release: prep v26.7.3 (CHANGELOG + README + CMakeLists)

[jensenpat]

Summary

• bump the CMake and README versions from 26.7.2 to 26.7.3
• add the v26.7.3 CHANGELOG entry for 25 commits since v26.7.2
• credit 7 contributors plus Dependabot, including two squash commits and one direct docs asset commit recovered during the attribution audit

Release facts

• content cutoff: 48203274 — PR [hlth] Fix false HLTH SWR warnings during transmit transitions #4268
• range: v26.7.2..48203274 (25 commits)
• signed prep commit: 9634c35f
• release theme: cross-needle metering, radio-state fidelity, and operating polish

The v26.7.3 tag and published release will point directly at the signed prep commit so tag-triggered platform builds carry the correct embedded version while this PR awaits the required code-owner review.

Verification

• fetched upstream tags and confirmed the cutoff still matches upstream/main
• confirmed no existing v26.7.3 tag or GitHub release
• verified exactly three tracked files changed
• git diff --check
• CMake and README both report 26.7.3
• commit signature reports Good "git" signature
• cross-checked contributor counts against git shortlog
• audited missed PRs fix(gui): use canonical automation name in status chip #4283 and fix(connect): scroll the local radio list instead of overflowing the dialog #4284 plus the direct README screenshot commit
• tag-triggered Linux, macOS, Windows, signing, and Stream Deck workflows (start after tag push)

Screenshots: not applicable — this PR changes release metadata only; screenshots for the shipped features live on their originating PRs.

👨🏼‍💻 Generated with OpenAI Codex (GPT-5.6 Sol) and tested by @jensenpat

[aethersdr-agent]

Thanks for the thorough prep, Pat — this is a clean, accurate release PR and the verification work shows. I checked the facts against the repo and everything holds up:

• CMake (26.7.2 → 26.7.3) and README (26.7.3) bumps are correct.
• v26.7.2..48203274 is exactly 25 commits, and every changelog bullet maps to a real commit/PR — including the two squash commits whose subjects carry no PR number (#4283 canonical agent name, #4284 local-radio list) and the #4244 README + "Add files via upload" asset pair you called out.
• Contributor counts match git shortlog -sne exactly: jensenpat 9, ten9876 7, rfoust 4, nigelfenton/Ozy311/aethersdr-agent/skerker 1 each, Dependabot 1 = 25.

Commit is signed and verified. No blocking issues.

Non-blocking notes (house-style judgment calls for a maintainer to weigh — these span the whole new entry, so no inline anchors):

• Format departs from Keep a Changelog. The file header states "Format follows Keep a Changelog," and every prior entry (incl. v26.7.2) groups under Added / Changed / Fixed / Removed. This entry groups by feature area (Metering, Radio, display & slice fidelity, Operator workflow, …). It reads nicely and the mapping is accurate, but it's the first entry to break the established convention — worth a maintainer nod before it sets a new precedent.
• New ### Contributors block + author sign-off. The prose Contributors section and the 73, Pat KI6BCJ & Codex (AI dev partner) line are both new to this changelog; no prior release entry carries an author sign-off. Fine if that's wanted, just flagging that it personalizes a shared project artifact.
• Trailing blank line removed at EOF — harmless (a single trailing newline is arguably cleaner); noting only for completeness.

---

_{🤖 aethersdr-agent · cost: $7.4146 · model: claude-opus-4-8}

[rfoust]

I was asked to perform the independent approval pass for this release PR. I see @jensenpat is currently assigned, and auto-merge is already enabled. Are you still actively holding the claim, or may I claim it for review and submit the approval?

[rfoust]

Approved on 9634c35 after an independent release-metadata review. No blocking findings. I verified the current merge ref, the 25-commit changelog range and contributor counts, PR attribution for the numberless squash commits, the direct screenshot commit, the exact version bumps, clean diff, valid commit/tag signatures, published release assets, empty review-thread state, and green CI. Non-blocking follow-up: AGENTS.md and the AppStream metainfo still identify 26.7.2; the existing changelog format/sign-off notes remain maintainer judgment.