Week 36, 2026: the week in amateur radio
31 Aug – 6 Sept · 47 stories · Mon · Tue · Wed · Thu · Fri · Sat · Sun
Manufacturers & gear
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IC-M430E, VHF Marine Radio — A New Generation of Stylish and Compact Communication
Icom presents the IC-M430E, a compact VHF marine radio.
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IC-M430, VHF Marine Radio — A New Generation of Stylish and Compact Communication
Icom presents the IC-M430, a compact VHF marine radio.
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Icom Unveiled New IC-7110 at Ham Fair 2026 Tokyo
Icom unveils the IC-7110 at Ham Fair 2026 in Tokyo.
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Icom IC-7300MK2 Firmware Update (Version 1.03)
Icom releases version 1.03 of the firmware for the IC-7300MK2, its HF, 50 MHz and 70 MHz transceiver. Owners can install it to bring the radio up to date.
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Unmissable Protection: New Hi-Viz Leather Case for LTE Handhelds
Icom UK presents a high-visibility leather carrying case for its LTE handheld radios, aimed at users in busy or hazardous workplaces who need the radios to be easy to see and protected.
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Meet Ella-Raye: One of the UK’s Youngest Licensed Amateur Radio Operators
An eight-year-old has passed the UK Foundation licence exam, making her one of the youngest licensed amateurs in the country. She is also reported to be the youngest girl to pass in recent years.
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Icom Introduces the New IC-M430 and MA-600TRBB at IBEX 2025 in the U.S.
Icom introduces the IC-M430 and MA-600TRBB at IBEX 2025 in the United States.
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Icom Releases New ID-5200E Firmware, Software & Updated USB Driver
Icom has published new firmware, programming software, manuals and driver updates for several radios. The ID-5200E, a VHF/UHF dual-band digital transceiver, is the main focus of the release.
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Software & Ecosystem: Unlocking the Real Power of PoC Radios
Part two of Radioddity's series on Push-to-Talk over Cellular radios looks at the software, apps, network bridges and connectivity options that let these devices reach beyond traditional RF range.
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Messefahrplan 2026: Bonito ist wieder unterwegs
2026 Trade Show Schedule: Bonito on the Road Again
Bonito lists its 2026 trade show schedule, beginning with the Funk-Flohmarkt in Rotenburg (Wümme) on 5 September. Later stops include the UKW-Tagung in Weinheim on 12 September and the DAT in Kamen in October.
Societies & IARU
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06-Sep-2026 Electromagnetic Compatibility Sub-Committee Opportunity — Volunteers Needed for the 2027 IRTS Hamfest Sub-Committee — IRTS Promoting Amateur Radio — Kildare Amateur…
IRTS seeks volunteers for the sub-committee organizing the 2027 IRTS Hamfest.
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ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ 8ου VHF POSEIDON EVENT 2026
RESULTS OF THE 8th VHF POSEIDON EVENT 2026
RAAG publishes the results of the 8th VHF Poseidon Event 2026.
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SAC 2026 – Ut på banden!
SAC 2026 – Get on the bands!
SSA urges more Swedish stations to take part in the Scandinavian Activity Contest 2026 after Finland narrowly won last year. CW runs September 19–20 and SSB October 10–11, and every log counts toward Sweden's total.
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ARDC utlyser projektmedel för utveckling av amatörradion
ARDC invites project funding applications for amateur radio development
ARDC, a US foundation funded by the 2019 sale of part of the 44-net address space, invites project grant applications for amateur radio growth, education and research. The next deadline is January 15, 2027.
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V47YA & V47RCX : St Kitts & Nevis
V47YA & V47RCX: St Kitts & Nevis
Tom K0YA and Toni W5RCX operate from St Kitts & Nevis (IOTA NA-104) as V47YA and V47RCX from September 9 to 30, 2026. They plan 160–6m on CW, SSB and FT8, with QSL via LoTW.
