• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog
  • HOME
  • Study Guides
  • Teach a One-Day Tech Class
  • W8SRC Repeater Guide
  • Advertise
  • Hire Me

ICQ Podcast

ICQPodcast Episode 481: Home Brewing & Kit Building

April 19, 2026 By Dan KB6NU 1 Comment

ICQ Podcast logo.In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Colin Butler M6BOY to discuss the latest amateur/ham radio news, including:

  • ITU Corporation Purchases HyGain and Cushcraft lines from MFJ. My personal opinion is that this is a great thing for ham radio.
  • New Regulations for Hams in Norway. Norway introduces a new entry-level license, or as it is called in the legal text, “limited license”.
  • Students are ‘Over The Moon’. NASA has gotten several universities—and their amateur radio clubs—involved in tracking the Artemis mission.
  • Station’s Experiments Explore Use of 4m and 8m Bands. Despite these experiments, don’t get your hopes up for a 4-meter band any time soon. There are still six analog, Channel 4 stations that are on the air.
  • Arrest for Interference with Emergency Radio Channels
  • Britain Seeks Views Before it Drops the Hammer on Signal Jammers

Colin, M6BOY also reports on the following:

  • 2026 ARRL Field Day Merch Now Shipping
  • VOA Museum Announces Expanded Hours During Hamvention. If you’re going to Dayton, try to carve out some time for this fabulous museum.
  • Your TP-Link Router is Under Attack from Russian State Hackers

The episode’s feature is Home brewing / Kit building.

Filed Under: ICQ Podcast Tagged With: Artemis, MFJ, NASA, Norway

ICQPodcast Episode 477 – ARRL Bylaw 46 Changes

February 22, 2026 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

ICQ Podcast logo.In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news, including: .

  • Victory in Scotland for Amateur’s Tower Installation
  • Hams Respond to Tragedy In Chilean Andes
  • Indiana BMV Unveils New Amateur Radio License Plate
  • Not Moonbounce, Rather Building- And Pedestrian-Bounce
  • HAM Radio Operators Bridge UP200 Communications

This episode’s feature is titled, “ARRL Bylaw 46 Changes.” but it’s an interview with Bob Famiglio, K3RF, who was recently expelled from the ARRL board of directors for failing to sign the “loyalty oath.” In my humble opinion, this is another shameful episode in the saga of the ARRL’s decline.

Filed Under: ARRL, ICQ Podcast, Politics Tagged With: Indiana, K3RF, UP200

ICQPodcast Episode 475 – Expanding portable ops on 70cm/2m

January 25, 2026 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

ICQ Podcast logo.In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news, including:

  • Biggest solar storm in 20 years hits Earth
  • Can Ham Radio Help Taiwan Survive?
  • UK Regulator Eyes Frequency-Sharing By Devices
  • German Amateurs’ Access To 70 Mhz Band In Limbo
  • SOTA 2026 Challenge Brings Back Activity to 2m/70cm SSB/CW

This episode’s feature is “Expanding portable ops on 70cm/2m.”

 

Filed Under: ICQ Podcast, Podcasts Tagged With: Germany, SOTA, Taiwan, United Kingdom

ICQPodcast Episode 473 – Is AI About to Kill Ham Radio?

December 28, 2025 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

ICQ Podcast logo.In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. On this episode, we discuss:
  • Up to $25,000 at Stake in New ARRL Student Coding Competition
  • Student Success with DMR Project In India
  • Jim Shaffer, KE5AL, Advocate For Blind Hams Becomes SK At 72
  • ARDC Launches 44Net Connect
  • International Reply Coupons (IRCs) to End
This episode’s feature is, “Is AI about to kill ham radio?”

Filed Under: ARDC, ARRL, ICQ Podcast Tagged With: DMR, India

ICQPodcast Episode 469 – Club Open Day and Radio Centre Win Award

November 2, 2025 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

ICQ Podcast logo.In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest amateur/ham radio news, including:
  • Ham to Chair Newly Created University Department
  • Reminder: Keep Clear of Emergency Frequencies
  • Young Amateurs Learn New Modes for Emcomm
  • No, SDRs Haven’t Ruined DX’ing
  • Astronomy Trade Fair to Debut at Ham Radio Friedrichshafen

There are also reports on:

  • YOTA Month: Book Your GB25YOTA Operating
  • Is AO-7 Still the Oldest Satellite?
  • Latvia’s Hams Honor Nation’s First Broadcast Radio at 100
This episode’s feature is Club Open Day and RSGB win an award.

Filed Under: ICQ Podcast, Podcasts Tagged With: AO-7, emcomm, SDR, YOTA

ICQPodcast Episode 460 – Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2025 Part One

July 16, 2025 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

In this episode, I joined Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Topics included:
  • PRESENTER OPINION : Is it time to bring back the club leadership course?
  • POTA Activator Dies in Accidental Electrocution
  • Volunteers Bring Last Commercial Maritime Station Back on Air for 26th Year
  • Hamshack Hotline To Be Discontinued
  • Grant to Aid Clublog Operations Upgrade

This episode’s feature is a selection of interviews from HAM Radio Friedrichshafen.

