Antennas Building a 3D-Printed EFHW Antenna for POTA and SOTA Build a compact 3D-printed 40–10 meter EFHW antenna with an N9DMT reel housing, recycled 49:1 transformer, BNC connector, and optional 100 pF capacitor. Oct 27, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic Meshtastic Motion Alerts: Heltec V4 Expansion Kit PIR Sensor Guide Wire a PIR motion sensor to the Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4 Expansion Kit, configure Meshtastic Detection Sensor alerts on a private channel, and see the teardown. Oct 27, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic Wio Tracker L1 Pro: Teardown and Orange Case Swap A hands-on look at the Seeed Studio Wio Tracker L1 Pro Meshtastic node: features, a full teardown, and a swap into the Sunset Orange case, plus the one reassembly gotcha. Oct 12, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic MeshCore Range Test: 3 Repeaters 50 Feet Up We lifted Heltec V4, Seeed XIAO and RAK MeshCore repeaters 50 feet up and drove South Carolina back roads logging SNR. Here's the real range we got. Oct 7, 2026 Includes video
Gear Baofeng SW-9 Review: 10W Tri-Band HT With Some Surprises Hands-on Baofeng SW-9 review: a 10W tri-band HT for 2m, 220 and 70cm with Bluetooth and AM/shortwave receive. The fall alarm, AM menus, and a 220 antenna that misses. Oct 5, 2026 Includes video
Projects ChronAlert: Free Live Dashboard for Weather, Ham Radio, Alerts & More ChronAlert is a free PC-based live dashboard that brings weather, emergency alerts, ham radio activity, natural hazards, infrastructure monitoring and other live data… Oct 2, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic MeshCore Without a Phone? ThinkNode M9 Review Hands-on with the Elecrow ThinkNode M9, a standalone MeshCore device with a QWERTY keyboard, 2.4 inch screen, and GPS. Flashing new firmware, maps, and messaging. Sep 28, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic Radioddity NODARA Prototype: Inside Their First Meshtastic Radio A hands-on look at a prototype of the Radioddity Nodara Meshtastic radio: teardown, antenna SWR test, battery life, sealing, the E-ink display, and a MeshCore port. Sep 25, 2026 Includes video
Gear Trying CW Again With the Duo Straight Key One I failed at CW before. After meeting Ham Radio Duo at Huntsville Hamfest, I'm trying again with their 3D-printed Duo Straight Key One on my Xiegu G90. Sep 21, 2026 Includes video
Gear Baofeng UV-29 Pro Review: 10 Watts, Bluetooth, and a Speak & Spell Voice Hands-on review of the Baofeng UV-29 Pro: 10W dual-band HT with Bluetooth app programming, cross-band repeat, 1,000 channels, NOAA, airband, and USB-C charging. Sep 14, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic ThinkNode M1 First Look: A Solid Meshtastic Handheld? Unboxing the Elecrow ThinkNode M1 Meshtastic handheld: nRF52840, SX1262, GPS switch, e-paper display, first setup, why I run it as CLIENT_MUTE, and two concerns. Sep 7, 2026 Includes video
Antennas Which Meshtastic Antennas Are Actually Good? $8,000 Analyzer Test Popular Meshtastic and MeshCore antennas swept on an Anritsu S331L analyzer at 910 MHz. Amazon, muzi works, Heltec, Seeed, Slinkdsco and commercial antennas compared. Sep 1, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic SenseCAP MeshTracker X1 vs T1000-E: First Look at What Changed A first look at the Seeed Studio SenseCAP MeshTracker X1 next to the T1000-E: USB-C, a 1100 mAh battery, dual-band L1+L5 GNSS, haptics, and IP66. Aug 21, 2026 Includes video
Gear Radioddity PS30 Review: Is It Really Clean Enough for Ham Radio? Radioddity PS30 review: a 20A switching power supply tested for noise on a Xiegu G90 and a Hermes Lite SDR, plus what the Noise Offset knob actually does. Aug 13, 2026 Includes video
Meshtastic SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro: Flashing MeshCore and Upgrading the Antenna How to flash MeshCore repeater firmware onto the SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro with the web flasher, set US radio settings, send a test advert, and swap the antenna. Aug 6, 2026 Includes video
News Launching MeshWX: Off-Grid NWS Weather Alerts over Meshtastic & MeshCore MeshWX is now publicly available: a free, open-source, self-hosted app that broadcasts National Weather Service warnings over Meshtastic and MeshCore radios. Aug 4, 2026 Includes video
