * VUCC Satellite Standing May 2026 * DXCC Satellite Standing May 2026 * AMSAT-DL to Highlight QO-100 at Friedrichshafen *…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2533 for Friday, May 15th, 2026

- PROJECT PURSUES MYSTERIES OF SPORADIC E-SKIP - UK HAMS PLAN TRIBUTE TO BBC TRANSMITTERS MARKED FOR SHUTDOWN - AUSTRALIAN RADIOCOMMUNICATION LICENSES GET NEW WEBSITE - NEW ZEALAND CYCLONE REVS UP RECRUITMENT DRIVE…

Running Your Own 3G Network

CDMA2000 was one of the protocols defined for 3G networks and is now years out of date and being phased out worldwide. Nevertheless, there are still vast numbers of phones …read more

ANS-130 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-130May 10, 2026 In this edition: AMSAT at Hamvention – AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Ticket Deadline – Monday, May 11th at 17:00 EDT March/April 2026 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available ARISS SSTV…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2532 for Friday, May 8th, 2026

- HAMVENTION PROMISES "RADIO ADVENTURE" - MORE HAMVENTION: YOTA PLANS TO BE YOUNG HAMS' GATHERING SPOT - SAUDI AMATEUR SOCIETY HOSTING 2ND SATELLITE COMPETITION - CW OPS NEEDED TO COPY DATA FROM TOKYO-BUILT CUBESAT…

New edition of my No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide now ready for review

The 2026 edition of my No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide is now available for review. I would love for you to download it, read through it, and comment on it, either here in this post or directly by…

Videos: The Heathkit story, how orchards became Silicon Valley, and a propagation monitor

The mistake that built Heathkit I hadn’t heard the story about the boxcars of electronic components before. How orchards became Silicon Valley I worked in Silicon Valley right after I got out of college.It’s interesting…

ANS-123 AMSAT News Service Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-123 May 3, 2026 In this edition: * Reminder: AMSAT at Hamvention * FO-29 Update * FCC Approves Limited Emergency Use of 70cm Band by AST SpaceMobile Satellites Outside the U.S.* Saudi Amateur…

Let’s meet up at Hamvention 2026

Cale, K4HCK, and I are inviting members of the Fediverse, ICQ Podcast listeners, and our readers to join fellow users at Hamvention 2026. The informal meet-up will take place Saturday, May 16th at 11:00 AM. We’ll meet…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2531 for Friday, May 1st, 2026

- HONORS FOR DXPEDITIONS FEATURING REMOTE ACTIVATIONS - HAM RADIO LESSONS PREPARE STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN FOR ADVENTURE - SILENT KEY: ENNIO TONON, IØFHZ, LEADER, MENTOR FOR ARI - AMSAT'S CUBESAT UPDATES AVAILABLE ON…

ARDC at Hamvention 2026

We’re excited to be heading back to Hamvention this year! You’ll find us at Booth #1302 / #1402 in Building 1 (Maxim), where you can learn more about our grants program and priority areas for funding, as well as explore…

NVIS is an Overlooked Jewel.

Yes, it’s cool. But then what? Chasing DX is exciting! Who can’t relate to the thrill of the hunt; the sense of accomplishment when you crack a pile up and add that exotic land to your trophy case? And of course, the…

ANS-116 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-116 April 26, 2026 In this edition: * AMSAT Update from 2026 CubeSat Developers Workshop Available Online * AMSAT-HB Announces Results of 2026 HB9RG Trophy Distance Competition * Rocket Lab…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2530 for Friday, April 24th, 2026

- BREAKING NEWS: FCC GRANTS FREQUENCIES' USE FOR SATELLITE SERVICE - STEPPIR ANNOUNCES RETURN TO AMATEUR RADIO MARKET - FREQUENCIES IDENTIFIED FOR EXPANDING 6G ON 2.7 GHz BAND - MODERN RADIOS TO LIGHT UP BESIDE HISTORIC…

