Amateur radio is not just about technology and regulations — above all, it is a community of operators who share a common radio space. Operating on repeaters and talkgroups requires attention to certain rules that make coexistence on the air easier for everyone. While many of these principles also apply on HF, here we focus on communications on the VHF/UHF bands, where following them contributes to smooth and efficient conversations.

At the beginning of December 2025, a practical emergency communications training exercise took place on Vashon-Maury Island in Washington State. The event brought together local volunteers, amateur radio operators, and members of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and Auxiliary Communications Service. The training focused on the use of portable communications systems designed to operate when cellular networks, the internet, and standard telecommunications infrastructure fail.

In an age where we take instant communication for granted, a sudden disruption—whether from severe weather, power outages, or network failures—can leave families scrambling to connect. The solution doesn't require expensive equipment or complex training. Instead, it starts with a simple monthly practice that takes less time than preparing dinner.

Remember TG9? In the DMR systems, it was the classic repeater group for local QSOs – no links, no internet, just pure communication through a single repeater. Now, within Group 312 Chicago, we’re returning to those roots by introducing Group 9 on our analog repeaters.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has launched a nationwide grassroots campaign aimed at passing a federal law that restores equal rights for amateur radio operators in the United States to install antennas on their property.