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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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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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Building a DIY Magnetic Loop Antenna From Scratch
Commercial mag loops are expensive. Here’s what it actually takes to build one yourself.
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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.
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My Yaesu FTX-1 Go-Box: 100 Watts, HF Through UHF, in One Watertight Case
My FTX-1 Optima go-box: a watertight hard case holding the radio, the SPA-1 amp, and antennas for HF and VHF/UHF. 16.5 lbs, 12 x 12 x 7 inches.
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Where Are the Young Hams? Not at Your Club Meeting
Younger operators are all over radio. They’re just not at club meetings. My take on GMRS, mesh, unlicensed Baofengs, and what clubs need to change.