Amateur Radio Daily

Helioclock Review: An In-Depth Look at a Well-Crafted Situational Awareness Display

2026-09-12T00:00:00Z

By Cale Mooth (K4HCK) Amateur Radio Daily

Anthony (KA9NWM), the creator of Helioclock, was kind enough to send along the Live USB Stick version of Helioclock for me to review. I've been evaluating Helioclock in my shack and home office over the last two weeks.

There has been a deluge of ham radio focused, situational awareness "dashboards" that have entered the market over the past several months. Some are free and some cost hundreds of dollars. I've been a HamClock user for many years, and full disclosure, I've contributed code to the Open Ham Clock Backend project to help keep HamClock running. I've also been a regular user of Open Ham Clock since it was released earlier this year. There are many others including DXLook, Ham Radio dashboard, HamDash, 73QRZ, HAM-HQ, and on and on. Most aren't great. A few are very good.

Until recently, there were only two main players in the situational awareness dashboard space and that was Geochron and HamClock. Geochron is the gold standard, exquisitely crafted (and very pricey), while HamClock provides similar information in a more utilitarian package at the low price of free.

Where does Helioclock fit on the spectrum? A beautiful and well-designed display piece that gives Geochron a run for both its price and design.

Setting up and customizing Helioclock

For this review I ran Helioclock on my old gaming rig with 16GB of RAM and a graphics card capable of pushing the full 4K experience to a 55 inch 4K television. Helioclock's minimum specs support a Raspberry Pi 4, so it should be quite capable on a range of hardware.

Helioclock was easy to set up using the Live USB Stick. I plugged it into my rig, pointed the BIOS at the USB stick, and everything just worked. Without a single click or press of a key, a default version of Helioclock starts up, ready to be customized.

I tend to blindly click around in these initial states simply exploring and trying to figure things out for myself. Initial customization steps aren't incredibly intuitive so I would recommend at least glancing at the documentation and getting some queues from the keyboard shortcuts section.

Muscle memory sets in quickly, but then you're presented with a new challenge: The sheer amount of potential information and widgets to display.

I won't list every data point that Helioclock provides, but if you can imagine it, it's probably there. I'll call out a few that are unique or presented in a unique way:

Tropical storms including tracking cones
Visible Planets
Best Band Now
FAA Weathercams

After using Helioclock for a few days it becomes clear that there are two main user types that this device is catering to. Hams, and non-hams that may be interested in weather, planetary events, news, and astronomy. Helioclock provides a pulse on all of these things. The weather focus makes sense considering the author's background as a meteorologist and producer of weather graphics and systems for broadcast television.

I'm rarely on the air with my ham activities. (Too much time spent sifting through content on the internet for my weekly amateur radio newsletter.) As a result, I gravitated more toward the weather and planetary event aspect of Helioclock, eventually turning off most of the ham radio related information. (All the ham info is there. DX spots, PSKreporter integration, WSJT-X integration, POTA, SOTA, satellites, and more.)

The result is a beautiful world map with plenty of eye candy, from lightning strikes to aurora, tropical storms, and a news crawl of my favorite news sites. (You can import any news source with an RSS feed.) At a glance from across the room, Helioclock feels polished, looks professional, and is quite visually interesting. It's a wonderful addition to a techie space such as a ham shack, home office, or even a corporate environment. It looks like an interface you might find in a sci-fi movie, and absolutely worth the $40 to get started.

Let's talk design

I was a designer in a previous career (including designing graphics for broadcast television!) and to this day I can't avoid looking at everything with a designer's eye. I notice every little detail and many times I wish I didn't. Most readers of this section won't notice or care about what I'm pointing out. For the slim percentage of you that do, it's not a deal-breaker.

There are some picky issues such as the satellite imagery not spanning the full map (due to NOAA sats not covering the poles) and the lack of smooth scrolling of the news feed. (This can probably be fixed with some fancy CSS hacks.) The overall style is very "high-tech," even movie UI-esque, but it also looks like a lot of the AI generated web applications out there in terms of color and typographic choices. This one is better than most, but if that style knocks you over every time you see it, be prepared. To be fair, in this context, that style can work really well.

