Show Notes

Introduction

• ARDC Community Meeting - I attended this on Saturday
• IC-7100 Setup - FT8-a-thon
• Cheryl stared at a powered off radio for 5 minutes, trying to work up the nerve to turn it on. Didn’t happen. 😂

Amateur Radio Topics

• MFJ Documentary On The Horizon

  • Martin F. Jue: Life and Legacy: A documentary about MFJ Enterprises, ingenuity, legacy, and community.
  • Martin F. Jue (K5FLU) founded MFJ Enterprises and helped shape modern amateur radio. This documentary explores his life, his work, and the people who built MFJ alongside him: preserving a uniquely American story of ingenuity, labor, and community.
  • The project appears to still be seeking funding and has a trailer released already.
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KS (Preston Booth)

• D-Star Beacon by OK1CHP

  • Simple D-Star transceiver for TTGO T-Beam ESP32 SX1278 written with Platformio.
  • Technical details and features
  • It uses sx127x FSK Continuous direct Mode, PreambleDetect and SyncAddress on DIO0, Dclk(DIO1) and Data(DIO2)
  • RX stop happens after D-Star ending frame or failed receiving frame sync packet.
  • Decodes D-Star RF Header, 20 characters message and and sends DV Slow data payload to the Bluetooth Connection where it could be decoded with RS-MS1A or D-Rats or some other app.
  • Could send DPRS possition report with coordinates from local GPS with configured timeout.
  • Web interface is used to configure the transceiver.
  • It looks for preconfigured WiFi ssid and password and eventually starts it’s own hotspot.
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KT (github)
  • Featured: https://lhs.fyi/KU (HackADay)

• The Fastest Digital Mode Ever Created?

  • FT2 is a revolutionary digital mode for amateur radio, developed by IU8LMC with the support of ARI Caserta. It uses the same codec as FT8 and FT4 (77-bit payload, LDPC 174/91, GFSK modulation) but compresses the transmission cycle to just 3.8 seconds. Software required for this is currently: Decodium v3.0 FT2 “Raptor”. It is an optimized weak-signal FT2 client with enhanced sensitivity, extended frequency range, and real-time NTP/DT feedback. Based on WSJT-X 3.0.0 RC1 — focused exclusively on FT2 mode. License: GPL v3 (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KV (ft2.it)

• Indiana prohibits HOAs from restricting amateur radio antennas

  • HB 1152 was just signed into law and prohibits HOAs from adopting or enforcing any rule that restricts amateur radio equipment including antennas, towers, and feedlines.
  • According to Hunter Reed KD9YLQ, the ham who wrote the amendment for State Senator Alexander, “the bill would require that once an HOA updates its governing documents, then they have to comply with the law.” There’s nothing in the law that would require an HOA to change or not enforce their existing rules unless the rules were adopted or amended after June 30, 2026.
  • Relevant section of the bill to follow:
    • SECTION 6. IC32-25.5-3.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]:
      • Chapter 3.4. Homeowners Association Regulation of Amateur Radio Antennas
        • Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, “amateur radio antenna” means an antenna, support structure, tower, feed line, or related equipment used by an amateur station as defined by 47 CFR 97.3.
        • Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, “governing documents” has the meaning set forth in IC 32-25.5-2-3.
        • Sec. 3. This chapter applies only to a homeowners association’s adoption or amendment of governing documents after June 30, 2026.
        • Sec. 4. A homeowners association may not adopt or enforce a regulation, rule, or other policy that has the effect of prohibiting a person from maintaining an amateur radio antenna on a property that the person owns, rents, or leases.
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KX (reddit)
  • House Bill Details: https://lhs.fyi/KY (Indiana General Assembly)

