Random Wire 170: Three new articles on EtherHam, ThumbDV vocoder, M17 app for iPad, old HF rig in the pickup, ARRL renewal, another NXDN radio, and the Short Stack

February 20, 2026: Don't miss the new articles on EtherHam.com!

Welcome to Random Wire 170

If you are new here, this newsletter has the word “random” in it because the content may touch on a variety of amateur radio and technology topics. There is no plan. I track a large number of websites and groups so I can harvest interesting, useful tidbits for you. I also experiment with various digital and internet-connected radio devices and systems.

Some content is shared via this newsletter and some is published at my sister site, EtherHam.com. Essentially, you can follow EtherHam by subscribing to this Random Wire newsletter.

Thank you for subscribing. The Random Wire is a free service to the amateur radio community and I intend to keep it that way. Please share the newsletter with others. I also value feedback so please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts!

New on EtherHam

• ThinkCentre M75n is a Different Tiny PC. This machine is suitable for a small radio-less AllStar node. With expandable storage, it presents many possibilities. To stress it, I loaded Debian 13 in a virtual machine running on a Debian 13 host.

• Multiple Digital Voice Modes on Android with the DVstick 30. High-quality digital voice modes on your Android phone. Which modes? XLX, DCS, REF, XRF, DMR, DM+, YSF, FCS, NXD. Amazing.

• Inside EtherHam: February 2026. This is a new, semi-regular column about what is happening behind the curtain at EtherHam.

How About the ThumbDV™ AMBE Vocoder?

It turns out there is an alternative to the DVstick 30 and it is available in my neck of the woods on San Juan Island! Bryan Hoyer K7UDR has a shop that sells the ThumbDV. This is a DVSI AMBE3000 Digital Voice Vocoder in a USB-stick format. At first glance, it looks an awful lot like the DVstick 30 but a closer examination of the board reveals differences.

Bryan tells me the ThumbDV occasionally goes on sale, so if you’re interested in this device it might be worth watching his shop page.

Bryan notes that he supplies hardware only. Software is available from other sources, including:

• BlueDV by David, PA7LIM (DSTAR, DMR, & Yaesu Fusion, and runs on Android & Windows)

• Buster by Anna, NH6Z (DSTAR on MacOS, available in the App Store)

• AMBEServer (allows network access to your ThumbDV™)

MSeven-M17 App for iPad

I tested MSeven on my iPad Mini where it is working great. It should also work on an iPhone (although your phone must be running iOS 26.0 or newer — my phone is too old). Here’s the description in the Apple App Store:

MSeven description from the Apple Store

Find the app at: https://apps.apple.com/ph/app/mseven-m17/id6754467137

Here are a few screenshots from my implementation on my iPad Mini:

MSeven screens

This is brilliant software. My iPad Mini is my traveling notes device, plus Kindle Reader, plus email, and more. Now I’ll also have M17 whenever I want. One of the best features is the ability to go hands-free over Bluetooth in my vehicle. Wow!

Tried an HF Rig in the Pickup Truck

Last weekend, I grabbed my big LiFePO4 battery, the new-to-me Kenwood TS-680S HF transceiver, microphone, power cord, antenna analyzer (Rig Expert Stick 500), and 10-20-40 whip on a tri-mag mount and headed for the pickup truck. Ten minutes later, I was on the air.

Kenwood TS-680S

The TS-680S is a fairly basic radio. I listened to several QSOs on 10, 20, and 40 meters. There were also a couple of contest stations active on 20 meters. I did key up the transceiver several times to make sure it was operating. I’ll try it again on 10 meters this week when we have a local 10-meter net.

The antenna analyzer showed an SWR on 10 meters (28.350 MHz) of 1.13, 1.35 on 20 meters, and 1.43 on 40 meters. Those values are plenty good enough for a loaded whip on a magnetic mount on top of the cab.

My antenna is a bit of an oddball choice that I picked up a few years ago:

GRA-750B Wideband Receive Antenna (7–50 MHz) – Compact Foldable Antenna for SDR, Scanner, Military & Broadcast Monitoring – Low-Power TX Support (30–50 MHz) (affiliate link)

Interestingly, when I bought the antenna, the description was different. It didn’t stress it was designed primarily for receiving. I have transmitted with it before, but never more than about 20 watts.

When I discovered the transmit power limitation of this antenna, I ordered some hamsticks. I can put 100 watts into a hamstick on top of the truck cab without worrying about cooking the antenna. It may not be the best choice, but it will be an easy antenna when I just want to slap the mag-mount on top of the cab and work some stations.

I ordered a tri-mag mount with the 3/8”x24 connection needed for the hamstick antenna:

Tram 269 Triple 5” Magnet CB Antenna Mount (affiliate link)

And just in case I have to try to use my existing tri-mag mount, I added an adapter to the order:

Anina Gum Drop CB Antenna Stud - 3/8''x24 Thread SO-239 Connector Compatible with Wilson Firestik 102 (affiliate link)

The adapter arrived on Thursday and looks like this:

3/8"x24 to SO-239 adapter

Once the hamsticks arrive, I’ll try this configuration with a couple of other HF transceivers, too. I have my trusty Yaesu FT-450D with me and it may become my “go to” for a portable rig. My FT-891 transceiver is in storage.