EssexHam Meshcore Channel

If you’ve joined the MeshCore network, we now have an #essexham hashtag channel. If you’re able to hop to Essex, send us a message in the #essexham channel. What’s Meshcore? Meshtastic was the first attempt at a free…

ANS-109 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

April 19, 2026 In this edition: The AMSAT(R) News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2529 for Friday, April 17th, 2026

- HY-GAIN, CUSHCRAFT RETURN TO MARKET AFTER MFJ'S SALE - HAWAII'S RACES HAMS ACTIVATE FOR THIRD "KONA LOW" STORM - GRATITUDE ON THE AGENDA AT KENTUCKY CLUB'S MEETING - MAN ARRESTED AFTER EMERGENCY-CHANNEL INTERFERENCE…

ANS-102 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service ANS-102 April 12, 2026 In this edition: Reminder: AMSAT at Hamvention AMSAT to Attend CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026 AMSAT Satellite Status Page: The Story Behind the New Colors and Satellite Naming…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2528 for Friday, April 10th, 2026

- FCC REVIEWS GROWING SPACE SECTOR'S NEED FOR SPECTRUM - STATION'S EXPERIMENTS EXPLORE USE OF 4M and 8M BANDS - SILENT KEY: TEACHER RITA WRIGHT, KC9CDL, LED 1ST SCHOOL ISS QSO - SILENT KEY: ARGENTINE BROADCAST…

Building a Carrier‑Grade Yaesu IMRS Backbone on 44Net: A Replicable Playbook from VK

Below is a guest contribution from Phil Kern VK5PK, a 44Net user. If you’re a 44Net user and are interested in submitting a guest contribution, please reach out to comms@ardc.net. Summary Australian clubs and KernWi‑Fi…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2527 for Friday, April 3rd, 2026

- AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ON MOON MISSION ABOARD ARTEMIS 2 - FCC CHARGES AMATEUR WITH EMERGENCY-SERVICE INTERFERENCE - SSTV FROM ISS MARKING MAJOR MOMENTS IN SPACE - AZORES AMATEURS HOSTING THEIR FIRST 10M REPEATER…

ARDC Welcomes New Committee Members for 2026

We’re pleased to welcome a new group of volunteers to ARDC. These volunteers bring a wide range of experience and perspectives, and their contributions are essential to supporting ARDC’s mission. Our volunteer groups…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2526 for Friday, March 27th, 2026

- HAMS RESPOND TO HISTORIC FLOODS IN HAWAII - FUNDS WOULD EXPAND, UPGRADE NOAA'S WEATHER RADIO NETWORK - INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP CALLS CQ FOR AUTISM AWARENESS - CHARTERED FLIGHT TO CARRY INTERNATIONAL TEAM TO ISS…

Handheld Transceivers: A Generational Curse.

As common as air. Handheld transceivers, or HT, is ubiquitous in amateur radio. For many hams, it’s their first radio. For others, they may operate only one “main” base or mobile radio but have several handhelds. And…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2525 for Friday, March 20th, 2026

- BOUVET ISLAND DXPEDITION A SUCCESS - JUDGE ORDERS VOICE OF AMERICA BACK ON THE AIR - SKYWARN YOUTH NET CALLS CQ FOR SECOND YEAR - US MILITARY TESTS HF COMMUNICATIONS IN ALASKA - YL WORLD WIDE EVENT OVERWHELMING…

ARDC is Hiring: Software Developer (PT Contract)

ARDC is no longer accepting applications for this position, as this role has been filled. Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) – https://www.ardc.net – is a California-based private foundation with roots in…

ARDC is Hiring: Technical Writer (PT Contract)

ARDC is no longer accepting applications for this position. Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) – https://www.ardc.net – is a California-based private foundation with roots in amateur radio and internet…

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2524 for Friday, March 13th, 2026