Open Source / Linux

• Carl Richell, CEO System 76, Responds To Age Verification

  • System76 CEO Carl Richell has issued a strong critique of new U.S. state laws requiring operating systems to implement age verification, particularly California’s Assembly Bill 1043 and Colorado’s Senate Bill 26-051. While acknowledging the legal obligation to comply, Richell argues these laws are ineffective and threaten user privacy and digital freedom. He highlights New York’s proposed bill as being more dangerous.
    • “New York’s proposed Senate Bill S8102A requires adults to prove they’re adults to use a computer, exercise bike, smart watch, or car if the device is internet enabled with app ecosystems. The bill explicitly forbids self-reporting and leaves the allowed methods to regulations written by the Attorney General. Practical methods for a bill of such extreme breadth would require, in many instances, providing private information to a third-party just to use a computer at all.”
    • “The challenges we face are neither technical nor legal. The only solution is to educate our children about life with digital abundance. Throwing them into the deep end when they’re 16 or 18 is too late. It’s a wonderful and weird world. Yes, there are dark corners. There always will be. We have to teach our children what to do when they encounter them and we have to trust them.”
  • Despite concerns, System76 plans to implement a minimal, privacy-preserving age prompt to comply with the law, while continuing to advocate for its repeal or constitutional challenge.
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KO (system76 blog)

• Podman 5.8.0 Released

  • Podman (the POD MANager) is a tool for managing containers and images, volumes mounted into those containers, and pods made from groups of containers. Podman runs containers on Linux, but can also be used on Mac and Windows systems using a Podman-managed virtual machine. Podman is based on libpod, a library for container lifecycle management that is also contained in this repository. The libpod library provides APIs for managing containers, pods, container images, and volumes. Podman releases a new major or minor release 4 times a year, during the second week of February, May, August, and November. Patch releases are more frequent and may occur at any time to get bugfixes out to users.
  • Features
    • The podman quadlet install command can now install files which contain multiple separate Quadlet files. The files must be separated with a — delimeter on a new line, and each section must begin with a # FileName= line to name the new Quadlet (#27384).
    • The podman update command now features a new option, –ulimit, to update container ulimits (#26381).
    • The podman exec command now features a new option, –no-session, which disables tracking of the exec session to improve performance and startup time (#26588).
  • Changes
    • Podman will now automatically attempt to migrate legacy BoltDB databases to SQLite when the system reboots. This is necessary as support for BoltDB will be removed in Podman 6.0 in May. If automatic migration is not possible, a new option, podman system migrate –migrate-db, will manually force a migration.
    • The podman secret create - command no longer requires that the secret be provided through a pipe, and instead allows typing the secret through the terminal (#27879).
  • Bugfixes
    • Fixed a bug where healthchecks would sometimes fail to execute due to systemd rate limits.
  • API
    • Added new APIs for interacting with Quadlets, including GET /libpod/quadlets/{name}/file (print contents of a Quadlet file), GET /libpod/quadlets/{name}/exists (check if the given Quadlet exists), POST /libpod/quadlets (install one or more Quadlets), DELETE /libpod/quadlets (remove one or more Quadlets), and DELETE /libpod/quadlets/{name} (remove a single Quadlet)..
  • Misc
    • Updated Buildah to v1.43.0
    • Updated the containers/storage library v1.62.0
    • Updated the containers/image library to v5.39.1
    • Updated the containers/common library to v0.67.0
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KQ (github)

• NVIDIA R595 Linux Driver Beta Brings New Vulkan Support & DRI3 v1.2

  • Exciting for Linux users with the NVIDIA 595 driver series is adding some long sought Vulkan capabilities plus also enabling DRI3 version 1.2 support. The NVIDIA 595.45.04 beta driver for Linux brings support for the descriptor heap (VK_EXT_descriptor_heap) and present timing (VK_EXT_present_timing) extensions as some great additions to now see with the NVIDIA driver to enhance the Linux gaming experience. The NVIDIA 595.45.04 Linux driver also now enables the modesetting parameter by default for the nvidia-drm kernel driver, improved GPU reset handling, a new application profile for CUDA apps to reach P0 p-state, and raising the minimum Wayland version to v1.20. Plus there are various bug fixes – including hang fixes.
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KP (Phoronix)

