Few antennas in amateur radio stir up as much debate as the end-fed antenna. Mention one at a club meeting, and you will immediately hear wildly different opinions. One ham […]

The post End-Fed Antennas for Amateur Radio: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly appeared first on OnAllBands.

Last time we looked at using WinLink as an infrastructure-free method of sending and receiving email. It’s a great tool that is proven and reliable. However, sometimes you need more […]

The post Ham Radio EmComm Insights: A Look at the Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System appeared first on OnAllBands.

When I earned my ham license at ten years old, my dad didn’t have his yet. A few weeks after passing my Technician exam, we attended a SKYWARN training session […]

The post How to Navigate Being a YL in Amateur Radio appeared first on OnAllBands.

Much of what we talk about in amateur radio centers around a “bad day” scenario. Whether it’s a natural disaster, infrastructure failure or political unrest, we extol the virtues of […]

The post More About WinLink Express: A Look at Modems, Including the PXdragon DR-9400 appeared first on OnAllBands.

Antennas may look simple—just a piece of metal in the air—but they are surprisingly sensitive to their surroundings. Nearby metal objects and trees can dramatically affect how an antenna performs, […]

The post Ham Radio Tech: Do Nearby Metal & Trees Significantly Affect Antennas? appeared first on OnAllBands.

Many thanks to Ian (EI3LH), who shares the following post, originally posted on his blog: Two Elecraft Siblings Fight Each Other To The Death For My Last Rolo. by Ian (EI3LH) It’s been a funny old week here in Ireland, WX-wise. On Monday it’s howling a gale with the weatherman predicting the coming of a … Continue reading EI3LH: Sibling CW POTA Rivalry! →

by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, May 1, 2026, my wife and I had plans to spend part of the day in Carrboro, North Carolina. A friend had told us about an art store there, roughly 50 minutes from the condo where we stay in Raleigh, and we decided it would make for a fun afternoon … Continue reading Morning POTA: Taking the Argonaut VI Out for Fresh Air →

by Thomas (K4SWL) Tuesday, May 12, 2026, was a long but wonderful day—and the perfect prelude to a week filled with amateur radio activity. Hamvention week is always equal parts crazy and fun. Typically, I’m away from the QTH from Tuesday through the following Tuesday. I leave North Carolina on Tuesday morning, arrive in Athens, … Continue reading Lake Alma State Park by Brompton: A Hamvention Week Warm-Up POTA Activation With Friends →

Every year, Eric (WD8RIF) and I make the drive to Dayton Hamvention together and, as you’ll see in a few upcoming field reports, we always try to fit in a few radio activations along the way. This year, I spent much of my time helping out at the Ham Radio Workbench booth while Eric did … Continue reading WD8RIF’s 2026 FDIM and Hamvention Photos →

by Thomas (K4SWL) As you might imagine, I’m at the receiving end of a lot of emails and messages from readers. Sometimes people have questions. Sometimes they’re sharing field reports, telling me about an activation, or simply checking in to say hello. One thing I’ve noticed over the years—especially since starting my YouTube channel—is that … Continue reading Don’t Worry… You’re Doing Fine →

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode’s feature is Fault Finding…

Free Field Day CW training and practice The Long Island CW Club (LICW) is pleased to offer focused Field Day CW training during the month of June. These sessions are open to all Amateur Radio operators. LICW Tiles on the Air A fun radio sport for Hams that are active outdoors. Tiles on the Air […]

Yaesu announces new DR-3X repeater (video) This new hardware offers 85 watts of VHF or 65 watts of UHF continuous duty, while incorporating advanced audio signal processing and an innovative interference evasion system for enhanced operational performance. Yaesu Icom announces ID-5200 and ID-5200D radios Touchscreen control. Dual receive. Wi-Fi. Bluetooth®. Advanced digital connectivity… and this […]

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB,  Martin Rothwell (M0SGL), Frank Howell (K4FMH), Bill Barnes (WC3B) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode’s feature is New Lead Free Solder.

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Senator Ted Cruz Praises Amateur Radio Volunteers for Emergency Preparedness Project Pursues Mysteries of Sporadic E-Skip Open-Source Software Modem Called a Vara Replacement ARISS Announces Plans for Moon-Based Ham Radio Helping Girl Guides Earn Licenses in the Caribbean Alamogordo Hamfest Turns 40 This September Student Joins South Georgia Island Dxpedition Team Turn Your Android Phone into a Modern Ham Radio Transceiver Icom UK and Icom America Partner to Sponsor WRTC 2026

I started in the ham radio and shortwave listening hobby in 1972. By 1975, this was my first real receiver. It heard very well, and ignited my lifelong passion for radio. This old radio, the R-366/TRR-5, which is clearly identified on the faceplate in this picture of the military rig, had great ears. It was […]

I have been spending time reflecting on the history of our wonderful hobby, and this April 1946 issue of Radio News really grabbed my attention. It is such a fascinating time capsule because it highlights the exact moment when thousands of hams were finally allowed back on the air after the long, forced silence of […]

Senator Ted Cruz, in this pre-Memorial-Day message, thanks amateur (ham) radio volunteers who serve the public through emergency communications, readiness to meet public communications needs, and are ever-ready technical assets. Senator Ted Cruz Highlights Amateur Radio Public Service (Memorial Weekend 2026) Sen. Cruz highlights the role these amateur radio FCC-licensed volunteers have in providing essential […]

  I have been running my WSPR desktop unit for almost 24 hours to get a
better feel for band conditions ahead of this weekend’s CQ WW WPX contest. The bands I focused on were 10m, 15m, 20m, and 40m, using my
Hustler 4BTV antenna. The result…