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....
Category: MORSE CODE
Siccar Point: A POTA Activation at the Birthplace of Deep Time
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, June 20, 2026, my wife and I decided to spend the day exploring one...
The New Elecraft AX4: First-Ever POTA Activation on the Beautiful Berwickshire Coast!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Friday, June 19, 2026, I woke to overcast skies but otherwise beautiful weather. The temperature...
/PM: An Impromptu Pedestrian Mobile Two-fer in Berwick-upon-Tweed
by Thomas (K4SWL / M5SWL) On Friday, June 26, 2026, our family spent the day together in the wonderful...
First UK POTA Activation: Cheswick Sands Nature Reserve (GB-5716)
by Thomas (K4SWL / M5SWL) On Thursday, June 18, 2026, my family and I made the short trip to...
A Formula 1 Field Test: Pairing the Mountain Topper MTR-4B and Markus’ Legendary TP-III Paddle!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, June 8, 2026, I headed to the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge...
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...
Testing the New Tufteln Reel Antenna!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, I headed out late in the morning for a quick Parks...
Pop-Up Thunderstorm Forces a Mid-Activation Change of Plans!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, I made my way to the Zebulon Vance Historic Birthplace (US-6856)...
HRWB Post-Hamvention: Borrowed Gear, Good Friends, and a Brilliant Activation
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, May 18, 2026, I was still in Dayton, Ohio following Hamvention. I was there...
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...
Three Bikes & Three Hams: Playing Hooky from Hamvention!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On May 17, 2026, Eric (WD8RIF), Len (W8VQ), and I decided to play hooky from Hamvention...
From NPOTA to POTA: En Route to Dayton and Making New Friends from Down Under
by Thomas (K4SWL) Picking up where I left off after the last field report, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026,...
Ten Years Later! A Three-Fer at Tar Hollow with Eric (WD8RIF)
by Thomas (K4SWL) On the morning of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, I was in Athens, Ohio, at the QTH...
Don’t Worry… You’re Doing Fine
by Thomas (K4SWL) As you might imagine, I’m at the receiving end of a lot of emails and messages...
Lake Alma State Park by Brompton: A Hamvention Week Warm-Up POTA Activation With Friends
by Thomas (K4SWL) Tuesday, May 12, 2026, was a long but wonderful day—and the perfect prelude to a week...
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...
Morning POTA: Just Enough Radio Before a Road Trip!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On the morning of Tuesday, May 5, 2026, I had my bags packed and ready to...
Morning POTA: Taking the Argonaut VI Out for Fresh Air
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, May 1, 2026, my wife and I had plans to spend part of the...
Appalachian Trail Magic and a Trailside POTA Activation!
by Thomas (K4SWL) In March, our friend Emily set out on an incredible six-month adventure: thru-hiking the entire Appalachian...
Roadside POTA Twofer: Testing DB4REB’s KH1 Angled Pressure Paddles!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, I visited my buddy Vlado in South Asheville and, on the...
QRP in the Spirit of POTA at Marugame Castle
by Mark (JJ5GVY/KB2PIZ) Golden week in Japan is a 5 or so-day stretch of holidays to give the hard-working...
Testing DB4REB’s Clever KH1 Accessories on the Blue Ridge Parkway
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, April 6, 2026, my wife was meeting some friends at a café in Black...
VHF/UHF Lift and a First CW SOTA: EI3LH’s Marconi Day Milestones
Many thanks to Ian (EI3LH), who shares the following post, originally posted on his blog: Marconi Day: A Day of...
POTA with Friends: Zach’s First CW Activation, New Gear, and Tough Bands!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Friday, April 10, 2026, my friends Zach (AI4ZD) and his daughter Maggie (KR4FTN) were in...