2026 NAQP contest
The January NAQP is always a contest I look forward to. It starts at 2:00 PM local time, and my plan was to operate for about eight hours of the ten-hour event. This contest is always well attended, and with the maximum power limited to 100 watts, everyone is on a level playing field.
As always, I reviewed the previous year’s results, the bands I used and when, and my balance between running and search-and-pounce. Last year, 10 through 40 meters were all open and I made good use of those bands. This year was quite different — 10 meters was poor and I spent only a short time there. The best band turned out to be 20 meters, followed by 15 meters and then 40 meters. I knew going in that solar conditions were not going to be as favorable as last year.
The contest started off a bit slow, and I initially wondered if many operators had seen the predicted solar conditions and decided to sit this one out. Like last year, I spent about 95% of the contest running, and things did begin to pick up later in the afternoon. My highest hourly rate was 115 contacts, and three hours in, it was time for dinner. I was very pleased to have logged 300 contacts by that point.
After dinner, however, that’s when things really went downhill. Before the break, the Kp index had been holding steady at 3 and the Bz index was around −6 to −8. After dinner, the Kp jumped to 6 and the Bz index dropped as low as −19. I was wrapping up my time on 20 meters and transitioning to 40 meters as evening set in, but under these new solar conditions my hourly rate dropped from around 100 contacts to barely 25.
The deteriorating band conditions brought severe QSB stations would be there one moment and completely gone the next. The combination of high Kp and strongly negative Bz also made CW signals sound as though they were gurgling underwater. Given these conditions, I decided to pull the plug at 8:00 PM local time and call it a day.
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at ve9kk@hotmail.com.
ICQPodcast Episode 474 – New Radio Shack Additions
In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Frank Howell (K4FMH) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is New Radio Shack Additions.
We would like to thank our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate
- Easing The Way For Blind Hams To Use Digital Modes
- AMSAT Youth Initiative Takes a Closer Look at Climate Change
- New Zealand Hams Use "ZM" Prefix for Centenary Year
- Starlink is Lowering Thousands of Satellites' Orbits to Reduce the Risk of Collisions
- Broadcast Marks Historic Radio Site's 100th year
- FCC Reminds Experimental HF Stations to Identify Themselves
- 2026 is ARRL's Year of the Club -- A Celebration of Amateur Radio Clubs
- HamSCI Speaker Series Explores WSPR Spectral Width
- First Desecheo Island Activation Since 2009
Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at info@icqpodcast.com.
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 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.
No RCV Port? No Problem – DXE RTR-1A
The Sweetness of Noise Free Copy
How you can use a receive antenna on a radio without a RCV port but with an outboard SDR?
The receiver needs protection
Switching from SDRUno to HDSDR
Anyway, let's get to the point
The DX-Engineering RTR-1A
The two RX ANT IN ports are in parallel
Connecting the RTR
Connections on the RTR-1A switch
- The main TX antenna goes to the connector helpfully labeled MAIN ANT IN. It's a PL259 to help insure that you are connecting a real antenna there, especially if you are trying to connect things in the blind (not advisable).
- The Receive Only antenna goes to either of the RX ANT IN ports. One is a female F-Type connector commonly used for TV / cable coax. That is the one I am using with the coax coming in from the LoG antenna. Additionally I have a quick disconnect F-Type on the end of the coax so I can pull it free when I'm not at the station.
- I run a cable from the MAIN ANT OUT port to my SDR, in-line with a passive diode based front-end protector. The switch is supposed to offer protection for the SDR on disconnect, but I'm paranoid. That ends up being a RCA male to male phono cable to the front-end protector, which outputs to a male to BNC female adapter, which connects to a male BNC to male sma cable to the SDR (whew!)
- The next port connects the switch to your transceiver and is helpfully labeled RADIO. Connect the ANT port on your transceiver to this connector using a male to male PL259. Since it is also PL259 that helps you avoid connecting non-radiating bits to radiating bits.
- The last connection is labeled TRANSMIT GROUND. This connection is what tells the switch to switch from RX ant to TX antenna. It uses a RCA plug style connector to ground the center pin to shield when the radio goes into transmit. It can ONLY work with a connector that goes to ground, no positive voltage keying. My Ten-Tec Eagle had a TX GND RCA female connector built right into the back of the radio but as I mentioned above you will need to take the appropriate wires from the SCU-28 port on the Yaesu FT-DX10 (pin 2 to ground) for which I built a break out box from the SCU-28 with the appropriate connectors.
- Lastly the switch needs 12v DC power to operate. You could take that from the radio's SCU-28 cable or from an external supply assuming you have a common DC ground. If the switch is not powered it defaults connecting the MAIN ANT IN port to the RADIO port and grounds the RX ANT IN and MAIN ANT OUT ports, thus saving your SDR. If the switch is unpowered nothing goes out the MAIN ANT OUT port so my SDR sees nothing.
All this so that we can participate in a hobby that communicates wirelessly
![]() |
| Connections |
In operation
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| Noise free reception |
Richard Carpenter, AA4OO, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from North Carolina, USA. Contact him at aa4oo@hamradioqrp.com.
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 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 rear view mirror and then looking ahead
Looking back on 2025, my total contacts were down fewer than in the past two years. As always, they were 100% CW, and my DXCC count for the year was the lowest since 2022 at 91 (2022 had 90).