Filed Under: ICQ Podcast Tagged With: ClubLog, HamShack Hotline, KPH, POTA

ICQPodcast Episode 452 – Disqualified ARRL board nominees tell their stories

March 23, 2025 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest amateur/ham radio news:

  • ISS FM Repeater, APRS Digipeater Could Be Sunset in Two Years
  • ISS Astronauts Reject Call for Early Retirement of the ISS
  • VOA, Other International News Services, Marked for Cuts
  • Questions Loom After Cuts at United States Weather Agency
  • FCC Seeks Public Suggestions On Possible Deregulation
  • Work at Repeater Site Costs Ham His County Job In Washington State

From my point of view, the big news is this episode’s feature, which starts at approximately the 1:25:00 mark. In the feature, Frank K4FMH and I interview the three hams who were disqualified from last year’s ARRL board elections. They are:

  • Jim Talens, N3JT
  • Dan Marler, K7REX
  • Fred Hopengarten, K1VR

Each of them tells the story of how they came to be disqualified, and I’m sure that these stories are sure to raise an eyebrow or two. After hearing their stories, we all discuss how the recent board decision to modfy ByLaw 18 will make the ARRL even less democratic and what that might mean for ARRL membership. (TL;DR it’s not a positive thing.)

Filed Under: ARRL, ICQ Podcast, On the Internet, Podcasts, Rules, Regulations, Enforcement Tagged With: ARRL Board of Directors, FCC, ISS

ICQPodcast Episode 448: Did you Know – Q and A

January 26, 2025 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

In this episode, I joined join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss:
  • Ham Radio Operators Serving During California Firestorms
  • Consultation Which Seeks to Simplify the Licensing of Amateur Radio Visitors to the UK
  • Ham Radio Ireland, The Digital Magazine, Is Back
  • Girls Missed the Bus – Helped by Hams
  • DMR Radios Open Up The World To Students in India

The January 2025 issue of Ham Radio Ireland is now online and includes articles on POTA, a Meshtastic project, how to get started using the QO-100 satellite, and several others. I’ve just submitted an article to them on how I’ve improved my POTA antenna over the years by tinkering with it. Links to the 2023 issues are also available on line.

Filed Under: Emergency Communications / Public Service, ICQ Podcast Tagged With: California, India, Ireland, UK

ICQ Podcast Episode 440 – UK Ham Fest 2024, Part1

October 6, 2024 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. We discussed the following:
  • PRESENTER OPINION : The ARRL elections this year are a sham?

  • UK, NZ Hams Mark 100 Years of Two-Way Radio Communication

  • US Lawmakers Wait to Vote on AM Radio Legislation

  • Hamsci Researcher Reports on Space-Weather Monitoring Tool

  • Dozens of Radio Stations Were Knocked Off the Air by Helene

  • Russia and Belarus eligible again for the CQ WW Contest Awards

The feature for this episode is the first part of the ICQ Podcast’s report on the UK Ham Fest 2024.

Filed Under: ICQ Podcast Tagged With: AM radio, ARRL, HamSci, New Zealand

M1MRB and yours truly discuss troubleshooting

July 5, 2024 By Dan KB6NU Leave a Comment

The latest episode of the ICQ Podcast features a discussion between Martin, M1MRB, and yours truly share our experiences with troubleshooting electronic equipment. Our discussion starts at 59:40 of the podcast. I think you’ll enjoy it.

I’d love to hear your troubleshooting tips. Please comment below.

Filed Under: ICQ Podcast Tagged With: troubleshooting

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide (for tests given between July 2026 and June 2030)

New No Nonsense Technican Class Study Guide now available!

The 2026 version of my Tech Class study guide is now available, and as always, the PDF version is FREE!. The ePub version costs $11.97, and a Kindle version and paperback version will be available on Amazon shortly.

Click here to get all of my "No Nonsense" study guides.

Also available: The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code

W5SWL.Com
Retevis Ailunce H1 DMR Radio
DXpander: Cobweb antennas, Laser Cutting

You’ve got mail!

Enter your email address below and get an email every time I publish a new post.

Email


I frequently teach classes to help newcomers get their licenses. The next class will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026 on the University of Michigan campus. Click here for more information.

If you can't make the class, subscribe to the mailing list to be notified of when the next class will be held.

You can always download my free study guide, and if you have any questions about the classes, or amateur radio in general, please feel free to email me directly.

Support KB6NU.Com

Donate $7.30 and get two of these cool stickers. Measuring 4.25-in. W by 2.75-in. H, it's perfect for your car, your shack, or wherever!

Contact me

If you have a question or comment about one of my blog posts, or a question about any of the material in my study guides, or just a question about ham radio in general, you can email me at [email protected].

Blogs You Should Also Read

  • AE5X: A CW-centric blog from Kingswood, Texas
  • K0LWC Blog
  • LA3ZA Ham Radio Blog
  • Little Radios, Big Fun – WB3GCK
  • Mr. Vacuum Tube's Blog
  • Radio Artisan – K3NG
  • The K0NR Weblog
  • VE3WDM's QRP Ham Radio Blog
  • W2LJ’s Blog

Ham Radio Websites

  • Dashtoons – The Hammin' Comedy by Jeff K1NSS

Podcasts

  • ICQ Podcast
  • Linux in the Ham Schack
  • No Nonsense Amateur Radio Podcast
  • Resonant Frequency Amateur Radio Podcast

Recent Comments

  • Dan KB6NU on Finally, a Loop for 10m.
  • Dan KB6NU on 1930s cards for my collection of QSLs from stations whose callsigns spell words
  • Sean on Finally, a Loop for 10m.
  • Bill Waslo on 1930s cards for my collection of QSLs from stations whose callsigns spell words
  • C M Wetzel KD8TNF on The Wesco BN-1

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Footer

Copyright © 2026 Daniel M. Romanchik, KB6NU · Log in