Tag: operating
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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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Digital Modes Are Transforming Ham Radio, So Why Is Everyone Stuck on FT8?
Digital modes have expanded what’s possible on the bands in ways we could barely imagine a decade ago. But the ecosystem has collapsed into one mode, and we’re leaving most of the magic on the table.
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FT-891 Menu Deep Dive: Settings Worth Changing from Factory Default
The FT-891 menu settings I changed out of the box, from roofing filter behavior to display and power save defaults that don’t fit real use.
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Building a Xiegu G90 Manpack: 20 Watts of Highly Portable HF
My G90 build: an Armoloq cage, Armoloq RF relocation adapters, a Digirig for digital ops, and probably the best integrated tuner I’ve used on any field radio.
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Meshtastic Messaging: Channels, Roles, and Group Chat Best Practices
Meshtastic messaging gets messy fast once more than a couple of people are on a network. Here’s how to structure channels and node roles so it stays usable.
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IC-7300 Mark II Menu Deep Dive: Settings Worth Changing from Default
The Icom IC-7300 Mark II menu settings I changed out of the box, from AGC decay to fan and RF power curve behavior.
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VOACAP and Propagation Prediction: Planning a Contact Before You Make It
Knowing the solar cycle is favorable is one thing. Knowing which specific band will actually reach a specific location at a specific hour is another. VOACAP and similar tools try to answer that second question directly.
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Getting On The Air: Modes, Operations, and Making Contacts
The full roadmap for operating on QSO Journey, covering HF bands, propagation, digital voice and data modes, contesting, and portable operating.
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Using the Real-Time Spectrum Scope to Find Band Openings Faster
How I use the IC-7300 Mark II’s real-time spectrum scope and waterfall to find band openings and activity instead of tuning around blind.
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ARRL Field Day and Winter Field Day: What They Are and When They Happen
A plain-language look at ARRL Field Day and Winter Field Day: what each event is, when they run, and what you actually do out in the field.
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Are Ham Radio Influencers Actually Giving You Good Information?
Ham radio has its own influencer scene now, and a lot of the gear reviews you watch are shaped by free products and vendor relationships. Here is why to stay skeptical.
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Contest Calendar 101: ARRL, CQ WW, and the Contests Worth Your Weekend
Hundreds of contests happen every year, and most of them aren’t worth your time. Here’s a guide to the handful that actually matter and when they happen.
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