Following the recent suspension of Voice of America (VOA) shortwave and medium-wave (AM) transmitters, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is orchestrating a gradual return to the airwaves.

Starting next week, USAGM will begin testing shortwave transmissions from the historic Lampertheim site in Hesse, Germany, which formerly served as a primary broadcasting node for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). This reactivation indicates that USAGM is working to restore its global broadcast capacity after surviving a period of severe operational cuts and the near-abandonment of its legacy transmission centers.

Lampertheim joins a growing list of international USAGM transmitting stations seeing renewed activity, including sites in Marathon (Florida), Greenville (North Carolina), Kuwait, the Philippines, Botswana, and Thailand. The permanent commissioning of these shortwave sites will depend heavily on the results of ongoing signal testing. The Lampertheim reactivation may ultimately serve as a temporary measure while USAGM awaits the completion of a major transmitter installation and upgrade project currently underway at the Kuwait Transmitting Station.

Built in the early 1950s during the height of the Cold War, the Lampertheim site was an RF (radio frequency) powerhouse, ruling the airwaves with eight massive 100 kW shortwave transmitters designed to pierce the Iron Curtain. Following the corporate merger of RFE and RL in 1976, the station broadcasted both services simultaneously. In 1995, under the newly formed Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG–the predecessor to USAGM–the station became a consolidated hub for American international broadcasting.

The fall of the Soviet Union and the subsequent independence of Eastern European satellite states drastically altered the station’s mission. The target areas for Lampertheim’s massive curtain antennas were no longer geopolitical priorities, and direct shortwave programming was shrunk to almost nothing.

Instead, Lampertheim’s primary mission shifted toward technical, administrative, and logistical support. It became a vital satellite uplink and distribution gateway, beaming TV and radio programming to relay stations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It also functioned as the remote-control nerve center for USAGM’s global network of transmitters, which included the medium-wave transmitter in Cape Greco, Cyprus (installed at the former RMC Middle East Transmitter Center), the strategic relay station in Djibouti, the massive 1,000 kW medium-wave transmitter in Orzu, Tajikistan, and, Technical oversight for nearly a hundred USAGM-affiliated FM transmitters globally.

During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Lampertheim saw a brief resurgence in direct broadcasting as antennas were reconfigured to target the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia, filling coverage gaps left by the Kuwait transmitters.

Today, radio enthusiasts and DXers can track the ongoing progress of USAGM’s shortwave broadcasts by consulting the HFCC A26 (Summer 2026) seasonal schedules here: HFCC A26 Schedule: https://new.hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A26&broadc=AGM

AmateurLogic.TV Episode 218 is now available for download.

Major elimination of static and noise in HF radio reception using neural networks and machine learning. Sodium ion battery tests. Hurricane season preparation.

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Here is a Press Release concerning the Colorado QSO Party. Like it says below, this is our chance to Activate The State. SOTA and POTA enthusiasts, there is a page specifically for you. Bob K0NR FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE Contact: Alan Higbie – K0AV – [email protected] Colorado Hams Invited to “Activate the State” During the 2026 ... Read more

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On Monday evening (June 15th), I was honored to be the Emcee for the Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club’s surprise program. In a previous meeting there, Malcolm Keown W5XX mentioned that he had confirmed with ARRL that he broke the all-time record for the longest continuously elected Section Manger. Malcolm had served as Vice Director for the Delta Division but was elected as Section Manager for Mississippi on March 1, 1998. He surpassed the New Mexico SM Bill Mader K8TE on April 2, 2026, making him the longest serving SM in the history of the American Radio Relay League. As I had dinner during the fellowship period before the gavel dropped, I wondered how can the Club honor this career-long record of service to both the League and to amateur radio in the Magnolia State.

Back in 2013 when George Thomas, W5JDX of Jackson MS was named the winner of the 2013 Special Achievement Award for his work on Amateur Logic TV and Ham Nation, I organized a dinner to recognize this once in a lifetime honor. (I guess there might have been a repeat winner but you get my point.) What could we do to positively recognize W5XX in this case?

So I approached my friend and VARC President Chris AF5OQ about doing a surprise program the next month. I’d find an old vinyl “record” album and bring a small hammer. Malcolm could then could literally “break a record” to symbolize his achievement. Thus, the plan was hatched!

