Coding and amateur radio

coding and amateur radio logo

With technology constantly evolving and becoming more integrated into our daily lives, coding and programming have also become increasingly valuable skills to have in amateur radio.

Contrary to popular belief, coding – or programming as it is often called – is not all about numbers and algorithms, it also involves creativity and problem-solving skills. Whether you want to try something new just for fun or find a way to use programming within your current amateur radio interests, we have something for you!

National Coding Week 2026 – activity suggestions

National Coding Week (NCW) takes place 14-20 September. For the last three years the RSGB has dedicated the whole of the month to amateur radio and coding activities. Here are some suggestions of activities you could try out this year – click on the activity name to open the worksheet!

  • Use the BBC Micro@bit to send Morse code on either a telegraph wire or wirelessly – Thanks to RSGB Maker Champion Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI, and his Python Pocket Morse activity last year, you will have learned Morse code and how to write code in Python. In this activity we see how the BBC micro:bit can be used to send Morse code on either a telegraph wire or wirelessly. The challenge is to see how far your transmissions will travel.

  • Ener-G use – Spark a little curiosity comparing increasing forces and energy use with this fun micro:bit activity. Using the radio function to send data between two micro:bits to visualise and record how increased force creates a higher pitched noise in the receiver. Take your devices out and test in different scenarios, an accelerating car, jumping on a trampoline, or kicking a ball.

  • Raspberry Pi Pico – This activity is short and simple, using the cheap Raspberry Pi Pico 2W. It is a demonstration of Pulse Width Modulation and uses just a couple of components, an LED and a resistor. It will give a better understanding of the concept of duty cycle. The programming uses the Arduino IDE rather than Python, leading to an introduction to the language of the Arduino. There are many further exciting applications of the Pico to amateur radio.

We’d love to hear how you get on! Please send your photos and a summary of your activity to ncw.coordinator@rsgb.org.uk by 30 September

National Coding Week 2025

The RSGB created two new activities for you to try. Both built on activities we shared in previous years, but you don’t have to have done those first.

  • Python Pocket Morse: take advantage of this low-cost opportunity to learn some Morse and programming together

  • LoRa high-altitude balloon activity: whether you’re a beginner or an experienced coder, this is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills and discover new ways to use them within amateur radio.

Further inspiration

Whether you want to try Raspberry Pico coding, or perhaps give networking with the BBC micro:bit a go, take a look at our previous years’ activities to get started – there are nine worksheets to choose from.

Read our December 2025 RadCom feature to find out how people got involved with National Coding Week 2025!