Radio Active Times, Issue 6, October 2025

Download Issue 6 as a PDF (16 pages, 211 KB). See all issues of the Radio Active Times.

The official newsletter of the Handiham Radio Club. Issue 6, October 2025.

Greetings from the President

Greetings, HRC members. We are smack dab in the middle of autumn, with bonfires burning, leaves turning, and hot inversions popping up, giving us some fun VHF and UHF stories to tell while we sip our hot cocoa.

In the six weeks since Radio Camp, at least two HRC members have bought ClearNodes, a device many campers used to get on AllStar and check in to the HRC daily net. Tom Behler, KB8TYJ, Jerry Maccoux, W0UH, and possibly others will no doubt be using the recording of Larry Marcum’s (K7GND) Zoominar to use AllStar with finesse. This recording, and the willingness of HRC members Larry, K7GND, Peter, KD9VTU, John, NU6P, and others to help, is sure to get Tom, Jerry and any other ClearNode buyers up and running quickly.

A generous donor has offered to make a donation to the Radio Active Times, once again showing the helpfulness of HRC members and their commitment to making club initiatives successful.

Thanks to all of you, the club membership has grown to 205 members, and check-ins to the HRC daily net are at an all-time high. Thank you for your commitment to the HRC, and we will speak again soon in the next edition of the Radio Active Times.

Jerry Maccoux, W0UH, HRC President

Contributions Wanted

If you have something related to ham radio or technology that you want to share with the club, please submit it to our Editor in Chief, Mélanie Carriveau, KN4ZSY. There is no deadline for submissions, and the submission guidelines are quite flexible.

HRC Daily Net Statistics for September 2025

By Jerry Maccoux, W0UH, HRC Net Manager

September marks the end of the third quarter of 2025, and it will go down as one of the HRC’s busiest months, with one of the highest numbers of milestones reached. During the week smack dab in the middle of Radio Camp, we logged 156 checked-in stations on the HRC daily net. This year, 35 radio club members spent a week at Radio Camp in Bloomington, Minnesota. Last year, net traffic dropped slightly during camp week, but this year, with so many campers able to use multiple radios, check-ins increased. Check-ins during camp week were dramatically higher than in any other week of the third quarter, or for that matter, since 2022.

On September 9, 2025, while at Radio Camp, the Tuesday daily net was run from a local park and logged 40 checked-in stations. John Glass, NU6P, served as net control, and Secretary Mélanie Carriveau, KN4ZSY, served as logger. John Glass now holds the NCS record for the most stations logged on the HRC daily net; the previous record, 33 stations, was held by Daryl Stout, N5VLZ.

Check-ins by net, September 2025
Net	Check-ins	Average per net
Monday	93	23.25
Tuesday	142	28.4
Wednesday morning	95	23.75
Wednesday evening	96	24
Thursday	93	23.25
Friday	107	26.75

Check-ins by week, September 2025
Week	Check-ins	Average per net
Week 1	139	23.17
Week 2	156	26
Week 3	131	21.83
Week 4	144	24
Final two days	56	28
September total	626	24.08

Third quarter 2025 by month
Month	Check-ins	Average per net
July	571	20.39
August	536	21.44
September	626	24.07
Third quarter total	1,733	21.94

Total check-ins since January 1: 4,452, an average of 19.19 per net.

Milestones

Consecutive weeks logging more than 100 checked-in stations: 26.
Consecutive months logging more than 500 checked-in stations: 6.
First NCS to log 40 or more stations in one net: John Glass, NU6P.
More than 600 check-ins logged in one month.
The third quarter logged more than 1,700 checked-in stations, more than any other quarter since September 2022.
Since January, the HRC daily net has logged more than 4,000 checked-in stations.
NCS with the most stations logged in the third quarter: John Glass, NU6P, with 336.
Days in September logging more than 20 check-ins: 23.
We have soundly passed last year’s total check-ins with a quarter of the year still to go.
The Wednesday evening trivia net logged 24 or more stations for 6 consecutive weeks.

Congratulations, HRC! Let’s see what we can do with the fourth quarter statistics of 2025.

An HRC PS: Linda Reeder, N7HVF, has scored an HRC victory. Since July 1, 2025, she has held 15 Wednesday evening trivia nets, and ten of them logged 20 or more stations. She has officially regained her Queen of the Net status.