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IARU Region 3 Executive Committee Sets Regional Priorities at 2026 Annual Meeting
The IARU Region 3 Executive Committee has concluded its annual in-person meeting in Tokyo, where it set regional priorities, according to a report dated September 1, 2026.
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Encuentro Radioaficionados 2026
Radio Amateur Meeting 2026
The 2026 radio amateur gathering is set for Sunday, October 11, in Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina, with photos and video from the 2025 meeting also available.
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80m ARDF vossenjacht
The UBA lists an 80m ARDF fox hunt on 26 September 2026 at 13:30 in Nieuwdonk.
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IARU r1 VHF Contest 2026
The IARU Region 1 VHF Contest runs from 14:00z on 5 September to 13:59z on 6 September 2026, on SSB and CW. RAAG lists the rules and notes the Greek organizer.
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RAAG SSB Field Day Contest 2026
The RAAG SSB Field Day Contest takes place from 13:00z on 5 September to 12:59z on 6 September 2026. It is SSB only and organized by RAAG for Greek stations.
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ÖVSV Präsident spricht im ORF über Amateurfunk
ÖVSV President Talks About Amateur Radio on ORF
ÖVSV president Michael Kastelic, OE1MCU, spoke on Austrian broadcaster ORF about why amateur radio matters in times of crisis and how the hobby is changing.
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Antennemeet- en Luisterdag Zuidwest-Nederland
Antenna Measurement and Listening Day, South-West Netherlands
VRZA announces an antenna measurement and listening day in south-west Netherlands on 6 September 2026, with Delta Scanner Zeeland attending. Participants use frequency lists and reference guides to find signals, and organizers supply masts, meters and test equipment.
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Former ARRL COO Harold R. Kramer, WJ1B, Silent Key
Harold Kramer, WJ1B, of Cheshire, Connecticut, died on August 31, 2026, aged 78. He served as ARRL Chief Operating Officer and QST Publisher from 2005 to 2016.
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Wasserturm neues Relais im Großraum Wien
Water Tower Becomes New Repeater in Greater Vienna Area
A new UHF repeater on a water tower in Vienna went into service in March 2026, covering the whole city. It outputs on 438.3375 MHz with 162.2 Hz CTCSS and is expected to support emergency communications.
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Procedimiento administrativo para el otorgamiento de distintivos con sufijo de una letra
Administrative procedure for granting one-letter suffix call signs
URE reports a July 2026 resolution from Spain's telecommunications secretariat that sets the administrative procedure for granting one-letter-suffix call signs. GDURE users can download their international practice accreditation from their account.
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WRTC-2026: Diskningar och ny resultatlista
WRTC-2026: Disqualifications and New Results List
After cheating allegations, the WRTC-2026 competition committee finished its analysis of logs, testimony and recordings. It found three types of cheating, removed contacts with a pirate station, and disqualified four teams.
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WRTC-2026 senised tulemused tühistatud!
WRTC-2026 Previous Results Cancelled!
The Estonian society reports that the WRTC-2026 results announced after the July event in England have been cancelled. VE3DZ and UW7LL were first named winners, and the Estonian-Latvian team MB4L placed 41st.
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RAC Basic and Advanced Courses Fall 2026: Register Now!
Radio Amateurs of Canada is offering online Basic and Advanced amateur radio courses for fall 2026, open to people across Canada, and registration is open.
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VRZA medewerkersdag geannuleerd
VRZA Volunteers' Day Cancelled
VRZA cancels the extra volunteers' day planned for Saturday 19 September because too many people withdrew. A new date will be announced later.
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3W9C : Son Island
3W9C: Son Island
SP5APW will operate as 3W9C from Son Island, IOTA AS-128, Vietnam, from 4 to 12 September 2026. Operation is planned on 6, 10, 15 and 20 metres, with QSL via Clublog OQRS.
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Candidates Named for ARRL Director and Vice Director Elections
ARRL has confirmed candidates for its 2026 Division elections. Delta, Great Lakes and Midwest Divisions have contested Director races, Midwest also has a contested Vice Director race, and some other seats are unopposed.