- RESTRICTIONS TO IMPACT KANTON ISLAND DXPEDITIONS - WRTC NOT PERMITTING NATIONAL FLAGS, SYMBOLS - AUSTRALIAN HAMS CHALLENGE HIGHER FEES ON STATE LANDS - FEDERAL COURT RULES AGAINST VOA LEADERSHIP - HAMVENTION ANNOUNCES…

ARDC Community Meeting Recap: March 7, 2026

On Saturday, March 7, we hosted our 2026 Community Meeting. Participants joined us to hear updates on our work from 2025 and what lies ahead for the foundation in the coming year. These meetings provide an opportunity…

A Look Back at 2025: ARDC’s Annual Report is Now Available

Our 2025 Annual Report is now available, highlighting a year of progress as we rolled out new initiatives, shared a clearer strategic direction, and continued supporting innovation across our community. Highlights…

Knowing Your Radio Neighborhood.

Expand your band. One of the habits many off grid hams fall into is they operate in a silo, meaning, they hang out only on the ham bands, often the same one or two bands, and barely know what’s going on beyond that…

Buying A Used Radio: How To Avoid Getting Stuck With A Dud.

Removing a barrier to entry. As it has been for, well, forever, used ham radio equipment is still a major gateway into the hobby. Many beginners, and even some old hands, have limited budgets. Or maybe an operator wants…

Exploring the AMNVOLT Mini SI4732 Receiver

I’m always keen to pay with new, cheap, portable tech from China, and following some very positive reviews online, I picked up a AMNVOLT Mini SI4732 DSP Radio Receiver from AliExpress for just over £26 (shop link) This…

The Secret Life of Multimeters.

Special note: I’m taking time off to spend Christmas with friends and family. Please enjoy this personal favorite Off Grid Ham article from November 15, 2020. May God richly bless you in the new year! As basic as it…

Introducing 44Net Connect: A Simpler Way to Access 44Net

Are you a ham that wants to experiment with 44Net but found the setup process to be intimidating? Say no more, because we’ve got great news for you! We’re excited to introduce 44Net Connect, a service that makes it easy…

If You’ve Never Done This Before, Click Here.

A buffet of options. Amateur radio has a low barrier to entry, but once in the door the learning curve is fairly steep. This may originate from the wide breadth and depth of the hobby. There are so many subspecialties…

Monday Night Net – AI Summary 17 Nov 2025

An AI summary of tonight’s net, plus the following image: This week’s Essex Ham Monday Night Net on GB3DA was hosted by Dorothy, M0LMR, with a warm, chatty evening that wandered happily between Christmas prep, radio…

Monday Night Net – AI Summary 10 Nov 2025

The Monday Night Net ran on the 2m repeater GB3DA (Danbury, Essex) on FM, using the standard output 145.725 MHz / input 145.125 MHz with 110.9 Hz CTCSS. The net was chaired by Aubrey M7SDA and was joined by Dorothy…

Monday Night Net – AI Summary 03 Nov 2025

Here’s what AI makes of this week’s net… Monday Night Net on GB3DA – hosted by M0PSX Pete M0PSX was in the chair for this week’s Monday Night Net via GB3DA. Stations taking part during the evening included G7HCD/M…

Why Hams Should Care About The Decline of Broadcast Radio.

It’s not all about us. As an avocation that is all about communication, amateur radio cannot be effective if it exists in a vacuum. We chatter and exchange information amongst ourselves quite effectively. But what about…

Monday Night Net – AI Summary 27 Oct 2025

Summary of tonight’s net, courtesy of AI: Summary: We had a healthy turn-out: 2E0KDG (Chris), M7SDA (Aubrey), M0LMR (Dorothy) with G7OED (Richard), G1KOT (Mike), M7SJN (Sam), later joined by G6EFI (Rob, ex-M0KCP), M7KTT…

Baofeng UV-5R Mini Explored

On this page, we take a look at a new Baofeng that’s getting everyone talking, the Baofeng UV-5R Mini. The UV-5R has been around for a few years now, and is probably the most well-known radio out there – it’s a safe bet…

