# first grid — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover first grid. Page: Feed: --- ## [The Very Last New Commercial AM Radio Station in the USA: Here’s What We Should Do Next. COMMENTARY.](https://offgridham.com/2026/08/the-very-last-new-commercial-am-radio/) _2026-08-09 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ We know where AM going. But what comes next? Anyone who even vaguely follows radio-related news knows that commercial AM radio broadcasting is in its twilight. If it seems every month another AM station goes dark, it’s not all in your head. From 2023 through 2025, the number of licensed... Read more The post The Very Last New Commercial AM Radio Station in the USA: Here’s What We Should Do Next.… ## [Move Meshtastic Up On Your List.](https://offgridham.com/2026/07/meshtastic/) _2026-07-20 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ The worst kept secret in communications. Radio amateurs focused on emergency and survival communications depend heavily on traditional ham radio modes. There’s a good reason for that…they work! But every mode has shortcomings that can be amplified during urgent need. Other electronic communication systems outside the realm of amateur radio... Read more The post Move Meshtastic Up On Your List.… ## [When Off Grid Goes Off Line](https://offgridham.com/2026/06/backup/) _2026-06-25 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ We’re all in the same sea, but not the same boat. I think it’s safe to assume everyone who reads this blog has some sort of off grid power capability. It might be an elaborate photovoltaic system, wind installation, a gas generator, or maybe just a battery operated handheld radio.... Read more The post When Off Grid Goes Off Line appeared first on Off Grid Ham . ## [The End of POTS is Nigh. An Amateur’s Professional Perspective: COMMENTARY.](https://offgridham.com/2026/05/pots-an-amateurs-professional-perspective/) _2026-05-22 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ A generational split. There’s good chance those under the age of 50 live in a home without a traditional, hard-wired dial up phone. If you’re under the age of 40 you probably never, not once in your life, called through an operator, dialed 411, or used a payphone. Do you... Read more The post The End of POTS is Nigh. An Amateur’s Professional Perspective: COMMENTARY. appeared first on Off Grid Ham… ## [NVIS is an Overlooked Jewel.](https://offgridham.com/2026/04/nvis-is-an-overlooked-jewel/) _2026-04-28 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ Yes, it’s cool. But then what? Chasing DX is exciting! Who can’t relate to the thrill of the hunt; the sense of accomplishment when you crack a pile up and add that exotic land to your trophy case? And of course, the bragging rights. But let’s be honest: In the... Read more The post NVIS is an Overlooked Jewel. appeared first on Off Grid Ham . ## [Handheld Transceivers: A Generational Curse.](https://offgridham.com/2026/03/handheld-transceivers/) _2026-03-26 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ As common as air. Handheld transceivers, or HT, is ubiquitous in amateur radio. For many hams, it’s their first radio. For others, they may operate only one “main” base or mobile radio but have several handhelds. And for some hams, perhaps a lot of them, it’s the only radio they... Read more The post Handheld Transceivers: A Generational Curse. appeared first on Off Grid Ham . ## [Knowing Your Radio Neighborhood.](https://offgridham.com/2026/02/your-radio-neighborhood/) _2026-02-26 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ Expand your band. One of the habits many off grid hams fall into is they operate in a silo, meaning, they hang out only on the ham bands, often the same one or two bands, and barely know what’s going on beyond that. It’s not by default a bad habit.... Read more The post Knowing Your Radio Neighborhood. appeared first on Off Grid Ham . ## [Framing Square Trick](http://inthewilderness.net/2026/02/20/framing-square-trick/) _2026-02-20 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ For those who like having walls with pictures and doo dads hung up in various places, it can be daunting to precisely hang items around windows. But we can use a framing square and the window as the reference point Continue reading The post Framing Square Trick appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness . ## [What’s That Burning Smell?](http://inthewilderness.net/2026/02/16/whats-that-burning-smell/) _2026-02-16 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ As many of you know, we’ve been off grid for roughly 46 years now. Seems like yesterday that we were jumping up and down when we put 2 amps of solar charging back into our car battery which was our Continue reading The post What s That Burning Smell? appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness . ## [Nova Scotia Grown Sweet Potatoes? Really??](http://inthewilderness.net/2026/02/10/nova-scotia-grown-sweet-potatoes-really/) _2026-02-10 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ We love sweet potatoes, but because we’ve always homesteaded in northern latitudes, we’ve never made growing them a priority. Sweet potatoes need a long (100 to 150 days), hot growing season. For those reasons they are a challenge for northern Continue reading The post Nova Scotia Grown Sweet Potatoes? Really?? appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness . ## [Real SIMs for AI Agents (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/3eMszMfwHabz) _2026-02-10 · **Sponsored**_ Pass 2FA and verifications with real