ON8NT Notes
My name is Jef and my location is in JO11RC
All my antennas are on the balcony:
Diamond V2000 vertical tribander on short mast in a solar umbrella feet,
5 element LPDA from WIMO (Germany) for 2m & 70cm on a tripod, can be used in vertical or horizontal polarisation,
dipole for 2m & 70cm from WIMO (Germany) on the same tripod can be used vertical or horizontal polarisation, replacing the 5 element LPDA in windy conditions...
Different AMPRO hamsticks for different bands using the railing as a counterpoise, for HF.
Although i'm also active on HF, those reports are mainly VHF, UHF & SHF.
Wanted to start digital modes (FT8, FT4, JS8call, RTTY, SSTV, WINLINK, FREEDV RADE...) on VHF & up (and HF!)
Wanted to learn how to connect your PC to your transceiver, and what settings you need?
The YOUTUBE videos from KW3KW - Ham radio made simple - can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/@hamradiomadesimple/videos
You can e-mail KW3KW and ask for the written documentation that he provides with most videos (information on how to get the document given at the end of the video). Excellent stuff, I think the best you can find on YT about digital modes!
VHF propagation video from Rohde & Schwarz: good introduction to VHF & up propagation, debunking some myths...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTXJ3bS2UcE
ON8NT Notes 2025 Archive
======================
The archive with the ON8NT Notes 2025 can be found here:
http://simp.ly/p/bQ1HRF
OCTOBER 26
===========
Things I have done
----------------------------
I used the SSTV series 33 on ISS to test the SSTV function on the HTcommander linked to the VERO VR N76 HT, linked to my 5 element logperiodic, on my 5 years old NOKIA Android phone, over Bluetooth, with good results. See furher for a description of this setup...
News
---------
Js8call for iPhone finally!
https://nr5p.com/js8-firefly.html#beta
https://github.com/NR5P/js8-firefly
qFT8 (tnx Frank DG6OAY)
Next to FT8/4/2, JS8call, WSPR, It includes also RTTY, JTTY, CW and even almost all SSTV modes now!
and works on Android, Linux, Windows and macOS.
https://qft8.com/
Get connected. Answer a few questions. Get a printable setup report.
Build a printable setup report for your radio, connection path, and target. (D-star only!)
https://xlx159.whiskey7.site/getconnected/
APRS Web Decode
A free APRS Web Decoder that runs entirely in your browser. Plug your radio audio into your computer, or press Play demo, and it decodes 1200 baud AFSK packets with a hand written modem, plots every station on a live Leaflet map, and explains every byte of every packet against the APRS 1.01 and AX.25 specifications. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is installed, and a built in Learn bench with 19 teaching samples makes it one of the fastest ways to finally understand what is inside an APRS packet.
https://aprs.blink.tel/
https://hamradio.my/aprs-blink-tel-web-decoder-browser-aprs/
QRZero by nreed97 is a free open source desktop amateur radio logger for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon) and Linux that keeps your whole log in a single SQLite file, stays responsive past 200,000 QSOs, and integrates the full shack: WSJT-X, JTDX and N1MM over UDP, Hamlib and serial rig control, rotators, DX cluster with Needed now alerts, DXCC through CW club awards, LoTW, QRZ, Club Log and eQSL uploads, and paper QSL label printing. Built with DX chasing and CW in mind, local first with no cloud account, and honest about its demo screenshots using the placeholder call N0CALL.
https://github.com/nreed97/QRZero
QSSTV-Experimental 10.0: The Modern Open Source SSTV and HAMDRM Revival for Linux, Windows and macOS
QSSTV-Experimental is a free and open source (GPL-3.0) amateur radio program for sending and receiving slow-scan television (SSTV) and HAMDRM digital SSTV pictures through a sound card. Version 10.0, released on 16 October 2026, is a thorough modernization of Johan Maes ON4QZ’s classic QSSTV 9.5.11, maintained by Jason Weisberger NT0Y. It adds the new JB60 and PD120W SSTV modes, stitched 1×2, 2×1 and 2×2 grid images, pan and zoom transmit framing, decoding of SSTV from WAV, MP3, FLAC, OGG and AAC files at about 10 times real time, a headless command line with scriptable exit codes, sample rate calibration from WWV time ticks or NTP servers, progressive DRM image reception, ADIF logbook broadcast over UDP, and an interface that follows your desktop’s dark theme. If you have ever wanted to decode pictures from the International Space Station on 145.800 MHz or join the SSTV nets on 14.230 MHz with software that installs in one download, this is the program to get.
https://hamradio.my/qsstv-experimental-sstv-hamdrm-modern-fork/
https://github.com/jbdubbs/QSSTV-Experimental/tree/main
APRS Connect: The Modern, Messaging-First APRS Client for iOS and Android
APRS Connect by AxelStack LLC is a modern, cross-platform APRS client for Android and iOS that brings Bob Bruninga’s original vision of APRS into the smartphone era. Instead of treating APRS as a vehicle tracking map with primitive text boxes, APRS Connect puts messaging at the center of the user experience. It features threaded conversations grouped across multiple SSIDs, six verifiable delivery states (including off-the-air digipeat confirmation), an intelligent exponential backoff retry ladder, a built-in directory of 22 guided APRS bot services (including the 9M2PJU-4 all-in-one utility bot), full APRS OTA (aprsota.org) operation support, offline vector maps powered by Protomaps, and rich packet inspection. For radio operators, APRS Connect interfaces with Bluetooth Classic and BLE KISS TNCs, LoRa APRS trackers running CA2RXU firmware, USB serial interfaces, and even features a built-in software AFSK 1200 audio modem that turns any standard HT into an APRS station using a simple audio cable. APRS Connect is completely free to use over APRS-IS, with a Pro subscription available for hardware radio connectivity, offline region downloads, digipeater coverage heatmaps, and standalone IGate/digipeater operations.
https://aprsconnect.com/
ESP32-SDR-TRX: Turn a $5 ESP32-S3 into a 2.4 GHz SDR Transceiver for SSB, FM, and RTTY
esp32-sdr-trx by Jochen Hammes (built upon foundational research by h0m3us3r) is an open-source (0BSD) project that transforms an ordinary, off-the-shelf ESP32-S3 microcontroller development board into a functional 2.4 GHz (13 cm band) Software-Defined Transceiver. On receive (espdr-rx), it captures 1.84 to 2.79 GHz RF signals by decimating the internal 16 Msps Wi-Fi ADC stream with 128-bit Xtensa SIMD vector DSP down to 250/333 ksps, serving it over an integrated rtl_tcp server to SDR++ and GNU Radio. On transmit (espdr-tx), it implements polar modulation to generate clean SSB (USB/LSB), Narrowband FM, and RTTY across the 2320 to 2450 MHz amateur radio band, complete with an on-chip predictive thermal drift compensation model that reduces carrier frequency drift from 2,000 Hz down to under 70 Hz.
https://github.com/jochenhammes/esp32-sdr-trx
The transmitter's power is not calibrated (an estimate: some microwatts at the antenna of a dev board), its harmonics and spurious emissions are not measured, and its frequency is only as good as the board's crystal (up to ±24 kHz).
XBrowser: The 1MB Lightweight Powerhouse Android Browser with Built-in Tampermonkey Scripts and Zero Bloat
XBrowser is an ultra-lightweight (~1MB) Android web browser engineered by independent developer Cheng Kai that delivers desktop-grade power user capabilities without corporate bloatware. Featuring native Tampermonkey/Greasemonkey user script support, an ABP-compatible ad blocker (100/100 on ADBlock Tester), built-in video/media resource sniffing, external downloader hooks (ADM, 1DM), desktop bookmark synchronization, and zero background services or telemetry, XBrowser provides lightning-fast performance while respecting user privacy and battery life.
XBrowser (available at xbext.com and en.xbext.com) takes the opposite approach. Built on the philosophy of extreme minimalism, XBrowser packs an astonishing array of advanced features into an installation package under 2MB.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xbrowser.play
ON THE NET from QSO1
Find a net. Join one live. Run your own.
Nets on AllStarLink, EchoLink, DMR, System Fusion, M17, D-STAR, P25 and more coming, all in one place. See who is on the air right now, check in and chat from your browser, or listen in QSO One.
Net Runner is now On the Net, and it lives in two places: inside QSO One, and on the website at qso1.net/live. That second part is the big deal. Nobody has to install anything to take part in a net. If your net has members who don’t use QSO One, send them the link. Anyone can follow along right from a web browser, on a phone or a computer, in any of 12 languages, and with a free QSO One account they can check in and chat too.
https://qso1.net/nets
POTACAT
POTACAT is free ham radio software. It puts every POTA, SOTA and DX spot on one screen, tunes your rig with a click, and puts your whole station on your phone.
There are features in POTACat that make it easy to remotely control your ham radio!
https://potacat.com/
"The Free App Remote Hams Are Switching To" Video by Jason KM4ACK
What if your entire ham radio station could follow you anywhere? In this interview, I sit down with Casey Stanton, K3SBP, the developer of POTACAT, and he walks through how his software turns almost any ham radio into a remote ready station you can run from your phone, a laptop, or a friend’s device.
POTACAT is free, open source ham radio software for Windows, Mac, and Linux, including ARM builds for the Raspberry Pi. It puts live POTA, SOTA, WWFF, DX Cluster, Reverse Beacon Network, and PSKReporter spots on one screen and one map. Click a spot and your rig tunes to the right frequency, mode, and CW offset automatically. When you make the contact, the log entry opens with the park or summit reference already filled in.
The remote side is called ECHOCAT, a companion app for iPhone and Android. Pair it with the POTACAT computer in your shack and you can work SSB with real time two way audio, send CW with a paddle plugged into your phone, run FT8 and FT4 with auto sequencing, send and receive SSTV, monitor JS8, and run WSPR beacons while you sleep. Your shack PC does the heavy lifting and your phone becomes the control head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyjFec5rQF0
Disaster Tools, Always With You.
Connect online; if networks fail, reach nearby people via Bluetooth. Your disaster tools, all in one app.
Open Source, offline-first communication platform for disaster response. End-to-end encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, and rescue coordination The Bluetooth layer needs no infrastructure at all. When a network is reachable, an end-to-end encrypted internet layer extends the same conversation.
https://crisisconnect.network/
Introducing 44Net Connect: A Simpler Way to Access 44Net
Are you a ham that wants to experiment with 44Net but found the setup process to be intimidating? Say no more, because we’ve got great news for you!
We’re excited to introduce 44Net Connect, a service that makes it easy for hams to begin using 44Net IPv4 addresses through a simple, modern setup. Whether you’re experimenting with digital modes, improving repeater infrastructure, setting up a home lab, or just curious to see what 44Net is all about, this new service lowers the barrier of entry to get you started.
https://www.ardc.net/introducing-44net-connect-a-simpler-way-to-access-44net/
Live Image Satellites (AMSAT)
https://www.amsat.org/image-transmitting-satellites/
These satellites sometimes transmit SSTV or SSDV (= +/-Digital SSTV). Schedules are very hard to come by except for the ISS. I have found that the best sources are
the WhatsApp Channel, “Satellites for Hams…!!!”
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaIMu2D4IBhG7yR2Tb2d
and the Libre Space Community
https://community.libre.space/
Live Digipeater Satellites (AMSAT)
https://www.amsat.org/live-digipeater-satellites/
Thirteen apps. One craft.
Image editing, vector illustration, video, photography, PDFs, motion graphics, page layout, interface design, word processing, audio, presentations, CAD and spreadsheets.
Native, open-source apps from the ArtCraft team, built in Rust and free to use.
https://getartcraft.com/apps
This Free App Replaces Half My Ham Software - HTCommander - video by KM4ACK
What if one free app could turn your handheld radio into a complete amateur radio station? HTCommander is a free, open-source ham radio app that connects to Benshi radios over Bluetooth and packs APRS messaging, Winlink email, a packet terminal, SSTV, satellite tracking, and channel programming into a single program. In this video I give you a high-level tour of what HTCommander can do so you can decide if it belongs in your ham radio toolkit.
HTCommander works with Benshi-based handhelds, mobiles, and base radios, including the BTech UV-Pro, BTech UV-50Pro, Vero VR-N75, Vero VR-N76, Vero VR-N7500, Vero VR-N7600, Radioddity GA-5WB, Radioddity DB50-B Mini, and Radtel RT-660. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and even in your web browser, so your radio goes wherever you go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49-NkA95bMs
APRS Welcome Center (APRSWC) by KC1VMZ
APRS Welcome Center is an APRS-based messaging app that can provide timely information to other APRS-enabled operators in an area.
A Welcome Center is a callsign (real or tactical) that will be used for communicating with other APRS stations within the Regions you define.
A Region is a rectangular, circular, or polygonal area monitored by a Welcome Center.
https://github.com/kc1vmz/aprswelcomecenter
WFweb - Browser client for Icom
Turn any Icom transceiver into a web-accessible station. Headless wfview fork with browser-based control, audio streaming, SSB, FreeDV, AX.25, CW, JS8 and FT8.
https://wfweb.k1fm.us/
https://github.com/adecarolis/wfweb
RadioMail 2.0
Winlink app for portable operating on iPhone and iPad (and even Mac).
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radiomail/id6779002258
One Radio Modem to Rule Them All!
Let's run Modem73 on two Pi's and communicate over Ham radio using TCP/IP, AX.25 and Web. Modem73 is among the new open-source modems implementing "OFDM" encodings getting us (relatively) high speed networking with packet radio.
https://www.patreon.com/KM6LYW/posts/one-radio-modem-171912182
G7JJF APRS Client
A complete APRS station in your pocket. Connect to the internet APRS network, to your radio over Bluetooth, BLE or USB, or to Direwolf in the shack — and see everything on one live map, in one message inbox, and on your car's dashboard through Android Auto.
https://www.g7jjf.com/aprs-client.html
APRS Connect now available also in the appstore for Iphone and Ipad and for Mac;
https://aprsconnect.com/
FernSDR: An Open-Source WebSDR Server
A WebSDR program like FernSDR allows users to set up an SDR receiver on a remote device, such as a Raspberry Pi or PC, and access that SDR's data from anywhere in the world via a network connection.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/fernsdr-an-open-source-websdr-server/
Raspberry Pi Desktop Compatible with PC and Mac
Debian Trixie with Raspberry Pi Desktop for PC and Mac.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/
RadioLog
The modern, fast, and universal amateur radio logbook. Log, activate, and track everything from one clean interface. By IU2VWK. for Web and Android.
POTA, SOTA & CAT control
https://iu2vwk.com/logvwk/
IU2VWK Ham Radio Web Station Hub
There’s a logbook, a QTH locator, a DX cluster, antenna coverage maps and real-time propagation forecasts, all running in your browser, with calculators for CW, FT8 and SSB. No account needed. The rest covers apps to download for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, and open hardware like a CW keyer that runs on a Raspberry Pi.
https://iu2vwk.com/
Real LTE, on ham radio spectrum, under Part 97.
Mike McGinty, W2FBI, is building xcl.is, an amateur cellular network that runs real LTE on ham bands. This is not "ham radio" over Verizon or AT&T or T-Mobile. It’s actual ham radio, with ham radio rules and privileges.
Ham radio, by accident of international spectrum allocations, has spectrum overlap with some global LTE and 5G bands. By accident of globalization, your existing cell phone’s modem likely already supports those bands and will Just Work.
That means we, as hams, can operate ham radio cellular networks on ham radio frequencies, under ham radio rules, if we have a way to comply with all Part 97 requirements. W2FBI has published operating standards detailing the methods of complying with Part 97, including implementations of the xcl.is standard across open source cellular projects like Open5GS and srsRAN.
At NEAR-Fest, W2FBI brings demonstrations of existing, off-the-shelf cellular products that work with this standard, operating under full compliance with ham radio regulations. Many existing phones and modems will, just by switching a sim card or enrolling an eSIM, become amateur radios with all the capabilities that a ham-radio cellular network can provide.
https://xcl.is/
Simple JTTY app for Linux
Stephen, VK2BLQ, and I have been playing with the new keyboard chat mode that's in the next release of WSJT-X. It seems to work very well but the user interface there is a bit daunting.
It occurs to me that it could be as simple to use as one of the phone instant messenger apps and so, with most of the work done by claude, I created JttyChat that you see on the right here.
https://blog.marxy.org/2026/10/simple-jtty-app-for-linux.html
Simple JTTY app for macOS
https://blog.marxy.org/2026/10/simple-jtty-app-for-macos.html
A Media Guide to Amateur Radio
I don’t know about you, but I always get a little upset when I read an article about amateur radio in a newspaper or general-interest magazine. For one thing, they almost always get the terminology wrong...
https://www.kb6nu.com/a-media-guide-to-amateur-radio/
Mt Airy VHF Radio Club
With some interesting articles & presentations
https://www.packratvhf.com/index.php
APRS-WebMesg: A Modern, Free Web Front-End for APRS Messaging
Head to
https://aprsmsg.app and send a message – no signup, no cost.
