FCC Rules & Proposals
I found no new amateur-specific Part 97 final rule adopted during August 16–23. The last major amateur rule package remains FCC 25-60, which added the 5351.5–5366.5 kHz 60-meter allocation on a secondary basis, retained four legacy 60-meter channels, and updated coordination/contact provisions affecting portions of 420–450 MHz.
The FCC item I would watch most closely now is ET Docket 26-169 / FCC 26-51, adopted August 6 and released August 7. It proposes allowing satellite direct-to-device communications using 902–928 MHz, 2400–2483.5 MHz, and 5725–5850 MHz, generally under Part 15 technical limits of up to 4 W EIRP. (FCC Docs https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-26-51A1.pdf )
That matters to amateur radio because those frequencies overlap the 33-cm band, part of 13 cm, and part of 5 cm. The FCC document specifically acknowledges the existing amateur-satellite allocation at 5830–5850 MHz. This is only a proposal; it does not currently remove amateur spectrum or change Part 97 privileges. The issue is future spectrum sharing and potential interference if satellite D2D becomes widespread.
FCC Direct-to-Device NPRM https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-26-51A1.pdf
Equipment News
Kenwood TM-D750S / TM-D750 — the most significant fresh
radio launch
Kenwood officially launched the TM-D750S and TM-D750 in Japan on July 30, and they are now listed as new current-production models. The D750S is the 50-W version; the D750 is 20 W. (Kenwood https://www.kenwood.com/jp/com/)
What makes this radio interesting is the combination of APRS + D-STAR in one Kenwood mobile. It includes a built-in 1200/9600-baud KISS TNC, APRS digipeater and IGate capabilities, GNSS, Bluetooth, USB-C, microSD, VHF/UHF full-duplex, and a 3.45-in color display. A particularly useful feature is its visual scan waterfall, which records signal activity while scanning rather than merely displaying instantaneous signal strength. (Kenwood https://www.kenwood.com/jp/com/amateur/fm/products/tm-d750/ )
I have not verified an official Kenwood USA launch announcement or U.S. price, so I would not treat dealer-reported TM-D750A dates or pricing as confirmed yet.
Kenwood TM-D750 official product page https://www.kenwood.com/jp/com/amateur/fm/products/tm-d750/
Icom SM-J1
Icom announced the production SM-J1 desktop microphone on August 5, with availability planned for summer 2026. It uses two dynamic microphone elements, offers selectable unidirectional or omnidirectional patterns, suppresses breath/plosive effects, detaches from its stand for a standard 5/8-in boom mount, and is designed to work with selected Icom, Alinco, and JVC Kenwood radios. (ICOM Japan https://www.icomjapan.com/news/4675/)
Watch next weekend: Icom X-026
This could become the biggest equipment story in next week's digest. Icom has deliberately withheld the full specifications for its X-026 concept radio and says the official announcement will occur at Tokyo Ham Fair 2026. (ICOM Japan https://www.icomjapan.com/news/4661/)
Tokyo Ham Fair runs August 29–30 at Ariake GYM-EX in Tokyo, and this year's event also marks the 100th anniversary of JARL. (JARL https://www.jarl.org/English/4_Library/A-4-6_ham-fair/Ham… )
I will not repeat Internet speculation about the X-026's bands, power, architecture, or price until Icom publishes the specifications.
DX & Operating News
The ARRL National Convention / Huntsville Hamfest is happening this weekend, August 21–23, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. It includes major manufacturers, dealers, forums, indoor flea-market activity, licensing exams, ARRL exhibits, and the W1AW America250 Special Event Station. Today is the final day. (ARRL https://www.arrl.org/news/registration-is-open-for-the-20… )
For DX chasing, these are the operations I would put near the top of the list: Dates DX Callsign Bands / Modes Aug 21–27 Mauritius 3B8/SQ9UM 40–10 m; CW, FT8/FT4, possibly SSB Aug 24–31 St. Kitts & Nevis V47JA 160–6 m; SSB, FT8 Aug 25–27 Réunion FR/ZS6AJG 20/15 m, perhaps 10 m; SSB Aug 25–Oct 10 Namibia V51WH 160–6 m including 60 m Aug 28–30 Liechtenstein HB040A HF; SSB, FT8, FT4
(N5PA https://www.n5pa.com/ham.dx.php)
For U.S. stations, V47JA should be the easiest attractive target next week. 3B8/SQ9UM and V51WH are considerably more challenging and therefore more interesting DX catches.
