Series Eight Episode Five of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has been released. In this episode Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield (G0CIB) and Chris Howard (M0TCH) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episodes feature Amateur Radio Book and Arduino Review.

• D-STAR Secret Nuclear Bunker
• Make your own VHF or UHF transceiver
• Libraries Exposure for Amateur Radio
• Stunning Slow Scan TV from International Space Station
• Notice of interruption to MSF 60 kHz Time and Frequency Signal
• VHF Society Call for Papers
• Changes to Frequencies available for Radio Microphones in New Zealand
• Swiss Special Event Station - HE200GE
• National Mills Weekend

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

Series Eight Episode Five of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has been released. In this episode Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield (G0CIB) and Chris Howard (M0TCH) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episodes feature Amateur Radio Book and Arduino Review.

• D-STAR Secret Nuclear Bunker
• Make your own VHF or UHF transceiver
• Libraries Exposure for Amateur Radio
• Stunning Slow Scan TV from International Space Station
• Notice of interruption to MSF 60 kHz Time and Frequency Signal
• VHF Society Call for Papers
• Changes to Frequencies available for Radio Microphones in New Zealand
• Swiss Special Event Station - HE200GE
• National Mills Weekend

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

There was a tentative plan to do two peaks today to finish of my SOTA Goat quest. However it was not to be. We did activate Viejos Mesa, W5N/CC-020, but evidently I had yet to do a hike through snow and mud on a beautiful sunny day. I can now check that box.

I did the activation with Fred, KT5X and John K1JD. It was a lovely day and the views were simply magnificent, in fact these views captured the imagination of Georgia O'Keefe, and which she immortalized in her paintings. Of all days to forget my camera it was today, but in the picture below, everything in it plus a lot more was what we got to look at while doing this summit. Of course we were a lot higher, 8,000ft ASL, while enjoying the beauty.


As previously mentioned the trail was too wet and too muddy, with some almost knee deep drifts in places, to keep a decent pace, So we didn't' have time to do the second peak. So, I sit at 996 points.

Hopefully tomorrow.
Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Yesterday evening I received an email from Martin Lynch & Sons that they had despatched a package to me. I was a bit puzzled at first, as earlier in the week I had received my early birthday present I had ordered a day or so before, so I couldn't work out what the package would be, perhaps they had made a mistake?

Then I remembered, I had entered the ML&S guess the Caption competition on their Facebook page. A quick surf over there and I found I had won a Kenwood hand towel, which arrived promptly in this mornings post:



I certainly won't be using it on my face, it will be put on the wall in the soon to be refurbished shack.

If you want to keep up with the top deals and offers at ML&S, join in by liking their Facebook page, it is well worth keeping your eye on! 
Steve, G1KQH, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from England. Contact him at [email protected].

Last night LA4ANA (1047km) copied my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode “antenna” on 472kHz WSPR. This is my best DX yet on the non-antenna, nearly 300km further than my best previous TX record.  I was also spotted by DL4YHF (556km) for the first time on the earth-electrode “antenna”.   My PC decided to crash some time after midnight last night, so I missed any DX overnight. These spots were during the evening period.

In the last 2 weeks alone I have been spotted by 28 different stations when I’ve been using 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode “antenna” on 472kHz WSPR.  Let no-one say 472kHz is out because they cannot fit an antenna! If my signal can span over 1000km with WSPR then you can surely do better. I make no claims for the earth-electrode “antenna” but if you are unable to erect a proper antenna give it a go.

I have still to try it at this QTH on 136kHz but at my old QTH I managed to be spotted at 250km with very low ERP.

Roger Lapthorn, G3XBM, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Cambridge, England.

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.

The last I wrote I had 965 SOTA Activator points. The goal is 1,000 Activator points to achieve Mountain Goat status. I'm almost there. I did two summits today, Palomas Peak (W5N/SI-010) and Peak 6860 (W5/SI-022), to move my total to 985 points, almost there. Below are some video clips from my activations today.

It was a beautiful day to be in the mountains of New Mexico. Both of these summits are near Albuquerque, but very different environments. Palomas Peak is in an alpine forest and 6860, more or less in the desert. Al within about 25 miles of each other.


Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].