October 2026
72 articles
- Gear & firmwareHam Radio Outside the Box·
'Long Tall Sally': An Unusual 20m Vertical Antenna
A review of a modified elevated quarter-wave vertical for 20m, using an extended radiating vertical element paired with shortened radials.
Read at Ham Radio Outside the Box - Space weatherDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
Space Weather: Increased Risk of M-Class Solar Flares
DARC reports elevated solar activity with the potential for further M-class solar flares. Amateurs on HF should expect fluctuating propagation and possible short radio blackouts on the sunlit side of Earth.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
ESP32-SDR Updated: Turbo Mode and Real I/Q Output
The ESP32-SDR project received a substantial performance upgrade featuring a high-throughput turbo mode and genuine I/Q output. This broadens the capabilities of low-cost microcontroller SDR receivers.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
esp32-sdr-trx: ESP32-S3 as SDR Receiver and 13cm Voice Transmitter
The open-source esp32-sdr-trx project turns an ESP32-S3 into a receiver compatible with SDR++ and an FM/SSB voice transmitter on the 13cm (2.4 GHz) band. An intriguing build for microwave and SDR experimenters.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - DXDX-World·
IOTA NA-068 Activity with VE9MY/P and VE9GLF/P
Activity has been announced from the Canadian island group IOTA NA-068 using the calls VE9MY/P and VE9GLF/P. Keep an eye on HF bands if you need this reference for your IOTA score. The operators plan to activate multiple frequencies.
Read at DX-World - Gear & firmwareQRPer – QRP & field radio·
Elecraft KX2 Protection: Selecting Side Rails
A review of protective side rails for the Elecraft KX2 QRP transceiver tailored for portable operations. The rails safeguard connectors and controls during transport in SOTA and POTA field setups.
Read at QRPer – QRP & field radio - GeneralARRL News·
Hurricane Watch Net Monitoring Tropical Disturbance in Gulf
The Hurricane Watch Net is closely monitoring a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that may develop into a tropical storm. The net is not yet activated but stands by to provide emergency communications if landfalls occur.
Read at ARRL News - Space weatherNOAA SWPC – rumvejr & solvarsler·
NOAA Issues G2 Geomagnetic Storm Watch
A coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun is expected to trigger a G1 to G2 geomagnetic storm. This may degrade HF propagation at higher latitudes while sparking aurora activity.
Read at NOAA SWPC – rumvejr & solvarsler - AstronomyESA Space Science·
Webb Telescope Captures Stellar Jets in Nebula
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured detailed views of powerful protostellar jets and turbulent gas dynamics within a star-forming nebula.
Read at ESA Space Science - Gear & firmwareM17 Project·
M17 Project Releases rpi-dashboard v1.2.0
The open-source digital radio protocol M17 has released version 1.2.0 of its Raspberry Pi dashboard. The update is useful for hams building and experimenting with M17 nodes and hotspots.
Read at M17 Project - Club newsFöreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer·
Sweden: Preparations Underway for SSA Annual Meeting
Swedish amateur radio society SSA has started planning its upcoming annual meeting in Sundsvall to give attendees plenty of time to organize travel.
Read at Föreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer - Space weatherNOAA SWPC – rumvejr & solvarsler·
Type II Solar Radio Emission Alert Issued
NOAA reported a Type II radio burst with an estimated shock speed near 950 km/s. These emissions typically signal shock waves driven by coronal mass ejections.
Read at NOAA SWPC – rumvejr & solvarsler - Space weatherDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
New Sunspot Region Shows Potential for Solar Flares
DARC reports a newly emerged sunspot region with high flare potential, which could impact HF propagation conditions. Radio amateurs should monitor space weather developments and potential shortwave fadeouts over the coming days.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
ESPsoup: Turn an ESP32-C5 into a 2.4 & 5 GHz Pocket Scanner
The ESPsoup project leverages the ESP32-C5 microcontroller to create a dual-band 2.4 and 5 GHz pocket scanner connected to a smartphone or computer.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
ChronAlert: Live Dashboard for APRS, ADS-B, and AIS via RTL-SDR
ChronAlert aggregates radio data, weather, and alerts into a unified dashboard, featuring RTL-SDR support for decoding APRS, ADS-B, and maritime AIS signals.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - DXDX-World·
Profile of DX Legend Bob Locher, W9KNI
DX-World looks back at Bob Locher, W9KNI, who spent a lifetime chasing DX and reached the top of the ARRL Honor Rolls. He is also a co-founder of Bencher and author of classic DX books.
