Practical Wireless June 2026

The June 2026 issue of Practical Wireless is now available. Here are some of the highlights:

Keylines: Don Talks about staying on the air and ladies in amateur radio. Northern Radio: The NARSA Blackpool Rally 2026: Georg Wiessala revisits the epic Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool to take a closer look at a signature event on the annual radio rallies calendar, recognised for its local flavour and unhurried atmosphere.

A Hit from Malahit? The LITEMALADSP MLite-880: Georg Wiessala takes a closer look at the LITEMALADSP MLite-880 portable HF SDR radio, which offers SSB reception, Airband, Bluetooth, and a monochrome spectrum display.

Servicing and restoring BayGen/Freeplay spring-driven radios (Part 2): Phil Harris G4SPZ concludes this article with a description of some of the faults encountered and repair techniques used in his ten years of servicing and collecting Freeplay radios.

SOTA LoRa APRS Tracker: David Howard M0BGR reviews the SOTA LoRa APRS tracker while out and about.

Amateur Radio on a Budget: Daimon G4USI explains the ins and outs of building your own matching transformers as a cost-effective alternative to buying them.

The GMDX Convention 2026: We bring you a report of the recent GMDX, the 27th Annual GMDX Convention & Dinner, which took place over the weekend of 27 - 29 March 2026 at the King Robert Hotel in Stirling.

Vintage Television & Radio: Keith Hamer and Garry Smith continue their in-depth feature detailing the early days of BBC Broadcasting House in London, focusing on experimental short-wave transmissions. An advertisement from the archives features the Cossor ‘Mica Bridge’ valve mountings from 1932. The series highlighting broadcasting events from exactly 100 years ago looks at June 1926. The ‘In Focus’ series continues to look at the history of the BBC Crystal Palace transmitter. There’s feedback from a PW reader who has written with first-hand experience of working at BBC LF transmitters. Coverage detailing the early years of BBC-2 features the first official test film to be transmitted. The series featuring the development of Icelandic radio and television looks at the restricted coverage of AFRTS.

Data Modes: Mike G4WNC turns his attention to the RADE FreeDV software.

Book Review: The Bridgwater Beam Wireless Station: The editor checks out a new publication by retired radio officer Larry Bennett G4HLN.

HF Highlights: Steve G4JVG has another packed column, with lots of recent DXpedition activity to report.

The World of VHF: Tim GW4VXE has his usual band reports as well as an update on the AnyTone AT-D890UV for satellite use.

50 countries on 2m with 10W: Roger Daniel G4RUW looks back at his quest to work 50 countries on 2m with just 10W – a great accomplishment.

Antennas: Keith G4MIU discusses log periodic antennas including the ZA048 direction finding antenna.

Sue’s Slim Jim: Tom G0CAJ returns to the classic Slim Jim, with some advice on building one for other bands.

Starting Hobby Radio For Free (Pt IV): David Howard M0BGR introduces the reception of data modes.

What Next: Colin G6MXL updates readers on the Parks on the Air (POTA) award scheme and welcomes a very large increase in the number of parks covered by the scheme both in the UK and around the world.

The Morse Mode: Roger G3LDI covers a wide range of Morse-related topics in this month’s column.

The 43rd Annual Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest: Colin Redwood G6MXL, our QRP Contest adjudicator, introduces the 2026 event, which takes place on Sunday 14 June 2026.

The Transit Satellites: Tony Jones G7ETW investigates the precursor to the modern GPS satellite system.

Readers’ Letters: This month’s Letters cover 5MHz and FT8, Contests, Build a Transistor radio and more.