Practical Wireless Magazine

11 December, 2025

The January 2026 issue of Practical Wireless is now available. Here are some of the highlights: Keylines: Don is on his travels again but has some corrections to the RSGB Convention write-up. Meet the RSGB President: The editor catches up with Bob Beebe GU4YOX, who became President of the RSGB in 2025. The Seventeenth Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest: Colin Redwood G6MXL has the results of the 2025 contest. Morse Code Practice Oscillator with Echo: Eric Edwards GW8LJJ brings an earlier project up to date. Oliver Heaviside: Tony Jones G7ETW profiles an important scientist in the evolution of radio. HF Highlights: Steve Telenius-Lowe G4JVG has another full column, as we move into the busy autumn HF season. Capacitor ESR meter: Philip Moss M0PBM has a handy constructional project. The World of VHF: Tim Kirby GW4VXE reflects on VHF/UHF propagation and activity during 2025. Data Modes: Mike Richards G4WNC looks at what software versions are in use, before turning to generating reliable test signals. Finding your Funkwetter: Tools & Ideas for Monitoring Radio Wave Propagation (Part 1): Georg Wiessala looks at ways of keeping track of Space Weather and radio propagation generally. Connecting Up, and Using the Selectone: We conclude the three-part constructional series from January 1933, as described at the time by its designer Frank Preston. Twenty Questions: An end-of-year quiz based on the past year’s copies of PW. A Low-Cost Cable Rack: This note describes how to make a low-cost cable rack from a redundant wire frame CD rack. Quiz answers: Answers to the quiz on p.39. Antennas: Keith Rawlings G4MIU looks at further uses for a NanoVNA, starting with Common Mode Chokes. 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 war-time air-raid damage. This month’s advertisement from the archives features a New Year’s announcement for tape recorders and amplifiers. The series highlighting broadcasting events from exactly 100 years ago looks at January, 1926. A new ‘In Focus’ series begins with a look at the historic BBC Penmon transmitter. Coverage detailing 60 years of BBC-2 continues the account of early programme schedules. A new series begins featuring the development of Icelandic radio and television since 1930. Delta Vee AutoLoop: Frank Howell K4FMH describes a Lightweight Portable Auto-Tuning HF Antenna. Build a MilliOhm Meter: Michael Jones GW7BBY/GB2MOP constructs a handy piece of shack test equipment. A Compact QRP Antenna Tuner and SWR Meter: The conversion of a series of portable QRP SSB HF transceivers led to the development of a compact antenna tuner. Readers’ Letters: This month’s Letters cover Chertsey, Packet Radio and a cornucopia of other topics.