Gear Radioddity GS-10B Pro Review: An All-Band Handheld That Actually Receives HF A hands-on review of the Radioddity GS-10B Pro, an 8W dual-band handheld with real HF SSB/CW reception, real-time spectrum, donut loop antennas, and Bluetooth… Aug 2, 2026 Includes video
Gear SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro Review: A Deploy-and-Forget Meshtastic Repeater A review of the Seeed Studio SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro, a solar-powered Meshtastic repeater with a 5W panel, four 18650 batteries, built-in GPS, and Grove sensor… Aug 2, 2026 Includes video
Gear ThinkNode M7 Review: The Meshtastic Gateway That Looks Like a Router A hands-on review of the Elecrow ThinkNode M7 Meshtastic gateway. ESP32-S3, LR1110, PoE and Ethernet in a router-like case built to expand a city mesh. Aug 2, 2026 Includes video
Gear Xiegu G90 Spare Parts Kit Review: Insurance for a Radio You Want to Keep A review of the Xiegu G90 Spare Parts Kit, a set of original wear parts bought now so you have them when they become hard to find later. Aug 2, 2026 Includes video
Gear Xiegu DE-19 Digital Interface Test: Unboxing to First FT8 Contact Unboxing the Xiegu DE-19 digital interface, wiring it into a G90, and fighting through a WSJT-X mode-switching bug before logging a real FT8 contact with the GPA-100… Jul 30, 2026 Includes video
Gear Xiegu G90 Spare Parts Kit: What You Get and Why It Matters A look inside the Xiegu G90 spare parts kit from Radioddity: encoder, buttons, Powerpole socket, speaker, SO-239, jacks, knobs, and why every radio should have one. Jul 30, 2026 Includes video
Gear Xiegu G90 Field Day Test: Out of the Box to First Contacts Unboxing the Xiegu G90 20W HF transceiver at Field Day and putting it straight on the air. Portable antenna setup, first power on, menu walkthrough, real contacts, and… Jul 6, 2026 Includes video
Gear Xiegu G90 Runs HOT: Does the Radioddity G90-H1 Actually Fix It? The Xiegu G90 is known to run hot. I bolted on the Radioddity G90-H1 cooling bracket, ran FT8 heat tests with an infrared thermometer, measured the fan noise in decibels… Jul 6, 2026 Includes video
Antennas How Much Signal Are You Actually Losing With a Loading Coil Loading coils let short HF antennas tune on bands where they are physically too short, but the trade-off is real signal loss. Here is what that loss looks like, why it… Jun 1, 2026 Includes video
Gear Taking the Hermes Lite 2 to 100 Watts with the Xiegu GPA100 The Hermes Lite 2 is a capable SDR, but it tops out at around one watt. Here is how I added the Xiegu GPA100 linear amplifier to the chain and what that actually looks… May 18, 2026 Includes video
Gear I Got a New SDR Radio The Hermes Lite 2 A hands-on look at building the Hermes Lite 2 open-source SDR transceiver from scratch, setting up Thetis software, and a first impression of how it performs on HF for… May 8, 2026 Includes video
Antennas Bottom Coil vs Center Coil Antenna Does Coil Placement Matter A real-world WSPR comparison of a bottom-loaded vertical antenna versus a center-loaded vertical antenna on 40 meters, including why moving the loading coil higher can… May 2, 2026 Includes video
Gear Push-to-Talk From Florida to Utah No License Required The Radioddity TomoLink is a POC radio that uses 4G LTE instead of traditional frequencies. Two radios, a 3-year data plan, 2W speaker, on-device group management, and no… Apr 9, 2026 Includes video
Projects How to Build a Butterworth Bandpass Filter for Ham Radio The complete guide to designing and building a double-tuned Butterworth bandpass filter for any amateur radio band. Includes an interactive calculator, toroid winding… Mar 30, 2026
Gear Radioddity HF-010 Review: Real WSPR Data on 20m and 40m The Radioddity HF-010 covers 80 to 6 meters and costs $239. We tested it head-to-head against an EFHW on 20m and 40m using WSPR and real propagation data. Mar 27, 2026 Includes video
Antennas Your Antenna Review Sucks Here Is How to Get Real Data Trust-me-bro antenna reviews are not real data. Here is how to use WSPR, an antenna switch, and a little automation to actually compare antenna performance. Mar 8, 2026 Includes video
Ham Radio Move Over FT8 There's a New Digital Mode Built for Speed FT2 is an experimental WSJT-style digital mode with a 3.8-second cycle for ultra-fast QSOs. Here is what it is, how it works, and who it is for. Feb 27, 2026 Includes video
Projects It’s Alive: Did I Fix a Classic CB or Build a Monster? A dead Realistic Navajo CB gets a modern heart transplant using Radioddity CB900 Pro guts. Vintage look, modern brain, and a few sneaky upgrades. Feb 19, 2026 Includes video
