Welcome to The Communicator

Welcome to the September-October 2026 issue of The Communicator. Dive into the latest issue of The SARC Communicator, a bumper edition brimming with technical innovation, operating field reports, and rich radio history for all levels of amateur radio.

A Blend of History and Innovation

This issue opens with a compelling profile of Sir William Stephenson, offering a deep dive into radio history. It then looks forward with "The Future of Morse Code Has a Call Sign," exploring the enduring relevance of CW in the digital age. For those interested in cutting-edge technology, the feature on "FreeDV RADE" introduces a revolutionary new approach to digital voice over HF, leveraging machine learning for robust communication in noisy conditions.

Practical Projects and Operating News

Practical builders will appreciate "SARC's NTP Clock Revisited," which details how to achieve 14 display modes on a single ESP8266, and "Solving the USB charger problem… for good." Operators can benefit from "An Almost Instant Visual Propagation Tool" and new hams will appreciate "Before You Press the PTT." The "Radio Heroes on the International Pacific Highway" provides a historical account of the building of that roadway and the role amateur radio played. The issue also covers the latest in satellite news with "LEO satellite news: AMSAT in Canada" and "LEO.space."

Community and Commentary

Editorial pieces like "Cheap ATV?" and "AI on the Air: Breakthrough, Shortcut, or the Next Tool in the Ham Shack?" provoke thought on the hobby's direction. Community news includes "What’s New at DLARC," "The New-Gen Ham," and a profile of Zero Retries' Steve Stroh N8GNJ. From "Hunting RF Interference" with the EMF Explorer to the return of packet radio with "New Packet Radio," this issue is a comprehensive resource for every ham.

So power up, tune in, and turn the page—The Communicator has something for every communicator, now reaching 165+ countries.

73, and enjoy the read!

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Read it On-line as a Magazine

The AI - LLM audio podcast version (EXPERIMENTAL)

(And no, I didn't script this)

Please note that there are active links for additional content when viewed on your device.

~ John VE7TI, Editor

Contents for this issue: 

Ham College episode 143 is now available for download.

General Exam Questions Part 4
G1D – Volunteer Examiners and Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, temporary identification, element credit, remote operation.

https://hamcollege.tv
Download
YouTube

Key Topics Discussed:
Volunteer Examiners (VEs) and VEC: The hosts explain the requirements for becoming an accredited Volunteer Examiner (0:24:57-0:26:28), including age limits and the necessity of holding a higher-class license than the one being administered.
Examination Procedures: Discussion on what happens when an examinee passes an exam, including the validity of the Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) (0:23:20-0:24:51).
Station Operation: The program addresses rules regarding remote station control in a foreign country.(0:12:35-0:14:48).
License Privileges: Information on how to handle license upgrades and the administrative process for updating license data in the FCC database (0:14:55-0:16:35).

Show Notes

News Flash!

• California lawmakers unanimously pass Linux exemption from age-verification law
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mk (Tom’s Hardware)

Featured Topic:

• Games Designed To Improve Your Knowledge of Linux Command Line Interface and More!
  • Over The Wire Bandit
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/M9 (overthewire)
  • Command Line Murders
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Ma (github)
  • Command Challenge
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mb (cmdchallenge)
  • Linux Journey
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mc (labex)
  • HackerRank Linux Shell
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Md (hackerrank)
  • Terminus
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Me (mit)
  • BashCrawl
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mg (gitlab)
  • Vim Adventures
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mf (vimadventures)
  • SadServers
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mh (sadservers)
  • World of Haiku
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mi (haiku inc)
  • Linux Survival
    • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Mj (linux survival)

Announcements & Feedback:

• Announcements:
  • Support the show!
    • Support us via Patreon, Paypal, Merch, Sharing the Podcast via Social Media, and Rating Us in your Podcast Application!
  • We need your feedback!
    • Comments, Questions, Show Topic Ideas! Email us at [email protected]
  • Memorial Service for Russ, K5TUX
    • There will be a memorial service held for Russ at our home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on November 1, 2026. Everyone is welcome! If you’d like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll send you more info!
    • Facebook event page: https://lhs.fyi/mem
• Feedback:
  • From Justin, KE2GHU (This was the one we missed when we recorded our last episode!)
    • I just discovered this sweet piece of software (SDRoxide) and would be interested in hearing Bill’s opinion of it. Personally, my mind is blown and I only just discovered and downloaded it an hour ago. My understanding is that it’s available for Windows and Mac, but is natively build for Linux. I had no issues whatsoever installing on Mint, which was refreshing.

