Issue 409 February 21, 2026

Top links

FT2: The fastest digital mode ever created
3.8-second cycles — Complete QSO in 11 seconds. 4x faster than FT8.
FT2

Parks on the Air's explosive growth and the next chapter
POTA is usually described in simple terms: It’s growing quickly.
Q5

BAOFENG UV-5R Mini: First impressions
These things are small. They are about the size of an FRS radio but feel a little more solid in the hand.
Random Wire

Anytone AT-D890UV full duplex satellite HT
This new HT should have real full duplex capability – it can transmit on VHF and receive on UHF without any desense.
AMSAT-SM

Zero Retries Digital Conference 2026 announced
ZRDC 2026 will be held on Friday 2026-10-16 at the Roundhouse Conference Center in San Ramon, California, USA.
Zero Retries Digital Conference

Worldwide Bunkers on the Air
WWBOTA is an exciting mix of Amateur Radio and history enabling radio amateurs to ‘activate’ with portable and mobile operations from historic bunker locations.
WWBOTA

SWR Magazine Waves Weekend
An on-air special event taking place on February 21, 2026. We will be activating KP3SWR from Puerto Rico.
SWR Magazine

RSGB: A year in numbers 2025
Amateur Radio continues to evolve and the RSGB, in turn, develops how it supports current radio amateurs and reaches out to new audiences.
Radio Society of Great Britain

WQ2XDM - New US experimental callsign for radio propagation tests
K9JMS recently received permission from the FCC to carry out propagation tests at 40 MHz (8m) and 70 MHz (4m).
EI7GL

Upcoming Events

Polish Amateur Radio Union Celebrates Gdynia 100th Anniversary
February 7, 2026

HB9RG Trophy Celebrates First Amateur Radio Contact via Satellite
March 2, 2026

YL POTA Party
March 7, 2026

HamSCI 2026: Discovering Science Through Amateur Radio
March 14, 2026

Video

You should try Linux for Ham Radio today
It's never been easier running Linux on a cheap laptop for Ham Radio.
Ham Radio Crash Course

The ultimate emergency comms trailer
A detailed tour of the brand-new Duval County ARES trailer.
KM4ACK

FT2 is the fastest digital mode ever created
With 3.8 seconds per tx/rx, this has been claimed to be the fastest digital mode to date.
Tech Minds