Foundations of Amateur Radio
Contesting is a fun way to learn about amateur radio. It tests your skill, your station, your patience and your ability to change approach at a moments notice. For those reasons alone it’s an activity that I recommend you have a go at

FCC proposes charging amateur radio license fees
In the USA amateur radio licenses are, like the UK, free of charge but now the FCC is proposing imposing a charge of $50 for a new license or a renewal

Radio Emma Toc World Service
Programme Contents – a look at – two documentaries about 1920’s radio – ‘Radio Sings’ & ‘Sounds From The Ether’, the BBC Antarctica Midwinter broadcast, Radio Caroline memories, RadioShack’s ‘Sounds of SW’, and hello to listeners.

Trans-Atlantic opening on 144 MHz between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean
story: There was a remarkable trans-Atlantic tropo opening on 144 MHz the 27th and 28th of August 2020 between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean. Several stations on the island of Tenerife managed to make successful contacts on FT8 and SSB with stations on Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe and Martinique.

VK6WIA NewsWest
In NewsWest for Sunday 30th August 2020 we focus our attention on new Amateurs.

Propagation de K7RA
Our closest star seems to have quieted again. We have now experienced seven consecutive days with no sunspots at al

Hurricane Laura: ARRL asks FCC to allow Pactor 3 and 4
Another hurricane and yet again the ARRL has to ask for a special waiver from the FCC to use what are elsewhere a routine amateur radio digital modes

Ham radio ISS contact in UK press
The UK newspaper the Daily Mail featured an article about the amateur radio contact between Canadian students and ISS astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR

ARRL Board elects new CEO
The ARRL Board of Directors has elected David Minster, NA2AA, of Wayne, New Jersey, as ARRL’s new Chief Executive Officer, starting on September 28

London Air Ambulance GB1LAA
This year’s International Air Ambulance Week will take place between 5th – 13th September 2020, with the focus on supporting and generating donations for flying medical services around the world

The sun is swallowing a comet
A comet discovered just yesterday is diving into the sun. As you might expect, it’s not going well for the comet

DX News from the ARRL
The American Radio Relay League’s round-up of the forthcoming week’s DX activity on the amateur radio bands