Amateur Radio Daily

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

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

Ham Fair 2026 Updates: Kenwood and Uniden to Showcase New Radios

2026-08-12T00:00:00Z

hamlife.jp reports that both Kenwood and Uniden have announced significant anniversary milestones to be celebrated at Ham Fair 2026 in Japan. Both companies are teasing new radio equipment intended to be showcased at the event on August 29th.

Kenwood will celebrate 80 years in production with a special musical event at their booth. The recently announced TM-D750S and TM-D750 will also be on full display and available for attendees to interact with.

Uniden is celebrating 60 years in production and is teasing what appears to be a new handheld transceiver to be revealed at Ham Fair. Details are thin, including whether or not this radio will be marketed outside of the Japanese market. Uniden will also showcase wide-band receiving equipment targeted to users in Japan.

Source: hamlife.jp

15th Annual NJQRP Skeeter Hunt to Take Place This Weekend

2026-08-11T00:00:00Z

The 15th annual NJQRP Skeeter Hunt will take place this Sunday on August 16th. The objective of the event is to encourage QRP hams to get out of the shack and operate outdoors. Operators may use CW or SSB. There are a number of rules and bonus points which are explained here.

A private Facebook group is available for those that are interested.

Source: VE3FI

HamSCI to Host Meteor Scatter QSO Party

2026-08-10T00:00:00Z

HamSCI will host a Meteor Scatter QSO Party August 12-14. Hams are invited to participate on 6 and 10 meters using the MSK144 digital mode. HamSCI has a how to guide for hams new to working meteor scatter.

Listen, make QSOs, collect and then upload WAV files of your decodes, contribute to meteor science as we strive to uncover the secrets of meteor scatter (MS) propagation.

Rules and operating guides are also available.

Source: HamSCI

HAARP to Conduct Research Campaign Supporting PARS Summer School

2026-08-09T00:00:00Z

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 12–14 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.

This campaign is being conducted in support of research proposals from the Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science (PARS) Summer School. PARS is primarily funded by the Subauroral Geophysical Observatory award (#2054361) from the National Science Foundation, and brings students from across the nation to HAARP to conduct research. This year, 21 unique experiments will take place. Scientific goals of these experiments range from studies on the effects of ionospheric conditions on GPS satellite signals to generation and propagation of extremely low frequency/very low frequency (ELF/VLF) waves. More information on PARS can be found at https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/pars2026

August 12
0000-0515 UTC

August 13
0115-0630 UTC
2200-2400 UTC

August 14
0000-0315 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/

General Information for HAARP Radio Enthusiasts

The HAARP Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI) transmits in the frequency range 2.750 to 9.600 MHz, with certain frequencies blocked out as specified in the FCC license for call sign WI2XFX. The frequency authorization chart below shows the HAARP transmission frequencies.
The emission bandwidth may be up to 46 kHz; the actual value depends on the frequency, modulation and experiment requirements.
The lower frequency transmissions many times are based on a harmonic of the local ionosphere's gyro frequency; the actual frequency depends on the experiment. The fundamental gyro frequency above HAARP varies from roughly 1.5 MHz at lower altitudes to 1.2 MHz at higher altitudes. The 2nd or 3rd harmonic is often used to heat the ionosphere in conjunction with another frequency to produce low frequency effects.
The mid-range frequencies often are used for artificial airglow experiments but, again, the frequencies used will depend on the experiment as well as time of day, season, solar activity and sunspot cycle.
The higher frequency transmissions many times are based on the critical plasma frequency for the F2 region (foF2) as measured by the Gakona ionosonde (https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/diagnostic-suite). The transmission frequencies may be above, below or at the critical frequency depending on the experiment. The critical plasma frequency in the vicinity of HAARP varies widely depending on, among other things, time of day, season, solar activity and sunspot cycle.
One or two carriers are transmitted and one or both of the carriers may be modulated. The types of modulation vary with the experiment requirements. Modulation may be AM, FM, or Pulse, including Linear FM (LFM) or a complex waveform or a time sequence of different modulations. LFM is very common. Communications modulations and protocols such as SSB, PSK, FSK, and QAM are never used. A glossary and brief description of the modulation modes is provided at the end of the original document.
Frequencies and timing are precise to allow synchronization with diagnostics. Both are controlled by locking them to the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Most experiments depend on ionospheric and geomagnetic conditions that are mostly unpredictable. The transmission frequencies for a given experiment may change to track changes in those conditions with little or no notice.
A scheduled experiment that depends on certain ionospheric or geomagnetic conditions may be rescheduled or cancelled if the required conditions do not occur.
Additional information can be found on the HAARP webpage at: https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/

