Latest Amateur Radio News
Showing 20 articles.
Gear Talk: Choosing Earbuds and Audio Recorders
by Thomas (K4SWL) Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2026 is off to a great start for you. As is often the case, a recent field report sparked some excellent follow-up questions. Many thanks to Hamilton (KD0FNR) for the comment he left in response to my recent field report from the North Carolina Transportation Museum: … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/01/gear-talk-choosing-earbuds-and-audio-recorders/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Gear Talk: Choosing Earbuds and Audio Recorders</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
A Mystery Station from Vietnam
By Don Moore Don’s traveling DX stories can be found in his book Tales of a Vagabond DXer [SWLing Post affiliate link]. If you’ve already read his book and enjoyed it, do Don a favor and leave a review on Amazon. Since early November, I’ve been traveling and DXing in Southeast Asia. I’ll write more about that in […]
2025 DRM Developments
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, for bringing our attention to this recent roundup of developments in Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) as the year comes to a close. The article from RedTech.pro was written by Ruxandra Obreja, chairman of the DRM Consortium, and summarizes a range of DRM-related updates and activities in 2025, […]
The rear view mirror and then looking ahead
 Looking back on 2025, my total contacts were down fewer than in the past two years. As always, they were 100% CW, and my DXCC count for the year was the lowest since 2022 at 91 (2022 had 90). Challenges Faced Limited time in the radio chair p...
‘Tis the season before spring
Greetings all SWLing Post community, Imaginary Stations start the new year with the final episodes of WNTR. The first is via shortwaveradio.de on Saturday 3rd January 2026 at 1200 hrs UTC and then again on Sunday 4th January 2026 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz and (the new time of) 2100 UTC […]
Carlos’ Radiofax Scrapbook: December 29, 2025
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the latest entry in his Radiofax scrapbook. Carlos notes: Kyodo News English Edition December 29, 2025
Texas Radio Shortwave: *Updated* Schedule for January 2025
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following last-minute schedules for Texas Radio Shortwave (click image to enlarge):
Impromptu POTA: A Cold, Windy Activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway with the KH1
by Thomas (K4SWL) Yesterday–December 29, 2025–I had a few errands to run in town. The plan was simple: make my appointments, grab groceries, and head straight home. I had projects waiting for me there, including organizing firewood before the winds picked up and the temperatures dropped any further. Then, unexpectedly, my 3:00 PM meeting was … <a href="https://qrper.com/2025/12/impromptu-pota-a-cold-windy-activation-on-the-blue-ridge-parkway-with-the-kh1/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Impromptu POTA: A Cold, Windy Activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway with the KH1</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
Licensed Amateurs by State
 How Extra is Your State?My amateur radio license was set to expire early in 2026, so I sat down to navigate the FCC’s renewal process. I don’t recall a separate payment system (CORES) needing to be tethered to an FRN a decade ago, but it’s there ...
January 2026 Schedule Updates: From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following update: Happy New Year! January 2026 From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot broadcasts will be as follows: From the Isle of Music, January 2026 ¡Feliz año nuevo! January’s show will feature music from two of the most prominent living jazz pianists […]
Carlos’ Radiofax Scrapbook: December 24-25, 2025
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the latest entry in his Radiofax scrapbook. Carlos notes: Kyodo News English Edition December 24, 2025 Kyodo News English Edition December 25, 2025
ICQPodcast Episode 473 – Is AI About to Kill Ham Radio?
In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. On this episode, we discuss: Up to $25,000 at Stake in New ARRL Student Coding Competition Student Success with DMR Project In India Jim Shaffer, KE5AL, Advocate […]
WNAM Final Broadcast and DX Test Announcement: December 30-31, 2025
The following announcement was shared by Loyd Van Horn of DX Central: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1280 – WNAM DX Test Announcement Dec 27, 2025 The Courtesy Program Committee (CPC) of the National Radio Club (NRC) and the International Radio Club of America (IRCA) announces a special DX Test for distant listeners for radio station WNAM […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of the Voice of Korea (December 25, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Voice of Korea broadcast. Carlos notes: Kim Jong Un guides building of nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine, Voice of Korea, 7570 kHz Click here to view on YouTube.
Quickie Activation: Nine Minutes of Radio Therapy at the NC Transportation Museum
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, December 1, 2025, I managed to squeeze in a last-minute, impromptu–and very speedy–activation of the North Carolina Transportation Museum State Historic Site. It was a short activation, but one that perfectly demonstrates why I value having a radio as compact, self-contained, and quick to deploy as the Elecraft KH1. This … <a href="https://qrper.com/2025/12/quickie-activation-nine-minutes-of-radio-therapy-at-the-nc-transportation-museum/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Quickie Activation: Nine Minutes of Radio Therapy at the NC Transportation Museum</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
Guest Post: It’s Harder to Become a Ham Today than 65 Years Ago
This article first appeared in the K9YA Telegraph. It is published with the permission of the author. It’s Harder to Become a Ham Today than 65 Years Ago By Ernie Rader, W5NH How many times have you heard an old-timer complain that it was harder to become a “real” ham back in the day? You […]
ICQPodcast Episode 473 – Is AI About to Kill Ham Radio?
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 fe...
Getting comfortable
 As much as it is hard for me to believe, this past year I officially became a senior citizen in Canada—that’s 65 years old. Do I feel older? Not really at all, but one thing I have noticed is that my long periods of contesting have required me to...
New Book Release: Volodymyr Gurtovy’s Ukraine War Diaries, Book 3
I’m pleased to share that my friend Volodymyr Gurtovy (US7IGN) has just released his third book chronicling life during the war in Ukraine. This new volume follows his earlier works, War Diaries: A Radio Amateur in Kyiv and War Diaries: Stalemate, both of which I’ve previously highlighted here on the SWLing Post. I haven’t had […]
Don Pushes Portable Antennas Further: Loop Size, Performance, and Real-World Limits (Part 2)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Don Moore–noted author, traveler, and DXer–who shares the following post: Two Portable Antennas for Remote DXing (Part Two) By Don Moore Don’s traveling DX stories can be found in his book Tales of a Vagabond DXer [SWLing Post affiliate link]. If you’ve already read his book and enjoyed it, do Don a favor and […]
