@KM4ACK
— · 74 videos curated
Off-grid ham radio, digital modes, Raspberry Pi field setups.
All 74 videos
I Can Hand This to Anyone
Review of the ThinkNode M9, a standalone mesh communicator with physical keyboard that requires no smartphone app or Bluetooth pairing.
Diamond CR320A Tri Band Ham Radio Antenna
Overview of the Diamond CR320A tri-band antenna for ham radio communication and emergency preparedness.
No Holes Drilled Here's How: Icom ID5200
Install a dual-band D-STAR mobile radio in your truck without drilling dash holes, using a vehicle-specific mount.
Your New ID-5200 Is Already Out of Date
Step-by-step walkthrough of updating Icom ID-5200 D-STAR radio firmware via micro SD card.
Your Whole Shack, In Your Pocket
Configure ham radio remotely from phone or laptop using POTACAT software and ECHOCAT companion app, with strategies for reaching your station without port forwarding.
VTOMAN Flashspeed 300 Power Station
Overview of the VTOMAN Flashspeed 300 portable power station for emergency backup and off-grid power needs.
Does Your Solar Setup Need A Charge Controller
Learn what charge controllers do, why they matter for battery longevity, and when you actually need one in a solar power system.
This Free App Replaces Half My Ham Software
Tour of HTCommander, a free open-source app that integrates APRS messaging, Winlink email, packet radio, and satellite tracking for amateur radio operators.
Icom 5200 APRS with Linux Mint and YAAC
Configure APRS tracking on an Icom 5200 radio using Linux Mint and YAAC software for emergency communication.
Stop Reprogramming Your Kenwood D750 - PM (Programmable Memory)
Configure your Kenwood TM-D750 mobile radio once, then switch between complete operational profiles with a single button press.
Off Grid Solar Charging
Overview of solar charging equipment and methods for off-grid power generation and battery management.
They Fixed the One Thing I Hated
Test USB cables for data transfer, charging capability, and faults across multiple connector types to avoid failures in the field.
Everything Hiding Inside
Review of the Klein 11-in-1 ratcheting multi-bit screwdriver and nut driver for radio, antenna, and shack projects.
This Power Bank Has a Secret
Real-world test of a compact 27000mAh power bank with built-in 110V AC inverter for running household devices off battery.
Amazon Big Deal Prime Days
Survey of radios, test equipment, power banks, tools, and lights suitable for amateur radio and emergency preparedness.
The Solar Adapter Every Go Bag Needs
Test and learn how a direct solar-to-USB-C adapter simplifies emergency power without batteries or charge controllers.
Icom 5200 Struggle Stream
Walk through Icom 5200 unboxing, Bluetooth TNC setup, and initial configuration for digital radio modes.
Stop Guessing Your Kenwood D750 APRS Settings
Configure your Kenwood D750 APRS radio for mobile tracking, emergency comms, and network efficiency with reasoned settings guidance.
Kenwood D750 Review
Balanced assessment of the Kenwood D750 mobile radio's strengths, limitations, and practical considerations for ham operators.
I Added Solar to My Truck's Power System, Here's the Zoupw 450W Panel I Chose
Evaluate a 450W portable solar panel for vehicle-based off-grid power, covering efficiency specs and deployment strategy.
I Almost Set Myself Up To Fail
Real-world test of a 350Wh portable power station charging three devices simultaneously over 30 days using solar panels and variable weather.
Installing the Kenwood TM-D750 in a Ford F250
Practical walkthrough of dual-band mobile radio installation, covering real-world wiring, routing, and mounting challenges for emergency communications.
Building the Ultimate Truck Power System, Part 1: The Battery
Deep dive into selecting and sizing a 460Ah LiFePO4 battery as the foundation of a mobile off-grid power system.
Simple Clamp Solved a Big Problem
How a universal mast clamp design accommodates three common diameters for portable field equipment mounting.
Stop Buying Separate Radios for Every Mode
Evaluate the Allnode Plus hotspot as a consolidated solution for AllStar, EchoLink, and digital modes in portable ham radio setups.
Which HT Actually Works For Shortwave Listening
Comparative testing of five handheld radios for shortwave reception quality to guide equipment selection.
Why Hams Are Obsessed With This
Field antenna mounting solutions for portable ham radio operations, from military mast guy rings to tripod adapters.
Stop Paying a Subscription: HelioClock
Build a self-hosted situational awareness display for ham radio and emergency operations using free public data feeds.
Huntsville Hamfest Walk Through 2026
Tour a major amateur radio equipment marketplace to survey available gear, vendors, and current pricing for communications infrastructure.
No Shore Power, No Generator, Still Cold Air
Install and evaluate a 12V rooftop air conditioner on an off-grid emergency communications trailer for sustained operator comfort.
Why The Director Ignored The Radio
How ham radio operators used APRS mapping and messaging to give emergency planners real-time situational awareness during a county EOC drill.
Stop Wiring Solar Panels Wrong
Learn how to safely connect solar panels by understanding voltage, current, polarity, and proper charge controller integration before assembly.
I Ditched My Wall Charger - Zoupw 110W
Real-world 30-day test of whether a 110W bifacial solar panel and battery bank can sustain daily smartphone charging without grid power.
Solar Node Solved My RV Meshcore Problem - Elecrow M6 Solar Repeater
Field test of a compact solar-powered Meshtastic node for reliable off-grid mesh coverage in RV and remote camping conditions.
