Today I am at #POTA AU-2501 Baalijin Nature Park (#VKFF-2512) for the day. This is the fifth activation of this park, since it was first activated in 2024. 

It is halfway between Bellingen and Bowraville in the hinterland of the Coffs and Nambucca coasts. I am at 800 metres ASL -30.49312 and 152.61838. I’ll run FT8 on the IC-7300, JPC-12 and MacBook Pro while get set up for SSB on 40 and 15.

I was listening to the MacGeekGab today, and one of the co-hosts, Adam Christianson, mentioned the situation where, for whatever reason, some software switches in the OS or app settings flip, as in what was on goes off, or vice versa, or a different option is selected, without the owner or admin knowing. By accident, I discovered this happened to me recently.

Web page – Posts – Facebook – X – BlueSky – Instagram – Reddit – Linktree Substack – RSS – PDF – Software list – YouTube Playlist – Email Welcome to the second bulletin for September 2026. The big news of the last two weeks is a new release from Marcus Roskosch, the maker of SDR Control for a variety of rigs.

Since my Icom ID-5200 arrived this week, I have had the base unit side on and magnets on the back of the head unit to connect the two pieces of hardware so I could place the radio on the shelf a use it. As I said in an earlier post, there’s no out-of-the-box bracket for the head unit so it can sit on a desk or shelf, except for a small one (

UTC Clock (Apple Widget) and QRZ in CarPlay There’s been quite an improvement in the widgets functionality in CarPlay with iOS 27. In short, you can have two columns of five widgets each to flick through. You can see my post on that here, together with a video and some screenshots. But for the amateur radio operator, there’s an even cooler benefit.

I was mucking around with CarPlay today and stumbled across something very cool - an expanded range of widgets that can show up on your vehicle's entertainment unit screen. In the first iteration of widgets a few OS back, there were only a handful of widgets available. Now, I would estimate 80 to 90 per cent of widgets available on your phone and watch are now available in CarPlay.

I was listening to Mac Geek Gab #1160 and the host, Dave, was speaking about issues his outlaws (in-laws) were having with their home networking. They were paying for 1 Gbps down, but Speedtest.net was showing their speed as being 200 to 400 Mbps over wifi. Dave quite rightly pointed out that if they connected via Ethernet, the speed would likely show 1 Gbps as myriad factors slow down wifi.

There’s nothing quite like a box of new kit arriving. While a new radio doesn’t have that ‘new car smell’, there is the thrill of pulling out the hardware in plastic bags, intricately designed cardboard packaging, associated bits and pieces and manuals that make it a special moment for nerds and geeks alike. It’s also nice to see a screen without fingerprints for the last time in the unit’s life.

I have two Macs, a M4 Mac Mini at home and a M5 MacBook Pro for on the go. Recently I found I forgot to install an app on the MacBook and had to do so on the go. It wasn’t a big deal but it led me to think, what’s on both machines. Some Gemini-Fu revealed a simple Terminal line that I ran on both Macs:

On 4, 5, 6 and 7 September 2026, I did four days of POTA in spectacular scenery on the Coffs Coast, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. I did a beach, river, forest and swimming hole and a mountain at 900 metres. Radio conditions were reasonable (not great, not bad) and the weather was perfect. I used my Icom IC-7300 with the JPC 12 antenna.

Web page - Posts - Facebook - X - BlueSky - Instagram - Reddit - Linktree Substack - RSS - PDF - Software list - YouTube Playlist - Email Well, if you are going to get the shiny new M6/M5 Mac Mini or the new iPhone Duo, you’re going to want great new and updated amateur radio apps to put on them, right?

I have only been active for just under two years and love getting out in the bush, in the parks, by the rivers and at the beaches, mostly at weekends. I’ve also done a lot of experimenting and think I have finally landed on a set-up that works for me. In short, for antennas, I have a JPC-12 and 2.5 metre element and another base with no coil and a five metre element.

I was a shortwave radio listener in the 70’s and 80’s. I marvelled at the amazing sounds coming from around the world to this little Sony table radio in my bedroom on Sydney’s northern beaches. My QSL cards from the 1980’s have been digitised and are in the process of being published. You can see them here, together with pictures of recipes I used back then.

That was a fun weekend of POTA. Two activations, lots of QSO, sunshine, nice food, happy dog and wonderful nature. Pine Creek State Forest AU-7709 On Saturday, 29 August 2026, I was at Pine Creek State Forest AU-7709. I’m up on Tower Road looking west up the Bellinger River Valley and east over the Pacific Ocean. I was using the IC-7300 OG and inverted V I was on 40 and 15 metres.