Gear Building a 20M Portable Vertical Whip from AliExpress Parts Build a 20 meter portable vertical whip for under $25 using AliExpress parts, with real on-air results, tuning tips and tradeoffs. Feb 6, 2026 Includes video
Antennas Best Coaxial Cables for Portable Ham Radio Operations Trying to pick the best coax for portable ham radio, SOTA, or POTA? Learn which feedlines balance loss, weight, and durability in the field. Feb 6, 2026
Gear Is the Radioddity HF-009 the Best Portable HF Antenna for Field Operations Hands-on review of the Radioddity HF-009 portable HF antenna for field and POTA-style operations, with setup tips, tuning notes, and on-air results. Jan 20, 2026 Includes video
Antennas How Many Ground Radials Do You Really Need for Your HF Antenna Ground radials make or break HF vertical performance. Learn what they do, how many you need, what changes from 1 to 32 radials, and why more is wasted. Jan 16, 2026
Meshtastic MeshCore vs Meshtastic A Practical Comparison MeshCore vs Meshtastic explained: routing style, setup, performance, and the best pick for hiking, emergency comms, and rural LoRa networks. Jan 12, 2026
Gear Baofeng UV5R Mini, Is It Dirty? A Spurious Emissions Reality Check A real-world spurious emissions test of the Baofeng UV5R Mini using an SDR and dummy load tap shows a 5th harmonic only 32 dB down. Jan 11, 2026 Includes video
Ham Radio CB vs Ham Radio and Why You Should Get Licensed CB is simple and fun. Ham radio adds repeaters, HF, digital modes, and more options. A fair comparison and why licensing is worth it. Jan 7, 2026
Antennas Attic HF Dipole vs Outdoor Antenna How Roofing and Insulation Affect Signal Strength Attic HF dipoles work, but roofing materials and insulation can reduce signal strength. This guide explains real-world RF loss for asphalt shingles, tile, and metal roofs… Jan 5, 2026
Projects How I Turned My House Wiring Into a 24-7 TV Channel Turn unused coax in your walls into a 24-7 home TV channel using VLC, a laptop, and an HDMI RF modulator. Dec 20, 2025 Includes video
Antennas Make an Antenna From Christmas Lights Build ham radio antennas from Christmas lights: EFHW, random wire, center-fed dipole, and a simple 20m vertical with tuning and safety tips. Dec 20, 2025 Includes video
Ham Radio Urban Ham Radio Interference Sources (Statistics) A compiled statistical overview of the most commonly reported sources of ham radio interference in urban and suburban environments. Dec 19, 2025
Antennas What Is Take Off Angle: Simple Guide for Hams Confused by take off angle charts? This simple ham radio guide explains what it is, why it matters, and how antenna height affects it. Dec 11, 2025
Ham Radio Your S Meter Is Lying to You: What Hams Really Need to Know Think your rig's S meter is honest? Learn what those S units really mean, why most meters are off, and how to read them. Dec 11, 2025
News Huge Win for Hams: FCC Adds New 60m Band AND Keeps High Power Channels The FCC has adopted the WRC-15 60 meter allocation while keeping four high power U.S. channels, giving hams more flexible 60m options. Dec 10, 2025
News The Shortwave Christmas Broadcast Every Listener Should Know Learn about NDR's Gruß an Bord Christmas Eve shortwave broadcast, its history, schedule, and worldwide frequencies for tuning in. Dec 9, 2025
Ham Radio Choosing the Right Ferrite Toroid Mix for Choke Baluns Learn when to use ferrite mix 31, 43, or 73 for HF choke baluns and ununs, with practical build tips. Dec 9, 2025
Antennas Compact Ham Radio Antennas That Work on Apartment Balconies Live in an apartment? These compact ham radio antennas really work on balconies without upsetting the landlord. Real-world options, install tips, and safety. Dec 9, 2025
Gear Radioddity HF 009 Portable HF Antenna Review Hands-on review of the Radioddity HF 009 portable HF antenna for POTA, SOTA, and small-space HF stations, including setup, tuning, and on air results. Dec 8, 2025
Gear Best Radios for Disaster Preparedness Stay Connected in 2026 Looking for the best emergency radios for disaster preparedness in 2026? We compare Raddy SL10, RF757, QT80 and Starlink. Dec 7, 2025 Includes video
Projects How to Add an RF Sampler and AM Detector to Your MFJ Deluxe Versa Tuner Turn your MFJ Deluxe Versa Tuner into a bench hub by adding an RF sampler and AM detector for safe, easy RF testing. Dec 7, 2025 Includes video
