Latest Amateur Radio News

Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 427

This weekend is Field Day Field Day is Ham Radio’s open house. ARRL Field Day site locator Find a Field Day event near you. ARRL LinHT Rev B status What works, what broke, and why Rev C is next. Zero Retries Testing the new Tufteln Reel Antenna The antenna is built directly into the reel […]

Following Earthquake in Venezuela, Radio Amateurs Asked to Keep Frequencies Clear

VA3MZD: The Bruce Trail and Parks on the Air

Many thanks to Rod (VA3MZD), who shares the following article he originally submitted to the Bruce Trail Club&#8217;s newsletter earlier this year. Rod wrote this piece to introduce Bruce Trail hikers to Parks On The Air and amateur radio. by Rod Murray (VA3MZD) Have you ever been hiking along the Bruce Trail or through a &#8230; <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/06/va3mzd-the-bruce-trail-and-parks-on-the-air/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">VA3MZD: The Bruce Trail and Parks on the Air</span> <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>

The ARRL Solar Update

<p><span>Solar activity has remained at low levels, with frequent C-level </span><span>activity in the SE quadrant of the solar disk. The largest flare of the period was a C3.8 on June 24 from Region 4478, which is the large sunspot that Solar Orbiter had been tracking across the Sun’s far side.</span></p><p><span> While the majority of the flaring activity this period came from 4478, Region 4475 also produced several small C-flares as...</span></p>

A Tour and Review of my Savotta Niukka 20L Radio Backpack

This summer, my family and I are spending several weeks in the United Kingdom, and naturally, I&#8217;m fitting in as much portable radio as humanly possible as MM5SWL, M5SWL, and hopefully, MW5SWL. In a previous post, I mentioned that I decided not to bring my trusty GoRuck GR1 backpack. Instead, I took the opportunity to &#8230; <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/06/a-tour-and-review-of-my-savotta-niukka-20l-radio-backpack/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">A Tour and Review of my Savotta Niukka 20L Radio Backpack</span> <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>

Mark’s Charity Shop Find: A Grundig Elite Boy 500

Many thanks to SWling Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: Thomas, My local charity shop received a donation recently in the form of a Grundig Elite Boy 500. It&#8217;s in working order, although the volume control needed some Deoxit D5 to solve some bad scratching. Good cosmetic condition and works across all the bands. Here&#8217;s [&#8230;]

Special Mediumwave Broadcast of “De vliegende Hollander” on August 14, 2026

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gérard Koopal, who writes: Dear Thomas, Just to let you know that Radio “De vliegende Hollander” will transmit on August 14th at 1800 UTC on 1467 kHz. from Roumoules in France with 500 kW. Radio “De vliegende Hollander” is a LPAM-station from Meppel, the Netherlands. I realize that this [&#8230;]

When Off Grid Goes Off Line

<p>We’re all in the same sea, but not the same boat. I think it’s safe to assume everyone who reads this blog has some sort of off grid power capability. It might be an elaborate photovoltaic system, wind installation, a gas generator, or maybe just a battery operated handheld radio.... <a href="https://offgridham.com/2026/06/backup/">Read more &#187;</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://offgridham.com/2026/06/backup/">When Off Grid Goes Off Line</a> appeared first on <a href="https://offgridham.com">Off Grid Ham</a>.</p>

Share Your Field Reports with the QRPer Community!

by Thomas (K4SWL) One of the things I love most about QRPer is that it isn&#8217;t just a collection of my own field reports—it&#8217;s a community resource built by field operators from around the world. Over the years, contributors have shared hundreds of field reports, and I know from the comments and emails I receive &#8230; <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/06/share-your-field-reports-with-the-qrper-community/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Share Your Field Reports with the QRPer Community!</span> <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>

LHS Episode #620: Security Review

Hello and welcome back everyone! This is episode 620 of Linux in the Ham Shack, the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet! Thanks for joining us for this episode! This week we're telling you about what we've been up to - along with taking a jaunt through some short topics in the world of Amateur Radio, Linux and Open Source! 73 de LHS Team