I’ve written a more detailed rendition of the events over on the VARC website. I encourage you to click on that link and read the details. To be brief, a really good time was had by all. Here’s the specific event, captured on video. I brought along an antique ball peen hammer I inherited from my father in-law for Malcolm to use. Even though he is a retired engineer from the Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, the look on Malcolm’s face at the very end of this video shows he’s not familiar with how the peen end of the hammer is a most effective tool, especially in metal working. A flimsy vinyl album didn’t stand a chance. Nonetheless, even as his mobility has waned since a recent injury from a fall, W5XX operates “ball peen mode” very, very well!

It was my honor to serve as Emcee for this surprise program. Malcolm was given the broken record pieces in the box set case as a momento. He told us that it would go right next to his Lifetime Membership Award from VARC that is in his shack. Here is a picture of the boxset I found at a local Goodwill Store for $0.48 which I rounded up to one dollar. It’s called, Beautiful Music, Beautiful Memories, which is highly appropriate for this event. The video clip of the key moment follows.

I have noticed a common theme regarding propagation on the 10 meter band. There is a wide perception that when the band goes quiet and worldwide DX dries up in June or July, the solar cycle must be diving such that the frequencies become useless. Having written the propagation column in CQ Amateur Radio magazine since 2001, I have done much research into this topic.

The reality is that while the 11 year solar cycle certainly dictates overall band health, the dramatic differences we see between seasons on 10 meters are driven by complex changes in the Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and magnetic field.

The F2 Layer and the Winter Anomaly

During the autumn and spring months, 10 meters comes alive for long range global communication. To understand why this changes with the seasons, we have to look at the F2 layer of the ionosphere.

Complex Propagation Modes

The seasonal shift in thermospheric winds and the resulting chemical changes in the F2 layer are the true drivers of what we experience on the radio. This phenomenon is known in physics as the Winter Anomaly.

• The Summer Fade: During the summer months, intense solar heating creates upwelling wind patterns in the thermosphere. These winds pull heavier molecular gases, specifically molecular nitrogen (N₂) and molecular oxygen (O₂), higher into the F2 region. This drastically increases the recombination rate of ions. The extra nitrogen acts like a sponge, rapidly absorbing the free electrons we need to reflect 28 MHz signals. Because the electron loss is so high, the overall electron density drops, and transoceanic skip fades away.

• The Winter Peak: The opposite happens during the cooler seasons. As we move away from summer, the thermospheric winds shift and the heavy nitrogen settles back down. The F2 layer becomes dominated by atomic oxygen (O). Without the nitrogen there to absorb the electrons, the recombination rate slows down significantly. This allows a highly dense F2 layer to build up, reaching peak electron densities around November and February. This atomic oxygen rich environment creates the perfect reflective environment for global 10 meter communication.

Summer’s Silver Lining: Sporadic E

When summer arrives and the F2 layer thins out, the band brings its own unique conditions with the prevalence of Sporadic E propagation.

These intense, highly localized clouds of ionization form in the lower E layer of the ionosphere. Sporadic E provides incredibly strong short skip contacts. These openings typically range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand miles, temporarily replacing the global propagation we enjoy during the spring and fall. Most folks scrolling through social media just want a basic understanding of why they are suddenly making loud contacts into neighboring states instead of talking across the ocean, and Sporadic E is the answer.

Global Reach: TEP and Chordal Hop

For North American operators looking to communicate with places like Brazil or Australia, different propagation mechanics come into play.

For communication down into South America, you are dipping into a fascinating phenomenon called Transequatorial Propagation (TEP). TEP is deeply tied to the F2 layer conditions, but it is heavily driven by the structure of the Earth’s magnetic field near the equator.

Around the geomagnetic equator, the magnetic field lines run exactly parallel to the surface of the Earth. This causes the free electrons in the F2 layer to be pushed outward and downward, creating two massive, highly dense bands of ionization located about 15 to 20 degrees north and south of the magnetic equator. We call this the equatorial anomaly, and it is the engine for TEP.

When you transmit from North America down toward Brazil, your 10 meter signal hits that northern dense band. Instead of reflecting back down to the ground or ocean, the signal deflects horizontally across the equator high in the ionosphere. It then hits the southern dense band and reflects down into deep South America. Because the signal stays entirely in the upper atmosphere and avoids a lossy bounce off the Earth’s surface in the middle, the signals can be incredibly strong and clear. TEP is most reliable during the spring and autumn equinoxes, usually peaking in the late afternoon and early evening hours.

