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The Yaesu FTX-1: The Complete Guide
Every FTX-1 post on QSO Journey in one place: the overview, setup guides, field ops, digital modes, operating skills, and maintenance.
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Packing an FTX-1 Go-Bag: What I Actually Carry
My grab-and-go FTX-1 bag, built for showing up ready whether that’s an EmComm callout or a last-minute activation.
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What’s Wrong With Amateur Radio Clubs in 2026
Amateur radio sits at the intersection of electronics, software, emergency communications, and pure experimentation. So why do so many local clubs feel like they’re actively working to drive newcomers away?
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Weekly Nets Are Stuck in the Past, and They’re Not Preparing Anyone for SHTF
Most weekly nets have become a comfortable check-in ritual that teaches nothing and tests nothing. Here’s why that’s a problem for preparedness-minded hams.
All Posts
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Fox Hunting in Ham Radio: How It Works, and How to Be Harder to Find
A deep look at radio fox hunting: what it is, what it isn’t, the gear and techniques hunters use, why HF NVIS is so hard to direction find, and practical EMCON habits that make your station harder to locate.
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AREDN Node Hardware: Which Routers to Buy
AREDN does not run on random WiFi routers. Here is the hardware that actually works, and why it matters.
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Choosing a Laptop for Field Operating
Part of our Where to Spend Your Money guide. A laptop that works fine on your shack desk can be genuinely frustrating in the field, where sunlight, dust, and limited power access expose weaknesses a desk setup never reveals. Battery Life Matters More Than Raw Power For digital modes, logging, or CAT control in the…
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Getting Started with Cheap SDR Receivers: RTL-SDR and HackRF
What a $30 RTL-SDR dongle can actually do, how HackRF extends that, and how to get either one running.
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Why Ham Radio Matters: A Hobby, a Lifeline, and a Century of Proof
Why ham radio still matters: the hobby, what it does for you, your family, and your town, and a century of times it kept people alive when everything else failed.
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Why HF Radio Matters Most When the Grid Goes Down
Why HF radio is critical when the grid goes down: NVIS keeps you connected to your region, and HF DX lets you poll other states and continents for news.
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Your First DMR Codeplug on the AnyTone 878, 890, or BridgeCom Maverick: Where to Start
Opened the AnyTone CPS and have no idea which menu comes first? Here is the exact order to build a DMR codeplug on the 878, 890, or BridgeCom Maverick, and why building out of order leaves you staring at empty dropdowns.
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Your Repeater Is Not a Plan: Why HF NVIS Matters Just as Much
Without the repeater, VHF/UHF is line of sight. Here’s why HF NVIS matters as much, and how I’d layer both into a real SHTF comms plan.