GOGUFW Messenger: Turn a $25 Quansheng UV-K1 Into a Radio-to-Radio Text Messenger
TL;DR: GOGUFW 2.3.0 is a free custom firmware for the Quansheng UV-K1 and UV-K5 V3 that adds direct radio-to-radio FSK text messaging, a HEARD packet log, multi-radio Range Check with RSSI and battery voltage, CALLTX melodies, RF Log Lite, named FM memories, per-channel scrambling, and multiboot, all on top of the F4HWN 6.0.0 feature set.
https://hamradio.my/gogufw-uv-k1-messenger-quansheng-text-messaging-firmware/
CST Studio Suite: The Complete Guide to 3D Electromagnetic Simulation, Solvers, and Antenna Design
TL;DR: CST Studio Suite (developed by SIMULIA, a Dassault Systèmes brand) is the industry standard 3D electromagnetic (EM) simulation environment for designing, analyzing, and optimizing high-frequency RF components, antennas, radar sensors, filters, and complex cable-chassis assemblies. Unlike single-solver tools, CST integrates multiple numerical engines into one native interface: the Finite Integration Technique (FIT) transient solver for broadband analysis, the Finite Element Method (FEM) frequency domain solver for high-Q structures, the Multilevel Fast Multipole Method (MLFMM) for electrically large platforms, and Asymptotic Ray Tracing (SBR) for installed antenna performance. Engineers and hobbyists can explore electromagnetic design through the free CST Studio Suite Learning Edition.
https://hamradio.my/cst-studio-suite-electromagnetic-simulation-antenna-design/
JS8Mail
Offline-first radio mail over JS8Call: reliable messaging with local storage, evidence-based routing, relays, custodians, multipart recovery, and capability-aware delivery; designed for resilient communications when Internet access is unavailable.
https://github.com/snetting/JS8Mail
LEO.SPACE
Track launches, satellites, weather, and space communications from a single command center.
Leo.space publishes source-aware space coverage and practical tracking utilities for launch watchers, satellite operators, and field users.
https://leo.space/
LISTENING TO THE SKY
Receiving and listening techniques for monitoring military satellites.
UFO-11 a Military Workhorse in a Noisy Sky By Peter Miles – VK6YSF
https://vk6ysf.com/ufo-11_20260804.html
(TNX Thierry ON2ACO)
Here are some reports for October 2026:
------------------------------------------------------------------
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (25W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
06/10/26 SSB: g0ltg/p (io81 418km)
15/10/26 FT8: dk1fg (jn59 572km), dr2b (jo50 605km), oz1hdf (jo55 737km), gw7smv (io81 454km), f4bkv (in95 680km)
432Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (25W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
14/10/26 FT8: gw4hdf (io81 466km), f1nzc (jn15 579km)
ISS ARISS ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA or Diamond V2000 vertical
02-06/10/26:
I received different ISS SSTV pictures:
The SSTV Series 33 images depict various activities related to the education of pupils and students. The ARISS program aims to inspire young people to pursue STEM subjects (science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics) and to foster an interest in space technologies, radio communications, and astronomy.
22-27/10/2026:
I received different SSTV pictures from the ARISS Series 34 images about ARISS Hardware on 437.550 MHz FM, (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift) using SSTV mode Robot 36, 36 seconds on with 2 minutes off gap. The ISS callsign was be RS0ISS.
16/10/2026
I received a ARISS school contact with Astronaut Joshua Kutryk (KJ5BFU), with students in France during this live amateur radio contact.
Astronaut Joshua Kutryk will operated the amateur radio station call sign OR4ISS aboard the ISS and called the radio amateur ground station call sign F4KKM in France. This was a live ARISS radio contact, in the French language, from the Ecole Internationale PACA de Manosque in Manosque, France. I listened live to astronaut Joshua Kutryk aboard the ISS on 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3 kHz Doppler shift).
RS-44 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
01/10/26: FT4: n2yzh (fn22 5840km)
03/10/26: FT4: eb3sa (jn11)
05/10/26: FT4: rm9c (mo07)
06/10/26: FT4: sp9ttx (jo90), ka2ene (fn13 5871km),
08/10/26: FT4: n2yzh (fn22 5840km),
09/10/26: FT4: la2xna (jp50), f1efw (jn26), ea3ea (jn01), f0gow (in96)
10/10/26: FT4: eb3epr (jn01),
11/10/26: FT4: g1yef (io83), kd2yib (fn22 5840km),
12/10/26: FT4: ea3hah (jn01), g4wjx (io82), r5ao (ko86 2185km), k4yyl (em84 6792km)
13/10/26: FT4: dl3ngn (jn59), ea3bd (jn01), m0npt (io92), ve6hq (do32 7108km)
16/10/26: FT4: w2gdj (fn32 5644km), dk1mi (jn49), f6krk (jn18), sp9ttx (jo90)
23/10/26: FT4: rc6zt (kn98), m0npt (io92), mm0inh (io85), ea8tl (il18 3057km), sm6lrw (jo67), n3xm (em91 7023km, NA-058), sp9ttx (jo90)
24/10/26: FT4: ea8tj (il18 3025km), eb3epr (jn11), kd2yib (fn22 5840km),
25/10/26: FT4: eb3sa (jn11), sm/r1cr (kp04)
26/10/26: FT4: la6op (jp67), ei3fw (io63), g0iiq (io93)
JO-97 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
01/10/26: FT4: f6krk (jn18), yo2cmi (kn05), gw4vxe (io71)
02/10/26: FT4: iw3qku (jn65)
03/10/26: FT4: ea3ea (jn01), gw4vxe (io71)
05/10/26: FT4: gw4vxe (io71), mm9sql (io87)
09/10/26: FT4: gw4vxe (io71),
11/10/26: FT4: md0man/p (io74), mm9sql (io87)
12/10/26: FT4: gw4vxe (io71)
14/10/26: FT4: dl3ngn (jn59)
16/10/26: FT4: dl3ngn (jn59), gw4vxe (io71)
22/10/26: FT4: ep3epr (jn01), gw4vxe (io97)
23/10/26: FT4: mm9sql (io87), dl4ycc (jo41)
24/10/26: FT4: dh5ybe (jo41), dl4ycc (jo41)
25/10/26: FT4: dh5ybe (jo41)g0abi (io80)
30/10/26: FT4: eb3epr (jn10), df7cb (jo31)
SEPTEMBER 26
=============
Things I have done
----------------------------
ZOOM on Digital Voice through your HF Radio - an overview by Ira Brodsky KC9TC
He tells viewers what it is and in the discussion club members add to their use of this . In particular Jef ON8NT gives his assessment of this mode and how well it works for him using HF with limited power and antennas bringing ragchews for him on HF to life !
This is the one to watch if you have no idea what this mode is !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIyjTgopaTQ
On September 12th I did some test with ON6MX Martin in Ostend, on 50Mhz in FreeDV RADE.
I went down to 350 mW and ON6MX could still decode me. He was using a horizontal beam, I was using a vertical antenne (Diamond V-2000) over a path of 38km.
I could copy ON6MX with 5 W at S1 with a SNR of +9 to +12 DB, 5W was the lowest powerlevel Martin could go with his TRX.
I tested the VERO HT VR-N76 + HT commander app, on my Win11 computer and 5 years old NOKIA Android phone, over Bluetooth.
I could follow APRS, check my WINLINK e-mail account, send and receive (including from the ISS) SSTV, follow sats including the doppler shift, using BBS (bullitin board systems), ... amazing, HT commander makes the VR-N76 the best investment (quality/price/features) that I ever made in ham radio... (see further for more information). Imagine your HT + HTcommander on your Android phone for POTA/SOTA portabel use...
(see pics)
Testing QSO1
Nice Andoid app for using DMR and other digital modes. A IOS version (for Iphone & Ipad) is in preparation. Uptill now it works on AllStar Link, Echolink, IAX Direct, M17, DMR, YSF, P25, D-star. It also has netrunner, netfinder, QSO logging, Callsign look-up and audio recording...
Cool app with nice lay-out, easy to use...
Testing SDRoxide
I tested SDRocide, developped by Josef OE3JJS, in different modes on my IC-7300 and my WIN11 laptop (cheap MEDION laptop 250€), and it is unbelievable... Big advantage: all the different programs that I use for different modes (like MULTIPSK, FLDIGI, WSJT-X, WINLINK Express, JS8call...), are now all under 1 hood/programme called SDRoxide, no switching programmes anymore if you want to change (digital) modes. Surprised how well it decodes CW and RTTY, and FT8/4/2, FreeDV RADE... and I still have to discover so much... amazing! It have some small bugs here and there, which are solved in every update...
More info:
SDRoxide by dividebysandwich is a high-performance, cross-platform Software-Defined Radio transceiver application written from the ground up in Rust. Featuring pure-Rust native drivers for over 20 hardware families (RTL-SDR, RX-888 Mk2, HackRF, LimeSDR, Icom LAN, FlexRadio, and WebSDR/KiwiSDR), SDRoxide integrates GPU-accelerated waterfalls (wgpu), neural noise reduction (DeepFilterNet3 and RNNoise), built-in digital modems (FT8/FT4/FT2, JS8, WSPR, FreeDV RADE, Winlink radio email, DRM, and 868 MHz ISM weather sensors), automated satellite tracking with real-time Doppler correction, and a live 3D space-weather globe.
For decades, amateur radio operators and SDR enthusiasts had to string together a chaotic web of separate programs: an SDR receiver client (such as SDR++, GQRX, or SDR#), virtual audio cables, external digital decoding suites (WSJT-X, JS8Call, FLDIGI, MMSSTV), CAT control utilities, satellite trackers (Gpredict), rotctld daemons, and browser tabs for space weather and propagation forecasts.
SDRoxide reimagines the entire amateur radio digital signal processing stack by implementing every subsystem directly inside a memory-safe, multithreaded Rust codebase. Whether you are running a $20 RTL-SDR dongle, a 16-bit direct-sampling RX-888 Mk2, a full-duplex LimeSDR with LimeRFE, an Icom IC-705 over WiFi, or connecting to remote KiwiSDR servers, SDRoxide delivers a seamless, all-in-one transceiver workstation.
https://hamradio.my/sdroxide-universal-sdr-transceiver-in-rust/
SDROXIDE A powerful SDR transceiver client with a GPU panadapter, dual VFOs, neural noise reduction, built-in skimmers, a full stack of digital modes and a live 3D space-weather globe — running native on Linux, macOS & Windows, or streamed to any browser.
https://sdroxide.com/
The manual:
https://github.com/dividebysandwich/sdroxide/blob/main/docs/USER_MANUAL.md
News
---------
CW Trainer (by Josef OE3JJSà:
"I was not happy with the existing solutions so I made my own lightweight, serverless CW trainer in Javascript. Works fine even on most mobile devices. No download required, and you can configure which letters to practice. It also includes a simple CW keyboard for "musical learning" of how each letter sounds."
https://morsetrainer.net/
Inside rade_c: Neural Network HF Digital Voice for FreeDV in Pure C
rade_c (GitHub) is the official open source C library implementation of RADE (Radio AutoEncoder, formerly RADAE), a neural-network-powered digital voice mode created by David Rowe (VK5DGR) and Jean-Marc Valin for the FreeDV project. Unlike traditional digital voice modes that serialize compressed vocoder bits over a rigid modem, RADE uses an end-to-end deep learning autoencoder combined with the FARGAN neural vocoder to map speech features directly onto an OFDM waveform. Operating in a narrow 1500 Hz RF bandwidth and remaining readable down to -2 dB SNR, RADE eliminates the harsh digital “cliff effect” on fading HF channels. The rade_c repository ports the original Python/PyTorch research code into pure, lightweight C99, embedding the trained neural weights for low-latency, real-time CPU execution in FreeDV GUI and embedded SDRs.
https://hamradio.my/rade-c-neural-hf-digital-voice-freedv/
WSJT-X Improved is now WS - Digital Mode Suite
https://stationmastercloud.com/post/731/WSJT-X-Improved-is-now-WS-Digital-Mode-Suite
WS - WEAK SIGNAL DIGITAL MODES SUITE including JTTY
WS v3.2.1 includes Joe's new JTTY mode. Please note that JTTY mode is still in the
development phase. Changes may be made at any time. Therefore, all WS 3.2.1 builds
are beta versions. Note: The JTTY mode is being developed by Joe, K1JT. I am simply
reproducing his JTTY code here.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/wsjt-x-improved/files/WS_v3.2.1/
WSJT X with JTTY
WSJT-X version 3.2.0-rc1 (release candidate) now includes JTTY is designed for fast radio contest exchanges and other keyboard-to-keyboard communication. Its operational feel is similar to standard RTTY, but it has much better weak-signal performance and far lower error rate. JTTY transmissions are not timed or synchronized with UTC; they can start at any time and have any duration, but typically last for a few seconds.
https://wsjtx.github.io/wsjtx/wsjtx-main-3.2_en.html#INSTALL_WIN
An intersting project concerning CAT communication to different transceivers (IC-705, Elecraft KXPA and FT-710) with Python scripts on Raspberry Pi and ESP32 (in German):
https://github.com/dk2jk/CAT--Control
I replaced PuTTY, WinSCP, and my SSH tunnel setup with one open-source app
https://www.makeuseof.com/replace-putty-winscp-ssh-tunnels-open-source-app/
OscarWatch Multiplatform Satellite Tracking System by Peter MM9SQL, now with in-app OscarWatch FT4 modem for duplex satellite digital (Tools → OscarWatch FT4) (TNX Tim GW4VXE):
https://github.com/magicbug/OscarWatch-Tracker
MacWinlink--A Native macOS Client for Winlink
https://winlink.org/macwinlink
TCI-Remote by ON7OFF
Control your Thetis SDR remotely from your Android phone, iPhone or iPad. Full IQ panadapter, S-meter, transmit, and QSO logging — all over a single TCI WebSocket connection. For Hermes Lite 2 or ANAN radio:
https://pure-editions.com/on7off/TCI-Remote/
"For information, I just published in a French Ham journal the second part of a study about "Physics, dimensioning, and experimentation with data transmission via magnetic induction, at low frequencies and in the near field". Now, it concerns more radio systems and speleology than digital modes…"
Here are the two parts (translated in English):
* Part 1:
https://f6cte.pages-perso.free.fr/Data_transmission_via_magnetic_induction.pdf
* Part 2:
https://f6cte.pages-perso.free.fr/Data_transmission_via_magnetic_induction_Part_2.pdf
From Patrick Lindecker (F6CTE) developper of MULTIPSK.
Bridging M17 Into AllStarLink
Then it landed: USRP2M17 is itself an M17 client. It connects to the reflector on its own, appears in the client list like any other station, and receives the module’s stream directly. The hotspot was never required. I do not need an M17 radio, or a hotspot, or any M17 hardware at all to put a reflector’s audio into AllStarLink.
https://www.randomwire.us/i/215552234/bridging-m17-into-allstarlink
Successful M17 transmission using an unmodified Retevis C62 running OpenRTX
https://m17project.org/2026/09/14/successful-m17-transmission-using-an-unmodified-retevis-c62-running-openrtx/
AllStar Node Info Pages: A Step-by-Step Guide
https://etherham.com/allstar-node-info-pages-a-step-by-step-guide/
PocketCHIRP is an Android radio programming app for amateur radio, GMRS, radio enthusiasts, commercial/business users, DMR, and other supported radios, with tools for reading, editing, saving, and programming compatible amateur radios over Bluetooth or USB — plus repeater search, satellite Doppler channel generation, custom groups, cloud backups, Android TalkBack accessibility, custom drivers, diagnostics, and more.
https://pocketchirp.com/
Install PocketCHIRP and PocketCHIRP CHIRP Engine. PocketCHIRP is the main app, while the CHIRP Engine provides the radio-driver backend. Both must be installed. Google Play is the easiest route;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wg5eek.pocketchirp
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wg5eek.pocketchirp.engine
Space APRS
Monitor APRS from Space ISS, Sonate-2...
https://spaceaprs.com/
More info on APRS
https://www.randomwire.us/i/215552234/4-aprs
APRS Connect: A full-featured, modern APRS client
A new APRS client for Android, built around conversations rather than a packet console.
Version 1.8 on Google Play · Android · iOS with Apple for review
https://aprsconnect.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.axelstack.aprsconnect
HAMQ is a field-ready amateur radio toolkit for satellite operators, SSTV listeners and everyday QSO logging (IPHONE).
https://apps.apple.com/ae/app/hamq-ham-radio-tools/id6754198942
MARMOTSat
The Propagation Laboratory is actively involved in Amateur satellite development, especially student training and open access software and hardware work related to this area. Combining Amateur radio with satellite development is an excellent learning opportunity for engineering students at the University of Victoria. It has a 10 meter CW downlink on 29.410 MHz.
https://www.propagationlab.ca/satellite/
https://www.amsat.se/2026/07/01/marmotsat-with-10m-downlink/
Z3DMR: Your phone is now a DMR transceiver.
Connect over the internet, key up, and talk to operators anywhere in the world - in your own language. No extra hardware. No ads. No tracking. Completely free.
https://z3dmr.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.z3.dmr
JS8 Subspace Edition "Tranya" (tribbleNet auto-routing mesh network, 64 WPM async protocol)
https://github.com/avantol/Subspace-Edition/releases
A video of how to use this program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV-BNN3adxU
Look to the QRZ page of WM8Q, the developer of JS8 Subspace, which contains some interesting apps he has developped:
https://www.qrz.com/db/WM8Q
One of the programs is LEXIE - DX Country Spotter v0.1 (in your browser):
https://lexie-web-lake.vercel.app/
LQ8
LQ8 is an advanced weak-signal digital mode developed by Luis Quesada (HB9IPH), the author and creator of qFT8:
- Closes QSOs Faster Without Penalty: LQ8 completes two-way QSOs significantly faster than FT8 without any sensitivity penalty. It preserves the full weak-signal decoding threshold of -21 dB SNR (matching FT8) while finishing valid contacts in substantially fewer transmission rounds through an optimized protocol design.
