By Roger Quintana, NJ2RQ
There is plenty happening in amateur radio right now — and this week has a little bit of everything: a major WRTC scoring shake-up, fresh Kenwood mobile-radio activity, a new Yaesu FTX-1 firmware package, and several September operating events that are worth putting on your calendar.
WRTC 2026 Results Were Revised After Four Teams Were Disqualified
One of the biggest stories in competitive amateur radio this week came from the World Radiosport Team Championship. ARRL reported on September 3 that the official WRTC 2026 results were revised after four teams were disqualified following an investigation into rule violations involving station identification and fraudulent multiplier contacts.
The revised top three placed MB5O first, MB4G second, and MB1T third. Whether you are a serious contester or simply follow the sport, this is a significant story because WRTC is widely regarded as one of amateur radio’s premier operating competitions. The full details are available in the September 3 ARRL Letter.
Portable and competitive operating continue to drive interest across the amateur-radio community.Kenwood’s TM-D750 Is One of the Most Interesting New Mobiles to Watch
Kenwood’s new TM-D750 family is now appearing across the company’s official amateur-radio support pages. Kenwood lists the TM-D750 as a 144/430 MHz digital dual-band mobile with APRS, D-STAR, Bluetooth and microSD support. The company also released its MCP-D750 memory-control software and a new virtual COM-port driver in late August.
For U.S. hams, the important point is that official support infrastructure for the TM-D750A/E is now live, even though pricing and market availability can differ by country. This is a radio worth watching closely if you want a modern APRS/D-STAR mobile. See Kenwood’s official amateur software page for current support files.
Yaesu FTX-1 Firmware Gets a Fresh Update
Yaesu’s official FTX-1 series page lists a firmware update dated August 28, 2026. The package updates the DISPLAY, MAIN, DSP and optional power-amplifier firmware, and Yaesu says it adds support for ADMS-19 memory-editing software along with additional bug fixes.
FTX-1 owners should confirm their current firmware versions before updating and follow Yaesu’s update instructions carefully. The latest information is posted on Yaesu’s official FTX-1 series page.
September VHF Contest and New Jersey QSO Party Are Coming Up
The ARRL September VHF Contest runs September 12-14, 2026. Operators can use legal modes above 50 MHz, and ARRL notes that FM-only entrants may now count contacts on 902 MHz and 1.2 GHz in addition to the lower VHF/UHF bands.
For operators in New Jersey, the September 12-13 weekend is especially busy because the New Jersey QSO Party is also on the radiosport calendar. That makes next weekend a good opportunity to put both HF and VHF/UHF stations on the air, test antennas, and make some contacts from home or portable locations.
Contest details are available from the ARRL September VHF page.
Related on Luffy Ham Vault
What Should Hams Watch Next?
Three areas are worth following over the next several weeks: new mobile and portable radio availability, firmware and software releases, and the fall operating calendar. There are also active manufacturer promotions running through September on selected Yaesu and Icom amateur-radio products, so shoppers should compare current dealer pricing before buying.
At Luffy Ham Vault, the goal is to separate real news from rumor and focus on developments that actually matter to operators. If a new radio, firmware release, event or regulatory development is confirmed by an official source, we will highlight what changed and why it matters on the air.
Sources: ARRL, Kenwood, and Yaesu official websites. Information checked September 6, 2026.
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