Monitoring HAARP IRI Transmissions with a Software Defined Radio Receiver

Listeners with an SDR receiver capable of 8 MHz bandwidth can monitor the entire frequency band noted above. A center frequency of 6.35 MHz may be used with 8 MHz bandwidth.
The HAARP IRI uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for all operations. Transmissions most often are programmed to Start at the top of the minute, i.e., HH:MM:00, but some start at 30 seconds, i.e., HH:MM:30. Transmissions usually Stop on the 30-second mark, i.e., HH:MM:30, to allow time to retune the transmitter/antenna for the next experiment. There may be exceptions to the Start and Stop times.
The SDR software should be run on a PC whose real-time clock is synchronized to UTC using the Network Time Protocol (NTP).
When a carrier is seen to pop up on the SDR's displayed spectra, listeners can identify the center frequency using the SDR software and then reduce the bandwidth to further analyze the signal.
If two SDRs are available, one can be used in a wideband mode to locate the signals and the other can be used in a narrowband mode to analyze specific signals after they are identified.
A useful method for locating IRI transmissions that are on or near the ionosphere's critical frequency f0F2 is to view the latest Gakona Ionogram (Ionosonde tab at https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/diagnostic-suite). Find the current f0F2, which is labeled in the upper-left corner of the Ionogram, and then tune the SDR to that frequency with a moderate displayed frequency span.
SDRs with a 50 kHz bandwidth setting are able to monitor the modulated carrier after it is located. However, the center frequency may be stepped through a range of frequencies or may change according to experiment requirements to another, far-removed frequency. Carrier frequency changes > 200 kHz require at least 30 seconds for retuning.
Not all experiments use a modulated carrier or the full emission bandwidth; some use only a pure carrier.
Some experiments require a transmitter On – transmitter Off cycle. The cycle times and On-Off ratios vary from experiment to experiment but Off times typically are minutes or fractions of a minute. Transmission On times can last from a couple of minutes to a few hours.
Radio propagation conditions and the IRI beam direction will affect the reception of the IRI transmissions or cause a fadeout at the receiving antenna location. Propagation conditions and beam directions can change significantly and rapidly during an experiment.
Some experiments require the IRI beam to be pointed along or near the local magnetic zenith. This means the beam is pointed parallel or nearly parallel to the local magnetic field lines. The magnetic zenith at the HAARP facility is approximately 76° elevation and 16° west of south.
Although the HAARP IRI transmits only in the HF range, the transmissions can, and some experiments are designed to, generate ELF, SLF, ULF, and VLF emissions in the D- and E-regions of the ionosphere. Other experiments may not be designed to generate these low frequency emissions but the emissions are generated as a side effect. Modulated heating of the D- and E-region electrons by the HF transmissions in turn modulates the plasma conductivity, which generates a virtual antenna at altitudes between 70 and 85 km. Emissions up to 20 kHz have been demonstrated but most are below a few kilohertz. These low frequency emissions can propagate in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide or by other mechanisms, depending on frequency, and conceivably can travel great distances.

Source: HAARP

IP400 Project Enters Third Phase

2026-08-08T00:00:00Z

ADRCS has posted an extensive update to their ongoing IP400 project. The updates, currently in beta testing, aim to bring mesh networking to any off the shelf radio. A new OFDM data mode will push data rates up to 57 kbit/s.

The firmware, now known as the Unified Firmware Platform (UFP), adds Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), a modern-day technique that is used in cellular telephony, cable modems and digital subscriber lines. Although in those applications is uses direct on-air modulation, for amateur use it was implemented to operate within the bounds of the audio range of FM transceivers, therefore designated as OFDM-AB. By selecting a bandwidth that is matched to the radio capabilities, coupled with various data constellations, rates from as low as 2600bits/second up to as fast as 57000 bits/second have been realized.

For a deep dive into these developments, see the most recent issue of Zero Retries. Steve Stroh (N8GNJ) provides a detailed introduction to the entirety of the IP400 Project.

Source: ADRCS

SSTV Special Event from QMR-KWT-2 Satellite

2026-07-29T00:00:00Z

The Kuwaiti satellite QMR-KWT-2 will transmit special SSTV images celebrating the 5 year launch anniversary of the QMR-KWT-1 satellite.