- Compound Messages: Supports aggregated transmissions such as combined report and confirmation (REPORT+RR73) and parallel multi-station responses (MULTI_CALL), cutting the standard QSO duration from 4–6 cycles down to just 2–3 cycles.
- Modern Architecture: Operates in standard 15-second cycles with 8-GFSK modulation across 79 symbols (~65 Hz bandwidth), 77-bit payloads compressed with optimized Huffman encoding, 14-bit CRC error detection, and structured emergency dispatch signaling.
For more information, specifications, and tools, visit
https://lq8.org, the portal for the LQ modes.
The qFT8 app is ready to use this new mode...
(Tnx Frank DG6OAY for the info!)
AetherSDR: The native workstation for your whole station
AetherSDR is a native amateur-radio workstation for FlexRadio 6000, 8000, and Aurora transceivers — native builds for Linux, macOS, and Windows, no Wine, no virtual machines. Built around open interfaces and the tools you already run, it sits at the center of your station, not just in front of the radio.
W5BLF reports: "Its still experimental but I have my 9700 working with Aether SDR"
https://www.aethersdr.com/
Running an IC-9700 with AetherSDR — Step-by-Step Setup
https://groups.io/g/IC-9700Users/message/1319
Before you start, know this: ASDR is mainly a FlexRadio program. Its Icom support is newer and still marked experimental. Receive works well — you get frequency and mode control, a real panadapter and waterfall, and S-meter.
HT commander app - Command your handheld radio from anywhere.
Supported Benshi radios — handhelds, mobiles & base:
BTech UV-Pro
BTech UV-50Pro
Radioddity GA-5WB
Radioddity DB50-B Mini
Vero VR-N75
Vero VR-N76
Vero VR-N7500
Vero VR-N7600
Radtel RT-660
A free, open-source EchoLink and Internet APRS software that supports Benshi radios. Program channels, chat over APRS, send Winlink email, track satellites and more.
Free & open source · Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS · Android · Web
https://ylianst.github.io/HTCommanderSite/index.html
Video on the application:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ6E7fRQD7o&t=12s
Look to the 'SHORTS' on the Youtube page from the developper for some 'how to':
https://www.youtube.com/@AAlliieennX
Handi-Talky Commander Web Edition
This is a web-based version of Handi-Talky Commander. It's built using Flutter and should run correctly on browsers that support Bluetooth.
Launch it in your browser at:
https://ylianst.github.io/HTCommanderWeb/.
This version does not support the audio channel, so it can't do SSTV, Morse code, etc. It can however fully control the radio and the radio's packet modem, so you can program channel, send/receive APRS, Winlink, etc.
https://github.com/Ylianst/HTCommanderWeb
Ham Radio Digital Mode Frequencies Chart [HF Through 70cm] - very usefull!
https://radio-hobbyist.com/ham-radio-digital-frequencies-chart/
Greyline FT8 is a full-featured digital mode radio app for IOS (iPhone & iPad Native). Built by a ham for other hams, it provides a real-time waterfall, automated QSO modes, live spot maps, QRZ/WRL and Cloudlog log integration, callsign lookups, and seamless audio interface support. All this with no heavy PC required. In the field, pounds count and the fewer devices you need to carry, charge, operate, and manage the more successful your activation will be. (TNX Adriane DL8BDT)
https://greylineft8.com/
NASA e-Books
Read and download free NASA e-Books on the agency’s history, aeronautics research, science missions, and the International Space Station and put them on your KINDLE or other e-book reader...
https://www.nasa.gov/ebooks/
Here are some reports for September 2026:
------------------------------------------------------------------
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (25W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
02/09/26 FT8: g7rau (in79 624km), dk1aq (jo43 404km), g8bcg (io70 567km)
05/09/26: SSB: g8ney/p (io81 402km), g6wcg/p (io93 433km)
06/09/26: SSB: mw1b (io81 464km), g4asr (io81 454km), g2p (io82 455km), g7rau (in79 624km), dr9a (jn48 443km),
22/09/26: FT8: f1gtu (jn05 688km), f6dbi (in88 580km)
ISS ARISS ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA or Diamond V2000 vertical
29/09/26: ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and combined with IW5CWC & IQ3RW at 10:28 UTC at 145.800 Mhz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift).
I heard astronaut Sophie Adenot (KJ5LTN), answering questions from students in Italy .
The ARISS ground stations IW5CWC and IQ3RW in Italy were conducting this combined radio contact for:
- Scuola Media Pio X Artigianelli, Firenze - IW5CWC,
- Istituto Comprensivo Statale Rita Levi Montalcini Campolongo Maggiore e Campagna Lupia, Venezia - IQ3RW.
RS-44 ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA or Diamond V2000 vertical
03/09/26: FT4: on2aco (jo11), f6krk (jn18),
04/09/26: FT4: la2xna (jp50), dj8ms (jo54), g4wjx (io82)
05/09/26: FT4: f5lmg (in88),
06/09/26: FT4: f5rrs (jn36)
07/09/26: FT4: ea3ta (jn11),
08/09/26: FT4: pd9fvw (jo32), g8kjj (io92), f5lmg (in88), w2gdj (fn32 5644km)
09/09/26: FT4: pd1bhz (jo22)
10/09/26: FT4: ea3ea (jn01)
11/09/26: FT4: rc6zt (kn98), sp9ttx (kn98),
12/09/26: FT4: g4wjx (io82)
13/09/26: FT4: f5rrs (jn36), sp9ttx (jo90)
15/09/26: FT4: f5rrs (jn36), sa7ahc (jo76)
16/09/26: FT4: ea3ea (jn01), pd9fvw (jo32), ea8aqd (il18 3022km)
17/09/26: FT4: la7xk (jo59), f5rrs (jn36), ea3dme (jn01)
18/09/26: FT4: pd1bhz (jo22), lz1zm (kn32), n2yzh (fn22 5840km)
19/09/26: FT4: la6op (jp67 eu-062)
20/09/26: FT4: ly1r (ko14), f5lmg (in88), do3oi (jo52)
23/09/26: FT4: z31tu (kn02), ea3ea (jn01), ea8aqd (il18 3022km)
26/09/26: FT4: kd2yib (fn22 5840km), w2gdj (fn32 5644km), la7xk (jo59)
27/09/26: FT4: mm9sql (io87), kd2yib (fn22 5840km), g1yef (io83)
28/09/26: FT4: kd2yib (fn22 5840km), mm0saj (io86)
30/09/26: FT4: kd2yib (fn22 5840km)
JO-97 ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA or Diamond V2000 vertical
09/09/26: FT4: on2acp (jo11), f5lmg (in88)
15/09/26: FT4: f5lmg (in88)
23/09/26: FT4: ea3ea (jn01)
28/09/26: FT4: mm9sql (io87), gw4vxe (io71),
29/09/26: FT4: mm9sql (io87), gw4vxe (io71),
30/09/26: FT4: yo2cmi (kn05), mm9sql (io87), gw4vxe (io71), mm0saj (io86)
August 2026
==========
Things I have done
----------------------------
I have tested qFT8 with very good results, I think it's the best FT8 app around for Android: easy install and use, and it has not only FT8/4/2 but also JS8call! so you can do a real keyboard to keyboard QSO... It works best on a tablet, but on phones it works also great + advantage of the formfactor, if you are in the field for POTA, SOTA...
https://radio-hobbyist.com/qft8-review-ft8-ft4-android-app/
qFT8 manual
https://qft8.com/manual/
https://qft8.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ft8.app
News
--------
2 interesting Belgium websites:
ON6UHF Westhoek Amateur Radio Portal
https://on6uhf.com/
ON0 — Belgian unmanned stations. Public register of repeaters, beacons, nodes and gateways. Locations are approximate (grid-locator centre) for privacy.
https://on0.be/
5 free apps and tools that make an old laptop worth keeping
https://www.makeuseof.com/best-free-tools-for-old-laptop/
including Zorin OS or ChromeOS Flex for a guest laptop
WhatsPac
WhatsPac is a great new application for packet that has chat channels and private messages.
https://wiki.oarc.uk/packet
Source: Zero retrites 0260
https://www.zeroretries.org/p/zero-retries-0260
Winlink Tells You What Happened. APRS Tells You What’s Happening.
( a long read)
https://etherham.com/winlink-tells-you-what-happened-aprs-tells-you-whats-happening/
Introduction to DMR: The Four Wheels on the Car - Tommy’s Guide to DMR: Part 1 — Introduction
https://etherham.com/introduction-to-dmr-the-four-wheels-on-the-car/
Introduction to DMR, Part 2: The ID, the Radio, and the Hotspot
https://etherham.com/introduction-to-dmr-part-2-the-id-the-radio-and-the-hotspot/
Introduction to DMR: Part 3 — Building Your First Codeplug
https://etherham.com/introduction-to-dmr-part-3-building-your-first-codeplug/
Introduction to DMR, Part 4: Loading Somebody Else’s Codeplug
https://etherham.com/introduction-to-dmr-part-4-loading-somebody-elses-codeplug/
WSJT-X W7PP Mods Fork
A Replacement for WSJT-X v3.0.2 With Mods by W7PP.
https://jackdoemysteries.com/w7pp%20fork.html
APRS OTA: APRSOn the Air. On the Map.
https://aprsota.org/
APRS OTA combines the vibe of a POTA activation with a native APRS messaging bot and a website to show what’s happening. Find an operator on the air, send one message and a position report to work them, and your contact is logged, mapped, and scored here as it happens.
qFT8 Review: Is This the Best FT8 Android App for Portable Ham Radio?
"My verdict: qFT8 is one of the most interesting pieces of portable ham-radio software I’ve seen, particularly for POTA and SOTA operators. It doesn’t make WSJT-X obsolete, but for an Android-equipped portable station, it can eliminate the need for a computer altogether."
Source:
https://radio-hobbyist.com/qft8-review-ft8-ft4-android-app/
qFT8 manual
https://qft8.com/manual/
https://qft8.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ft8.app
VARA Winlink Email Speeds With MERCURY HF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDeZhU51sz4
Mercury is a Digital Radio OFDM protocol for HF broadcast and peer-to-peer ARQ connections with compatible TCP interfaces
https://github.com/Rhizomatica/mercury
Modem73
High speed software modem that works with any HF/VHF/UHF radio capable of 2400 Hz of bandwidth
https://github.com/RFnexus/modem73
https://modem73.app/
Nexus Ham Radio
Nexus puts the whole ham station in one modern app: FT8/FT4 with WSJT-X-grade sequencing plus Q65, FST4, FST4W, MSK144, JT65 and WSPR all transmitting, RTTY, SSTV, APRS, SSB/FM phone, and CW with a neural-net decoder.
The rig's own RF panadapter streams into the cockpit on native-CI-V Icom and FlexRadio. The waterfall pauses and rewinds. Route each band and mode to the radio that does it best, across up to three rigs. Awards (DXCC, WAS, WAZ, VUCC, IOTA) compute offline, and an eQSL or QRZ match never inflates an LoTW-grade award. Propagation uses a native ITU-R P.533 port and scores openings on receivers near you, not the global firehose.
APRS draws real station symbols, decodes weather reports, connects to APRS-IS, and runs a receive-only iGate. Speaks WSJT-X's UDP protocol byte-for-byte, so GridTracker and JTAlert keep working.
Its FT8/FT4 decode floor measures -21.3 dB against stock WSJT-X's -20.7 on identical audio.
Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi. GPL-3.0, by KD9TAW.
https://hamradiotools.io/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/nexus-ham-radio/
SDROXIDE A powerful SDR transceiver client with a GPU panadapter, dual VFOs, neural noise reduction, built-in skimmers, a full stack of digital modes and a live 3D space-weather globe — running native on Linux, macOS & Windows, or streamed to any browser.
https://sdroxide.com/
The manual:
https://github.com/dividebysandwich/sdroxide/blob/main/docs/USER_MANUAL.md
Ssdv2sat : SSDV encoder + decoder over FM
https://community.libre.space/t/tutorial-send-and-receive-ssdv-over-afsk-1200-via-v-u-fm-voice-satellite-transmitter/14255
this is script for send and receive image (support jpg, png, etc) from satellite using handheld radio FM / FM transceiver / SDR. (take advantage of IL2P + Reed Solomon + SSDV + Dire Wolf + SoX).
now available for windows
https://community.libre.space/t/ssdv2sat-ssdv-encoder-decoder-over-fm/14317
https://github.com/hobisatelit/ssdv2sat
Introducing Parrrot - a software parrot for TRX without built in ones, available for Windows, Mac AND Linux.
https://www.db4scw.de/introducing-parrrot/
https://github.com/DB4SCW/parrrot
APRS-chat
APRS Chat: Modern Messaging UI for Amateur Radio on Android (IOS coming)
https://hamradio.my/aprs-chat-android-modern-messaging/
https://www.aprschat.online/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.hemna.aprschat
9M2PJU APRS Bot
The 9M2PJU APRS Bot is an APRS messaging assistant running on FreeBSD server. Send a short APRS message to the bot, and it replies with useful information such as weather, location details, satellite passes, nearby places, SOTA spots and alerts, POTA spots and alerts, DAPNET messages, radiosonde information, and email position reports.
https://hamradio.my/9m2pju-aprs-bot/
Exploring APRS Live Services: A Health-Monitored Directory for APRS Bots
The Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) is a phenomenally powerful tool for amateur radio operators. Beyond simple position reporting, the APRS network hosts a vibrant ecosystem of interactive bots and services. These services can do everything from sending SMS messages and emails, to fetching weather forecasts, tracking radiosondes, and even finding nearby hospitals during an emergency.
However, a long-standing pain point in the APRS community has been discovery: How do you know what services are currently online, and what commands they support?
https://hamradio.my/aprslive-services-directory/
https://services.aprslive.com/
OpenRepeater: The Free Amateur Radio Repeater Directory We Can Build Together
https://hamradio.my/openrepeater-free-amateur-radio-repeater-directory/
https://www.openrepeater.org/
MMDVM, Pi-Star, WPSD and DVMProject: The Open Digital Voice Hotspot Ecosystem Explained
https://hamradio.my/mmdvm-pi-star-wpsd-dvmproject-digital-voice-hotspot/
Types of Amateur Radio Nets: A Beginner’s Guide to Social, Traffic, Emergency and More
https://hamradio.my/types-of-amateur-radio-nets/
Reticulum Mesh Networking:
RMAP, Crosstalk, Columba and Ratspeak: A Practical Guide to Reticulum Mesh Networking
Imagine being able to send a message from a phone or laptop without creating an account, buying a SIM card, or depending on a central messaging server. The path might use Bluetooth for the next room, Wi-Fi across a building, an RNode and LoRa for a longer hop, or TCP when an internet connection is available. The application does not need to change when the transport changes.
Many Reticulum applications are designed around encryption and privacy. Amateur-radio rules differ by country and may restrict messages whose meaning is obscured, commercial traffic, unattended operation, frequencies, power, bandwidth or the use of specific digital systems.
https://hamradio.my/rmap-crosstalk-columba-ratspeak-reticulum-mesh-networking/
Columba: Message freely. No internet required.
Encrypted mesh messaging over Bluetooth, WiFi, LoRa, and beyond.
No accounts. No servers. No tracking.
Just encrypted packets between you and the people you choose.
https://columba.network/
Deep CW decoder (CQ QSO 09/2026 page 14: "De Deep-CW-Decoder" by Paul ON5QM)
ultra-accurate, real-time morse code (CW) decoder powered by a neural network model
https://github.com/e04/web-deep-cw-decoder
https://cw.e04.workers.dev/
Une nouvelle application de suivi satellite pour les radioamateurs sur iPhone, iPad et Android ( A new application to follow satelittes for iPhone, iPad et Android ) : AllMySat développée par F4MDX (nxugget)
https://site.amsat-f.org/2026/07/20/une-nouvelle-application-de-suivi-satellite-pour-les-radioamateurs-sur-iphone-et-ipad-allmysat/
AllMySat - All your satellite operations, in the field.
AllMySat, the outdoor satellite companion. For satellite lovers.
https://allmysat.com/en
https://github.com/nxugget
Building a MeshCore Node — Part 2: The Repeater That Should Have Been Easy
https://etherham.com/building-a-meshcore-node-part-2-the-repeater-that-should-have-been-easy/
LoRa APRS: Part 2 — LoRa APRS Tracker with a T-Echo
https://etherham.com/part-2-lora-aprs-tracker-with-t-echo/
DROIDSTAR New Thread IAX
https://groups.io/g/DroidStar/topic/120373051
Nexus Ham Radio Station Software: decoding, logging, mapping, and panadapter in one application.
