Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
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Saturday, September 12, 2026

• ICQPodcast Episode 492 – Which Hotspot
  In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode’s feature is Which Hotspot.

  We would like to thank our and monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit – http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

  • Amateur Radio technologies help in Canadian Cave Rescue.
  • $1 Million and Counting: Contester and Engineer Dr James Galm Makes Historic Gift to ARRL
  • AST SpaceMobile’s 800 MHz Trial Wraps Up — But the 70cm Interference Story Isn’t Going Away
  • South African Regulator Closes In on Repeater Interference in Gauteng
  • When the Networks Go Down: Bangladesh Runs Nationwide Radio Drill for Quakes, Floods, and Worse
  • Wildfire Scorches Vital Nevada Repeater — Repairs Racing to Beat Labour Day
  • Bangladesh Wants a Ham Radio Payload on Its Next Satellite — And They Need Your Voice

• LHS Episode #629: Gamified Learning Part 2
  Hello and welcome back everyone! You’re joining us for episode 629 of Linux in the Ham Shack, the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! This week we’re sharing news about what has been going on in our lives, as well as the second part of our featured topic! 73 de LHS Team

• “Jim I’m only a doctor”
  When I opened up HamClock today I was reminded that September 8th is Star Trek day. I had the USS Enterprise NCC 1701 slowly moving across my screen on HamClock. Hats off to those at Open HamClock Back-end for making this happen.

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 438
  APRS Connect A new APRS client for Android, built around conversations rather than a packet console. APRS Connect The next version of the M17 specification The proposed V3 meets the goals set out for it, but are there any downsides? M17 Project AST SpaceMobile’s 800 MHz trial wraps up — But the 70cm interference story […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, September 5, 2026

• Ham College 143
  Ham College episode 143 is now available for download. General Exam Questions Part 4 G1D – Volunteer Examiners and Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, temporary identification, element credit, remote operation. https://hamcollege.tv Download YouTube Key Topics Discussed: Volunteer Examiners (VEs) and VEC: The hosts explain the requirements for becoming an accredited Volunteer Examiner (0:24:57-0:26:28), including age limits and … Continue reading Ham College 143

• The Communicator: September – October 2026
  Welcome to The CommunicatorWelcome to the September-October 2026 issue of The Communicator. Dive into the latest issue of The SARC Communicator, a bumper edition brimming with technical innovation, operating field reports, and rich radio history f…

• A Lewis & Clark POTA Journey
  For years, Joyce/K0JJW and I have talked about following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The main idea is to do a road trip, starting in St Louis, near the Gateway Arch and follow 3,700 miles of river, prairie, mountain, and forest to the …

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 437
  Unveiled at Tokyo Ham Fair 2026: Introducing the new Icom IC-7110 The new IC-7110 succeeds the popular IC-7100 combining a versatile HF/50/70/144/430MHz all-band mobile design with a vibrant 4.3-inch colour touchscreen and advanced dualwatch capabilities. Icom Ceefax Station Old-school Ceefax teletext pages — on your PC, and optionally over Amateur Radio. M7TJF Call sign WB4MZ0 […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, August 29, 2026

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 435
  Hunstville Hamfest this weekend For the first time since 2007, we will again host the ARRL National Convention. Hunstville Hamfest Ham donates $1 million to ARRL Entrepreneur and Amateur Radio operator invests in the next generation of problem solvers. ARRL Making Hams of hackers Facilitating Tech classes at DEFCON and Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE). […]

• ICQPodcast Episode 491 – The Science of Making Distant Contacts
  In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Frank Howell (K4FMH) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode’s feature is The …

• LHS Episode #627: The Dumpster Returns
  Hello and welcome back everyone! You’re joining us for episode 627 of Linux in the Ham Shack, the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! This week we’re sharing news about what has been going on in our lives, as well as covering topics in Amateur radio, Open Source/Linux and even some Github Dumpster Diving! 73 de LHS Team

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 436
  SpotHole Spothole is an aggregator of Amateur Radio spots from DX clusters and outdoor activity programmes. It’s free for anyone to use and includes an API that developers can build other applications on. M0TRT Zero Retries Digital Conference (ZRDC) 2026 to bring Amateur Radio technology and innovation to San Ramon ZRDC 2026 Registration is open! […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, August 22, 2026

• AmateurLogic 220: It’s Going To Get Meshy
  AmateurLogic.TV Episode 220 is now available for download. Our latest experiments with Mesh Networking. Tommy builds a Solar Powered Mesh Node. Emile talks about the rapidly growing Gulf Coast Mesh Network and demonstrates his equipment. George unboxes an Elecrow Solar Powered M6 Thinknode. And Mike opens up his new solar powered AM/FM/SW/BT radio to see … Continue reading AmateurLogic 220: It’s Going To Get Meshy

