Stormy Monday Activation
Angry-looking clouds. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions. That sounds like a good time to go activate a park with a compromised...
Category: cw
A Dog and and a Bumblebee
Once again, I was out in central Pennsylvania for a week. My daughter’s family traveled out of state for...
Trying a 29-Foot Wire with the KH1
When I tested a 35-foot non-resonant wire with my KH1 last week, I was pleased with the results. Continuing...
Trying a 35-foot Wire with the KH1
I headed back to Valley Forge National Historical Park (US-0761, KFF-0761) to try out an antenna configuration I didn’t...
Echoes of CW: A Signal Corps Tribute to Virginia L. Scott and the WAVES of WWII
Looking at this historic painting brings back a flood of memories from my own time in the Signal Corps....
Coast Guard Cutter Chelan: Biggest, Costliest Coast Guard Vessel of its Era
Take a step back in time to November 26, 1928, and take a look at what was then described...
A Pileup? What It Is And How To Work One
Welcome to the chaotic, thrilling world of the HF pileup. When a rare station or a Parks On The...
Brain Health and Parks on the Air
Got my N3ZN Single-Lever Paddle out of storage, along with most of my POTA station. Despite being homeless and...
What was your first major receiver?
I started in the ham radio and shortwave listening hobby in 1972. By 1975, this was my first real...
CQ WW WPX CW contest outlook
I have been running my WSPR desktop unit for almost 24 hours to get a better feel for band...
A Soggy Memorial Day Activation
The weather has really put a damper on this holiday weekend. Today was no exception. Nevertheless, I had a...
Got It Made in the Shade
We’re in the middle of our first heatwave of the year here in southeastern Pennsylvania. This isn’t my favorite...
Persistance is Futile (Sometimes)
Yesterday was the perfect day to be out operating in a park, so I headed over to Valley Forge...
Morse Code Day 2026
Happy Morse Code Day, a day that honors Samuel F. B. Morse. Born on this day in 1791, Morse...
A Surprise in the Mail
It’s been crazy around here in WB3GCK-land lately, so I’ve had very little time for ham radio. However, a...
Hacking the Ashi Paddle 45
I bought the Ashi Paddle 45 from N6ARA Electronics last year. While I like the paddles a lot, the...
Forty Meter Fun by the River
While out in central Pennsylvania over the weekend visiting family, I headed out early on a chilly Saturday morning...
VE3GFN
Episode 535 – Michael Goldstein – VE3GFN Michael Goldstein VE3GFN has spent more than 70 years in the hobby...
Coming Out of a Slump
I’ve been in a bit of a ham radio slump lately. It had been nearly three weeks since my...
Keeping My CW Fist Warm
My old, arthritic fingers aren’t what they used to be, especially when sending CW in colder weather. I’ve tried...
Farewell 2025, Hello 2026
Going out for back-to-back park activations on the first and last days of the year has become something of...
CW – A Workout for Your Brain
For those of us who use it, the advantages of the CW mode are well known. It’s efficient and...
TUMD Stainless Steel Paddles
I mentioned in a previous posting that I have a fascination (obsession) with unusual CW paddles. These paddles are...
Playing with Paddles in the Park
I headed down to Ridley Creek State Park (US-1414, KFF-1414) this morning for a pre-Thanksgiving POTA/WWFF activation. While I...
Fun Morning at US-1351/KFF-1351
It’s been a busy week here, with a major ARES-RACES exercise, medical appointments, and some unexpected repairs on my...