Category: Operating
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Working DX Pileups and Split Operation on the FTX-1
How to set up and work split on the FTX-1, and the pileup habits that actually get you through faster.
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Running the FTX-1 QRP vs Full Power in the Field: When to Choose Which
How I actually decide between QRP and full power on the FTX-1 in the field, based on band conditions, kit weight, and what I’m trying to accomplish.
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GMRS Repeater Etiquette: Courtesy Tones, Timeouts, and Not Being That Guy
No exam means no built-in etiquette lesson. Here’s the unwritten rulebook for using GMRS repeaters well, from courtesy tones to knowing when to yield.
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Building a Field Day Station That Doesn’t Fall Apart at Hour 20
Field Day is a 24-hour event, and a lot of stations that look great at hour two are falling apart by hour twenty. Building something that actually holds up takes different planning than a quick POTA activation. Power that lasts the full event Battery-only setups that work fine for a two-hour activation will run dry…
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Why Filter Width Matters, and Good Starting Points for SSB and Digital Modes
The IF filter is one of the most underused controls on a modern radio. Here is what it actually does, and where to set it for SSB, CW, and digital modes.
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Common G90 Problems and How I’ve Solved Them
Part of our The Xiegu G90: The Complete Guide. The G90 is a budget radio and it occasionally acts like one, but most of the complaints I see online are either fixable in five minutes or aren’t really problems, they’re just the tradeoffs that come with a 20 watt QRP radio. Here’s what I’ve actually…
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Award Categories Should Be Single-Mode: Why FT8, SSB, and CW Don’t Belong in the Same Bucket
Mixed-mode awards flatten the very different levels of difficulty behind FT8, SSB, and CW. Here’s why DXCC on phone is a mountain compared to the digital express lane.
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My First POTA Activation: What I Wish I Knew Beforehand
I had the gear, I had the callsign, and I still made almost every rookie mistake possible on my first Parks on the Air activation. Here is what I would tell myself beforehand.
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Training Your Family or Group on the Communications Plan
A plan nobody’s practiced is a theory. Here’s how to actually get a family or group comfortable using the communications plan, without turning it into a chore nobody wants to do.
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Contesting with the IC-7300 Mark II: Menu and Setup Tips for Faster Runs
How I set up the IC-7300 Mark II for a contest weekend, from the HDMI-fed external monitor to logging integration that keeps the run moving.
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How to Test Your Antenna and Radio’s Real Reach with WSPR, PSKReporter, and Other Tools
Your SWR meter tells you the antenna is happy. It doesn’t tell you whether anyone can hear you. Here’s how to use WSPR, PSKReporter, and reverse beacons to measure where your signal actually lands.
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IC-7300 Mark II Care and Feeding: Cooling, Cleaning, and Long-Term Reliability
Basic maintenance habits that keep the IC-7300 Mark II running reliably after heavy contest and digital mode use.
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