by Randy (K7TQ) On October 30, 2026, I decided it was time for another SOTA activation. I had already activated Kamiak Butte, W7W/WE-022, the week before and posted a report here on QRPer.com. In that activation, I had handheld my KH1 with only the four-foot whip and 13-foot counterpoise as its antenna. That use was […]
Ham Radio Youth Insights—How to Prep for Your First Multi-Op Contest
With the 2026 CQ World Wide DX Contest SSB completed and the CQ WW DX Contest CW coming up soon (Nov. 28-29), I thought it might be helpful to discuss ways of preparing for a multi-op contest effort if you’ve never been part of one. I first participated in a multi-op contest in February 2024 […]
Tales from the Shack by Bob Locher, W9KNI: Pulling Coax Cables & Control Cables Through a Plastic Pipe
Legendary DXer and popular amateur radio author Bob Locher, W9KNI, took a break from his “Tales from a Serial Sniper” series on OnAllBands to write about the travails and triumphs of routing wires and cables. Valuable lessons for both new and experienced operators abound here. Enjoy! *** Wireless radio? The only hams for whom it […]
N2YCH: Ragged Mountain – A Dual SOTA/POTA Activation on the Metacomet Ridge
by Conrad Trautmann (N2YCH) October 26, 2026 Ragged Mountain, a peak in the Metacomet Ridge in Central Connecticut is SOTA W1/HH-003 of the Summits on the Air Hanging Hills region. Frank (W1FCS) and I decided to tackle the hike to the summit and activate it. This is the third of four summits in the Hanging […]
Video: Alan Adds and Amplified Speaker to the CFT1
Many thanks to Alan (W2AEW), who performed the half-upgrade kit on his CFT1, along with audio amplification: Click here to view on YouTube.
K4RLC & K4AAC: Ponies, POTA, and the Quest for the Elusive Mt. Rogers
by Bob Conder (K4RLC) When it became apparent that Alanna (K4AAC) and I could not make it back to our beloved Scottish Highlands this year, we chose a very close alternative: Grayson Highlands State Park (US-1300) in Southwest Virginia. They share a lot in common: the Scottish Highlands and Grayson Highlands have the same underlying […]
EI3LH: Beans on the Air, or, I Ate My CW Key.
Bean there, Keyed that. by Ian (EI3LH) I have a bit of a problem when it comes to operating portable. Time flies as I’m having so much fun that before I know it a couple of hours have passed and I’m starving hungry. If I keep going, at this rate I’ll be back to my […]
KV4AN: Attempted Activation of Three State Parks on O’ahu, Hawai’i – Part I
by Steven Krumm (KV4AN) A few weeks ago, I needed to make a quick trip to O’ahu, Hawai’i. While there, I attempted to activate three parks, but only made three QSOs at one park and none at the other two. I’d been thinking about taking a trip to O’ahu sometime next year (more about that […]
A Fourth Park and 18 New BKG Recruits: My Bug-Out QRP POTA Rove Finale
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, I set out from the mountains of North Carolina for Raleigh, where I was giving a presentation that evening to the North Carolina State University Amateur Radio Society. To break up the drive and make the trip a little more interesting, I decided to do a three-park […]
From Western Pennsylvania to Vatican City: My Unforgettable Experience Operating HV0A
Article written by Tim, N3DL. *** Every amateur radio operator has a bucket list. Maybe it’s working a rare DX entity, completing DXCC, or finally making that elusive contact after years of trying. For me, October 15, 2026, became a day I will never forget. During a trip to Italy with my wife, I had […]