QMR-KWT 2 builds on the achievements of QMR-KWT 1, which was launched in 2021 as Kuwait’s first education-oriented CubeSat mission. That earlier project provided students with hands-on exposure to satellite development and operations, laying the groundwork for the expanded capabilities of the second mission. ⁠—SatellitePro Me

Look for images to be transmitted between 6:30 UTC August 1st and 19:30 UTC August 2nd. The download frequency will be 436.950 MHz.

Source: AMSAT Francophone

International Dog Day and International Cat Day Special Event

2026-07-28T00:00:00Z

An international group of operators will be on the air throughout the month in a mutual celebration of International Cat Day and International Dog Day.

The combined special event stations will be active from the 1st of August through to the 31st of August, to call attention to the needs of abandoned, abused and homeless pets around the world – and to advocate for adoption and humane treatment. In the spirit of friendship and the shared love of animals, they will be looking to raise awareness and hear one another’s stories.

The hams calling CQ are animal-lovers themselves who know the power of rescue because many have been deeply involved in organized animal-welfare efforts or have included a rescued dog or cat in their family.

International Dog Day (and in the US, National Dog Day) is August 26 every year. International Cat Day is August 8.

International Dog Day began as an amateur radio event in 2022 and has grown since then. Stations for dogs and cats will be on the air this year from Latvia, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, India and Germany.

Throughout the US, a growing team of radio amateurs will share the callsign K0DOG, calling CQ as members of the Dog Day Radio Amateur Radio Club. All operators will be on the HF bands using CW and SSB. Dog-station callsigns will include YL1DOG, GB4DOG, VU2MGS, DLØDOG, KØDOG and PDØØDOG, among others. Cat stations will be calling CQ as DL0CAT, GB4CAT and DAØCAT.

This year’s certificate for successful chasers will be a colorful downloadable document with endorsement stamps added for each unique callsign worked. A numeric counter will appear on each of the endorsement stamps for operators making more than one contact with a unique callsign. KØDOG also plans to make downloadable eEQSL cards available.

The website https://hamlog.online/iddicd2026/ will give hunters for both events a chance to claim their awards as they earn them and to see who is currently on the air. Until August, the website will be counting down the days until the event begins.

You may also visit the websites dogdayradio.org and catdayradio.org for updates about both events. Both websites contain information about the special-event callsigns and how to find their operating schedules -- and a chance to meet the dogs and cats who inspired them.

Be aware that all special-event operators will be working like dogs – and cats – because they want to hear and share as many rescue stories as they can.

Source: Dog Day Radio Amateur Radio Club

Call for Zero Retries Digital Conference (ZRDC) 2026 Technical Papers

2026-07-27T00:00:00Z

Technical papers are sought for the Proceedings of the (second annual) Zero Retries Digital Conference (ZRDC) 2026, to be held at the Roundhouse Conference Center in San Ramon, California, USA on Friday, October 16, 2026. This coincides with the first day of Pacificon 2026.

ZRDC 2026 is being hosted by the Zero Retries newsletter. Papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings of the ZRDC. Authors do not need to present at the conference to have their papers included in the Proceedings, although presenters are highly encouraged to submit a separate technical paper (for the Proceedings). (All presenter presentations will also be published in the Proceedings.)

A typical technical paper for ZRDC is a short (typically 5-10 pages) but in-depth explanation of a project, experiment, or new technique. A technical paper typically includes the problem(s) to be solved and how the solution was built and tested, and what was learned. Diagrams, data, and code are often included. The intended audience for technical papers are not just the attendees of a particular ZRDC - they're intended to help others implement or enhance the subject of the technical paper.

A ZRDC technical paper is different from a presentation slide deck:

A technical paper is self-contained - all of the needed detail is in the text of the technical paper. A presentation slide deck provides speaking points - the detail is in the presentation narration.
A technical paper explains the idea in depth for the long term. A presentation slide deck is a "snapshot" of an idea at that moment in time.
Very generally, a technical paper explains the details of how you did something. A presentation slide deck explains (generally) what you did to expose the idea to those who aren't familiar.

