Technical Articles

portable ham radio station on a park bench
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Portable Operating Insights: Mapping Resources for POTA

I love activating parks, but even more, I enjoy finding new parks to activate. Picking a park and researching a good operating location is all part of the fun. From […]

base and portable ham radio comparison
Technical Articles

POTA: QRP or 100W—Which is Better?

If you spend any time hunting Parks on the Air® (POTA) stations or scrolling through activation reports, you’ll notice two very different approaches: the “turn it up to 100 watts […]

vertical ham radio antenna erected in field
Antenna Tech

Insights from My Ham Radio Journey: There’s No Fooling Physics When You’re Choosing Antennas

For years I was in search of the “perfect antenna.” I wanted one antenna so I could work the most remote DX as well as nearby county nets. Knowing the […]

ham radio antenna on flag pole
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Operating Accommodations for Seniors Part 2: Retirement Communities

We aren’t getting any younger—according to the ARRL, the average age of ham members is 68. It’s likely many of us are retired and will eventually consider downsizing. This might […]

Man erecting a large vertical antenna
Technical Articles

Operating Accommodations: Ham Radio for Seniors, Part 1

Amateur radio has always been a hobby for all ages, from curious teenagers building their first radio kit to retirees chatting across continents. However, as we age, we may find […]

sdr screengrab
Technical Articles

Operating Remotely with SmartSDR from FlexRadio

For hams who travel frequently, there are opportunities to operate while away from home. A few years ago, I spent nine days in the Pacific Northwest on a river cruise, […]

ham radio pcb builder kit
Technical Articles

The Joy and Satisfaction of Ham Radio Homebrewing

I love sitting around with some seasoned hams listening to them talk about “back in my day.” It truly makes me realize how convenient the hobby is today. In the […]

Yaesu SMB-201 Mobile Transceiver Cooling Fan
Technical Articles

Keeping Your Cool: Avoiding Heat Problems with Ham Radios

Every ham operator knows that heat is the silent enemy lurking behind every transmission. Whether you’re rag-chewing on 80 meters, running digital modes on FT8, or calling CQ in a […]

man holding a portable yagi antenna
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Satellites 101: How to Talk to the Birds—an Introduction, Plus Many Resources to Get You Started (Videos)

Making contacts with other hams through amateur radio satellites is one of the most exciting aspects of being an operator. Even if you only have your Technician license, you’re permitted […]

digital ham radio logbook screengrab
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Portable Operating Insights: Plug-Ins and Utilities for Your Logs

Welcome to another installment of Ham Radio Portable Insights. Today, let’s talk about some utilities you may not be using (but maybe you should be). For this article, let’s refer […]