Planning a vacation in the United Kingdom? Or maybe you have a fellow ham radio operator friend in the UK? Regardless of the reason, it’s worth knowing that while staying in the UK you can now connect to group 3109312 on the FM-Poland network using British repeaters operating within the FM-UK network. To connect from the FM-UK network to the Chicago group, simply key up and use the DTMF keypad to dial: 913109312#. After a moment, the network will confirm that the connection has been established and you can start calling.

Winter Field Day is the winter version of the popular summer Field Day, held on the last full weekend of January. In 2026, Winter Field Day will take place on January 24–25, starting on Saturday at 16:00 UTC and ending on Sunday at 21:59 UTC. It is a 30-hour event during which amateur radio operators test their equipment and skills in challenging winter conditions.

In recognition of the 250th Anniversary of the United States, QRZ.com has introduced a special, time-limited operating award known as the QRZ 250 Award. This award is designed to commemorate a historic national milestone while encouraging amateur radio operators to stay active on the air throughout the 2026 calendar year.

Amateur radio is not just about technology and regulations — above all, it is a community of operators who share a common radio space. Operating on repeaters and talkgroups requires attention to certain rules that make coexistence on the air easier for everyone. While many of these principles also apply on HF, here we focus on communications on the VHF/UHF bands, where following them contributes to smooth and efficient conversations.

At the beginning of December 2025, a practical emergency communications training exercise took place on Vashon-Maury Island in Washington State. The event brought together local volunteers, amateur radio operators, and members of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and Auxiliary Communications Service. The training focused on the use of portable communications systems designed to operate when cellular networks, the internet, and standard telecommunications infrastructure fail.

In an age where we take instant communication for granted, a sudden disruption—whether from severe weather, power outages, or network failures—can leave families scrambling to connect. The solution doesn't require expensive equipment or complex training. Instead, it starts with a simple monthly practice that takes less time than preparing dinner.

Remember TG9? In the DMR systems, it was the classic repeater group for local QSOs – no links, no internet, just pure communication through a single repeater. Now, within Group 312 Chicago, we’re returning to those roots by introducing Group 9 on our analog repeaters.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has launched a nationwide grassroots campaign aimed at passing a federal law that restores equal rights for amateur radio operators in the United States to install antennas on their property.

Ham radio is a hobby that has connected people across the globe for decades – and it turns out its popularity is on the rise once again. A clear example of this is this year's ARRL Field Day 2025, the largest annual amateur radio event in the U.S., which saw a significant increase in the number of participating locations and operators making contacts.