Category: Getting Started

  • GMRS Radio: The Complete Guide

    Everything you need to know about GMRS radio: the $35 license, real-world range, repeaters, and which radio to actually buy first.

  • Ham Radio Cheat Sheet: Q Codes, Band Plan, Phonetics & Antenna Lengths

    Every ham radio cheat sheet you need in one place: Q codes, the ARRL band plan for Technician, General, and Extra, the phonetic alphabet, and EFHW and random wire antenna lengths for HF.

  • What to Expect at Your First Hamfest

    A hamfest is part flea market, part club gathering, part testing session, and the combination can feel a little chaotic the first time you walk in. Knowing roughly what to expect makes the whole experience a lot more useful. What’s actually there Most hamfests center around a flea market of tables set up by individual…

  • Choosing Coax for HF: Efficiency, Length, and Cost

    Coax is not just a wire that connects your radio to your antenna. The type and length you choose affects efficiency, cost, and your whole operating experience. Here is how to think about it.

  • Building Your First QRP Kit: What to Expect

    There is a specific kind of satisfaction in making a contact with a radio you soldered together yourself. Building a QRP kit is one of the most approachable ways into homebrewing, even with zero electronics background.

  • What Is a Digirig, and Why Do Some Radios Need One?

    A Digirig is a tiny interface that connects your radio to your computer for digital modes. Here is what it does and why some radios need one while others do not.

  • Setting Up Your First Meshtastic Node: Hardware and Firmware Basics

    Meshtastic is one of the cheapest ways to get into off-grid messaging. Here’s what hardware to buy and how to get your first node flashed and talking.

  • What Is CAT Control?

    CAT control lets your computer and your radio talk to each other, reading and changing frequency, mode, and more. Here is what it is and why it matters.

  • Getting Started with DMR: Brandmeister, TGIF, and Building Your Own Hotspot

    Two networks, a Raspberry Pi, and a DMR ID are all it takes to get on digital voice from your desk. Here’s how the pieces fit together.

  • What Is a PL Tone / CTCSS Tone?

    If you have ever programmed a repeater and gotten silence, a missing PL tone is often the culprit. Here is what CTCSS tones are and how they work.

  • GMRS vs. Amateur Radio VHF/UHF vs. HF: Picking the Right Tool

    Three services, three very different propagation stories. Here’s how GMRS, ham VHF/UHF, and HF actually compare on hardware, range, and what each one is really good for.

  • What Is QRP in Ham Radio?

    QRP means operating with low power, usually 5 watts or less. Here is what that gets you, what it costs you, and some popular radios built for it.

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