ZRDC 2026 Paper Submission Details

Paper submission deadline is Monday, September 28, 2026 23:59 UTC. Submissions received after this date will not appear in the Proceedings.
Submit papers via email to zrdcpapers@zeroretries.net
Papers must be submitted as a .PDF format, with sufficient resolution for print publication. (Export or Save As… PDF).
It is requested that ZRDC papers not use inline web hyperlinks. (Hyperlinks often do not persist through format changes.) In lieu of inline web hyperlinks, simply type out the full URL of the link. For longer URLs, please use footnotes with the full URL in the footnote.
Papers will be published exactly as submitted.
Paper authors retain all rights.
Papers with multiple authors are encouraged.
Papers are limited to 12 pages (letter-size).
In addition to ZRDC archives, ZRDC technical papers will be archived for posterity in the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC), a project of the Internet Archive.

Technical paper topic areas include, but are not limited to digital radio, radio networking, mesh networks over radio, Software Defined Radio (SDR), digital voice/data systems, digital satellite communication, use of LoRa in Amateur Radio, digital signal processing (DSP), HF digital modes, Spectrum Management, Global Positioning System (GPS), Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), Linux in Amateur Radio, AX.25 and other protocols, mesh and peer-to-peer wireless networking, emergency and homeland defense backup digital communications in Amateur Radio.

Zero Retries is an independent newsletter promoting technological innovation that is occurring in Amateur Radio, and Amateur Radio as (literally) a license to experiment with and learn about radio technology. Radios are computers - with antennas! Zero Retries is now in its sixth year of publication, with over 3500 subscribers.

The latest information on ZRDC 2026 will be maintained at https://www.zeroretries.org/p/conference, or just click the Conference link on the top bar of the Zero Retries web page (https://www.zeroretries.org/).

Source: Zero Retries Digital Conference

SDRoxide: Software-Defined Radio Transceiver

2026-07-26T00:00:00Z

The following is a message from Josef (OE3JJS):

SDRoxide is a completely new project written in Rust, supporting many SDR interfaces (CAT/Audio, CAT/IQ, SoapySDR, HPSDR, TCI) and with loads of features built in that used to require extra programs: FT8/FT4, SSTV, RTTY, PSK, OLIVIA, THOR, FSQ, a CW/RTTY/PSK skimmer, there's dx cluster and sota/pota spotting, a logbook with integrations for QRZ.com, HamQTH, eQSL, LoTW, there's neural-network noise reduction, a 3D "hamclock" that visualizes QSOs, satellites, Aurora, CME cones, with up-to-date images of the sun's surface, and you can run the client locally, remote with native binary, or remote via the web (WASM).

Future plans include a TCI Server (so it can act as a Anything-to-TCI bridge for example), Hellschreiber, and eventually digital voice modes for HF.

The current version is v0.5.0, the project is open source and is looking for testers on Windows and Mac.

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 — wrapped in a cyberpunk interface and running native on Linux, macOS & Windows, or streamed to any browser.

Source: SDRoxide

UmKA-1 (RS40S) Satellite to Transmit SSTV, Audio Clips

2026-07-22T00:00:00Z

The UmKA-1 (RS40S) satellite is scheduled to conduct special transmissions for International Moon Day between July 20th and July 26th. Those listening can expect a mix of special audio clips as well as SSTV images which will alternate day-to-day. The schedule is expected to follow:

7/20 SSTV and Audio
7/21 Text
7/22 Text
7/23 SSTV and Audio
7/24 Text
7/25 SSTV and Audio
7/26 Short-term technical broadcast

SSTV will transmit in Robot 36 mode.

Source: R4UAB

HAMgpt Launches as a Personal AI Copilot Built Specifically for Amateur Radio

2026-07-17T00:00:00Z

New platform combines an operator's license, station, location and live band conditions to answer a practical question: "What can I do with my radio today?"

July 2026 — HAMgpt, a new AI assistant created specifically for amateur radio operators, is now open to the public at hamgpt.co.

Unlike a general-purpose chatbot, HAMgpt is built around the real operating situation of each ham. It can take into account the operator's license class, country, grid square, radios, antennas and operating history, then combine that station profile with live propagation, space weather, DX activity and current on-air conditions.

Its main purpose is to answer one deceptively simple question:

What can I do with my radio today?

Amateur radio offers an enormous range of possibilities: local repeaters, HF DX, satellites, digital modes, POTA, emergency communications, antenna building, contesting and experimentation. For many newly licensed operators, however, the first experience is much less exciting. They pass the exam, buy an HT or an entry-level rig, turn it on, hear static or silence, and do not know what to try next.