Be sure to drop in at 11:00 AM Central time, Monday through Friday, for our daily nets:

EchoLink: HANDIHAM conference server, node 494492
DMR: talkgroup TGIF, TG 3141
AllStar: node 473670

Article 1: Get to Know the Bands

Band edges and privileges described here are for the United States.

160 meters, 1.8–2.0 MHz

The 160-meter band, often called Top Band, sits just above the commercial AM broadcast band. It is a favorite for long-distance communication, especially at night. General and Extra licensees have full access, and the band is known for excellent propagation in the winter months. Conditions on 160 are very similar to AM broadcast: quite local during the day, with long-distance capability at night. In summer, nighttime range can be several hundred miles; in winter it can be several thousand. Static crashes can make the band very noisy in summer, less so in winter, and when there is no static, it seems as if you can hear forever. Hams use 160 meters for CW, digital, SSB and experimental modes. Its long-distance DX potential makes it a popular choice for contests and DXpeditions.

80 meters, 3.5–4.0 MHz

Perfect for: regional nighttime chats within a few hundred miles.
Personality: the cozy campfire band, with lots of friendly group conversations, especially in the evening.
Best time to use: nights and winter months.
Typical range: several hundred miles, occasionally worldwide at night.

The 80-meter band is known for reliable nighttime propagation in winter and is a popular choice for regional communications in the evening and at night. General licensees have access to a significant portion of it. The band supports everything from Morse code and digital modes to phone and image transmissions, making it a go-to band for both casual conversation and emergency communications. Eighty meters is very similar to 160 but with greater distances, especially at night. It tends to be a very reliable band, less affected by the sunspot cycle, and is used a lot for regular nets, message handling and local ragchewing. Like 160, it can be very noisy in summer because of static.

60 meters: five channels, 5.332–5.405 MHz

Sixty meters is not really a ham “band” but a group of five specific channels shared with government users. General, Advanced and Amateur Extra licensees may use it. Hams are secondary users here, not primary, so we must not cause interference to government stations and must accept interference from them. Each channel is 2.8 kHz wide, and many technical restrictions apply to ham transmitters and antennas. Upper sideband is used for voice; CW and certain digital modes are also permitted. When using USB, set your radio’s dial 1.5 kHz below the channel’s center frequency, so your signal is centered on the channel. Propagation on 60 meters is much like 80 and 40 meters.

40 meters, 7.000–7.300 MHz

Perfect for: reliable medium- to long-distance communication.
Personality: the workhorse band, active around the clock with a good mix of local and DX contacts.
Best time to use: good day and night, with different ranges.
Typical range: continental during the day, worldwide at night.

The 40-meter band is the most popular and reliable band in all seasons. It is always open somewhere, making it many hams’ favorite band. In summer, daytime distances of 300–400 miles and nighttime distances of 1,000 miles are very common. In winter, daytime distances of 500 miles or more are usual, and nighttime conditions can bring intercontinental DX. The band is shared with shortwave broadcasters from countries outside North America. It is not as affected by the sunspot cycle as 20 through 10 meters, and many nets meet on 40 meters day and night.

30 meters, 10.100–10.150 MHz

The 30-meter band is narrow but very efficient for DX. Maximum power is 200 watts, and the band is reserved for CW and digital modes, making it a favorite for operators who enjoy those modes. It has excellent long-distance capability, and its narrow width and mode restrictions help keep noise low, making it ideal for weak-signal work. It is a lot like 40 meters with slightly longer range; daytime ranges of 1,000 miles are quite common.

20 meters, 14.000–14.350 MHz

Perfect for: worldwide communication during daylight.
Personality: the DX hunter’s paradise.
Best time to use: daytime and early evening.
Typical range: worldwide when the sun is up.

The 20-meter band is one of the most popular in amateur radio, especially for long-distance DX. It offers excellent daytime and evening propagation and is a favorite for worldwide communication, supporting everything from casual chatting to contesting and emergency communications. Its global reach makes it a prime band for international friendships and cultural exchange. This can be a very exciting band, with some of the best DX on any band. Worldwide daytime contacts are generally possible, and when the sunspot cycle peaks, 20 meters can be open around the clock. It is not a good band for short-range contacts: working someone a few hundred miles away would take scatter or possibly long path, and groundwave signals reach only about 50–75 miles. At the bottom of the sunspot cycle, openings to other continents are short, rare, and few and far between.

