Archive › October 2026 › Week 41
Friday, 9 October 2026
28 stories published this day (UTC).
Manufacturers & gear 1
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PR 40 vs SM7B vs RE20: Which Dynamic Mic Is Best for Podcasting and Broadcast?
Heil Sound compares its PR 40 with the Shure SM7B and Electro-Voice RE20 dynamic microphones, covering frequency response, output, weight and price for voice and broadcast use.
Societies & IARU 21
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HF Update with ZS3I
The South African Radio League's HF update covers the CQ DX Marathon Sprint, a short event meant to encourage DXing among current and new Marathon participants. It runs from 17 October 00:00 UTC to 26 October 23:59 UTC.
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TF8KY and TF1AM at Skeljanes on 15 October
TF8KY OG TF1AM Í SKELJANESI 15. OKTÓBER.
The Icelandic Radio Amateurs' autumn education programme starts on 15 October in Skeljanes, with the evening featuring presentation of awards for the 2026 Spring Games, Summer Games and Field Day events, plus QSL cards and coffee.
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International contests, 17–18 October
ALÞJÓÐLGAR KEPPNIR 17.-18. OKTÓBER.
Three contests run on 17–18 October: the JARL WW RTTY Contest, the Worked All Germany Contest on CW and SSB, and the Stew Perry Topband Challenge on 160 metres CW.
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FunkWX - stormy into the weekend
FunkWX - stürmisch bis ins Wochenende
DARC's space weather report expects three CMEs to raise geomagnetic activity to active or stormy levels (Kp 4–5) through the weekend, with stronger storm periods possible. Moderate solar activity and more M-class flares are likely, so propagation may be disturbed.
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ARRL Headquarters Closing Early on Friday, October 9, 2026
ARRL headquarters closes at noon Eastern time on 9 October 2026 for a staff event. The lobby, store and W1AW welcome visitors from 8 AM to noon, and W1AW bulletin transmissions continue as normal.
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CQ WW RTTY DX Contest 2026
CQ WW RTTY DX KEPPNIN 2026.
Results for the 2026 CQ WW RTTY DX Contest, held 26–27 September, show 3,250 logs submitted. Icelandic entries came from TF3AO and TF4CU, with a check log from TF3VS.
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Is Your Amateur Radio Club Incorporated? Free WIA Webinar Explores the Benefits
The Wireless Institute of Australia is running a free webinar on the benefits of incorporating an amateur radio club.
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Rallies and Events News – 11 October 2026
The Hornsea ARC Rally is held at Driffield Showground on 11 October, with doors opening at 10am. Essex CW Amateur Radio Club holds a Boot Camp and CW Conference on 24 October in Witham.
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Special Events News – 11 October 2026
Cray Valley Radio Society operates GB80CV until 28 October for its 80th anniversary, with an award and QSL via LoTW. Special callsign 8J7SPO marks the 80th Japan Games and a national sports festival for people with disabilities.
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DX News – 11 October 2026
RSGB's weekly DX roundup covers two Oceania activations: FW1P on Wallis Island (OC-054) running mostly FT8 through 17 October, and VK4WXW back on Willis Island (OC-007) with SSB and FT8 until late October or early November.
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Contest News – 11 October 2026
Two RSGB 432MHz contests run on Tuesday 13 October: the FM-only FMAC contest from 1800 to 1855UTC, and the all-mode UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC.
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Join the RSGB 2026 Convention livestream
The RSGB 2026 Convention lectures are streamed on the Society's YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. Recordings of both days stay available online afterwards.
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RSGB has shared JOTA stations
The RSGB Youth Champion for Scouts has compiled a list of special event stations active for Jamboree on the Air on 16-18 October. The list is on the RSGB website.
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Start planning YOTA Month
December is Youngsters On The Air Month, when young UK amateurs can operate the special event station GB26YOTA. The IARU initiative encourages young operators to make contacts worldwide and promote the hobby to their peers.
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IARU IWS Newsletter September 2026
The IARU Intruder Watch Service has published its September 2026 newsletter, covering the monitoring of non-amateur signals on amateur bands.
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Finnish Amateur Radio League office bulletin 39/2026, 10 October 2026
Suomen Radioamatööriliiton toimiston tiedote 39/2026, 10.10.2026
The Finnish amateur radio society's bulletin covers its autumn meeting on 21 November in Tampere, board election nominations, continued amateur exams, and upcoming events and contest news.
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Autumn amateur radio events 2026
Syksyisiä radioamatööritapahtumia 2026
SRAL lists autumn 2026 events for Finnish hams, including a rally and flea market on 10 October, a club camp on 8–11 October, and the society's autumn meeting in Tampere on 21 November.
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Zonal meeting of the ADRASECs of the Eastern defence and security zone (03.10.26)
Réunion zonale des ADRASEC de la zone de défense et de sécurité Est (03.10.26)
ADRASEC groups from France's eastern defence zone met on 3 October at the zone's inter-ministerial headquarters. Topics included cross-band relays, digital modes for crisis use, the MoslLink coupling card, and logging of exercises.
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BAFARA celebrates 80 years of the Belgian Air Force
BAFARA viert 80 jaar Belgische Luchtmacht
The Royal Belgian Air Force Amateur Radio Association, BAFARA, marks 80 years of the Belgian Air Force, founded on 15 October 1946, with extra on-air activity throughout October.
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TX Factor – Episode 34
TX Factor – del 34.
A new TX Factor episode follows G0FGX Bob around the National Hamfest in Newark, Nottinghamshire, covering new radios, QO-100 satellite use and a meeting with RSGB representatives.
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A Century of Radio History Comes Alive: SAQ Grimeton to Transmit on United Nations Day
The Grimeton radio station in Sweden, home of the historic SAQ alternator transmitter, is scheduled to transmit on United Nations Day. The event marks a century of the station's radio history.
DX & contests 2
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TZ4AM – Mali
Jeff, TZ4AM, returns to operate from Bamako, Mali, between 22 October and 2 December 2026. He plans CW and SSB on 80 to 6 metres, with QSL requests going via KX4R.
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VK9DS – Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas Island
David, VK6DS plans holiday-style operation as VK9DS from Cocos (Keeling) Island on 20–27 November, then Christmas Island from 28 November to 4 December, including WWFF and POTA sites.
Space & satellites 2
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Live stream of AMSAT-UK Colloquium Talks
AMSAT-UK will stream its Colloquium talks live on YouTube on October 10 and 11, starting at 08:15 GMT each day. The talks are part of the RSGB Convention programme, and recordings will later appear on the AMSAT-UK YouTube channel.
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Wick High School ARISS Contact a Great Success
Students at Wick High School in Caithness spoke with astronaut Joshua Kutryk KJ5BFU on the ISS via amateur radio on 8 October. At 58.4° North, it is reported as the most northerly school contact with the station.
Community & news 2
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Product Spotlight: CITEL Coaxial Cable Surge Protectors Offer Vital Protection Against Voltage Spikes (Videos)
DX Engineering highlights CITEL coaxial surge protectors, available in DC-pass and DC-block versions with gas discharge tubes and waterproof housings, aimed at protecting ham stations from voltage spikes. Videos feature discussion of the range.
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VoIP Hurricane Net Activation – Hurricane Isaias – Friday Afternoon 10/9/26 2 PM EDT through Late Saturday Morning 10/10/26 11 AM EDT
The VoIP Hurricane Net activates from 2 PM EDT Friday 9 October to late Saturday morning for Hurricane Isaias, covering the Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle. It supports WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center and collects reports from the affected area.