The only major design issue I struggle with is whether Helioclock should be viewed from across the room, or up close on a desk. I don't think Helioclock has figured that out quite yet. Maybe the intent is both. For example, sitting at my workstation, Helioclock is three feet away on a 55 inch 4K TV. The map looks great and is readable. I can pick out every state and country, timezones, POTA spots, etc. What I can't read is most of the information in the panels. The typography is set very small. The information panels, including the clocks, are completely illegible across the room. (Sizing can be adjusted by reducing the resolution to 1080 or simply hitting control+plus on the keyboard.)

Conversely, standing next to the TV, I can read everything, to the point where I have to physically move my head to take everything in. I'd be very curious to try Helioclock on a small monitor next to my desk and see if that might be a better experience for me since I'm interested in the information within the panels.

If the goal is eye candy across the room, none of this really applies.

Helioclock vs. HamClock vs. Geochron

There's really no comparison between Helioclock and HamClock other than they present a lot of the same data points. HamClock feels dated and archaic next to Helioclock's modern design and high resolution maps. It's 1996 vs. 2036.

The most interesting comparison in my view is Helioclock vs. Geochron. Helioclock is very much a contender with the Geochron offering, especially in terms of visual presentation and available data layers. Helioclock provides a very similar experience at $500 less and no recurring subscription for additional data layers. If I were Geochron, I'd be watching Helioclock closely, especially with regard to Atlas.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of Helioclock and Geochron at Hunstville Hamfest:

Post by @K4HCK@mastodon.radio

View on Mastodon

Final thoughts

This review really only scratches the surface of what Helioclock is capable of. If I had more time I'd go much deeper into the ham radio related data points and the SDR integration that is also a key feature. Perhaps another review is in store for the future.

Overall, Helioclock is one of if not the best situational awareness display available. While not free, it really is a steal at $40 if you have an old PC or Raspberry Pi laying around. A fully purpose-built appliance for individual and multiple displays starts at $369 at the time of this writing. I highly recommend picking one up!

Source: Amateur Radio Daily

Fire Prevention Week Special Event Highlights Fire Safety

2026-09-11T00:00:00Z

This year, Fire Prevention Week will be from Sunday October 4th through Saturday October 10th. In Ontario we will be using special event call sign VE3FIRE, operating as a Wild Card station, and in the US there will be stations using the call signs N0F through N9F along with KF2IRE, another Wild Card station. All twelve stations are working to highlight fire safety regarding the charging of lithium-ion batteries during Fire Prevention Week.

This event is not a contest. As we make contact with hams worldwide, this is more of a public service event where we will be giving tips to our contacts about the possible hazards inherent in overcharging lithium-ion batteries and tips on how to use and charge these batteries safely.

While this event is not a contest, a downloadable printed certificate will be available for those who work ten or more of the twelve stations. More about getting the certificate is available on the hamfire.com information site and QSL information is available on the VE3FIRE QRZ page.

Source: HamFire

Activate All RI POTA Event

2026-09-10T00:00:00Z

Activate All RI aims to get all 61 of Rhode Island POTA parks on the air September 11–13. Think of it as a POTA take on a state QSO party: get a bunch of us out operating and give everyone else a weekend of Rhode Island parks to chase. Activating every park in a state over one weekend is one of those things we can actually tackle because we’re so tiny. Might as well put that to good use!

We start at 0600 EDT Friday September 11th and end 1800 EDT September 13th.

For hunters, it’s a chance to fill in missing parks toward Worked All RI, or just chase a few of us from home or park-to-park. The website has an activation schedule, live RI spots, and a tool that lets hunters import their POTA hunted-parks history and get a schedule for just the parks they still need.

Source: Rhode Island POTA

SafecomLink for Pactor – Hamradio Edition Launches in the WiMo Store

2026-09-09T00:00:00Z

The following is a press release from SafecomLink:

The Software Behind the Next Generation of Pactor Modems

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 1, 2026 WiMo & SafecomLink today announced that SafecomLink for Pactor – Hamradio Edition is now available through WiMo Antennen und Elektronik GmbH, one of the world’s leading suppliers of radio-communications and antenna technology, serving the amateur radio, professional and commercial radio, aviation, marine, and industrial markets. Developed in close collaboration with the WiMo and SCS (Special Communications Systems) teams, the release brings the full power of the SafecomLink platform to the Pactor community, sold either bundled with a Pactor modem or as a standalone license, and positioned as the software that brings SCS’s new generation of modems to life.