17 meters, 18.068–18.168 MHz

The 17-meter band is known for reliable daytime DX. It is less crowded than 20 meters and is often used for more relaxed communication, balancing good DX potential with relatively quiet conditions. It’s a great choice for enjoying international contacts without the heavy traffic of some other bands. Conditions are very similar to 20 meters. It is a popular band for mobile operating, and lots of fun can be expected. You will meet some of the finest hams in the world on 17 meters. A very cordial band!

15 meters, 21.000–21.450 MHz

Perfect for: long-distance daytime contacts during peak solar activity.
Personality: the solar-powered band, amazing during solar peaks and quieter during solar minimums.
Best time to use: peak daylight hours.
Typical range: worldwide with good solar conditions.

The 15-meter band is another popular choice for long-distance communication, especially around solar maximum. It offers excellent daytime propagation and is a favorite for DX enthusiasts during high solar activity. It is a lot like 20 meters but a bit flakier and more influenced by the sunspot cycle. There is much less nighttime activity than on 20 meters, but at the peak of the cycle, 15 can provide much greater distances. At the bottom of the cycle, 15 meters may not open for days.

12 meters, 24.890–24.990 MHz

The 12-meter band is narrower than many HF bands but is known for excellent long-distance capability during high solar activity, and it can offer surprising DX. It is very heavily influenced by the sunspot cycle. At the bottom of the cycle it is suitable only for very short-distance groundwave communication; at the peak, it can cover thousands of miles with minimal equipment. It is another nice mobile band when conditions are right.

10 meters, 28.0–29.7 MHz

Perfect for: unpredictable but exciting worldwide contacts.
Personality: the surprise party band, sometimes quiet, sometimes exploding with signals from around the globe.
Best time to use: daytime during solar peaks.
Typical range: local most of the time, suddenly worldwide when conditions are right.

The 10-meter band is one of the most versatile and exciting bands available to hams. It supports a wide range of modes and is known for dramatic propagation changes, making it a favorite for both local and long-distance contacts. Its sensitivity to solar activity means that at solar maximum it can support worldwide communication, while at solar minimum it is better suited to regional contacts. From CW and digital to phone and satellite operations, it is a dynamic and engaging band, and it performs best in daylight.

This can be a fun band when it is open. It is the HF band most heavily affected by sunspots and the sunspot cycle, and it can be erratic and exciting at the same time, with lots of DX for the QSL hunter. When the cycle is rising toward its peak, minimal power and simple antennas can bring in a hundred countries in a short time; five watts or less can work halfway around the world! Groundwave coverage is about 25 miles. There are lots of beacon stations worldwide for DX hunters: if you can hear the low-power 10-meter beacons, the band is open to that part of the world.

6 meters, 50–54 MHz

The 6-meter band, often called the Magic Band, offers a unique blend of local and long-distance possibilities. All license classes have full privileges here. It behaves unpredictably and is known for sudden openings, such as sporadic E, that carry signals thousands of miles. Groundwave coverage on SSB is good, up to several hundred miles, and openings such as sporadic E, F2 skip, meteor scatter, aurora, inversions and EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) can reach 1,200 miles or more. Operators have worked the world with fairly modest stations. There is also some FM and repeater activity.

2 meters, 144–148 MHz

Perfect for: local communication through repeaters.
Personality: the community hub band, where most local ham activity happens.
Best time to use: any time.
Typical range: line of sight, usually 5–30 miles simplex; much farther through repeaters.

The 2-meter band is one of the most popular and widely used VHF bands, supporting everything from local chatting to emergency communications. A modest SSB or CW station can expect groundwave distances of around 200 miles. It is a good mobile FM band, with lots of local FM activity on repeaters, some covering up to 150 miles, and many repeaters are linked together for even greater coverage. IRLP, the Internet Radio Linking Project, is very popular for linking repeaters to the internet all over the world. It is also a good band for packet radio, and there is plenty of satellite activity, EME and terrestrial DX for weak-signal operators. Many of the same kinds of openings found on 6 meters also happen on 2 meters.

1.25 meters, 222–225 MHz

The “forgotten band” is less crowded but offers great performance, and it is often used for point-to-point digital communications. It is used mainly for local and regional communication, especially repeater systems and weak-signal work. It is not as active as 2 meters, has no satellite activity, and is not available in many countries outside the USA.

70 centimeters, 420–450 MHz

Perfect for: clear local communication with less crowding.
Personality: the clean and clear band, less crowded than 2 meters, with more room for digital modes.
Best time to use: any time.
Typical range: slightly less than 2 meters, but still great through repeaters.

