WIA asks for Changes to Sub-Antarctic Callsign Prefixes

The Wireless Institute of Australia has responded to the regulator's request for input on its Five-Year Spectrum Outlook, spanning 2026 through to 2031, and its Work Program, spanning 2026-2027. It is asking that the Australian Communications and Media Authority improve spectrum access to support experimentation and emerging technologies; modernise regulation of repeaters and beacons; and develop a staged EME competence framework that will give amateurs greater access to operating at increased power safely. The WIA has been actively seeking greater power for hams since 2013. It told the ACMA that increased power for the class licence should be backed up by training, certification and communications industry best practices.

The WIA has also asked that the callsign prefixes be changed in the sub-Antarctic, restoring VKØ for operations on Heard Island and Macquarie Island, which are now assigned the VK9 prefix of Australian external territories. The WIA is also proposing that the VK9 prefix be restored for Lord Howe Island, which is presently assigned VK2.  

The response to the consultation highlights ham radio's key role in STEM, innovation and emergency communications, noting that a number of the issues it has raised address barriers to ham radio's growth and operators' participation and efficiency.

Closure of BBC Radio 4 on Long Wave (LW)

Radio 4’s Long Wave (LW) service will close on the 27th June 2026. We will broadcast daily on-air reminders to help everyone switch to other ways of listening.

Why the LW service is closing

The company that owns and operates the LW broadcast equipment has confirmed that the system is reaching the end of its life. As LW is an older broadcasting technology, recent years have seen a decline in listener numbers, with the majority now opting for FM and DAB digital platforms. Given these factors, investing in upgrading the LW equipment is not considered a cost-effective solution for licence fee-funded services. You can verify the services available at your location by visiting our transmitter checker.

Supporting listeners through the change

To facilitate this transition away from LW and ensure it is as smooth as possible, we will be producing comprehensive guidance on alternative ways to listen through our website and helpline, outlining alternative methods for accessing BBC Radio 4 content. Visit our new factsheet for advice on how to keep listening, How to Continue Listening to Radio 4 after the Closure of LW.

Information for users of RTS electricity meters

Some older electricity meters use a system called the Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) that is carried within the LW signal. This service is run by the energy industry, not the BBC. If you need advice about replacing or upgrading an RTS meter, please contact your energy supplier or the relevant energy regulator. The BBC does not manage or control the RTS system.

This information is also accessible through a recorded telephone message at 0203 977 1480.

Salty Walt Goes “Next Level” with New Portable Antenna Sketchbook

For many hams, portable operating starts simply: a wire in a tree, a folding chair, and the lure of making memorable contacts from a favourite spot. For Walt Hudson, K4OGO — better known to many as “Salty Walt” from YouTube’s Coastal Waves & Wires — that spirit of the outdoors has always been the point.

Now Walt is back with a second collection of antenna projects, Salty Walt’s Next Level Portable Antenna Sketchbook, expanding on the easygoing, field-tested style that made his first book a favourite among radio amateurs.

Where Salty Walt's Portable Antenna Sketchbook focused on beachside builds and creative wire antennas, the new volume ventures into even more concepts while keeping the design approachable. Readers will still find practical, deployable antennas designed for parks, beaches, and backyard operating, but this time Walt explores ideas like phased arrays, beam-forming, and higher-gain directional arrays — all presented in his familiar notebook-sketch style.

“Designing, building, improving, and learning about antennas never ends — it evolves. This book is meant to take antenna building to the NEXT LEVEL.”

— Walt Hudson, K4OGO

The 17 projects range from relatively simple builds, such as a three-element vertical Yagi-Uda and half-square antenna, to more sophisticated designs including portable rhombics, bobtail curtains, and co-phased vertical arrays.

Throughout the book, Walt keeps the emphasis on learning by doing, with the same entertaining teaching style and relaxed voice that fans have come to expect.

“I referred to my first book as the Jimmy Buffett of antenna books,. Well, this is the second album, where the songs are only getting better.”

— Walt Hudson, K4OGO

Alongside the antenna projects, Walt shares radios from his personal collection and operating tips to help amateurs get the most from their stations, whether running QRP or operating at 100 watts. The book also explores military-inspired antenna systems and streamlined wire antenna designs that can be deployed with minimal equipment. The result feels less like a technical manual and more like riding along on another operating adventure.

ARRL Bookshop - https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2094335552