carrier numbers via our API. ## [Buying A Used Radio: How To Avoid Getting Stuck With A Dud.](https://offgridham.com/2026/01/buying-used-radios/) _2026-01-27 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ Removing a barrier to entry. As it has been for, well, forever, used ham radio equipment is still a major gateway into the hobby. Many beginners, and even some old hands, have limited budgets. Or maybe an operator wants to try a new mode or band without risking a lot... Read more The post Buying A Used Radio: How To Avoid Getting Stuck With A Dud. appeared first on Off Grid Ham . ## [The Secret Life of Multimeters.](https://offgridham.com/2025/12/the-secret-life-of-multimeters-2/) _2025-12-26 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ Special note: I’m taking time off to spend Christmas with friends and family. Please enjoy this personal favorite Off Grid Ham article from November 15, 2020. May God richly bless you in the new year! As basic as it gets. If you do not own at least one good multimeter,... Read more The post The Secret Life of Multimeters. appeared first on Off Grid Ham . ## [If You’ve Never Done This Before, Click Here.](https://offgridham.com/2025/11/off-grid/) _2025-11-25 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ A buffet of options. Amateur radio has a low barrier to entry, but once in the door the learning curve is fairly steep. This may originate from the wide breadth and depth of the hobby. There are so many subspecialties, it’s impossible for any one person to truly know everything.... Read more The post If You’ve Never Done This Before, Click Here. appeared first on Off Grid Ham . ## [Why Hams Should Care About The Decline of Broadcast Radio.](https://offgridham.com/2025/10/decline-of-broadcast-radio/) _2025-10-28 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ It’s not all about us. As an avocation that is all about communication, amateur radio cannot be effective if it exists in a vacuum. We chatter and exchange information amongst ourselves quite effectively. But what about “everything else”? How and where do we get information outside of our observable environment?... Read more The post Why Hams Should Care About The Decline of Broadcast Radio.… ## [Your Off Grid Backup Radio Might Already Be In Your Basement.](https://offgridham.com/2025/09/off-grid-backup-radio/) _2025-09-24 · Chris Warren · Off Grid Ham_ Two benefits for the price of one. Radio amateurs who operate off grid already know that their pastime has a secondary benefit of being very valuable in times of disaster. In some cases it’s the other way around. Many people get involved with amateur radio primarily for its usefulness during... Read more The post Your Off Grid Backup Radio Might Already Be In Your Basement. appeared first on Off… ## [Something We All Need – More Thyme](http://inthewilderness.net/2025/06/20/something-we-all-need-more-thyme/) _2025-06-20 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ As far as we’re concerned, something we all need is more thyme. In other words the more thyme the better. There’s no such thing as too much. Thyme is a perennial herb that deserves a place in any herb garden. Continue reading The post Something We All Need More Thyme appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness . ## [Preparedness – Keeping the Family Clothed](http://inthewilderness.net/2025/03/27/preparedness-keeping-the-family-clothed/) _2025-03-27 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ An often overlooked area of preparedness and self-reliance is garment making and repair, otherwise known as sewing and mending. One of a human beings most basic need is clothing. So as part of preparedness, keeping the family clothed shouldn’t be Continue reading The post Preparedness Keeping the Family Clothed appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness . ## [Plant a Victory Garden in 2025](http://inthewilderness.net/2025/01/20/plant-a-victory-garden-in-2025/) _2025-01-20 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ Plant a Victory garden? What the heck does that mean? Join me as we explore what planting a Victory garden in 2025 would be all about. Victory Gardens During the First and Second World Wars, civilians in all of North Continue reading The post Plant a Victory Garden in 2025 appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness . ## [Is A Garden Worth Growing?](http://inthewilderness.net/2024/12/06/is-a-garden-worth-growing/) _2024-12-06 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ Is a garden worth growing? What a great question. When you factor in all expenses including your time, many wonder if a garden is worth it. Do I get enough return for my investment of time and labor? Does raising Continue reading The post Is A Garden Worth Growing? appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness . ## [Licensed Dispensaries, Pay with Crypto (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/3tVqnBNq1WPr) _2024-12-06 · **Sponsored**_ Search verified licensed dispensaries and pay with Bitcoin, Lightning, or stablecoins. ## [Canning with Superb Canning Lids](http://inthewilderness.net/2024/11/07/canning-with-superb-canning-lids/) _2024-11-07 · Ron & Johanna Melchiore · Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness_ We sure have done a lot of canning over the last 44 years and that doesn’t include the many years Johanna canned with her Mom and Dad as a young lady. Truth be told, all canning is now done by Continue reading The post Canning with Superb Canning Lids appeared first on Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness .