If you work in a school or with a youth group, mark this date: until October 23, 2026, ARISS Europe is accepting applications for a live amateur radio connection with astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Schools of all levels and youth organizations in Region 1 of the IARU (Europe, Africa, and the Middle East) are eligible to apply. The selected contacts will be scheduled and conducted between July and December 2027, so there's plenty of time to prepare the class and the equipment.
For me, this is one of the most wonderful things about the amateur radio world: the brief passage of the ISS over the horizon, the questions prepared by the students, and the voice of an astronaut responding live via radio. It's an educational and scientific experience that is rarely forgotten. ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is the group of volunteers from amateur radio associations in the partner countries that has built and operates the onboard station, and many of the crew members hold amateur radio licenses.
Information about the European branch of the program:
https://www.ariss-eu.org/
Source: ARI
Image: NASA · Public Domain
The other day I came across a news item on the RA1OHX website and was genuinely delighted: radio amateurs in Belarus have finally been given the six-meter band. The State Commission on Radio Frequencies under the Security Council of the Republic, by decision No. 27К/25 of 18.09.2025, allocated the 50–52 MHz band to the amateur and amateur-satellite services.
Six meters is a special band. It sits right between shortwave and VHF, which makes it the most convenient place to experiment: studying radio propagation, testing new modes of communication and unusual antenna designs. Many call it the most unpredictable band, and for that very reason the most interesting.
To obtain permission to operate in this band, radio amateurs holding a Class "A" qualification can submit an application to the BelGIE enterprise. Opening the band noticeably strengthens the position of the Belarusian amateur radio community and serves as another reminder that radio communication is part of scientific and technological progress, not just a hobby.
For me it's a good excuse to dig out the transceiver again and see how the band opens up where I am. Congratulations to all my colleagues in Belarus on this event — see you on the air, let's try to make a contact on 50 MHz!
Source: RA1OHX
A regulatory development that deserves attention from anyone operating in Brazil: Anatel has opened Public Consultation No. 39/2026, which amends some operational requirements of the Amateur Radio Service, focusing on the use of call signs. The news was reported by LABRE.
The most notable point is the new subitem 12.5.1, which allows the same call sign to be assigned to the fixed and mobile stations of the same radio amateur, provided the rules of the regulation are observed. Subitem 12.8, meanwhile, reinforces that it remains prohibited for different stations to use the same call sign at the same time.
The document was signed electronically by Anatel's Superintendent of Authorisation and Resources for Service Provision, Vinícius Oliveira Caram Guimarães, on 8 September 2026. According to LABRE, the changes take effect on the date of publication in the Agency's Electronic Service Bulletin.
In my reading, the idea is to bring more clarity to the operating rules, balancing the flexibility to use the same call sign at the home station and in the car radio with the need to avoid conflicts and manage the spectrum carefully. For those who make QSOs both from home and on the move, it is a very practical change.
Because this is a public consultation, there is still room to give an opinion. Contributions are made through the Participa Anatel portal (apps.anatel.gov.br/ParticipaAnatel), and it is worth reading the full text before sending any comments.
Source: LABRE
If you are interested in microwave amateur radio, it is worth putting the date in your diary now: the next GHz conference takes place on 13 February 2027 in Dorsten. The DARC published a notice about it on 8 October 2026.
The organisers are still looking for talks and contributions for the conference proceedings. Purely technical presentations, contest reports and practical tips are all welcome. That fits well with what I value about these meetings. In the gigahertz range, the success of a project often depends on the details of tinkering, such as how you align an antenna cleanly, how you keep a signal stable, or how you make a setup weatherproof, and that kind of knowledge rarely appears in textbooks.
According to the notice, the conference depends on the active participation of attendees. That means you do not have to be a professional to contribute. If you have built a project on 10 GHz or higher, or can tell a story about a contest full of instructive mishaps, you probably have exactly the material others would like to hear.
Anyone who wants to offer a talk should contact the conference organisers. Contact details and further information are available at ghz-tagung.de. I am glad that gatherings like this continue and keep the exchange among microwave radio amateurs alive.
Source: DARC e.V.
Good news for young people curious about amateur radio: ORARI Riau Regional together with ORARI Pekanbaru Local has officially opened registration for the YOTA Squad. The programme carries on the spirit of YOTA (Youngsters On The Air) of IARU Region 3, and participants will be nurtured on an ongoing basis through the YOTA Academy Riau.
The goal is clear: to prepare the younger generation to take up amateur radio in earnest, and to take part in running future JOTA-JOTI events. The initiative has the full backing of ORARI Riau Regional chair Wirzamrisal (YB5WIR) and ORARI Pekanbaru Local chair Arvainal (YB5NKF). The coordinator is Muhammad Rayhan Syah (YC5NCM), supported by Muhammad Zaki (YD5NLG) and Suci Azliani (YD5NZR).
I like that the programme works with the Scouts (Pramuka). The main target is Scout members, especially those who have just finished JOTA-JOTI, but students and university students who are not Scouts can also join if they are interested in electronics and radio communication. Applicants from every regency and city in Riau can register, with priority given to Pekanbaru City.
