If you’ve ever spent time tinkering with radios—whether ham, shortwave, CB, or even more exotic setups—you’ve probably heard about antenna matching devices. These gadgets, often referred to as antenna tuners (or more accurately, antenna coupling networks), play a crucial role in ensuring your radio and antenna work together in harmony. But what exactly do they […]
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K8MDB: An Ultra-Light POTA Kit Built Around a Classic Mountain Topper
By Chuck (K8MDB) What a great idea to explore field kits for fall! The October prompt had me digging through bins and drawers to locate all my small CW field radios and to weigh them for the first time. I was surprised by the results. My original 2012 two-band Mountain Topper from KD1JV came in […]
New Yaesu FTX-1 Transceivers at DX Engineering
What’s that buzz you hear? Don’t worry—it’s not emanating from your station. It’s the good kind of buzz—the sound of amateur operators talking about the latest transceivers from Yaesu. Visit DXEngineering.com to get your hands on the FTX-1 Series HF/50/144/430 MHz SDR All Mode Base/Portable Transceiver in “Field” and “Optima” models. Be sure to check […]
Bug-Out Month Begins! My First Field Activation with the Vibroplex Original Deluxe
As I mentioned in a previous post, I declared October, 2025 to be my Bug-Out Month. I did this primarily to motivate myself to get comfortable using a bug—a semi-automatic key—not just in the shack, but in the field as well. I was inspired by several things that happened over the past few months: my […]
Youth Ham Radio Insights: How Young Operators Can Get Involved in Contesting Season
The most wonderful time of the year for many hams is right around the corner—Contesting Season! It’s a great time for young operators who may be interested in trying out contesting for the first time. For those unfamiliar with the term “Contesting Season,” it refers to the few months most densely packed with major contests. […]
K4ZSR’s Penntek TR-45L Skinny Field Kit
Many thanks to Zach (K4ZSR), who shares the following article about his portable field radio kit, which will be featured on our Field Kit Gallery page. If you would like to share your field kit with the QRPer community, read this post. K4ZSR’s Penntek TR-45L Skinny Field Kit by Zach (K4ZSR) The Penntek TR-45L is my favorite […]
Act Now! Tell Your Lawmakers to Support the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
The federal legislation prevents HOAs from enacting restrictive antenna rules. Use the link in the article to send your letters of support. It’s quick, easy, and will make a difference. *** Don’t miss this important opportunity to let your representatives in Washington, D.C. know how homeowner’s association (HOA) antenna limitations negatively impact the vitality of […]
DX Engineering Sponsors October 2025 Youth-Focused PJ6Y Saba Island DXpedition (Videos)
Support the future of amateur radio and snag two never-before-activated POTA locations! DX Engineering provides critical equipment for the Saba Island activation. In partnership with Youth on the Air (YOTA), the PJ6Y activation of Saba Island October 17-28 will feature a multinational group of nine young operators, ages 16 to 28, representing five countries and […]
Hamilton and Scourge: One Last Activation in Ontario
As always there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! ? by Vince (VE6LK) It’s the final day of my brief trip to Southern Ontario and my bags are packed and ready to head to the airport. With a few hours to go before departure, what’s […]
Youth Ham Radio Insights—How Amateur Radio Clubs Can Help Young Operators
During my six years in amateur radio, I’ve been involved with numerous clubs and organizations, from small local groups to those with members worldwide. Each one I’ve been part of has helped me in innumerable ways—everything from learning CW to recruiting new young hams. These clubs have supported me with each and every one of […]