• LHS Episode #626: The Weekender CXLII
  Hello and welcome back everyone! You’re joining us for episode 626 of Linux in the Ham Shack, the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! This week we’re bringing to you our 142nd weekender, so you’ll hear about what we’ve been doing in our lives, along with our discussion centered around a random topic from our topic wheel and a quick trip through some hedonistic exploits! 73 de LHS Team

• Time for antenna work.
  Before the DX Engineering radial plateThe vertical antenna I have is the Hustler 4BTV, which gives me 10–40m, and I am very happy with its performance. One shortfall for me is the method this antenna uses to fasten the ground radials. At the b…

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 435
  Hunstville Hamfest this weekend For the first time since 2007, we will again host the ARRL National Convention. Hunstville Hamfest Ham donates $1 million to ARRL Entrepreneur and Amateur Radio operator invests in the next generation of problem solvers. ARRL Making Hams of hackers Facilitating Tech classes at DEFCON and Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE). […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, August 15, 2026

• ICQPodcast Episode 490 – Ham Radio ATU’s
  In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Ed Durrant DD5LP and Frank Howell K4FMH to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode’s feature is Ham Radio ATU’…

• LHS Episode #625: Sebastián Delmont KI2D – HaLo Next Edition
  Hello and welcome back everyone! You’re joining us for episode 625 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 chatting with Sebastián Delmont (KI2D) about his latest software adventure! 73 de LHS Team

• My 2025 Ford F-150 Radio Install (VGC N7600)
  I recently purchased a 2025 Ford F-150 truck that I am enjoying very much. I traded in my 2013 F-150 using all kinds of justifications but mostly I just wanted a new truck. That could be a story for another day. Of course, that brings up the need to in…

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 434
  FCC Ham “Call Book” in PDF and CSV formats The call book supports Ham Radio enthusiasts who suffer little-to-no internet bandwidth while chasing QSOs — or when your favorite search site goes down for (un)scheduled maintenance. Playground Amateur Radio Club Amateur Radio has never been more affordable So why do some things seem so expensive? […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, August 8, 2026

• Ham College 142
  Ham College episode 142 is now available for download. General Exam Questions Part 3. G1C – Transmitter power regulations; data emission standards; 60-meter operation requirements. Demonstration of PEP vs Average Power. Effective Radiated Power. https://hamcollege.tv Download YouTube Key Topics Covered: PEP vs. Average Power: The hosts provide a practical demonstration using a transceiver and a … Continue reading Ham College 142

• CHOTA 2026
  Go to Church on September 12, 2026…and Bring a Radio! 20M US-UK calling frequency at top of each hour: 14.247MHz It’s nearing the time of Churches and Chapels on the Air again! Here in the U.S., Churches and Chapels on the Air (CHOTA) is a fairly new concept. A few years ago, I was fortunate […]

• LHS Episode #624: National Jamboree 2026
  Hello and welcome back everyone! You’re joining us for episode 624 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 interviewing Bill about his adventures at the 2026 Scouting America National Jamboree! 73 de LHS Team

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 433
  Breaking – OFDM-AB – IP400 Refactored The Amateur Radio data communications revolution of the 21st century. Zero Retries Geographic analysis of US Amateur Radio licenses using FCC and Census data Where have new grants grown over the past X months? Do older counties have higher ham density? (ecological correlation) KK4SW Amber Silver Alert net Program […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, August 1, 2026

• News: Olivia Digital Modes on HF
  Greetings Olivia and digital mode operators, GREAT NEWS! WEBSITE UPDATE! Here are the big three new features: Live Olivia spotting. Just like on POTA and other sites, this is a live show and tell of your activity either by self spotting, or spotting stations you copy. Dedicated live spot page, you can view even on […]

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 431
  APRS On the Air Let’s create a new Amateur Radio activity and supporting software that brings the activator-and-chaser game of Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air to APRS. K0TFU China is using Ham Radio in its territorial claim over the South China Sea An article goes into great depths to use decisions […]

• ICQPodcast Episode 489 – STEM and Radio for a Brighter Future
  In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), 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 up the news in brief, and the episode’s feature is STEM and Ham Radio Works.

