The Concept

SMART stands for Saturday Morning Amateur Radio Time. The idea is to meet up regularly on a Saturday morning to demonstrate and explain what Amateur Radio is all about. This is a fortnightly pilot starting on the 13th of January 2024 for eight sessions. Should the pilot prove successful it is hoped we can continue showing a fun hobby with a fun way to learn a lot of life skills. A lot of schools are using the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program for teaching. Amateur Radio fits well with these subjects and is a fun way to learn these subjects with real-world applications. As well as covering the main topics of STEM, Amateur Radio also gives a good insight into Languages, Geography and History. These sessions are offered free to members of the public who have an inquiring mind and want to have fun. Many youngsters who had Amateur Radio as their hobby have gone on into successful careers in technical industries.

Monday, 15 September 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 465 - UK Hamfest Review Part One

In this special release episode, we review the first part of our Interviews from UK Hamfest 2025, including the big hardware announcement from ICOM, the IC7300 MK2.

We would like to thank our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert-free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

  • ICOM Announce the Launch of the IC7300 Mk2
  • The Work of the RSGB Makers Group - UK Hamfest 2025
  • The Work of Vintage Military Amateur Radio Society (VMARS) - UK Hamfest 2025
  • Introduction to SDRSwitch - UK Hamfest 2025
  • Kanga Products Radio Kits - UK Hamfest 2025


The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com

Monday, 8 September 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 464 - Q&A Plus

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is Q&A Plus.

We would like to thank Simon Wilton (G7HCD) and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

  • Hurricane Watch Net Marks 60 Years of Service
  • Resilience Through Amateur Radio for National Preparedness Month 2025
  • Hams Help Sonoma Springs Residents with GMRS
  • A Radio Homecoming, One Century Later
  • Ocean Washes Away Almost All Expeditioners’ Equipment
  • NASA Seeks Volunteers to Track Orion Spacecraft in 2026
  • WRTC 2026 Announces PRIME Sponsor!
  • Icom Unveils the IC-7300MK2 — The Evolution of a HF Legend!
  • Hans Summers, G0UPL Confirmed as the RSGB Convention After-Dinner Speaker
  • ESC Announces Updated Version of the Direct to Full Syllabus
  • UK National Hamfest Pre-Show Walkaround Video


The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com

Sunday, 24 August 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 463 - Handheld LCR Meter

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Frank Howell (K4FMH), Bill Barnes (WC3B) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is Handheld LCR Meter

We would like to thank our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert-free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

  • Two new RSGB activities for National Coding Week
  • Hams Over IP Invites Hamshack Hotline Users to Apply
  • US Legacy Weather Satellites Being Decommissioned
  • South Florida Pirate Radio Operator Arrested on Felony Charge
  • TAP: A Morse Alternative Mode for HAM Radio Operators
  • Women in Amateur Radio Panel at RSGB Convention in October
  • Radio Club of America Technical Symposium Registration is Open
  • Bochum Space Days 2025
  • Telford Hamfest

The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com


Sunday, 10 August 2025

Cats and Dogs

 


ICQPodcast Episode 462 - Service Aids

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is Service Aids.

We would like to thank Charles Carter (AA0RI), John A. D. Andrea Snr (AA5JD), Roy Jones (VK6RR) and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert-free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

  • A Lightweight M17 Hotspot
  • Joint India-US Satellite Eyes Natural Disasters
  • Two WW2-Era Code-Related Events - One For Navajo Code Talkers, Another For Enigma Machine
  • Pakistan Hikes Radio-Related Fees
  • HamTV is Active on the International Space Station
  • Radio Alpha, the ARRL Museum and Research Library
  • India, Sweden Introduce New Callsign Suffixes, Prefixes
  • RSGB National Radio Centre Tourist Award
  • PRESENTER OPINION: Go to Church on Sept 13th 2025…and Bring an HF Radio!

The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com


Sunday, 27 July 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 461 - Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2025 Part Two

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Martin Rothwell (M0SGL), Frank Howell (K4FMH), Bill Barnes (WC3B) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2025 Part Two

We would like to thank Charles Carter and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert-free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

  • Hams Decode SSMIS Satellite Data Removed by DoD, NOAA
  • MMDVM Project Drops Support for M17 Mode
  • M17 Foundation Responds to Statements made by MMDVM Project Maintainer
  • 23cm Restrictions To Be Imposed In Europe
  • Safety Stand-Down: Look Up and Live
  • Canadian Amateurs in Yukon Territory Get Separate Section
  • The RSGB Releases High-Contrast Logbook to Improve Accessibility
  • National Bodies Protect 70cm Band

 The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com


Sunday, 13 July 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 460 - Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2025 Part One

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2025 Part One.

We would like to thank Dino Papas (KL0S), Philip Heckingbottom (VK6ADF) and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert-free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

  • PRSENTER OPINION : Is it time to bring back the club leadership course?
  • POTA Activator Dies in Accidental Electrocution
  • Volunteers Bring Last Commercial Maritime Station Back on Air for 26th Year
  • Hamshack Hotline To Be Discontinued
  • Grant to Aid Clublog Operations Upgrade
  • Testing for WRTC 2026 in Suffolk
  • Bye Bye Friedrichshafen for another year!
  • HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO Party 11-12 August 2025
  • International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
  • 100th Anniversary of JARL and Amateur Radio in Japan

 The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com