• Gentoo on Codeberg

  • Gentoo now has a presence on Codeberg, and contributions can be submitted for the Gentoo repository mirror at https://codeberg.org/gentoo/gentoo as an alternative to GitHub. Eventually also other git repositories will become available under the Codeberg Gentoo organization. This is part of the gradual mirror migration away from GitHub, as already mentioned in the 2025 end-of-year review. Codeberg is a site based on Forgejo, maintained by a dedicated non-profit organization, and located in Berlin, Germany. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this move possible! These mirrors are for convenience for contribution and we continue to host our own repositories, just like we did while using GitHub mirrors for ease of contribution too.
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KW (gentoo news)

Linux in the Ham Shack

• iNTERCEPT

  • iNTERCEPT, a free and open-source platform that unites the best signal intelligence tools into a single, accessible interface.
  • Features
    • Pager Decoding - POCSAG/FLEX via rtl_fm + multimon-ng
    • 433MHz Sensors - Weather stations, TPMS, IoT devices via rtl_433
    • Sub-GHz Analyzer - RF capture and protocol decoding for 300-928 MHz ISM bands via HackRF
    • Aircraft Tracking - ADS-B via dump1090 with real-time map and radar
    • Vessel Tracking - AIS ship tracking with VHF DSC distress monitoring
    • ACARS Messaging - Aircraft datalink messages via acarsdec
    • VDL2 - VHF Data Link Mode 2 aircraft datalink decoding via dumpvdl2
    • Listening Post - Wideband frequency scanner with real-time audio monitoring
    • Weather Satellites - NOAA APT and Meteor LRPT image decoding via SatDump with auto-scheduler
    • WebSDR - Remote HF/shortwave listening via KiwiSDR network
    • ISS SSTV - Slow-scan TV image reception from the International Space Station
    • HF SSTV - Terrestrial SSTV on shortwave frequencies (80m-10m, VHF, UHF)
    • APRS - Amateur packet radio position reports and telemetry via direwolf
    • Satellite Tracking - Pass prediction with polar plot and ground track map
    • Utility Meters - Electric, gas, and water meter reading via rtlamr
    • ADS-B History - Persistent aircraft history with reporting dashboard (Postgres optional)
    • WiFi Scanning - Monitor mode reconnaissance via aircrack-ng
    • Bluetooth Scanning - Device discovery and tracker detection (with Ubertooth support)
    • BT Locate - SAR Bluetooth device location with GPS-tagged signal trail mapping and proximity alerts
    • GPS - Real-time GPS position tracking with live map, speed, altitude, and satellite info
    • TSCM - Counter-surveillance with RF baseline comparison and threat detection
    • Meshtastic - LoRa mesh network integration
    • Space Weather - Real-time solar and geomagnetic data from NOAA SWPC, NASA SDO, and HamQSL (no SDR required)
    • Spy Stations - Number stations and diplomatic HF network database
    • Remote Agents - Distributed SIGINT with remote sensor nodes
    • Offline Mode - Bundled assets for air-gapped/field deployments
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KR (github)

• OpenHamClock

  • A real-time amateur radio dashboard for the modern operator.
  • OpenHamClock brings DX cluster spots, space weather, propagation predictions, POTA activations, SOTA activations, WWFF activations, WWBOTA activations, PSKReporter, satellite tracking, WSJT-X integration, direct rig control, and more into a single browser-based interface. Run it locally on a Raspberry Pi, on your desktop, or access it from anywhere via a cloud deployment.
  • 🌐 Live Site: openhamclock.com
  • 📧 Contact: Chris, K0CJH — [email protected]
  • ☕ Support the Project: buymeacoffee.com/k0cjh — Running openhamclock.com comes with real hosting costs including network egress, memory, CPU, and the time spent maintaining and improving the project. There is absolutely no obligation to donate — OpenHamClock is and always will be free. But if you find it useful and want to chip in, your donations are greatly appreciated and go directly toward keeping the site running and funding future development.
  • 🔧 Get Involved: This is an open-source project and the amateur radio community is encouraged to dig into the code, fork it, and build the features you want to see. Whether it’s a new panel, a data source integration, or a bug fix — PRs are welcome. See Contributing below.
  • 📝 License: MIT — See LICENSE
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/KZ (github)
  • Demo: https://lhs.fyi/L0 (openhamclock)