Getting Started Coax Cable Comparison: RG-58 vs RG-8X vs LMR-400 - Loss Charts & Selection Guide New ham? See how RG-58, RG-8X and LMR-400 compare for loss, cost and flexibility so you pick the right coax. Dec 6, 2025
Getting Started Why Is My SWR High? 10 Most Common Causes and Fixes High SWR on your ham radio? Learn the 10 most common causes of high SWR and the simple fixes that actually work. Dec 6, 2025
Getting Started What Are Ground Planes, Radials, and Counterpoises Beginner friendly guide to ground planes, radials, and counterpoises, and how each one actually affects your antenna performance. Dec 6, 2025
Projects Turn Your Raspberry Pi into a WSPR Beacon Turn a basic Raspberry Pi into a low-power WSPR beacon for testing HF propagation and real-world antenna performance with almost no extra hardware. Dec 5, 2025 Includes video
Ham Radio Top 3 Insane DXpeditions From Swains Island to Bouvet and Scarborough Reef, here are three of the most extreme ham radio DXpeditions ever pulled off. Dec 4, 2025 Includes video
Antennas How to Build a Vertical Dipole Array Learn how to design, build, and tune a lightweight vertical dipole array (VDA) for serious portable HF DX near salt water. Dec 3, 2025
Antennas Build a V-Dipole Antenna in 30 Minutes and Start Downloading Weather Satellite Images from Space Build a simple V-dipole antenna in about 30 minutes and start receiving sharp NOAA and Meteor M2 weather satellite images with your RTL-SDR. Nov 30, 2025
Getting Started SWR: The Misunderstood Number That Doesn't Tell the Whole Story New to ham radio? Learn what SWR really means, why low SWR doesn't guarantee an efficient antenna, and which numbers matter. Nov 29, 2025
Getting Started The Complete Beginner's Guide to Ham Radio Repeaters New to ham radio repeaters? Learn offsets, PL/CTCSS and DCS tones, linked systems, and how to actually get into your local repeater. Nov 29, 2025
Ham Radio Can You Build a Working Ham Radio Antenna from Garage Junk? We Tried Two ham radio operators, 30 minutes, and a box of random garage parts. Watch as NJ4Z and W1MRC turn Christmas lights, TV rabbit ears, and mystery toroids into real HF… Nov 26, 2025 Includes video
Getting Started Minimum gear to get started for ham radio New to ham radio? Here's the minimum gear you actually need for VHF and HF to get on the air quickly without wasting money. Nov 24, 2025
Getting Started New vs Used Ham Gear: How to Decide What to Buy Not sure if you should buy new or used ham radio gear? Learn the real-world pros and cons, what to inspect on used radios, and where to shop safely. Nov 24, 2025
Ham Radio How Far Can Ham Radio Really Talk? Actual Range by Band and Setup Clear, beginner-friendly breakdown of real ham radio range by band and setup. See how far HF, VHF, UHF, handhelds, mobiles, and base stations can really talk in the real… Nov 23, 2025
Getting Started How to Make Your First Contact Without Sounding Like a Noob New ham and nervous about your first HF or VHF contact? Learn simple etiquette, scripts, and checklists so you sound confident on the air. Nov 21, 2025
Getting Started Radio Propagation Basics: Time of Day, Solar Activity, and Band Conditions Beginner-friendly explanation of radio propagation, time of day, solar activity, and band conditions so you can pick the right band and time to communicate reliably. Nov 21, 2025
Meshtastic Heltec V3 vs V4: Which LoRa Board Should You Buy in 2025? Complete comparison of Heltec V3 and V4 LoRa development boards for Meshtastic and LoRa projects. Compare processors, power efficiency, range, build quality, and… Nov 18, 2025
Antennas How to Build an Off-Center Fed Dipole (OCFD) for HF Step-by-step guide to building and tuning an off-center fed dipole (OCFD) antenna for reliable multiband HF operation, emergency communications, and off-grid radio. Nov 14, 2025
Antennas How to Build Delta Loops for HF: Complete DIY Antenna Guide Step-by-step guide to building a delta loop antenna for HF. Learn materials, dimensions, feed options, tuning tips, performance expectations, and troubleshooting for 40m… Nov 14, 2025
Ham Radio Building a Wi-Fi Controlled Remote Antenna Switch with ESP32 Step-by-step guide to building a Wi-Fi controlled remote antenna switch for your ham radio station using an ESP32, a 4-channel relay module, and SO-239 connectors… Nov 11, 2025
Antennas Dipole vs Off-Center-Fed Dipole (OCFD): Complete HF Comparison Guide A practical, real-world comparison of a standard half-wave dipole versus an off-center-fed dipole (OCFD). Learn how they differ in design, radiation pattern, matching… Nov 11, 2025
