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The **Amateur Radio** community on Microsoft Teams provides a platform for hams to connect through chat and video calls. It features five distinct channels, facilitating structured discussions on various topics, akin to a community forum without advertisements. Users can schedule events for group video chats or engage in one-on-one calls, with user status indicators showing availability. The platform supports sharing messages, files, and both video and audio communications within a defined group. An open video chat room is also available, accessible even to non-community members, allowing broader participation. The resource details how to join the existing 'Amateur Radio' community group and provides links to a blog post and a YouTube video for new users to understand Teams Communities.

Navigating the complex legal landscape of **antenna zoning** and permit acquisition for amateur radio installations requires specific knowledge, which Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, provides through his resource. This content details the essential steps and regulatory considerations for securing permits for antenna support systems and towers. It focuses on the legal and procedural requirements, offering insights into local ordinances and federal regulations that impact amateur radio operators seeking to erect significant antenna structures. K1VR's expertise as a telecommunications lawyer is evident in the practical advice offered, drawing from real-world scenarios in permit applications. The resource equips hams and their legal counsel with the information needed to successfully navigate municipal zoning boards and secure necessary approvals, contrasting with purely technical antenna design guides by emphasizing the administrative and legal pathways to installation.

Presents the 9M2PJU QSO Map Tool, a web-based utility designed by Ian Renton for visualizing amateur radio contacts. This tool processes ADIF, Cabrillo, and SOTA CSV log files, allowing operators to plot their QSOs on a selection of base maps, including ESRI NatGeo World Map and OpenStreetMap Mapnik. Users can configure display options such as simple dot markers or xOTA hunter markers, QTH location, outlines, shadows, and geodesic lines, with coloring by band or a fixed hue. The application supports drawing per-band heatmaps and offers overlays for Maidenhead grid squares, CQ zones, ITU zones, and Worked All Britain/Ireland grids. It also provides QSO filtering capabilities and displays comprehensive log statistics, including unique calls, grid squares, CQ zones, ITU zones, and worked DXCCs. Customizable band and mode colors, alongside specific xOTA icons for programs like POTA, SOTA, WWFF, IOTA, and WCA, enhance the visual analysis of operating activity.

Version 0.7 of Open Tuner, released on April 27, 2023, marked a significant milestone by introducing proof-of-concept dual tuner functionality for the BATC Minitiouner. This C# client, inspired by Heather Lomond's _Longmynd_ project, aims to leverage both tuners and demodulators within the NIM module, a capability crucial for advanced Digital Amateur Television (DATV) operations on QO-100 and terrestrial links. My own experience with DATV often involves juggling multiple receive paths, so a unified client like this simplifies the workflow considerably. Further enhancing its utility, version 0.9 (February 11, 2024) integrated support for the Raspberry Pico, utilizing Colin (G4EML)'s _PicoTuner_ firmware. This offers a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to the traditional FTDI module, streamlining dual tuner setups with a single USB cable. The project's evolution reflects a practical approach to overcoming hardware availability challenges. The software is developed using Visual Studio 2019/2022 and .NET Framework 4.7.2, requiring specific Nuget packages like VLC/Websocket and an ffmpeg folder for full operation. It's an active, community-driven effort, with the source code openly available on GitHub for contributions and bug reporting, embodying the collaborative spirit of amateur radio development.

Define the SWL contest 2026 as an event for monitoring a variety of languages on _medium wave_ (MW) and _shortwave_ (SW) AM radio stations. Participants can utilize either traditional radio receivers or _WEB SDR_ platforms to log their findings. The contest encourages the use of both analog and digital methods to maximize the diversity of languages captured. The contest rules specify that entries must include detailed logs of the stations received, including frequency, time, and language identified. Logs should be submitted in a standardized format to ensure consistency and accuracy in judging. The use of WEB SDR is particularly highlighted for its ability to access distant stations that may not be reachable with local equipment. The contest is open to all SWL enthusiasts worldwide, with a focus on European WEB SDR access. The event aims to foster a deeper understanding of global broadcasting patterns and linguistic diversity. Participants are encouraged to explore various bands within the MW and SW spectrum, enhancing their skills in signal identification and language recognition. The contest offers a unique opportunity to engage with the global SWL community and share insights into the art of listening.

The Meshtastic project leverages _LoRa_ radio protocol to establish a long-range, off-grid communication platform, functioning as a decentralized mesh network. It facilitates sending and receiving text messages using inexpensive LoRa radios, eliminating reliance on traditional infrastructure or a smartphone for core mesh communication. Key features include encrypted communication, extended battery life, and optional GPS-based location services, with radios designed to rebroadcast messages to ensure delivery across the mesh. This system has demonstrated a record range of **331km** and is entirely community-driven and open source, with its codebase hosted on GitHub. Unlike conventional amateur radio, Meshtastic operates on LoRa frequencies generally accessible without specific licenses. Each Meshtastic radio can pair with one phone for message exchange, and support is provided by volunteers.

Presents the NED International DX Group, a **CB radio** organization established in the Netherlands on August 23, 2026, by 19NED000 and 19NED001 Henricus. The group primarily operates on the **11-meter band**, utilizing various modes including FM, AM, LSB, USB, CW, FT8, FT4, FT2 Ross, and JS8, with all digital modes permitted. Membership is free and open to active operators and SWLs. Key operating frequencies include 27.405 LSB, 27.265 USB for FT8, and 27.245 USB for JS8. The group also maintains activity on PMR Channel 10 at 446.11875 MHz FM. The organization is actively seeking volunteers for roles such as webmaster (proficient in PHP, MySQL, and security), digital eQSL and paper QSL card management, logo and banner design, and country/province directors.

Open source tool for viewing and 3D visualizing NEC antenna model files directly on your Android device. Simulation and view base antenna characteristics is available.