I like building things slightly more than I like operating them. Most days that means a workbench covered in wire, test gear, and radios that I swear I'm going to tidy up tomorrow. I grew up glued to shortwave radios and that habit never went away. Broken Signal is where I share the experiments, mistakes, and occasional wins that come out of that curiosity, with a healthy dose of humor, because if you're going to wrestle with RF and strange firmware bugs, you might as well laugh a little.
📻 QST Magazine Publication: My article "Boosting Engagement with Build Nights" was published in the January 2026 issue of QST, ARRL's flagship magazine reaching 100,000+ ham radio operators. The article details how I organized hands-on antenna building and kit assembly events at York County Amateur Radio Society, helping members gain practical skills while strengthening our community.
On the air as KD5W
I hold an Amateur Extra class license, the highest level, with callsign KD5W. I've been licensed since 2004, which means there are more than 20 years of time on the air behind the projects and explanations you see here. When I share results, they come from real stations, real contacts, and the same kind of gear many hams actually use.
You'll often find me on 20 meters, and this past summer I had a lot of fun chasing openings on 12 meters. I run FT8 quite a bit, but if there's a choice I'd rather run FT4, fast contacts and quick feedback fit the way I like to operate. Even with all the digital gear, I still love classic shortwave listening. There's something relaxing about tuning across the bands and seeing what random signals show up on a quiet evening.
Professional background
By day I build enterprise applications in C#. I've been working with .NET for 20+ years, designing and shipping software that has to run quietly in the background and just do its job. That experience shapes how I approach projects on Broken Signal, I like clear steps, repeatable results, and practical solutions that you can actually deploy at home, not just talk about on a whiteboard.
Building Broken Signal
My approach is different: entertain first, educate second. Whether it's making two ham radio experts build antennas from literal garbage, testing if Christmas lights work as an antenna, or diving deep into the technical details of ferrite chokes, every piece of content is designed to be engaging, practical, and accessible. I'm not interested in dry technical lectures, I want to create content that people actually want to watch and read.
Community leadership and hands-on teaching
I'm an active leader at York County Amateur Radio Society (YCARS, K4YTZ) where I organize hands-on build nights. These aren't just meetings, they're community events where members construct working antennas, learn soldering skills, and build confidence through practical projects. One member told me after his first build night: "I've had this license for years and never built anything. I finally feel like I know what's going on under the hood." That's what it's all about.
This real-world experience teaching and organizing events directly informs everything I create for Broken Signal, from detailed technical articles to entertaining YouTube videos. I know what questions beginners actually ask, what mistakes they make, and what explanations click.
How I create content
Every article on Broken Signal is built with three goals:
- Comprehensive and complete: When I write about RF chokes, I cover everything, theory, practical building instructions, comparison tables, and troubleshooting. You won't need to click through five different sites to get the full picture.
- Tested and verified: I don't just repeat what others say. I build it, test it, measure it, and document what actually works. Twenty years as an Amateur Extra operator means I can spot BS from a mile away.
- Accessible to all levels: Whether you're studying for your Technician license or you're a seasoned DXer, my content meets you where you are without talking down or assuming too much knowledge.
Topics I write about
Most of my articles aim to give you something you can try this weekend. If you enjoy mixing radios, code, and DIY projects, you should feel right at home here.
Radio and RF
- HF antennas and EFHW builds
- 40m - 6m operating
- FT4 and FT8 workflows
- SDR receivers and tools
- Shortwave and TV DXing
- Meshtastic networks
Tech and DIY
- Smart home and ESP32 projects
- Off-grid and solar power
- AI tools in the shack
- Home lab setups
- Retro tech and displays
- Garden and outdoor builds
Where to find me
I create content across multiple platforms:
- BrokenSignal.tv: Comprehensive technical articles, how-to guides, and reference materials
- YouTube (Broken Signal): Long-form videos combining entertainment with education, antenna builds, equipment reviews, field operations, and experiments
- YouTube Shorts & TikTok: Quick tips, project highlights, and entertaining ham radio moments
- Coffee and Ham Radios: Guest appearances discussing projects and techniques with the ham radio community
Away from the bench
When I'm not writing code or chasing a strange signal, I like being outside. Fishing, gardening, and general DIY work around the house keep me away from the screen and give me new ideas for future projects.
Where to start
New to ham radio? Start with the guides in Getting Started. Want to build antennas? Check out Antennas. Into microcontrollers and mesh networks? Head to Meshtastic. Everything on this site is designed to help you actually do something, not just read about it.