Antennas The End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) Antenna — Build, Tune, and Optimize Practical guide to the End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) antenna: transformer choices (49:1/64:1), construction, 10m capacitor tweak, deployment options, and on-air performance… Nov 11, 2025
Antennas The Rybakov Antenna: Build, Tune, and Optimize for HF Bands Comprehensive guide to the Rybakov antenna — how it works, build steps, tuning tips (4:1 vs 9:1), performance expectations, testing results, and troubleshooting for… Nov 11, 2025
News The Santa Net Brings Holiday Magic to Amateur Radio Santa Net on 3.916 MHz returns for its 20th year, letting kids talk to Santa via amateur radio. Nov 10, 2025
Antennas How to Build a V Beam Antenna Step by Step Guide Learn how to build a V beam antenna for HF ham radio, with dimensions, hardware, feedline tips, and tuning steps for reliable DX performance. Nov 7, 2025
SDR Standalone SSTV Decoder on a Pi Pico A step-by-step guide to building a standalone Slow Scan Television (SSTV) decoder using a Raspberry Pi Pico, a small SPI TFT display, and basic audio interfacing to your… Oct 29, 2025 Includes video
Projects How Much Cranking Does It Actually Take to Power a Dead Radio? Real-world test of an emergency hand-crank radio shows it takes about 90 minutes of continuous cranking to bring a dead radio to life. Learn why, what's happening inside… Jun 21, 2025 Includes video
Antennas How to Build a T2FD Antenna Step-by-step guide to designing and building a wideband Tilted Terminated Folded Dipole (T2FD) HF antenna that covers 3–30 MHz with a single feedline and no tuner… Jun 18, 2025
Ham Radio Inside a Mobile Ham Shack: How One Operator Turned an Ambulance Into a Communications Command Center Tour a fully outfitted mobile ham shack built inside a retired ambulance, featuring HF/VHF radios, SDR monitoring, Victron-based off-grid power, and field-ready emergency… Jun 11, 2025 Includes video
Gear Performance Z Arrays 2 Element Vertical Controller and Switching Network Review Hands-on review of the Performance Z Arrays 2 Element Vertical Controller and Switching Network, including phased array test results, setup steps, pros and cons, and… Jun 11, 2025 Includes video
Projects Why Some Power Inverters Cost More A practical breakdown of why premium pure sine wave inverters cost more than budget models, how power quality affects sensitive electronics, and what ham radio operators… Jun 11, 2025 Includes video
Projects Solar Ham Shack Build Part 1: How I Designed My Off-Grid System A detailed walkthrough of how I designed a 24V off-grid solar power system for my ham shack using LiFePO4 batteries, Victron hardware, and 800W of solar—starting from… Jun 10, 2025 Includes video
News Why You Need an AM Radio: Primary Entry Point (PEP) Stations Could Save Your Life An in-depth look at how Primary Entry Point (PEP) AM radio stations work, why they remain the backbone of America's emergency communication system, and how adding an AM… Feb 28, 2025
News NAB to FCC: Shut Down ATSC 1.0 by 2028 – What It Means for You The NAB has asked the FCC to shut down ATSC 1.0 by 2028 and complete a full nationwide transition to NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) by 2030. This article explains what that means… Feb 27, 2025
Meshtastic MeshCore Explained: Discover the Future of Decentralized Mesh Networking An in-depth look at MeshCore, an open-source C++ library for LoRa and packet-radio based mesh networks, including how it works, core use cases, and how to get started. Feb 26, 2025
News The Southern Television Interruption: When Aliens "Hijacked" British TV in 1977 Discover the true story behind the 1977 Southern Television alien broadcast interruption, how the TV signal was hijacked, public reaction and lasting legacy. Feb 26, 2025
Projects How to Build Smart Home Sensors: ESPHome with Home Assistant Complete Guide Step-by-step DIY guide to building a Wi-Fi temperature and humidity sensor using ESPHome, Home Assistant, an ESP8266 board, and a DHT22 sensor, including YAML… Feb 25, 2025 Includes video
Projects How to Install Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi: Complete Beginner's Guide Step-by-step beginner-friendly guide to installing Home Assistant OS on a Raspberry Pi, connecting your first smart devices, and creating automations for a private… Feb 25, 2025 Includes video