Nexus is a free and open-source ham radio software application, built in Rust by KD9TAW, designed to integrate multiple station functions into a single program. It supports fifteen operating modes, including FT8, FT4, CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, SSTV, and APRS, with both transmit and receive capabilities across Windows, Linux, and Raspberry Pi platforms. (TNX Thierry ON2ACO)
https://www.dxzone.com/dx36916/nexus-ham-radio-station-software.html
https://hamradiotools.io/
WSJT Log Viewer by Carsten Groen's (OZ9AAR) for EME use. (TNX Keith GM4JKZ)
WSJT logs all traffic it decodes in a single file (ALL.TXT), each line in that file contains either a TX or a RX message. The application presented here, "WSJT Log Viewer" will take the log file from WSJT and analyze and present data from it, both as tabular data and as graphs (features might be expanded in the future).
https://www.moonbounce.dk/hamradio/wsjt-log-viewer
What is EME (Moonbounce)?
https://www.moonbounce.dk/what-is-eme-moonbounce
UV Studio by Armel, F4HWN
UV Studio is a unified browser-based workspace for compatible Quansheng UV-K1
and UV-K5 radios. It combines the live display and remote control features of
K5Viewer with the firmware and maintenance tools of UVTools2 in one interface.
Communication with the radio is performed directly through the Web Serial API.
No installation, server, dependency, or build step is required.
https://armel.github.io/uvstudio/#live
How to save UVStudio on your device, so that you can use it local (without internet connection)
https://github.com/armel/armel.github.io/releases
Here are some reports for August 2026:
------------------------------------------------------------
50Mhz Icom IC-7300 (10W) + Diamond V2000 vertical tribander **outside of Europe or special stations**
13/08/26: FT8: ea8up (il18 3056km), ea8dkz (il27 3042km)
19/08/26: FT8: 4l7t (ln21 3306km
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (25W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
01/08/26: FT8: m0dsr (io82 430km), m9utd (io82 478km),
03/08/26: FT8: m9utd (io82 478km), gm4jtj (io86 730km)
04/08/26: SSB: g0ltg/p (io81 418km), m0ghz/p (io81 402km)
08/08/26: FT8: ei2rn (io61 697km), g7rau (in79 624km)
20/08/26: FT8: g8bcg (io70 567km)
28/08/26: FT8: g4fbk (io81 414km), g8bcg (io70 567km)
432Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (26W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
12/08/26 FT8: ov3t (jo46 668km)gm4jtj (io86 730km), gu6efb (in89 465km)
FO-29 ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA
23/08/26: FT4: f4lhe (jn06 555km)
27/08/26: FT4: kc1way (fn42 5540km)
RS-44 ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA
08/08/26: FT4: f5rrs (jn36 600km), lb2wg (jo59 1071km), g8kjj (io92 371km), kb2m (fm29 5957km)
15/08/26: FT4: n2yzh (fn22 5840km),
16/08/26: FT4: kc1way (fn42 5540km)
17/08/26: FT4: g8kjj (io92 371km)
18/08/26: FT4: iv3zxf (jn65 933km), pd9fvm (jo32 283km), iv3cvn (jn66 902km), iq3az (jn65 946km)
19/08/26: FT4: sa7ahc (jo76 995km), k0lb (fm18 6182km)
20/08/26: FT4: pd1wo (jo21 159km), kb2m (fm29 5957km),
21/08/26: FT4: ea3ea (jn01 1073km), f6krk (jn18 278km), ec5m (im98 1423km), iv3cvn (jn66 902km)
23/08/26: FT4: pd9fvw (jo32 283km), g4wjx (io82 435km), f5rrs (jn36 600km), wa8ebm (en72 6391km),
26/08/26: FT4: g8kjj (io92 371km), ea3ea (jn01 1073km),
27/08/26: FT4: ua1wan (ko47 1762km), f6krk (jn18 278km), sv1abb (km18 2143km), w2gdj (fn32 5644km),
29/08/26: FT4: dl/pa3gan (???)
31/08/26: FT4: g8kjj (io92 371km), ea3ea (jn01 1073km)
JO-97 ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA
18/08/26: FT4: ec5m im98 1423km)
20/08/26: FT4: ea3hah (jn01 1125km)
23/08/26: FT4: ea3hah (jn01 1125km), ea3ea (jn01 1073km)
27/08/26: FT4: pd1b (jo32 321km)
29/08/26: FT4: ec5m (im98 1423km)
31/08/26: FT4: on2aco (jo11 13km)
July 2026
========
News
---------
How to Use AllStar Instead of EchoLink on Phones
https://www.barra-tech.com/how-to-use-allstar-instead-of-echolink-on-phones/
Connect to an AllStar Node Using DroidStar For Great Audio Quality
https://www.we8chz.org/?p=846
FT8AF (FT8/FT4/FT2) The native FT8 app for Android.
https://www.ft8af.app/zh/ft8-app-for-android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=radio.ks3ckc.ft8af
OscarWatch Multiplatform Satellite Tracking System
https://github.com/magicbug/OscarWatch-Tracker
Push-to-Talk Over Cellular: The Buyer’s Checklist
Part 4 of 4. Part 1 was the lot walk. Part 2 was my own order, start to finish. Part 3 was the radio itself, on the bench and on the road (links in the article).
https://etherham.com/push-to-talk-over-cellular-the-buyers-checklist/
Building a MeshCore Node — Part 1: Why, What, and How
https://etherham.com/building-a-meshcore-node-part-1-why-what-and-how/
SDROXIDE A powerful SDR transceiver client with a GPU panadapter, dual VFOs, neural noise reduction, built-in skimmers, a full stack of digital modes and a live 3D space-weather globe — running native on Linux, macOS & Windows, or streamed to any browser.
https://sdroxide.com/
ARDOP WINLINK by DL2MAN
A complete ARDOP modem and Winlink mail client that runs in a browser tab. No installation, no drivers, no companion software. Plug in a supported radio over USB and you are on the air.
https://dl2man.de/ARDOP/
read the Operator’s Guide before trying anything....
Not only for the (tr)usdx, but also IC-7300, IC-705... Runs offline as an installed app, on a laptop or on a phone. Also works on Android...
Visualize Your QSOs with the MØTRT QSO Map Tool
Whether you want to analyze your portable activations or simply showcase your worldwide contacts, this tool offers a beautiful and practical solution-with no strings attached.
https://qsomap.m0trt.radio/
FIELDSPOTTER: A spotting tool for portable amateur radio adventures
Spots from portable amateur radio activities such as POTA, SOTA & WWFF are displayed on the map.
I especially like the "band" function! very usefull for hunters...
https://fieldspotter.radio/
MODEM73 is an open source software modem that works with any HF, VHF, or UHF radio capable of 2400 Hz of bandwidth. You can even try it in your browser...
https://modem73.app/
Building a LoRa APRS iGate/Digipeater — Part 1: Why, What, and How
https://etherham.com/building-a-lora-aprs-igate-digipeater-part-1-why-what-and-how/
FT8web — browser-based FT8/FT4 client
https://ft8web.ok1cdj.com/
https://groups.io/g/FT8-Digital-Mode/topic/120098674
CQFTx turns an Android phone or tablet and a QRP Labs QMX or QDX into a compact field station. It keeps the interface simple, makes the current situation obvious, and carries complex exchanges forward without demanding hurried decisions from the operator. (Tnx Frank DG6OAY)
https://www.kf0kbl.com/write-ups/cqftx/
FT8TW on playstore (FT8/FT4/FT2, JS8call and WSPR)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bv6lc.ft8tw&hl=en
Q26 MICROPHONE for QRP TRANSCEIVERS
For QRP Labs QMX/QMX+ and (tr)uSDX and Elecraft KX2 / KX3 and zBitx
https://quartertosix.co.uk/
Introduction to DMR: The Four Wheels on the Car - Tommy’s Guide to DMR: Part 1 — Introduction
https://etherham.com/introduction-to-dmr-the-four-wheels-on-the-car/
CascadiaMesh is a volunteer community project (not a company or nonprofit) that's building out a regional mesh network across British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, using solar-powered nodes for "grid-down" resilient comms. It's grown fast — over 2,300 active nodes as of today. The network runs on MeshCore, an open-source LoRa mesh protocol, and the site provides onboarding guides, device recommendations, node-building tutorials, a live map, and links to sibling regional meshes (Puget Mesh, Salish Mesh, etc.) across the US, Canada, and Europe.
https://cascadiamesh.org/map/
Satelite WebSDR
http://websdr.r4uab.ru/
DroidStar 9M2PJU Mod
Android digital voice client for DMR, M17, YSF, P25, NXDN plus DCS / XRF / REF / FCS / IAX reflectors.
https://droidstar.hamradio.my/
https://hamradio.my/droidstar-9m2pju-mod-android-digital-voice-client/
DroidStar 9M2PJU for Linux: Five Digital Voice Modes, One Calm Desktop Client
https://hamradio.my/droidstar-9m2pju-linux/
Another Droidstar
http://pizzanbeer.net/
APRSdroid 9M2PJU Mod: The Enhanced APRS Companion for Android, Built by Hams, for Hams
you must uninstall APRSdroid if that is already on your Android device. Second, the app requires granting several permissions, but fortunately, granting permissions is as easy as pushing one button, then tapping “allow” on the ensuing popups.
https://hamradio.my/aprsdroid-9m2pju-mod/
It offers the ability to connect with LoRa devices if they have Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) and use a KISS TNC protocol.
https://aprsdroid.hamradio.my/#lora
“APRS World is a modern, open-source client for the global APRS-IS amateur radio network.” Accessible through a web browser and has an Android app.
https://aprs.world/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=world.aprs.app
APRSMap: A Cross-Platform Open Source APRS Client for Linux by DC6AP
https://hamradio.my/aprsmap-cross-platform-aprs-client-linux/
APRS-WTSAPP: Sending WhatsApp Messages from Amateur Radio via APRS
https://hamradio.my/aprs-wtsapp-sending-whatsapp-messages-from-amateur-radio-via-aprs/
Test drive Linux distros online!
In your webbrowser without installing anything...
https://distrosea.com/
Signal is an open-source, encrypted messaging service for instant messaging, voice calls, and video calls.[14][15] The instant messaging function includes sending text, voice notes, images, videos, and other files.[16] Communication may be one-to-one between users or may involve group messaging.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_(software)
(replacement for Whatsapp)
JITSI: This free, no-sign-up video app beats Google Meet and Zoom
https://www.makeuseof.com/free-no-sign-up-video-app-beats-google-meet-and-zoom/
https://jitsi.org/
QFT8 Portable FT8 for Android and QMX (Tnx Frank DG6OAY)
https://qft8.com/
Manual
https://qft8.com/manual/
Download
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ft8.app
According to Frank (DG6OAY) this app also works with his Signallink + IC-703!
Morse Training
https://morsetraining.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qft8.morsekeyer
in your webbrowser
https://lquesada.github.io/MorsePractice/
Easily Map Your QSOs
Free online tools to map your contacts and make the image web friendly
https://www.randomwire.us/p/easily-map-your-qsos
https://qsomap.cqgma.org/ADIF_to_Karte.php
Professional VoIP PTT for Amateur Radio
https://hamlink.app/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=yo3tco.hamlink
Buying Push-to-Talk Over Cellular Without Getting Taken
https://etherham.com/buying-push-to-talk-over-cellular-without-getting-taken/
Things I have done
----------------------------
FT8TW (FT8/FT4/FT2, JS8call and WSPR) for Android.
Did some more testing with a 5 years old Samsung tablet and a 5 years old NOKIA phone. Made FT8 qso's on 20 & 17 meters, WSPR (1 watt) on 20 meters, and JS8call on 20 meters (not much activity...).
I also dowloaded the log with the 2 methods...
Brilliant! This looks like the ideal companion for portabel activity....
Droidstar 9M2PJU mod
I tried to connect on Allstar, and find the right directions, after much searching & trying, here:
https://www.we8chz.org/?p=846
Not every Alstar node is suporting wt (=webtransceive), but "FreeSTAR UK International" on node 2167 does!
The same result with the new update from the Droidstar Pizzanbeer version!
See the node 2167 dashboard
https://masterdash.freestar.network/allmon3/index.html#2167
On AllStar, connect to the HUBNet AllStar Audio Test Server node number 40894. Send a test transmission and your transmission will be replayed back to you.
Here are some reports for July 2026:
---------------------------------------------------------
50Mhz Icom IC-7300 (10W) + Diamond V2000 vertical tribander *** outside of Europe only***
01/07/26: FT8: ve1pz (fn85 4750km), ea8dkz (il27 3042km)
06/07/26: FT8: un7lz (mo13 3988km)
07/07/26: FT8: ea9abc (im75 1828km), s09s (il46 3014km)
08/07/26: FT8: un7jx (nn19 5311km), wp4u (fk68 7014km)
14/07/26: FT8: ea8dkz (il27 3042km), ea9abc (im75 1828km), n3xx (em72 7062km), cn2dx (im64 2029km), ea8up (il18 3056km)
16/07/26: FT8: ea8xnx (il18 3041km), ea8up (il18 3056km)
17/07/26: FT8: cn2dx (im64 2029km), od5vb (km73 3213km)
20/07/26: FT8: wp3ux (fk68 7030km), hi3t (fk49 7210km), kp4aa (fk68 7107km), ea9qd (im75 1828km)
22/07/26: FT8: 4x1uf (km72 3260km), wp4u (fk68 7014km), 4x1pf (km71 3390km)
23/07/26: FT8: 7x5cy (jm26 1665km)
24/07/26: FT8: kn4kl (fm16 6238km)
25/07/26: FT8: vo1ch (gn37 3979km)
26/07/26: FT8: k1lo (fn42 5507km), ve3en (fn25 5567km), k1dg (fn43 5421km), w3df (fm19 6094km), wt3q (fn20 5987km), k1zz (fn31 5634km), wa4pgm (fm07 6346km), w3ll (fm19 6070km), af2f (fn20 5855km), n4jt (fm06 6466km), ab4sf (fm17 6172km), n1dg (fn42 5511km), k2zj (fn13 5792km), k2dh (fn13 5873km), k6ro (dm13 8976km)
27/07/26: FT8: n4ww (el98 7258km), w4as (el95 7401km), n4rj (em91 7000km), wb2fko (el89 7207km), ve1pz (fn85 4750km), py5cc (gg54 9940km), py5ew (gg46 9845km)
28/07/26: FT8: ea8dbm (il18 3045km)
29/07/26: FT8: 4x6zk (km72 3316km), vo1nc (gn38 3997km)
30/07/26: FT8: cn2gs (im85 1841km)
31/07/26: FT8: ih9ymc (jm56 1724 = Africa!)
70Mhz Icom IC-7300 (10W) + tuned Diamond V2000
20/07/26: FT8: ea3cj (jn01 1111km), ct7biz (in60 1440km)
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (26W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
07/07/26 SSB: g0ltg/p (io81 418km)
09/07/26: FT8: dk1fg (jn59 572km), f4ivc (jn05 627km)
10/07/26: FT8: gw3tkh (io81 466km)
11/07/26: FT8: gm0htt (io89 984 Orkney isl)
12/07/26: FT8: oz1jmn (jo46 681km), gm4fvm (io85 644km), dk1aq (jo43 404km), oz1bef (jo46 679km), ei3kd (io51 811km), oz2lin (jo46 697km), gm3and (io86 698km), gm3dra (io86 727km), dk7uy (jo44 538km)
13/07/26: FT8: gm3and (io86 698km), gm4fvm (io85 644km), gi6atz (io74 731km), ei4acb (io62 681km), ei3kd (io51 811km), gm3dra (io86 727km), g8bcg (io70 567km) gm0htt (io89 984km Orkney isl)
15/07/26: FT8: gm4wja (io87 828km), oy9jd (ip61 1269km ), gm4fvm (io85 644km), gm0hlv (io88 903km)
16/07/26: FT8: gm0htt (io89 984km Orkney isl), oy9jd (ip61 1269km)
18/07/26: FT8: hb9gt (jn47 584km)
22/07/26: FT8: f5lmg (in88 531km)
24/07/26: FT8: f6dbi (in88 582km), g8bcg (io70 569km)
432Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (26W) + 5 el LPDA
12/07/26: FT8: gm4fvm (io85 644km)
15/07/26: FT8: oy9jd (ip61 1269km)
June 2026
=========
News
---------
Digital voice (FreeDV RADE) breaking language barriers
https://freedv.org/digital-voice-breaking-language-barriers/
Enthusiastic FreeDV RADE V1 operator José Donnari – LU5DKI, has developed a system he uses to have high quality radio contacts between him speaking Spanish and other amateurs who speak only English or Japanese.
Send Email Over Radio With Just a Browser — No Install, No VARA by DL2MAN
"Showing my ARDOP Winlink app, that I developed with AI, even though I don´t have any programming skills. Sending E-Mails via Shortwave (and VHF), using Android Phone, Windows PC, Linux Device or Mac."
under development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCERFy4jdyE
First Winlink Email Sent Over MERCURY on RF! (DEMO) by KM6LYW
The guys at Rhizomatica just made a better VARA than VARA. Unlike VARA, it's free, open-source, runs on Linux and Raspberry Pi. While not directly compatible with the proprietary VARA encoding, it does use the same API so existing VARA-HF clients (Pat, Winlink Express) can immediately leverage this exiting new HF radio transport!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkU0f3BeJcE
Traildigi
TrailDigi is an Android app that bridges a supported radio to your Android device and handles the full FT8/FT4 operating cycle: decode, auto-sequence, log. It is a modernised, security-audited fork of FT8TW (itself a fork of FT8CN).
