by Dave (KN2M) Knowing that proximity to salt water offers great advantages to communications via the Brewster Angle, I looked for a simple way to operate my KX3 on the beach during a recent vacation trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. My antenna choice was the W9SAB EFHW antenna 3 wire section 10-80m choice found on […]
Month: August 2025
Two for Two x 2-fer
by Brian (K3ES) Steve – KE3Z and Brian – K3ES have very similar, but not identical, operating styles. We both focus on low power CW mode operations. Brian mostly uses wire antennas, and Steve has great success with verticals. We have had some great POTA adventures over the last year, especially after Steve transitioned from […]
Watch a Three-State POTA Rove Using the Versatile REZ Scout Antenna System (Video)
Want to know why you should seriously consider adding a portable antenna system from REZ to your arsenal for Parks on the Air® (POTA) activations? Because it was the POTA program—and the pursuit of finding easy-to-deploy and high-performance antenna solutions for activating parks—that inspired Mike Giannaccio, W5REZ, to establish REZ Antenna Systems, whose lineup of […]
Ham Radio Portable Insights: Customizing N3FJP’s AC Log for POTA
Hello again! I’d like to share some tips and tricks I’ve found for customizing AC Log. Most are in the instructions for the software, but some aren’t—some I’ve found by experience (and a bit of dumb luck). AC Log (Amateur Contact Log) is a general-purpose logging program written by Scott, N3FJP. It isn’t a contest […]
First-time bicycle backcountry activation
by Vince (VE6LK) As always there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! ? Dear Readers, What happens when one neuron releases neurotransmitter molecules into the small space between it and another neuron, and three of your outdoor passions collide? An idea is formed! And so […]
Ham Radio Product Spotlight Video: Chelegance KC4 4-Band Vertical Ham Radio Antenna
Operators around the world are discovering smartly designed and proven antennas from Chelegance. DX Engineering is pleased to carry a great selection of models for both portable and base station operation. Before we get to today’s spotlight antenna video on the KC4 4-Band Vertical, here are links to a few other Chelegance antennas sold through […]
Spearfishing a Parks On The Air ATNO
by Matt (W6CSN) Locating references to activate for credit in your POTA stats becomes a challenge when you’ve logged all the easy ones close to home. And finding a POTA All-Time-New-One (ATNO) that has never been activated by anybody is nearly impossible in a populous state such as California. Such is the story of Corte […]
YOTA Junior Camp Focuses on Getting Even Younger Operators Excited About Amateur Radio
The inaugural Youth on the Air (YOTA) Junior Camp took place July 25-27 at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester, Ohio, just outside of Cincinnati. The camp was closely modeled after the annual YOTA Camp held in the U.S and Canada. The goal of the camp was to connect young […]
Mast Thingy: an alternative to an arborist throw line and bag
by Vince (VE6LK) Hello dear readers of QRPer.com, Some time ago I realized that I can’t throw an arborist bag worth a damn to hoist an antenna into a tree. And ever since then, I’ve used the tip of my mast to gently place my wire antenna over a tree branch. And at the tip […]
One Radio for Travels in Scotland and Iceland: What Would You Choose?
Reader Challenge: You’re about to embark on a tour of some Scottish Islands and Iceland—two bucket-list destinations for portable ops. Your luggage space–in your group tour–is so limited that you can only bring one small radio and a compact antenna for a few POTA activations. Which radio and antenna do you choose, and why? A […]