Talking to Australia from North America is slightly different because the path does not cross the magnetic equator at the perfect right angle needed for textbook TEP. However, working Australia often relies on a very similar principle called chordal hop propagation. Instead of bouncing between the ionosphere and the ocean all the way across the Pacific, the signal enters the F2 layer and skips along the underside of the ionosphere for thousands of miles. It stays trapped high up where there is very little absorption, eventually dropping down to receivers in Australia with surprising signal strength.

Regional Variances

Radio wave propagation is never a one size fits all experience. Your location on Earth plays a massive role in what you hear on 10 meters.

• The Coasts versus the Midwest: If you live on the East Coast of the United States, your signals have a relatively unobstructed single hop path over the highly reflective saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean to reach Europe. The West Coast enjoys a similar geographic advantage when working Japan and the Pacific Rim. In the Midwest and central USA, your signals must often make an extra hop over land. Because land absorbs radio waves much more than saltwater does, central USA operators might find global F2 paths a bit more challenging. However, Midwest operators are perfectly positioned to work both coasts simultaneously when intense summer Sporadic E clouds form over the continent.

• Equatorial Advantage: Operators located closer to the equator experience less of the severe Winter Anomaly shift. Because they sit under the equatorial anomaly, they enjoy much more consistent F2 and TEP openings year round compared to mid-latitude stations.

• High Latitude Challenges: Operators in high northern or southern latitudes, such as Alaska or northern Europe, must contend with auroral absorption. During periods of high geomagnetic activity, the auroral oval expands and can severely degrade or completely absorb 10 meter signals, shutting down paths that cross the polar regions.

If 10 meters feels like a completely different band right now, do not blame the sunspot numbers. It is simply the natural seasonal shift in atmospheric chemistry and radio wave propagation at work. Enjoy the loud Sporadic E contacts while they last, and get ready for the worldwide skip to return when the seasons change.

Addendum: From the Southern Hemisphere

I was asked how this looks, from the land of Down Under.

Thank you for bringing the Southern Hemisphere perspective into the conversation! You hit the nail on the head regarding the inclination of the Earth’s axis, and it is the perfect starting point to explain why our experiences are mirrored.

Because the Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.5 degrees, the hemispheres take turns leaning toward the Sun as we orbit. Right now, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, giving us summer. The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away, resulting in your winter. This means the ionospheric effects we experience are exactly reversed on the calendar.

When you mention that the high bands shut down after dark during your current winter, you are experiencing the harsh reality of wintertime solar geometry. During the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sun is much lower in the sky and the daylight hours are significantly shorter. While the Winter Anomaly we discussed earlier means your daytime F2 layer can actually become quite dense and highly supportive of 10 meter skip during the daylight hours, that ionization is entirely dependent on active sunlight. The moment the Sun sets at 5:30 PM, the source of ionization disappears. Because the winter night is so long, the F2 layer rapidly depletes, shutting the band down until the Sun rises again the next morning.

Conversely, when you head into your summer months of November and December, two major things happen. First, your daylight hours increase dramatically, which keeps the ionosphere charged much later into the evening and extends your operating time. Second, just as the Northern Hemisphere experiences a massive peak in Sporadic E propagation during our summer, the Southern Hemisphere experiences its own Sporadic E season during your summer. This provides those loud, reliable regional contacts. Finally, as you move into mid autumn around March and April, the Earth reaches the equinox. During the equinoxes, the Sun is directly over the equator, providing optimal and balanced F2 layer ionization for both hemispheres. This is why global, long haul propagation is at its absolute peak for everyone at the same time.

Regarding your question about East to West paths: yes, communication between Australia and South America is fundamentally very similar to the path between North America and Europe. Both are mid latitude transoceanic paths that rely on multi hop F2 propagation.

However, the Southern Hemisphere actually has a distinct geographic advantage for these contacts. Radio waves lose a small amount of energy every time they reflect off the Earth’s surface between ionospheric hops. Saltwater is an excellent, highly efficient reflector of radio waves, while landmasses absorb much more of the signal. Because the path between Australia and South America is almost entirely over the highly reflective saltwater of the Pacific Ocean, your multi hop signals suffer far less ground absorption compared to Northern Hemisphere paths that must often cross large expanses of land. This makes those Southern East to West paths incredibly efficient when the F2 layer is cooperating!

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 feature is World Cup 2026 Special Event Station.

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