The primary design concern is portable operation — SOTA summits and POTA parks, where you want things to work reliably with minimal fuss on a phone or tablet, often with a QRP rig powered by a battery pack.
https://codeberg.org/traildigi/traildigi
releases:
https://codeberg.org/traildigi/traildigi/releases
(source SPRAT Issue No. 207 Summer 2026 page 8 to 10 by 2E0FRU)
Hamilton Auto FT8
Hear, call, exchange, complete, log — automatically.
https://autoft8.com/
Source: Amateur Radio Weekly 13/06/2026
Set your radio directly from the RepeaterBook app.
https://www.repeaterbook.com/rbconnect/
for ICOM:
https://www.repeaterbook.com/rbconnect/rbcradios.php
Antentop is FREE e-magazine devoted to Antennas and Amateur Radio
http://www.antentop.org/index.htm
LightAPRS Gateway 1.0 $130.00
LightAPRS Gateway 1.0 is a Linux-based APRS gateway development board featuring a SA818V VHF transceiver module, built-in WiFi 6, Direwolf software and a web-based management interface. Powered by the Rockchip RV1106 processor, it operates as a fully standalone APRS digipeater and iGate.
https://shop.qrp-labs.com/aprs/LightAPRSGateway1
APRSdroid NA7Q Edition: The Most Feature-Rich APRS Client for Android
https://hamradio.my/2026/06/aprsdroid-na7q-edition-the-most-feature-rich-aprs-client-for-android/
https://na7q.com/aprsdroid-osm/
It you are into APRS Thursday, check out his
https://kj5lox.net/aprs/aprsthursday
getscreen.me Access Anywhere: Instant Browser-Based Remote Desktop Software (hosted in the EU, with great security)
https://getscreen.me/en/
SVXCONNECT Your SvxLink network, in your pocket
SVXConnect connects licensed amateur radio operators to SvxLink reflectors — talkgroups, a live map and real-time activity, with secure certificate-based access.
https://svxconnect.app/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gururf.svxconnect
Futuristische Android-Apps für Amateurfunk & Mesh-Netzwerke
https://funknetzdeutschland.com/apps/
SVXLink App: SVXLink App für die Anbindung an SVXLink Server da brauchst du eine Freischaltung von admin
https://funknetzdeutschland.com/apps/apps/svxlink_V6_8.apk
Helpful Technical Guides — Free Expert Downloads
https://palomar-engineers.com/ferrite-application-experts-2/RF-Detectors-c190188684
Why Your Antenna Needs a Counterpole
Radials and Counterweights in Antenna Construction
https://www.wimo.com/en/radials
After Elwood: A Survey of HamClock Successors and Alternatives by Tom Salzer KJ7T
https://etherham.com/after-elwood-a-survey-of-hamclock-successors-and-alternatives/
SDR++ Setup Guide: How to Install and Configure SDR++
https://radio-hobbyist.com/sdr-plus-plus-setup-guide/
Meshyface
Meshyface is a chat-first Meshtastic dashboard that runs as a single Python service and serves a single-page web UI over HTTP.
https://github.com/jaronmcd/meshyface
WFweb Browser client for Icom:
https://wfweb.k1fm.us/
https://github.com/adecarolis/wfweb
Turn any Icom transceiver into a web-accessible station. Headless wfview fork with browser-based control, audio streaming, SSB, FreeDV, AX.25, CW, JS8 and FT8.
Control your Icom radio from any browser — phone, tablet, or desktop.
All in the browser, no client software required.
Needs Chrome, Edge, or another Chromium-family browser (Brave, Arc, Opera), (no Firefox, no Safari).
RadioManual.eu
The European web site for Amateur Radio manuals
https://www.radiomanual.info/
mods.dk, the best site on the internet for modifications repair instructions and improvement of HAM rigs, HAM modems, etc.
https://www.mods.dk/
SSTV settings by PA3EKI (page in Dutch, Google translate is your friend...) TNX www.onz.be
https://www.pa3eki.nl/sstv/sstv-1.htm
Is the time on your computer correct?
Very important for certain digital modes (FT8...)!
The TIME.IS website tries to load Javascript from ten different sources...
All that seems to be needed for the service itself is the Javascript from time.is. If you have a Javascript blocker (like I do), you can allow just that one source of Javascript and block all others. You don't seem to be missing any functionality when doing that. Unless, of course, you count "display of ads" (and the ubiquitous "being spied upon") as desirable functionality. Personally, I don't.
The privacy policy of that service clearly does not comply with the EU GDPR: Several key pieces of information required by the latter are missing. As the service is offered to EU citizens, they must comply. In other words, this service is in breach of the law.
Could a service do better?
For one case study: The Federal Republic of Germany tasks the government office "Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt" (PTB) with defining and disseminating the official German time. PTB does the dissemination via several means, among those the well-known long wave transmitter DCF77 on 77,5 kHz. A lesser known service of PTB is the web page
https://uhr.ptb.de ("Uhr" is the German word for "clock"). It displays in your browser the precise official German time. If you click on "Δt", it tells you how off your system clock is. "Die lokale Uhr geht 3 ms vor ± 14 ms" means "Your local clock is 3 ms ahead ± 14 ms", if "nach" replaces "vor", it means your system clock is behind. Unsurprisingly, uhr.ptb.de loads Javascript only from uhr.ptb.de and never displays ads.
This service is mostly useful for people who have their local clock running on the same time as Germany does (during the summer, we are on CEST = UTC + 2 hours). For those, I recommend using that service rather than a bloated commercial service.
It would also be a nice programming exercise/doable task for someone with a bit of Javascript knowledge to rig up such a service and provide it privately from a "small web" webserver.
Source: Andreas, DJ3EI on the [JS8Call] reflector.
QSO One
Building your own AllStarLink node costs $130 to $500 and a weekend of Linux configuration. QSO One costs $24.99 and takes five minutes to set up. Connect to AllStarLink and EchoLink from Windows or Android — no hardware, no soldering, no sysop headaches. More platforms coming soon.
https://qso1.net/
Amateur Radio Magazines
This is a living list of in-production print and digital magazines related to amateur radio from around the world. All languages welcome. Send a pull request or start an issue to add a magazine.
https://codeberg.org/K3LOE/Amateur_Radio_Magazines/src/branch/main/list.md
What is Codeberg?
Codeberg is a democratic community-driven, non-profit software development platform operated by Codeberg e.V. and centered around Codeberg.org, a Forgejo-based software forge.
https://docs.codeberg.org/getting-started/what-is-codeberg/#what-is-codeberg-e.v.%3F
Rhizomatica releases Mercury, a fully open-source modem for data communications on HF
“I am very pleased to see Rhizomatica using the FreeDV data modes combined with their own custom ARQ protocol to send data over low SNR HF channels. It is great to see Rhizomatica embracing those wave forms, and spreading the use of open source in HF Data.” —David Rowe (VK5DGR), inventor of Codec 2 and FreeDV.
Like FreeDV, Mercury could be “just another mode selection” on 8000 / Aurora, or any other HF radio that chooses to be user-modifiable like FlexRadio has chosen to do.
https://www.rhizomatica.org/rhizomatica-releases-mercury-a-fully-open-source-modem-for-data-communications-on-hf/
https://github.com/Rhizomatica/mercury
Zero Retries Guide to VHF / UHF Radios for Data
https://www.zeroretries.org/p/zero-retries-guide-to-vhf-uhf-radios
PhotoDemon is a free, portable, open-source photo editor for Microsoft Windows.
PhotoDemon does not require installation, administrator rights, or Internet access. Its tiny footprint allows it to run directly from USB sticks or SD cards.
https://photodemon.org/
For satellite operators, Pete MM9SQL has written a new satellite application called OscarWatch. It’s platform independent, so you can run it on Mac, Linux or of course, Windows. I’ve been able to try it out and it’s great - I even made some RS-44 QSOs again which was fun. It’s free and you can find it at
https://github.com/magicbug/OscarWatch-Tracker/releases The application is evolving all the time. Best of all, it’s free! (Source Tim GW4VXE)
KJ6ER POTA antennas
https://kj6er.net/
APRS.WORLD
https://aprs.world/
APRS World is a modern visualization platform for the worldwide APRS network used by amateur-radio operators. Free, open-source, no ads — a live ham radio station locator and callsign lookup, all in your browser.
Switching from APRSdroid to APRS World
https://aprs.world/aprsdroid
iOS and Android versions are on the way...
JF8Call
JS8Call-compatible station application
A new, clean-room implementation of a JS8Call-compatible station application — built for Linux, Windows, and Raspberry Pi, with a complete WebSocket API, headless operation, and a strict separation between the modem and the user interface. Designed from the start to serve as the HF connectivity layer inside larger, more complex communications systems.
https://ordo-artificum.com/products/jf8call/
js8net-legacy
JS8Call Python API library
A Python library for interacting with a running JS8Call instance over its TCP API. Wraps JS8Call's asynchronous, undocumented JSON protocol behind a straightforward query/reply interface, so your scripts can send messages, read configuration, and process received traffic without managing raw JSON or tracking async replies.
https://ordo-artificum.com/products/js8net-legacy/
Ordo Artificum
The ancient guild of precision engineering.
Now operating in the modern age.
Different products for digital communication...
https://ordo-artificum.com/
The Iconic aprs.fi App Finally Lands on Android!
https://hamradio.my/2026/06/the-iconic-aprs-fi-app-finally-lands-on-android/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fi.aprs.android
for € 6,49
https://android-guide.aprs.fi/
APRStac: A Modern APRS Suite in a Single Binary
APRStac is an APRS web client, digipeater, I-Gate, BBS, fileshare host, email gateway, and multi-protocol bridge developed by KN4MKB under the ModernHam project. The software is distributed as a single binary with no external dependencies and runs on Windows, Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi. The interface is delivered through a local web server that can be accessed from any browser on the local network.
https://hamradio.my/2026/06/aprstac-a-modern-aprs-suite-in-a-single-binary/
https://aprstac.com/index.html
How to Listen to Aircraft with an SDR
https://radio-hobbyist.com/how-to-listen-to-aircraft-with-an-sdr/
What Is FT8 and How Does It Work?
https://radio-hobbyist.com/what-is-ft8/
New book from ARRL "Satellite Operating for Amateur Radio" by Tony Milluzzi KD8RTT
https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2089712339
Best Amateur Radio Logging Apps for Android and iOS in 2026
https://hamradio.my/2026/05/best-amateur-radio-logging-apps-for-android-and-ios-in-2026/
Raspberry Pi in Ham Radio: The Honest Best Practice Guide for 2026 (by Karl-Heinz – DL1GKK)
https://dl1gkk.com/raspberry-pi-ham-radio-best-practice-2026/
Announcing tncd: Keeping Packet Radio Working on Linux
"When Linux 7.1 ships, the native AX.25 kernel networking stack goes away. The AF_AX25 socket family is being removed. Tools like ldsped that depend on it will stop working. PAT will lose its AX.25 transport. Xastir will go silent. Anyone running a current distribution will eventually face this, and “don’t upgrade your kernel” is not a long-term answer.
I wrote tncd to fix this before it becomes everyone’s problem."
https://ku0hn.radio/posts/2026/05/01/announcing-tncd/
Things I have done or try:
--------------------------------------
Build an Internet That Works Without the Internet… Here’s How (TNX KM4ACK)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMRxnGP1J3k
This Simple Tool Lets You Browse Wikipedia Without the Internet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVmafaxxuv4
KIWIX
Kiwix is a nonprofit organisation making free knowledge accessible where the Internet is not available or unstable.
https://kiwix.org/en/
https://get.kiwix.org/en/
KIWIX library
https://browse.library.kiwix.org/#lang=eng&q=radio
VoxDMR : le DMR sans hotspot ni poste radio est arrivé ! (tnx Thierry ON2ACO)
https://hamtech.fr/2026/06/18/voxdmr-le-dmr-sans-hotspot-ni-poste-radio-est-arrive/?sfnsn=mo
Get on DMR without the radio or a hotspot.
https://www.voxdmr.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jcalado.voxdmr
I attended the zoom session "Greg KJ6ER and designs for efficient and practical antennas for portable operations" from the PENNINE HAM radio club.
This presentation combined theory and practice with the background to Greg's designs and modelling work. Lots of great ideas and full details available on the website kj6er.net
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEQquKzaJ2s
You can download all of his designs at:
https://kj6er.net/
and subscribe to his "Antenna Geeks Email List", brilliant stuff!
More on the PENNINE HAM radioclub and the ZOOM sessions at:
https://www.pennineham.org.uk/
Here are some reports for June 2026:
--------------------------------------------------------
50Mhz Icom IC-7300 (10W) + Diamond V2000 vertical tribander **outside of Europe or special stations**
01/06/26: FT8: cn8ns (im63 2075km)
11/06/26: FT8: ct3iq (im12 2622km), 7x5cy (jm26 1665km)
12/06/26: FT8: 4u1a (jn88 981km), am914e (im75 1830km), cn8ns (im63 2075km)
13/06/26: FT8: un3m lo61 3392km), ea9e im75 1830km)
15/06/26: FT8: 9k2gs (ll38 4437km)
17/06/26: FT8: ea8dkz (il27 3042km),
22/06/26: FT8: ta6zes (km66 2778km), 5n4amx (km65 2924km), 4x1st (km72 3311km), 5b4aab (km64 2932km), od5ku (km73 3216km), od5vb (km73 3213km)
23/06/26: FT8: ea8w (il38 2852km), ea8up (il18 3056km), 7x5cy (jm26 1665km), 7x3wpl (jm13 1922km), ih9ymc (jm56 1724km af-018)
23/06/26: FT8: ea9abc (im75 1828km)
24/06/26: FT8: 4x1ys (km71 3342km), ea8dkz (il27 3042km), ea8bs (il18 3010 km), ea8xnx (il18 3041km), un9l (mo13 3986km), ct3iq (im12 2622km), ta2lg (kn50 2404km)
29/06/26: FT8: 4z5tk (km72 3260km), ta6b (kn81 2723km), rk4ff (lo23 2800km), 4z5av (km71 3379km), k1tol (fn44 5329km), ka1r (fn42 5511km), ad6d (dm22 8904km), cn2dx (!im64 2029km)
70Mhz Icom IC-7300 (10W) + Tuned Diamond V2000 vertical tribander
22/06/26: FT8: g4aff (jo02 239km)
25/06/26: FT8: sm7fje (jo65 862km), sq6iyd (jo81 886km)
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (25W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
03/06/26 FT8: lz1ku (kn32 1959km)
08/06/26: FreeDV RADE testing with on7dq, on1tg and on4vjp all in JO11
13/06/26: FT8: ea7all (im88 1566km)
14/06/26: FT8: f5cbu (in88 497km), f4jbr (jn15 590km), tm24h (jn07 419km), f6dbi (in88 580km), f4hsu (in97 486km), f1nzc (jn15 579km), f6eas (in98 404km)
20/06/26: FT8: 9h1tx (jm75 1907km), it9qpf (jm67 1638km), it9jvf (jm67 1638km), iw9fra (jm68 1619km), iu8ryq (jm78 1719km)
23/06/26: FT8: cn8li (im63 2077km)
23/06/26: FT8: eb5gg (im98 1421km), ea5tt (im89 1386km), ea5aqb (im98 1449km), ea5by (im98 1463km)
25/06/26: FT8: is0lay (jm49 1391km), yo9hp (kn35 1805km), ct1cad (im67 1770km)
26/06/26: FT8: ur5fln (kn656 2051km), ea4cyq (im78 1528km), f1duz (in97 518km)
May 2026
========
News
---------
FreeDV RADE Android and iOS apps
https://freedv.org/rade-android-and-ios-apps/
You can now connect to your ICOM IC-705 with the help of Bluetooth!
Introducing FreeDV Reporter+
"This tool isn’t intended to be a 1:1 clone of the official reporter, nor is it an official product of the FreeDV team. Instead, it’s a personal dashboard built to highlight the data I find most useful when operating.