Announcements/Feedback

• Support the show (Patreon, Paypal, Merch, Share, Rate)

• Hamvention - May 15-17, 2026 - Booth 2206

• Website - Adding Search

• Youtube Comment on LHS Episode #585 SDR++ Brown Deep Dive from pumptrackerpavel

  • How to install it on Dragon OS. Could you please help

Subscribers & Supporters

• Patreon

  • William Collins

• Paypal (since January)

  • Fred Cole
  • Dillon Angle
  • Michael Jopling
  • John Clark
  • Robert Black
  • Ronald Eike
  • Robert Yerke
  • Thomas Foy
  • Allan Wilson
  • Kevin Long

• Free Patreons

• Facebook

  • Curtis Cheyney
  • Matthew Obuchowski

• Instagram

• X / Twitter

• Mastadon

• Bluesky

• Live Show Participants

  • Steve, KJ5T
  • Mike, K6GTE
  • Tony, K4XSS

Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

 

1. Open HamClock

• Feature-rich: Offers extensive customization and configuration.
• Spotting Control: Ability to turn off spotting to de-clutter the map.
• Setup: Easy setup process; remembers your preferences if saved.
• Full Screen: Can be run in full-screen mode.
• Updates: Regular updates with clear notifications and instructions.
• VOACAP Display: Improved propagation prediction display.

2. Hamtab

• Web-based: Runs in your browser for all OS’s.
• HamClock Themes: Includes a theme similar to Elwood's HamClock theme.
• Fewer Options: Less configurable than Open HamClock.
• Spotting Limitation: No clear option to remove all spots from the map.
• Map Interaction: Limited ability to click on the map for DX/solar info; can only click on spots.
• Solar Overlay: Not as detailed as Open HamClock, Open HamClock-backend or Bruce W4BAE HamClock.

3. HamVision

• Early Development: Still under heavy development; site is often in maintenance mode.
• Limited Configuration: Little to no configuration is possible at this stage.
• Updates: Latest info and updates are shared on their Facebook page.

4. HamClock me Online

• Web-based Version: Another browser option.
• Limited Testing: I haven’t explored this one deeply, but it’s worth checking to see if it meets your needs.

     GitHub-Based Projects

• General Note: These require familiarity with GitHub, Docker, and self-hosting.

1. Open HamClock Back-end

• Actively Updated: Closest in spirit to Elwood’s original HamClock.
• Setup Challenges: Can be tricky to get running if you’re not comfortable with GitHub/Docker.

• Mixed Results: I couldn’t get this running on my Pi4; the Mac OS version didn’t work due to OS version issues. Your experience may vary.

     3. Keeping HamClock Alive

• Resource: Bruce (W4BAE) has compiled a detailed guide and history at his website.
• -b Flag: Elwood’s last version (4.22) introduced a back-end override (-b flag) letting HamClock point to an alternate server.
• Easy-to-Follow Instructions: Bruce’s guide makes it straightforward to implement this workaround, and he’s responsive to questions.
• Result: I was able to set up a working HamClock on my Pi3b using this method. I kept my Pi4 still running Elwood's HamClock until I am happy with alternatives.  
•  Summary
  While Elwood’s original HamClock will stop functioning, there are multiple alternatives and ways to keep similar functionality alive. Your best option depends on your technical comfort level and preferred features. For those wanting a near-identical experience, Bruce W4BAE’s method is highly recommended along with Open HamClock-Back-end. As for a one stop shopping I would recommend Open ham clock. Enter it in your browser and you are ready to go. 

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

Hello Radio Enthusiasts!

The latest issue of the SARC Communicator is officially live, and it’s one of our most diverse editions yet. Whether you are a history buff, a dedicated tinkerer, or a DX adventurer, there is something in here for you.

