Practical Wireless Magazine

The August 2026 issue of Practical Wireless is now available. Here are some of the highlights:

Keylines: Don looks at the changing sources of our radio equipment.
Home-made three-section wind-up antenna mast: Steve Clements G1YBB embarks on building his very own antenna mast, a much cheaper alternative to buying a commercial one.

‘Play It Again, SAM’ – The ShackComs Ltd. Solar Activity Monitor: Georg Wiessala checks out a handy and affordable shack accessory.

What Next: Colin G6MXL looks at Club Log, considering some of the wide range of facilities it offers. He also briefly looks at Tiles on the Air – a new award scheme based around locator squares. Finally, there is an important correction regarding the POTA award scheme he covered in the last What Next.

Tracking Amateur High-Altitude Balloons: Ross Wilkinson G6GVI explains the ins and outs of the increasingly popular challenge of tracking high altitude balloons.

The World of VHF: Tim GW4VXE introduces the OscarWatch software and also reports a great month for Sporadic E activity.

Vintage Television & Radio: Keith Hamer and Garry Smith continue their in-depth feature detailing the early days of BBC Broadcasting House in London, focusing on the ‘BBC Grand Organ’. An advertisement from the archives features an ‘Amplion’ valve from exactly 100 years ago. Also from exactly 100 years ago, they look at broadcasting events from September, 1926. The ‘In Focus’ series continues to look at the history of the BBC Crystal Palace transmitting site, in particular, klystron valves. There’s more feedback from a PW reader who has written with first-hand experience of working at BBC LF transmitters. Coverage detailing the early years of BBC-2 describes the emergency opt-in from Ally Pally. The series featuring the development of Icelandic radio and television looks at the British invasion of May, 1940.