Latest Amateur Radio News
Showing 20 articles.
Two Wires, Five Watts, and a Cold Afternoon at Carolina Beach State Park
by Thomas (K4SWL) On December 15, during our family’s weeklong vacation together at Carolina Beach, North Carolina, we set out that morning for a day trip to Southport. My hope was to squeeze in an activation of the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site (US-6834) while we were there. Click here to read about my … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/01/two-wires-five-watts-and-a-cold-afternoon-at-carolina-beach-state-park/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Two Wires, Five Watts, and a Cold Afternoon at Carolina Beach State Park</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
Bob’s Radio Corner: What Is It About Radio Dials?
– Recollections of Bob Colegrove In the late ‘60s, I worked as a mechanical assembler at Communications, Electronics Inc. (CEI) in Rockville, Maryland (acquired by Watkins-Johnson Company). We produced military-grade receivers, mainly for the military (whom else?). These covered the spectrum from VLF through microwave. It was the early days of electronic digital readouts. There […]
RFA to resume broadcasts to North Korea
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who highlights a recent Reuters report on Radio Free Asia’s plans to resume Korean-language broadcasts aimed at reaching listeners in North Korea after a period of reduced operations. Radio Free Asia intends to restart weekly radio programming later this month alongside its revived digital content–a move that […]
RTI’s Spanish & Japanese programs ranking among shortwave broadcasters
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares this article from Radio Taiwan International highlighting how RTI’s Spanish and Japanese shortwave programs have placed in global listener polls, with the Spanish service especially popular across dozens of countries and the Japanese service recognized at Japan’s largest amateur radio event. Read the full article […]
Amateur radio in the news: Can ham radio help Taiwan survive?, repeaters now solar-powered, ham radio connects
Could ham radio help Taiwan survive wartime internet outage? In Taiwan, a nonprofit civil defense group, Ganghu, has started training people on how to communicate using amateur radio, also known as ham radio, if the internet is unavailable. This comes as Beijing, which claims democratically self-governed Taiwan as its own territory, faces allegations of sabotaging and damaging Taiwan’s […]
AmateurLogic 213: RF Burns
AmateurLogic.TV Episode 213 is now available for download. In another Tales From The Transmitter, George presents RF Burns. Emile is getting back on the air in the new shack. Mike asks Hey What’s That, WISP? Download YouTube
Can you help Carlos ID this CW signal on 8207 kHz?
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Carlos Latuff, who writes: Dear Thomas, I was doing my morning radio listening on the Guaíba waterfront in Porto Alegre, Brazil, when I came across this Morse code signal at 8207 kHz by pure chance. I tried to decode it using apps but didn’t get good results. As I’m […]
Luca’s Accidental QRPp experience
by Luca (IW2EPE) Hello, all QRP enthusiasts. What I’m going to tell you about is my experience with HF radio and how great it is to do QRP. One night earlier this month, I planned a short radio activity for my lunch break the following day. I had decided to use my new RHM-7350T antenna … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/01/lucas-accidental-qrpp-experience/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Luca’s Accidental QRPp experience</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 404
New 60-Meter frequencies available as of February 13 It’s a bit confusing, as different rules apply to different segments of the band. ARRL Using VOCAP to predict HF propagation This post goes deep into the technical choices we made to bring VOACAP — a serious propagation prediction system — to a simple web interface. DXLook […]
Ham College 132
Ham College episode 132 is now available for download. Technician Exam Questions Part 19 T6A – Fixed and variable resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Fuses, Switches, Batteries. T6B – Semiconductors: basic principles and applications of solid state devices, diodes and transistors. Ham College 132, titled “Technician Exam Questions Part 19,” focuses on topics T6A (Fixed and variable … <a href="http://www.amateurlogic.tv/blog/?p=1812" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Ham College 132</span></a>
The ARRL Solar Update
<p>Solar activity reached moderate levels due to an M1.6 flare on<br />January 14 from new region AR4341. Spot classification of this<br />region is complicated by limb proximity and foreshortening effects.<br />New Region AR4342 rotated around the NE limb and was also numbered.<br />No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. Solar<br />activity is expected to be low with a 25-30% chance for M-class<br />flares (...</p>