Monday Night Net 20 October 2025 Report

We fed tonight’s net into an AI engine and asked for a friendly report. Here’s what AI thought of our outing: Who was about: Pete M0PSX (herding the cats), Aubrey M7SDA, Dorothy M0LMR, Bob G4MDB, and a late fly-by from…

Intermediate M8 and M9 Callsigns Now Available

As of October 2025, Ofcom’s updated its licence platform to release M8 and M9 callsigns. Here’s a summary: Existing Intermediates You can now apply for an M8 or M9 callsign, to replace your existing 2×0 or 2×1 callsign…

Monday Night Net — Summary (Mon 13 Oct 2025)

Here’s an AI report of the net held at 8pm on Monday 13 Oct 2025: This week’s Monday Night Net on GB3DA (Danbury) was hosted by Dorothy (M0LMR), who did her usual great job of keeping things running smoothly. It was one…

Your Off Grid Backup Radio Might Already Be In Your Basement.

Two benefits for the price of one. Radio amateurs who operate off grid already know that their pastime has a secondary benefit of being very valuable in times of disaster. In some cases it’s the other way around. Many…

Communications Security: It’s Not Just For Spies.

We live in an open book world. Anyone with even a small shred of awareness knows that there is no true privacy in our modern world. Everything about you, even things you don’t know about yourself, are archived somewhere…

I Bought the Cheapest Solar Controller on Amazon and it Proved Me Wrong.

An idea is born. Back in May I discouraged new hams from buying the cheapest, most low end equipment possible. That article subsequently linked to a solar controller that, as best I could determine, was the absolute…

This YouTube Channel Is Worth Your Clicks.

Land of the Free and home of the radio. First of all I hope everyone who participated in Field Day had a great weekend. If you did not make it to Field Day, don’t sweat it! Remember, you can hit the airwaves any time…

Radiosport 2.0 is not taking your baby (but it is giving it a new lease on contesting life)

context: Kyle AA0Z invited me to a roundtable discussion on his youtube channel] this evening, and it stirred up some discord and stoked the ongoing controversy grinding old-school contesters’ gears since his W1DED…

Voices from Thierry, FT8WW, from Crozet Islands by OH2BH, Martti Laine

Is it wonderful to hear the voices from Crozet Islands on SSB? While waiting Thierry for his HF operating extension, it was another project to learn about OQ-100 satellite, get operational and hear the friendly voices…

Amateur Radio Brotherhood Is Helping Fellow Hams In Ukraine

Bringing the family of Alex, UT5UY, out of a war torn Ukraine was done under the auspices of Amateur Radio, a brotherhood of 3 million people that want to do their utmost in the spirit Read More ... The post Amateur…

JH1AJT – Yasuo Zorro Miyazawa

Early this morning we learned of the passing of JH1AJT, Yasuo Zorro Miyazawa. For some time now he had cancer. Zorro was first licensed when he was 15 years old, back in 1964, the year Read More ... The post JH1AJT –…

Small receiver and its great story

Last night UT5UY, Alex, was very restless from the constant bombardment by Russian bombs and missiles. As the fighting was underway in the outskirts of Kyiv Alex was unable to sleep and wrote this short Read More…

The Future of Amateur Radio IS with our youth!!!

The Future of Amateur Radio IS with our youth! But lets think about what youth is for a second, and give done credit for those who are not so youthful…

Thoughts on the Saturation of Ham Radio YouTube

Author's note: I use - and this is a real quote from an angry reader - the language of the devil that I should be ashamed of using - in this post. Steer clear if you're offended by profanity. If you don't, and you…

First Annual “Dream Rig” Youth Essay Contest (Press Release from Intrepid-DX Group)

Press Release by the Intrepid-DX GroupWednesday, July 1, 2020 First Annual “Dream Rig” Youth Essay Contest. The Intrepid-DX Group is a US based 501 C(3) nonprofit organization that promotes Amateur Radio activities in…

Did you miss Field Day? Or want to see others’ operation? Check out my Playlist!

