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Colin Thomas, G3PSM, SK
· IARU, News, Spectrum · Mats, SM6EAN

With great regret we announce the passing of Colin J. Thomas G3PSM

Colin has been attending and contributing to the IARU Region 1 Conferences representing RSGB since 1972.

He served as IARU Region 1 HF manager 2005 – 2008 and as Executive Committee member 2008 – 2014. As Chairman of the External Relations Committee Colin has played a leading role in the acquisition of additional bands including 136 kHz, 472 kHz, allocations at 5 MHz and the expansion of 7 MHz. He has also led the successful defence of our existing allocations at a time when they are under great pressure. 

In 2017 Colin was awarded the Roy Stevens G2BVN Memorial Award.

Hans, PB2T
(President IARU-R1 2008 – 2014)

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2026 IARU Reg.1 VHF+ Trophy
· VHF/UHF/SHF · Alex, IV3KKW

The final results for the 2026 IARU Reg.1 Trophy (4th edition) are available on the IARU R1 VHF Contest Robot pages.

A total number of 12.209 logs, from 145 MHz and above, have been evaluated in 2025, with an average of 1744 participantsfor each contest.

In the graph, you can see the number of participants for each band in all four editions of the VHF+ Trophy.

In the following table, you can see the number of logs received for each contest of the Trophy. For the March, May, and June Contests, we have the highest number of logs ever received; unfortunately, the 2025 October UHF & MW Contest has seen bad conditions, which resulted in a negative record of only 1486 participants.

Thanks to all the participants from all the IARU Region 1 countries, congratulations to all the section’s winners.

The official prizing ceremony will be in Friedrichshafen Hamradio Messein June on the Main Stage.

CategoryWinnerEligible ParticipantsTotal Participants
145 MHz — SOOM5AW2381863
145 MHz — MOOL7M57320
145 MHz — SOLPOK1NPF63581
145 MHz — MOLPT70A1070
145 MHz — 6HIQ4KD21457
435 MHz — SODL8NAS181826
435 MHz — MOOL3Z50161
435 MHz — SOLPIZ3QFG47220
435 MHz — MOLPOK1RDO539
435 MHz — 6HIZ3NOC13153
1.3 GHz — SOIK3GHY110577
1.3 GHz — MOOK2A36142
2.4 GHz — SOOE5VRL46174
2.4 GHz — MODK0NA2566
3.4 GHz — SOOE5VRL2369
3.4 GHz — MOOK2A1628
5.7 GHz — SOOE5VRL2585
5.7 GHz — MODK0NA1640
10 GHz — SOOE5VRL44178
10 GHz — MOIN3HOG2162
mmGroup — SODG2NES2281
mmGroup — MODK0NA831

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IARU Region 1 Clarification Regarding Recent Legal Proceedings in Belarus
· EC, News · Sylvain, F4GKR

Following reports regarding the prosecution of radio operators in Belarus, IARU Region 1 issues the following statement to clarify the distinction between amateur radio activities and individual legal compliance :

1. The Scope of Amateur RadioAmateur radio is a technical, educational, and service-oriented hobby defined internationally by the ITU and governed by national regulations. Its purpose is the self-training, intercommunication, and technical investigation carried out by amateurs — that is, duly authorised persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.

2. Accountability and the LawWhile the individuals involved in this case hold amateur radio licenses, our investigation indicates that the actions leading to their prosecution fall entirely outside the scope of the amateur radio service. An amateur radio license grants the privilege to experiment with technology and communicate within specific parameters; it does not grant immunity from national laws, nor does it authorise the use of radio equipment for activities that contravene the legal framework of a sovereign state.

3. Distinguishing the Hobby from the ActionWe believe the public narrative surrounding this case has been somewhat misplaced. The core issue is not the practice of amateur radio itself, but rather a failure to comply with specific national laws. It is vital to distinguish between the legitimate use of amateur frequencies and actions that are unrelated to the technical and social goals of our community.

4. Our PositionIARU Region 1 does not condone or support any actions by licensed operators that bypass legal requirements or violate the terms of their amateur license. We advocate for the protection of our spectrum and the rights of our members, but this advocacy is predicated on the “Amateur Code” — which dictates that an operator must be balanced, loyal, and law-abiding.

The amateur radio community is built on a foundation of international cooperation and respect for regulation. We urge our members to remember that the integrity of our hobby depends on our collective commitment to operating within the legal boundaries of our respective countries.

We will continue to monitor the situation, but we reiterate that the legal consequences faced by individuals for actions outside the scope of their license are a matter for the relevant judicial systems.

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