Challenges Faced
Limited time in the radio chair played a big role, as 2025 filled up with home renovations: replacing all wood flooring except the bedrooms (that's 2026's summer project), a complete bathroom redo, and new kitchen cupboards. I enjoy my weekly CWTs and MSTs, but missed 41 due to renovations; high winds and freezing rain forced me to skip three major contests while taking down my Hustler 4-BTV antenna. Purchases were minimal—a Raspberry Pi4B, the Icom RC-28, and some dabbling in Python scripting.
Looking to 2026
I'm saving money now for a spring purchase: the Butternut HF6V antenna, which adds 80m to my contesting and stands up to our windstorms (rated to 80 mph), so no more take-downs. Large home projects remain, but I'll mix in more radio by better managing mornings—I'm up early and after radio blogs are read I often waste time online reading the news; instead, I'll fit in code practice and pileup work instead of surfing the days news. Python scripting continues too, with cool programs already running—more on that in 2026.
Final Thoughts
I get a kick out of rereading past New Year's posts, comparing plans to reality. As a good friend used to say, "Mikey dreams for free." Here's to at least some 2026 dreams coming true.
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at ve9kk@hotmail.com.
The Communicator: January – February 2026
The Communicator First Issue of 2026
Happy New Year! This first issue of 2026 spans 110 pages and offers a comprehensive exploration of amateur radio. Readers will find a diverse mix of content, including technical projects, the latest operating news, and engaging historical perspectives relevant to the amateur radio community.
Historical and Informative Features
Readers will find historical profiles of
notable figures in radio, this time including Edouard Branly, inventor of the
coherer, and the fateful and communications-stricken flight of Amelia Earhart. The Silent Revolution: The future of RF is in light, is an overview of transceivers using light rather than wires, promising less noise and terrific bandwidth. You will find tutorials on a variety of relevant subjects including HF digital
modes such as FT8 and JS8Call, suggestions for contest logging software, and
tips for successful portable operations.
Technical Articles
Several articles in this issue delve into
practical projects and technical experimentation. Topics covered include encrypted
communications in amateur radio, antenna construction and tuning, including the
revolutionary Challenger+, low-power (QRP) operating strategies, free access to
online software-defined radio receivers, and modifications to homebrew
equipment. Additional articles address emergency communications preparedness,
recent regulatory changes affecting Canadian amateurs, and reviews of new ham
radio products and books.
Regular Sections
The issue includes our regular informative columnists,
providing valuable information for operators.
They include feature propagation forecasts, updates on satellite and
digital modes, reports on VHF/UHF activity, summaries of recent contests and
on-air events, and even a ‘snow muffin’ recipe for Winter Field Day.
Feature Article: Embracing Versatility in Amateur Radio
An opinion piece reflected by the cover:
“Are you an Amateur Radio chameleon?” (p. 102), employs the chameleon as a
metaphor for versatility in the hobby. Drawing on the Senegalese proverb, “The
chameleon changes colour to match the earth, the earth doesn’t change colour to
match the chameleon,” the article gently critiques operators who specialize
exclusively in one aspect of amateur radio—whether chasing DX on HF, focusing
on VHF repeaters, contesting year-round, or limiting activity to digital modes
like FT8.
While acknowledging that specialization can
foster deep expertise, the article contends that remaining in a single niche
may restrict personal growth and diminish the enjoyment of amateur radio.
Instead, it celebrates those who adapt fluidly, moving between CW, SSB, digital
modes, satellite work, QRP portable activations, microwave experimentation,
public service events, and homebrewing. These “chameleons,” the article
suggests, find greater fulfillment and contribute more broadly to the amateur
radio community.
It concludes with an invitation for readers to share their own stories of adaptation and discovery by emailing communicator@ve7sar.net.
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Please note that there are active links for additional content when viewed on-line.
On behalf of SARC and SEPAR, we wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
~ John VE7TI, Editor
Contents for this issue:
- Edouard Eugène Désiré Branly and his Coherer 4
- Amelia Earhart: Better radio skills may have made a difference 32
- Photonics the Silent Revolution: The future of RF is in light 38
- Ham Rocket Men 42
- The story of Salmon, Idaho 44
- Profile: The Canadian International DX Club 48
- The Challenger+ OCF: A portable Halfwave Antenna by KJ6ER 50
- About that Un-un 57
- Coaxial Cables and Common Mode Currents 58
- A Challenger+ build 61
- 2025 Appointment to the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame: Geoff Smith VA3GS (SK) 62
- A Starter Guide: Internet Remote Software Defined Radio (SDR) Receivers 64
- The BC QSO Party 66
- Ham Radio Outside the Box: What really determines the efficiency of an antenna? 68
- The VA7ZEB Line of Sight (LoS) Web App 71
- Converting the shack computer to Linux 74
- Foundations of Amateur Radio: I have a problem with logging 76
- Back to Basics: Near Vertical Incident Skywave 79
- Amateur Radio HH as a modular option of a new electric car 82
- No-ham Recipes: Winter Field Day Snow Muffins 83
- Profiles of SARC members: Blake R. Wiggs VA7BWG 86
- 2025 SARC Field Day Results 92
- SARC General Meeting minutes 94
- The Christmas Social 96
- Coming up 98
- The SEPAR Report 100
- Are you an Amateur Radio Chameleon? Embrace the multiverse of the ‘Hobby of Hobbies’ 102
- Ham Leftovers 106
- A look back: at The Communicator—January 2016 108
- Kudos 112






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