Subscribers & Supporters:

• Mastodon
  • @[email protected]
• Live Show Participants
  • Mike - K6GTE

Show Notes

Amateur Radio Topics:

• OSCARLOCATOR Simulator
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/LY (n8hm)
• Updated Technician Class Study Guide released
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/M8 (kb6nu study guides)
  • Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hNrDSif
• FCC Ham “Call Book”
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/M4 (PARC W4ZBB via Amateur Radio Weekly)

Open Source / Linux Topics:

• BudsLink Brings Advanced Earbud Controls to Linux Desktops
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/M7 (linux journal)
• Pop!_OS Rolls Out Its “Frosted Glass” Desktop Style For COSMIC
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/LX (Phoronix)

Linux in the Ham Shack Topics:

• QsoRipper
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/LZ
• POTACAT
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/M0
• Hello Contest
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/M5
• Rayfall: QRZ Logbook Map Viewer
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/M6

Announcements & Feedback:

• Announcements:
  • Support the show!  
    • Support us via Patreon, Paypal, Merch, Sharing our presence and the Podcast via Social Media, and Rating Us in your Podcast Application!
  • We need your feedback!
    • Comments, Questions, Show Topic Ideas! Email us at [email protected]
  • Memorial Service for Russ, K5TUX
    • There will be a memorial service held for Russ at our home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on November 1, 2026.  Everyone is welcome!  If you’d like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll send you more info!
    • Facebook event page: https://lhs.fyi/mem
• Feedback:
  • Tom Foy, N4HAI, on Episode #625, through Facebook
    • Listened to that one on the plane!!! Gotta check it out! I’m kinda sick of some of the logging apps I’ve been using. I love the idea of starting a new “operation”, and not starting a whole new log. PLUS.. I can stop running Win/N1MM+ on my x86 Mac Mini here in the shack, and go back to Linux!
  • Jonathan Rhoads, KD2HBV, sent us 2 pieces of Feedback this week via email!
    • Ham Topic Idea
      • Hello again - Thanks for answering my question about tuning a dipole antenna based on swr readings.  That was a great help in getting on the air with my portable qrp zBitx! I realize that there are many types of antennas used in portable qrp operations, but from what I’ve read, the End-fed half wave and the End-fed “random wire” antennas are the most common. Both are also within my ability for homebrewing, should I need to. I do have an ATU-10 tuner, so I could go with either one. What are the pros and cons of both?  Or perhaps there is something even better I’m missing?
    • Hedonism Idea Grilling
      • My garden has reached that happy state where I have tomatoes, bell peppers and onions all available, so last weekend I made a batch of “salsa rojo.”
      • The way I learned to do this is:
        • Cut the veggies into wedges (removing the pepper seeds).
        • Brush with olive oil.
        • Grill, shaking on salt and pepper.
        • Remove the tomato skins.
        • Blend, adding lime juice (or zest), salt and olive oil to taste.
      • Makes a fantastic end-of-summer treat.  We eat it with many things (e.g. grilled cheese, chips, grits) and it’s good “while supplies last.”  Which typically is not very long!
      • So that was my weekend hedonism.
      • Do either of you have anything unusual you like to create on a grill?

Subscribers & Supporters:

• Free Patreons
  • David Helmana
• Paypal
  • Jim MacKenzie
• Facebook
  • Adam Coble III
  • Robert McNeal
• X / Twitter
  • shininglily43
• Discord
  • KC9YIJ Mark
  • AJ5CR - Anne
  • N8XYM Mike
• Live Show Participants
  • Steve - KJ5T

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Frank Howell (K4FMH) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is The Science of Making Distant Contacts.

We would like to thank our and monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

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