Inside this issue:

• Historical Deep Dives: From the electrical empire of Werner von Siemens to the high-stakes drama of the Alexanderson kidnapping, and a special event station commemoration of the Titanic disaster.
• Bench Projects: Learn how to make Homebrew PCBs with a 3D printer and copper tape, or peek at the elegant KD5ZZU Z-match tuner build.
• DX & Field Ops: Travel back to the 1994 Peter I Island DXpedition or get the latest on the North Fraser Club’s 925 MHz Balloon Project.
• Radio Secrets: Unlock the hidden "superpowers" of the Icom IC-7300, 7610 and 9700 and explore the "IPS Buffet" antenna mix-and-match review.

We also take a moment to look at the "Lighter Side" with tales of Field Day chickens and offer a dose of Rational Optimism regarding the vibrant future of our hobby.

Download the Full Resolution Issue Here

Download the Lower Resolution Issue - 6 Mb

Read it On-line as a Magazine

Please note that there are active links for additional content when viewed on your device.

~ John VE7TI, Editor

Contents for this issue: 

Ham College episode 135 is now available for download.

Technician Exam Questions Part 22.
T7C – Antenna and transmission line measurements and troubleshooting: measuring SWR, effects of high SWR, causes of feed line failures, Basic coaxial cable characteristics, Use of dummy loads when testing.
T7D – Using basic test instruments: voltmeter, ammeter, and ohmmeter, Soldering.

Download
YouTube

George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].

Amateur Radio Weekly is curated by Cale Mooth K4HCK. Sign up free to receive ham radio's most relevant news, projects, technology and events by e-mail each week at http://www.hamweekly.com.

Big news — I’m proud to announce that the Second Edition of my book VHF, Summits, and More is now available. I’ve received tons of positive feedback on the first edition, published in 2019, and I decided it was time for an update. This new version is printed in color, which greatly enhances the photos and graphics.

This book is an easy-to-understand introduction to VHF/UHF ham radio with an emphasis on mountaintop VHF operation. I’ve enjoyed ham radio and writing about it ever since I received my first FCC license. Although I’ve used the ham bands from 160m to 10cm (10 GHz), I find the VHF and higher frequencies the most interesting. This is mainly because of the interplay between mountains, Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT), and VHF propagation. VHF has lots of spectrum, lots of modes, and lots of fun challenges.

For the second edition, I gave everything a fresh look. I updated every chapter and added 100 pages of new material. In Part I, the VHF tutorial section, I added new chapters to improve the treatment of basic VHF/UHF: Popular VHF/UHF Bands, Antennas, Coaxial Cables & Connectors, and WSJT-X Digital Modes. Part II covers topics that originated from my blog, often based on questions I hear from newer hams.  In Part III, which is focused on SOTA, I added several chapters on how to be successful doing VHF SOTA, and I added a few new trip reports. I also added some information on combined SOTA/POTA activations.

The book is available in two formats: a color print edition and a Kindle edition, both available from Amazon. The print version ships immediately; the Kindle version will follow shortly.

Order your copy now. Operators are standing by.
(Actually, just use the Amazon site.)

73 Bob K0NR

The post Second Edition of VHF, Summits, and More appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

Bob Witte, KØNR, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Colorado, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Working new stations on 630m at this time of the solar cycle can be a rare occasion but two 'new ones' recently found their way into my logbook!

The first was Frank, K6FOD, in South Pasadena, to the north-east of Los Angeles. Now if Frank can have success on 630m in this densely populated location, then most amateurs should be able to have fun on the 630m band!

Frank is running about 200W output into a short inverted-L. Up until recently, his antenna was a large wire loop pointing east-west with which he had a lot of success working stations towards the east. He and I had several skeds while he was using the loop but since I was directly in the null of the loop, I was never able to detect a trace of his signal, nor was he able to hear me! The break through came when the vertical was erected ... but I'll let Frank tell more of the story ...

As a long-time shortwave listener I had always been very curious about the realm below the AM broadcast band, so not too long after I got my ham license in 2018 I started working on a 630m rig.

Most ops on that band use inverted-L antennas, but they are highly dependent on a robust system of ground radials. At my location, there just isn’t enough open ground to lay out an extensive radial network. This seemed like a show-stopper.