The 70-centimeter band is a mainstay for many beginning hams, offering everything from local chatting to satellite operation. It is the lowest-frequency amateur UHF band. Groundwave coverage is quite limited compared with 2 meters because of higher absorption. Satellite, EME and terrestrial DXing are popular, and fast-scan TV has found a home around 430 MHz. There is lots of FM activity between 440 and 450 MHz, and many repeaters are linked to 2 meters. The longest element of a beam for this band is only about 12 to 13 inches, at the low end of the band!

33 centimeters, 902–928 MHz

The 33-centimeter band is a playground for digital communication, repeaters and experiments, and it is popular in urban areas because of its propagation characteristics. There is not much activity, though, because suitable equipment is scarce, and the band is shared with other services.

23 centimeters, 1240–1300 MHz

The 23-centimeter band offers a wide array of activities, from voice to digital modes, satellite operation and even amateur television. At 1.2 GHz it is a huge band with lots of room for experimenters. EME and satellite work are popular, and some parts of the US have very active FM repeaters. Antennas are very small! There is not a lot of terrestrial DXing, but contests bring some activity. Weak-signal antennas are impressive, with lots of elements on short booms, and dishes are practical on this band.

Tips and Tricks: Pesky Belt Clip Screws

By Jerry Maccoux, W0UH

Lately, every time I have attended a special event, such as Radio Camp, a class reunion or a lake outing over the Fourth of July, I have lost a belt clip screw from one of my HTs. Radio companies have not standardized the size of belt clip screw holes. If you lose one, you might write to the company you bought your HT from. When I called Buy Two Way Radios to order a replacement, I received a new belt clip with two screws that did not fit my radio. I went to Menards with no success, then went to Ace Hardware.

I brought my Wouxun KG-Q10H into the store and looked for a replacement screw, and we found a match. When searching for these screws, keep in mind the screw style, the size (diameter and length), and the thread pitch. For the Wouxun KG-Q10H, we found a Phillips-head metric screw measuring 2.5 mm. If the thread pitch is wrong, the screw may go partway into the hole in the back of the radio, but you won’t be able to turn it.

After finding a 2.5 mm screw that fit, I bought 10 of them, brought them home, and tried to replace a missing belt screw in my Kenwood TH-D75A. You guessed correctly if you assumed it didn’t fit. After another 30-mile trip into town to the hardware store, Kenwood in hand, I found a Phillips-head metric screw 3 mm in diameter and 6.35 mm long.

If the screw you find is a little too long, slip a small washer over it to get a length that will securely hold your belt clip in place.

Before securing your belt clip, tape an extra screw behind it with a piece of duct tape. Then firmly replace and tighten your belt clip screws. When you put in a replacement screw, brush some Loctite on the threads, or press a piece of duct tape on the threads to make them sticky. Vibration will be less likely to loosen the screws while you walk.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

October 2025

October 24–26, 2200–1600 UTC: GSMC Scout Fest. W4LSM, Great Smoky Mountain Council, Maryville, Tennessee. Frequencies: 7.220, 14.260 MHz.
October 26, 1600–2100 UTC: War of the Worlds special event station, commemorating Orson Welles’ infamous 1938 War of the Worlds Halloween broadcast. W0W, Delaware Valley Radio Association, West Windsor, New Jersey. Frequencies: 7.225, 14.255, 21.300 MHz.
October 30–31, 0000–0500 UTC: Boo to You. KC5BOO, KC5NX, Cleburne, Texas. Frequency: 14.074 MHz.
October 31 – November 1, 2200–2200 UTC: 17th Annual Veteran Honor Guard Vigil at the Ottawa, Illinois, War Memorial. W9TAL, American Legion Post 33 Amateur Radio Club, Ottawa, Illinois. FT8 on 7.074 and 14.074 MHz.
October 31 – November 1, 1300–0500 UTC: BOO! WA4TRS, The Road Show Amateur Radio Club, Fairview, North Carolina. Frequency: 14.273 MHz.

