Directory of Independent Open Amateur Radio Technical Media
Last updated 2025-07-03
Steve Stroh N8GNJ
Why Independent Matters
Being able to “speak truth” without regard to constraints imposed by external “gatekeepers” such as organizations, is important to presenting new technologies that may not align with the agendas of an organization.
Why Open Matters
In this era, if material is not accessible on the open web (such as hidden behind a paywall), it is essentially irrelevant. This is especially true for Amateur Radio in the 2020s and beyond because those curious about Amateur Radio are self-learners. They’re going to look around on the Internet, or in 2025, going to consult an AI engine, which draws its information from what it can find on the open Internet.
It’s unfortunate that many publications that might interest potential new Amateur Radio Operators, such as low power transmitters (QRP), space, microwave technology and operation, and others are “paywalled”.
Why Technical Matters
Simply, there is not enough technical material, and especially media, being published in the open about Amateur Radio, and subjects adjacent to Amateur Radio. Thus there is a need to promote such technical media.
Why Media Matters
Media, as in regular publication of new material, matters because technology does not stay static. Technology evolves. Situations change. New developments occur.
Note that there are many email lists, social media, discussion threads, etc. that some feel provide the same degree of published content. Perhaps… but for now, I feel that it’s more important to provide a consistent editorial focus that readers can depend on in evaluating technical content.
Not just Amateur Radio, but also Amateur Radio Adjacent
There are many developments in radio technology that impact Amateur Radio that aren’t specific to Amateur Radio. One example is LoRa, which was not developed for Amateur Radio, but is widely used within Amateur Radio. Thus it’s important to include media on this list that may not be specific to Amateur Radio, but can potentially impact Amateur Radio.
AREDN News
The News sub page (can be subscribed via RSS) of the Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) web page regularly posts updates on the technology of AREDN. It’s not quite “media” as defined above, but there are updates posted very regularly, and it’s highly technical content, thus “good enough”.
Publication schedule: Monthly (minimum)
Editor / Organization: various
Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC)
DLARC does not strictly meet the definition above of “Media”, but it’s important to include it in this directory because it is an archive of many (now) Open, (now) Independent Technical Media. One minor example is Packet Radio Magazine which was a paid subscription publication, but is now available at no cost and can be viewed or downloaded in DLARC.
Amateur Television (ATV) Journal / The Boulder Amateur TV Club (BATVC)
ATV Journal is an email newsletter (redirects to online PDF) that features ample technical content including regular updates about Digital Television communications for Amateur Radio, with ample discussion of various ATV units and systems.
Publication schedule: Monthly (minimum)
Editor / Organization: Jim Andrews KH6HTV
Experimental Radio News
Experimental Radio News (ERN) is an email newsletter that discusses selected licenses issued by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for experimental radio systems. ERN discusses the technology of experimental systems from ample technical depth.
Publication schedule: Periodic
Editor / Organization: Bennett Kobb AK4AV
Hackaday
Hackaday is a website / blog that features interesting articles about experimenting with electronics or other technologies. Hackaday is unique that it discusses Amateur Radio, and especially Amateur Radio technology as “just another interesting technology to know about and experiment with”.
Publication schedule: Regular updates as often as several per day
Editor / Organization: Elliot Williams (Editor in Chief), Tom Nardi (Managing Editor), Dan Maloney N7DPM (Staff Writer - most Amateur Radio articles)
Ham Radio Workbench (HRWB)
Ham Radio Workbench is a podcast with a wide range of subjects, but always with a technical focus. Guests are often included, and often discuss the details of building complex projects or products.
Publication schedule: Biweekly
Editor / Organization: George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
Hot Iron: The Journal of the Constructor’s Club
Hot Iron is an email newsletter with a technical focus on “home brew” construction techniques and projects relating to Amateur Radio.
Publication schedule: Periodic
Editor / Organization: Peter Thornton G6NGR and Frank Barnes W4NPN
Jeff Geerling
Jeff Geerling is a popular YouTube channel that often focuses on the technical aspects of Raspberry Pi products and projects that are widely used in Amateur Radio. Despite a close relationship with Raspberry Pi, Geerling is fiercely independent in his evaluations of Raspberry Pi products.
Publication schedule: Multiple videos per month
Editor / Organization: Jeff Geerling KF0MYB
Random Wire Review
Random Wire Review is a newsletter with hands-on, in-depth technical treatment of a wide range of Amateur Radio topics, with an emphasis on operating Amateur Radio Over Internet.
Publication schedule: Weekly
Editor / Organization: Tom Salzer KJ7T
🆕 RTL-SDR Blog
RTL-SDR Blog is very technical, largely focused on Software Defined Radio products, software, developments, and interesting uses of SDR technology. RTL-SDR Blog is written from authority as they manufacture their own good, reasonably priced Software Defined Receiver unit.
Publication schedule: Multiple articles per week
Editor / Organization: Carl Laufer (and staff, guests contributors?)
TAPR Packet Status Register (PSR)
The PSR is an email newsletter with a long rich history of technical discussion of Packet Radio and many other aspects of technology in Amateur Radio, such as Software Defined Radio (SDR). It has been continuously published since 1982.
Publication schedule: Quarterly
Editor / Organization: Stana Horzepa WA1LOU
Tech Minds
Tech Minds is a YouTube channel that highlights Amateur Radio technology and new technically interesting products, with ample explanation and detail.
Publication schedule: Several times per month
Editor / Organization: Matthew Miller M0DQW
The Communicator (Surrey Amateur Radio Communications)
The Communicator is Surrey Amateur Radio Communications’s newsletter, but typically exceeding 100 pages, I would classify its format as a magazine. The Communicator is a general interest Amateur Radio publication, but what lands it on this list is that each issue in recent memory has feature ample Zero Retries Interesting (technical) content that often includes space / satellite communications, microwave, repeaters, etc. and now digital communications with my column Zero Retries.
Publication schedule: Bimonthly
Editor: John Schouten VE7TI
Zero Retries
Zero Retries is an independent newsletter promoting technological innovation in and adjacent to Amateur Radio, and Amateur Radio as (literally) a license to experiment with and learn about radio technology.
Publication schedule: Weekly - Fridays, 15:30 Pacific
Editor / Organization: Steve Stroh N8GNJ
If you have suggestions for additional media to add to this directory, or updates, please email steve@zeroretries.net.
I am especially interested in learning about additional independent open Amateur Radio technical media relating to:
Amateur Radio television construction and technology, especially the use of (inexpensive) Software Defined Radio reception of Digital Amateur Radio Television,
Digital and especially Data Communications and networking,
Low power (QRP) construction and technology,
Microwave construction, technology, and networking,
Organizations that are specifically focused on technology in Amateur Radio (or adjacent). Example (but no longer publishing): Amateur Radio Research and Development (AMRAD).
Raspberry Pi computers used in Amateur Radio,
VHF / UHF repeater construction and technology
Space construction, technology, and especially Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)… mostly digital and data communications.
Software Defined Radio (SDR)
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) projects or curriculum that regularly relate to Amateur Radio or adjacent to Amateur Radio, and
Unlicensed radio communications and technology with a technical focus. Example - use of Family Radio Service or CB is generally out of scope.
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