Projects How to Set Up and Optimize Shelly Dimmer 2 with Home Assistant A complete, practical guide to installing, configuring, and optimizing the Shelly Dimmer 2 with Home Assistant, including wiring tips, LED compatibility, energy… Feb 25, 2025 Includes video
Gear Radioddity CBL-561 Review: The Ultimate 10/11-Meter Mobile Antenna for Ham Radio Enthusiasts Detailed review of the Radioddity CBL-561 10/11-meter mobile antenna, covering specs, installation, tuning, SWR performance, DX capability, and comparisons to other… Feb 25, 2025 Includes video
Antennas How High Should My Dipole Antenna Be for Best Performance Wondering how high to hang your HF dipole antenna? Learn practical height targets for DX, NVIS, and backyard stations on popular bands. Feb 24, 2025
Antennas 20 Meter End Fed Half Wave Vertical Antenna: Transforming DX Performance Learn how a 20 meter end-fed half-wave vertical antenna improves low-angle radiation, simplifies deployment, and boosts long-distance DX contacts for amateur radio… Feb 24, 2025 Includes video
Meshtastic Getting Started with Meshtastic: Heltec LoRa 32 Setup Guide Step-by-step guide to flashing Meshtastic firmware on a Heltec LoRa 32, pairing with the Meshtastic app, configuring channels, and building an off-grid LoRa mesh network… Feb 24, 2025 Includes video
Gear Raddy RF 757 Review: The Ultimate Portable Multiband Receiver for Radio Enthusiasts Hands-on review of the Raddy RF 757 portable multiband receiver covering build quality, smartphone integration, audio performance, reception tests, pros and cons, and… Feb 24, 2025 Includes video
Gear Radioddity HF-008 Portable Antenna Review: Is This Compact HF Solution Right For You? A practical, real-world review of the Radioddity HF-008 portable HF antenna, covering performance on 80m–6m, setup, tuning, and ideal use cases for space-limited and… Feb 24, 2025 Includes video
Gear Radioddity VB70-B Review: Is This Bluetooth-Enabled 2-Meter Ham Radio Worth Your Money? In-depth hands-on review of the Radioddity VB70-B 2-meter mobile ham radio, focusing on Bluetooth operation, noise reduction DSP, airband/FM reception, and how it… Feb 24, 2025 Includes video
Getting Started Antenna Tuners for Beginners: A Complete Guide New ham radio operator? Learn what an antenna tuner really does, when you need one, and how to pick the right type. Feb 15, 2025
Projects Can You Run a Window Air Conditioner on Solar Power? Can a modest backup solar system actually run a window air conditioner? Here’s what happened cooling 1,000 square feet on solar. Feb 15, 2025 Includes video
Projects My Solar System Couldn't Handle AC So I Upgraded to EG4 3kW Hybrid My off-grid solar setup couldn't handle AC, so I upgraded to an EG4 3kW hybrid inverter with AC charging and higher PV limits. Feb 15, 2025 Includes video
Getting Started The Beginner Guide to Ham Radio Amplifiers New to ham radio and wondering about amplifiers? Learn what they do, when you need one, and why RF safety comes first. Feb 15, 2025
Ham Radio What is WSPR: The Ham Radio Tool That Maps Where Your Signal Goes WSPR turns your HF station into a low power propagation beacon. Learn how it works and how to map where your signal really goes. Feb 15, 2025
Ham Radio Which RF Choke Works Best: Coiled Coax, Ferrite, or Sleeve Chokes Trying to tame common-mode RF on your feedline? Learn when a coiled coax choke, ferrite beads, or a sleeve choke works best. Feb 15, 2025
Getting Started Feedline Loss Explained Beginner Friendly Guide Beginner-friendly guide to ham radio feedline loss, with real coax examples and numbers so you can see how much power you lose. Feb 10, 2025
Ham Radio WARC Bands Explained: The Secret HF Frequencies Most Hams Ignore Learn how US hams can use the 30m, 17m, and 12m WARC bands for quieter HF DX, digital modes, and contest-free operation. Feb 10, 2025
Antennas Why Your Antenna Matters More at 5 Watts Than 100 Watts Running 5 watts on HF? Learn why antenna efficiency, ground loss and ERP matter far more at QRP than at 100 watts. Feb 10, 2025
Ham Radio 7 Essential Radio Systems That Keep You Connected When Disaster Strikes This guide explains how multi-function emergency radios, general coverage receivers, CB radio, amateur radio, satellite internet like Starlink, and backup power solutions… Feb 10, 2025 Includes video
Projects AI-Designed PC: What Happens When AI Builds Its Own Workstation? A $1,200 Proxmox and AI-focused workstation designed entirely by ChatGPT. We break down the parts list, reasoning, and what this says about AI-assisted PC building. Feb 10, 2025 Includes video
