Python script energizes my contesting setup.

13 January 2026 | by Mike VE9KK  |  Leave a Comment (0)


 

I have been working on some Python scripts to automate tasks that I would rather not do manually. The video above shows my contest station powering up from start to finish.

Why do this, you ask? The part of the amateur radio hobby that really interests me is CW contesting. Now that I am retired, I take part in four weekly one-hour “mini” contests and, in an average month, I spend two or three weekends CW contesting as well.

The programs I use need to be started in a specific order. For example, I must start my virtual port program (VSPE) first, and then start the radio and contest programs in a certain sequence. If this order is not followed, I get flooded with error messages.

Some say I over complicate things, but I am somewhat of a perfectionist and like everything set up just so. Python lets me achieve that with a single mouse click. There has been some fine-tuning of the Python code along the way. For example, my radio control program Win4Icom is delivered as a complete new program with each update, rather than as an add-on to the original, as the N1MM+ contesting program does. Because of this, I wrote the script for Win4Icom so that it always checks for and runs the highest revision number of the program; otherwise, it would just continue to load the same old version.

I also had to introduce delays between the startup of some programs. After VSPE starts, I delay Win4Icom by five seconds, because VSPE is still initializing in the background and Win4Icom would otherwise throw errors. I also added a step to minimize VSPE to the taskbar once it starts, so it does not sit on the screen. As Win4Icom starts, I added a 10-second delay while it powers up my Icom 7610 and sets up the COM port configurations for N1MM+. I found N1MM+ needs to wait for those steps to complete before it begins its own startup. Finally Reverse Beacon Network web page is setup to open with my call sign showing spots where it is heard. 

 Here's the sequence shown in the YouTube video:

  • WiFi smart plug powers on.

  • Astron power supply powers on seen in the lower left corner .

  • Raspberry Pi 4B boots (red power LED visible on desk), launching HamClock.

  • VSPE starts and minimizes to taskbar.

  • Win4Icom launches, powering on the Icom 7610.

  • Reverse Beacon Network loads/refreshes as HamClock continues to load.

  • N1MM+ Logger starts.

Next up: Python shutdown scripting (with its own challenges). I'm also 3/4 through a script to generate ADIF file of contest contacts that exports and auto-upload to N3FJP, Club Log, LoTW, CWops, and QRZ.com. Stay tuned!



Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at ve9kk@hotmail.com.

2026 NAQP contest

11 January 2026 | by Mike VE9KK  |  Leave a Comment (2)

 


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

11 January 2026 | by Colin M6BOY  |  Leave a Comment (0)

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


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

10 January 2026 | by Cale K4HCK  |  Leave a Comment (0)

Amateur Radio Weekly

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

Get Amateur Radio Weekly in your inbox.

Sign-up here


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

8 January 2026 | by Richard AA4OO  |  Leave a Comment (0)

The Sweetness of Noise Free Copy


I have been using my Receive only Loop on Ground antenna at my station for the past few weeks.  It was connected to my SDR through my receiver protection switch from OK1RP .  That switch protects my SDR from overcurrent during transmit.  I built this receiver protection switch from a kit nearly 8 years ago to protect my SDR when using it as the panadapter display for my Ten-Tec Eagle.  Back then I didn't use the audio from the SDRPlay RSP1 for listening because it was connected to the noisy antenna in my attic so audio from it sounded worse than my outdoor antenna but the signal was sufficient to use as input to the panadapter.  

But now, with the low noise, outdoor receive antenna at my station I can use the SDR as a receiver for listening during a QSO or just monitoring.

How you can use a receive antenna on a radio without a RCV port but with an outboard SDR?


For those of us that have radios lacking a dedicated antenna receive (RCV) port we need something able to listen to that the receive antenna that stays in sync with our transceiver.  Software Defined Radios (SDRs) have become very common in our hobby and entry level, dongle style SDRs are quite affordable.  They are receivers that connect to your PC via USB and generally offer wide receiver coverage.  In the case of the SDRPlay RSP1 that I use, it makes an excellent outboard receiver.  By syncing the SDR with the transceiver via OmniRig it tracks the frequency changes you are making from your radio.  Additionally it can sync the radio frequency and mode when you work with the SDR software running on your PC.

The receiver needs protection


Using a separate receiver when you have a transmitter at your station requires that you protect the receiver front end from transmit currents.  The SDR protection switch I built from OK1RP years ago is triggered by the Yaesu FT-DX10 transmit ground switch accessible through the optional Yaesu SCU-28 cable.  On transmit the FT-DX10 grounds the TX GND pin2 on the SCU-28.  This in turn is used by the OK1RP switch to disconnect the antenna input and protect the SDR on transmit.  There are RF switches that use RF-sensing to switch rather than a hardware cable, but results vary on how well they work and whether they can protect the receiver if they lose power, things get disconnected, etc.  So having a hardware triggered switch with some failsafes like the OK1RP can save you from an Oopsie that lets the magic smoke out of your receiver.

