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03/06/2026

L-C circuits are one of the real building blocks of radio. šŸ“”

The ā€œLā€ is inductance ā€” usually a coil.
The ā€œCā€ is capacitance ā€” usually a capacitor.

Together, they can tune, filter, match and generate radio signals.

In this beginner-friendly reel, we explain how L-C circuits work and where you will find them in real radio equipment, including:

ā€¢ Receiver tuning
ā€¢ RF filters
ā€¢ Oscillators
ā€¢ Antenna matching units
ā€¢ Antenna traps
ā€¢ Amplifier tank circuits

Once you understand L-C circuits, radio circuits start to make much more sense.

[www.moonrakeronline.com](http://www.moonrakeronline.com)

80m Data Night TonightNot a CW operator? Tonight is your turn.The RSGB 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs this even...
01/06/2026

80m Data Night Tonight

Not a CW operator? Tonight is your turn.

The RSGB 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs this evening, Monday 1 June, from:

1900 to 2030 UTC
8pm to 9.30pm UK time

This one uses RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, with a simple exchange:

Signal report + serial number

Example:

599 001
599 002
599 003

It is only 90 minutes long, which makes it a good contest for operators who want something active, focused and not too demanding.

For newer data-mode operators, this is also a useful chance to practise:

āœ… Setting up your soundcard interface
āœ… Checking audio levels
āœ… Using RTTY or PSK63 software
āœ… Making clean, accurate exchanges
āœ… Watching how 80m changes after sunset
āœ… Testing your antenna and receive noise level

You do not need a huge station to take part. A modest HF radio, a clean data setup and a simple 80m antenna can still make for a very enjoyable evening.

Even if you do not enter, tune around and listen. Activity nights like this are a great way to learn how different digital modes sound, how contest exchanges flow, and how busy 80m can become when everyone appears at the same time.

Official RSGB contest information:
https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/contest-news/2026/05/29/contest-news-31-may-2026/

Are you running RTTY, PSK63, or just listening tonight?

For radios, antennas, coax, power supplies, interfaces and shack accessories, visit:
https://www.moonrakeronline.com

01/06/2026

Inductance is one of the most important ideas in radio circuits ā€” but it does not need to be complicated.

In this beginner-friendly reel, we explain how coils store energy in a magnetic field, why inductors resist changes in current, and why this matters so much in RF circuits.

From tuning and filtering to antenna matching and loading coils, inductance is at the heart of how radio equipment works.

A simple guide for new and returning radio hams who want to understand what is really happening inside the circuit.

www.moonrakeronline.com

Special Call On Air This Week: MX0SBVHere is one to listen out for this week.The Blind Veterans UK Amateur Radio Society...
01/06/2026

Special Call On Air This Week: MX0SBV

Here is one to listen out for this week.

The Blind Veterans UK Amateur Radio Society is active from the new Blind Veterans UK Rustington Centre in West Sussex from 1ā€“6 June 2026, using the callsign:

MX0SBV

This is a good example of what makes amateur radio special.

It is not just about contests, rare DX or big antennas. Sometimes, radio connects people, places, history, service and community.

RSGB says to listen for HF activity using CW and SSB, with the team also expected on:

6m
4m
2m
70cm

That gives plenty of operators a chance to hear or work the station, whether you are using HF from the shack, VHF/UHF locally, or simply listening to see what appears on the bands.

For newer operators, special event and club callsigns are also a useful way to practise careful listening. They can sound a little different from everyday personal callsigns, and they often have a story behind them.

A few things to try this week:

āœ… Listen across the HF bands for MX0SBV
āœ… Check CW and SSB activity
āœ… Watch 6m and 4m if conditions lift
āœ… Try 2m or 70cm if you are within range
āœ… Look up the callsign on QRZ for more information

Events like this are a reminder that amateur radio is still very much a people-powered hobby.

Will you be listening out for MX0SBV this week?

Source: RSGB Special Events News
https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/special-events/2026/05/29/special-events-news-31-may-2026/

For radios, antennas, coax, power supplies and shack accessories, visit:
https://www.moonrakeronline.com

Last Call for UKBOTA Historic Counties 2026Not every weekend radio activity has to be a contest.This Sunday is also the ...
31/05/2026

Last Call for UKBOTA Historic Counties 2026

Not every weekend radio activity has to be a contest.

This Sunday is also the final day of UK Bunkers on the Air Historic Counties 2026, an operating event that has been running throughout May.

UKBOTA brings together amateur radio and Cold War history, with activators operating from, near, or in connection with bunker-related sites across the UK. The Historic Counties event adds another interesting layer by celebrating the traditional historic structure of the United Kingdom and Channel Islands.