Band Conditions — Last Week
Last week had two distinctly different halves.
On August 18, NOAA data showed solar flux around 125 and planetary A-index around 25, with G1 geomagnetic storm conditions occurring. By August 19 the geomagnetic field was still disturbed.
Then on August 20, an R2 Moderate radio blackout occurred. By August 21 conditions had improved substantially, with solar flux approximately 125–126, A-index falling to about 8–11, and Kp near 1–2. By August 22 NOAA's WWV data reported no space-weather storms during the preceding 24 hours and no storm expected during the next 24 hours. (Wy7emt Radio https://wy7emt.radio/space.php)
The practical HF picture at the end of the week was: Band Last-week assessment 80–40 m Fair daytime / good nighttime 30–20 m Good day and night 17–15 m Good early in the recovery, now closer to fair 12–10 m Fair daytime / poor nighttime 6 m Sporadic-E season is winding down; openings are increasingly hit-or-miss
Current late-Saturday data showed SFI ≈124, Kp around 1, and a quiet geomagnetic field. (Show Me Mesh https://mo-mesh.com/solar.php)
The standout remains 20 meters. It has been the most consistently useful worldwide DX band despite the week's geomagnetic disturbance.
Expected Conditions — August 24–30
The NOAA/SWPC 27-day outlook currently points toward a quieting geomagnetic environment next week. Its forecast calls for solar flux around 115 on August 24–25, declining toward approximately 110 from August 26–30, with maximum Kp generally around 2–3 and planetary A-index mostly 5–8. (Ham Weather https://ham-weather.com/hamweather/propagation.php)
NOAA's current short-term data also shows no geomagnetic storm expected immediately, although the probability of an R1–R2 solar radio blackout remains elevated because flares can occur with little warning. (Brugt Grej https://brugtgrej.dk/space-weather)
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center products https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products-and-data
Practical outlook
Band August 24–30 80 m Good late night; summer QRN remains the main problem 40 m Very dependable after dark 30 m Excellent reliability 20 m Best overall DX band 17 m Good, but may weaken as solar flux falls 15 m Fair to good during daylight 12 m Shorter openings; check when 15 m sounds strong 10 m Opportunistic rather than dependable 6 m Late-season Es possible, but frequency of openings is declining
With SFI expected to drift from roughly 120 toward 110, I would expect 20 m and 30 m to remain strongest, while 15/12/10 m become less reliable unless enhanced by favorable ionization or Sporadic-E. That interpretation matches current NOAA-fed propagation models, which already show 30–20 m outperforming the upper HF bands. (Show Me Mesh https://mo-mesh.com/solar.php)
Bottom Line
- FCC: No new Part 97 final rule found this week. FCC 26-51 deserves
attention because proposed satellite D2D operation overlaps several amateur microwave/UHF allocations.
- Equipment: Kenwood TM-D750 is the most interesting newly launched
radio; APRS, D-STAR, KISS TNC, full duplex, and waterfall scanning make it a serious successor-generation mobile. Icom X-026 is the big watch item for August 29–30.
- DX: Prioritize V47JA, 3B8/SQ9UM, and V51WH.
- Propagation: The disturbed first half of last week is behind us.
Conditions are quiet now, with approximately SFI 124 / Kp 1 Saturday night.
- Next week: Favor 20 m by day and 40 m after dark. Keep checking
17/15 m, but expect the higher bands to soften slightly as solar flux trends downward. 📡 (Show Me Mesh https://mo-mesh.com/solar.php)
ARRL August 17 Solar Update https://www.arrl.org/news/the-arrl-solar-update-42