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I discovered Parks on the Air around 8 years ago when it was relatively new. In fact, one of my first HF phone contacts was a POTA station who kindly and enthusiastically explained what Parks on the Air was all about. It was new at the time. POTA is rather addictive. Most operators start by hunting a…
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You just got your first HAM radio. You turn it on… and now you’re staring at a blank screen wondering what frequency you’re supposed to try first. Join the club. Most new operators either leave the radio mostly empty, or they try to load it up with a bunch of frequencies they don’t really understand.…
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If you’re new to amateur radio, you’ve probably heard someone say that the FCC doesn’t really enforce the rules. It’s a common belief, especially among beginners who assume the hobby is largely self-policed. The truth is more complicated. There have been multiple recent enforcement actions involving interference, including large fines and serious legal consequences when…
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After my first POTA activation didn’t go as planned, it became pretty clear that a little preparation would have gone a long way. If you’re getting ready for your first activation, here’s what I’d recommend based on what actually matters in the field. If you want to see what happens when you don’t prepare, check out my…
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My first Parks on the Air activation didn’t go the way I expected. I showed up ready to make contacts and log a successful activation. That’s not what happened. I packed up my gear, drove out to a new park, found a good spot, and got everything set up. I was ready to make contacts…
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Introduction You are monitoring a local repeater and hear another ham announce their callsign, followed by “listening.” You key up your new HT (handheld transceiver) and repeat the other operator’s call, followed by your own callsign and a greeting. After releasing the PTT (push-to-talk) button, you listen carefully for a reply but hear nothing. What…
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Just got your Technician license and looking for your first radio? You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get on the air. In fact, some of the most popular beginner radios cost less than a tank of gas, and they’re more than capable of hitting local repeaters and making your first contacts. This…
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Thinking about getting your amateur radio license and wondering how difficult it is? Getting your HAM radio license might sound complicated, but it’s actually much easier than most people expect. You don’t need a technical background, and you don’t need to memorize a bunch of complex theory. If you were never skilled at math, don’t…
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You’re about to take the test and earn your Technician Class License, or maybe you just passed it and are waiting for your new callsign to appear in the database. Congratulations! Now you are eager to get on the air and make that first contact (after you get your callsign, of course), but you don’t…