📌 Pinned
-
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.
-
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.
-
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?
-
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
-
Trap Dipoles and Verticals: How They Work and Where They Fall Short
Trap antennas promise something genuinely appealing: one antenna, multiple bands, no tuner required. That promise is real, but it comes with tradeoffs that don’t always get mentioned in the sales copy. How a trap actually works A trap is a parallel LC circuit, an inductor and capacitor wired together, inserted into the antenna element at…
-
Using the Separate RX Antenna Ports for an External Preamp or Filter
How the Mark II’s separate RX antenna in and out connectors let you add an external preamp or filter without touching the main antenna line.
-
A Comms Plan for RV and Travel Trailer Families Who Are Seasonally Mobile
Your plan has to change every time you change location. Here’s how a seasonally mobile family handles that.
-
Getting on FT8 with the Icom IC-7300 Mark II
One USB-C cable, no external interface needed. Here’s how to get the IC-7300 Mark II talking to WSJT-X and make your first FT8 contact.