Steve OH3SPN/M0SPN decided to make the interface public in case other operators find it useful for their own shacks."
https://freedv.oh3spn.fi/
see also:
https://oh3spn.fi/
open sstv
Open-SSTV is a free, open-source SSTV transceiver built in Python with a Qt 6 interface. It runs natively on Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon), and Linux (x86_64 and ARM64). Pre-built binaries are available for every platform, so no Python install is required to get on the air.
https://w0aez.com/blogs/news/introducing-open-sstv-a-modern-take-on-an-old-mode
https://bucknova.github.io/Open-SSTV/
Graywolf by Chris NW5W, "is the coolest ham radio project you haven't heard about — and in this overview I walk through every screen and feature of this all-in-one APRS station software. Graywolf bundles a software modem, digipeater, iGate, and beacon into a single binary with a gorgeous modern web UI, so you can put a full APRS station on the air without juggling Dire Wolf, a separate KISS TNC, and a pile of config files" (video by Jason KM4ACK).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBhkzZK-qAQ
Graywolf on GitHub:
https://github.com/chrissnell/graywolf
Graywolf Handbook (install, config, operation):
https://chrissnell.com/software/graywolf/
APRS.world represents a significant advancement in the accessibility and functionality of APRS mapping. Unlike traditional software that often requires complex configurations, this browser-based platform allows users to engage with real-time APRS data effortlessly. Its intuitive interface and open access align seamlessly with the fundamental principles of amateur radio, fostering a sense of community among users. By providing a modernized approach to tracking and communication, APRS.world invites both seasoned and novice hams to explore and utilize the vast potential of APRS technology.
https://aprs.world/
https://hamradio.my/2026/05/aprs-world-the-browser-based-aprs-map-thats-changing-how-hams-see-the-world/
(Source Random Wire 182 by Tom KJ7T
https://www.randomwire.us/p/random-wire-182-is-the-yaesu-dr-3x )
Why VARA HF Is Replacing 300 Baud Packet for APRS (video by Jason KM4ACK) Will also work on VHF and up...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GquhFLDGncY
Discover how Stephen H. Smith is redefining HF APRS with VARA HF and the new VARA Track system. In this in-depth presentation and interview, Stephen explains why VARA over HF is dramatically outperforming traditional 300 baud AX.25 packet radio for APRS messaging, position reporting, and long-distance mobile tracking. If you’ve ever struggled with weak-signal HF packet performance, missed APRS beacons, or unreliable 300 baud decoding during poor band conditions, this video shows why VARA HF is becoming the future of HF APRS networking. Stephen shares real-world testing from thousands of miles of mobile operation, comparing classic HF packet APRS against the VARA high-performance software modem, demonstrating major improvements in reliability, throughput, forward error correction, and weak-signal decoding. (zeroretries.org)
VARA Track
http://wa8lmf.net/VARA/VARAtrack/index.htm
VARA for APRS
http://wa8lmf.net/VARAforAPRS/
VARAMODEM
New official website for VARA, including downloads of the latest versions of EA5HVK VARA-related software (VARA-HF, VARA-VHF, VARA-SAT...), and a direct link to purchase a VARA license.
https://varamodem.com/
TIANGOING CHINA Space Station -> CSS (Tianhe) = the Chinese ISS... --->>> has any-one heard this one???
HAM-RADIO frequencies :
-------------
Uplink : 145.875 Mhz
Downlink : 436.510 Mhz
-------------
Uplink : 435.075 MHz
Downlink : 145.985 Mhz
-------------
DIGIPEATER : 145.825 <> 437.550 MHz
-------------
SSTV : 145.985 MHz
-------------
Source:
https://www.mh-is.at/?page_id=1302
https://en.cmse.gov.cn/
https://www.gx4mws.uk/2022/12/06/chinese-space-station-amateur-radio-frequencies/
Tracker:
https://isstracker.pl/en?satId=48274
https://www.n2yo.com/?s=48274
Any updates on if the Amateur Radio payload is up and running on the Chinese Space Station?
More info:
https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/tiangong-space-station#overview
If You Want to Work the ISS on APRS:
It appears the only working APRS radio on the ISS at the moment is the Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module, call sign RS0ISS. More information is available on the ISS Ham Radio Status page
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html and you can check recent activity on APRS.fi
https://aprs.fi/info/RS0ISS
As of now, the active ISS APRS station is:
Callsign: RS0ISS
Frequency: 437.825 MHz FM
Mode: 1200 baud APRS packet on 70cm/UHF
If you plan to work the ISS on APRS, remember that Doppler correction matters much more on 437.825 MHz than it did on 145.825. This means pre-programming multiple memories (±10 kHz steps) is now much more important for successful packet decoding.
Source: Random Wire 183 by Tom KJ7T
https://www.randomwire.us/p/random-wire-reflections-183
IT-tools for developpers
https://it-tools.tech/
Fediverse.Radio
Fediverse.Radio is a hub for amateur radio operators and communities on the Fediverse.
https://fediverse.radio/
RFzero™
The RFzero™ is an Arduino multi-purpose GPS controlled Si5351A RF unit. It can be used as a beacon (IBP, SBP, CW, FST4, FST4W, FT4, FT8, JS8, JT4, JT65, JT9, ModeX, PI4, Q65, RTTY, WSPR, …), stand alone WSPR or FST4W transmitter, signal generator, VFO, QO-100 dual LO, low cost GPSDO, e.g. for 10 MHz, IC-9700 LO, 90 MHz frequency counter or … More than 40 programs, Arduino sketches, are integrated into the Arduino IDE, so you can write or modify the software yourself. With the RFzero Manager you don’t even have to know anything about Arduino to use the RFzero™.
https://rfzero.net/
HB9HBY DX Widget (TNX Thierry ON2ACO)
A clear and compact amateur radio widget for your PC: UTC time, HF propagation, local weather, storm risk, radio links and PRO features with a free trial. (Windows, Linux, Android, iOS iPhone coming soon)
https://www.hb9hby.ch/
DMR from your Desktop.
Join BrandMeister DMR talkgroups from your Windows or Linux PC.
https://voxdmr.jcalado.com/
https://github.com/jcalado/voxdmr-site/releases
ANJO antennes DL
https://anjo-antennen.de/Antennen
DXHEAT DX cluster (also for VHF and up)
https://dxheat.com/dxc/
A web enabled remote antenna switch G4AON
https://www.qsl.net/g4aon/rem_switch/
MESHCORE Connect Without The Internet
MeshCore is a secure, decentralised mesh radio platform powered by LoRa. Communicate across kilometres — no towers, no subscriptions, no single point of failure.
https://meshcore.co.uk/
https://meshcore.io/
MESHCORE MAP
https://map.meshcore.io/
Stories about Amateur Radio in IEEE Spectrum consistently portray Amateur Radio as relevant and interesting in the 21st century.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/amateur-radio
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/ham-radio
Arcanum: ORI’s New Open Source Antenna Simulation Engine
Arcanum is ORI’s new open source CMoM antenna simulation engine. It is, to the best of our knowledge, the first open source implementation of the Conformal Method of Moments with Exact Kernel.
https://github.com/OpenResearchInstitute/dumbbell
https://github.com/OpenResearchInstitute/Arcanum
Source:
https://www.openresearch.institute/2026/04/15/arcanum-oris-new-open-source-antenna-simulation-engine/
New 2026 ITU Handbook on Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services Released
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has published the 2026 edition of the Handbook on Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services . The updated reference provides comprehensive information on the amateur and amateur-satellite services, including relevant ITU regulatory texts, technical guidelines, and operational practices.
The handbook is available for download free-of-charge at
https://www.itu.int/pub/R-HDB-52-2026
Chrome Remote Desktop
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.chromeremotedesktop&cjevent=ec67fdb3465e11f1809401860a18b8fa
It’s ridiculously easy to set up. You install the companion software on your PC and phone, sign in with your Google account, and pair your devices.
Amateur Radio Linux Distributions
KB1OIQ - Andy's Ham Radio Linux
Install ham radio software on Debian Live, RPi OS, or Ubuntu Linux
https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/
What is arcOS?
The Amateur Radio Community Operating System is a bootable live Linux system on a USB drive built to "just work" with the affordable Digirig Mobile device. arcOS is founded on the belief that digital communications within communities of operators can be accessible and easy to use for ALL, regardless of license class or experience.
https://arcos-linux.com/
HamPi - a raspberry pi image for amateurs
If you're looking for a project to do with that spare Raspberry Pi I recommend checking out hampi. Its jam packed with amateur radio software which "just works" and turns that raspberry pi into a low powered PC you can bring along in the field (some assembly required) for digital mode operations, or just logging.
https://www.k3ltc.com/links/hampi.html
https://sourceforge.net/projects/hampi/files/
Hibbian Weekly Builds
https://download.hibbian.org/
RTL-SDR 433: A New Android App For Decoding 433 Mhz Sensors With rtl_433
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.ebctech.rtlsdr433andro
https://ebctech.eu/rtl-sdr-433-android/
Things I have done or try
---------------------------------------
ISS SSTV
The SSTV series 32, with the theme « Cooperation in Space » , tooks place from 08 May to 12 May 2026 on 70cm.
The ARISS Series 32 images consists in 12 pictures drawn by children about the Day of Victory, Peace and International Cooperation.
I managed to get some nice pictures. All passes were during the late evening + night. this was possibly the reason for the good results I got, because there was less man-made QRM...
SKYROOF
skyroof (Tnx Martin G4WJX)
A Windows application for Hams and satellite enthusiasts
open source Copyright © 2025 Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA
https://ve3nea.github.io/SkyRoof/
I have it working with my IC-9700 with rigctld
Basic QSO's in French & Spanish
Ken (EA5/G4VZV Spanish) and I (ON8NT French) gave a presentation on how making a Basic QSO in French and Spanish during the Pennine Ham ZOOM meeting on the 13th of May 2026, You can see the recording of the meeting here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUoMtKFc7C0
Copies of the PDF can be obtained by emailing the club at pennineham2024@gmail.com
My presentation and excercise/template (that you can adopt to your own taste & details) for making a basic French QSO is here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v__DkuhmHXaTgfmflHuMaMdOnfgQYKu3?usp=sharing
As a follow up we discovered some interesting material by YL Raisa R1BIG:
The QSO phraseology: Text & Voice in 10+ languages! (TNX Nick G4IWO)
https://raisa.blog/how-to/the-radio-amateur-s-conversation-guide
How To
https://raisa.blog/how-to/
There are also a couple of videos on this topic.
https://youtu.be/KQxcj1mMTNk?si=akDImqHD5aa-nWle
and
https://youtu.be/jzvXTPYfNGQ?si=_KfmtXk9p9PJHFMv
or
https://youtu.be/MOia1JRxs2M?si=KHP0KhFA3DqWpsOy
and
https://youtu.be/xc5xaEdxTI0?si=jb66Q4bL8aLan8JP
Here are some reports for May 2026:
--------------------------------------------------------
50Mhz Icom IC-7300 (10W) + Diamond V2000 vertical tribander *** only outside of Europe or special stations***
23/05/26: FT8: cn8ns (im63, 2075km)
24/05/26: FT8: tf3jb (hp94, 2065km), tf8kw ( hp84, 2085km), un3m (lo61, 3392km), ea8aqv (il28, 3009km), ct3iq (im12, 2622km) I heard a station from Chile and one from Brazil, but was unable to work them...
70Mhz Icom IC-7300 (10W) + (tuned) Diamond V2000 vertical
24/05/26: FT8: ea7kp (im97, 1596km), oh2fnr (kp20, 1675km), oh5masa (kp30, 1801km), es2nj (ko29, 1643km), ea1yv (in52, 1366km), ea7kom (im87, 1653km), ea4bpo (in80, 1309km)ea1gcn (in73, 1084km)
25/05/26: FT8: ea1yv (im52, 1366km)
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (26W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
02/05/26: FT8: dg4klk (jo41, 436km)
05/05/26: SSB: g0ltg/p (io81 418km), g1ybb/p (io82, 461km)
06/05/26: FT8: oz3mc (jo46, 700km)
23/05/26: FT8: f6ifx (jn08, 415km)
24/05/26: FT8: f6eas (in98, 404km), f5lmg (in88, 529km), dk1fg (jn59, 572km), **ct1diz (im58, 1697km)**
ISS ARISS ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical, no pre-amp
ISS SSTV
The SSTV series 32, with the theme « Cooperation in Space » , tooks place from 08 May to 12 May 2026 on 70cm.
The ARISS Series 32 images consists in 12 pictures drawn by children about the Day of Victory, Peace and International Cooperation.
I managed to get some nice pictures. All passes were during the late evening + night. this was possibly the reason for the good results I got, because there was less man-made QRM...
RS-44 ICOM IC-9700 (5w) + Diamond V2000 vertical, no pre-amp
08/05/26: FT4: w2gdj (fn32, 5644km), pd1b (jo32, 321km)
09/05/26: FT4: ua1cfm (ko69, 2011km), sa7ahc (jo76, 995km), g4wjx (io82, 435km)
10/05/26: FT4: ly1r (ko14 1397km), iz8huj (jn70, 1499km), pd1b (jo32, 321km), m0snz (io91, 288km), n2yzh (fn22, 5840km), dj8ms (jo54, 648km)
11/05/26: FT4: f5lmg (in88, 529km), n2yzh (fn22 5840km), ly1r (ko14 1397km)
15/05/26: FT4: m0npt (io92 376km)
16/05/26: FT4: w2gdj (fn32, 5644km), f5rrs (jn36, 600km), r5ao (ko86, 2305km), g4wjx (io82, 435km), 9h1cw (jm75, 1899km),
17/05/26: FT4: ly1r (ko14, 1397km), n2yzh (fn22, 5840km)
18/05/26: FT4: m0npt (io92, 376km), ea3ta (jn11, 1069km), ly1r (ko14, 1397km), f4bkv (in95, 680km), es4rm (ko49, 1797km)
19/05/26: FT4: m0npt (io92, 376km),
20/05/26: FT4: w2gdj (fn32, 5644km), la7xk (jo59, 1007km), rc6zt (kn98, ???), n2yzh (fn22, 5840km), f4bkv (in95, 680km), pa3gan (jo21, 106km)
JO-97 ICOM IC-9700 (5w) + Diamond V2000 vertical, no pre-amp
10/05/26: FT4: pd1b (jo32, 321km)
18/05/26: FT4: m0npt (io92, 376km)
April 2026
========
News
---------
*SPACE* Mission Audio by WD5M
The *SPACE* Amateur Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) systems stream public audio transmissions from Mission Control and Astronauts for educational purposes. Connect via EchoLink to the *SPACE* conference, via IRLP to the 0100 experimental reflector or via Allstar to node 516221.
https://space.rfnet.link/
(interesting for STEM classes in schools...)
ISS Ham Radio Status
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
the ARISS APRS Status Page
https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/
ISS Fan club: upcoming events on the (AR)ISS
https://issfanclub.eu/
ARISS - Amateur Radio on ISS
anouncements of ARISS activities
https://mastodon.hams.social/@ARISS_Intl
The ISS Returns to S-Band: HamTV Now Transmitting Color Bars on 13 cm
https://amsat-ca.org/2026/01/15/the-iss-returns-to-s-band-hamtv-now-transmitting-color-bars-on-13-cm/
Ham Satting - Track Amateur Radio Satellites Like a Pro
by A46UNX / Unixeer™
https://www.unixeer.com/ham_satting/
The all-in-one, multi-platform App for amateur radio satellite tracking. Real-time visualization, pass predictions, QSO logging, SSTV decoding, and more—all in one powerful tool.
Ampersand ASL
VOIP technology for linking amateur stations
https://github.com/Ampersand-ASL/
amp-win: On a Windows computer, amp-win starts as Ampersand.exe which opens a terminal window.
Once the system has loaded (just a few seconds), open a browser to 127.0.0.1:8080 to see the Amp-ASL Server. In the captured video below, connect to the Amp-ASL Parrot, then make two test transmissions:
Ampersand Windows Server User/Install Documentation
https://github.com/Ampersand-ASL/amp-win/blob/main/docs/user.md
Building A Ham Radio Data Transceiver On The Cheap
https://hackaday.com/2025/10/03/building-a-ham-radio-data-transceiver-on-the-cheap/
Portable FT8 for Android and QMX (Android only)
https://qft8.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ft8.app
Introducing QRX!
QRX is like your APRS voicemail box. If a message is sent to you and your radio does not acknowledge it, QRX will store that message and notify you the next time you beacon.
https://www.reddit.com/r/APRS/comments/1s7ory8/introducing_qrx/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNgFFiyiQtM
https://qrx.forkum.net/
https://hamradiotherapy.com/aprs/stay-connected-with-qrx-your-offline-aprs-solution/
Welcome to the MAIL APRS Bot Guide
Below you’ll find simple instructions on how to use the bot for messaging, group management, and other helpful features. Let’s get started!
https://aprs.wiki/mail/
APRSLink
APRSLink is a CMS-Hosted gateway providing a link between the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) and the Winlink global radio email system.
https://winlink.org/APRSLink
C4FM decoding with a programme
DSD+ is the program that decodes the actual C4FM voice transmission.
https://www.dsdplus.com/
DSD+ is a Windows application capable of reliably decoding multiple types of digital audio formats commonly found on VHF, UHF and 800 MHz,
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/DSDPlus
MOP Mesh Operations Protocol
A decentralized mesh network for amateur radio.
No sessions. No hubs. No closed-source software.
Just datagrams and beacons — short, efficient bursts.
https://smasher.be/mop/
source Zero Retries 0246
HAM / Amateur Radio - Integrating the Linux and Radio worlds together
https://www.trinityos.com/HAM/index-ham.html
FreeDV RADE Android and iOS apps
https://freedv.org/rade-android-and-ios-apps/
OpenWebRX+ adding FreeDV RADEV1
https://freedv.org/openwebrx-adding-freedv-radev1/
https://www.receiverbook.de/map?type=openwebrx
skyroof and skycatd (Tnx Martin G4WJX)
A Windows application for Hams and satellite enthusiasts
open source Copyright © 2025 Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA
https://ve3nea.github.io/SkyRoof/
skyroof - ic9700 - skycatd
https://groups.google.com/g/skyroof/c/ckLp1NafHQk
https://groups.google.com/g/skyroof/c/fRfseDDsz68
Can also be used with the RTL-SDR...