HAMgpt was built to help with that exact moment.

"Many new hams do not leave the hobby because they lack information," said Rodrigo Vazquez, AK6FP / LU6ERV, creator of HAMgpt. "They leave because nobody tells them what to actually do with the radio in their hand. HAMgpt is not trying to out-explain a general chatbot. It is trying to be the reason someone gets on the air instead of putting the radio back in the box."

A Personal Digital Elmer

In amateur radio, an experienced operator who helps others learn the hobby is traditionally known as an Elmer. HAMgpt is designed to work like a personal digital Elmer that already knows the operator's station.

Users can save their license class, location, exact radio models and antennas. HAMgpt reuses that information across conversations, so the operator does not need to explain the same setup every time. That context changes the quality of the answer.

A general explanation of repeaters may be technically correct, but a new ham with an HT usually needs something much more practical: which nearby repeater is likely to be reachable, what offset and tone to use, how to program that specific radio, and what to say when making the first call.

An HF operator may not need another generic explanation of propagation. The useful answer is which bands are active right now, which ones are covered by the station's antenna, what paths are currently open, and where it may be worth calling CQ.

HAMgpt is designed to connect those pieces.

Personalized to the Operator and the Station

HAMgpt uses a persistent station profile that can include:

License class and country.
Maidenhead grid locator.
Multiple radios, including exact makes and models.
Multiple antennas and the bands they cover.
Operating history and imported logbook data.

Every answer can be adjusted to the user's actual station and legal privileges.

For example, HAMgpt can help:

Identify repeaters that may realistically be worked with a particular HT or mobile rig.
Suggest HF bands based on live conditions and the antennas installed at the station.
Recommend satellite passes that fit the operator's equipment.
Find nearby POTA parks to activate.
Explain how to configure a specific rig for FT8, Winlink, APRS or satellite work.
Provide antenna dimensions and construction guidance for the operator's target band and available space.

This is what separates HAMgpt from a generic ham-radio Q&A system. The goal is not merely to answer, "What is a repeater?" or "What is an inverted-V?" The goal is to answer, "What should I try with my station right now?"

Powered by Live Data from DXLook

HAMgpt is the sister project of DXLook, the live amateur radio propagation and activity platform also developed by Vazquez. The two projects divide the problem clearly:

DXLook shows what is happening on the air right now.
HAMgpt helps an individual operator decide what to do about it.

HAMgpt uses DXLook's live data services for band conditions, propagation, space weather and on-air activity. This allows it to go beyond textbook answers about how a band normally behaves.

Instead of saying that 10 meters can be good for DX when conditions improve, HAMgpt can use current data to explain whether 10 meters is active now, what paths appear open, and whether the operator's own antenna and rig are suitable for taking advantage of it.

DXLook acts as the live sensor layer. HAMgpt acts as the personal decision and guidance layer on top of it.

Designed for Trust in a Regulated Hobby

Accuracy matters in any technical field, but amateur radio has an additional complication: it is a regulated service.

Wrong information about frequency privileges, transmit power, band plans, repeater settings or operating rules can cause more than confusion. It can put an operator outside the privileges of the license.

HAMgpt is therefore built around a "deterministic-first" approach.

Critical information such as license privileges, official exam questions, live band data and verified technical values is obtained from structured tools, official sources and rule-based systems whenever possible. The AI reasoning layer is used where interpretation is actually useful, such as troubleshooting a station, explaining an analyzer reading, planning an antenna build or combining several pieces of information into an operating recommendation.

The product also applies multiple accuracy checks intended to prevent invented frequencies, incorrect tone or offset values, and advice outside the operator's license privileges.

License class is treated as a hard constraint throughout the product, not as an optional profile detail.

What HAMgpt Can Do Today

HAMgpt is already live with a broad set of features intended for both new and experienced operators.

Live operating guidance

HAMgpt provides a live view of band conditions, space weather and recent DX activity. Recommendations can be filtered through the operator's own radios and antennas, helping identify which bands are not only open, but actually usable from that station.

It can also provide:

Repeater suggestions based on location and equipment.
Satellite pass predictions with direction, elevation and timing.
Nearby POTA parks for activation.
Local net and APRS activity.
Band-opening and solar-flare notifications.

Antenna design and building help

HAMgpt includes a complete antenna-building layer rather than acting only as a calculator.

