When the AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (AO-7) amateur radio satellite was launched in 1974, its expected lifespan was about five years. The plucky little satellite made it to 1981 when a battery failure caused it to be written off as dead. Then, in 2002 it came back to life. The prevailing theory being that one of the cells in the satellites NiCd battery pack, in an extremely rare event, failed open — thus allowing the satellite to run (intermittently) off its solar panels.

Learn how you can choose and deploy a better performing and more appropriate antenna to meet your operating goals during K8ZT’s 10 Worst Antennas for Amateur Radio & How You Can Do Better! presentation at the March RRRA Meeting.

Sometimes it takes a little inspiration to try different facets of our hobby… Here’s an Amateur Radio Challenges Checklist from RATPAC to expand your horizons.

How many tasks on the checklist can you complete in 2025?

George KJ6VU (from Sierra Radio Systems) and Josh KI6NAZ discuss the state of amateur radio repeaters.

On Christmas Eve morning, Tuesday December 24th 2024, SAQ Grimeton is scheduled¹ to be on the air, to send out the traditional Christmas message to the whole World, using the 200kW Alexanderson alternator from 1924, on 17.2 kHz CW.