I had the FT-DX10's antenna port connected to my transmit antenna switch. That 2 position switch connected either my attic Doublet or the 80m OCF.  The transceiver was not connected to the receive only antenna in any way in that configuration.

I listened to stations coming through the LoG Receive antenna through PC speakers generated by SDRPlay's SDRUno software rather than through the transceiver because the receive only antenna offered a greater signal to noise ratio.  I turned down the AF volume on the FT-DX10 coming from the transmit antenna in order to hear only the receive antenna during QSOs.  The sidetone volume is separate from the AF volume so having it down on the transceiver during a QSO was not an issue.  Again, the transceiver was not connected to the LoG receive antenna so I couldn't use the radio controls during receive for filtering. SDRUno obviously did not offer the same features for shaping and adjusting the received signal as a dedicated amateur radio.  It provided choices for bandwidth, NR and CW-Peak. 

Switching from SDRUno to HDSDR


This is somewhat of an aside but I think it is worth mentioning.  I have been using SDRUno with my SDRPlay RSP1 SDR for the past few years to "listen" to the SDR as a receiver.  It works well enough but it has issues when I want to take the IQ output from it to software like CWSkimmer to provide a cluster server for stations I am hearing.   When I set SDRUno to output IQ it offers a number of bandwidths but they are not consistent across the ham bands.  For instance, 80, 40 and 20 offer 192 kHz as an available output bandwidth but 30, 17, 15 do not.  If I need to change bandwidths it requires modifying the Virtual Audio Cable or configuring different VAC's for the different bands, etc.  If I try using just 48 kHz for all bands that doesn't seem to work with CWSkimmer even though it has the option.   So I have switched to use HDSDR since it supports the 192 kHz bandwidth IQ output for all bands.  It also doesn't seem to lose it's mind when the computer goes to sleep like SDRUno. YMMV.


Anyway, let's get to the point


This setup has worked pretty well, but I really wanted to hear the Receive antenna directly through the transceiver to make use of all the additional filtering and controls it brings to the table. Also, listening to the receive audio from the PC when I'm working a station just feels a bit disconnected from the normal process of using the transceiver.  I also wanted to continue to feed the SDR in parallel with the transceiver to have the panadapter and local cluster server functionality.  I couldn't do that whilst using the SDR as an audio receiver.  I needed more stuff.

The DX-Engineering RTR-1A


There was a new-in-box DX-Engineering RTR-1A available on a famous auction site.  This is the discontinued version of what is now sold as the RTR-2A.  I actually prefer the connections offered on the older switch plus it was far less than the cost of a new RTR-2A.  These switches don't come up used very often so beggars sometimes can't be choosers, although I'm sure something will pop-up for a steal now that I've purchased one.






The RTR-1A is a switch designed to allow a transceiver such as the FT-DX10 that only has a single antenna connection to make use of a Receive Only antenna.  It offers additional protection that a traditional transceiver with Receive Antenna ports does not have, because most transceivers simply ground the Receive antenna but don't offer any additional current protection coming in that port during receive.  The RTR devices not only switch out the RCV port during operation they also offer active front end protection on the RX ANT IN port while sending the signal to the transceiver antenna input.

For convenience it has a choice of 2 types of RX ANT IN connections, not for using both at once.

The two RX ANT IN ports are in parallel


This is important to note.  I initially thought that the 2 RX ANT IN ports were isolated from one another so that I could run the RCV antenna in one port and feed my SDR from the other RX ANT IN port.  But if I'd simply read the label "literally" it would have been clear even without reading the manual.  Those are both RX ANT IN, not OUT. They are in parallel.  If you run a connector to the SDR antenna input from the RX ANT IN port you will be loading the input and significantly reducing the sensitivity of the receive antenna.  Additionally, the SDR is not protected from transmit currents if you connect it in parallel with the receive antenna.  Whatever is received on the RCV antenna entering that port will be passed straight through to the other connector.  Since there's no protection, your SDR becomes a Red Shirt.

Because of this I can't feed my SDR with the receive antenna while using the RTR-1A without using a RF-splitter. Instead, I am using MAIN ANT OUT to route signals to the SDR for panadapter and skimmer logging only.  I lose the nice receive functionality directly on the SDR with this configuration. 

