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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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How Ground Radials Impact Your Vertical Antenna
A quarter-wave vertical is only half an antenna. Here is why ground radials matter so much, and how the number and type you use changes your performance.
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What Is APRS? History, Digipeaters, and How the Network Really Works
APRS stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System, and it is one of the oldest pieces of digital ham radio still in daily use. Most operators know it as “the thing that puts a dot on a map,” but that undersells it badly. APRS is a real-time, ham-built data network that has been running continuously since…
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80 and 160 Meters: Low-Band DX After Dark
The low bands reward patience, big antennas, and staying up late. Working DX on 80 or 160 meters is genuinely one of the most challenging and satisfying pursuits on all of HF.
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How to Build a Wire Dipole Antenna for HF on a Budget
A simple, cheap half-wave dipole is still one of the best-performing HF antennas you can build. Here’s how to cut, build, and tune one for under $30.
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Antenna Modeling Software: EZNEC, 4nec2, and Predicting Performance Before You Build
Before you cut a single piece of wire, antenna modeling software can tell you almost exactly how your design will perform, gain, pattern, feed impedance, all of it. EZNEC and 4nec2 are the two names that come up constantly, and they’re both built on the same underlying engine. NEC: the engine underneath both programs Both…
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New Ham? This is where you should spend your money
A complete buying guide for new hams, covering radios, test gear, upgrades, and how to buy used gear without getting burned.
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Integrating Meshtastic Into a Preparedness Plan (Without Overselling It)
Meshtastic gets pitched online as a SHTF communications solution. It’s useful, but it’s not that. Here’s an honest look at where it actually fits in a preparedness plan.