Time to Renew ARRL

Every time I get an ARRL renewal notice, I pause and wonder: is it worth it to me? I’m not the only one who has asked this question. It’s that time again, and again I find myself wondering whether it’s worth the cost. Losing the print version of QST magazine hurt. I looked forward to getting the magazine and poring over it while my spouse slept. It’s harder to do that with an online magazine.

Obviously, I’m not an ARRL Life Member.

Last year at this time, I was convinced that the ARRL was so stuck in traditional radio that the expanding world of digital voice and data was leaving the ARRL behind. I don’t feel that way nearly as much this year. It feels like the ARRL is waking up to the digital radio and radio-over-internet evolution that is going on in amateur radio.

I also understand that the ARRL educates and advocates for amateur radio. They are our voice in Washington, DC. That hits home for me because the nonprofit association I run is the voice of our members in Olympia, WA. No matter how much we do, there are always members who believe we don’t do enough. Would I counsel them to stop being members? No, I would recommend they make sure their ideas and concerns are shared with association leadership, and to stay the course because without their support and ideas, there is no impetus for change. In other words, be part of the solution by working for the changes you want to see.

I think I just convinced myself to renew my ARRL membership again. (Yes, I renewed, and I paid for QST in print. Fingers crossed the quality remains high.) How do you feel about your ARRL membership? I know I’m not alone in wondering how our fellow hams feel about this.

New-to-Me NXDN Radio Arrived in the Shack

The first NXDN radio I picked up on eBay was a mistake. It turned out that radio will not work in the 70cm amateur radio band. This time, I picked up one that does cover the UHF band. It is a Kenwood NX-3320-K UHF 400-520 MHz Digital Portable Radio that will do NXDN, DMR, or analog FM.

I got a good deal on this used unit in pretty good shape. The only damage is the microphone cover. I’m sure I can source a replacement. (Yes —> The speaker-mic cap is $1.45 from Kenwood.)

However, what I’ve learned as I entered the NXDN universe is it isn’t necessarily the radio that makes NXDN so expensive: it is the licensed programming software. I’ll be saving my pennies toward the special CPS for this model line.

Did I need another radio? Certainly not. But I want to learn more about NXDN and fortunately, there are a few other hams in the area also interested in this mode. If I can get it programmed to a couple of my hotspot frequencies, I can use it in and around the house.

By the way, I wasn’t quite sure how to release the battery from the radio. Never fear, the interwebs had the answer:

Short Stack

FT2: New Ultra-Fast Digital Mode Tested on HF

A new and highly experimental digital mode called FT2 has just entered its first on-air testing phase. On February 16, 2026 at 22:47 UTC, a small group of Italian radio amateurs reported the first successful signal exchanges using a modified WSJT-X codebase aimed at one goal: extreme-speed QSOs.

New MeshPhone extension added to Sunflower Net

This information comes to us courtesy of Lloyd KC5FM.

Thanks to K5GLH, a Christmas present for Sunflower Net appeared this week There is NOW a NEW verified MESH phone extension 5728803 for the service ... after connecting, dial *99 to talk and # to listen.

There are multiple ways to access the Sunflower Net, including:

• AllStar 38848

• Echolink KC5FM-R 906281

• DMR TGIF 31207

• P25 31207

• DSTAR XLXOKL C

• Yaesu Fusion 31207

• M17-SUN module A

• Hams Over IP 15154 (Dial *99 to talk # to Unkey)

• AmateurWire 30415154 (Dial *99 to talk # to Unkey)

• NZSIP 57715154 (Dial *99 to talk # to Unkey)

• MESH Phone 5728803 (Dial *99 to talk # to Unkey)

ESP32-APRS Tracker / iGate / Digi

I like this project:

The ESP32-APRS Tracker is an all new APRS Tracker meant for the 21st century. We started with the powerful ESP32 WROOM module and built the platform on it's vast array of built-in peripherals. Adding a high quality, fast locking GPS, sensors and other devices, we have created a small form factor, feature rich APRS Tracker/Digipeater/iGate/Modem that will fit your APRS operating needs.

DRAWS: Digital Radio Amateur WorkStation

DRAWS is a Raspberry Pi 3/4 hat that supports digital packet modes. That doesn’t do justice to all this device will do. It will support DIREWOLF 1200/9600, APRS, WinLink, FLDIGI, WSJT-X, and JS8Call. I think it will support software available in the magnificent HamPi project (see the HamPi wiki for more information).

You can get the board plus cables, or a full kit with case (made by C4Labs) and GPS antenna. For those of us of a digital persuasion, this is a very interesting project. For more information, please visit the NW DIGITAL RADIO support page.

