By Steven Krumm (KV4AN) “Glamping,” noun, describes a style of camping with amenities and resort-style services not usually associated with traditional camping. We recently went on a family “glamping” trip to Pickwick Landing State Park (US-2967) in middle Tennessee. Pickwick Landing State Park is located at Pickwick Dam along the Tennessee River in Hardin County, […]
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Mountain Topper MTR3B-V4 Firmware Update Adds Helpful New Features
Many thanks to Steve (KV4AN) who writes: LNR Precision has released an important firmware update to the MTR3B-V4 Mountain Topper. The attached article describes it. [Click here to download PDF.] I thought the readers of QRPer.com would like to know about it, as they are out doing SOTA and POTA activations and not hanging out […]
Ham Radio 101: Dummy Loads—Smart Idea
Several options available at DX Engineering, including the new DXE 1,500W 1-54 MHz Dry Dummy Load You may have heard the term “dummy load” before. While the name might give you an idea of what it does, dummy loads are a misnomer—they are real loads that absorb RF energy and dissipate it as heat. An […]
Pushing Through QRM: Low-Profile, Low-Impact POTA with the Elecraft AX3 and New Clamp Mount
I’ve mentioned my good buddy Mike (KE8PTX) in previous posts—he’s designed some very cool 3D-printed accessories for portable operators. Just a day before our family left on our multi-week trip to Québec, Mike sent me two brand-new mounts he designed for the Elecraft AX3 antenna: a strap mount (which I used in this activation) and […]
DX Engineering RT4500HD Heavy-Duty Azimuth Rotator Earns High Praise from QST Magazine
It took a couple of years for “QST” magazine to publish a review of DX Engineering’s RT4500HD Rotator. Here’s why: If you want to write an informative assessment of a piece of equipment’s durability and performance, especially one that’s designed to be a DXing workhorse, you put it through its paces in real-life operating conditions […]
Practice Copying Callsigns on the Go with DB4REB’s Free CW Quiz App
I recently received a message from Ralf (DB4REB / CN2REB) who’s been learning CW and activating parks with CW since mid-2024. He created a simple and clever tool to improve one of the trickier parts of CW activation: recognizing callsigns on the first pass. Here’s what Ralf shared: “Since 2025 I try practicing on a […]
A Week of Fun and Learning at YOTA Americas Camp 2025
The fifth annual Youth on the Air (YOTA) Americas Camp took place from June 15-20 just outside of Denver in Thornton, Colorado. There were nearly 35 campers representing a number of countries, including Argentina, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, and the U.S. As the working group and staff team all began to arrive on Saturday and […]
N4MJL: A Hungry Mother in the Grayson Highlands
by Micah (N4MJL) This spring I took delivery of my new teardrop-style trailer. Some of my earliest memories as a child are from the camping trips my parents took me and my siblings on. My wife and I love the outdoors, and we want to pass on that love of the outdoors to our daughter. […]
An Important Reminder to All Hams: Please Be Safe Out There During POTA Activations (Video)
One of the stark realities of being an amateur radio operator is that our beloved hobby can be dangerous. While we’re enjoying our time at our home stations and portable setups, it’s important to always take every precaution possible to reduce the risk of potential injury or death. Accidents happen, so be vigilant about your […]
Short on Time, Yet Loads of Fun: Gusty QRP POTA at Cap Tourmente!
On Sunday, June 22, we spent the day in Québec City enjoying a local farmer’s market, visiting a café, catching up with friends, and taking a long walk in the woods. Somehow, we managed to return to our condo in St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Québec, by 3:30 in the afternoon. My wife and daughters decided to spend some […]