Ham Radio How to Build a DIY Solar Power System for Under $500 (And Why It Beats Pre-Built Options) A practical guide to building a modular DIY solar power system for under $500, covering solar input protection, charge controller selection, LiFePO4 battery banks, and… Jan 23, 2025 Includes video
Ham Radio How to Contact the International Space Station Using Ham Radio Learn how to contact the International Space Station using ham radio, from gear and licensing to passes, frequencies, and antennas. Jan 20, 2025
Gear Seeed Studio T1000-E vs Heltec V3: Which Meshtastic Device Should You Choose in 2025? A detailed, real-world comparison of the Seeed Studio T1000-E and Heltec V3 Meshtastic devices, focusing on range, ease of use, features, portability, and price to help… Jan 8, 2025 Includes video
Gear TIDRadio TD-H3 Review - The Ultimate Baofeng UV-5R Upgrade In-depth review of the TIDRadio TD-H3 handheld and how it improves on the Baofeng UV-5R with USB-C charging, Bluetooth programming, extended receive, and smarter repeater… Jan 8, 2025 Includes video
Ham Radio 5 Game-Changing Upgrades for Your ATU 100 Antenna Tuner Learn how to upgrade your ATU 100 antenna tuner with a metal enclosure, SO239 connectors, larger OLED display, premium button, and improved grounding for better… Jan 8, 2025 Includes video
Projects GTMedia HDTV Converter X1 Review: Cord-Cutting Promise or Compromise? In-depth review of the GTMedia HDTV Converter X1 ATSC tuner and Android box, including tuner performance, DVR limitations, ATSC 3.0 support, and an updated 2025… Jan 8, 2025 Includes video
Projects How AI Is Revolutionizing Ham Radio: 5 Powerful Applications for Modern Operators Discover five practical ways amateur radio operators can use AI and large language models to design antennas, troubleshoot equipment, repair gear, master new radios, and… Jan 8, 2025 Includes video
Antennas How to Turn Your Fence into a Powerful Ham Radio Antenna A complete how-to guide for converting a backyard fence into a stealth end-fed random wire ham radio antenna using speaker wire, a 9:1 unun and basic tools. Jan 8, 2025 Includes video
Gear Radioddity QT80 10 Meter Radio Review: Hands-On Experience With This Amateur Radio Powerhouse A detailed hands-on review of the Radioddity QT80 10 meter amateur radio, covering build quality, receiver performance, on-air results, and modification potential for… Jan 8, 2025 Includes video
Meshtastic How to Build a Solar-Powered Meshtastic Node: The Ultimate Off-Grid Communication Solution A practical, step-by-step guide to building a solar-powered Meshtastic node, including materials, enclosure prep, solar mounting, configuration, and troubleshooting for… Nov 30, 2024 Includes video
SDR How to Listen to Shortwave Pirate Radio: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide A complete beginner's guide to shortwave pirate radio listening, covering receivers, antennas, key frequencies, best listening times, common formats, and how to connect… Nov 30, 2024 Includes video
Projects Restoring Vintage Radios with the VEVOR Ultrasonic Cleaner A hands-on guide to restoring vintage radios using the VEVOR Ultrasonic Cleaner, including a cleaning solution recipe, test results, and restoration tips. Oct 4, 2024 Includes video
Antennas Basics of Beverage Antennas Learn how Beverage antennas work, why they are considered the gold standard for low-band DX reception, and how to design, install, and optimize your own for 160m, 80m… Jun 17, 2024 Includes video
SDR 5 Best Shortwave Listening Antennas A ranked guide to the 5 best shortwave listening antennas—including random wire, magnetic loop, sky loop, Beverage and T2FD—plus tips on choosing the right SWL antenna… Jun 13, 2024 Includes video
SDR How to Capture Weather Satellite Images from Space: A Guide to WXtoImg Step-by-step guide for receiving NOAA weather satellite APT signals using an SDR, WXtoImg, and suitable antennas, including setup, configuration, pass planning… Jun 13, 2024 Includes video
Projects Unlocking Next-Gen Television: How the HDHomeRun ATSC 3.0 4K QUATRO Makes Cutting-Edge TV Accessible Hands-on unboxing and setup guide for the HDHomeRun ATSC 3.0 4K QUATRO, covering hardware, firmware updates, channel scans, ATSC 3.0 availability and real-world value. Jun 13, 2024 Includes video