  We would like to thank our Chris Carini, (GW4RER), Walter Washburn, (KT0D), Constantine Papas (KL0S) and monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit – http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

  • HAMgpt Launches as an AI Assistant Built Around Your Station
  • Keeping Teams Connected Where the Network Isn’t
  • Scientists Building Massive Deep Synoptic Array in Nevada Desert
  • FCC Clears Orbital Mirror Satellite Despite Widespread Objections
  • aprs.world — A Free, Modern Live APRS Map in 11 Languages
  • RSGB Club Finder Back Online After Redevelopment
  • Peter the First Island DXpedition Seeks Operators
  • Icom RS-BA1 Version 2 (Version 2.81) & RS-R8600 (Version 1.02) Software Updates

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 432
  Family of KY student says deputy seized child’s radios without warrant. They’re suing A Somerset family has filed a lawsuit against the county’s school board and local law enforcement, alleging a deputy wrongly seized two-way radios from a student without a warrant. Lexington Herald Leader The integrity question: Inside the WRTC 2026 Multiplier Investigation Public […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, July 25, 2026

• VHF for Parks On The Air?
  Parks On The Air (POTA) has exploded in popularity, with most of the activity on the HF bands. That makes sense — HF gives you the long-distance contacts and the big pileups. But don’t overlook the VHF bands, especially 2m FM. Two meter FM is simple, h…

• Part 2 of….. Antenna solve one problem to only create another.
  If you have not read Part 1 of this post, go HERE and then make your way back.To recap, I was having an issue with my Hustler 4BTV vertical antenna, and I discovered that water was making its way into the 15m trap. Once I had the antenna reassemb…

• News: Olivia Digital Modes on HF
  Greetings Olivia and digital mode operators, GREAT NEWS! WEBSITE UPDATE! Here are the big three new features: Live Olivia spotting. Just like on POTA and other sites, this is a live show and tell of your activity either by self spotting, or spotting stations you copy. Dedicated live spot page, you can view even on […]

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 431
  APRS On the Air Let’s create a new Amateur Radio activity and supporting software that brings the activator-and-chaser game of Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air to APRS. K0TFU China is using Ham Radio in its territorial claim over the South China Sea An article goes into great depths to use decisions […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, July 18, 2026

• ICQPodcast Episode 487 – A Taste of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen
  In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode’s feature is a Taste of Ha…

• LHS Episode #623: Dipole Tuning Listener Feedback
  Hello and welcome back everyone! You’re joining us for episode 623 of Linux in the Ham Shack, the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! This week we’re sharing news about what has been going on in our lives, as well as a featured topic from one of our listener’s feedback! 73 de LHS Team

• ICQPodcast Episode 488 – World RadioSport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026
  In this special episode, Martin Butler (M1MRB), Chris Howard (M0TCH) and Colin Butler (M6BOY) attended and bring you a flavour of the World Radiosport Team Championship 2026 taking place in the UK.

  We would like to thank our and monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit – http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 430
  HAMgpt New platform combines an operator’s license, station, location and live band conditions to answer a practical question: “What can I do with my radio today?” HAMgpt In-depth series: Ham Radio A podcast series on a wide range of Ham Radio topics. Hacker Public Radio What does a Ham Radio antenna look like on the […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA

Amateur Radio Weekly Newsletter

Ham radio news, commentary, giveaways, and more!
Celebrating 30 years of service – 1995-2025
Over 8,000 subscribers!
Unsubscribe

Saturday, July 11, 2026

• How to Fix the Technician License
  Once again, I am in the middle of teaching a Technician license class and I notice that some of the exam questions seem off target. I look at the exam through the lens of “what does a licensee need to know to get started at the Technician level?&…

• LHS Episode #622: The Weekender CXLI
  Hello and welcome back everyone! You’re joining us for episode 622 of Linux in the Ham Shack, the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! This week we’re bringing to you our 141st weekender, so you’ll hear about what we’ve been doing in our lives, along with our discussion centered around a random topic from our topic wheel and a quick trip through some hedonistic exploits! 73 de LHS Team

• Echoes of CW: A Signal Corps Tribute to Virginia L. Scott and the WAVES of WWII
  Looking at this historic photograph brings back a flood of memories from my own time in the Signal Corps. It shows WAVE operator Virginia L. Scott in March 1943, sitting in the Code Room of the U.S. Navy Radio School in Madison, Wisconsin. The photograph, catalogued in the National Archives as 80-G-431533, captures an ordinary […]

• Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 429
  Help us save MeshCore We’ve now started a crowd funding campaign, in an attempt to raise the required funds to continue the legal challenge. MeshCore QuadRF can spot drones and see WiFi through my wall A phased-array radio built around a Raspberry Pi 5 and an FPGA board with picosecond-level timing. It does advanced signal […]

Thank you for being an AmateurRadio.com reader and subscriber to the Amateur Radio Newsletter.

Do you like to write? Please consider submitting an article.

Matt W1MST
Managing Editor
editor
Twitter / Facebook

How to set up your own ham radio blog – Get started in less than 15 minutes

AmateurRadio.com
P.O. Box 45
Hampden ME 04444
USA