Persistent repeater interference is one of the more frustrating problems in amateur radio — but it's also one where good old-fashioned direction finding still gets results. South Africa's just had a win on that front.

An investigation by South Africa's communications regulator has identified a business believed to be responsible for disrupting a number of amateur radio repeaters across the province of Gauteng. According to media reports, the illegal interference — occurring on the band between 430 MHz and 440 MHz — was traced back to commercial radio equipment.

Disaster planning is only as good as the last time you actually tested it, and Bangladesh has just put its emergency communications backbone through a serious workout.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence, working alongside the Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh (ARAB), has completed a three-day joint communication exercise designed to test whether rescue and emergency services can keep functioning if conventional communication networks fail during a major disaster.

When infrastructure fails, amateur radio does what it's always done. That's exactly what's playing out in Colombia right now, and it's worth every operator's attention.

ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio®, reports that amateur radio operators across Colombia are providing significant communications support in the aftermath of the major earthquake and aftershocks that struck the country on 10th August 2026. The death toll has reportedly passed 200, with many more still unaccounted for, and widespread damage has been reported to buildings and infrastructure.