Amateur radio news from around Colorado and the broader ham world — new gear, rule changes, contests, and what’s happening on the bands. Curated for the club; every item links to the original source.
Curated with the help of an AI news assistant. Links go to the original reporting — support the outlets that do the work.
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WCARC Hamfest & Swapmeet Set for August 8 in Grand Junction
The Western Colorado Amateur Radio Club’s 2026 Hamfest & Swapmeet is set for Saturday, August 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Christian Church, 1326 N. 1st Street in Grand Junction. The club lists an admission charge, vendor tables and tailgate spaces, door prizes, QSL card checking, license exams, food,…
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Low-Cost SDR Design Offers Ideas for Radio Experimenters
Hackaday’s report from Hackaday Europe 2026 follows Anders Nielsen’s effort to build a transparent, low-cost software-defined radio rather than rely entirely on a closed off-the-shelf platform. The project progressed from soundcard tests to a dual-ADC design, and the live demonstration received the full FM broadcast band at once. For experimenters, the useful…
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Limon DMR Site Restored to Full Network Service
Rocky Mountain Ham Radio reports that its Limon DMR site is back at full operation after volunteers replaced a Cat5 run with fiber, restoring the microwave link into the network. The site also retains backup connectivity through Bijou Telephone ISP service, an encouraging bit of infrastructure news for operators who use the…
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MegaFest 2026 Comes to Monument July 25
Colorado operators looking for a summer hamfest and swap-meet day have a nearby option this Saturday. The Pikes Peak Radio Amateur Association’s MegaFest 2026 is scheduled for July 25 at Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument, with doors open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Vendors may enter at 6:00 a.m., and ticket…
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Portable Operating Lessons From a Tapley Woods Activation
A field report from Mark, KB2PIZ, at Illinois’s Tapley Woods State Natural Area is a good reminder that portable operating rewards preparation and flexibility. Before setting up, he checked the activation schedule, antenna direction, and expected propagation—then deployed a Chameleon LEFS 40 antenna with a Xiegu G90. When 20-meter SSB slowed after…
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Small Habits Can Keep Young Hams on the Air
Keeping young operators active is one of the most practical ways a club can invest in amateur radio’s future. In a recent OnAllBands article, Violetta Latham, KN2P—ARRL Youth Section Coordinator for the Colorado Division—offers a grounded reminder that school, family, work, and radio all have to coexist. Her advice is intentionally modest:…
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A 40-Meter Homebrew Receiver Worth a Look
A recent SolderSmoke Daily News post spotlights a compact 40-meter homebrew receiver by Hidehiko, JA9MAT. The build is a reminder that hands-on receiver work remains a living part of amateur radio: a practical project can combine older operating ideas with current components, fabrication methods, and a lot of individual problem-solving. The receiver…
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Listen for UmKA-1 SSTV During International Moon Day
Satellite operators have a short window this week to listen for a special transmission from UmKA-1, also known as RS40S, tied to International Moon Day. Amateur Radio Daily reports that the satellite is scheduled to alternate special audio clips and slow-scan television (SSTV) imagery through July 26. The announced schedule includes SSTV-and-audio…
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Add VHF to Your Next POTA Activation
Parks on the Air (POTA) activations are often associated with HF, but VHF can be a useful part of a park operation—particularly for operators who enjoy local contacts, portable operating, or Colorado’s higher terrain. Colorado operator Bob Witte, K0NR, makes the case that a modest 2-meter or 70-centimeter setup can add another…