Issue 418 April 25, 2026

Top links

Icom teases X-026 radio to be Revealed at Hamvention
Dubbed as a "concept mock-up," the radio appears to be a mobile VHF/UHF/HF rig.
Icom

AST SpaceMobile to use 430 MHz band for 248 satellites
FCC announced that AST SpaceMobile will be using the Amateur 430 MHz band.
AMSAT-UK

SteppIR returns to Amateur Radio market
We will be bringing back select antennas that will be purchased as kits on our website.
Amateur Radio Daily

ROTA: Recliners on the Air
Because life happens in the living room, not the shed.
ROTA

Reviving Teletext for Ham Radio
Hack the airwaves with some of the best tech of the 1980s.
IEEE Spectrum

MeshCore development teams split
We’ve released more than 85 versions of the MeshCore Companion, Repeater and Room Server firmwares with support for more than 75 hardware variants.
Meshcore.io

The really big dish: China's sky eye
The contrasts with Arecibo are quite telling.
Solder Smoke Daily News

PARC: Protected Area Radio Community
The new Amateur Radio park activation program.
PARC

Flipper Zero transmits APRS with no extra parts
Because of the FSK-as-FM modulation it won’t be decoded by everything, but you can’t argue with the bill of materials if you happen to own a Flipper.
Hackaday

M17 over RF with your phone and HT
Is this viable?
Random Wire

The Old Man
The radio shack was an eclectic mix of antique and more modern radio equipment.
KE9V

Utilizing HERMES in fishing boats off the shore of Bangladesh
The initiative aimed to improve safety at sea and strengthen communication in areas lacking infrastructure.
Community Networks Learning Center

Hibbian Linux for Ham Radio
Debian based distro contains many Ham Radio packages.
Hibbian

Upcoming Events

Hams to Honor Police and Emergency Medical Personnel with Special Event
May 10, 2026

Cat Pix on the Air CPOTA 2026
August 8, 2026

Zero Retries Digital Conference 2026 Announced
October 16, 2026

Video

HamTV recording of contact with astronaut Sophie Adenot
This version was recorded by ARISS HamTV ground stations while Adenot spoke with students in French.
ARISS

A conversation with She’s On Frequency
Elle-Marie shares how she discovered Ham Radio while looking for reliable off-grid communication.
Alliance Amateur Radio Network

Inside Hamvention 2026: What to expect
Michael Kalter W8CI is the voice and steady hand behind the Dayton Hamvention.
Q5