by Thomas (K4SWL) Yesterday–December 29, 2025–I had a few errands to run in town. The plan was simple: make my appointments, grab groceries, and head straight home. I had projects waiting for me there, including organizing firewood before the winds picked up and the temperatures dropped any further. Then, unexpectedly, my 3:00 PM meeting was […]
Month: December 2025
Year-End Wrap-Up: DX Engineering Added New & Established Manufacturers to Its Lineup in 2025
Plus, DX Engineering formed exclusive distribution agreements with leading providers and expanded its own lineup of branded equipment. *** It has been a busy year at DX Engineering! In celebration of the company’s 25th anniversary, DX Engineering built on its legacy of carrying the world’s best products by adding a range of manufacturers to its […]
It’s All in the Cards! QSL Cards from Lakshadweep
OnAllBands’ final QSL card post of 2025 takes us roughly 8,000 miles from DX Engineering headquarters in Tallmadge, Ohio, to Lakshadweep—an archipelago of 36 islands between the Arabian Sea and the Laccadive Sea off the Malabar Coast near Kerala, India. Its name means “one hundred thousand islands” in Malayalam. You’ll have an excellent chance to […]
Quickie Activation: Nine Minutes of Radio Therapy at the NC Transportation Museum
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, December 1, 2025, I managed to squeeze in a last-minute, impromptu–and very speedy–activation of the North Carolina Transportation Museum State Historic Site. It was a short activation, but one that perfectly demonstrates why I value having a radio as compact, self-contained, and quick to deploy as the Elecraft KH1. This […]
KD9ZAB: QRP POTA and SOTA From the Top of Missouri
by Adam (KD9ZAB) Last Saturday (December 20, 2025) was one of those activations that remind you why QRP is addictive. I activated US-1788 for Parks on the Air and W0M/SF-001 for Summits on the Air from Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, running my Elecraft KX2 at 10 watts QRP into a very compromised AX2 antenna. No tower. […]
Youth Ham Radio Insights: Getting Started on a Budget
Amateur radio isn’t the easiest hobby for young people to pursue for a multitude of reasons, including the support needed to get one’s footing in the hobby. One of the most challenging factors for youth wishing to get involved with amateur radio is the financial investment. However, this challenge can definitely be overcome. If you […]
Christmas Day QRP in the Dark (and Cold)
by Vince (VE6LK) As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! ? I’m so incredibly blessed to live where I do. Not everybody can just jump into their vehicle and be in Banff, Alberta, 2 hours later. But that’s what we did for a […]
What QRP Has Taught Me About Slowing Down
by Thomas (K4SWL) It’s Christmas Eve as I write this, sipping my first cup of morning coffee, the house is still quiet, and I’ve had a few thoughts on my mind that I’d like to explore–if you’ll indulge me for a moment. One of the things I love most about QRP is how naturally it […]
Insights from My Ham Radio Journey: There’s No Fooling Physics When You’re Choosing Antennas
For years I was in search of the “perfect antenna.” I wanted one antenna so I could work the most remote DX as well as nearby county nets. Knowing the theory and all, I knew how foolish this was, but every time a “new antenna on the block” came along, I was convinced this was […]
Ending Our POTA Rove on the Right Foot: South Mountain State Park with Scott VA3EKR
While Scott (VA3EKR) was visiting western North Carolina, we decided that Monday, November 17, 2025, would be devoted entirely to a three‑park POTA rove. Our first stop was Lake James State Park (you can read that field report here). From there we moved on to the Table Rock Fish Hatchery (field report here). The final–and […]