OVERVIEW & AVAILABILITY

A software platform, purpose-built for Pactor

SafecomLink for Pactor – Hamradio Edition turns an SCS Pactor modem and a standard HF transceiver into a complete, modern HF digital-communications system, reliable long-range messaging, file transfer, internet email gateway, and AI-powered information access, the same capabilities trusted by 90,000-plus users worldwide, now tuned for the amateur-radio operator running Pactor. Crucially, SafecomLink integrates with every one of the modem’s features driving the hardware natively and exposing its full feature set through one clean, unified interface.

It is offered in the WiMo store three ways:

Bundled with a DR-9400 Pactor modem (ready to operate out of the box)
As a standalone 2-year license
As a standalone lifetime license

THE COLLABORATION

Built hand-in-hand by WiMo, SCS, and SafecomLink

This launch is the product of a deep, months-long collaboration between the SafecomLink, WiMo, and SCS engineering teams. Drawing on SafecomLink’s long experience with amateur-radio operators and a close understanding of their real-world needs, SCS developed and refined modem features specifically to support SafecomLink’s requirements, so the hardware and the software were engineered around the same goals from the start.

For years we’ve listened closely to what ham operators actually need on the air, and in SCS and WiMo we found partners ready to build toward that vision with us. SCS shaped real modem capabilities around our requirements, WiMo made it effortless to put in operators’ hands, and the result is something none of us could have delivered alone. – Irad Deutsch, General Manager, SafecomLink

As engineers we care about one thing in the end: does it work flawlessly for the operator. Building these modem features hand-in-hand with SafecomLink is how we made sure the answer is yes, every time. – Hans-Peter Helfert, Pactor Engineering, SCS

Our customers want gear that simply works together, and that is exactly what this partnership delivers. SafecomLink’s understanding of the operator is remarkable, and pairing it with SCS’s modems in our store was an easy decision. We’re proud to bring this combination to the amateur-radio community. – Uli Zehndbauer, WiMo Antennen und Elektronik GmbH

WHY IT MATTERS
For the operator, the value is direct: a single, supported platform that unlocks the entire feature set of the Pactor modem, backed by three organizations working as one: hardware and software designed to work together, sold and supported through a trusted retailer, with the assurance that the software will keep pace as the modems evolve.

About WiMo & SCS
WiMo is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of amateur radio and radio communication equipment, serving the amateur radio community with a comprehensive range of antennas, radios, accessories, and technical solutions. SCS is the inventor of PACTOR, a protocol and line of HF radio modems used globally by sailors, ham operators, and emergency teams for reliable data communication.

About SafecomLink
SafecomLink is a grid-independent radio-data platform that turns standard HF, VHF, and UHF radios into sophisticated digital communication systems, reliable long-range messaging, file transfer, email gateway, and AI-powered information access even when traditional networks fail. With more than 90,000 users worldwide and support for 100+ radio models.

Learn more:

https://www.wimo.com/en/scs-pxdragon-dr-9400
https://safecomlink.com/plans-hamradio-operators

SafecomLink 1178 Broadway, New York, NY 10001 United States Website: https://www.safecomlink.com/

Source: SafecomLink

HAARP Notice of Transmission

2026-09-08T00:00:00Z

The following is a message from the HAARP Program Office:

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will be conducting a research campaign September 8 – 11 UTC, with operating times specified in the table below. Operating frequencies will vary, but all HAARP transmissions will be between 2.8 MHz and 10 MHz. Actual transmit days and times are highly variable based on real-time ionospheric and/or geomagnetic conditions. All information is subject to change.

Note that, because the experiments generally require real-time schedule and frequency adjustments based on ionospheric conditions, no frequencies are specified in the table below. The included transmission notice supplement contains information on the frequencies HAARP is authorized to transmit. HAARP transmissions will only occur on our authorized frequencies. There are no specific data collection requests by investigators, but reception reports are appreciated and may be submitted to our online form at https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/form/reception-reports.