Read at DX-World - Gear & firmwareQRPer – QRP & field radio·
Building an mcHF QRP Field Kit and First POTA Activation
A radio amateur shares the process of building a complete portable field kit based on the mcHF SDR transceiver. The setup was tested during a POTA activation, offering practical inspiration for compact field operations.
Read at QRPer – QRP & field radio - Gear & firmwareQRPer – QRP & field radio·
KM4CFT Update: Custom Paddles and Mini Mics
KM4CFT shares new compact accessories designed for portable operation, including lightweight CW paddles and mini microphones for field use.
Read at QRPer – QRP & field radio - SatellitesAMSAT-Deutschland·
AMSAT Reports Signals from New ERMINAZ-2 Satellites
AMSAT-DL confirms that the ERMINAZ-2 satellites are in orbit and actively transmitting signals. Radio amateurs can listen to the downlinks and submit telemetry data to the community network.
Read at AMSAT-Deutschland - SatellitesDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
ERMINAZ-2 Satellite Transmitting First Signals
The ERMINAZ-2 amateur radio satellite is now active and being received by ground stations worldwide. The satellite is transmitting telemetry that radio amateurs are encouraged to decode and log. This marks a successful launch for the project.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - Space weatherDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
Space Weather: Elevated Solar Wind Affecting Propagation
DARC reports increased solar wind speeds and geomagnetically disturbed conditions. Elevated activity may degrade high-latitude HF paths while offering aurora possibilities on VHF.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - Contests & eventsDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
Contest Calendar: Overview for Week 41
DARC has published the contest schedule for week 41. Check out the upcoming weekend HF competitions, dates, and frequencies.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
New Android App for Remote Control of WSJT-X and JTDX
HamRadioWeb has launched an Android app designed for remote FT8 operations via WSJT-X and JTDX. It enables monitoring and making digital contacts locally using a smartphone.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
OFFgrid-SDR: Standalone RTL-SDR Receiver in a Single HTML File
OFFgrid-SDR allows users to run a full RTL-SDR WebUSB receiver directly in the browser via a single index.html file. It works completely offline without backend servers.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
FernSDR: A New Open-Source WebSDR Server
FernSDR is an open-source WebSDR server designed for modern browsers. It simplifies hosting and sharing SDR hardware online with multiple concurrent users.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
sdrtop: Terminal-Based Benchmarking Tool for SDRs
sdrtop is a terminal utility inspired by 'top' for benchmarking SDR hardware. It provides real-time metrics on sample rates, data throughput, and system resource usage.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Club newsAmateur Radio Daily·
TX Factor Visits the UK National Hamfest
British video magazine TX Factor covers the National Hamfest in Newark. The episode features Dominic M0BLF from Camb-Hams discussing their operations on the QO-100 satellite.
Read at Amateur Radio Daily - DXDX-World·
DX Activity from Monaco as 3A/WE9G
WE9G will be operating from Monaco using the callsign 3A/WE9G. Look out for signals on the HF bands for a chance to log the principality.
Read at DX-World - Space weatherNOAA SWPC – rumvejr & solvarsler·
Geomagnetic Storm Reaches Kp 6 (G2 Level)
NOAA reported a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm reaching K-index 6. This brings HF fading at higher latitudes and increased chances of aurora.
Read at NOAA SWPC – rumvejr & solvarsler - SatellitesDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
DARC Celebrates World Space Week
The German Amateur Radio Club highlights UN World Space Week, celebrating space technology and amateur radio activities such as satellite communication and ISS contacts.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - DXDX-World·
C6AQQ Active from the Bahamas
Listen out on the bands for C6AQQ operating from the Bahamas. This activity offers great opportunities to log the Caribbean island nation across multiple bands and modes.
Read at DX-World - Contests & eventsQRPer – QRP & field radio·
SOTA Field Lessons: Two Summits and Two Failed Attempts
VE6LK shares an honest field account detailing technical and environmental challenges during two unsuccessful SOTA activation attempts in a single day.
Read at QRPer – QRP & field radio - Gear & firmwareM17 Project·
gr-m17 v1.0.0 Released for GNU Radio
The open-source digital protocol project M17 has released version 1.0.0 of gr-m17 for GNU Radio, allowing hams to demodulate and transmit M17 signals using SDR platforms.
Read at M17 Project - DXDX-World·
TU7EI Active from Ivory Coast
Look out for TU7EI operating from Ivory Coast in West Africa, offering DXers a great opportunity to log the country on HF.
Read at DX-World - Gear & firmwareFöreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer·
New Book on Portable Amateur Radio
SSA highlights a new book focusing on portable ham radio operations, equipment selection, field antennas, SOTA, and POTA.