Can Software Replace a Net Control Operator?
Learn how Net Central automates amateur radio emergency net management with real-time dashboards, position tracking, and automated reporting.
I Tested Every Feature On The Setpower DT45 So You Do Not Have To
Real-world performance testing of a dual-zone 12V refrigerator-freezer for off-grid and mobile use, with power-draw data.
Are the Specs Lying?
Real-world solar charging test reveals the gap between manufacturer specs and actual power delivery into a portable power station.
This 25 Lb Battery Ran My Fridge For How Long?
Real-world runtime testing of a 1024Wh portable power station running refrigerators, freezers, and simultaneous appliances during outages.
The Dark Side No One Talks About
Learn where AI-generated ham radio code succeeds and fails, and what technical knowledge you need to catch critical mistakes before deployment.
My Complete RV Ham Radio Setup Explained
Walk through a fully mobile ham radio station: power generation, HF/VHF radios, APRS, and real-world mesh networking tests from an RV.
Think Hamfests Are Dead Think Again
Tour a regional ham radio hamfest to discover used equipment deals, vendor networks, and how these gatherings sustain amateur radio communities.
4 Rugged Handhelds Every Ham Should Own
Comparison of four weather-resistant ham radios for emergency communications, field operations, and portable backup use.
The Shortcut Nobody Uses
Use APRS beacon position and APRSLink to automatically locate the nearest Winlink packet gateway for off-grid messaging.
The Radio Wouldn't Stop Transmitting — Here's Why
Diagnose and fix radio transmission lock-up caused by poorly shielded USB cables in digital mode operations.
BougeRV T1 & CL03 Camping Lantern
Review and comparison of two battery-powered camping lanterns for emergency lighting and off-grid use.
Prime Day Deals RV Edition
Survey of Amazon Prime Day discounts on RV gear including cooling, water systems, lighting, and campsite equipment.
Most HTs Cannot Do This
Review of two Retevis handheld radios with emphasis on the amateur model's standout feature and practical portable radio capabilities.
I Powered a 20W HF Radio With What!
Learn to measure actual power draw and battery runtime of portable ham radios using an inexpensive USB tester.
The Reason Your USB Device Won't Connect
Learn to identify which USB cables support data transfer versus charging only, a critical troubleshooting skill for radio programming and digital interfaces.
Serious Prime Day Deals
Curated Amazon deals on flashlights, radios, mesh networking nodes, power banks, and test equipment for preppers.
The USB C Trick That Powers My Radio
Build a self-sustaining field radio setup using a power station, solar panel, and USB C trigger cable for portable communications.
A 30 Foot Mast Solves Field Day Coverage
Plan portable mesh repeater deployments using height testing to ensure reliable emergency communications coverage across a site.
The Secret Ham Radio Travel Hack
Learn to use APRS.fi heat maps to verify radio coverage before traveling, ensuring reliable amateur radio connectivity on the road.
The Hidden MPAD Feature Most Hams Never Use
Learn how to send complete position reports via email using APRS and MPAD, with no internet required—useful for emergency communications and remote operations.
One Box, Every Digital Mode
Unbox and set up the HamSpot 5 multimode digital hotspot, a budget-friendly alternative to premium options that supports DMR, D-STAR, YSF, P25, and NXDN.
$2500 Bought Us Insane Coverage
Install a mountain-top LoRa mesh repeater for $2500 to extend off-grid communication range across a region.
Most Hams Don't Know How Easy APRS Is on a Pi Zero 2W
Step-by-step tutorial to build a low-power APRS station using a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, sound card interface, and GPS receiver.
Simple Gear, Real Results
Field test of Winlink packet radio from roadside using a handheld transceiver and smartphone over Bluetooth.
My Off-Grid Comms Server
Building a Raspberry Pi-based offline communications platform for ham radio operators with mapping, logging, and ICS forms.
The Coolest Ham Radio Project You Haven't Heard About
Tour of Graywolf, an all-in-one APRS station with web UI that simplifies setup of beacons, digipeaters, and iGates.
The Comment Section Was Right
Step-by-step walkthrough of flashing a Seeed Solar node with MeshR firmware, configuring repeater settings, and troubleshooting initial deployment.
Still Using Stock HT Batteries? Watch This First
Kevin W0AEZ demonstrates his extended-capacity HT battery packs with USB-C fast charging, user-serviceable design, and ASA construction for thermal durability.
Why VARA HF Is Replacing 300 Baud Packet for APRS
A technical overview of VARA's weak-signal performance and forward error correction, plus a step-by-step build guide for a Windows stick-PC based mobile APRS tracker.
The Best Antenna You Can Buy - N9TAX
N9TAX describes his handmade dual-band J-pole antennas, explaining construction details, connector options, cable lengths, and why he uses different twin-lead sizes for UHF versus dual-band models.
Dayton Hamvention Floor Walk 2026
Two operators walk the Dayton Hamvention vendor floor, stopping at booths for digital HF modems, mesh networking gear, mobile antennas, and QRP kits.
I Built the Ultimate Road Trip Communications Kit
Icom 5200 With APRS!!
Forget the Specs — Here’s What This Power Station Actually Does
The TD H9’s Secret Feature No One Talks About
4 Hours of Battery… But the Event Lasted 8 😬
I Stopped Programming My Ham Radio… ChatGPT Does It Better
The Best Antenna Isn’t What You Think
The Hidden Capabilities of the Nomad Raspberry Pi