Transmission Schedule

September 8
0100-0500
1700-2230

September 9
1400-1800

September 10
1200-1600

September 11
0200-0700

For updates on ionospheric conditions in Gakona, please consult ionograms from the HAARP Diagnostic Suite: https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/diagnostic-suite

Resources for Reading Ionograms

Understanding HF Propagation and Reading Ionograms from Bootstrap Workbench: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTFKNCo3Cl8

Reading Your Ionogram-Keeping It Simple from John (VE6EY): https://play.fallows.ca/wp/radio/shortwave-radio/reading-your-ionogram-keeping-it-simple/

Source: HAARP

APRS Connect: A Messaging-First APRS Client for Android, Free Over APRS-IS

2026-09-04T00:00:00Z

The following is a message from APRS Connect:

APRS Connect is a new APRS client for Android, built around conversations rather than a packet console. It is free to install and use over APRS-IS. APRS Connect Pro, a subscription after a 7-day free trial, adds radio connections, offline map downloads, the radar layer, track export, extra beacon profiles and capture replay. An iOS version is in progress.

Most of what answers on APRS is a bot that expects exact wording. APRS Connect keeps a directory of 22 of them and gives each a guided screen instead of a command to memorize: WXBOT and WXNOW weather, the REPEAT repeater finder, WHO-IS lookup, the SMS, email, Winlink and WhatsApp gateways, the QRX missed-message mailbox, APSPOT and APRS2SOTA self-spotting, and ANSRVR group nets. The exact packet each button will send can be shown before it goes out, and you can always type a command by hand instead. #APRSThursday and other ANSRVR groups appear as a single net room rather than a thread per stranger, and APRS OTA ops can be hosted and chased from one screen.

Messages are kept as one thread per station, with delivery state on every message and automatic retries. All of this is in the free app.

With Pro, the app connects to KISS TNCs over Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth LE, USB serial, or TCP, or to a radio's speaker and mic through a built-in AFSK 1200 audio modem with VOX or wired PTT. Several links can run at once as named channels, alongside APRS-IS, and every received frame is tagged with the link that carried it.

The map is a vector basemap rendered on the phone. Every tile you view is cached and redraws with no connection; whole regions download ahead of a trip with Pro. Every frame heard is stored and decoded field by field in the packet log, which can be filtered and exported as a capture file.

More at https://aprsconnect.com, with what is free and what Pro adds at https://aprsconnect.com/docs/free-and-pro and the full feature list at https://aprsconnect.com/features. Google Play: https://aprsconnect.com/get/89x5bv.

Source: APRS Connect

Software Fix Keeps Veritium HFClock Running

2026-09-03T00:00:00Z

Users of the Veritium HFClock now have a fix available to keep their HamClock based device functional. N2TBN and AI4Y have teamed up to provide detailed, step-by-step directions aimed at getting Veritium HFClocks working again. The procedure requires removing the rear panel and flashing the device's firmware.

Once the new firmware is applied, users will run through a few brief setup steps and HFClock will continue to operate.

HFClock owners can download PDF instructions that describe how to fix their device.

Source: AI4Y

Call Sign WB4MZ0 (Numeral Zero)

2026-09-01T00:00:00Z

By Rob Rosenberger (K4HST)

The FCC erroneously issued call sign "WB4MZ0" (numeral zero) on December 5, 1994 to the Wedixie Amateur Radio Club in Marietta, Georgia. Somebody typed it wrong into the FCC's database. The club's call sign trustee, David Budner WA4PUB, perhaps didn't notice it? The club never brought it up to the FCC.

Four-and-a-half years went by. The FCC's database continued to grow. And WB4MZ0 remained an active call sign!

In mid-1999, the FCC prepared to elevate its ULS database as the "system of record" for all call signs. That's when somebody (perhaps a database administrator?) discovered the error.

The FCC researched it and they discovered "WB4MZO" (letter) had not yet been assigned. On July 21, 1999 they canceled WB4MZ0 and issued WB4MZO to the club.

Twenty-six days later, on August 16, 1999, the FCC declared its ULS database the "system of record." Its underlying software now handles all call signs. No one manually types an amateur call sign.

