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, 6 September 2026

ICQPodcast Episode 492 - Which Hotspot

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 Which Hotspot.

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

News stories include: 

  • Amateur Radio technologies help in Canadian Cave Rescue.
  • $1 Million and Counting: Contester and Engineer Dr James Galm Makes Historic Gift to ARRL
  • AST SpaceMobile's 800 MHz Trial Wraps Up — But the 70cm Interference Story Isn't Going Away
  • South African Regulator Closes In on Repeater Interference in Gauteng
  • When the Networks Go Down: Bangladesh Runs Nationwide Radio Drill for Quakes, Floods, and Worse
  • Wildfire Scorches Vital Nevada Repeater — Repairs Racing to Beat Labour Day
  • Bangladesh Wants a Ham Radio Payload on Its Next Satellite — And They Need Your Voice

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


Sunday, 23 August 2026

ICQPodcast Episode 491 - The Science of Making Distant Contacts

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Frank Howell (K4FMH) 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 The Science of Making Distant Contacts.

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: 

  • Colombian Hams Answer the Call After Deadly Earthquake
  • 10 Years Old, Freshly Licensed, and Already Rocking a Yaesu FT-857D
  • FCC Cracks Down on "Largest GMRS Network in the US" Over Linked Repeater Violations
  • Pennsylvania Hams Step Up for the Red Cross
  • NASA's PUNCH Mission Cracks Solar Storm Forecasting
  • POTA Pulls the Plug on 85% of French Parks — And a Volunteer Resigns Over It
  • From Morse to Micropython: RSGB Marks National Coding Week 2026
  • Solder, Circuits, and a Radio to Take Home: RSGB's Build Your Own Radio Workshop Returns
  • 25 Years On: K4A Takes to the Airwaves for "9/11 We Do Remember"

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


Sunday, 9 August 2026

ICQPodcast Episode 490 - Ham Radio ATU’s

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Ed Durrant DD5LP and Frank Howell K4FMH 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 ATU’s.

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: 

  • Father-And-Son Dxpedition Team Adds An APRS Mission
  • Space Station Logs Historic First ARISS Contact with Kenya
  • UK's Leading Observatory Earmarked for Shutdown
  • An Incredible Experience. In the Austrian Alps, no less!
  • HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO Parties Target the Perseids
  • Examinations Standards Committee Annual Report
  • International Dog Day and International Cat Day Special Event

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


Sunday, 26 July 2026

ICQPodcast Episode 489 - STEM and Radio for a Brighter Future

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Martin Rothwell (M0SGL), Frank Howell (K4FMH) 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 STEM and Ham Radio Works.

We would like to thank our Chris Carini, (GW4RER), Walter Washburn, (KT0D), Constantine Papas (KL0S) and monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert-free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: 

  • HAMgpt Launches as an AI Assistant Built Around Your Station
  • Keeping Teams Connected Where the Network Isn't
  • Scientists Building Massive Deep Synoptic Array in Nevada Desert
  • FCC Clears Orbital Mirror Satellite Despite Widespread Objections
  • aprs.world — A Free, Modern Live APRS Map in 11 Languages
  • RSGB Club Finder Back Online After Redevelopment
  • Peter the First Island DXpedition Seeks Operators
  • Icom RS-BA1 Version 2 (Version 2.81) & RS-R8600 (Version 1.02) Software Updates

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

Friday, 17 July 2026

ICQPodcast Episode 488 - World RadioSport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026

In this special episode, Martin Butler (M1MRB), Chris Howard (M0TCH) and Colin Butler (M6BOY) attended and brought you a flavour of the World Radiosport Team Championship 2026 taking place in the UK.

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


Sunday, 12 July 2026

ICQPodcast Episode 487 - A Taste of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT 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 a Taste of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen.

We would like to thank Frank Westphal (K6FW), Ken Delap (KX9U), Reggie Waller (G6YAJ) and Pete Weston (2E0DED) 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: 

  • Germany Likely to Get Full 4 Metres Band Back
  • Eyeball-to-Eyeball Off-the-Air QSO Party
  • Canada Reviewing Policy on Antennas, Towers
  • Researchers Create Space 'Wall' to Weaken Solar Storms
  • YOTA CAMP Region 1 - Austria July 2026
  • RSGB Offers RFI Workshop Using SDRPlay at This Year’s Convention
  • OSCAR LOCATOR Web Generator Turns Live Elements Into Printable Tracking Sheets

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