I curated a YouTube playlist that contains over 130 videos of ARRL Field Day action. Check it out here, or in the convenient embedded player below. It’s surprising how many videos have popped up already; just a little…

Introducing the YouTuber’s HamFest LIVE – This Weekend (May 23-24)!

Here’s something to help alleviate your post-partum ham radio convention funk. The YouTuber’s Hamfest features a whole bunch of the biggest YouTubers in Ham Radio with some of your favorite names in amateur radio, LIVE…

N0SSC.com, now in Dark Mode

I love dark mode. It’s easier on the eyes, especially when you’re up at 2am for no good reason but to change your website’s colors. If you don’t like this, if anything looks broken or amiss, or you just want to chat…

The Modern Morse Code Renaissance (and my Learning Progress)

The pastime of Learning Morse code has been on a huge upswing these last few months. Reddit posts have increased, LCWO usage is at an all-time high, and Google trends are showing an obvious bump in interest in “morse…

A New Discord Server for Young Radio Amateurs

Join the YARC Discord here: https://discord.gg/MpQJadu Suffice it to say, the Young Amateurs Radio Club experienced a split. From my experience, every ham radio club will experience a split in it’s lifetime. It seems to…

Anchorage VEC Remote Testing results in a new Extra; Remote Testing Working Group Underway

Good news! Remote VE Testing is happening and people are getting licensed and upgraded! Woohoo! I spoke with Brandin Hess, AL6I, Anchorage ARC VEC chairman on the phone shortly after this test session was complete. He…

4U1UN soon to be QRV

August 17 Later today KO8SCA, Adrian, plans to be back at the United Nations to lay the radials and install the coax for the new BigIR vertical. There is a chance he could make a Read More ... The post 4U1UN soon to be…

Breaking News – 3Y0Z

2000 UTC 3 February 2018 During the last 72 hours we continued to experience the high winds, low clouds, fog, and rough seas that have prevented helicopter operations since our arrival at Bouvet. No improvement Read…

Kosovo Release – February 2, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LATEST ON REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO Currently three (3) stations are up and running with DL3DXX, DL5CW, DJ5IW, IK0FVC and VE7NY at the helm. The activation is now up to 50.000 QSOs logged; Read More…

Z60A – Kosovo – Update January 25, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEKosovo January 25, 2018LATEST FROM THE GROUP IN KOSOVO AT Z60AIt is surprisingly cold in Kosovo as temperatures are running record low for this week – today it was minus 13 C (8F). Read More ... The…

New DXCC Entity – Z6 Kosovo

REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO ACTIVE TODAY — Z60A TEAM ALREADY ON THE GROUND Kosovo’s IARU Society SHARK, and its president Vjollca Caka, Z61VB are hosting a tenth anniversary activation celebrating Kosovo’s independence…

Baker Island 2018 Press Release nr. 4

Dated January 16, 2018 For Immediate Release: The Dateline DX Association is pleased to announce major equipment support from Elecraft, DX Engineering, and SteppIR Communications Systems for its KH1/KH7Z Baker Island…

Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2610

World Amateur Radio Day 2026: One Hundred and One Years On the Air

Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2609

Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2608

WSJT-X 3.0 Stable Released: What's New

Amateur Radio Clubs

PoPT AX.25 Terminal Program

Antennas in an Antenna Restricted Community

Guglielmo Marconi: Early Wireless Telegraphy and Shortwave Development

Fessenden and Marconi: Early Radio Technologies and Transatlantic Experiments

The Ham Shop

R&L Electronics: Amateur Radio Store for Equipment and Accessories

80 40 30 Trapped Delta Loop Antenna Project

40 Meter Horizontal Loop Antenna Construction and Portable Deployment