If you download the ULS files, you'll see five relational database records for WB4MZ0. And you'll see nine relational database records for WB4MZO.

Wedixie Amateur Radio Club disbanded and canceled its call sign on February 22, 2024. The "O" (letter) call sign became available for vanity assignment on February 23, 2026. If you know any elmers in Marietta, ask them for more details about it!

Source: K4HST

Special Event Station CS5AIRA/M to Activate São Jacinto Military Area

2026-08-31T00:00:00Z

The following is a message from Association International Radio Amateur (AIRA):

AIRA - Special Activation, São Jacinto Military Area, Infantry Regiment No. 10. On September 12, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, AIRA will promote the activation of Infantry Regiment No. 10, located in Aveiro. We invite amateur radio operators and enthusiasts to participate in this special activity. The call sign will be CS5AIRA/M.

The activity will take place on the 20 and 40-meter bands, VHF, and UHF, including connections through the LART Lusophone Network, as well as on the DMR Digital Network via Talkgroup 268 and Talkgroup 91 on the BrandMeister platform. More information is available on the AIRA website.

AIRA - Activacao Especial, Area Militar de Sao Jacinto, Regimento de Infantaria Nº10. No dia 12 de Setembro de 2026, das 10h00 às 17h00, a AIRA promoverá a ativação do Regimento de Infantaria Nº10, localizado em Aveiro. Convidamos radioamadores e entusiastas a participarem nesta atividade especial. O indicativo será CS5AIRA/M.

A atividade ocorrerá nas bandas de 20 e 40 metros, VHF e UHF, incluindo ligações pela Rede Lusófona LART, bem como na Rede Digital DMR pelo Talkgroup 268 e Talkgroup 91 na plataforma BrandMeister. Mais informações no site da AIRA.

Source: AIRA

EN100NP on the Air to Honor 100th Anniversary of Symon Petlura

2026-08-30T00:00:00Z

The following is a message from UR5NBC:

Special event callsign EN100NP for the 100 Years memory Symon Petlura will be active till 31 December 2026 from Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

EN100NP is the special event callsign for the 100 Years memory Symon Petlura an outstanding Ukrainian statesman, politician and military figure, Chairman of the Directory of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) and Chief Ataman of the Army and Navy of the UNR. Callsign will be operating from the 8 June till 31 December 2026.

In order to receive the associated diploma, hams will need to gather 100 points worth of QSOs from various Ukrainian stations. More information is available on the UR4NWW website.

Source: UR5NBC

Zero Retries Digital Conference (ZRDC) 2026 to Bring Amateur Radio Technology and Innovation to San Ramon

2026-08-28T00:00:00Z

The following is a press release from Zero Retries Digital Conference:

SAN RAMON, Calif. — The Zero Retries Digital Conference (ZRDC) 2026 will bring together amateur radio operators, technology enthusiasts, engineers, experimenters, and innovators on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Roundhouse Conference Center in San Ramon, California.

Now in its second year, ZRDC is dedicated to the technological side of amateur radio, with an emphasis on digital communications, experimentation, emerging technologies, and the innovative projects shaping the future of amateur radio. Topics are expected to include digital voice and data, software-defined radio, amateur radio networking, new modulation technologies, satellite communications, and other innovative applications.

The conference will feature presentations from individuals actively developing and experimenting with new technologies for amateur radio. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about current projects, exchange ideas, and connect with others interested in applying modern computing, networking, software, and communications technology to amateur radio. The conference will also provide an opportunity to look back at projects presented at the inaugural ZRDC in 2025 and report on their progress.

“Amateur radio has always been a place where people experiment with technology,” said Steve Stroh, N8GNJ, Editor of Zero Retries. “Today, radios are increasingly computers - with antennas - and the opportunities for innovation in amateur radio are greater than ever.”

Tina Stroh, KD7WSF, ZRDC Conference Manager, said, “Our goal is to bring together people who are excited about where amateur radio technology is going and provide a place where they can share what they are building, experimenting with, and learning.”