However, John Langridge KB5NJD, who was writing the MF/LF column for CQ magazine, suggested that I try a vertical loop tuned by a vacuum variable capacitor, which does not use a ground connection at the feed point. He mentioned that this was being used at the time by Ben Gelb N1VF. Between Ben and John, they helped out greatly on getting it going. Mine ended up with a circumference of about 100 feet.

By adding a 630m class D amp to my K3S, which has an internal 630m transverter, I was able to get on the air with digital modes, which at the time were JT9 for two-way QSOs and WSPR for beacon modes. The winter of 2019-2020, I worked a dozen ops in six states, the most distant being South Dakota. My WSPR signal was heard from Hawaii to the Cayman Islands.

Due to their size compared with the wavelength of the 630m band, loop antennas like the one I built are notoriously inefficient. Based on measuring RF amperage to the antenna, I calculated that it was sending only 47 milliwatts into the atmosphere. On the other hand, the winter of 2019-2020 was near a solar minimum, the point in the 11-year solar cycle when conditions are best for the low bands. And there was also a lot of activity on 630m that year because it was a fairly newly approved band and was attracting a lot of experimenters.

One downside of the vertical loops is that they are fairly directional, with a deep null off their sides. Because mine pointed east-west, it was exceptionally difficult to hear or be heard by stations due north.

After that experience, other parts of life got in the way, and I didn’t get back onto the 630m band until the winter of 2024-25. That winter, I used the same rig and vertical loop antenna as before, and worked eight ops in six states and Mexico.

But due north was still unreachable. Steve VE7SL and I gave it a good try, but neither of us could hear the other. So in the fall of 2025, despite my limited ability to lay out ground radials, I thought I’d give an inverted-L antenna a try. John KB5NJD again provided great guidance, and Steve VE7SL also lent very useful ideas.

At my location, going super tall wasn’t going to be feasible, so I ended up with a lightweight aluminum mast of 36 feet height. Because of my lot’s dimensions, instead of having one top wire to form the inverted L, I used two top wires in opposite directions, each 50 feet long — making what some call a “Tee Antenna.” 

Like inverted-L’s, its small size compared to the 630m wavelength meant it would require a substantial loading coil. I made this using a popular approach of a large coil wrapped around a 5-gallon plastic bucket, with a small coil inside it on a turnable rod, which allowed the total inductance to be adjusted. The big coil also had tap points. An impedance matching transformer was wrapped on a stack of four FT240-77 toroids. For a rig I decided to try an SDR transceiver which opened up possibilities of CW and SSB voice in addition to digital modes.

For the ground system, I tried laying out a set of 18 radial wires ranging in length from about 10 to 80 feet due to the site’s available space. My antenna analyzer indicated that R_feed was around 62 ohms. Measurement with an RF ammeter showed that about 1.25 watt was now getting into the atmosphere (this being the effective isotropic radiated power, or EIRP). The FCC limits 630m ham transmission to 5 watts EIRP, which means I have ample room for improvement, hopefully by adding however many more ground radial wires I can squeeze into my limited space.

After six weeks of operating in January-February 2026, this season I’ve worked six ops so far in three states and British Columbia. Hoping to add more if I can improve the antenna’s ground network.

When not in use for 630m, I’ve also attached the Tee Antenna to a multicoupler serving a small “skimmer farm” of SDRs that monitor FT8, CW and WSPR signals on ham bands from 630 to 10 meters. In addition, I’ve used it with an SDR for receive-only DX listening for non-directional beacons (NDBs), airport beacons that transmit below the AM broadcast band in North America. So far the Tee Antenna seems more sensitive than a number of other antenna designs I’ve tried for NDB listening. I also plan to use a remote tuner placed at the antenna to allow it to be used for CW, FT8 and voice QSOs on the HF bands.

Loading coil / variometer

Antenna impedance matching transformer

The other new contact was with fellow-Canadian, Karl, VE6KDX, in eastern central Alberta.


Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].