News: Olivia Digital Modes on HF
Greetings Olivia and digital mode operators, GREAT NEWS! WEBSITE UPDATE! Here are the big three new features: Live Olivia...
Category: Ham Radio
VHF for Parks On The Air?
Parks On The Air (POTA) has exploded in popularity, with most of the activity on the HF bands. That...
Mercury: A New Open-Source HF Modem Set to Transform Digital Amateur Radio Communications
The HERMES Project introduces Mercury, a fully open-source HF modem designed to deliver reliable, adaptive digital communications for amateur...
Echoes of CW: A Signal Corps Tribute to Virginia L. Scott and the WAVES of WWII
Looking at this historic painting brings back a flood of memories from my own time in the Signal Corps....
How to Fix the Technician License
Once again, I am in the middle of teaching a Technician license class and I notice that some of...
The SARC Communicator: July – August 2026
Welcome to The CommunicatorWelcome to the July-August 2026 issue of The Communicator. As summer hits its peak, this bumper...
K0NR BKG114
There I was, minding my own business at Field Day, when I ended up in a conversation with The...
Coast Guard Cutter Chelan: Biggest, Costliest Coast Guard Vessel of its Era
Take a step back in time to November 26, 1928, and take a look at what was then described...
Colorado QSO Party
Here is a Press Release concerning the Colorado QSO Party. Like it says below, this is our chance to...
Beyond the Sunspots: Understanding 10 Meter Propagation
I have noticed a common theme regarding propagation on the 10 meter band. There is a wide perception that...
A Pileup? What It Is And How To Work One
Welcome to the chaotic, thrilling world of the HF pileup. When a rare station or a Parks On The...
Brain Health and Parks on the Air
Got my N3ZN Single-Lever Paddle out of storage, along with most of my POTA station. Despite being homeless and...
Operating W1AW/0 on Pikes Peak
In 2026, the ARRL is running a program to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States (America250). One...
What was your first major receiver?
I started in the ham radio and shortwave listening hobby in 1972. By 1975, this was my first real...
Senator Ted Cruz Highlights Amateur Radio Public Service (Memorial Weekend 2026)
Senator Ted Cruz, in this pre-Memorial-Day message, thanks amateur (ham) radio volunteers who serve the public through emergency communications,...
Powerhouse History: WLW, W8XAL, WSAI
The photograph, below, captures a compelling moment of technical mastery during the formative years of American broadcasting, set deep...
1946: Thousands of Hams Allowed Back on the Air
I have been spending time reflecting on the history of our wonderful hobby, and this April 1946 issue of...
South Monarch Ridge Photo
In 2024, Joyce/K0JJW and I activated South Monarch Ridge (W0C/SP-058) on the Friday of the Colorado 14er & Mountaintop...
2026 Colorado 14er & Mountaintop Event
During the Colorado 14er & Mountaintop Event, amateur radio operators from around Colorado will be activating Summits On The...
Hamvention 2026 – Mark Your Calendars for the Ultimate Ham Radio Gathering!
Excitement is building in the amateur radio community as Hamvention 2026 approaches! This legendary event is an unparalleled opportunity...
Across Lake Michigan on 146.52 MHz
Here’s a post from way back in 2005. It falls into the category of “notable VHF contacts,” so I...
The SARC Communicator : May-June 2026
Welcome to The CommunicatorAmateur radio has always been a pursuit of contrasts—venerating the past while racing toward the future....
Three Types of VHF SOTA Contacts
When I talk about doing VHF SOTA activations, people often wonder about what kind of contacts to expect. VHF...
Technician Class – Buena Vista, CO
Ham Radio License Class Buena Vista, Colorado The Technician license is your gateway to the worldwide fun and excitement...
CW or Morse code?
Unpacking the FAA’s Boeing 787 Transponder DirectiveAs SARC Communicator editor I read a lot of blogs, club websites and...