ZRDC 2026 will take place in San Ramon during the same weekend as Pacificon 2026, which will be held at the nearby San Ramon Marriott. ZRDC and Pacificon are independent events with separate registration. The proximity of the two conferences provides attendees with a unique opportunity to participate in both events during the same trip.

About Zero Retries Digital Conference

Registration:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8zyqbad

Conference website:
https://www.zeroretries.org/p/conference

Zero Retries Newsletter:
https://www.zeroretries.org

Source: Zero Retries Digital Conference

DXChrono Desktop is Now Available

2026-08-26T00:00:00Z

The following is a press release from DXChrono:

Built by Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, in Elgin, Scotland, it puts grey line, solar indices, live DX Cluster and PSK Reporter spots, Reverse Beacon skimmers, Summits on the Air and Parks on the Air, logging, satellites, and contest context on one full-screen 3D globe or 2D map. Special Event Station mode turns the same screen into a visitor display for club open days and field days, with event branding and a scrolling last-worked banner. Feeds can be Cloudlog or N1MM Logger+.

It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi 4/5. A one-time purchase of £15.00 including VAT covers a licence for up to five computers. The free web app at https://dxchrono.com/ stays free.

Buy and downloads: https://desktop.dxchrono.com/ Documentation: https://docs.desktop.dxchrono.com/

Full press PDF

Source: DXChrono

HFPilot App Estimates HF Propagation

2026-08-25T00:00:00Z

The following is a message from HFPilot:

HFPilot is your go to app for estimating HF propagation - navigate the HF skies with confidence with an app that works offline, giving estimated frequencies and times for points around the world!

The goal of HF Pilot is to do for shortwave/HF radio what RepeaterSTART revolutionized for repeaters: Get propagation data, EVEN OFFLINE, install on your computer and know what hour to tune your radio, and connect with operators around the world.

The program is available from https://hearham.com/HFPilot. It is completely free and open source for Linux and Windows desktop, and there is also an minimal iOS and Android version available for $1.99.

Source: HFPilot

HAARP Notice of Transmission August 25-27

2026-08-25T00:00:00Z

The following is a press release from the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks:

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will be conducting a research campaign August 25-27 UTC, with operating times specified in the table below. Operating frequencies will vary, but all HAARP transmissions will be between 2.8 MHz and 10 MHz. Actual transmit days and times are highly variable based on real-time ionospheric and/or geomagnetic conditions. All information is subject to change.

Note that due to the number of experiments and the need to make real-time schedule adjustments based on ionospheric conditions, no frequencies are specified in the table below. The included transmission notice supplement contains information on the frequencies HAARP is authorized to transmit. HAARP transmissions will only occur on our authorized frequencies. There are no specific data collection requests from funded investigators, but reception reports are appreciated and may be submitted to our online form at https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/form/reception-reports.

Transmission Schedule

August 25
0000-0200 UTC
0630-1000 UTC

August 26
2000-2400 UTC

August 27
0000-0400 UTC

For updates on ionospheric conditions in Gakona, please consult ionograms from the HAARP Diagnostic Suite: https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/diagnostic-suite

Additional Resources for Reading Ionograms

Understanding HF Propagation and Reading Ionograms from Bootstrap Workbench:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTFKNCo3Cl8

Reading Your Ionogram–Keeping It Simple from John (VE6EY):
https://play.fallows.ca/wp/radio/shortwave-radio/reading-your-ionogram-keeping-it-simple/

Source: HAARP

Quick Recap: Huntsville Hamfest 2026

2026-08-24T00:00:00Z

I drove down to Huntsville on Saturday and spent a few hours at the Huntsville Hamfest. This is a quick recap featuring photos and commentary from a series of Mastodon posts. You will need to have Javascript enabled to see the content of this post. If you're reading this through RSS, you'll probably need to click through to the web version. —K4HCK

Post by @K4HCK@mastodon.radio

View on Mastodon

Source: Amateur Radio Daily

RepeaterLive: a repeater directory that knows what's actually on the air

2026-08-22T00:00:00Z

The following is a press release from RepeaterLive:

A ham recently re-checked the 100 repeaters programmed in his HT. Forty were dead — and his list was only four years old. Every operator knows the problem: repeater directories go stale, and you find out on a summit, calling into static.

