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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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Understanding ITU Regions and Why Your Band Plan Isn’t Universal
The band edges and privileges you’ve memorized for US amateur radio aren’t universal. The International Telecommunication Union divides the world into three regions, and band plans, and sometimes even which frequencies are allocated to amateurs at all, genuinely differ between them. The three ITU regions ITU Region 1 covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and…
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The Key Parts of a SHTF Communications Plan: PACE, Rally Points, and Roles
A SHTF comms plan needs more than a radio and a frequency. Here are the actual components: PACE planning, rally points, defined roles, and a common list everyone can reference.
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Configuring APRS on the AnyTone AT-D878UV II Plus
The 878 will do APRS, both analog and DMR-APRS through the GPS revert channel, but it is not a one-button affair like the Kenwood. Almost everything worth setting has to happen in the CPS software first, then you fine tune on the radio itself. Here is the setup I actually use. Enable APRS and GPS…
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17 and 12 Meters: The WARC Bands Nobody Talks About
17 and 12 meters were added specifically to stay contest-free, and that quiet has made them two of the most pleasant, underrated bands in the entire HF spectrum.
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Dummy Loads, Wattmeters, and the Other Tools I Actually Use
Beyond a radio and an antenna, a handful of basic test tools make troubleshooting and tuning something you can actually do yourself rather than guess at. Here is what earns a permanent spot on my bench.
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Building Your First DMR Codeplug
A codeplug is the configuration file that tells your DMR radio which talkgroups, zones, and contacts exist. Building your first one from scratch looks intimidating and is actually a very learnable process.