/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...
Category: MORSE CODE
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...
Johnston Mill State Nature Preserve (US-3859) – A Pedestrian Mobile Slog with a Surprise Finish!
by Thomas (K4SWL) Yesterday—Friday, May 1, 2026—my wife and I had a full day in the Raleigh–Durham area of...
RARSfest Road Trip + A Spontaneous POTA Activation with Vlado
by Thomas (K4SWL) The first weekend of April 2026 was the RARSfest in Raleigh. Even though I had just...
N1RWJ: My First CW POTA Activation (Don’t Wait to Try It!)
by Rob (N1RWJ) There’s a point in learning CW where you know enough to get on the air—but not...