by Thomas (K4SWL) On Thursday, January 15, 2026, I finally set aside time to activate a park that had been on my bucket list for a very long time: the North Carolina State Capitol State Historic Site (US-6852). Living in North Carolina, this one has always felt like a must-do activation. After all, it’s the […]
KB2PIZ: Pairing the SGC 2020 and CHA LEFS 4010 at Fort Boggy State Park
by Mark (KB2PIZ) After the snowstorm on the 26th of January, my work took me up the road to College Station, Texas and then to Dallas, Texas for one day. Looking at the map, I saw that if I headed west from College Station, I would pick up Route 45 and head north to Dallas. […]
25 Things Every Ham Radio Operator Says at Least Once
Whether you’re a brand-new Technician or a grizzled Extra with soldering-iron battle scars, every ham eventually utters the same phrases. Some are hopeful. Some are delusional. All are universally understood. Here are 25 of the greatest hits—not necessarily in order. *** 25 Things Every Ham Radio Operator Says at Least Once *** 1. “I’ll just […]
Guide to February 2026 Ham Radio Contests—Valentine’s Day Gifts & Fractured Poetry Edition
Greetings, lovers of amateur radio! February’s OnAllBands contesting guide features a few of our favorite on-air competitions for the month along with something extra: amateur radio gift ideas for Valentine’s Day and a bit of holiday poetry in the vein of William Shakespeare, who famously wrote these words (or something like them) for Hamlet’s most […]
Two Marks POTA at W. Goodrich Jones State Park!
by Mark (KB2PIZ) Every year, when I go to Houston for a conference, I manage to squeeze in an amazing eyeball QSO with Mark Tyler (K5GQ). Mark is my CWOPS Instructor and mentor, instrumental in bringing my CW skills up to speed. We had originally planned to meet on Sunday, but a major blizzard was […]
Ham Radio Contesting 101: Using Call Sign & Exchange Databases
A thread on the CQ-Contest reflector discussed the use of databases to “suggest” call signs or exchange elements during a contest. Most contesting software provides one or more functions which allow the use of such databases. First, I will explain what these databases are and how they might be used. Then I will consider whether […]
10 New Products at DX Engineering for February 2026
Introducing Shadow Circuits Utility Gear & Pouches…and many more station-enhancing products! *** OnAllBands is pleased to once again present a bevy of amateur radio products that have been added to the more than 30,000 items available at DX Engineering. Today’s post highlights the diversity of ways you can update your capabilities, from wire antenna launchers […]
Heavy 40 Meter Morning Pileups from a Quiet North Carolina State Forest
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Wednesday morning, January 14, I decided to squeeze in another Parks on the Air activation while spending a few days in the Raleigh area of North Carolina. This time, I set my sights on Clemmons Educational State Forest (US-4853), which is about a 25-minute drive from where we usually stay when […]
Ham Radio Youth Insights: Using Your Cell Phone in Amateur Radio
Many young people seem to be under the impression that amateur radio is in some way a replacement for a cell phone, or at least that’s how they believe amateur radio operators use it. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, amateur radio can be a “when all else fails” method of […]
Alan’s Elecraft KX2 Field Kit in a Hidden Woodsmen Haversack
My friend Alan (W2AEW) has just posted a video of his new Elecraft KX2 field kit built into a Hidden Woodsmen Haversack M55: Click here to view on YouTube. I love your field kit, Alan! I especially appreciate the number of antenna options you’ve managed to pack into what is still a very compact setup. It’s […]