Antenna Trailing Wire

Maybe you are looking for some very strong antenna wire? If so, Surplus Sales of Nebraska has you covered:

This is the most incredible copperweld antenna wire…originally used on an aircraft as a trailing antenna…The cable has three groups of seven strands woven together then twisted into one cable 0.162-inch in diameter. This weave makes the cable much more flexible and easy to handle than a 6 AWG solid copperweld would be. Extremely heavy copper plating allowed for wear and tear as an antenna and gives you a lifetime of durability in the elements.

Science says your Kindle might be better for sleep than a paperback

Yes. I read at night with an e-reader. I rarely make it more than 10 pages or so before I’m asleep.

Review of GEEKOM A5 Pro 2026 Edition (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U) mini PC – Part 1: specifications, unboxing, and teardown

Ever been curious what is inside a modern, good quality, mini PC? Here you go. This is a nicely presented and illustrated review.

How to limit ssh with UFW

Not sure how I missed this, but since I do use the Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW), I’ve implemented this on three Linux servers. Limiting SSH attempts is an easy way to reduce impact on a server.

…limiting a service using UFW will refuse connections from IP addresses that attempt to log in or connect more than 6 times in 30 seconds. This UFW feature is very useful against brute force attacks.

Crowdfunding: World’s First 60W Pocket Cloud: Backup Fast, Charge Faster

I made a pledge for one of these. I try to buy cell phones with a microSD slot because on most phones, the onboard storage is just too limited. This device purports to give you an external microSD port plus pass through charging. It’s not expensive so it’s worth a spin of the Kickstarter roulette wheel, at least to me.

Node 55915: Connect With the Ham Radio Workbench Team

Last week, I made a pitch for folks to connect to AllStar node 55915 which the Ham Radio Workbench team is using. It’s gratifying to see more stations linking to 55915:

Bubble diagram of stations linked to ASL node 55915

This week, I heard Eric Guth 4Z1UG of QSO Today fame on node 55915. Later, George KJ6VU responded to a question about AllStar and repeaters. I have to say it is really, really nice to hear such conversations get going on 55915.

What is beginning to crystallize in my mind is that node 55915 could become a Ham Radio Watering Hole (HRWH) where experts, pundits, makers, and operators come together. At some point, such a group of people create their own gravity that draws others in!

Yesterday, I played with some bash scripts to automate connecting my AllStar “node in the cloud” node 57945 to 55915. I think the simplest way to do this is to check if 57945 is already connected, and if not, make the connection. Then run a second script with cron to disconnect at a later time. ChatGPT’s suggested bash script did not work but with a bit of hacking, it seems fine.

This NASA Probe Flew Closer to the Sun Than Ever Before, Here’s What It Discovered!

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has completed a historic milestone by traveling closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before it. The groundbreaking data it has collected is offering new insights into the solar wind, a stream of charged particles that constantly flows from the Sun and impacts the entire solar system.

RAID 5 is a trap for home servers: How to build a NAS with mismatched hard drives

I include this only because about 20 years ago, I had a big server with an array of disks in a RAID 5 configuration. Over a weekend, that array lost not one but two drives. I was unable to rebuild the array and had not backed it up. Big lesson learned.

Wi-Fi routers are expected to explode in price due to RAM shortage

If you were thinking about upgrading to a new router, this is your moment. And it sounds like this is not just a passing moment: RAM and storage shortages are expected to last for years and “RAMmageddon” Has Collapsed Every Major Tech Market as Executives Brace for a ‘Product Winter’ That Could Last Until the End of the Decade. Published yesterday: The RAM shortage is coming for everything you care about.

I think you can expect used computers and related devices to continue to climb in price in response to rising RAM and chip costs.

Last: New EtherHam Logos

Congratulations! You made it to the end of the newsletter! I saved the (hopefully) best for last: new EtherHam logos. I appreciate any feedback.

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Closing

I’m through the worst part of our legislative session: supporting and defeating proposed legislation. With this session being a short 60-day sprint, changes were occurring minute-by-minute over the past three weeks. I’m glad to put that part of session in my rearview mirror. The next battle is getting financial support for the good work of my association members. That is going to be a very heavy lift this year because of a significant mismatch between state revenues and spending.

The Superbowl was very interesting. My spouse watched it intently. At this level of performance, who wins and who loses often boils down to which team has a good or bad day. This time, my home team had a good day and their opponent had a bad day. The final score probably does not reflect how closely matched the teams were. In my mind, both teams deserve to be viewed as winners just by surviving the season-long competition to arrive at this culmination of an intense football season.

As I write this, I’m disappointed. The weather forecast called for a few inches of snow but it appears this is not going to happen. We have food, fuel in the vehicles, and plenty of thick comforters. I’m sure my friends in eastern North America are shaking their heads at my disappointment, and probably wishing some of the snow and cold they’ve had would instead be hitting the west coast!

73 to all and remember to touch a radio every day.

https://www.qrz.com/db/KJ7T