RepeaterLive (repeaterlive.com), a new live repeater map built by Daniel Régis, VE2DRG, of Québec, attacks the problem by letting the data age honestly. Operators confirm machines from the field with one-tap check-ins and optional 1–5 signal reports. Every listing shows who last heard it and when, reception dots show where each repeater is actually being heard, and a 90-day cycle automatically flags anything nobody can confirm — no listing sits "verified" forever.

The map currently covers 9,500+ repeaters across the US, Canada, the UK, France, and South Korea, with regional offline packs and free CHIRP export — one repeater or a whole area, straight into any radio. Access to the data is free and will stay that way.

The project is also working directly with frequency coordination bodies: this week, Oregon became the first state fully aligned to its coordination council's published records, with 238 repeaters added and 52 corrected against ORRC data.

For clubs, a dedicated tier offers CSV bulk import of an entire fleet, up to five shared administrators, an activity dashboard with silence alerts, and a club-verified badge.

"Directories rot — that's not a criticism of anyone, it's physics," says Régis. "The only data source that stays current is the operators using the machines every day. RepeaterLive just gives them a one-tap way to be heard."

Feedback and corrections: every repeater card has a "suggest a correction" link, and the builder answers every email.

Source: RepeaterLive

Helioclock to Debut at Huntsville Hamfest

2026-08-19T00:00:00Z

The following is a press release from Helioclock:

Helioclock to Debut at Huntsville Hamfest: A New All-in-One Next Generation Situational Awareness Display with live SDR

Reno, NV. August 17, 2026.

Helioclock, a new dedicated live dashboard appliance built for amateur radio operators, EOC’s NOC’s Civil Defense and others will make its public debut at the ARRL National convention/Huntsville Hamfest, August 22–23, 2026.

The product brings live HF band conditions, space weather, contest information, and a wide range of real-time situational data feeds together on a single always-on screen: no juggling browser tabs, no subscription required. Fully automated operation 24/7/365 designed explicitly to have no single point of failure risk.

Further, Helioclock now features a real-time integrated SDR (Software Defined Radio) interface that serves as a standalone all-band receiver, plus offers NCDXF beacon monitoring for real-time band conditions.

New: Live RTL-SDR Integration

Helioclock’s newest release adds full support for the popular RTL-SDR USB dongle, turning any Helioclock display into a live, all-band software-defined radio receiver right alongside its propagation and space weather data. Operators get an on-screen waterfall, frequency tuning, and demodulation controls (AM, FM, SSB, and more) with no separate SDR software, no second screen, and nothing extra to buy.

See It in Huntsville

Helioclock will be shown live at the Huntsville Hamfest, August 22–23, 2026, at booth #V55. Attendees can see Best Band Now running against live band conditions in real time and talk with the developer that built it. Ready-to-run systems, bootable SD cards for Raspberry Pi 4/5 platforms, and Live USB devices will be available for purchase at the show.

A Stunning Shack Display Built Around Real Time Data, Not Guesswork

The centerpiece is Helioclock's signature “Best Band Now” feature. Rather than reducing complex propagation data down to a single “best guess,” Helioclock now presents every open or marginal HF band on a live, continuously ranked leaderboard, similar to a golf leaderboard, so operators can see exactly how each band stacks up and why.

Each band's score is intelligently analyzed from real DX cluster and Reverse Beacon Network spot activity, and if equipped with an SDR USB RTL-SDR dongle, real time beacon DX measurements. All are weighted by frequency and available headroom below the Maximum Usable Frequency, so a band with genuinely strong evidence can never be quietly outranked by a band with only a handful of spots. A band must hold the #1 ranking continuously for 20 minutes before it's marked CONFIRMED; until then it displays LEADING with a live countdown, so operators can watch a band call developing in real time rather than reacting to a single flip.

Plus, a per-band “Band Scope” graph shows the last 60 minutes of activity for every band at a glance, and every column on the leaderboard with plain-language explaining exactly what it means and how it's calculated. Full transparency, nothing hidden behind a black-box verdict.

