Tag: rag chew

Last Sunday, my family set out on a trip across North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast. Our destination was Beaufort, a charming coastal town I hadn’t visited in 17 years. This quick pre-Christmas getaway was a surprise for my daughters—and for Hazel, our dog, who loves adventure just as much as we do. … Continue reading Cape Lookout Activation: A Family Adventure and Saltwater Experiment →

A Triple-State POTA activation! by Bryce Bookwalter (KD9YEY) and Joe Ladwig (W9NVY) It’s finally winter here in Southern Indiana, which, for many, brings a time of cozy indoor activities and quiet radio time in the comfort of a warm shack. For Joe and me, however, this means it’s winter POTA time! I have always preferred … Continue reading Bryce and Joe’s Triple-State POTA Activation →

I finally got to try something I’ve always dreamed of: proper QRP saltwater ground-planing! This week, we’ve been in Beaufort, North Carolina—a charming coastal town that I can’t recommend enough. As I mentioned in a post last week, I brought along my Elecraft KX2 and KH1 for the trip. On Tuesday, we hopped on a … Continue reading Saltwater Activation: Always Wanted to Try This… →

If you don’t mind, indulge me in something that’s slightly off-topic. I’ve always loved maps—especially paper maps. Even in an age of GPS and sat nav, I still keep a North Carolina Gazetteer in my car. I love the detail, the elevation lines, and the fact that a Gazetteer doesn’t need a charge. So, while … Continue reading Similar ETA: Rediscovering Navigation Skills in the Age of GPS →

As I’ve mentioned countless times, what I love most about the Elecraft KH1 is how it has become my EDC (Everyday Carry) radio. It’s the perfect companion for those impromptu activations I manage to squeeze into my daily routine. Take Thursday, December 5, 2024, for example. Around 3:00 PM, fresh from a physical therapy session … Continue reading Twofer: Impromptu Trail & Parkway Activation with the Elecraft KH1 →

It’s a question as old as time itself: “What radio should I take on vacation?” This month, we’re heading out for a short vacation, and while I think I’ve already answered this question for myself, it’s always fun to explore the possibilities a bit further. As you probably know, I’ve accumulated a fair number of … Continue reading The Eternal Question: Which Radio Should I Pack? →

Many thanks to David (K2WNW) and Pete Polanyk, who share this brilliant documentary from the BBC World Service: Morse code: Ready to transmit The Documentary Podcast At the world Morse Code championships in Tunisia, competitors must battle to be the fastest and most accurate at sending and receiving Morse code. https://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download/proto/https/vpid/p0k8y5rz.mp3

Activating on the Road:  Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System by Brian (K3ES) As I prepared my radio gear to do Parks on the Air (POTA) activations across the states of the American West (Six Weeks and 7300 Miles:  Activating on the Road), I knew that I would need to operate in a wide … Continue reading K3ES: Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System →

I’ve received eight messages from people who would like to give a special ham radio person—their spouse, partner, parent, child, or friend—a gift but don’t know what. I get these messages every year, and while I’m typically busy in December, I enjoy answering them because it means that I can take a gift decision in … Continue reading Affordable, Last-Minute Quality Gifts for the Field Radio Enthusiast in Your Life →

By Teri KO4WFP Last December, I set a goal of 60 new Parks on the Air (POTA) valid activations by the end of the 2024. When I sat down to calculate this goal last December, I figured one park a week was easily attainable. In fact, in my article about Jack Hill State Park, I … Continue reading The POTA Babe Reflects On Her Goal →