My content on Apple and amateur radio now have their own homes and will posted there rather than on this feed. Please follow if you are interested in Apple and amateur radio. Apple Amateur Radio Online Substack - Bulletin Substack - Notes Facebook Instagram X.com BlueSky Reddit Software list YouTube playlist Contact 29 August 2026

August has been bumper month for Amateur Radio on the Mac, iPad, iPhone, and web. Development and refinements really seem to have picked up ahead of exciting announcements coming from Apple over the next few months with new hardware and the annual rollout of the updated operating systems. This is the Late Edition for August 2026. The First Edition is here. The latest edition is at the new Apple Amateur Radio Substack. Sign-up to the newsletter. 26 August 2026

I've started watching a few videos on new features coming to iOS and iPadOS 27. A few have caught my eye, particularly for the iPad. 9 to 5 Mac is pushing out some really good stuff. I have had an iPad since day one. I remember queuing up at the Apple Store in Burlingame in SF in the wee hours on a spring morning in April 2010 to get my first one.

Jaaningga Nature Park (AU-2555) On Saturday 22 August 2026, I was at Jaaningga Nature Park (AU-2555) on the Coffs Coast. I was on 40 and 15 meters between 0400 and 0530 UTC. I had the IC-7300 running on 1/4 wave vertical. The bands died soon after I set up. Mylestom State Beach (AU-11194) On Sunday 23 August 2026, I went to…

I recently became able to use both my iPad and iPhone with my Icom IC-7300 (original version) on FT8 thanks to a great new app called Greyline FT8 and Digirig Lite (I have written my experience up here). The set-up involves plugging the Digirig Lite into your iPad or iPhone USB-C socket. That's great but it creates an issue - you can't power or charge your device at the same time.

I am a user of SDR Control for Icom. It’s a great app and brings just about every feature I need to my Macs and IC-7300 and IC-7300 Mark 2. I use it at home via my network on the Mark 2 and via USB in the field on the original 7300. I can also access the Mark 2 from outside the home.

There's an excellent online tool to find #POTA parks you are yet to activate. newparks.m0trt.radio It’s great on iPhone and iPad as you could use your fingers to zoom in and out. But it was problematic on a desktop as there was no clickable zoom function and trackpad navigation was cumbersome. I wrote to the developer, Ian M0TRT, asking him to add the zoom functionality and he did so within 12 hours!

Late last century, I was involved in preparations for the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the early part of 1996, a group of us was in London, looking at venues, attending conferences, and getting briefings on key issues. One of the issues was security. At the time, Australia had never hosted something as big as what the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics would be.

A week or two back, a friend posted this graphic on Facebook. It struck a chord. I saved it. It resonated. I have been mulling over it since. I thought I would share it, decided against it, left it, came back to it, and am now sharing. In so doing, I want to say I am (now) back to where I was a few months ago.

Yesterday, Sunday 16 August 2026, I was at Diehappy State Forest AU-7632 on the Coffs Coast. It wasn’t a successful activation. The band died soon after I set up. I had only five QSO. I had the IC-7300 running on an inverted V up a Spiderbeam. That said, it was a lovely drive through great bush and I saw only two other vehicles all day.

Today I’m was at Newry State Forest AU-7711 on the Coffs Coast. I’ll was on 40 and 15 meters in amongst the VK Remembrance Day Contesting. I had the IC-7300 running on an Inverted V up a tree between 0400 and 0500 UTC today Saturday, 15 August 2026. The highlight of the day was another QSO with Larry F5PYI…

Welcome to the first August update of Apple Amateur Radio . There have been some great new developments on the hardware, software and web based fronts in the last few weeks. Greyline FT8 for iPad and iPhone In the second July 2026 bulletin, I wrote of Greyline FT8 - an app for iPhone and iPad for FT8. For my Icom IC-7300, I needed a Digirig Lite and Digirig cable for IC-706 to make it work.

Since getting my licence, I have been fascinated by the convergence of amateur radio and computing. I am a ‘Mac Geek’ and have spent vast (read ’too much’) time getting my Apple gear working with various hardware and software. My shack is now complete, thanks to Greyline FT8 and Digirig. I am in a good place with SDR Control for Icom…

Saturday 2/8 I was on air with a #POTA activation from north of Dorrigo on the NSW Northern Tablelands. I was on the boundary of Junuy Juluum National Park AU-1906. This was last activated mid 2024 by VK1OZ. I was on 40m and 15 metres 0415 to 0645 and spotting in POTA dot app and PNP. Sunday 1/8 On Sunday 2/8, 02 to 04 utc - ish I was at #pota AU-7732 Boambee State Forest, above Coffs Harbour. I was on 15 and 40 on phone and ft8. 3 August 2026

There are a few notable arrivals into the Apple stable for amateur radio in late July. This is my second bulletin for July, the first in July 2026 is here. Greyline FT8 This appears to be the FT8 app for iPad and iPhone ‘we have been waiting for’. Certainly, it’s been possible to do FT8 on both devices via a networked radio, like the Icom IC-7300 Mk2.