More jamming on shortwave

Hi to all SWLing Post community. Here&#8217;s what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to the ionosphere this week. On Wednesday June 24th at 2000 hrs UTC on 3975 kHz/6160 kHz via Shortwave Gold, we bring you Skybird Jams. The show is entitled “Music to increase your attention span” with DJ Frederick, in other words, extended [&#8230;]

A Formula 1 Field Test: Pairing the Mountain Topper MTR-4B and Markus’ Legendary TP-III Paddle!

by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, June 8, 2026, I headed to the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378) with a simple objective: put a recently acquired Mountaintopper MTR-4B through its paces during a Parks on the Air activation. An Unexpected Flea Market Find Last year at the 2025 Dayton Hamvention, while browsing &#8230; <a href="https://qrper.com/2026/06/a-formula-1-field-test-pairing-the-mountain-topper-mtr-4b-and-markus-legendary-tp-iii-paddle/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">A Formula 1 Field Test: Pairing the Mountain Topper MTR-4B and Markus&#8217; Legendary TP-III Paddle!</span> <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>

Recordings: VOA Chinese and Possible Co-Channel QRM

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: The Voice of America is currently using its Tinang, Philippines site for a broadcast in Chinese beginning at 2100 UTC on 9535 kHz. Here are 2 recordings of their sign-on with English ID and Yankee Doodle, one using a Kiwi SDR in Athens, Greece, and [&#8230;]

July 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: From the Isle of Music, July 2026 This month, some new releases of Cuban jazz Friday, July 10, 2026, 9670 kHz, 1800 CEST (1600 UTC), repeat on 3955kHz at 2400 CEST (2200 UTC) Uncle Bill&#8217;s Melting Pot, July 2026 Friday, July 17, 2016: 9670 [&#8230;]

RFI found and removed

&#160;LED RFIWhere we live, I have a very quiet noise floor and have enjoyed it for years. Recently, however, while operating on 40 meters, I noticed an offending signal on the Icom IC-7610 waterfall display. The noise repeated approximately every 15 k...

Coast Guard Cutter Chelan: Biggest, Costliest Coast Guard Vessel of its Era

Take a step back in time to November 26, 1928, and take a look at what was then described as the biggest and costliest Coast Guard vessel of its era. The photograph shows the state of the art radio room aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Chelan. At the time this photo was taken, she [&#8230;]

Section Manager Elections; New Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager

<p>ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has reported that the nomination period for the 2026 summer season election cycle concluded on Friday, June 5.</p><p></p><p>There will be one balloted election this summer in Southern Florida. ARRL members in the Southern Florida Section will receive ballots and candidate information via postal mail in July. Daniel Fisher, AI4GK, and incumbent Barry Porter, KB...</p>

New ARRL Central Division Vice Director

<p><span>ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has announced the appointment of Robert Ronk, W9AP, of Winneconne, Wisconsin, as Vice Director for the ARRL Central Division. The appointment, made by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, fills the vacancy created in April when former Vice Director Joshua Long, W9HT, assumed the office of Central Division Director. Ronk will complete a term that e...</span></p>

Young Ham Radio Operator Supports the America250 Celebration

<p>While many teenagers spend their evenings playing video games or scrolling social media, 14-year-old amateur radio (also known as “ham radio”) operator Micah Sandoval, KB4MPS, was busy this past week making radio contacts across the US. Sandoval participated as part of a special event station supporting the ARRL America250 Worked All States (WAS) Award program, a year-long operating event celeb...</p>

New Technician Question Pool Takes Effect July 1

<p>On July 1, 2026, a new Element 2 Technician class question pool will take effect for license examinations. VECs and VEs must have new test designs available for use at exam sessions effective that date. </p><p></p><p>The newly revised pool, released in December 2025 (updated and re-released on February 19, 2026) by the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinator...</p>