Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 404
January 17th, 2026 | 
Author: 
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
Airplanes ‘lost’ during a geomagnetic storm
Disturbances in Earth’s ionosphere disrupted GPS tracking systems for airplanes flying over Europe.
Spaceweather.com
How the field radio landscape has changed
There’s never been a better time to jump in.
QRPer
Plans for solar farm leave Radio Ham facing detrimental loss of life’s work
“Last August I was the international winner of a meteor reflection contest organised by the Italian Radio Society.”
The Northern Times
Introducing FreeDV Reporter+
A real-time graph that separates Transmit (TX) and Receive (RX) events.
M0SPN
Hotel antenna for 2 Meter and 70 Centimeter Amateur bands
The Hotel Antenna is a clever space-saving vertical antenna design popular among VHF and UHF amateur radio operators.
DXR Electronics Bits
This Week in POTA
Another week, another flurry of radios in the cold, boots on the trail, batteries pushed to their limits, and logs filled with stories worth telling.
POTA News & Reviews
2015 Throwback: The science behind Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures album cover
The album cover shows a series of radio frequency periods from the first pulsar discovered.
Scientific American
Video
RADE and FreeDV presentation
Open Source digital voice mode over HF using machine learning.
RATPAC
Intercept is a new application for RF signal intelligence
Decode pagers, 433MHz sensors, ACARS, aircraft tracking, and more.
Tech Minds
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Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 403
Digital modes have already won
Whatever your opinions about digital modes on HF the migration is undeniable.
Pattern and Match
LinHT: A Linux-based experimental SDR radio
A beginner-friendly explanation of what LinHT is, how it works, and why Hams are talking about it.
EvoHam
The 52 Week Ham Radio Challenge – 2026
This is meant to inspire you to extend your horizon in Amateur Radio.
DJ5CW
How to put your AllStar node on 44Net Connect
A simple, robust way to tunnel your node into the global AllStar network with a routable IPv4 address.
Ham Radio Hacks
FCC plans to expand unlicensed operations in 6 GHz band
Carr promises “better, faster Wi-Fi and next-gen connectivity” with GVP devices.
Radio World
What are Amateur Radio’s top three priorities in the next three years?
Figuring out what should be the focus of efforts promoting Amateur Radio in the 21st century.
KB6NU
SM5DGX homebrew EME dish
It measures eight meters, weighs 23 tons and took far more than 1,000 hours to build – by hand.
svt NYHETER
Book release: Grid-down emergency communications
The methods and strategies needed to keep your communications network functioning when the electrical grid and normal infrastructure fail.
Off Grid Ham
VK Yaesu IMRS Network: a first of its kind, carrier grade build for Australia
An enterprise‑grade, secure IP network for Yaesu’s Internet‑linked Multi‑site Repeater System (IMRS).
KernWi-Fi
Video
Live ISS satellite demo for 12,000+ students
Pransla (ML51AS) Gujarat India.
VU2EXP
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Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 402
RM Noise: AI noise filtering
Live filtering of voice and CW.
RM Noise
Run HamClock on your AllStarLink node
There is a script written to do this and it is easy to use.
EtherHam
POTA operators need to be more respectful
Interactions can be downright stressful, especially during the later hours of the day when a lone operator can look “suspicious” to someone who doesn’t understand Amateur Radio.
VE3IPS
W6RGC/AI: AI amateur radio operator and voice assistant
Natural language APRS capabilities allowing operators to send and receive APRS messages using conversational voice commands.
W6RGC
What QRP has taught me about slowing down
One of the things I love most about QRP is how naturally it encourages me to slow down and be present in the moment.
QRPer
Amateur Radio Television live streams
View live feeds of Amateur Radio Television transmissions.
BATV
UberSDR
A powerful, web-based SDR platform powered by ka9q-radio.
UberSDR
52 week Ham Radio Challenge wrap-up
What a journey it’s been!
Ian Renton
North Pole connection: Families speak to Santa through Ham Radio
Ham Radio operators have coordinated the holiday tradition through Santa Net for 20 years.
WVIA
Video
Replacing the IC-705 USB port with USB-C
Close-up shots of each step, what to watch out for, and tips to avoid common mistakes during installation.
KM4ACK
Improving receive performance on 80 Meters
Is a dipole or a loop better?
Ask Dave!
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Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 401
The Top Links of 2025
At the end of each year, I take a look back at all the previous issues of Amateur Radio Weekly, count up all the clicks, and see which links were most popular among Amateur Radio Weekly readers. It’s a fun way to look back at 2025 and I hope you enjoy!