Uitzending gemist (Missed broadcast) from the RF seminar in the Netherlands
https://www.rfseminar.nl/uitzending-gemist/
WQ2XDM - New US experimental callsign for radio propagation tests at 40 MHz & 70 MHz
https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2026/02/wq2xdm-new-us-experimental-callsign-for.html
Groundwave by Jason Miller KF7TNN
GroundWave is an open-source, field-deployable situational awareness platform inspired by ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit). It provides mapping, real-time position tracking, messaging, and team coordination through a standard web browser — no native app installation required.
The platform is packaged as a suite of Docker containers designed to run on portable, low-cost hardware such as a Raspberry Pi or Intel NUC. A single server unit creates a local Wi-Fi access point; client devices — phones, tablets, laptops — connect to that network and open GroundWave in their browser.
GroundWave is fully self-contained and operational without internet connectivity. Offline map tiles, position data, chat messages, and all coordination tools are served entirely from the local device. When connectivity does exist, optional features such as online map style fallback and server federation become available.
https://groundwave.io/
Source: Zero Retries 0244
https://www.zeroretries.radio/zero-retries-0244/
Calligra Suite is an office and graphic art suite by KDE. It contains applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, vector graphics, and editing databases.
https://calligra.org/
https://apps.kde.org/nl/calligra/
Old Components
These are some of the older components of Calligra Suite. These components are no longer a part of Calligra. They are now either standalone apps or unmaintained.
https://calligra.org/components/old-components/
PDFgear Free Online Tools (TNX Keith GM4JKZ)
Read, edit, convert, merge, and sign PDF files across devices, for completely free and without signing up.
In addition to our powerful software, PDFgear offers dozens of tools to help you complete simple and quick PDF tasks directly in your web browser.
https://www.pdfgear.com/
Things I tried or done this month:
---------------------------------------------------
SSTV ISS
10-14/04/2026 SSTV Series 31 commemorates several space achievements.
The ARISS Series 31 images consist in 12 pictures commemorating Cosmonauts Day, the 100th anniversary of liquid-fueled rockets, the inaugural Space Shuttle launch and SuitSat!
This time 437.550 Mhz was used which is more challenging because of the greater doppler shift (+/-10 Khz)...
I tested the SSTV capability with integrated doppler shift of the VGC VR-N76 HT, during different passes, with great success.
FreeDV RADE app Android
Lee, BX4ACP from Taiwan, has been working on Android and iOS RADE decoder apps for FreeDV!
I have been helping testing the different beta versions. It works with my 5 years old Nokia Android phone and with a 5 years old Samsung tablet on my ICOM IC-9700 and IC-7300 with good results. I got some good audio reports from different stations. This is an interesting development and great for POTA, SOTA... activities...
FreeDV RADE Android and iOS apps
https://freedv.org/rade-android-and-ios-apps/
HAMCON Leuven
This conference took place, for the 2nd time, on the 25th of april 2026 at the university of louvain (Belgium). The conference was held in English.
HAMCONBE is a forum in Belgium for the exchange of ideas among engineers, scientist, radio amateurs, researchers and students on advances in communication systems, digital signal processing, other use of radio technology and beyond.
There were about 130 participants on this conference, from LX,DL,F,PA, G, EI and ON. Many participants were Young People (not all students) in there twenties. I talk to some of them and they all had an interest to become a ham, so they came listening what it is all about.
After every presentation there was a lively Q&A with very good questions. An overview of the talks given can be found at:
https://hamcon.be/
The next (3th) edition of HAMCONBE will propably take place on the last Saturday of April 2027 in Louvain (Belgium).
Here are some reports for April 2026:
---------------------------------------------------------
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (20W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
06/04/26 FT8: dk1fg (jn59 574km)
07/04/26
FT8: mw0axa (io81 491km)
SSB: m0ghz/p (io81 402km)
26/04/26 FT8: oz2lin (jo46 697km), gm3sek (io74 665km)
27/04/26 FT8: oz2lin (jo46 697km), f5lmg (in88 529km), gw4frx (io82 475km)
432Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (20W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
08/04/26 FT8: dk0tr (jo40 421km), g4apj (io83 481km)
ISS ARISS ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA
01/04/26
I heard the ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and IQ6LN on April 1, 2026 at 11.56 UTC on 145.800 Mhz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift) in English.
Astronaut Sophie Adenot (KJ5LTN), operated the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station. Sophie answered questions from students in Italy during this live amateur radio contact.
The ARISS ground station IQ6LN in Italy wa conducting this combined radio contact for:
- Istituto Comprensivo “Gabriele D’Annunzio” Lanciano, Chieti, Italy direct via IQ6LN,
- Istituto Comprensivo “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi”, Pontedera, Italy, telebridge via IQ6LN.
09/04/2026
I heard the ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and F6KVJ on April 9, 2026 at 10:27 UTC on 145.800 Mhz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift) in French.
This is a live ARISS radio contact from the Lycée du Vimeu in Friville-Escarbotin, France.
Astronaut Sophie Adenot (KJ5LTN), operated the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station. Sophie will answer questions from students in France during this live amateur radio contact.
The same day I also heard the ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and ON4ISS on April 9, 2026 at 12:04 UTC on 145.800 Mhz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift) in French.
Astronaut Sophie Adenot (KJ5LTN), operated the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station. Sophie answered questions from students in France during this live amateur radio contact. The ARISS telebridge ground station ON4ISS in Belgium was conducting this radio contact for Albert Camus Middle School in La Norville.
10-14/04/26
An SSTV event on the ISS took place from Friday 10 april, 2026 around 12:30 UTC and ended on Tuesday 14 april, 2026 at 13:55 UTC.
The ARISS Series 31 images of 12 images wants to tributes the Cosmonauts Day, the 100th anniversary of liquid-fueled rockets, the inaugural Space Shuttle launch and SuitSat.
The SSTV transmissions are made using the amateur radio station in the ISS Service Module. The transmission frequency was 437.550 MHz FM, (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift) using SSTV mode Robot 36, scheduled 36 sec ON / 2 min OFF between each image. The ISS callsign was RS0ISS.
You are invited to upload decoded images in the ARISS gallery, area "Expedition 74 - ARISS Series 31 World Space Commemoration" at:
https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/
To support everyone interested in such events, the European Space Agency released tutorials about how to receive pictures transmitted over amateur radio by the International Space Station: you can find them on
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2020/07/How_to_get_pictures_from_the_International_Space_Station_via_amateur_radio
UMKA 1 (RS40S) ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA
18 & 19/04/26: SSTV pictures with children drawings
FO-29 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
06/04/26: FT4: om5te (jn98 1094km)
17/04/26: FT4: g1yef (io83 508km)
20/04/26: FT4: on2aco (jo11 13km)
RS-44 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
06/04/26: FT4: oz3aev (jo55 722km)
10/04/26: FT4: r4hlg (lo53 3195km), rm9c (mo07 ???)
11/04/26: FT4: f5lmg (in88 529km)
13/04/26: FT4: wb2vlm (fn10 6032km), sm3ulu (jp81 1433km)
14/04/26: FT4: ly1r (ko14 1397km), dl/pa3gan (???), w0rpr (en34 6770km)
17/04/26: FT4: ac9dx (en45 6571km)
18/04/26: FT4: ea3ta (jn11 1069km), wa8ebm (en72 6391km)
19/04/26: FT4: n2yzh (fn22 5840km), ly4aa (ko14 1424km)
20/04/26: FT4: on2aco (jo11 13km), ly1r (ko14 1397km)
21/04/26: FT4: f6krk (jn18 278km)
22/04/26: FT4: pd1b (jo32 321km)
JO-97 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
10/04/26: FT4: f6hro (in88 547km)
17/04/26: FT4: f6krk (jn18 278km)
19/04/26: FT4: f1fpl (jn09 278km)
March 2026
==========
News
--------
AX.25 Version 2.0 and Version 2.2
WB2OSZ's article is an easy to understand, high level treatment of the differences between AX.25 Version 2.0 and Version 2.2, and a good explanation of how Version 2.2 is backwards compatible / interoperable with Version 2.0. A primary feature of Version 2.2 is that implementing it...
https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf-doc/blob/main/AX.25-version-2.2.pdf
Source: Zero Retries 0244
https://www.zeroretries.radio/zero-retries-0244/
PyTNC Pro by Stefaan Desmedt KO6IKR
[My new project, PyTNC Pro,] is still in Beta, but it is APRS, Direwolf, VARA FM, etc. all in one interface.
I was a bit sick and tired of jumping around all these apps. I am looking for some feedback. Just put your radio in APRS mode, or if using VARA FM..
I am planning to do a monthly update of this.
Manual :
https://github.com/smashingwaffle/pytnc-pro/wiki
https://github.com/smashingwaffle/pytnc-pro
A FREE modern, feature-rich APRS transceiver for Windows with real-time mapping, emergency communications support, and VARA FM integration. The WIKI page is live.
Source: Zero Retries 0244
https://www.zeroretries.radio/zero-retries-0244/
Ground Station: An Open Source SDR Orchestration Platform for Satellite Tracking and Decoding
Over on GitHub, we've seen the release of a new program simply called "Ground Station", described as a full-featured, open-source software solution for satellite tracking and radio communication.
The software presents as a web-based UI that allows users to manage satellite passes, view SDR waterfall data, decode basic signals such as GMSK telemetry, view telemetry packets, synchronize TLEs, manage multiple SDR devices, browse downloaded weather imagery, monitor DSP performance, and interface with antenna rotators.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/ground-station-an-open-source-sdr-orchestration-platform-for-satellite-tracking-and-decoding/
https://github.com/sgoudelis/ground-station
Just another dashboard
https://hamdash.com/
https://hamdash.app/
KJ4WLC Ham Dashboard Real-time amateur radio data — built by Shane Burrell, KJ4WLC
https://hamradio.shaneburrell.com/
Customizable Dashboard for Ham Radio (VA3HDL)
https://github.com/VA3HDL/hamdashboard
Bridging Meshtastic to SMS/RCS
https://emergencyham.net/bridging-meshtastic-to-sms-rcs/
Helpful Technical Guides — Free Expert Downloads
https://palomar-engineers.com/ferrite-application-experts-2/RF-Detectors-c190188684
My Time With Pat…So Far (Winlink) by KC8JC
https://www.kc8jc.com/2026/03/18/my-time-with-patso-far/
Live Solar Events
https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/welcome/current-space-weather/
The "Silent Squelch": How California AB 1043 Could Kill Open Source Ham Radio
https://buymeacoffee.com/digitalrancher/the-silent-squelch-how-california-ab-1043-could-kill-open-source-ham-radio
LinHT Open-source hardware, Linux-based, SDR handheld transceiver.
https://wiki.m17foundation.org/index.php?title=LinHT
ARISS Beyond the ISS
March 4, 2026—With 25 years of experience connecting astronauts and cosmonauts to tens of thousands of kids and adults around the world via amateur radio, ARISS is plotting a course to continue our mission in the government and commercial space realm beyond the targeted decommissioning of the ISS in the 2030 timeframe.
https://ariss-usa.org/ariss-beyond-the-iss/
Satellite Status and Online Tracker
This is a list of all amateur satellites and other sats of interest. It is also a simple online tracker (click Track for a satellite). At the top you can find the best active satellites at the moment with comments from AMSAT-SM.
https://www.amsat.se/satellitstatus/
EtherHam: TechNotes
https://etherham.com/category/technotes/
High-frequency Emergency and Rural Multimedia Exchange System
The High-frequency Emergency and Rural Multimedia Exchange System, better known by its acronym, HERMES, provides affordable digital telecommunications over shortwave/HF/VHF radio using a simplified visual interface accessed via smartphone or computer, allowing for the transmission and reception of data (chat, audio, documents, photos, GPS coordinates, etc). For security, this information can be easily encrypted and password-protected by the sender. HERMES, both architecture designs and software, is free and open-source.
https://wiki.hermes.radio/index.php?title=P%C3%A1gina_principal
Discovery Drive is a low-cost, high-quality automatic satellite dish rotator designed for use with Discovery Dish and other antennas of similar size and weight, like Wi-Fi grid and Yagi antennas
Discovery Drive Promo Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-1YK6nRlIc
EME moonbounce presentation
https://ksd.uba.be/eme.html
POTACAT: Hunt POTA, SOTA, DX, RBN & more — 1-click QSY
Open Source, Free and Cross Platform
ECHO CAT Make ANY Radio a Remote Radio — 100% FREE
Introducing ECHO CAT — built into POTACAT, operate your radio from your phone's browser from anywhere.
https://potacat.com/
What If You Could Control Your Ham Radio From Anywhere? PotaCat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOUWVSQPK4Y
Casey’s K3SPB, the developper of POTACAT & ECHO CAT YT -channel
https://www.youtube.com/@k3sbp
comment: I use chome remote desktop to remote into my setup. its free, but is mainly windows i think. but i can use it on my android and operate my home system from anywhere.
Things I tried or done this month:
--------------------------------------------------
I particpated in the following VHF & up contests:
08/03/26 IARU R1 VHF contes SSB/CW on 2m & 70cm
11/03/26 FT8 activity on 70cm
On both contest conditions were poor, so no DX to report....
Here are some reports for March 2026:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Only Satelites this month... And FO-29 is alive... 30years young :)
ISS ARISS ICOM IC-9700 + vertical dipole on tripod (because of storm WX)
25/03/26
I heard the ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and LX26LV on March 25, 2026 at 15:47:34 UTC.
Astronaut Sophie Adenot (KJ5LTN), operated the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station. Sophie answered questions from students in Luxembourg during this live amateur radio contact.
Astronaut Sophie Adenot operated the amateur radio station call sign OR4ISS aboard the ISS and called the radio amateur ground station LX26LV in Luxembourg. This was a live ARISS radio contact from the Vauban, Ecole et Lycée français de Luxembourg in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
Freq: 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift) in French.
30/03/2026
I heard the radio contact at 13:28:55 UTC, between Astronaut Jack Hathaway operating the amateur radio station call sign NA1SS aboard the ISS and the radio amateur ground station call sign GB4SLS in United Kingdom. This was a live ARISS radio contact from the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys The Langton in Canterbury, UK. I heard the contact on 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift).
FO-29 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
22/03/26: FT4 om5te (jn98 1094km)
RS-44 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
14/03/26: FT4 r5ao (ko86 2305km), rm9c (mo07 +/- 3675km), sm3ulu (jp81 1433km)
15/03/26: FT4 pd7jvw (jo31 217km), n2yzh (fn22 5840km)
16/03/26: FT4 n8hrz (en91 6218km), ly1r (ko14 1397km)
17/03/26: FT4 f5rrs (jn36 600km)
18/03/26: FT4 f6hro (in88 547km), ly1r (ko14 1397km)
22/03/26: FT4 f5rrs (jn36 600km
24/03/26: FT4 om5te jn98 1094km), pa3aiw (jo21 169km), pd5jos (jo21 106km)
February 2026
============
News
---------
Hamcation AMSAT Forum 2026 | Update from Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, President AMSAT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3bp0lF4u4Y
The CubeSat Simulator is a fully open source low cost satellite emulator that runs on solar panels and batteries, transmits UHF radio telemetry, has a 3D printed frame, and can be extended by additional sensors and modules. This is an educational project sponsored by the not-for-profit Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, AMSAT®.
https://cubesatsim.org/
This Is the Worst Thing That Could Happen to the International Space Station
https://www.wired.com/story/this-is-the-worst-thing-that-could-happen-to-the-international-space-station/
PSR-100 Portable Satellite Antenna Rotator Kit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U48wa_-epeI
https://wa4mcmkits.com/
Satellite Frequency Calculator: Calculate satellite frequencies for portable operations (TNX Tim GW4VXE)
https://portableplanner.com/
Become a Tiner! Join the World's Largest Satellite Tracking Network 🛰️ (TNX Keith GM4JKZ)
https://tinygs.com/
Es'hail-2 (QO-100) Dish Pointing
https://eshail.batc.org.uk/point/
See also:
https://www.qrz.com/db/DL1BCC
Aurora forecast
https://auroraforecast.me/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.walkingbad.aurorame
Fifty Things you can do with a Software Defined Radio
https://blinry.org/50-things-with-sdr/
QFT8 Portable FT8 for Android and QMX
https://qft8.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ft8.app
QMX transceiver
https://qrp-labs.com/qmx.html
Kit: $102.47 (Assembled: $152.47)
HAMTAB
https://hamtab.net/
Replacement Backend for HamClock
Open-source, self-hostable backend replacement for HamClock — restoring live propagation data, maps, and feeds.
https://github.com/BrianWilkinsFL/open-hamclock-backend
OpenHamClock installation script
https://universityofstuff.com/technology/code/openhamclock-manager/
https://github.com/universityofstuff-com/Open-Ham-Clock-Manager
Amateur Astronomers Detect Signal Coming From Voyager 1 Spacecraft, 25 Billion Kilometers Away
https://www.iflscience.com/amateur-astronomers-detect-signal-coming-from-voyager-1-spacecraft-25-billion-kilometers-away-82455
DRAWS: Digital Radio Amateur WorkStation
DRAWS is a Raspberry Pi 3/4 hat that supports digital packet modes. That doesn’t do justice to all this device will do. It will support DIREWOLF 1200/9600, APRS, WinLink, FLDIGI, WSJT-X, and JS8Call. I think it will support software available in the magnificent HamPi project (see the HamPi wiki for more information).
