 July/August 2026
In this issue...
Upcoming Community Deadlines and Notices
Grantee UpdatesFeatured Grantee Project: FreeDV RADE: A New Approach to Digital Voice over HF, Now Integrated into Popular RadiosSingle sideband (SSB) is the most common voice mode for analog communications over HF radio. Its widespread adoption is due in part to its spectral efficiency, with a typical SSB signal occupying ~3 kHz of bandwidth. This efficiency, however, comes with a tradeoff: because only part of the frequency range of human speech is transmitted, received SSB audio sounds less natural than speech heard in person. Improving speech quality while maintaining the characteristics that make SSB effective over HF remains a challenge in amateur radio. This is exactly the problem that ARDC grantee FreeDV set out to solve. Since late 2023, they have been working to create a digital voice mode that could compete with SSB across varying signal-to-noise conditions on HF while providing more natural-sounding speech. In June of 2025, they released Radio Autoencoder (FreeDV RADE or RADE), their flagship open-source digital voice mode. Building on that milestone, in May 2026, the team worked with radio manufacturers to integrate the mode directly into their radios. more... More Grantee Updates
If you’re an ARDC grantee with a project update, success story, or upcoming event, we’d love to hear from you. Send updates to giving@ardc.net and help us showcase the impact our community is making through amateur radio, digital communications, and open source technology. What ARDC Has Been Up ToGET Member Wayne Heinen N0POH Wins Inaugural Colorado Ham of the Year Award On August 23, 2026, the inaugural Colorado Ham of the Year Award was presented to GET Member Wayne Heinen N0POH. Wayne was recognized for his contributions across a number of amateur radio organizations, his work with finances and organizational management, and for being a driving force in the establishment and growth of many amateur radio clubs. You can learn more about Wayne and the award here: https://www.rmham.org/colorado-section-ham-of-the-year/. Congratulations, Wayne on this honor! 44Net Program Manager John Burwell KI5QKX on QSO Today Earlier this month, 44Net Program Manager John Burwell KI5QKX joined QSO Today host Eric Guth 4Z1UG to talk about his background, how 44Net led him to amateur radio, and of course, 44Net, including projects using the network, how to get involved, and where to learn more. You can catch the podcast here: https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/ki5qkx. DEF CON 3444Net Program Manager John Burwell KI5QKX attended DEF CON 34, which took place from August 6 - 9, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV. While there, John connected with members of the information security, networking, RF, and amateur radio communities. The event emphasized hands-on experimentation, featuring demonstrations and activities focused on SDR, SSTV, packet, mesh, fox hunts, and aerospace and satellite technologies. DEF CON 34 provided a great opportunity to see how closely these technical communities overlap and where amateur radio and 44Net fit within them. HAM RADIO 2026 HAM RADIO 2026 happened from June 26 - 28, 2026 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. ARDC staff members Rosy Schechter KJ7RYV, John Burwell KI5QKX, Adam Lewis KC7GDY, and Adam Zimmel W0ZML attended the event, along with board members Bdale Garbee KB0G, Phil Karn KA9Q, Ria Jairam N2RJ, and Harald Welte. Throughout the event, the team connected with amateur radio operators from around the world to discuss ARDC’s programs, with many having a strong interest in 44Net Connect. Visitors to the booth also enjoyed Adam Z’s vintage electronics display and Adam L’s interactive map showcasing 44Net users. While at the conference, the team caught up with grantees from Rhizomatica and Localino / Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC), sharing updates on their projects. Following the event, several team members visited a few HAMNET towers and, together with ARDC Ambassador Jann Traschewski DG8NGN, toured Rohde & Schwarz in Munich, where they had the opportunity to operate the station under the DL0RUS club call sign. Thank you to Kimberly Karn KO6EKG and Dallas Swindle for helping at the booth, and to Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) Chair Christian Entsfellner DL3MBG and Jann for their hospitality and support throughout the event. Come See us at JARL Ham Fair, IARU R1 General Conference, and Maker Faire Bay AreaARDC will be out and about this summer: you will be able to find our team at the following event(s):
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