By John Hartzell (W3HN) and Zach Hartzell (NI4K) Every other year, we host our family for Christmas in Pennsylvania, and 2025 was one of those years. Having three hams in the immediate family – W3HN, NI4K, and KB3EEY – leads to amateur radio often making an appearance, both in gifts and activities. Our 2025 Christmas […]
Month: January 2026
Tips for Young Hams on Making Your First Amateur Radio Contact
“You’ve just earned your Technician license! Now what?” It’s one of the most frequently asked questions in the amateur radio world. Fortunately, there are myriad answers to this question, from “Start studying for your General!” to “Learn CW!” and plenty of other options in between. When I got my Technician license, (technically speaking, when I […]
A Coastal Break and Field Kit Reality Check at Carolina Beach State Park
by Thomas (K4SWL) After my daughters finished their fall term at university, my wife and I picked them up and headed to the coast of North Carolina for a week together before the Christmas holiday season kicked into full gear. We all needed the break. Our plan was simple: slow down, spend time together, and […]
EI3LH’s “Frivolous CW Superproject”
Many thanks to Ian (EI3LH), who shares the following post, originally posted on his blog: My frivolous CW superproject (and how it nearly broke me). by Ian (EI3LH) During the Autumn of 2025, I acquired my first proper vintage transceiver, the much lauded Yaesu FT-290R. It was second-hand and while aesthetically in good shape, the […]
Ham Radio Youth Insights: Club Meetings Are Well Worth the Time; How to Make the Most of Them
There’s a wealth of information to be gained from the wisdom and experience of operators who attend. *** At first glance, a local amateur radio club meeting may not seem like the most exciting way to spend a free evening. You may hear club members discuss their radios, how their new antennas are working out, […]
New Product Spotlight: “DX Engineering Charts and Tech-Tips” Reference Book
If you appreciate the thoroughness of DX Engineering user manuals, you’ll want to add this new collection to your amateur radio library! One thing that has always made DX Engineering stand out is its technical manuals. Written by amateur operators with decades of experience, the manuals provide purchasers of DX Engineering branded equipment with clearly […]
Gear Talk: Choosing Earbuds and Audio Recorders
by Thomas (K4SWL) Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2026 is off to a great start for you. As is often the case, a recent field report sparked some excellent follow-up questions. Many thanks to Hamilton (KD0FNR) for the comment he left in response to my recent field report from the North Carolina Transportation Museum: […]