Issue 445 October 31, 2026

Top links

An unmodified C62 can not decode TETRA. Or can it?
A successful TETRA decode using a TMO transmission sample from the HamTETRA group.
M17 Project

A new Ham’s guide to overcomplicating everything
How well does my station work in the field?
QRPer

Time's up for the leap second!
A historic decision with implications for Amateur Radio.
WIA

Cincinnati-area Scouts talk to the world by radio
Fifty-eight Scouts take part in global Jamboree on the Air.
Amateur Radio Daily

When my students asked me to step aside
I wrote here this past spring about that first HAB launch, when our balloon climbed to 91,000 feet.
The Times of Israel

PHP2Shell and your AllStar node
A one-command check.
EtherHam

What is the T index?
We often look at sunspot numbers, solar flux, and geomagnetic activity to get an idea of what the bands might be doing. But there’s another number that’s particularly useful.
VK3FS

iOS App: SSTV Signal Desk
Decode SSTV and Weather Fax signals into images, receive ISS SSTV transmissions, or turn your own pictures into transmit-ready audio.
SSTV.org.uk

DXLook adds an honor system for donations
To those 100 people helping keep DXLook running: thank you.
DXLook

POTA Trip Planner
Plan your Ham Radio adventures worldwide.
N5SKT

Pushing Bluetooth out to 12 kilometers
What you won’t see here is any extra power than you get stock out of one of those generic coin-sized Bluetooth tracker tags.
Hackaday

Video

AllScan URI50 USB Radio Interface Review
Introducing the all new AllScan URI50 Universal Radio Interface.
Ham Radio Crusader

Introducing XARA, an Open Source VARA-compatible modem
This is a quick proof-of-life for Xara, an Open Source VARA-compatible modem. Linux, Raspberry Pi, full speed.
KM6LYW

Simple dipole antenna to receive ISS SSTV
Simple dipole antenna for your handheld transceiver. I built it for the 70cm band as I made this one strictly to receive the SSTV transmissions from ISS.
DX EXPLORER

Editor's Corner

Hi, my name is Cale (K4HCK) and I'm the editor of Amateur Radio Weekly.

The most-clicked link from last week's newsletter was the news of an HOA lobbying group casting shade on the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act. Who knew such a lobby existed? Time to send another round of letters to our legislators.

The PHP vulnerability kept the tech world busy this week. It's a good time to check-in on your coding and infrastructure friends.

General feedback regarding this newsletter or the content within is always welcome. Got a link to share? Simply hit reply.

73
Cale
K4HCK

P.S. Thanks to Emma for providing the service that lands these emails into inboxes each week.