The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has officially joined America250 as a Supporting Partner in the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. America250 marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and will highlight the nation’s history, innovation, and the individuals who have shaped its development. ARRL’s participation recognizes amateur radio as an important part of America’s technological progress and long-standing tradition of public service.

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.