You can get the board plus cables, or a full kit with case (made by C4Labs) and GPS antenna. For those of us of a digital persuasion, this is a very interesting project. For more information, please visit the NW DIGITAL RADIO support page.
https://wuwt.myshopify.com/products/draws%E2%84%A2?variant=39727287337133
Linux Commands How to limit ssh with UFW
https://linuxhint.com/limit-ssh-ufw/
DVstick30 The DVMEGA DVstick30 is the successor to the DVMEGA AMBE.
The DVMEGA AMBE remains available because it has the possibility to convert analogue audio directly into AMBE data without the intervention of other hardware.
https://www.dvmega.nl/dvstick30/
Ham Radio Software Galaxy by Ik6qrh - Best Utilities for Ham Radio
https://www.programmi-italiani.com/
AC6V Amateur Radio & DX Reference Guide
https://www.ac6v.com/
The KM6LYW Radio DigiPi Project: A Comprehensive Guide
https://hamradio.my/2024/08/the-km6lyw-radio-digipi-project-a-comprehensive-guide/
9M2PJU Amateur Radio Contesting Clock
https://hamradio.my/2026/02/9m2pju-amateur-radio-contesting-clock/
https://time.hamradio.my/
9M2PJU APRS Web Messenger
https://hamradio.my/2026/02/9m2pju-aprs-web-messenger/
https://pjuwebaprs.hamradio.my/
University of Stuff has a wealth of knowledge on topics like Amateur Radio, Communications, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, Homesteading, Technology and more.
https://universityofstuff.com/
W9BS: Now live in a single story condo in Fort Myers, FL - antennas in attic
https://www.qrz.com/db/W9BS
MSeven-M17 App for iPad
https://www.randomwire.us/p/random-wire-170-three-new-articles?open=false#%C2%A7mseven-m17-app-for-ipad
https://apps.apple.com/ph/app/mseven-m17/id6754467137
Digital Networking for Ham Radio
ARRL’s new book, Digital Networking for Ham Radio, a practical, hands-on guide to designing and implementing high-speed data networks for amateur radio stations, is now shipping.
https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2080295689
Multiple Digital Voice Modes on Android with the DVstick 30 by Tom Salzer
https://etherham.com/multiple-digital-voice-modes-on-android-with-the-dvstick-30/
KENWOOD NEXEDGE Portable Radios NX-3320 for NXDN
https://comms.kenwood.com/en/products/model.php?model=NX-3320
Decodium is the name of the FT2 mode WSJT-X Fork developed by IU8LMC that implements the fastest digital mode allowing 3.8 sec cycles allowing to reach the 240 QSOs per hour. WSJT-X FT2 software can be downloaded from this web site. Being an experimental release the source may change in the future.
https://www.dxzone.com/dx36670/wsjt-x-ft2-fork-decodium.html
https://hampass.com/ft2
https://www.ft2.it/
(TNX ON2ACO)
WSJT-X Improved by dg2ycb introduced now also the new open-source FT2 mode!
https://sourceforge.net/projects/wsjt-x-improved/files/WSJT-X_v3.1.0/
Everything on APRS by KM4ACK
https://app.simplenote.com/p/4DjTMY
MeshCom - a New "Meshxxx" Variant Specifically for Hams
Informative email from Robert Walker HB9XBO:
There's another LoRa mesh system that you might not be aware of another - MeshCom. Similar to Meshtastic, there is an Austrian development called MeshCom (separate from Meshcore) which started a few years ago and which has gained a lot of traction recently from Spain to Finland on 433MHz, notably OE, DL and I, with HB9 now coming to the party.
See site:
https://icssw.org/en/meshcom/ see map:
https://mcmap.oevsv.at/ So what's the difference? As I gather so far, Meshtastic is for anyone, Meshcore has its focus on off grid mesh (e.g. preppers) and is popular in the UK, but MeshCom is specifically for Hams: it combines LoRa on 433MHz, gateways which attach themselves to the MeshCom server via WiFi (thus enabling a dashboard, see
https://meshcom.oevsv.at/ ) and feeding the APRS network. Yes, MeshCom nodes show up on aprs.fi.
Small excerpt from the referenced MeshCom 4.0 page:
MeshCom 4.0
MeshCom is a project to exchange text messages via LORA radio modules. The primary goal is to realize networked off-grid messaging with low power and low cost hardware.
The technical approach is based on the use of LORA radio modules which transmit messages, positions, measured values, telecontrol and much more with low transmission power over long distances. MeshCom modules can be combined to form a mesh network, but can also be connected to a message network via MeshCom gateways, which are ideally connected via HAMNET. This enables MeshCom radio networks, which are not connected to each other via radio, to communicate with each other.
Wow... HAMNET is quite a heterogeneous network, integrating with everything from legacy Packet Radio, to New Packet Radio, I'm sure some connectivity via QO-100, and now adding LoRa-based MeshCom. Impressive!
Source:
https://www.zeroretries.radio/zero-retries-0235/
I quickly found my way to Dan Srebnick K2IE's blog page Amateur Radio Paging which gave some quick pointers to get up to speed on the subject. I'd forgotten that in Europe there is the Decentralized Amateur Paging Network (DAPNET). At the moment, my "pager itch" doesn't run deep enough to become a DAPNET node. In my noodling around, I found this interesting article Ham Radio Paging Putting POCSAG On Packet and a book PAGER HANDBOOK for the Radio Amateur, both by Phil Anderson W0XI (Silent Keyboard).
Source:
https://www.zeroretries.radio/zero-retries-0235/
Meshcore map
https://map.axistem.eu/?cluster=11&zoom=12&lat=51.0535&lon=3.5287
Meshtastic: Via tools MeshMap see who is active in your region.
https://meshmap.net/
Two Tech Minds Videos
Intercept Radio Signals For Intelligence Gathering With An RTL SDR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcF1MNCpfac
Matthew Miller M0DQW on his Tech Minds YouTube channel:
Here we take a look at a new software for RF Signal Intelligence. Intercept is a free download and can be installed on OSX and Linux based machines, providing a quick and easy solution to using the most popular RTLSDR decoding packages.
My thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly Issue 404, and Zero Retries Pseudostaffer Cale Mooth K4HCK, for the first mention that I saw of this video. Amateur Radio Weekly is an excellent Zero Retries Interesting "read it right now" publication.
This is NOT a normal Radio! But it can do amazing things!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l_0z_MBgQ8
Matthew Miller M0DQW on his Tech Minds YouTube channel:
In this video we take a look at a B210 clone and use GBU Radio to test its features. Is this the perfect setup for RF Hacking and Cracking or is it just an extreme learning tool?
Ham Radio All-in-one-Cable
The AIOC is a small adapter with a USB-C connector that enumerates itself as a sound-card (e.g. for APRS purposes), a virtual tty ("COM Port") for programming and asserting the PTT (Push-To-Talk) as well as a CM108 compatible HID endpoint for CM108-style PTT (new in firmware version 1.2.0).
https://github.com/skuep/AIOC
Downloadable SharkRF Link app
https://www.sharkrf.com/products/sharkrf-link-app/
Things I tried or done this month:
---------------------------------------------------
In my local radioclub TLS-ARCDP in De Pinte we have now a D-star repeater (ON0TLS) , Thanks to Patrick (ON4PN). De club organised 2 training sessions by Patrick (ON4PN) on saturday mornings for members and non-members to learn to program and use there D-star radios. A very good initiative!
I wrote a review for the WIMO-blog: "Experience report from ON8NT – VGC VR-N76 APRS handheld radio in practical testing"
https://www.wimo.com/en/blog/post/vgc-vr-n76-user-report-on8nt (Engish)
https://www.wimo.com/fr/blog/post/vgc-vr-n76-rapport-d-experience-on8nt (French - Français)
https://www.wimo.com/de/blog/post/vgc-vr-n76-erfahrungsbericht-on8nt (German- Deutsch)
I participated in the LABRE Celebrates 92 Years with SSTV Event (between 6 and 9 February via UMKHA-1)
https://www.labre.org.br/labre-92-anos-transmissoes-em-sstv-valem-certificado-especial/
https://twiar.net/?p=39416
Award
https://hampass.com/labre-sstv
Short USB-C 12V PD Cable for use with 5V powerbank (Tnx Adriane DL8BDT)
https://digirig.net/product/short-usb-c-12v-pd-cable/
It‘s important that it is a PD cable and that the powerbank works with pd.
OpenHamClock - Amateur Radio Dashboard
https://openhamclock.com/
https://github.com/accius/openhamclock?tab=readme-ov-file
https://github.com/accius/openhamclock
Here are some reports for February 2026:
---------------------------------------------------------------
144Mhz ICOM IC-9700 (26W) + 5 el LPDA *** +400km & special stations ****
03/02/26 CW: g0ltg/p (io81 418km)
25/02/26 FT8: g0jcc (io82 455km)
ISS ARISS ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA
05/02/26: ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and ON4ISS
Astronaut Chris Williams (KJ5GEW) operated the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station.
Chris answered questions from students in Belgium during this live amateur radio contact.
The ARISS telebridge ground station ON4ISS in Belgium was conducting this radio contact for Klimop Tongeren, Tongeren-Borgloon, Belgium on 145.800 MHz.
At 10:45 UTC the same day I heard the Russian Crew talking to a Russian school: By keeping my Android smartphone with the Deepl app, to the speaker of my RTX, I could translate some Russian into Dutch...
UMKA 1 (RS40S) ICOM IC-9700 + 5 el LPDA
6 -> 9/02/26: I copied several SSTV pictures from the "LABRE Celebrates 92 Years" Event
https://www.labre.org.br/labre-92-anos-transmissoes-em-sstv-valem-certificado-especial/
https://twiar.net/?p=39416
Award
https://hampass.com/labre-sstv
RS-44 ICOM IC-9700 + Diamond V2000 vertical
06/02/26: FT4: ea3ea (jn01 1073km), pa3gan (jo21 106km)
January 2026
===========
News
---------
Getting Started with FreeDV: A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Voice on Amateur Radio (also for VHF & up...)
https://vu3dxr.in/getting-started-with-freedv-a-beginners-guide-to-digital-voice-on-amateur-radio/
https://www.haminfo.be/freedv/ (in Dutch)
https://gadgeteer.co.za/hamradio/freedv-hf-digital-voice-for-amateur-radio/
https://evoham.com/freedv-for-beginners/
Open Source HF Digital Voice for Amateur Radio, some interesting background videos on FreeDV RADE (also for VHF & UHF...):
https://g4urh.co.uk/amateur_radio/digital_voice.php
FreeDV groups
https://groups.google.com/g/digitalvoice
FreeDATA
- Data rates up to 9800 bps using 1700 Hz bandwidth.
- Open source project, uses the OFDM waveform technology developed for FreeDV Amateur Radio Digital Voice mode for HF, adapted to transport data instead of digital voice.
- Download and information at
https://freedata.app.
- Usable for network communications, includes a messaging system.
Aurora: what is it? + some good videos explaining Aurora...
https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Aurora
Raspberry Pi 5 Setup for Beginners 🔥 | OS Install, Testing
https://www.hackster.io/abhishek-maurya/raspberry-pi-5-setup-for-beginners-os-install-testing-47b74e
UV-PRO Firmware Changelog
https://baofengtech.com/uv-pro-firmware-changelog/
K8ZT Anthony gave some excellent presentation for our ZOOM sessions in the Pennine Ham radio club, those presentations and a lot more on different ham related themes can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQgcu0BwQV2jpyk0h0_BB-1mIOxTQzLCRZJlQMJgVVG2Hz58_HjjaP9FFhAL1fQsUtBp8EYTCrOUFlw/pubhtml
https://www.k8zt.com/
See also RATPAC videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCibJ6udzA17wU8h5fM8w3Gw/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0
Next-Generation Digital Amateur Radio Infrastructure
Experience lightning-fast WireGuard tunnels, enterprise-grade BGP routing, and seamless 44net integration. Built for the modern ham radio operator.
https://connect.44net.cloud/
APRS Resources
https://how.aprs.works/
Source
https://www.zeroretries.org/p/zero-retries-0234
Droidstar by VU3LVO - Rohith
The Android version will no longer be maintained, at least for the near future. Due to the complexity of maintaining both iOS and Android versions simultaneously, Rohith made the decision to focus exclusively on iOS development.
https://github.com/rohithzmoi/Droidstar-DMR
A new version of RX-SSTV is avalable in the Files section (for rception of SSTV grom ISS):
https://on6mu.groups.io/g/ON6MU/files/Setup_RXSSTV.exe
GridMapper - Grid and Station Locator - V.3
Find the hams in your grid square:
https://www.qrz.com/gridmapper
What 3 Words? – Maidenhead Grid Squares!
https://hamradiooutsidethebox.ca/2025/04/09/what-3-words-maidenhead-grid-squares/
Clint's Page(s) KA7OEI
https://www.ka7oei.com/
https://ka7oei.blogspot.com/
Reducing QRM (interference) from a Renogy 200 watt (or any other!) portable solar panel system
https://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2024/06/reducing-qrm-interference-from-renogy.html
Quieting an insanely (RFI) noisy LED floodlight
https://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2019/03/quieting-insanely-rfi-noisy-led.html
All kind of antenna projects for VHF/UHF and HF from VU3DXR
https://vu3dxr.in/antenna-projects/
Some Interesting projects and articles from PC7MM (in English)
https://www.qrz.com/db/PC7MM
some interesting projects
https://ianrenton.com/
“Field Spotter” is an easy-to-use, mobile-first Amateur Radio spotting tool for POTA, SOTA & WWFF. It provides a geographical and band position display, with filtering, to allow you to easily find park-to-park and summit-to-summit contacts.
https://ianrenton.com/projects/field-spotter/
https://fieldspotter.radio/
SOTA LORA tracker
https://sota-shop.co.uk/products/Other%20Merchandise/?pg=2
SOTA cards
https://sotl.as/
SOTA Challenge 2026
2m & 70cm SSB & CW!
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/2026-sota-challenge-part-1/39799
logs & results
http://qrpfr.free.fr/challenge/resultats.php?tri=kmw
POTA tips & ideas
https://wv1w.us/pota.html
Ham Radio Outside the Box
Antennas, POTA...
https://hamradiooutsidethebox.ca/
KM4ACK blog
https://km4ack.blogspot.com/
Repeater-START
https://vk3tbs.home.blog/2025/11/28/repeater-start/
https://hearham.com/repeaters
digital qsl (tnx Nick, G4IWO)
https://digiqsl.com/
APRSBOT with Store & Forward Capabilities
https://github.com/wspivak/APRSBOT-SF
Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate
This Recommendation is also implemented by the following Non-CEPT countries (see Annex 4 of the Recommendation for details): Australia, Curacao, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
https://docdb.cept.org/document/926
https://docdb.cept.org/download/2569
CEPT Novice Radio Amateur Licence
https://docdb.cept.org/document/1024
https://docdb.cept.org/download/4413
Webmorserunner
webbased morse trainer for contests. runs on any platform...
https://fritzsche.github.io/WebMorseRunner/
DVRef
Where you can search for digital reflectors (D-Star, YSF, DMR...):
https://dvref.com/
JS8Call Android port
BETA release candidates available! Now supports hamlib for rig control, meaning it should work properly with any radio that hamlib supports!
All of the basic features should work, and it seems pretty stable so have at it!
It works with me on HF, but can also work on VHF, to have a real keyboard to keyboard QSO's with the benefits of FT8 decode better than -20db SNR...
Releases
https://github.com/JS8Call-improved/Android-port/releases
More info
https://github.com/JS8Call-improved/Android-port
View live feeds of Amateur Radio Television transmissions, including from QO-100 sat:
https://batc.org.uk/live/
https://eshail.batc.org.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/@qo100datvwwnet9
Live Contacts using Amateur Radio between students and astronauts on the International Space Station.
https://live.ariss.org/
DL6YCL QO-100 information in German
https://www.qrz.com/db/DL6YCL
Things I tried or done this month:
---------------------------------------------------
I played with the Port of JS8Call for Android on my 5 years old tablet, making some QSO's on HF, works great... JS8call should be more used on VHF & UHF, and is ideal for POTA/SOTA... to have a real keyboard to keyboard QSO's/chat with the benefits of FT8 decode better than -20db SNR...
Here are some reports for January 2026:
-------------------------------------------------------------
No report this month, conditions on VHF and up has been very weak, or I was not on the radio at the right place or time... Worked some stations less than 400 km however... the usual suspects in contests...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ON8NT in JO11RC
Allstar 55066
Pennine Ham Digital net (D-star + DMR) on Thursday 19.30 BT on XLX305D, everyone is welcome!
see the dashboard:
http://xlx.m5adi.com/
Pennine ZOOM meetings on Wednesdays, see calendar on:
https://www.pennineham.org.uk/ everyone is welcome!
Picture exchange in D-STAR: REF030D
https://ref030.dstargateway.org/
Picture exchange net in D-STAR Wednesday 18.00 UTC & Thursday 01.30 UTC on REF030D
ON8NT website:
https://www.on8nt.be/
UBA - TLS My local club:
http://tls.uba.be/
I'm a member of Pennine Ham (UK): Interesting online club with an international membership!
https://www.pennineham.org.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpCSL90AosC5sF8C_m2US9A