Today on the Bands — Saturday, June 20, 2026
Saturday brings a mix of digital innovation and quiet skies, with FreeDV RADE landing in FlexRadio while the sun loafs along at C-class. We're also watching broadcasters retreat from AM, FM, and longwave — a reminder that what one band loses, our hobby often gains in nostalgia and operating opportunity. Plus a QSO party, an HOA-friendly antenna fix, and a call for ears on the bands.
- 01 Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 426
FreeDV RADE quietly arriving in FlexRadio is a big deal — a voice mode billed as more spectrally efficient and more reliable than the SSB we've leaned on for decades.
Read at source ↗ - 02 Will FM Radio Be the Next Casualty of the Connected Car?
Automakers already dropping AM are now eyeing FM too, a trend with real EmComm implications when drivers lose a free, infrastructure-independent path to emergency broadcasts.
Read at source ↗ - 03 Review of the Choyong LC90 in Radio World
Radio World's take on the Choyong LC90 calls it a mixed bag, worth a read before you decide whether this hybrid receiver earns a spot on your bench.
Read at source ↗ - 04 The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity stays low with only C-class flares and decaying regions, so temper your DX expectations and lean on the lower bands this weekend.
Read at source ↗ - 05 Colorado QSO Party
Colorado ops get their chance to activate the state, with SOTA and POTA enthusiasts specifically invited — a perfect excuse to combine portable fun and contest contacts.
Read at source ↗ - 06 Volunteers wanted for Intruder Watch team
The RSGB's Intruder Watch needs volunteers to monitor our allocations and report unauthorized transmissions — a hands-on way to help defend the bands we cherish.
Read at source ↗ - 07 Join us to mark BBC Radio 4 198kHz longwave closedown
The RSGB and BBC Amateur Radio Group will commemorate the end of Radio 4's 198kHz longwave service, marking the close of a Droitwich-era broadcasting chapter.
Read at source ↗ - 08 Antennas in an Antenna Restricted Community
For anyone battling HOA rules, this piece tackles the perennial puzzle of getting on the air when your community frowns on visible antennas.
Read at source ↗
The HamDaily digest — five minutes, the whole band.