Round Two with the GRA-CFP2600
I made an early-morning run up to Evansburg State Park (US-1351, KFF-1351) for a quick activation. My plan for...
Category: cw
Whipping Up Some Contacts
In my last post, I mentioned how I damaged the telescopic whip, which is part of my Gabil GRA-7350TC...
Successful Activation with a Few Issues
I made a run up to French Creek State Park (US-1355, KFF-1355) for a quick, early-morning activation. While my...
Executing Plan B at US-1351
Sometimes things just don’t go according to plan. I have proven that many times over the years. My activation...
Introducing QSL Hall – A New Global Home for Rustic QSL Cards
A brand-new project has just launched for the amateur radio community: QSL Hall (www.qslhall.com) – an open, worldwide hall...
A Pair of Central PA POTA Quickies
My (far) better half and I spent most of the week in central Pennsylvania helping a family member recovering...
Another Mouse in the House
Last year, I purchased the CWMouse paddles from KN6FQM, and they have seen some heavy use in the field....
Hunting Skeeters in the Rain
I arrived home the night before from a week-long vacation in North Carolina and still had some unpacking to...
Outer Banks 2026
My (far) better half and I traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina last week for our annual...
Stormy Monday Activation
Angry-looking clouds. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions. That sounds like a good time to go activate a park with a compromised...
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...