November 2025

November 1–14, 0001–2359 UTC: Operation Able Archer ’83. K9NBH, Great Lakes Radio Club, Salem, Wisconsin. Frequencies: 7.225, 14.250 MHz.
November 1, 0900–1700 UTC: The Potomac Highlands Flood of 1985, 40th anniversary. K8APD, Potomac Headwaters Amateur Radio Association, Franklin, West Virginia. Frequencies: 7.270, 14.270 MHz.
November 2: Handiham Radio Club Zoom meeting.
November 2–15, 0000–2359 UTC: 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. W8F, Livonia Amateur Radio Club, Livonia, Michigan. Frequencies: 14.260, 7.260, 7.050, 14.050 MHz.
November 2, 1400–1900 UTC: Mill Mountain Star special event. W4CA, Roanoke Valley ARC, Roanoke, Virginia. Frequencies: 7.220, 14.250 MHz.
November 3–12, 0000–2359 UTC: Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald. N8F, Livingston Amateur Radio Klub, Howell, Michigan. Frequencies: 14.260, 7.260 MHz.
November 7–9, 2300–2200 UTC: Alabama Pecan Festival. W4P, Mobile Amateur Radio Club, Mobile, Alabama. Frequencies: 7.180, 14.277 MHz.
November 7–17, 0600–2359 UTC: Amateur Radio Software Award. K6A, K6R and K6S, Ames, Iowa. Frequencies: 14.260, 7.190 MHz.
November 8–10, 1600–2355 UTC: 2025 Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald. W0JH, Stillwater Minnesota Amateur Radio Association, Stillwater, Minnesota. Frequencies: 3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360 MHz.
November 8–11, 0001–2359 UTC: AFMARS 77th special event. W1A, W1E, W1C and W1W, US Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System, Scott AFB, Illinois. General and Technician portions of 80 through 10 meters, excluding 60 meters.
November 8–12, 1300–0400 UTC: Continental Marines birthday. WM3PEN, Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Frequencies: 14.276, 7.276 MHz.
November 8–9, 1500–2100 UTC: USS Cobia Veterans Day special event. NB9QV, USS Cobia Amateur Radio Club, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Frequencies: 7.240, 14.240 MHz.
November 8, 1700–2359 UTC: Veterans Day and US Marine Corps birthday. NI6IW, USS Midway Museum Ship, San Diego, California. Frequencies: 14.320, 7.250, 14.070 MHz.
November 8–9, 1300–0330 UTC: Voices of the Volunteer State. W4TMA, Tennessee Mutual Aid Group, Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Frequency: 14.315 MHz.
November 11, 1500–2000 UTC: Honoring our veterans and celebrating Veterans Day 2025. KA4TAL, Horry Post 111 American Legion Amateur Radio Club, Conway, South Carolina. Frequencies: 14.255, 7.264, 14.275, 7.185 MHz.
November 11, 1500–2000 UTC: Veterans Day from the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. W2B, New River Valley Amateur Radio Club, Christiansburg, Virginia. Frequency: 14.275 MHz.
November 15, 1430–2200 UTC: First transatlantic amateur radio QSO. K3S, Nuclear Ship Savannah Amateur Radio Club, Port of Baltimore, Maryland. Bands: 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters.
November 15–16, 1400–0300 UTC: Allegheny Uprising 260th anniversary commemoration. K3A, Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club, Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania. Frequencies: 7.265, 14.265, 21.365, 28.365 MHz.
November 15–17, 0000–0000 UTC: W6SFM Bug Roundup. W6SFM, Samuel F. B. Morse Amateur Radio Club, Fair Oaks, California. Frequencies: 3.533, 7.033, 14.033, 28.033 MHz.
November 17, 1500–2359 UTC: Celebrating the 154th birthday of the National Rifle Association. K7GST, Yavapai Amateur Radio Club, Paulden, Arizona. Frequencies: 7.250, 14.250, 21.335 MHz.
November 18–22, 0000–0000 UTC: K9L, club’s 66-year celebration. K9UXZ, National Trail Amateur Radio Club, Effingham, Illinois. Frequencies: 7.235, 14.235, 1.975 MHz.
November 21–22, 0000–2359 UTC: In support of the University of Southern Mississippi annual powwow. W0W, Pine Belt Amateur Radio Association, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Frequencies: 7.033, 14.033, 14.260 MHz; digital on any band.

Handiham Radio Club Board, October 2025

President: Jerry Maccoux, W0UH
Vice President: Tom Behler, KB8TYJ
Secretary: Mélanie Carriveau, KN4ZSY
Treasurer and Handiham Program representative: Lucinda Moody, AB8WF
Immediate Past President: Linda Reeder, N7HVF
Technology Committee Chair: John Glass, NU6P
Outreach Committee Chair: Peter Atkinson, KD9VTU
First Member at Large: Darrell Horst, KM6KFW
Second Member at Large: Christoph Bungard, DF9WM

To reach the club or any board member, please contact the Handiham Radio Club through the Handiham Program.