New Antenna, New Key, and New Friend: QRP POTA at William B. Umstead State Park
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, November 8, 2025, we had an afternoon planned with the family in the Raleigh...
Category: Portable
KV4AN: Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast Activations in November
By Steven Krumm (KV4AN) The Gulf Coasts of Florida and Alabama are one of my favorite places to visit....
Black Friday Activation
Instead of heading out to the stores looking for bargains, I headed up to French Creek State Park (US-1355,...
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...
SOTA With Friends: VA3EKR’s First Summit Activation on Dogback Mountain (W4C/EM-066)
Many thanks to Scott (VA3EKR) who shares the following guest post, which was originally posted on his blog. Note that I (K4SWL)...
My 2025 Holiday/Black Friday Radio Shopping List — What’s on Yours?
Every year, we record a Holiday Shopping Show for the Ham Radio Workbench podcast. Most of us on the...
Final Bug-Out Month Activation: Rain, Wind, and Five Watts of Morse Code Fun!
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, was a gusty, cold, rainy day. Not exactly the kind of weather that puts me...
Pedestrian Mobile at Carl Sandburg: A Mini Field Report That Almost Wasn’t
by Thomas (K4SWL) Two days ago, I received this message from my friend Eric (WD8RIF): Are you planning to...
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...
One day, two radios and three antennas
As always there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
100 Milliwatts and a Wire: QRPp POTA at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site!
On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, my wife and I were driving back from visiting our daughter in Greensboro, North...
KK6IK: Fall Afternoons at Wilder Ranch State Park (US-1207)
By Scott Nacey (KK6IK) October 10, 2025 / November 9, 2025 It’s a little-known fact outside the San Francisco...
Hanging Out on the Higher Bands
I have always spent a fair amount of my HF operating time on the 40M and 30M bands, with...
KD9ZAB’s Quick QRP Escape: POTA at Fults Hill Prairie State Nature Preserve (US-4124)
by Adam (KD9ZAB) Sometimes radio isn’t just about the contacts — it’s about the excuse it gives us to...
Rain, Tea, and Morse Code: A Relaxing QRP Activation Under Shelter at Lake James
On my way back from visiting my father–driving through heavy, unrelenting rain–I decided to stop for a reasonably quick...
Five Watts and a Bit of History: Activating Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, we were in Greensboro, North Carolina, on our way back home...
POTA/WWFF & WES at Marsh Creek
I was out of town this past week puppy-sitting my grand-dog recovering from surgery. Although I brought my KH1...
KV4AN: Cumberland Mountain State Park Area Activations
By Steven Krumm (KV4AN) Cumberland Mountain State Park (US-2939) is a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era Tennessee State Park...
One Watt POTA Fun: Let’s compromise a compromised antenna!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, September 22, 2025, I visited my father in Hickory—in the foothills of North Carolina—and...
K4RLC: Radio Adventures in the Highlands of Scotland Gang aft a-gley
by Bob K4RLC & MM/K4RLC But Mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best-laid schemes...
Impromptu Blue Ridge Parkway Twofer and My First Run with the Ham2K PoLo Logger
On Monday, November 3, 2025, I had a handful of afternoon errands to run. I’d scheduled them so I...
Catching Up with a Friend and Logging 9,150 Miles per Watt from William B. Umstead State Park!
On Monday, October 20, 2025, I was still in the Raleigh area of North Carolina. That morning, I dropped...
Halloween Activation
I headed out this morning for an early activation at Norristown Farm State Park (US-4363, KFF-4363). Although it’s Halloween,...
The Ashi Paddle 45
After my inexpensive QU-21C paddles started acting up again during a recent activation, I went on a paddle binge,...
Unsettled Conditions at Evansburg State Park
I had some spare time this morning, so I made a trip to Evansburg State Park (US-1351, KFF-1351) for...