As always there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! Sometimes a portable excursion packs a lot into a short amount of time and this is one of those times. Accordingly this article is longer than most of mine so go grab your Aeropress or kettle […]
Operating Remotely with SmartSDR from FlexRadio
For hams who travel frequently, there are opportunities to operate while away from home. A few years ago, I spent nine days in the Pacific Northwest on a river cruise, including the Columbia and Snake Rivers. However, getting permission from a vessel’s captain to operate “marine mobile” can be a hassle, in addition to carrying […]
The Joy and Satisfaction of Ham Radio Homebrewing
I love sitting around with some seasoned hams listening to them talk about “back in my day.” It truly makes me realize how convenient the hobby is today. In the early decades nothing was plug and play. Everything had to be made, or “homebrewed.” Dedicated hams would scour the far corners of the earth to […]
100 Milliwatts and a Wire: QRPp POTA at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site!
On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, my wife and I were driving back from visiting our daughter in Greensboro, North Carolina, when we decided to swing by Fort Dobbs State Historic Site (US-6839) for a quick POTA activation. This was actually my second activation of the day. Earlier, I had activated Guilford Courthouse (click here to […]
Boomerang Radios: Anyone Else Have This Problem?
You’ve likely heard me talk about what I call “boomerang radios”-radios that have such an odd, undeniable appeal that I own one, sell it, then eventually buy it again. To me, this is perhaps the ultimate compliment for a radio. Quite often, I let a radio go because I’m funding the purchase of another one. […]
Ham Radio Holiday Gift Guide 2025 Part 3: Shortwave/Weather Radios, Emergency Lighting & More
DX Engineering Emergency Readiness Packages with GMRS/FRS radios make great gifts as well! *** For those hams and non-hams on your holiday “I’ve been good all year” list, today’s suggestions cover radios that deliver the gift of entertainment, information, and, most importantly, emergency readiness. Plus, we’ve included some other gifts for those who adhere to […]
Ham Radio Shortcuts to Avoid
Everyone has that one uncle. My wife’s family would all gather at her grandparents’ farm in the backwoods of Kentucky a few times a year. It was a four-to-five-hour drive for most of us. Her one uncle always had a shortcut. We would be traveling on our usual route, and he would turn off to […]
Ham Radio Contesting 101: The Big “Secret” of Contesting Success
Editor’s Note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in the National Contest Journal from 2008-2011 and updated with current information, offer valuable insights for both contesters new and old. Where to begin? Many of the […]
KK6IK: Fall Afternoons at Wilder Ranch State Park (US-1207)
By Scott Nacey (KK6IK) October 10, 2025 / November 9, 2025 It’s a little-known fact outside the San Francisco Bay Area, but fall is really our summer – don’t tell anyone. The weather is warm and sunny, perfect for hiking and being outdoors. Although we are blessed with many coastal parks near San Jose, Wilder […]
KD9ZAB’s Quick QRP Escape: POTA at Fults Hill Prairie State Nature Preserve (US-4124)
by Adam (KD9ZAB) Sometimes radio isn’t just about the contacts — it’s about the excuse it gives us to put life on pause, breathe some fresh air, and disappear into nature for a bit. Friday, November 14, 2025, was one of those days. I slipped away from work for about two hours and headed to […]