Silent Keys

 

World Amateur Radio Day

Every April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. It was on this day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris.

Amateur Radio experimenters were the first to discover that the short wave spectrum — far from being a wasteland — could support worldwide propagation. In the rush to use these shorter wavelengths, Amateur Radio was “in grave danger of being pushed aside,” the IARU’s history has noted.  Amateur Radio pioneers created the IARU to support Amateur Radio worldwide.

Just two years later, at the International Radiotelegraph Conference, Amateur Radio gained the allocations still recognized today — 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters.  Since its founding, the IARU has worked tirelessly to defend and expand the frequency allocations for Amateur Radio. Thanks to the support of enlightened administrations in every part of the globe, radio amateurs are now able to experiment and communicate in frequency bands strategically located throughout the radio spectrum.  From the 25 countries that formed the IARU in 1925, the IARU has grown to include 160 member-societies in three regions. IARU Region 1 includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia. Region 2 covers the Americas, and Region 3 is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as representing the interests of Amateur Radio.

Today, Amateur Radio is more popular than ever, with more than 3,000,000 licensed operators around the world.  

World Amateur Radio Day is the day when IARU Member-Societies can show our capabilities to the public and enjoy global friendship with other Amateurs worldwide.

IARU is celebrated its centenary in 2025. Since its founding in Paris, France, IARU has worked tirelessly to promote innovation in amateur radio and to encourage the growth of the service in communities throughout the world.

IARU has represented the Amateur Services at international and regional regulatory bodies by relying on our volunteers who come from many countries and communities. IARU has been a sector member of the ITU since 1932 and the work of our volunteers has continued since that date with unmatched success, as was highlighted with the accomplishments at WRC-23.

We should take time to reflect on the remarkable achievements of radio amateurs over the last 100 or so years. While the Amateur Services have been in operation for over a century, 1924 was the first year that intercontinental amateur communication became more or less commonplace. Since that time radio amateurs have made unparalleled advances in technology related to the Amateur Services that play a critical role today in sustaining world-wide communications and allow us to respond to global emergencies. 

World Amateur Radio Day is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements since 1924. We should celebrate the many advances and innovations amateurs have made as we look forward to celebrating the IARU centenary next year.

HamClock Instructions and Tips for Open HamClock Backend Setup

Here are setup instructions (and more!) for HamClock and tips on how to connect your version of HamClock to Open Hamclock Backend (OHB) which is an open source backend server and the one that I use and recommend.  Just follow this link:

https://ohb.works/open-hamclock-backend-instructions/

They Took Down the Internet. They Couldn't Take Down Shortwave

 Iran’s internet was knocked to minimal connectivity.

60+ hours of near total blackout.

Government communications — gone.

State media — gone.

Public services — gone.

But on 7910 kHz — a signal kept transmitting.

Twice a day. Every day. Crossing every border. Through every cyberattack. Through every jammer Iran could deploy.

Shortwave didn’t flinch.

While world leaders scrambled and cyber warfare raged — ham radio operators and shortwave listeners were already tuned in. Already logging. Already analyzing. Ham operators worldwide detected and tracked a new Farsi numbers station within minutes — as it played out live on HF

We just needed an antenna.

This is not nostalgia. This is not a hobby. This is the most battle-tested communications technology in human history — and the Iran war just proved to the entire world that it still works when nothing else does.

HF radio crossed every border they tried to close.

Tune in yourself:

📻 7910 kHz — USB mode

🕐 02:00 UTC & 18:00 UTC daily

Check out w2re.com and follow Ham Radio 24-7 on Facebook.

The Potato Patch Fleet, Maine, 1917

When WWI U-boats threatened shipping, the U.S. Navy was short on patrol boats. In Maine, lobstermen and potato farmers converted their own boats. Elmer Brooks, 58, took his 30-foot Mabel B and mounted a surplus machine gun to the bow with planks and rope. The “Potato Patch Fleet” patrolled for subs in fog, 200 miles offshore, with no radios. They never sank a U-boat, but their presence stopped coastal shelling. The Navy gave Elmer a commendation. He hung it in his barn next to his seed potatoes.

39 Airports, 1 Grand Adventure

74 DAY CIRRUS JOURNEY FOCUSES ON GROWING REAL-WORLD PILOT SKILLS

Recounted by Blake Freedland in Flying Magazine

Like most pilots, I've always dreamed of a grand trip.  A shared passion for challenge, adventure and flying eventually drives all of us avgeeks to leave our comfort zones and explore.  So, to celebrate our graduation from Tufts University and Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts, I decided to fly across the U.S. and parts of Canada in my Cirrus SR22 with one of my best friends and copilot, Dylan Tamaroff. Our goal was to see new places, meet people, discover hidden gems, and most importantly, learn. I wanted to push myself, sharpen my skills, and become a better aviator.

Pilot Blake Freedland (right) and co-captain Dylan Tamaroff flew across the U.S. and Canada in a Cirrus SR22. 

While I had around 500 hours and seven years under my belt, I hadn’t flown much outside of my South Florida and Boston bubble. Most of our landings were at KFXE and KBED. Flying was not really a means of travel for me but rather a hobby. So I embarked on this once-in-a-lifetime flying journey. Dylan and I landed at 39 airports over the course of our 13,000 sm, 74-day, 100-flight-hour trip.

Overall Favorites

Iran’s Internet Blackout Becomes World Record‑Longest

Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has now lasted over 38 consecutive days, according to monitoring group NetBlocks, making it the longest state‑level internet shutdown documented anywhere in the world.

Since late February 2026, most Iranians have been cut off from the global internet, with real‑time connectivity reduced to near‑zero levels. Only a small fraction of users can access limited services via VPNs or satellite connections, and most online traffic remains confined to heavily restricted domestic networks.

The shutdown severely restricts access to independent news, communication platforms, and international information, leaving ordinary citizens largely isolated from the wider world.

Venerable Emil Kapaun, Catholic Priest, Heroic Chaplain, Future Saint

Fr. Emil Emil J. Kapaun, A Catholic priest, served as a chaplain in in the U.S. Army in the Korean War and was captured by enemy Chinese Communist forces after saving the life of an American soldier.  

Chaplain Kapaun was the victim of malnutrition and pneumonia after spending only seven months in the camp.  

Fr. Kapaun’s story is that of a saintly hero dedicated to living a life of Christian virtue and service to his fellow man under the most difficult and despicable conditions imaginable.  Fr. Kapaun’s heroism in the prison camp wasn’t an isolated event, however: his lifelong dedication to Christ and to His Church placed him on the path of priestly service that culminated in his ultimate sacrifice in North Korea at only 35 years old.

For his actions, Fr. Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013 for his actions.  His Medal of Honor citation follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea, from November 1-2, 1950. 

On November 1, as Chinese Communist Forces viciously attacked friendly elements, Chaplain Kapaun calmly walked through withering enemy fire in order to provide comfort and medical aid to his comrades and rescue friendly wounded from no-man's land. Though the Americans successfully repelled the assault, they found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Facing annihilation, the able-bodied men were ordered to evacuate. However, Chaplain Kapaun, fully aware of his certain capture, elected to stay behind with the wounded. After the enemy succeeded in breaking through the defense in the early morning hours of November 2, Chaplain Kapaun continually made rounds, as hand-to-hand combat ensued. As Chinese Communist Forces approached the American position, Chaplain Kapaun noticed an injured Chinese officer amongst the wounded and convinced him to negotiate the safe surrender of the American Forces. Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun, with complete disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute Sergeant First Class Herbert A. Miller. 

Not only did Chaplain Kapaun's gallantry save the life of Sergeant Miller, but his unparalleled courage and leadership also inspired all those present, including those who might have otherwise fled in panic, to remain and fight the enemy until captured.

Chaplain Kapaun's extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.

Fr. Kapaun was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2025 as part of his ongoing canonization process toward sainthood.  His courage, selflessness, and spiritual ministry amid extreme hardship will always be cherished.

Just Another Day in the W1WH Ham Shack...

Titanic Memorial Special Event Honors Telegraph Operators

The Titanic Memorial special event, EG1912T, takes place April 10th through April 15th honoring all on board the ship.

The event honors those who participated in the rescue, especially the radio station managers and telegraph operators Jack Phillips, Harold Bride and Harold Cottam, who played a leading role in the telegraphic communications of the most shocking rescue in history: the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

The event will take place on all bands utilizing all modes with an emphasis on CW. QSL cards will be available via bureau. More information is available on the EG1912T QRZ page.

HamClock Video: DRAP Explained

 Another great video from the OHB HamClock team...

 

Amazing Photo From Artemis Mission

 

Blue Angels Cancel First Two Shows This Season

The need for increased security at American military installations tied to the war in Iran is putting a damper on the airshow season, specifically performances by the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy demonstration team.

The Blue Angels’ airshows are often at military bases. The increased security measures in place combined with what was described as “increased security measures and evolving force protection requirements” prompted the cancellation of at least two of their events this season.

The first show for the Naval aviator team was scheduled for March 14 in El Centro, California. But on March 4 a Facebook post from the Naval Air Facility (NAS) El Centro Festival of Flight announced the event was being canceled.

Organizers of the show at NAS Lemoore, which was scheduled for March 21-22, followed suit.

The Blue Angels’ 2026 airshow schedule remains posted on their webpage, but the dates are subject to change, as the Navy reallocates resources.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were shows scheduled for April 11-12 at Cocoa Beach, Florida, April 18-19 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, and April 25-26 at Vidalia, Georgia.

Multiple events are scheduled for the rest of the show year, which usually ends in November.

There is one notable absence from the Blue Angels’ demonstrations this year. “Fat Albert,” the Blue Angels’ C-130J Super Hercules, will not be performing as the aircraft is undergoing extended maintenance in the United Kingdom.

A Lockheed Martin C-130 has been part of the Blue Angels’ airshows since 1970.

In November the C-130J aircraft went into maintenance to have its integral center wing box replaced, which should add decades to the aircraft’s lifespan. 

The C-130J was acquired from the Royal Air Force in 2019 and designated as C5 ZH885. The aircraft was refurbished and repainted at Marshall Aerospace before being sent stateside where it joined the Blue Angels for performances starting in 2020.

Fat Albert is often the opening act. The behemoth aircraft warms up the crowd by performing a 15-minute demonstration of high-speed low passes, steep climbs, and turns, finishing off with a combat landing. The aircraft is a fan favorite, and there are many who attend specifically to watch it perform.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of the precision Navy flying team.

The Blue Angels were created in 1946 with the pilots flying Grumman F6F-5s. The first military show came in June at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, as a means to boost morale post-World War II. The first show for the public took place in July in Omaha, Nebraska.

Good Friday: When Did Jesus Die?

When did Jesus actually die? On this Good Friday, that question might sound simple at first, but when you actually start digging into the historical record, the Scriptures, the Roman political timeline, the Jewish calendar, and the astronomical data about Passover moons, you suddenly realize that this is one of the most fascinating historical investigations in the entire Christian story. 

The death of Jesus Christ is not just a theological event. It is a real historical moment that happened at a precise point in time under a specific Roman governor, during a specific Jewish feast, on a particular day of the week, under a particular Passover moon. And once you start lining up all those pieces together, you begin to see that the crucifixion could not have happened at just any time. It has to fall within a very narrow historical window.

Now the Gospels give us several fixed historical anchors. First, they tell us that Jesus was crucified under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate. Pilate governed Judea from AD 26 to AD 36. So immediately our window is limited to that decade. But the Gospels give us even more information. They tell us that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the day of preparation before the Sabbath. They also tell us that this happened during Passover. That detail is extremely important because the Jewish Passover is tied to the lunar calendar. Passover always occurs on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, which falls on a full moon. That means historians and astronomers can actually calculate which years during Pilate’s governorship had a Passover that fell on a Friday.

Artemis II: A Milestone In Space Exploration

Godspeed to the Artemis II crew who launched yesterday.  The mission marks mankind's first return to the moon in over 50 years and paves the way for the ultimate colonization of the moon as well as future Mars exploration.

• First crewed lunar mission in over 50 years — Artemis II marks the first time humans have headed beyond low Earth orbit since NASA’s Apollo missions in the early 1970s.

• Historic human return to deep space — four astronauts are set to travel around the Moon and back on a roughly 10-day journey. 

• Diverse and record-setting team — the four astronauts include Americans Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

• First woman to go around the Moon (Christina Koch)

• First Black astronaut in cislunar space (Victor Glover)

• First Canadian on a Moon mission (Jeremy Hansen) 

🛰️ The Spacecraft & Rocket

• Space Launch System (SLS) — a 322-foot-tall (≈98 m) super-heavy booster will propel the Orion spacecraft into a translunar trajectory.

• Orion spacecraft — designed for deep-space missions with advanced life-support, navigation, and communications systems. Tonight’s flight tests these critical systems with crew aboard. 

🌕 The Mission Profile

• No lunar landing — Artemis II is a lunar flyby: the crew will loop around the Moon and return to Earth, not land on its surface.

• Free-return trajectory — the spacecraft’s path uses the Moon’s gravity like a slingshot, taking the crew farther from Earth than humans have ever traveled before.

• Pacific splashdown — the capsule is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down at the end of the mission. 

How to Redirect HamClock to OHB - and Also Understand HamClock's SDO, Solar Wind, and Solar Flux Info

(No, this is not an April Fool's Day bit!)

Here's some great follow up videos to my March 25 post about some of HamClock's radio propagation features.  These videos cover both  HamClock's SDO, Solar Wind and Solar Flux information as wella s how to redirect your HamClock's backend to OHB in general.  

These videos are courtesy of the open source Open Backend (OHB) project, the open source successor to Clear Sky Institute (CSI), the originator of HamClock.  (CSI's backend was shut down due to the unfortunate January 2026 passing of the pioneering  of its original creator, Elwood Downey, WB0OEW.   Note that "backend" refers to the engine that gathers all the changing data that HamClock uses and presents.)

Video 1

Confused about how to redirect your HamClock to the OHB backend in the first place?  Check this out:

Video 2