The material is more than theory. Participants learn to assemble radio equipment, get to know frequencies and antennas, and go out for field practice such as fox hunting. They are also trained to become operators and facilitators for JOTA-JOTI, receive basic emergency communication education for disaster situations, and are introduced to related technologies such as robotics, radio astronomy and IoT.
The requirements are: students, university students or JOTA-JOTI alumni aged 17 to 26, with permission from a parent or guardian, and willingness to take part in the entire series of activities in good physical and mental health. Registration and full information are available at yota.vercel.app. In my view, this is an attractive entry route for renewing the ORARI generation.
Source: ORARI
The China Radio Association (CRAC) has published details for the Shanghai venue of its fifth 2026 C-class amateur radio station operating skills verification exam. If you are planning to sit it, it is worth noting the key points now.
The exam begins at 2:00 pm on October 24, 2026, with check-in from 1:10 pm. The venue is the fourth-floor lecture hall in Building A at 879 Tianbao Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai (Shanghai Telecom Training Center). The Shanghai Radio Association is co-hosting the exam.
Candidates must bring three types of documents: an original ID card, the original B-class amateur operator certificate, and a certificate from the radio regulatory authority confirming that a B-class station has been set up for at least 18 months (it must cover amateur frequencies below 30 MHz on the station license). Candidates with an electronic license should bring a printed screenshot of it, plus the electronic license shown on the official website's query page for the staff to verify. Documents are checked at the check-in desk, then kept on the side of the desk nearest the aisle so invigilators can recheck them at any time.
The rules are also clearly stated. Pens, ballpoint pens, 2B pencils and erasers are allowed. Mobile phones, walkie-talkies, other network terminals and radio communication devices are not. Calculators, cameras and other electronic devices, books and notes are also banned, as are items such as wireless earphones that might raise suspicion of cheating. The notice stresses that the testing organization may not charge candidates any fees, and that travel and meals are at the candidate's own expense.
By public transport, the suggested route is Metro Line 10 or Line 8 to Siping Road station, leaving through Exit 3, where a clear exam sign is posted at the entrance. The C-class exam has a clear threshold on station operating time, so candidates should double-check their B-class certificate and station license materials in advance rather than discovering a missing document at the venue.
Source: China Radio Association (CRAC)
Good news for listeners: a ham radio contact with the International Space Station was scheduled for Thursday 8 October 2026 at around 11:30 UTC, which is 13:30 in Paris, and it was supposed to be audible from France.
The contact links Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, callsign KJ5BFU, with a school in Wick, in the United Kingdom. The frequency is 145.800 MHz, with a tolerance of plus or minus 3 kHz to allow for Doppler shift, in narrowband FM. It is conducted in English through the British station GB4WHS, which is why it can be heard over here too.
I really like this kind of event because it shows what amateur radio is about in practice: students put their questions to an astronaut directly, by voice, with no screen or internet in between. If you only want to listen, all you need is a receiver that can handle narrowband FM on 145.800 MHz and a clear view of the sky, with something as simple as a vertical antenna, for the time the station is passing overhead.
The announcement relayed by Radioamateurs France points to the French ARISS page for the details. The same site also reminds readers that the JOTA-JOTI weekend, which connects scouts from around the world with radio amateurs, takes place from 16 to 18 October 2026. Two chances, just a few days apart, to introduce the hobby to younger people.
Source: Radioamateurs France
If you use HF often, you have probably wondered why one band suddenly opens while another goes dead. URE has included a talk on ionosondes in its series, and I think it is a very practical topic for any radio amateur.
The talk, titled "Ionosondes: what they are and what they are for", was scheduled for Wednesday, September 30 at 7:30 pm Spanish peninsular time (5:30 pm UTC) and was broadcast on URE's YouTube channel. The speaker was David Altadill Felip, a researcher at the Ebro Observatory of Universitat Ramon Llull.
According to the announcement, ionosondes analyze the structure of the ionosphere and provide the information needed to understand and predict HF propagation. Their data feeds prediction programs such as VOACAP, which help you choose the time of day and frequency for contacting a known station. They also provide real-time propagation information, available online, for a wide area around each ionosonde.
The talk also covered how the Ebro Observatory studies the movement of ionized clouds and the behavior of the ionosphere in extreme situations, such as the eclipse of July 2026. This research matters for narrow-band digital modes such as FT4, FT8 and WSPR, which many of us rely on to make contacts with low power.
Personally, I think understanding where propagation data comes from makes us better operators. We stop looking only at the sunspot number and start reading what the ionosphere is doing right now. It is a very welcome initiative from the association.
Source: URE (Unión de Radioaficionados Españoles)
While reading JARL's news, I learned that fee changes affecting amateur radio begin on October 1. Part of the Radio Act-related fee ordinance is being revised, and the fees for the national radio operator examinations and for station inspections and related procedures will be new starting October 1, Reiwa 8 (2026). If you are thinking about getting a license, it is worth checking before you apply for the exam.
