📌 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
-
Log4OM and DXKeeper: Logging Alternatives to Ham Radio Deluxe
Ham Radio Deluxe is my logging software of choice, but it’s not the only serious option out there, and it’s not free. Log4OM and DXKeeper both cover a lot of the same ground with different philosophies, and either is worth considering depending on what you actually need from a logbook. Log4OM: free and genuinely full-featured…
-
Building Your First Ham Radio Station
Every antenna build, cable lesson, and shack project on QSO Journey, organized into one roadmap for putting together a station that grows with you.
-
Documenting Your SHTF Communications Plan: The One-Page Reference Everyone Needs
A plan only your one radio operator understands isn’t a plan. Here’s what to actually put on paper, in what format, and where to keep copies so it’s useful when it matters.
-
The Icom IC-7300 Mark II: The Complete Guide
Every Icom IC-7300 Mark II post on QSO Journey in one place: what changed from the original, digital mode setup, and how it fits into a station build.
-
DMR Talkgroups Are Great Fun, But Don’t Mistake Them for a SHTF Plan
Brandmeister and TGIF talkgroups are a fantastic way to stay in touch and play radio every day. Just understand what they depend on, because that same dependency is exactly why they fail when it matters most.
-
VARA vs. PACTOR: Choosing a Winlink Modem
VARA and PACTOR compared for Winlink, and which one actually makes sense for a home EmComm setup.