Global Times, 13 July 2026 I have a Google News Alert for both “Amateur Radio“ and “Ham Radio”. Each day I get sent a brief list of stories featuring both phrases, as identified by Google, and it’s mostly stories on operators, new equipment, deployments and, sadly, obituaries for “Silent Keys”. One story in particular caught my eye recently…

QSO Director QSO Director is an app for Mac, Windows and Linux for rig control and logging. It promotes itself as “QSO Director is a modern ham radio logging software platform designed to replace multiple tools with one seamless experience”. It’s not yet available for iOS or iPadOS. It’s a good looking app with lots of features. It costs GBP3.50 a month or GBP37.80 annually after a two week free trial.

I’m trying out a new antenna and base today (Thu 9 July 26) … a 5m whip to a mag mount and grounding mat. I know Thursday afternoons aren’t normally great but no harm in trying. I’ll be on 40and 15 until 0400/15 ish UTC. I’ll post on POTA dot app and PNP when going. #pota 9 July 2026

I have upped my Mac game this week with the arrival of a new M4 Mac Mini from the Apple Refurbished Store in Australia. I picked up a 16/256 for USD600 including Sales Tax. It's for my amateur radio operators and I've written up a post on it. SDR Play says iOS and Android apps are on their way for their SDR Connect servers…

This week I took delivery of a new Apple Mac Mini (M4 16/256) to be used in my “Radio Shack” with an Icom IC-7300 Mk2, SDR Play nRSP-ST and various other apps and peripherals. The Mac Mini is small, minimalist, sleek and insanely fast. Amateur radio and computers go hand in hand. Compare this amazing Mac with a Morse Code key my grandfather used during World War 2 for the Australian Army in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Recent discussions on the Mac Geek Gab and some personal experience have given me reason to give some thought to what equipment is best for the right tasks for home and small business computers. As a Mac geek and hobbyist, I over spec on most equipment, as in I get more than I need, often but not always. I’ve always had a pretty good fix on memory (RAM) and storage but I have had some interesting learning in monitors in the last few years.

With websites and apps easier to build thanks for AI and in particular vibe coding, there are plenty of new things for Apple and cross platform amateur radio operators to try. What follows is what I have seen in recent weeks and please send me your suggestions to add to the list. Web based SDR receiver SDRCom is from G0LIW and is mind blowing.

Interesting non-announcements from #Icom. The new ID-5200 will come in two models - 20 watt and 50 watt. They also say they have no date of shipping as it’s awaiting FCC approval in the USA. The brochure in Japanese is online here. 12 June 2026

I really like the videos published by The Comms Channel on YouTube. The host (whose name I can't find) covers "... everything RF and cover Amateur/Ham Radio, Communications Receivers, SDR, Digital Communications, Packet Radio, and many more radio communication topics.". I like his style - simple, understandable, no hype or theatrics and up to date. I've signed up to support at AUD4 a month.

In amongst the contesting, I’ll try #POTA from Hungry Head State Beach. AU-11195. I’m on UTC Sunday 0030 to 0130 on 40 metres. I’ll post on POTA dot app and PnP. #amateurradio #hamradio #parksontheair 9 June 2026

I am at Pine Creek State Forest, AU-7709, on the NSW Coffs Coast, today, Saturday, 6 June 25, 0530 to 0645 UTC, 40m and 15m phone. I will spot on POTA.app and PnP. 6 June 2026

I received an email from RT Systems last week regarding an update to their software. I didn’t know if it applied to the software of theirs that I own. I was also getting a message on my Mac from Apple saying their software won’t work under future Mac OS. This I write to them and they replied promptly. In the first case, they replied saying the update didn’t apply to me. In the case of the Mac OS update, they said they’re working on updating their software now. good news! 5 June 2026

Tonight I did my first dusk then dark POTA spot. I was at Boambee Beach AU-9854 on the Coffs Coast.0730 to 0800 UTC on Sunday 31 May 2026. I ended early as I was chased away by lightning. Boambee Beach sits between Coffs Harbour and Sawtell. 31 May 2026

Today I am at the Never Never State Forest (AU-7739), bordering the World Heritage Listed Dorrigo National Park on the north coast of the state of the New South Wales. The Never Never State Forest is inland from Coffs Harbour and at the foothills of the Dorrigo Plateau and in what’s known as The Promised Land at Glennifer. I am on the perimeter of the forest using an Icom IC-7300 and JPC-12 at 10 watts.