by Mark (JJ5GVY/KB2PIZ) My wife and I visit Japan every year for 3 to 4 months, usually in the spring. This year, we arrived in early March, and the weather was a bit cold. However, recently, we’ve seen the temperature turn quite warm and mild, with the cherry blossoms just beginning to bloom! It’s a […]
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The Yaesu FTX-1: Packages, Pricing, and Early Observations
As soon as reservations opened for the Yaesu FTX-1 via DX Engineering last year, I placed my order. Details were sparse at the time, but we understood this would be Yaesu’s modernized successor to the beloved FT-817 and FT-818—the iconic bullet-proof radios that served the community for over two decades. Indeed they still serve me […]
New Amateur Radio Product Overview: DX Engineering USB Isolator
Most of us think about antennas and radios when it comes to protecting our stations, but what about computers? They’ve also become an indispensable part of on-the-air operations, especially for digital modes and remote operation. What’s protecting your USB ports? The DX Engineering USB Isolator (DXE-ISO-USB) is designed to provide electrical isolation between a computer’s […]
From Box to POTA: First Activation with the New Elecraft AX3!
by Thomas (K4SWL) If you’ve been a QRPer.com reader or subscriber to my YouTube channel for long, you’ll know I’m quite the fan of super-compact, low-profile antennas like the Elecraft AX1 and AX2. In fact, I just checked, and my Elecraft AX1 activation video playlist alone includes 36 videos as of this post. Although AX […]
Register for Contest University 2025 Today—Only a Couple of Days Left!
If you haven’t signed up for the 2025 edition of Contest University (CTU), there’s still a chance to participate in a day of learning that will leave you with valuable insights to improve your station and on-air skills. Registration is open through May 2 (if space is available at that time), so click here and […]
Conrad Tests the Elecraft AX3 at Silver Sands State Park
Elecraft AX3 Field Report By: Conrad Trautmann (N2YCH) My new Elecraft AX3 antenna arrived in the mail. The weather when it arrived was 73° F and sunny with a slight breeze. Space weather was calm. It seemed like the perfect recipe for a POTA expedition to the unofficial antenna testing range at Silver Sands State […]
Youth Ham Radio Insights: How I Learned CW & What I Like About It
CW is quite a paradox among young amateur radio operators. On one hand, some hams find it to be their favorite mode and think it’s the best part of the hobby. On the other hand, some feel that it’s miserable and consider learning CW a complete waste of time. Like many aspects of the hobby […]
The Versatile EA4TX AS2X2 Antenna Switch: Two Radios and One Amp—No problem (Review)
The EA4TX 2×2 Antenna Switch (AS2X2) is basically a coax switch featuring two inputs and two outputs. The device boasts more than 60 dB of port isolation (82 dB on 40M; 69 dB on 10M) and can be used in a number of different ways, including switching two radios and two antennas, an amplifier, a […]
Three Generations of CW Ops: Battleship North Carolina Activation and a Family Legacy
by Micah (N4MJL) It’s not every day that I get the chance to do a POTA activation from the radio room of a battleship. But thanks to the Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Club, I was able to do a POTA activation of US-6831 from the radio room of (BB-55) USS North Carolina in Wilmington, NC. […]
It’s All in the Cards! QSL Cards from DXCC Entities on the Air in May 2025
Don’t Miss the Rare Activation of Prince Edward & Marion Islands Greetings DX chasers! The DXpedition calendar heats up in May with some superb opportunities to log ATNOs, fill bands, and add some interesting IOTA conquests thanks to activations of locations spanning the globe, from an ultra-rare operation from a small subantarctic volcanic island in […]