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.

Sunday, 19 October 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 468 - Portable Power

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 Portable Power.

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: -

  • FCC Denies Approval of 4 Chinese-Owned Electronics Labs
  • What ChatGPT Would do to Attract Young People to Amateur Radio
  • Do we even need QST?
  • Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data
  • Japanese CubeSats Deployed from ISS
  • Zoe Rodriguez Named 2025 Craigie Memorial Educator 
  • ARRL Year of the Club Newsletter Contest - Call for Submissions

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


Sunday, 5 October 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 467 - Allan Wiener WBCQ

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 Allan Wiener WBCQ.

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: -

  • Amateur Radio Preps to Defend Antenna Legislation
  • FCC Legalizes Jamming Of Mobile Phones By Prisons
  • A Big Dxpedition Win For African Teen
  • Hams Needed to Track NASA Moon Mission
  • A First For Hams at Nuclear Cleanup Site
  • ISS SSTV Events Upcoming
  • OFCOM Reviews License Procedures for Some Satellites
  • WRTC 2026 UK Updates

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

Sunday, 21 September 2025

ICQPodcast Episode 466 - UK Hamfest Review 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 UK Hamfest Review Part Two.

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: -

  • All Amateur Radio Licenses in Equatorial Guinea re Temporarily Suspended
  • CubeSats to Deploy from ISS on 19 September 2025
  • FCC Grants Limited Use of Amateur Bands to AST Spacemobile
  • Doubts About Solar Cycle Prediction Methodology
  • UK Regulator Mulls Satellite-to-Cell Phone Service
  • Icom UK Supports The Scouts with IC-9700 Radio for JOTA Activities
  • New Book Release: ARRL On the Air Yearbooks
  • Fire Prevention Week Special Event
  • Antenna Removal Takes Away Amateur Life
  • RSGB Outreach Team Launches its First Official DMR Youth Net


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

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