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NZART Official Broadcast August 2026
The August 2026 NZART broadcast covers the president's comment, HQ news, a Topfest Blenheim promo, a look back at the society's 100th anniversary, branch news, and a reminder about ZL100 Award log entries.
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Videoverslag: DNAT 2026
Video Report: DNAT 2026
A video report from the annual German-Dutch Amateur Meeting in Bad Bentheim shows the flea market, camping and visitors describing their trips and purchases.
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International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend 2026
The Radio Society of Sri Lanka reports on its International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend operation at Dondra Lighthouse, August 14–16. More than 25 members logged over 650 stations on CW, SSB and digital modes.
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Invitation to Participate in the 2026 ALL ASIAN DX PHONE Contest
The JARL Contest Committee invites operators to enter the 2026 All Asian DX phone contest, which runs from 0000 UTC September 5 to 2400 UTC September 6. A log submission deadline applies.
Space & satellites
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YouTube: The Addictive World of Amateur Radio Satellites
A recorded OARC talk by John Stringer M5JFS introduces amateur satellite operating, covering starter equipment, satellite types, etiquette, software and his experiences over six years. It is now on YouTube.
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ANS-249 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
The weekly AMSAT News Service bulletin covers the board election voting deadline, new ARISS appointments, a new AMSAT Journal issue, SatNOGS updates, satellite award standings and TLE distribution changes.
Community & news
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ICQPodcast Episode 492 – Which Hotspot
Episode 492 of the ICQ Podcast features a segment on choosing a hotspot, plus news on cave rescue radio, a major gift to ARRL, AST SpaceMobile 70cm interference, repeater interference in Gauteng and a Bangladesh radio drill.
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Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 437
Issue 437 of the weekly roundup includes Icom's new IC-7110, shown at Tokyo Ham Fair 2026 as the successor to the IC-7100, and an item on viewing Ceefax teletext pages over amateur radio.
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A Lewis & Clark POTA Journey
The authors describe plans for a Parks on the Air road trip along the 3,700-mile Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, starting in St Louis and heading toward the Pacific.
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2549 for Friday, September 4th, 2026
Newsline Report 2549 covers overturned WRTC-UK scores, a cave rescue using radio, Earth-Moon laser communication, the silent key of F4HAU, a Nevada repeater damaged by wildfire and the postponement of the ZK3ZL Tokelau DXpedition to 2027.
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APRS Connect: A Messaging-First APRS Client for Android, Free Over APRS-IS
APRS Connect is a new Android app that organizes APRS traffic as message threads and guided screens for common bots. Core use over APRS-IS is free; a paid Pro tier adds radio connections and offline maps. An iOS version is in development.
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Videos: What’s next for POTA, ham radio helps rescue man trapped in cave
A video covers upcoming changes to Parks on the Air. The post also notes a cave rescue in Alberta where QRP-Labs QDX-M transceivers on 2200m and JS8Call reportedly carried text through rock to a trapped man.
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Software Fix Keeps Veritium HFClock Running
N2TBN and AI4Y have published a fix for Veritium HFClock units, which are built on HamClock. It involves opening the case, flashing new firmware and repeating a few setup steps. PDF instructions are available.
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Free electrical engineering books from the University of Michigan
Michigan Publishing Services offers free PDF downloads of several electrical engineering books. The post highlights texts on digital communications and electromagnetics, relevant to readers wanting deeper theory behind digital modes, transmission lines and antennas.
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Call Sign WB4MZ0 (Numeral Zero)
The FCC mistakenly issued the call sign WB4MZ0, with a numeral zero, to a Georgia club in 1994. It was found and replaced with WB4MZO in 1999, as the ULS database became the system of record.
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Special Event Station CS5AIRA/M to Activate São Jacinto Military Area
AIRA will operate special event station CS5AIRA/M on 12 September 2026, 10:00 to 17:00, from the Infantry Regiment No. 10 area in Aveiro. Bands include 20 and 40 metres, VHF, UHF and DMR.