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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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What Is Winlink, and Why EmComm Operators Rely On It
When the internet and cell towers go down, Winlink lets you send and receive real email over radio. Here is how it works, and why served agencies lean on it so heavily.
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Fan Dipoles: One Feedline, Multiple Bands
A fan dipole solves the multi-band problem with an approach that’s almost embarrassingly simple: instead of one antenna trying to cover several bands through traps or compromise, you just hang several resonant dipoles off the same feed point. The concept A fan dipole is exactly what it sounds like: multiple individually cut, resonant half-wave dipoles,…
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Waterproofing and Weatherproofing a Go-Bag Radio
Water kills radios faster than almost anything else. Here’s what actually protects one in a go-bag.
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Automatic vs Manual Antenna Tuners: Which Do You Actually Need
An antenna tuner does not actually tune your antenna, it tricks your radio into seeing a happy match. Whether that trick should happen automatically or by hand is a genuinely practical question, not just a budget one.