Practical Wireless July 2026

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

Keylines: Don's topics include Hamfests and his recent trip to Canada.

Zastone D9000 Review: Richard Constantine G3UGF takes a look at a radio you probably aren’t familiar with, the Zastone D9000.

Observations about propagation in 50MHz(6m): Andrei Buta YO6XK offers an interesting perspective on 50MHz propagation.

HF Highlights: Steve G4JVG has another busy column despite moving into the summer season, where HF propagation can be disappointing.

Field Test Review: The QRP Labs QMX - The Little Radio That Could (And Does!): By a roaming SOTA activator, Ben Lloyd GW4BML, who values lightweight gear almost as much as a good cup of summit coffee.

Review: The XH D-219: Tony Jones G7ETW reviews a very cheap radio from Amazon. Is it too good for the price to be true?

QMX+ QRP Transceiver - First Thoughts: Roger Lapthorn G3XBM plays with the QMX+ from QRP Labs. 

WRTC 2026: Don G3XTT looks forward to this year’s WRTC, to be hosted in the UK for the first time.

Data Modes: Mike G4WNC starts by describing the Ultimate3S Multi-mode QRSS Beacon kit and how to build it before updates on RTL-SDR Blog V4 and VarAC.

Take 20: Steve Macdonald G4AQB uses an Arduino Nano to recreate the functions of analogue meters.

DXing from an ‘impossible’ QTH: Steve Telenius-Lowe G4JVG gives some hints as to how to get on the air as a flat dweller.

Antennas: Keith G4MIU describes his trials and tribulations during the recent construction of a dual-band Moxon ‘Yagi’ antenna.

The World of VHF: Tim GW4VXE starts with a report of a great achievement on the QO-100 satellite.

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 equipment used for experimental ultra-shortwave transmissions. An advertisement from the archives features ‘Ormond Loudspeakers’ from 1932. The series highlighting broadcasting events from exactly 100 years ago looks at July, 1926. The ‘In Focus’ series continues to look at the history of the BBC Crystal Palace transmitter. There’s more 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 describes the disastrous opening night. The series featuring the development of Icelandic radio and television looks at the start of RÚV in 1930.

Radio Shows, Rallies and Hamfests: Past, Present and Future: Georg Wiessala casts a critical eye over the past, present and future of radio shows, looking at what purpose they can serve in the modern world of amateur radio and how they might fare in the future.

Using AI assistants such as ChatGPT for Amateur Radio projects – Part 1: Dr Jonathan Hare G1EXG has the first part of a two-part article looking at using AI to help with radio-related projects.

The G6PH Collection: News of a historic collection of radio-related QSLs, letters and more, looking for a new home.

Readers’ Letters: This month’s Letters cover VNA trials, LoRa tracker, 145 Alive and more.