The national exam fees are listed as 10,800 yen for the First Class Amateur Radio Operator, 9,400 yen for the Second Class, 6,000 yen for the Third Class, and 5,700 yen for the Fourth Class. If you are preparing for the entry-level Fourth or Third Class, it is reassuring to double-check the amount once.
For stations, the fees for new-station inspections, changed-station reviews and document inspections are also set by category. For example, the base fee for a new-station inspection differs depending on whether the output is 50 W or less or more than 50 W, and the fee for a second unit is set separately. For some items, the application fee also differs between paper and electronic applications. The detailed tables are summarized on the JARL page, so checking the latest version before you apply is the safest approach.
Personally, I think it is easy to get flustered when a system changes without you knowing, so I want to get the information in hand early. The exact amounts and categories are also available from the Japan Radio Association and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' radio usage portal.
Source: JARL
There is good news for emergency communications: the new UHF repeater that TRAC installed on Ulubaba Tepe in Adıyaman has entered service. The repeater was licensed by the TRAC Şanlıurfa Branch, and the branch also carried out the technical work.
In brief, the technical side is this: the repeater sits at the summit of Ulubaba Tepe at 2,500 metres, operating on 439.3125 MHz with a 77.0 Hz CTCSS tone. It is powered entirely by solar energy and is designed to provide uninterrupted service. On remote hilltops I think this is the most sensible solution, since there are few other ways to keep a repeater running on a summit with no mains electricity.
In the first field tests the repeater could be reached from parts of Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır and Kahramanmaraş. Communication was also achieved around Osmaniye and Hatay (Antakya), and good results were reported towards Malatya and Elazığ. TRAC says it will continue to monitor performance and that shortcomings and improvements will be addressed in the coming period.
There is also the bigger picture. The Ulubaba repeater is planned to work in tandem with the repeater on Karagöl Tepe, one of the highest peaks in the Black Sea region at 3,107 metres, and with the 145.600 repeater, which can be reached from more than 20 cities. In this way coverage extends across different regions, aiming for continuous communication during emergencies.
Many volunteers contributed to the project, above all TRAC Adıyaman Representative Cengiz Gümüş (TA8CNG), TRAC Şanlıurfa Branch board member Mustafa Özbakır (TA8MOZ), Efe Özçağlar (TA2ZU), who provided technical support for the installation, and Hüseyin Odabaş (TA1DF). Thank you all. Seeing volunteer-driven infrastructure work like this reminds me why amateur radio still matters.
Source: Türkiye Radyo Amatörleri Cemiyeti (TRAC)
Every so often someone asks me how to get started in amateur radio, so I was glad to see a solid guide to the UKE exam on the Radio W Plecaku blog. The payment details in the text were checked on June 24, 2026, so it is one of the most up-to-date resources available.
The exam itself is a single-choice test divided into four sections. It covers the basics of electrical engineering and radio technology, operation of radio equipment, safety rules, and knowledge of regulations and operating procedures. Each section has eight questions, and depending on the UKE regional office the test is taken either on paper or on a computer.
Poland has two kinds of radio licence. Category 1 gives full privileges on all amateur bands, while category 3 covers selected bands, including 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres, plus VHF and UHF. The authors advise going straight for category 1, since it is only slightly harder.
The formalities look like this: create an account on the egzaminy.uke.gov.pl system, pay the exam fee, choose a date and place, and submit the application no later than seven days before the exam. On exam day an identity card is enough, but minors need written consent from a parent or guardian.
Most people need about a month of moderately intensive study. The written part can be the hardest for someone who has never worked with electronics, although the required level really is just the basics. The advice I like most is to listen to real radio contacts, even via web SDRs, alongside practice tests, because it is a great way to get used to how the airwaves sound. If you are thinking about your own callsign, this article is a good place to start.
Source: Radio W Plecaku
It has been about half a century since single sideband pushed AM aside as the go-to voice mode on HF, mostly because SSB needs roughly half the bandwidth. Now there is a digital contender that wants to repeat the trick, and I find that genuinely exciting.
The mode is called RADE, short for Radio Autoencoder, and it comes from the FreeDV project. According to Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), which funded the research behind it, RADE occupies half the bandwidth of an SSB signal and is reported to sound more natural. It combines machine learning with classical digital signal processing and can work at signal-to-noise ratios as low as -2 dB. The design aims at good use of spectrum, speech quality and power efficiency, all things that matter when you are working a crowded band.
What makes it more than a lab curiosity is that manufacturers are starting to build it in. ARDC says the first step is a downloadable module that can be installed on certain FlexRadio models. If you run another transceiver, you can still use the mode through a computer connected to your radio.
I am cautious about big claims for any new mode, and real-world results will decide whether it catches on. Still, a voice mode that squeezes into half the SSB bandwidth is the kind of thing that could help on crowded bands and weak-signal contacts. More details are available from FreeDV and the ARDC website, and I plan to keep an eye on how it develops.
Source: ARRL
