HRN 560: ARRL Forum at the 2026 Santa Maria DX/Contesters Convention

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You might remember this is the Visalia DX Convention, relocated this year a few miles down the California coast to Santa Maria. But we’re not doing any DXing or Contesting - this is the ARRL Forum with two Directors: Dick Norton N6AA (the ‘renegade’, Southwest Division), and John Litz NZ6Q (the traditionalist, Pacific Division).

First, David and Gary yak a bit (because it’s their show), and then the forum, this time without the boys commenting from the corners of the screen.

ARRL Forum at the 2026 Santa Maria DX/Contest Convention
N6AA,NZ6Q, W0DHG, K4AAQ
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HRN 559: Ancient AVcomm ✈ with Captain Steeeve

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YouTube Video

Is Aviation communications stuck in the past? It's been AM - Amplitude Modulation - on VHF since the 1940s. There have been additions, including some text-based data comm and navigation aids, but primary voice communication is still used for almost everything, and it's still AM.

Captain Steeeve is a recently retired airline pilot and former military pilot. He also produces a YouTube show where he analyzes aviation 'incidents' using tower recordings and news footage, adding his deep perspective. He is often critical of current communications technology, and has blamed it in part for some fatal accidents. In this episode, we dig deep into AVcomm… and Captain Steeeve.

Ancient AVcomm with Capt Steeeve
Captain Steeeve, W0DHG, KD4ACW, K4AAQ
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Podcast audio: Play here or subscribe on your podcast app

HRN 558: New Hams (of Any Age)

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YouTube Video

Dick Norton N6AA (ARRL Southwestern Division Director) sent us this video of the Youth Forum from the 2026 Santa Maria DXers and Contesters Convention. Dick is the moderator, and Violetta Latham KN2P is the speaker. Violetta is a young ham herself, and she relates her experience getting involved in ham radio along with her five siblings and her parents.

Since it’s our show, David and Gary play Stop the Music now and then to chime in with their comments.

New Hams (of Any Age)
N6AA, KN2P, W0DHG, K4AAQ
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Podcast audio — play here or subscribe in your podcast app