For hunters, it is a great chance to listen out for something different.

For activators, it is a good excuse to get portable, put a station on the air, and connect radio with local history.

Listen around the usual portable and activity frequencies, especially on:

40m for UK and near-Europe coverage
20m if conditions open further afield
2m FM and SSB for local and regional contacts
Digital modes if conditions are poor or activity is light

It is also a good reminder that amateur radio is about more than just DX. Sometimes the most interesting contacts are the ones that connect us with places, stories and history close to home.

A small portable station, a modest antenna and a good location can still make for a very enjoyable radio day.

UKBOTA HC26 information:
https://ukbota.net/hc26/

Have you worked or activated any UKBOTA stations this month?

For radios, antennas, coax, power supplies, portable equipment and shack accessories, visit:
https://www.moonrakeronline.com

Why Are Hams Chasing Prefixes This Weekend?If you tune across HF this weekend, especially in the CW sections of the band...
30/05/2026

Why Are Hams Chasing Prefixes This Weekend?

If you tune across HF this weekend, especially in the CW sections of the bands, you may notice something interesting.

Operators are not just chasing countries.

They are chasing prefixes.

That is because the CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest is taking place this weekend, and WPX stands for Worked Prefixes.

So, what exactly is a prefix?

In simple terms, the prefix is the first part of a callsign. For example:

G0 in G0ABC
M5 in M5XYZ
K1 in K1ABC
DL2 in DL2XYZ
EA8 in EA8###
HG19 in HG19ABC

In many contests, the big target is DXCC countries. In WPX, countries still matter, but different callsign prefixes become especially important because they are used as multipliers in the score.

That means a station with an unusual prefix, special event callsign, club callsign, or portable-style call can suddenly become very attractive to contest operators.

The contest exchange is simple:

Signal report + serial number

Example:

599 001
599 002
599 003

The main contest bands are:

160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m

Even if you do not enter the contest, this is a great weekend to listen and learn.

You can hear:

āœ… Fast CW operating
āœ… Big stations running pile-ups
āœ… Small stations finding gaps
āœ… How propagation changes by band and time of day
āœ… Which parts of the world are open from your location
āœ… How different antennas perform on a busy band

For newer operators, WPX is also a brilliant way to understand how callsigns work. You start to notice patterns ā€” UK calls, European calls, US call areas, special event prefixes, island stations, portable operation and unusual DX calls.

And if CW is not your mode, it is still worth listening. A busy contest weekend gives your receiver, antenna and ears a proper workout.

The CQ WPX CW Contest runs:

0000 UTC Saturday 30 May
to
2359 UTC Sunday 31 May

Official information:
https://cqwpx.com/

What is the most unusual prefix you have heard this weekend?

For radios, antennas, coax, power supplies and shack accessories, visit:
https://www.moonrakeronline.com

HF Comes Alive Tonight: CQ WPX CW WeekendThis weekend, the HF bands should be packed with CW activity as the CQ World Wi...
29/05/2026

HF Comes Alive Tonight: CQ WPX CW Weekend

This weekend, the HF bands should be packed with CW activity as the CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest gets underway.

The contest runs from:

0000 UTC Saturday 30 May
to
2359 UTC Sunday 31 May

For UK operators, that means activity begins at 1am Saturday morning, but the bands should already be worth watching this evening as stations test, tune and prepare.

So what is WPX?

WPX stands for Worked Prefixes. Instead of only chasing countries, operators are also chasing different callsign prefixes. That means special calls, club stations, portable stations and unusual prefixes can become very valuable contacts.

The main contest bands are:

160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m

The exchange is simple:

Signal report + serial number

Even if you are not entering the contest, this is a brilliant weekend to listen across HF. You can learn a lot by hearing how experienced CW operators manage pile-ups, move between bands, and work stations quickly and efficiently.

A few things to try this weekend:

āœ… Tune across the CW sections of the HF bands
āœ… Listen for unusual prefixes
āœ… Watch how propagation changes from day to night
āœ… Try logging a few stations, even casually
āœ… Use the weekend as a real-world receiver and antenna test

And if you are new to CW, do not be put off. You do not have to transmit to learn from it. Just listening to a busy contest weekend can teach you a huge amount about rhythm, timing, callsigns and propagation.

Official contest information:
https://cqwpx.com/

Are you taking part this weekend, chasing a few contacts, or just listening across the bands?

For radios, antennas, coax, power supplies and shack accessories, visit:
https://www.moonrakeronline.com

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