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 and updated with current information, offer valuable insights for both contesters new and old. *** Our first three columns focused mainly […]
Month: May 2025
En Route To Dayton: WD8RIF and I Activate Great Seal State Park near Chillicothe, Ohio
This field report picks up where we left off after my last post earlier this week at Lake Alma State Park (May 14, 2025). Eric and I planned to hit two parks en route to Dayton, Ohio. Lake Alma was a successful park number one. The next park we planned to activate—another new-to-me park—was Great […]
Hams Around the Globe Earn ATNOs with the Marshall Islands During the V73WW 2o25 DXpedition
Gear Provided by DX Engineering Helps Make It Possible The youth-oriented V73WW DXpedition team recorded more than 103,843 CW, SSB, and Digital QSOs (160-6M)—including 2,000-plus RTTY QSOs—during their February 11-25 operation from the Marshall Islands. The QSO total far exceeded the operators’ goals of 60,000. “A huge thank you to all the hams who have […]
Field Day Gear Part 4: Headsets & Headphones
There is a long list of amateur radio sayings that veteran operators often recite to new hams, but none is truer than this one: You can’t work ’em if you can’t hear ’em. It’s an adage that highlights the importance of having reliable, high-performance amateur radio audio equipment to log more QSOs, make weak-signal contacts […]
Check out the Red Oxx Maker Series videos
If you read QRPer regularly—or listen to the Ham Radio Workbench podcast—you probably know I’m a bit of a pack geek. Okay… that’s a gross understatement. I’m more of a quality-pack evangelist. For many operators, a pack or field bag is just a way to transport gear—an afterthought. But for me? It’s one of the […]
New Product Spotlight: Alpha Antenna HexTenna™ Deluxe Multiband Rigid Dipole and Vertical Antenna
Just one of many Alpha Antenna options now available at DX Engineering Ask an experienced amateur radio operator the value of a proven antenna and expect to hear wise advice from folks who know that no matter what transceiver you’re using, efficient and effective operating is heavily dependent on what you’ve invested in your Yagis, […]
QRP POTA: A Pre-Dayton Activation at Lake Alma State Park with WD8RIF!
On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, my good friend Eric (WD8RIF) and I started our drive from Athens to Dayton, Ohio. We left Eric’s QTH early that morning—not because it’s a long drive (it’s only about 2.5 hours)—but because we wanted to activate at least two new-to-me parks en route and still arrive early enough to […]
Mike’s 2025 Hamvention Photo Gallery
This year’s Hamvention was truly incredible. While I haven’t seen the official attendance figures, I can only assume it was highly attended based on my observations. Once again, my friend Mike (VE3MKX) captured a plethora of photos at Hamvention—both in the flea market and the indoor exhibit areas—and has generously shared them with us here. […]
A Strong Case for the (tr)uSDX: Jamie’s Perspective
Readers, there’s a bit of a backstory to this guest post by my friend Jamie (AA4K). During the W4SOTA campout in October 2023, Jamie showed me his favorite field radio: the (tr)uSDX. I’ve used the (tr)uSDX for a couple of activations, but I’ll be honest—I haven’t exactly shown it a lot of love. I’ve even […]
New MTR-3B V4 Manual Now Available on LNR Precision Website
If you own the popular MTR-3B V4 transceiver, you’ll be pleased to hear that a new and greatly improved manual is now available on the LNR Precision website. If you’ve recently picked up an MTR-3B V4—or if you’ve had one for a while and want clearer documentation—I highly recommend grabbing this updated guide. Click here […]