You hear it again and again from amateur operators who have spent a lifetime trying to work the world: “All I need is Pratas Island!” “If San Felix would ever be on the air again, I could rest in peace.” “Will I ever get another chance to make contact with Scarborough Reef?” “North Korea? Well, […]
Month: May 2025
Cherry Blossoms, History, and POTA in Ritsurin Garden
by Mark (JJ5GVY/KB2PIZ) My wife and I visit Japan every year for 3 to 4 months, usually in the spring. This year, we arrived in early March, and the weather was a bit cold. However, recently, we’ve seen the temperature turn quite warm and mild, with the cherry blossoms just beginning to bloom! It’s a […]
The Yaesu FTX-1: Packages, Pricing, and Early Observations
As soon as reservations opened for the Yaesu FTX-1 via DX Engineering last year, I placed my order. Details were sparse at the time, but we understood this would be Yaesu’s modernized successor to the beloved FT-817 and FT-818—the iconic bullet-proof radios that served the community for over two decades. Indeed they still serve me […]
New Amateur Radio Product Overview: DX Engineering USB Isolator
Most of us think about antennas and radios when it comes to protecting our stations, but what about computers? They’ve also become an indispensable part of on-the-air operations, especially for digital modes and remote operation. What’s protecting your USB ports? The DX Engineering USB Isolator (DXE-ISO-USB) is designed to provide electrical isolation between a computer’s […]
From Box to POTA: First Activation with the New Elecraft AX3!
by Thomas (K4SWL) If you’ve been a QRPer.com reader or subscriber to my YouTube channel for long, you’ll know I’m quite the fan of super-compact, low-profile antennas like the Elecraft AX1 and AX2. In fact, I just checked, and my Elecraft AX1 activation video playlist alone includes 36 videos as of this post. Although AX […]
Register for Contest University 2025 Today—Only a Couple of Days Left!
If you haven’t signed up for the 2025 edition of Contest University (CTU), there’s still a chance to participate in a day of learning that will leave you with valuable insights to improve your station and on-air skills. Registration is open through May 2 (if space is available at that time), so click here and […]
Conrad Tests the Elecraft AX3 at Silver Sands State Park
Elecraft AX3 Field Report By: Conrad Trautmann (N2YCH) My new Elecraft AX3 antenna arrived in the mail. The weather when it arrived was 73° F and sunny with a slight breeze. Space weather was calm. It seemed like the perfect recipe for a POTA expedition to the unofficial antenna testing range at Silver Sands State […]