I could purchase or build an RF Splitter to use ahead of the RX ANT IN to split the output to the SDR.  If I did I would need to also use my OK1RP antenna relay protection switch to disconnect the SDR.  That would mean more than double the wiring, plus I would lose a minimum of another 3 dB on receive due to the splitter, and unless I buy a high quality HF $plitter from mini-circuits or DXE the lack of isolation would likely cause even greater losses due to loading across the circuits.  I researched making a 1.6 MHz to 60 MHz HF splitter with 30+ dB separation and it involves building a very tight circuit. Even a couple extra mm of wire change the circuit inductance.  I just don't think I'm up to that. Maybe I'll get a good splitter for my birthday, but for now I'll just use the TX ANT OUT to route to the SDR for panadapter use.   I love our hobby but it seems I always am one part shy of my optimal solution.  One thing I will say is that I learned a lot about RF splitting while researching the topic.  It's a heck of a lot more than building a Y-cable.

Connecting the RTR


Let's get this wired up.  More cables and wires at the station.  Who doesn't love more things to connect and get tangled up?  Even better, who doesn't love having to connect things with dissimilar connections?  I'm fairly confident that I have over 25 adapters for RF and DC connector types yet I still have to order more adapters for every new project. I never have just the right single adapter and end up having to connect 3 - 4 adapters in series to get the combination I need.  But I digress. 

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.
Okay that was simple right?  The transmit and radio cables are using PL259, the switch is using RCA, F-Type and PL259 (and a barrel for power), the receive antenna has a F-Type and the SDR has a female SMA.  If I add a splitter; well I'm not even going to go into all the additional connection adapters and cables I'd need.  

All this so that we can participate in a hobby that communicates wirelessly


Connections


In operation

Noise free reception

The RTR-1A isn't exactly a small box and it weighs more than I would have expected.  It just fits on top of the DX10 at my cramped station.  You want it easily accessible to operate the RX / MAIN switch on front panel to either momentary or fully switch from receive to main antennas.  Down is momentary, up is latched.

My LoG receive antenna is about 9 -12 dB down on receive compared to the 80m OCF.  So in most cases you want at least the first preamp on and sometimes the second preamp engaged although PRE-1 is usually sufficient.  There is so little noise on the LoG that all you are really bringing up is the signal when you turn up AF.  However when switching back to the main antenna you will be hit with a wall of sound and the waterfall will just turn white with the preamps engaged on lower bands.

I wish there was a dedicated button for the preamp on the DX10.  It requires leaving the EXTEND menu up and touching the screen to change preamp settings.  I have to touch it twice, once to get the IPO menu and the next to choose the setting.  I may look into getting a LNA to run prior to the RTR for convenience of not having to mess with the IPO menu.  I searched but I see no CAT command that I can send that will change the IPO setting from the computer.

Many signals from the LoG are so clean that they are completely copyable without budging the S-meter.  I had lengthy ragchews with 3 stations today on 30m using my attic antenna (my only efficient antenna for 30) that were completely buried in the noise of my attic antenna.  I was receiving 549 to 579 reports from these invisible stations.  The Doublet in my attic is good for transmit but blinded by noise on receive, so the LoG is a complete game changer for me on WARC bands.  It's also far less impacted by static crashes on 80m than the OCF.

Similarly, this evening I worked 6 WWA stations (II3WWA, CR6WWA, VE9WWA, YO0WWA, SN4WWA, EG1WWA) on 40m in quick succession where I couldn't reliably copy 3 of them on my 80m OCF but could hear them on the LoG.  I'm flabbergasted at how much this changes home station operation. 




That's all for now.

So lower your power and power your radio with receive antenna switch

72/73 AA4OO


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

3 January 2026 | by Cale K4HCK  |  Leave a Comment (0)

Amateur Radio Weekly

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!

Get Amateur Radio Weekly in your inbox.

Sign-up here


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

31 December 2025 | by Mike VE9KK  |  Leave a Comment (0)

 


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.
« Older Posts

Don't miss our next prize giveaway!

Subscribe FREE to AmateurRadio.com's
Amateur Radio Newsletter
News, Opinion, Giveaways & More!

E-mail 
Join over 8,500 subscribers!
We never share your e-mail address.


Also available via RSS feed, Twitter, and Facebook.



Subscribe FREE to AmateurRadio.com's
Amateur Radio Newsletter

 
We never share your e-mail address.



Do you like to write?
Interesting project to share?
Helpful tips and ideas for other hams?

Submit an article and we will review it for publication on AmateurRadio.com!

Have a ham radio product or service?
Consider advertising on our site.

Are you a reporter covering ham radio?
Find ham radio experts for your story.

How to Set Up a Ham Radio Blog
Get started in less than 15 minutes!


  • Matt W1MST, Managing Editor




Copyright © 1995-2024 AmateurRadio.com, All Rights Reserved.
Celebrating 29 Years of Service to the Amateur Radio Community

RSS Feed | Sitemap | DMCA Contact | Privacy Policy / GDPR

Each individual posting is the property of its respective author and the opinions expressed may not represent those of AmateurRadio.com including its editor, staff, or sponsors. Content may not be reproduced without written permission.