Read at Föreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer - SatellitesNewsreel – This Week in Amateur Radio·
AMSAT Weekly Bulletins ANS-277
AMSAT has published its weekly bulletin ANS-277 featuring the latest updates on amateur radio satellites, launches, and ground stations.
Read at Newsreel – This Week in Amateur Radio - SatellitesAMSAT News·
Satellite News in AMSAT Bulletin ANS-277
The AMSAT News Service provides this week's overview of amateur radio satellites, frequencies, orbital data, and CubeSat projects.
Read at AMSAT News - Gear & firmwareAmateur Radio Daily·
APRS Connect Messaging App Now Available on iOS
The messaging-first client APRS Connect has officially launched on the iOS App Store. It is free to use via APRS-IS, while hardware radio connectivity is available through a Pro subscription.
Read at Amateur Radio Daily - GeneralNewsreel – This Week in Amateur Radio·
SAQ Grimeton to Broadcast on UN Day at 17.2 kHz
The historic Alexanderson alternator station SAQ in Grimeton plans a special transmission for United Nations Day. Tuning into the legendary 17.2 kHz VLF transmitter offers radio enthusiasts a great opportunity to submit SWL reports.
Read at Newsreel – This Week in Amateur Radio - SatellitesAMSAT-UK·
Astronaut to Host ARISS School Contact with UK Students
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will use amateur radio to conduct a live Q&A session with UK students via the ARISS program.
Read at AMSAT-UK - Rules & frequenciesDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
New Coordinators Appointed for IARU Intruder Watch
IARU has named new coordinators for the Intruder Watch Service (IWS) to monitor non-amateur signals in amateur bands, helping safeguard exclusive spectrum allocations from interference.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - DXDX-World·
DX Activity from Vanuatu as YJ0SP
A new DX operation has been announced from Vanuatu using the callsign YJ0SP. Keep an eye on the DX clusters for operating frequencies and bands, as this Pacific location is highly sought after on HF.
Read at DX-World - Gear & firmwareQRPer – QRP & field radio·
Testing New Field Gear at Tims Ford State Park
A field report highlighting trials of portable equipment, antennas, and battery setups during a park activation (POTA), offering practical insights for QRP enthusiasts.
Read at QRPer – QRP & field radio - Gear & firmwareM17 Project·
M17 Project Showcased at HamExpo 2026 in France
The open-source digital voice initiative M17 will appear at HamExpo in Le Mans to demonstrate their open protocols, hardware, and digital communication solutions for ham radio.
Read at M17 Project - Space weatherDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
Weekend Propagation Forecast from DARC
DARC's weekly propagation forecast covers solar flux, geomagnetic activity, and expected HF conditions for the weekend, useful for planning DX and contest operations.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - DXDX-World·
OX7AM Active from Greenland
The callsign OX7AM is reported active on the air from Greenland. This operation provides great opportunities for radio amateurs to log this Arctic location across various HF bands.
Read at DX-World - Contests & eventsNewsreel – This Week in Amateur Radio·
ARRL Collegiate QSO Party Scheduled for Early October
ARRL is hosting the Collegiate QSO Party in early October. The contest highlights activity from university and school radio clubs on the HF bands.
Read at Newsreel – This Week in Amateur Radio - Contests & eventsFöreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer·
SAC SSB Contest on October 10-11
The SSB leg of the Scandinavian Activity Contest takes place on October 10-11. Nordic stations will compete to work as many worldwide contacts as possible across the HF bands.
Read at Föreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer - DXDX-World·
Club Log and DX-World Announce New Collaboration
Club Log and DX-World, two widely used resources in amateur radio DXing, have launched a new collaboration to streamline log integration and DX news reporting.
Read at DX-World - Contests & eventsARRL News·
2026 Collegiate QSO Party Scheduled for October 3–4
The Collegiate QSO Party takes place this weekend, encouraging contacts with university and college ham radio stations across CW, phone, and digital modes.
Read at ARRL News - Gear & firmwareQRPer – QRP & field radio·
CW Bug Practice and POTA with Begali Traveler
A field report on using a bug emulator paired with a Begali Traveler paddle during a Parks on the Air CW session, offering great practice for Morse operators.
Read at QRPer – QRP & field radio - SatellitesAMSAT-Deutschland·
ERMINAZ-2 Amateur Radio Satellites Reach Orbit
AMSAT-DL reports that the ERMINAZ-2 satellites have successfully reached orbit, carrying amateur radio transponders and telemetry beacons available for global use.
Read at AMSAT-Deutschland - Gear & firmwareM17 Project·
M17 Project Releases Latest Open Source Digital Radio Updates
The M17 open-source digital voice and data protocol announced new developments in hardware and firmware, offering a vendor-independent digital radio platform.
