Icom ID-52E PLUS Firmware Update 1.13

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Icom has released a firmware update for the ID-52E PLUS Dual-Band D-STAR Digital Transceiver.

This update primarily enhances internal performance and does not affect the radio’s operation or user experience.

To download this update, click on the following URL on the Icom website - https://www.icomjapan.com/support/firmware_driver/?keyword=id-52&open=tab2&type=5#download_result

Biggest solar storm in 20 years hits Earth

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This week, the most severe solar radiation storm in 20 years has created challenges for the Ham Radio community.

It began on Monday 19th January 2026, arriving at Earth 36 hours later, and its effect was expected to last much of the week. The National Weather Service declared the storm to be at an S4 level - a degree of severity not seen since October of 2023. S4 is the second-highest level of this type of storm.

The storm's severity, which exceeded that of the one in October of 2023, disrupted the HF bands, challenging ham radio operators, while creating spectacular auroral displays.

Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01
Serial Number: 205
Issue Time: 2026 Jan 18 1900 UTC

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1
Begin Time: 2026 Jan 18 1727 UTC
Maximum Time: 2026 Jan 18 1809 UTC
End Time: 2026 Jan 18 1851 UTC
X-ray Class: X1.9
Optical Class: 3b
Location: S12E20
NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong

Can Ham Radio Help Taiwan Survive?

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In Taiwan, a nonprofit civil defence group, Ganghu, has started training people on how to communicate using amateur radio, also known as ham radio, if the internet is unavailable. This comes as Beijing, which claims democratically self-governed Taiwan as its own territory, faces allegations of sabotaging and damaging Taiwan’s undersea internet cables.

Taiwan currently relies on 15 international and 10 domestic communication cables to carry more than 90% of its internet traffic. Without these, the island could be cut off from the outside world, and even internal communications would likely collapse.

These internet cables, often described as the island's "digital lifelines," are damaged an average of seven to eight times a year, according to a 2025 report by Taiwan's National Security Bureau. 

As authorities scramble to protect cables and build satellite-based backup systems, some citizens are turning to amateur radio as a solution.