@Tank Radio
— · 18 videos curated
Personal first-person reviews and hands-on tests of amateur radio equipment and communication technologies.
All 18 videos
POTA Antenna Shootout Results: The Data Breakdown
Comparative performance data from three portable HF antennas tested in the field: contact counts, radiation patterns, and practical tradeoffs for different operating styles.
The Ultimate Local Comms Setup? NVIS Field Test
Hands-on field test of Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) antenna configuration for local and regional radio communication using the Alpha Antenna Hex and real-world contact data from the Texas QSO Party.
On-Air Antenna Shootout: Dipole vs Vertical vs Wire
Live field test comparing three portable HF antennas (dipole, vertical, end-fed wire) with real signal reports from across the country.
POTA Antenna Shootout: 3 Portable Systems Tested Head-to-Head
Field comparison of three portable amateur radio antenna systems (Alpha Dipole, Chameleon vertical, SpoolTenna wire) tested live at Cedar Hill State Park with real-world radiation patterns and practical use cases.
The Best Free Ham Radio Tools: HR4NT Apps
Overview of three free amateur radio software tools—Pocket Elmer, Antenna Forge, and Radio Rosetta—for learning, antenna design, and radio programming.
Overcoming Mic Fright: Getting Started with Amateur Radio
How to push past hesitation and make your first ham radio contact as a new operator, with encouragement from the welcoming amateur radio community.
Real-World POTA Antenna Test: Dipole vs Vertical vs End-Fed
Field comparison of three portable antenna systems for amateur radio, testing signal reach and radiation patterns across 30-minute on-air sessions.
The #1 Mistake New Ham Radio Operators Make
Advice on choosing your first handheld amateur radio and budgeting for reliable gear as a beginner operator.
What to Do After Getting Your Ham Radio License
Beginner roadmap for newly licensed amateur radio operators: choosing your first radio, making your first contact, and next steps after licensure.
Trunk Radio Mount & Simplex Test with K0WHW
Installing a mobile ham radio in a vehicle trunk, securing the mounting bracket, and running a live simplex transmission test on 146.52 MHz.
Mobile Ham Radio Install: Bulletpoint Dash Mount & Faceplate Setup
Step-by-step installation of a Bulletpoint dash mount for a mobile ham radio control head, covering drilling, hardware fastening, and reassembly.
What to Do After You Get Your Ham Radio License
Choosing your first radio, overcoming anxiety on air, programming repeaters, and finding local clubs—practical next steps for newly licensed amateur radio operators.
Mobile Ham Radio Install: Power Cable and Powerpole Prep
Step-by-step walkthrough of preparing and installing a custom fused power cable harness for mobile radio deployment, including soldering, heat-shrink connectors, and Anderson Powerpole assembly.
Mobile Ham Radio Setup: Trunk Mount and Cable Routing Installation
Step-by-step installation of a mobile transceiver in a car trunk, covering mounting hardware, power distribution, cable routing, and antenna placement for field operations.
Seeed Pager X2 First Look: Meshtastic Voice Hardware & GPS
First look at the rugged Seeed Pager X2: a 10km line-of-sight Meshtastic device with IP66 durability, dual-band GPS, and text messaging, designed for off-grid communication.
Icom IC-2730A Upgrade: Installing a Dual-Band Radio for the Tank Radio Satellite Kit
Fourteen-minute walkthrough of upgrading to an Icom IC-2730A dual-band radio, paired with portable power and antenna setup for reliable off-grid communications.
Seeed Wio Tracker Meshtastic Radio: Long-Range, Voice-Ready Hardware
Forty-seven-second review of the Seeed Wio Tracker Meshtastic device: 10 km line-of-sight range, GPS positioning, waterproof design, and readiness for voice messaging once firmware support arrives.
T1000 Update, Seeed Meshracker X1: Dualband GNSS & 5-Day Battery | Meshtastic
Walkthrough of the updated T1000E Meshtastic tracker: USB-C charging, dualband GPS, 8 km range, 5-day battery, IP66 weatherproofing, and voice/image messaging support.