Projects How to Integrate HDHomeRun Tuner with Plex: Your Complete Cord-Cutting Guide Learn how to combine an HDHomeRun TV tuner with Plex to stream and record free over-the-air channels, build a powerful DVR, and replace expensive cable service. Jun 12, 2024 Includes video
Antennas How to Transform Your Gutter Into a Powerful Stealth Antenna Step-by-step guide to converting your home's aluminum gutter into a stealth shortwave listening antenna, including materials, grounding, performance comparisons, and… Jun 12, 2024 Includes video
News The Max Headroom Signal Hijacking: Television's Greatest Unsolved Mystery The 1987 Max Headroom TV signal hijacking in Chicago: how an unknown attacker overpowered the WGN-TV and WTTW microwave links, the FCC and FBI investigation, and why the… Jun 12, 2024 Includes video
Antennas Why Loop on Ground (LOG) Antennas Are the Secret Weapon for HAM Operators A practical guide to Loop on Ground (LOG) antennas, explaining how they work, why they excel in noisy and restricted environments, and how to build and optimize one for… Jun 7, 2024 Includes video
Ham Radio How to Install and Use eQSL Creator by PA4R Step-by-step guide for amateur radio operators to install and use eQSL Creator by PA4R (Ham Tools) to generate and send eQSL cards from ADIF log files and QRZ, including… May 28, 2024 Includes video
Projects Repainting a Yaesu FT-101 and Accessories Complete guide to repainting your Yaesu FT-101 ham radio and accessories. Learn the proper techniques for disassembly, sanding, painting, and reassembly to restore your… May 28, 2024 Includes video
Meshtastic 7 Critical Factors When Choosing Meshtastic Antennas Learn how to choose the best Meshtastic antenna with real-world tests comparing omnidirectional and Yagi options, plus seven key factors for range and reliability. Apr 30, 2024 Includes video
Projects Build a Satellite Ground Station with TinyGS Learn how to repurpose your existing Meshtastic ESP32 + LoRa hardware into a TinyGS satellite ground station and join the global open-source network receiving live data… Apr 30, 2024 Includes video
Projects How to Restore Vintage Radio Equipment in 5 Proven Steps Learn how to safely inspect, test, and restore vintage radio equipment using this proven 5-step method. Apr 30, 2024 Includes video
News Is CB Radio Dead? An in-depth look at the past, present, and future of CB radio — its cultural peak, modern users, technical advantages, and why it still survives. Apr 30, 2024 Includes video
Ham Radio Kenwood TS-870 CAT Control Step-by-step guide for configuring CAT control on the Kenwood TS-870 using an FTDI-based RS232-to-USB cable, Omni-Rig, and Log4OM. Apr 30, 2024 Includes video
News The Captain Midnight HBO Hijacking: When One Man's Signal Protest Changed Television Security Forever A detailed look at the 1986 Captain Midnight HBO satellite hijacking, why John R. MacDougall interrupted HBO's signal, how the FCC tracked him down, and how the incident… Apr 30, 2024 Includes video
News The Undying Charm of CB Radios A look at why CB radios still matter in a world of smartphones, exploring their reliability on the road, unique culture, and the modern tech keeping them relevant. Apr 30, 2024
Antennas A Comprehensive Comparison of Passive Loop and Terminated Folded Dipole Antennas Real-world comparison between a DIY passive loop antenna and a commercial terminated folded dipole, with band-by-band performance analysis, installation notes, and… Apr 29, 2024 Includes video
SDR Decode Pagers with PDW Learn the basics of installing and configuring PDW software with an SDR to decode pager signals where it is legal to do so, including interface setup and tuning tips. Apr 29, 2024 Includes video
SDR How to Fix WXtoIMG 301 Error Step-by-step guide to fixing the WXtoIMG 301 Moved Permanently Kepler update error using WXtoProxy and an alternative PowerShell and Task Scheduler method, plus… Apr 29, 2024 Includes video
Ham Radio Installing KD2C HI-Z IF Tap Board Learn how to add a high-impedance IF tap to your solid-state transceiver using the KD2C HI-Z IF Tap Board, and feed an SDR panadapter without loading the IF strip. This… Apr 29, 2024 Includes video
News Is AM Radio Dead An in-depth look at the past, present, and future of AM radio, including its emergency communication role, rural importance, niche programming, and digital evolution. Apr 29, 2024 Includes video
News CB Radio's Crucial Role in Emergencies Why CB radio still matters when power, cell service, and the internet fail, and how everyday operators can use it for local emergency communication and community support. Mar 29, 2024