More Than DX and Propagation

Beyond Best Band Now, Helioclock's next generation screen brings together:

Stunning photorealistic maps of the world and CONUS that change with seasons.
Live contest calendar and DX information. Grey line, solar flux, and imagery.
Wildfire, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, air quality, live camera site feeds, news and weather bulletin feeds. Configurable with local alerts too.
Live NEXRAD Radar, Satellite imagery, forecasts, data tracks, and more.
Financial markets (major indices, favorite stocks, plus gold and silver).
Tides for coastal stations, sea surface temperature, and hurricane/tropical storm tracking.
Over 40 active live features can be arranged on-screen and displayed on a multiple screen slideshow so you never miss a beat. See the features at helioclock.com.
PTT/ON-AIR banner, code practice, electronic references, even TV test patterns for SSTV!
Supports optional Software Defined Radio (SDR) using the popular RTL-SDR USB devices for automated band testing or use as your own listening receiver with on-screen control.
All of it updates continuously in the background, giving operators one glanceable display for “what's happening right now” on the bands and around them. Helioclock can drive multiple big screen TV’s at 4K or 2K directly while at the same time supporting remote browser connections.

Flexible, Low-Cost Hardware

Helioclock is designed to run on whatever hardware a ham shack already has or wants to add cheaply:

A dedicated small-form-factor x86 mini PC (Intel N100 at 4GB class hardware or better)
Raspberry Pi model 4 and 5 (2GB minimum, 4GB recommended.)
A bootable Live USB stick that turns most existing spare PC’s/laptops built in the last decade into a Helioclock display without touching its installed OS.
Ready to run appliances are also available.

Helioclock was built because every operator I know has five browser tabs open just to answer one question: what band should I be on right now? This puts the real evidence in front of you instead of a black-box guess.” “Plus, I wanted a modern, polished, real-time display that gives a solid next generation modern look and feel that runs completely unattended. — Anthony Watts, KA9NWM, creator, Helioclock

Availability

More information, screenshots, features, and a live interactive demo are available at helioclock.com.

Media Contact:
Anthony Watts, KA9NWM contact@helioclock.com 530-570-8434

Source: Helioclock

9/11 'We Do Remember' Special Event Returns for 6th Year

2026-08-17T00:00:00Z

The following is a message from the Alabama Contest Group:

K4A will once again keep K4 America the 9/11 We do Remember on air special event. The Alabama Contest Group is doing this for the 6th year.

I know most of us remember it like it was yesterday… but it has been 25 years since the towers fell, the Pentagon was damaged, and heroes brought the plane down in PA to prevent further attacks.

From September 9th through 13th, volunteer operators will take shifts to contact amateurs on the air. We want to hear your memories of that tragic day. And if you want to remember someone lost on that day, we’d be honored to help with that tribute naming them and having a pause on the air. 9/11 and the victims will not be forgotten.

A special QSL will be issued. Stories, memories, and victims mentioned on the radio will be collected and included in the Alabama Contest Group and the Smoke Signals newsletter.

For information about the special event, contact Bob (WA1FCN) wa1fcn@charter.net.

Would YOU like to be one of "The K4A 9/11 Crew" as an operator? A simple e-mail to wa1fcn@charter.net will get you going.

Source: Alabama Contest Group

AMSAT Canada Begins Offering Membership Options

2026-08-16T00:00:00Z

AMSAT Canada (AMSAT-CA) has begun offering membership options to further its mission to support amateur radio in space. Those interested in supporting AMSAT-CA through membership can learn more about membership benefits (PDF).

AMSAT-CA promotes, develops, and supports Amateur Radio in space, including via human-made and natural satellites (e.g., the Moon), space stations and planets, and related experiments, as well as new developments in technology, methods and techniques.

AMSAT-CA is expected to play a significant role in the futureGEO geostationary satellite project potentially covering portions of North America.

Source: AMSAT-CA

CHOTA 2026: Churches and Chapels on the Air

2026-08-14T00:00:00Z

Churches and Chapels on the Air (CHOTA) will be active on Saturday September 12th. CHOTA was first established in 2013 and encourages fellowship among both activators and chasers.

A list of participating stations (XLSX) is available on the CHOTA 2026 website. CHOTA is managed by The World Association of Christian Amateurs and Listeners (WACRAL).

Source: K4FMH