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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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Stealth Antennas for HOA Neighborhoods: What Actually Works
An HOA restriction does not have to mean giving up on a real home HF antenna. It means getting more creative about what a real antenna is allowed to look like. Here is what actually holds up.
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How to Tune a Vertical Whip Antenna for HF
Verticals live and die by their ground system, not just their length. Here’s the actual process for getting a whip resonant on the band you want.
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Do You Need a Linear Amplifier?
What extra watts actually buy you in S-units, when an amplifier is worth the cost, and what it takes to run one legally.
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A Comms Plan for Apartment or Multi-Family Housing Renters
You can’t assume a yard, a roof, or even a balcony. Here’s a comms plan sized to what renters actually have.
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Should You Upgrade from the Original IC-7300 to the Mark II?
Honest thoughts on whether the Mark II’s improvements are worth the upgrade cost if you already own a working original IC-7300.
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Shack Ergonomics: Desk Layout for Long Operating Sessions
This post is part of Building Your First Ham Radio Station. A shack that works fine for a quick 20-minute session can be genuinely uncomfortable during a full day of contesting or a long DX chase. Ergonomics matters more the longer you’re actually sitting at the desk, and it’s worth designing for your longest sessions,…
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GMRS Scanning and Monitoring: What You Can (and Can’t) Legally Do
People get confused surprisingly often about what’s legal when it comes to GMRS scanning versus GMRS transmitting, and the confusion is understandable, since the two activities are regulated completely differently. Listening is unrestricted You do not need a GMRS license, or any license at all, to listen to GMRS frequencies. Scanners, dedicated receivers, and radios…
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Emergency Communications and Preparedness
A practical roadmap to EmComm capability, covering ARES and RACES, message formats, digital tools like Winlink, and what actually holds up when it matters.