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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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Diagnosing and Killing HF Noise: Solar Panels, Switching Supplies, and Powerline Interference
Modern HF noise has a different profile than it did twenty years ago. Solar inverters, switching power supplies, and LED drivers have replaced a lot of what used to be quieter analog electronics, and tracking down the source takes a methodical approach. The modern usual suspects Solar panel systems, particularly the DC-to-AC inverters, are one…
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Building a 1:1 Common-Mode Choke for HF
RF in the shack, unstable SWR, mystery noise: a lot of it traces back to common-mode current on your coax. A choke is a cheap, quick fix.
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The Yaesu ATAS-120A: My Take on This Motorized Mobile Antenna
An overview of the Yaesu ATAS-120A active tuning mobile antenna, including how it works, what it covers, and how it performs on my Jeep paired with an FT-891.
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What a Real SHTF Communications Plan Actually Looks Like
Most people’s SHTF comms plan is a radio in a drawer and a vague hope it’ll work when it matters. Here’s what an actual plan looks like, and why it’s mostly about people and documentation, not gear.
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The Chameleon MPAS 2.0 – The Compromise
A modular HF system that packs into a backpack and deploys a dozen different ways. Here’s how the Hybrid Mini upgrade changes things, and how the SS17 compares to the stock military-style whip.