Read at M17 Project - Club newsRSGB News·
RSGB 2026 Convention Starts in Less Than a Week
The Radio Society of Great Britain is finalizing preparations for its annual convention featuring technical presentations, exhibits, and workshops.
Read at RSGB News - Gear & firmwareDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
DARC Presentation: Surprising Insights on Monopole and Vertical Antennas
A technical lecture hosted by DARC explores lesser-known characteristics of vertical and monopole antennas, backed by simulations and real-world RF measurements.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - Club newsFöreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer·
SSA Highlights Emergency Preparedness and Readiness
Swedish amateur radio association SSA emphasizes emergency preparedness, urging radio amateurs to test off-grid power solutions and backup communications.
Read at Föreningen Sveriges Sändareamatörer - DXDX-World·
KH8A Active from American Samoa
DX operation KH8A is active from American Samoa, offering contacts across multiple HF bands on CW, SSB, and digital modes.
Read at DX-World - Space weatherDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
FunkWX: Geomagnetic Storms Possible
DARC forecasts potential geomagnetic disturbances caused by solar activity. These disturbances could degrade HF propagation while creating opportunities for VHF aurora reflections.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - DXDX-World·
V47FWX Active from St. Kitts
V47FWX is operating from the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, providing activity on HF across various modes and bands.
Read at DX-World - DXDX-World·
Weekly DX Bulletin from DX-World
DX-World has published their weekly roundup of active and upcoming DXpeditions. Find a complete overview of rare callsigns on the bands along with operational frequencies and schedules for DX chasers.
Read at DX-World - DXDX-World·
K6VHF Active as K6VHF/HR9 from Honduras
Alex, K6VHF, is reported active from Honduras using the callsign K6VHF/HR9. Keep an eye on the HF bands for a chance to log Honduras across various bands and modes.
Read at DX-World - DXQRPer – QRP & field radio·
POTA Activation: KB2PIZ at Saltwater State Park
A portable operating report detailing antenna choices and operating strategy under challenging propagation conditions during a POTA activation of US-3262.
Read at QRPer – QRP & field radio - SatellitesAMSAT-Deutschland·
Countdown Begins for Bochum's First Satellites
AMSAT-DL reports that preparations for the launch of Bochum's first satellites have entered the final stretch. The satellites will offer new communication opportunities for the amateur radio satellite community.
Read at AMSAT-Deutschland - DXDX-World·
New DX Activity from Somaliland as 6O6X
New activity has been announced from Somaliland under the callsign 6O6X. The station will offer amateur radio operators worldwide a great opportunity to work this sought-after entity on HF.
Read at DX-World - Rules & frequenciesDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
Caution When Importing Radio Gear from Russia
DARC warns radio amateurs about EU sanctions and import restrictions when purchasing equipment from Russia. Hams risk customs confiscation or fines if the equipment falls under current embargo rules.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - DXDX-World·
D44JB Active from Cape Verde
Radio activity is reported from Cape Verde under the callsign D44JB. The archipelago is a popular target on HF for European operators and offers solid DX opportunities.
Read at DX-World - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
Hidden SDR Capabilities Discovered in ESP32
Multiple independent projects have revealed hidden software-defined radio capabilities within ESP32 microcontrollers. This discovery opens exciting possibilities for low-cost, compact homebrew SDR projects.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Space weatherDARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club·
Space Weather: When Will the CME Arrive?
DARC analyzes current solar activity and the expected arrival time of a recent coronal mass ejection (CME). Such events can trigger geomagnetic storms, heavily impacting HF propagation while offering possibilities for aurora contacts on VHF.
Read at DARC – Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
Use a Budget Optical Encoder as an SDR Tuning Wheel
A new tutorial demonstrates how to build a physical VFO tuning wheel for SDR software using an inexpensive optical encoder. This adds an authentic radio feel and more intuitive frequency tuning when operating on a PC.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
FoxSDR Update Adds Node Canvas and Radar Geolocation
The SDR application FoxSDR has received a major update featuring a modular node interface, unified map display, and Linux/Android support. It also includes tools for geolocating air traffic radar installations.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
Improved Firmware and Software for Kintex-7 B210 Clones
The NNJ-SDR++ project provides optimized firmware and driver support for popular Kintex-7 and AD9361 SDR boards. The release improves stability and data throughput on these versatile transceiver platforms.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog - Gear & firmwareRTL-SDR Blog·
RF-Traffic-Monitor: Track Planes, Ships, Drones and Sondes
A new open-source software tool enables tracking of ADS-B, AIS, DroneID, and weather radiosondes within a single SDR interface. It provides hams with an easy way to monitor multi-band local RF traffic simultaneously.
Read at RTL-SDR Blog