News

Updates for the week of August 30 – September 5, 2026

New Features

  • The Icom IC-7300MK2 now supports a separate receive antenna, and an RX ANT button appears in the Web Console at stations that offer one.
  • A MIDI keyer’s PTT now keys Icom radios, not just Flex radios, so foot switches and external keyers work at Icom stations.

Improvements

  • The XFC (transmit frequency check) shortcut for Icom radios has moved from the backtick key to the backslash key, and the button label now shows the key.
  • Spots from CQ zone 40 (RI1FJL, Franz Josef Land) now appear under the Europe region filter on the DX cluster.

Bug Fixes

  • Icom radios now reset to ANT1 with the receive antenna off when the station starts, so you always begin on a known antenna.
  • Fixed an error that could appear when a payment failed, so the message now explains what went wrong.
  • The logbook now shows a friendly message instead of an error when a record cannot be found.

Station Updates

  • Youth Network: W4/Chesapeake (W4IPC) is back on the network with an Icom IC-7300MK2, a receive antenna option, and a vertical covering 160m through 6m.
  • W2/Taconic has been rebuilt with an Icom IC-7300MK2 in place of the FLEX-6400 and new antenna switching relays, alongside its RT-21 rotor, KPA500 amplifier, and KAT500 tuner.
  • Phoenix now offers a receive antenna option; the 580’ Pacific Beverage and full-size 160m vertical have been removed.
  • Tacoma now offers a receive antenna option.
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