Articles written by: Kirk Pickering K4RO

Licensed since 1976, Kirk spent his high school years assembling Heathkit radios, learning Morse code, and chatting late into the night with his Pittsburgh-area friends. Pursuing an education and career in Tennessee limited available operating time, but Kirk caught the DX bug in the mid 1980s. After discovering contests in the early 1990s, he had found his greatest ham radio passion. He is a charter member of the Tennessee Contest Group and a member of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame.

pj2t ham radio qsl card
HAM Radio 101

Ham Radio Contesting 101: Winning, Losing, and Playing the Game

Editor’s note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in […]

stylized photo of large ham radio antennas
HAM Radio 101

Ham Radio Contesting 101: The Contest Station Is Never Done

Editor’s note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in […]

large ham radio contesting station
HAM Radio 101

Contesting 101: The Importance of Calling CQ

Editor’s note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in […]

group of ham radio operators in a large contest station
HAM Radio 101

Amateur Radio Contesting 101: Contest Clubs and Search & Pounce

Editor’s note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in […]

group of contesting plaques for ham radio
HAM Radio 101

Amateur Radio Contesting 101

Editor’s note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published […]