Latest Amateur Radio News
Showing 20 articles.
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 actually leave verrrry early on Thursday morning to get there by 8 am (and […]
A Jury-Rigged Antenna Saves the Activation at Kinrin Park (JP-1653)
by Mark (JJ5GVY/KB2PIZ) The weather is getting more summer-like here in Takamatsu. That means hot and humid and rain on the days it is not hot and humid. The rainy season is in June, and it is not much fun, with sweat, rain, and mosquitoes! But my wife was meeting a friend for lunch, and … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/05/a-jury-rigged-antenna-saves-the-activation-at-kinrin-park-jp-1653/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">A Jury-Rigged Antenna Saves the Activation at Kinrin Park (JP-1653)</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
2026 Hamvention Wrap-Up -- Weather or Not…
<p>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 shoppers to periodically flee inside to dry out. Then a thunderstorm in the early hours of Sunday morning left the flea market a bit muddy. But spirts ran high for the closing day of...</p>
2026 Colorado 14er & Mountaintop Event
During the Colorado 14er & Mountaintop Event, amateur radio operators from around Colorado will be activating Summits On The Air (SOTA) peaks and communicating with other radio amateurs across the state and around the world. Join in on the fun duri...
ICQPodcast Episode 483 – Fault Finding
In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, 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 Fault Finding...
Hamvention 2026 Friday -- Let the Fun Begin!
<p>Hamvention® 2026 in Xenia, Ohio, is officially under way, with large crowds filling the five exhibit halls, four forum rooms, and the giant flea market. Here’s a summary of Friday, May 15.</p><p>In the ARRL Expo area, attendees interacted with program representatives and volunteer leadership officials, including ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, and President Rick Roderick, K5UR. Emergency Communications...</p>
Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 421
Yaesu announces new DR-3X repeater (video) This new hardware offers 85 watts of VHF or 65 watts of UHF continuous duty, while incorporating advanced audio signal processing and an innovative interference evasion system for enhanced operational performance. Yaesu Icom announces ID-5200 and ID-5200D radios Touchscreen control. Dual receive. Wi-Fi. Bluetooth®. Advanced digital connectivity… and this […]
Does half and half equal a whole?
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! by Vince (VE6LK) It’s my last POTA activation before flying back to Alberta, in fact, it’s the morning of. As usual, I’m up before everyone else, so I snuck out to squeeze in one more activation. … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/05/does-half-and-half-equal-a-whole/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Does half and half equal a whole?</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
The ARRL Solar Update
<p>Solar activity remained at low levels this past week. Region 4436 was<br />responsible for the majority of the C-flare activity, including the<br />largest flare of the period, a C2.3 that peaked on May 13. Region<br />4432 rotated off the west limb. Two new regions were numbered during<br />the past 24 hours. Region 4437, which has since decayed to plage, and<br />4438, resulting in a total of 4 numbered regions now on the...</p>
Adding peace of mind.
 My choice of boot drivesIn the past, when I downloaded and installed software updates, new software, or Windows updates, problems have occasionally occurred. I also like to experiment with Python scripts for automating my radio software, modifyin...
Hamvention 2026 Thursday -- Setup Day and Much More
<p>Hamvention® 2026 in Xenia, Ohio, officially begins on Friday morning, May 15. But several hundred hams arrived early to take part in pre-Hamvention activities. ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® was already on site at the Greene County Fairgrounds, exhibitors were busy setting up their booths. We snapped a few late afternoon photos of setup work at several booths, including Carlso...</p>
Elecraft Introduces the New AX4 Portable Antenna & BL3 Balun
Elecraft has just introduced two new products that will likely attract the attention of many POTA activators and portable operators: the AX4 portable vertical antenna and its companion BL3 balun. At first glance, the AX4 looks like a bigger, higher-power evolution of the AX1/AX3 concept—but without giving up the portability that made those antennas so … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/05/elecraft-introduces-the-new-ax4-portable-antenna-bl3-balun/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Elecraft Introduces the New AX4 Portable Antenna & BL3 Balun</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
A snowbrush is essential POTA gear
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! by Vince (VE6LK) Over the years, I’ve learned to carry less when doing portable operations. It was only three and one-half years ago that Malen VE6VID said to me, “You are carrying too much gear,” when … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/05/a-snowbrush-is-essential-pota-gear/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">A snowbrush is essential POTA gear</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
BBC Looks Back at the First Shortwave Transatlantic Link
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Markku (VA3MK), for sharing this BBC article marking the centenary of the world’s first shortwave transatlantic telecommunication link between Canada and Somerset, England. Among other things, this article also highlights the historic Marconi Beam Wireless Station at Bridgwater and the challenges of early shortwave radio experimentation. Read the full […]
Back to Ritsurin Park for a Successful Activation!
by Mark (JJ5GVY/KB2PIZ) I reported on my fun non-activation of a non-POTA park the other day. My success rate at Ritsurin Park (JP-2051) was “failures” on 2 of the last 3 attempts, so I wanted another chance. Well, on the morning of May 7, 2026, my wife asked me if I would mind if she … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/05/back-to-ritsurin-park-for-a-successful-activation/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Back to Ritsurin Park for a Successful Activation!</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
A Quick Hamvention Travel Note
I wanted to give SWLing Post readers a quick heads-up that I’ll be traveling this week and attending Dayton Hamvention along with Four Days in May. Because of travel and a very full schedule, I’ll likely be slower than usual replying to emails and may also post less frequently over the next week as free […]
From Compactrons to Nuvistors: Vacuum Tubes’ Last Hurrah
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares this article from Hackaday that explores the fascinating “last gasp” innovations of vacuum tube technology long after transistors had already begun taking over the electronics industry. The article dives into late-era tube developments like compactrons, lighthouse tubes, and RCA’s remarkable nuvistor—tiny, rugged, low-noise tubes that […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of BBC Afrique (May 10, 2026)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent BBC broadcast. Carlos notes: Emmanuel Macron in Kenya: “We are the true pan-africanists”. BBC Afrique, 15490 kHz” Click here to view on YouTube.
Jewels, soul and the weather channel
Hi to all SWLing Post community. Here’s news of what the Imaginary Stations crew will be sending out into the ionosphere and via those groundwaves this coming week. Thanks to Shortwave Gold, we have a transmission called JEWEL featuring an hour special on Jewel Records, from Cincinnati ran by Rusty York (more on the label […]
Heading to Dayton Hamvention and Four Days in May!
Good morning, QRPers! As you’re reading this post, Tuesday morning, I’m already on the road heading to Dayton Hamvention and Four Days in May for a full week of radio fun, friends, field activations, and probably (definitely) not enough sleep! Today I’m driving to Athens to meet up with a friend from the Netherlands and … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/05/heading-to-dayton-hamvention-and-four-days-in-may/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Heading to Dayton Hamvention and Four Days in May!</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
