Testing the New Chelegance JKEYER-CPO16 on a POTA Activation
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, my wife and I dropped off our daughter at college after...
Category: QRP
The Solar Cycle Is Changing. Don’t Panic.
by Thomas (K4SWL) Several people have asked me lately what it’s going to be like as we move out...
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...
Elecraft KX2 Side Rails: What I Choose to Protect My KX2
by Thomas (K4SWL) I get a surprising number of messages from readers asking which side rails I recommend to...
My New-to-Me mcHF: Building a Full Field Kit & First POTA Activation!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, September 7, 2026—Labor Day—I got up early and headed out to William B. Umstead...
One day, two summits, two failed attempts.
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
Tims Ford State Park: Proving New Gear in the Field
by Steven Krumm (KV4AN) Tims Ford State Park (US-2980) is a Tennessee State Park between Lynchburg and Winchester in...
Bug Fist Practice: Pairing the Bug Emulator and Begali Traveler for a Morning POTA Session!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On the morning of Sunday, September 6, 2026, I was in Raleigh, and our family, of...
KB2PIZ: Persistence Pays Off at Saltwater State Park (US-3262)
by Mark (KB2PIZ) Each September, I head to Auburn, Washington. This year I brought my Lab 599 TX500, an...
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...
Extraordinary SOTA on Vetter Mountain with N6ARA, KD7DTS, and K6ARK
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, August 22, 2026, I found myself waking up in California, preparing to do something...
Rainy Morning by the River
My (far) better half and I spent the weekend out in Central Pennsylvania to watch our grandson compete in...
A New Ham’s Guide to Overcomplicating Everything: 2M Satellite CW To Get in a Gang?
by Josh (VE3YTX) As a new Ham, I’ve been exploring the different pockets of our hobby. Recently, I caught...
A Hike by the Lakes at Banff’s Sunshine Meadows
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
The Chickadee Double Tap’s Maiden POTA Voyage & My New TR-25 Peanuts Pencil Case Field Kit!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Thursday, September 3, 2026, I left my house pretty early for a one-and-a-half-hour drive to...
Does a cross-border contact count as DX?
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
The Xiegu X6200 Returns to the Field: QRP CW from William B. Umstead State Park (US-2755)
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, August 15th, 2026, I had a full day ahead with family—most notably, moving a...
Four POTA Activations That Didn’t Go According to Plan
by Thomas (K4SWL) I often talk to people who are getting into POTA and SOTA, and they’ll sometimes tell...
More Gabil on a Table
One of my favorite ways to use my Gabil GRA-7350TC antenna is on a picnic table within arm’s reach...
Morning POTA at Umstead: Low Battery Forces One-Watt CW with Poor Bands
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Friday, August 14th, 2026, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina with my family, preparing both...
WR7D: A Very Moving POTA Trip
by Ken (WR7D) I previously wrote an article about a trip to Hungary with my daughter, who was working...
The Uncompromising Compromise
by Thomas (K4SWL) Over the years of doing amateur radio in general—and field radio in particular—I’ve talked a lot...
One Planted Mast, Two Countries: A Unique POTA Rove Across the Scotland–England Border
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Sunday, July 12, 2026, I woke up knowing exactly the type of POTA activation I...
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...
SOTA, POTA, and Pepper-Assisted Rapid Antenna Removal at Leith Hill
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, July 18, 2026, my friend Nick (M5NCW), his sweet dog Pepper, and I jumped...