Operators can request build sheets for:

Dipoles.
Inverted-V antennas.
Verticals.
Yagis and beam antennas.
Moxon antennas.
Magnetic loops.

The system can provide element lengths, spacing, boom dimensions, feed and matching options, expected performance, material suggestions and safety information. For magnetic loops, it can also calculate tuning capacitance, expected bandwidth, efficiency and capacitor voltage requirements.

To-scale diagrams can be generated directly in the chat.

HAMgpt can also help with practical construction tasks such as winding a choke balun, building a 49:1 transformer, choosing wire or tubing, weatherproofing feed points, and trimming an antenna to resonance.

NanoVNA and image analysis

Operators can upload a NanoVNA .s1p file and receive an SWR-versus-frequency plot showing the resonant point, usable bandwidth and the 2:1 SWR line, together with a plain-language explanation of what the sweep means.

HAMgpt can also analyze photos of:

Radio displays.
SWR meters.
Antenna analyzers.
Smith charts.
Antenna installations.
Station wiring.

For exact measurements, a NanoVNA data file remains the preferred source, but photo analysis can be useful for identifying what an instrument or rig display is showing.

Radio-specific help

HAMgpt recognizes a growing range of popular rigs from manufacturers such as Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, Elecraft, FlexRadio, Xiegu, Apache Labs and others.

Operators can ask model-specific questions about setup, features and common operating problems, including:

Menu and operating setup.
Digital-mode configuration.
CAT, PTT and audio troubleshooting.
Tuner and antenna compatibility.
Satellite and full-duplex capability.
Common problems and error conditions.
Help selecting a rig for a particular operating goal.

Winlink Express setup

HAMgpt includes dedicated step-by-step help for Winlink Express, one of the most useful but sometimes difficult pieces of amateur radio software to configure.

It can guide an operator through:

Account creation and registration.
VARA HF and VARA FM setup.
Digirig, SignaLink and CAT cable connections.
COM ports, PTT and audio levels.
Sending the first message.
Troubleshooting failed connections.

Learning and exam preparation

HAMgpt includes the official NCVEC practice question pools for all three U.S. amateur radio license classes:

Technician.
General.
Amateur Extra.

The quiz system automatically selects the appropriate pool based on the operator's current license, while still allowing the user to choose any exam level.

Logbook and station history

Operators can import an ADIF logbook and receive a summary of their own on-air activity.

HAMgpt also keeps searchable conversation history, making it easier to return to previous antenna designs, setup instructions, troubleshooting sessions or operating plans.

International and Multilingual Support

HAMgpt is not designed as a U.S.-only system.

It currently provides full license-class-aware support for operators in:

The United States.
Canada.
The United Kingdom.
Australia.
Japan.
Argentina.

Guidance follows the relevant license classes, band plans and power limits for each supported country.

HAMgpt can also help with reciprocal and temporary operating questions, including CEPT, IARP, visitor permits and call sign requirements while traveling.

The assistant supports English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German and additional languages, allowing operators to ask technical questions in the language they are most comfortable using.

Built by a Working Ham

HAMgpt and DXLook are independently built and operated by Rodrigo Vazquez, AK6FP / LU6ERV, an active amateur radio operator.

The project grew from a simple observation: amateur radio does not suffer from a shortage of information.

The hobby already has excellent manuals, databases, clubs, forums, videos, band-plan documents and specialist tools. The harder problem is turning all of that into a useful next step for one specific operator, using one specific radio and antenna, under current band conditions.

"The rig someone owns, the antenna they installed, their license privileges, their grid and what the bands are doing right now all matter," Vazquez said. "Without that context, an answer can be technically correct and still not help the operator get on the air."

Availability

HAMgpt is available now at hamgpt.co.

A free, ad-free tier is available with daily usage limits. HAMgpt Plus offers higher limits, additional live-data lookups and deeper personalization based on the operator's station and logbook.

There are no ads on either plan.

About HAMgpt

HAMgpt is a personal AI copilot for amateur radio operators. Instead of providing only generic explanations, it combines an operator's license class, location, radios, antennas and logbook with live band conditions and on-air activity to provide practical, station-specific guidance.

HAMgpt is the sister project of DXLook, a live amateur radio propagation and activity platform. Both products are built and operated by Rodrigo Vazquez, AK6FP / LU6ERV.

Website: https://hamgpt.co
DXLook: https://dxlook.com
Press contact: qso@dxlook.com

Source: HAMgpt