73 K4HCK
10. You’ve been warned
When the speed reached 90 words per minute there was just me and one other guy left.
KE9V
9. Exploring the Caged Hen Delta Antenna
Derived from the Hentenna, it is a very quiet, very broadband, horizontally polarized antenna with a low take-off angle excellent for DX.
AE0EN
8. Morse Maven
Master Morse code at your own pace with simulated QSOs and decoding tools using both audio and light.
Morse Maven
7. A tragic reminder: Safety must come first in the field
A tragic accident that took the life of fellow Ham Radio operator and POTA enthusiast, Tripp Owens (N4NTO).
QRPer
6. SteppIR to stop selling antennas to the Radio Amateur market
While this type of antenna was somewhat unique say a decade ago, other manufacturers now use a similar concept.
EI7GL
5. Ham community frets in “Delete, Delete” comments
Many commenters worry about the future of Ham Radio under the FCC’s deregulatory effort.
Radio World
4. The case of the shrinking Technicians
The Technician class is concerning with a 7.2% cumulative decline starting in June 2021.
K0NR
3. The U.S. Ham Radio market: Is it dying?
The short answer is no. But it is changing.
K4FMH
2. SCAMP digital mode available in Fldigi
Simple Conversational Amateur Message Protocol (SCAMP) is a weak signal digital mode developed by Dr. Daniel Marks (KW4TI).
Amatuer Radio Daily
1. Bandplan Generator
Allows completely customizable frequency ranges and segments generating a well-designed plan for screen or print.
LY1JA
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LHS Episode #603: The Weekender CXXXVI
It’s time for The Weekender! This is our departure into the world of hedonism, random topic excursions, whimsy and (hopefully) knowledge. Thanks for listening and, if you happen to get a chance, feel free to call us or e-mail and send us some feedback. Tell us how we’re doing. We’d love to hear from you.
73 de The LHS Crew
Step one in my Python coding adventure
In my first post regarding my Python adventure, I shared how I wanted
to use python coding in the shack. As my readers know I am an avid CW
contester and before a contest begins I have 5 programs that need to be
launched. The issue is if I launch them out of order or if one program has an issue things get all
screwed up, and I have to start all over again. In doing so, most of the
time I need to go into some programs and reconnect some com ports and
clear lots of error messages. My first Python project will be one
double-click on a desktop icon that will get all my contest stuff up and
running smoothly in the right order.
The approach I am using is
to write python code to start each individual program. Then save those in a file. This will get my whistle wet with python coding, both
with success and some head scratching. At this point I have coded out
most of my programs so they start. Once that is fully completed, it will
be grouping them all together into one process.
In a nutshell, here is the plan:
– Turn on a Wi-Fi plug which powers on my power supply and Pi4B power supply
– Start my VSPE virtual com port program and minimize it.
– Start my Wn4icom program which also starts my Icom 7610 radio.
– Start my N1MM contest software.
–
Then finally Firefox will start, open Reverse Beacon Network, log me
in, set up search for my call and set it to refresh my call sign spots
every 10 minutes.
Lets take a fast look at the python coding for the WiFi plug.
import asyncio
from kasa import SmartPlug
async def main():
plug = SmartPlug(“10.0.0.71”) # Replace with your plug’s IP address
await plug.update()
await plug.turn_on()
print(“Plug turned on”
asyncio.run(main())
For the Kasa smart WiFi plug by TP link to work I had to first download into python the kasa library. I opened up python and entered the code below…well actually cut and paste.
pip install python-kasa
Now below in a nut shell is what the code is all about for the Kasa WiFi plug to turn on.
1. Python loads the needed modules. (asyncio and SmartPlug)
2. Program defines async functions or in English connecting to the wifi plug could take time and this allows things not to freeze if the process takes time.
So now modules are loaded and it knows some actions could take time.
3. Now asyncio.run(main()) runs and this is what happens.
Smart plug is created for IP address 10.0.071
The plugs state is defined (on or off)
The plug is turned on via network command
A message printed in python code window “plug turned on”
Program closes.
In closing I am not by any means a pythonista regarding code and I am sure many who are can poke holes in the coding or what I left out regarding what to explain. This is my first attempt at this game and I was actually shocked that it worked. BUT your input will and always is welcomed.
Next post is about the learning curve, hiccups and added lines of code for smoothness and reliable start up.
