Radio Round-up

WORLD QRP DAY: If you have ever wondered what your station could achieve with low power, why not give it a try on World QRP Day, 17 June? The day was designated by the IARU to promote the use of lower power and the G-QRP Club awards the Suffolk Trophy to its member with the best log of contacts made on the day. If you are not a member of the G-QRP Club, you can still turn your power down and see what you can do with 5W of CW or 10W of SSB or data.

There are CW and SSB Centres of Activity in all HF bandplans, and, with Cycle 25 on the up, there should be plenty of DX to be worked, especially on the higher bands. Higher power stations are asked to respect the internationally agreed Centres of Activity and allow the QRP operators to enjoy their chosen side of amateur radio, especially on IARU World QRP Day. www.gqrp.com/freq.htm

ZORRO JH1AJT – SILENT KEY: Well-known Japanese amateur ‘Zorro’ JH1AJT died on 22 March after a long battle with cancer. Until the end, he was optimistic; cheerful; and most importantly, concerned for his fellow human beings, especially disabled children. Through his schools and his humanitarian trips in Asia and Africa he brought a better life to all of those he touched. He operated from, and led humanitarian expeditions to, places as diverse as Eritrea, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

He also contributed generously to DXpeditions and encouraged and mentored operators.

TAPR NEWSLETTER: The Winter issue #151 of TAPR’s quarterly newsletter PSR is available for free download. TAPR – The Tucson Amateur Packet Radio group – was behind early packet radio developments in amateur radio, and continues to innovate with APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) and other packet radio based applications. Leading light Bob Bruninga WB4APR passed away in February but the organisation continues to thrive as a look at their website will demonstrate. The latest newsletter includes: President’s Corner, Digital Communications Conference, 80m & 160m WSPR Transmitters. Now Available, GRCon22 on Sept. 26-30, WB4APR – SK, N1URO – SK

Whither APRS?, Starlink in Ukraine and more. https://tapr.org