Latest Amateur Radio News
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The ARRL Solar Update
<p>Solar flare activity was at low levels in the past week with<br />isolated C-class flare activity, according to NOAA’s Space Weather<br />Prediction Center. The largest flare of the period was a C3.4 on<br />September 8 from otherwise stable Region 4528. Region 4530 developed<br />asymmetric penumbra on both its leading and trailing poles while<br />undergoing consolidation in its intermediate area. New flux<br />emergence in the...</p>
LHS Episode #630: The Weekender CXLIII
Hello and welcome back everyone! You're joining us for episode 630, our 143rd Weekender, 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 talking about the random topic that our topic wheel hands us - and some hedonistic exploits!
One Planted Mast, Two Countries: A Unique POTA Rove Across the Scotland–England Border
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Sunday, July 12, 2026, I woke up knowing exactly the type of POTA activation I wanted to do that day. We were nearing the end of our time in the Berwick-upon-Tweed area and would soon be heading south to Surrey and then Cornwall before eventually returning to Edinburgh and flying home … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/09/one-planted-mast-two-countries-a-unique-pota-rove-across-the-scotland-england-border/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">One Planted Mast, Two Countries: A Unique POTA Rove Across the Scotland–England Border</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
MeshCore vs Meshtastic: Why Hams Are Switching, and What You Give Up
LoRa Mesh Networking — MeshCore vs Meshtastic MeshCore vs Meshtastic: Why Hams Are Switching, and What You Give Up Two off-grid text networks, one real difference under the hood, and a licensing question that only matters if you hold a callsign. Jump to the Comparison See Our Free Ham Tools If you have been anywhere...
Solar Cycle 25 Is Heading Downhill: What the Decline Actually Does to Your Bands
Solar Cycle 25 peaked in October 2024 and the bands have been sliding ever since. Here is what the sun actually does to your signal, what happens to every band from 10 meters down to 160 on the way to minimum, the four things that genuinely get better, and how to change the way you operate.
Lithium Battery Safety for Ham Radio: How to Charge Your LiFePO4 Without Starting a Fire
Twelve special event stations go on the air October 4-10, 2026 for Fire Prevention Week, and this year the theme is lithium-ion battery charging safety. Here is what that means for the LiFePO4 battery under your operating desk, the five charging rules that actually matter, and the one cold-weather rule almost nobody tells you.
VE3YTX: A New Ham’s Guide to Overcomplicating Everything – Today’s topic, QSL Cards
by Josh Stringer (VE3YTX) So, a few weeks ago I sent in an article to QRPer.com about my harrowing first few POTA activations in CW. One thing that I didn’t mention is that once I got home, I sent an email to each of the people I contacted, thanking them for their patience. That got … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/09/ve3ytx-a-new-hams-guide-to-overcomplicating-everything-todays-topic-qsl-cards/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">VE3YTX: A New Ham’s Guide to Overcomplicating Everything – Today’s topic, QSL Cards</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
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 […]
DX Central Launches Season 7 of The DX Challenge and an All-New Web App; DX Central Live! Also Returns
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Loyd Van Horn (W4LVH) of DX Central, who shares the following announcements: DX Central Live! Returns for Season 7, Introducing “The DX Challenge” and Enhanced Interactive Live Logging MANDEVILLE, La. — September 11, 2026 — DX Central, the premier multimedia brand for the radio DXing community, officially launches Season […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK (September 11, 2026)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report. Carlos notes: NHK: 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks Click here to view on YouTube.