New 60-Meter Frequencies Available as of February 13
<p>The new 60-meter frequencies approved by the FCC in December will become available to amateurs as of February 13, 2026, along with new power restrictions on those frequencies. It’s a bit confusing, as different rules apply to different segments of the band. The changes result from the FCC’s action to approve a worldwide 60-meter amateur allocation made by the World Radiocommunication Conference...</p>
Audiobook sample: Grid-Down Emergency Communications
This is an audiobook sample from my book Grid-Down Emergency Communications, focused on keeping communications working when the grid fails. It’s not “perfect,” but I’m <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://oh8stn.org/blog/2026/01/15/audiobook-sample-grid-down-emergency-communications/" title="Audiobook sample: Grid-Down Emergency Communications">[...]</a>
Bob Jones, VE7RWJ, Silent Key -- Former ITU Official and IARU Expert
<p>Robert W. “Bob” Jones, VE7RWJ, a former top official of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Canadian telecommunications regulator, passed away on January 7, 2026, at age 82. His early fascination with amateur radio led to a career in telecommunications and engineering, according to his obituary.</p><p></p><p>Jones was Director General of the Canadian Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regul...</p>
FCC Poised to Exempt Amateurs from Foreign Adversary Reporting Requirements
<p>At the urging of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to exempt radio amateurs from foreign adversary reporting requirements. These rules would have applied to citizens of the listed countries (see below), including those living in the United States, who hold or are applying for an FCC license.</p><p>On January 8, 2026, the FCC relea...</p>
How the Field Radio Landscape Has Changed and Why There’s Never Been a Better Time to Jump In!
Over the past few months, I’ve received a steady stream of emails and comments that have all landed in the same place in my mind: just how much the field radio space has changed, especially in the last five or six years. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that field operating … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/01/how-the-field-radio-landscape-has-changed-and-why-theres-never-been-a-better-time-to-jump-in/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">How the Field Radio Landscape Has Changed and Why There’s Never Been a Better Time to Jump In!</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
Elecraft KH1 Firmware Version 1.27 Adds SOTAmat Functionality and Morse Audio Feedback
Many thanks to Steve (KV4AN) and Dan (N7CQR) who note that Elecraft has just issued a firmware update that adds new functionality to the Elecraft KH1. Steve notes: Thomas, Elecraft has released Firmware Version 1.27 (see PDF) for the KH1, in case QRPer readers are interested. Attached is the change description. In summary, the updated … <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/01/elecraft-kh1-firmware-version-1-27-adds-sotamat-functionality-and-morse-audio-feedback/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Elecraft KH1 Firmware Version 1.27 Adds SOTAmat Functionality and Morse Audio Feedback</span> <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>
How Radio Farda Continues to Report from Prague
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares an article from Radio Prague outlining how Radio Farda continues to report on protests in Iran despite aggressive censorship, internet blackouts, and significant risks to journalists and sources on the ground. Operating from Prague as part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Farda works creatively […]
A first class service with some warmth
Greetings all SWLing Post community, Imaginary Stations bring you POST (The Shortwave Postal Service) through the ether this week via shortwaveradio.de on Saturday 17th January 2026 at 1200 hrs UTC. Then there’s the second post on Sunday 18th January 2026 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz and (the new time of) […]
Koss SB40 Headset: Best Bang for the Buck
<p>I’m a long time Heil Headset user. I love the fit of the BM-17 dual side headset and it has served me well for many, many years. But that model was discontinued last year and a replacement is not yet available. I’ve gotten countless requests on what is a good substitute for the BM-17, and […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.jpole-antenna.com/2026/01/14/koss-sb40-headset-best-bang-for-the-buck/">Koss SB40 Headset: Best Bang for the Buck</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.jpole-antenna.com">KB9VBR Antennas</a>.</p>
