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Biggest Story: Icom X-026 Concept — World Premiere at Hamvention 2026This is the talk of the ham radio world right now. Icom officially announced that **two new mobile transceivers codenamed "X-026"** are making their world debut at Hamvention 2026 (May 15–17, Xenia, Ohio). The new units will feature both digital and analog FM modes, a built-in GPS receiver, and APRS functionality. They appear to have a **detachable control panel design** and support multiple antenna inputs, suggesting they're designed primarily for mobile/vehicular use.
The community widely speculates the X-026 could be a long-awaited **successor to the IC-7100** — Icom's last all-mode mobile combining HF, VHF, and UHF in a compact chassis with a detachable head — which has been on the market for over ten years without a replacement.
One important note: the X-026 is officially described as a **"concept mock-up,"** not a product launch. Icom is signaling a direction and gathering market feedback. Numerous AI-generated images of the radio have been circulating on social media that have no connection to the actual product, so be cautious of those.
Full pricing and specs are expected to be revealed on the opening day of Hamvention — so check Icom's channels **this week** for the big reveal!
[Icom X-026 at GigaParts (request stock alert)](https://www.gigaparts.com/icom-x026-mobile-radio.html)##
Yaesu FTX-1 Series — Now Shipping, Firmware Updates UnderwayYaesu has released the **FTX-1 Series**, consisting of the **FTX-1 Field** and **FTX-1 Optima** — both HF/50/144/430 MHz all-mode SDR transceivers. The Field model operates up to **10 watts** for portable use, while the Optima runs up to **100 watts** for base station use.
The FTX-1 Series is positioned as the long-awaited spiritual successor to the beloved FT-817/818 line, combining portable flexibility with modern SDR technology. It supports all common analog modes (SSB, CW, AM, FM) plus digital C4FM, and features **true dual-band receive** for simultaneous reception of two C4FM signals. Accessories include external antenna tuners, Bluetooth modules, GPS for APRS, and a rugged field frame.
A significant **firmware update was released in March 2026**, addressing early bugs — including a reported 2-meter low-power issue — and improving overall stability. The March update was corrected and reissued just 3 days after the initial release, suggesting Yaesu is being responsive to community feedback.
[Yaesu FTX-1 Series info](https://www.yaesu.com/product-detail.as ... X-1+Series)##
Icom IC-7760 — High-End Base Station Now AvailableAnnounced at Tokyo Ham Fair 2024 and now in the market, the **IC-7760** is Icom's flagship HF base station featuring a 200W output, separate RF deck and control head design, dual displays (7-inch and 2.4-inch touchscreen), and dual independent receivers. It's generating strong reviews and is Icom's answer to the high-end contesting/DX market.
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TinyDX — FT8/FT4 via Smartphone (May 2026)A new gadget called the **TinyDX** was announced in May 2026 — a miniature ~1W FT8/FT4 transceiver designed to be **powered and operated via USB connection to a smartphone or tablet**, making digital HF operation ultra-portable.
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SteppIR Returns to the Market**SteppIR** — makers of popular electrically-tunable antennas — has announced a return to the amateur radio consumer market, with product availability returning through online sales. Great news for those who've been waiting on their antenna lineup.
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Watch This Week: Hamvention 2026 (May 15–17)Hamvention is happening **right now** in Xenia, Ohio and is expected to draw over 35,000 attendees. Beyond the Icom X-026 reveal, major manufacturers including Yaesu, Kenwood, Elecraft, and FlexRadio are all exhibiting. This is historically where the biggest new radio announcements happen — so keep an eye on ham radio news sites this week for breaking product news!