A completely different picture of Wayne Green, W2NSD (SK)
Back in the 70s and 80s, and in the early days of personal computing, Wayne Green was kind of a legend. He was the editor of CQ magazine for a couple of years, then started 73 magazine. In 1975, he started BYTE magazine. But, as the saying goes, “you learn something new every day.” Here’s […]
Special HAARP Transmission for 9/11
<p>To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will be making a special transmission on 9.11 MHz at 0030-0035 UTC on September 12, 2026 (8:30-8:35 PM eastern time Friday evening). The transmission will consist of a Morse code QST, followed by a slow-scan ...</p>
Video: Educator Shows How Amateur Radio Is Inspiring Students
<p>Educator Everton Henriques, KD2ZZT, shared his experience using amateur radio to inspire students and bring engineering and technology to life in the classroom during his keynote at the 2026 ARRL New England Division Convention, hosted by Northeast HamXposition in Massachusetts on August 15. A video recording is available on ARRL’s YouTube channel.</p><p>Everton is an Engineering and Technology Teache...</p>
SOTA, POTA, and Pepper-Assisted Rapid Antenna Removal at Leith Hill
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, July 18, 2026, my friend Nick (M5NCW), his sweet dog Pepper, and I jumped in the car and made our way from Guildford, Surrey, to a SOTA site I had been eager to visit: Leith Hill (G/SE-002). The reason I loved the idea of activating Leith Hill is that, when … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/09/sota-pota-and-pepper-assisted-rapid-antenna-removal-at-leith-hill/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">SOTA, POTA, and Pepper-Assisted Rapid Antenna Removal at Leith Hill</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
Answering the Call: A 9/11 Remembrance from ARRL
<p><i>Ed. Note: Details in this article were culled from the November 2001 QST article, “9/11/01: ‘This is Not a Test’ ” by Rick Lindquist, N1RL, and Diane Ortiz, K2DO</i>. <i>The original article is available here (PDF).</i></p><p><b><br /></b>Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States came under attack from al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked passenger planes and flew them into buildings in New York City and Wa...</p>
All India Radio on Shortwave – Then and Now
by Dan Greenall Back in the 1970’s, All India Radio (also called Akashvani) had no programs beamed to North America. Perhaps, partly because of this, it took me nearly a year and a half of DXing to finally hear them from my listening post in southern Ontario, Canada. I used to think their evening transmission […]
QRPer Notes: Rhode Island’s First POTA Weekend, LY2H’s Radio Van Tour, and One CW Question Distilled Editions
Every now and then, a few items cross my desk that are simply worth passing along. QRPer Notes is a short collection of those tidbits — interesting stories, tips, and links making waves in the world of radio! -Thomas (K4SWL) Lighthouse, beaches, and 63 parks: Activate All RI hits the airwaves this weekend Many thanks … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/09/qrper-notes-rhode-islands-first-pota-weekend-ly2hs-radio-van-tour-and-one-cw-question-distilled-editions/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">QRPer Notes: Rhode Island’s First POTA Weekend, LY2H’s Radio Van Tour, and One CW Question Distilled Editions</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
N8PEM: A Zippy Paddle Story on Picea Benchmark
by Chris (N8PEM) At Hamvention this year, I ran into Rich, KE4WLE, and got a close look at some of his 3D-printed work — including the Zippy paddles he’d brought along. The build quality was impressive, but the coolest part is how customizable they are. My own 3D printer can’t lay in different colored text … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/09/n8pem-a-zippy-paddle-story-on-picea-benchmark/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">N8PEM: A Zippy Paddle Story on Picea Benchmark</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK (September 8, 2026)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report. Carlos notes: NHK: Extremely heavy rain in Shikoku and Tokai regions; risk of linear precipitation zones in various areas. Click here to view on YouTube.
VU3GLJ: A 5-Watt Field Radio Adventure in India’s Bananthimari State Forest
Many thanks to Bharath M. Palavalli (VU3GLJ), who shares the following post, originally published on his website: Yet another accidental POTA by Bharath (VU3GLJ) Bananthimari Forest “??????” (Bananthi) translates to a mother of a newborn, and “????” (Maari) refers to the local deity/goddess called “Maariamma”. While this could refer to a practice of praying to the … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/09/vu3glj-a-5-watt-field-radio-adventure-in-indias-bananthimari-state-forest/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">VU3GLJ: A 5-Watt Field Radio Adventure in India’s Bananthimari State Forest</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
