Tag: rag chew

Many thanks to Bob (K4RLC) who shares the following guest post: Contesting – QRP CW and POTA Style – December 2024 by Bob (K4RLC) In December, I did the ARRL 10 Meter Contest from Jordan Lake State Recreation Area US-3844, near Apex, North Carolina. This contest is not as competitive as some of the classics … Continue reading Camping, Contesting, and Coffee: Bob’s 10 Meter QRP Weekend →

Good Morning! It’s January 1st, 2025, and I’d like to wish you a very Happy New Year! I mentioned on Patreon yesterday that, in a sense, I’m happy to see 2024 in the rear-view mirror. Frankly, it was a tough year for our family in many ways, but even amidst the challenges, there were moments … Continue reading Happy New Year! A Fresh Start and Update on 2024 Correspondence →

Two weeks ago, my family and I enjoyed a short vacation in lovely Beaufort, NC. Although POTA wasn’t the focus of this trip—family time was—I managed to squeeze in two wonderful portable activations. The first was a pedestrian mobile activation on Cape Lookout National Seashore. It was simply magical. I’ve always wanted to try a … Continue reading Coastal QRP: Chasing High-Bands with the Elecraft KX2 and AX1 at Fort Macon State Park →

By Teri KO4WFP As I finish 2024, it is time to look forward to and set ham radio goals for 2025. Why even set goals? We all need challenges not only to maintain our skills but also progress with them. Challenges motivate us, “gamifying” our pursuits. Also, they are fun, the ultimate goal with ham … Continue reading The POTA Babe Looks Ahead to 2025 →

If you’ve been listening to the Ham Radio Workbench podcast, you might have heard Vince (VE6LK) mention that he and VE6TD planned to order parts to produce a batch of pre-built VK3IL pressure paddles. Well, I just heard from Vince that they have completed a limited run. Here are the details from the ordering page: … Continue reading Pre-Built VK3IL Pressure Paddles via VE6LK →

This afternoon, instead of venturing out to a local park, I decided to do a little POTA hunting from home—QRP portable style. It was a fun experience and felt a bit like an at-home activation, except, of course, there was no actual activation since I wasn’t at a POTA site. Fair warning: the video is … Continue reading Slow TV: Portable POTA Hunting at Home →

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 →