Connecting an international community through low-power field radio adventures.
by Conrad Trautmann (N2YCH) I have a QRP story for you about mesh transceivers using 1 watt or less in the 33-centimeter band. That’s a UHF frequency of 900 MHz, from 902 to 928 MHz. It’s the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band and is also able to be used by amateurs as a secondary … Continue reading Building an Off-Grid Meshcore Network, One Node at a Time →
by Tim (W8TMI) When it comes to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I am what you might call a frequent flyer. Though my method of entry is usually the Mackinac Bridge (pronounced Mackinaw). This time our final destination was a bit further than Michigan’s borders; our endpoint was Knife River, Minnesota, with a stop on the way … Continue reading W8TMI: QRP Along the North Shore of Lake Superior →
by Thomas (K4SWL) This is a little different from my usual videos: I made a basic Elecraft KX2 setup and orientation video. It’s a 22-minute, no-frills introduction to the KX2 covering some of the most basic things a new owner might want to know when getting started, including the user interface, basic functions, direct frequency … Continue reading A Basic Elecraft KX2 Setup & Orientation Video →
by Mark (KB2PIZ) My work took me to Saint Louis for 5 nights, and our hotel was right next to the airport. Looking at the POTA map, I saw the Saint Stanislaus State Conservation Area (US-10954) was only 8 minutes away! My flight would land at 1530 local, and I planned to collect my bag, … Continue reading The Battle of the Bands: Activation of Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area US-10954 →
by Jock Elliott (KB2GOM) Nearly 40 years ago, I passed my five-words-a-minute code test and written exam given by a local ham club and received my Novice license. I worked the world on 10-meter single-sideband. A few years later, I gave up on my threat to become the world’s oldest living novice and upgraded to … Continue reading Book Review: VHF, Summits, and More – Having Fun with Ham Radio by…
by Thomas (K4SWL) Tuesday, June 30th, 2026, was a very special day during our trip to the UK. Before leaving for the UK, I’d been in touch with several people I hoped to meet during our travels. Since we were staying in the southeasternmost reaches of Scotland and the northeastern part of England, I wasn’t … Continue reading Meeting Friends on the Summit: A Special SOTA Activation at North Berwick…
by Thomas (K4SWL) When I meet a newly minted amateur radio operator, I often start by telling them, “You couldn’t be entering our community at a better time!” And I really mean that. We have incredible support communities, both in person and online. Amateur radio has become far more accessible than it once was. And … Continue reading Amateur Radio Has Never Been More Affordable — So Why Do Some…
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, June 29, 2026, my family and I decided to spend the afternoon out on the coast. One of our favorite things to do whenever we’re near the sea is hunt for fossils. Back home on North Carolina’s coast, one of my daughters especially loves searching for seashells. But here along … Continue reading Hunting Fossils and POTA Contacts on Cocklawburn Beach in Beautiful…
By Scott Nacey (KK6IK) JULY 2026 Recently I’ve heard people asking what they can do with an Elecraft KH1 when traveling. Is it too small? Does the 45-inch whip really work? Maybe the KX2 is a better radio to bring? I asked the same questions as I prepared for my annual summer visit to Rhode … Continue reading KK6IK: Summer Mornings, Iced Coffee & QRP →
by Mark KB2PIZ I have always wondered about how long I should stick with a given band/mode when activating a park. Should I keep calling CQ when things dry up, shift frequencies, or shift modes? What is the most efficient way to make contacts? One of my grandkids suggested I ask ChatGPT! That was a … Continue reading A Wet POTA Experiment: Hunting, Calling CQ, and Changing Modes →