Radio Active

A compact starting point for checking conditions, listening online, planning a station, and finding operating resources. External links open in a new tab.

HF, VHF, and UHF operating tools

Current band conditions

HamQSL's live Solar-Terrestrial panel includes HF and VHF band conditions, solar data, MUF, and EME information. Conditions are predictions; listen and operate to confirm what the band is doing from your location.

Current HF and VHF solar-terrestrial conditions from HamQSL

Live panel provided by HamQSL / N0NBH.

U.S. amateur band plan

ARRL's allocation chart provides a single HF, VHF, and UHF reference. It is labeled April 2017 by the source; confirm current FCC rules and band-plan updates before operating.

Listen with Northern Utah WebSDR

Northern Utah WebSDR provides online receivers covering amateur bands from LF through HF and into 6 meters. It is useful for listening before calling CQ, checking propagation, or exploring a band without a local receiver.

Northern Utah WebSDR Open WebSDR1 receiver

More radio resources

OARC reference downloads

Reference material retained for convenient operating use. Confirm current rules and technical information before relying on it.

Operating and activity

APRS.fi — APRS tracking and station maps.
Contest Calendar — upcoming amateur-radio contests.
Parks on the Air (POTA) — portable operation from parks.
Summits on the Air (SOTA) — portable operation from summits.

Logging and call signs

ARRL Logbook of The World (LoTW) — electronic QSL confirmations and awards.
QRZ — amateur-radio call-sign lookup and logging services.
GMRS.app — GMRS and amateur-radio call-sign lookup.

Maps and operating references

IARU Regions map — worldwide amateur-radio regions.
ITU Zones and ARRL sections map — contest and award reference.

Station and path planning

SCADACore RF Line of Sight — terrain and path planning.
HeyWhatsThat — horizon and terrain visibility tools.
UISP Design Center — mapping and link-planning tools.
Solwise Elevation Tool — elevation profiles for wireless paths.

Rules and directories

myGMRS — an independently operated national GMRS repeater directory and community.
FCC GMRS rules, 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart E — federal GMRS operating and licensing rules.
FCC Amateur Radio rules, 47 CFR Part 97 — federal amateur-radio operating and licensing rules.