amateur-radio
46 videos tagged amateur-radio across 4 categories.
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Should You Buy the ICOM IC-7110? Detailed Review and Assessment
Four-hour deep dive into the ICOM IC-7110 HF transceiver: features, capabilities, use cases, and whether it's the right choice for your emergency comms setup.
Nepal Floods: When Communication Fails, Ham Radio Can Save Lives
Case study of how amateur radio operators provided critical communication during Nepal's 2026 floods when normal infrastructure failed, and why disaster preparedness includes radio readiness.
Why Ham Radio Still Matters in the Age of 5G & AI
Why amateur radio remains critical for emergency communications when modern infrastructure fails during disasters, explained by a 40-year veteran of disaster-response radio operations.
One Test Away From a Different Hobby
53-second encouragement to pursue ham radio licensing, with a link to a free exam-prep course.
They Called This Hobby Worthless: A True Story
Historical narrative demonstrating how amateur radio operators expanded global communication networks, making the case for ham radio as a resilience tool.
Build a Link Dipole Ham Radio Antenna
18-minute walkthrough building and tuning a DX Engineering link dipole antenna kit for amateur radio, with soldering and assembly details.
QST: Ask Dave, September 2026 — SWR vs Reflection Coefficient
Eighteen-minute technical explainer on standing-wave ratio and reflection coefficient in amateur radio transmission lines, with worked examples.
Activating Six Parks in One Afternoon: POTA Mobile Setup and Antenna Tools
Portable radio activation demo using mobile HF antenna, battery power, and the Yaesu FT-891 transceiver for field communication across six Wisconsin parks.
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.
Making His First Ham Radio Contact at W1AW
A new ham radio operator makes his first QSO from ARRL headquarters, demonstrating the entry point into amateur radio for emergency communications.
Ham Nation #628: Huntsville Hamfest, Young Ham Of The Year, and Repeater AI Assistant
Amateur radio news, community hamfest coverage, and discussion of emerging ham radio technologies including an AI-assisted repeater system.
Elecraft K2 in 2026 - Outdated or Underrated?
Head-to-head comparison of a 1999 portable radio against the modern ICOM IC705 to evaluate whether legacy amateur radio equipment still holds practical value for field deployment.
The Redodo LiFePO4 320Ah Battery: Unboxing, Specs, and Solar Testing
Eight-minute review of a 320Ah LiFePO4 battery system: specifications, unboxing, real-world solar charging test, and practical applications for off-grid radio stations and home backup power.
A Passion for POTA: Parks on the Air Operating for Emergency Preparedness
Amateur radio operator Evan McPartland discusses Parks on the Air (POTA), a program for setting up temporary emergency radio stations in designated parks, and how to get started.
Welcome KJ5RCY Robert to Ham Radio—Repeater Etiquette and Best Practices
Fifteen minutes on amateur radio repeater etiquette: how to welcome new operators, best practices for checking in, and why community courtesy strengthens the hobby for emergency communication.
4 Rugged Handhelds Every Ham Should Own
Comparison of four weather-resistant ham radios for emergency communications, field operations, and portable backup use.
Ham Exam Preparation
Overview of amateur radio licensing, station rules, and communication procedures for emergency messaging during natural disasters and grid-down scenarios.
Four Decades of Service: One Mission: Keep Amateur Radio Alive
40-year ham radio operator recounts his journey from 1984 licensing through disaster response work and founding the Academy of Ham Radio to train emergency communicators.
Ham Nation #626: All About The Big E!
One-hour discussion of Sporadic E propagation, amateur radio news, and listener Q&A with Gordon West and other ham radio instructors.
Field Day Setup Party With W6TRW
Live coverage of amateur radio Field Day setup: portable station assembly, equipment demonstrations, antenna rigging, and emergency communication readiness in a remote location.
Why Amateur Radio Matters When Cell Service Fails
Discussion of ham radio's role in emergency communications when cellular infrastructure goes down, with political backing for amateur radio operators.
Serious Prime Day Deals
Curated Amazon deals on flashlights, radios, mesh networking nodes, power banks, and test equipment for preppers.
Introduction to Digital Modes
ARRL technical editor explains digital modes in amateur radio: what they are, why preppers should learn them, and how to get started.
Ham Nation #625: Prepare For Field Day NOW!
Preparation tips for ARRL Field Day, the largest annual amateur radio emergency preparedness exercise, including gear setup and last-minute logistics.
Satellite Operating for Amateur Radio – New Book from ARRL
Introduction to ARRL's satellite communications guide: basics of ham radio satellites, station building, making contacts, and digital modes for emergency connectivity.
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.
What is 44Net Connect? Why You Want To Access This Free System
Technical overview of 44Net, a free amateur radio network for emergency communication, hosted by John Burwell from the ARDC.
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.
USDX USDR v2 QRP HF Transceiver Review
Hands-on evaluation of a compact HF radio transceiver for amateur radio operators and emergency communications practice.
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.
Washington Governor Highlights Amateur Radio Volunteers Ahead of ARRL Field Day
Governor Ferguson endorses amateur radio's role in emergency communications, previewing ARRL Field Day 2026 and advocacy for residential antenna installation rights.
My Off-Grid Comms Server
Building a Raspberry Pi-based offline communications platform for ham radio operators with mapping, logging, and ICS forms.
POTA: A Snapshot of U.S. POTA Sites, Activations, and Activators
58-minute overview of Parks on the Air program participation, site distribution, activation patterns, and operator demographics across the U.S., presented by K4FMH to amateur radio emergency communications practitioners.
Senator Ted Cruz Praises Amateur Radio Volunteers for Emergency Preparedness
Senator Cruz highlights ham radio operators' essential role in disaster communications when cellular networks fail, citing Hurricane Harvey and recent flood responses.
Amateur Radio: CSI (Clean Signal Initiative) Goes Mainstream
52-minute technical presentation on the Clean Signal Initiative and radio signal integrity standards for amateur radio emergency communications, presented by Rob Sherwood NC0B to RATPAC.
The End of CHU: Canada's Official Shortwave Time Signal Goes Silent in 2026
Documentation of Canada's CHU shortwave time signal shutdown (June 2026) and loss of official weather radio broadcasts, with links to alternative sources.
Ham Radio Tech: New Presentation & Cool Technology
46-second overview of emerging ham radio technology and amateur radio gear shared with local clubs.
Event Support: Ham Radio & Modern Wireless Tech - WaveTalkers LIVE 124
Hour-long walkthrough of amateur radio and wireless technologies for emergency event support, covering FM simplex/repeater, APRS, AREDN mesh, bonded networks, and real-world deployment at a Boston Marathon qualifier.
The Best Radio Frequency for Local Communications
Twenty-one minutes on selecting amateur radio bands for disaster scenarios, with licensing guidance and practical frequency recommendations for preppers.
Top Prepper HF Ham Radio Antenna
34-minute walkthrough of HF antenna options for amateur radio operators, comparing types and deployment for off-grid communication resilience.
Changing Your Ham Radio Call Sign Using the FCC Vanity Call Sign Process
Step-by-step walkthrough of the FCC vanity call sign application process for amateur radio operators seeking a personalized call sign.
Listening to Voice of Korea on Two Radios
Side-by-side reception comparison using an SDR-Play RSP1a and Icom R-75 receiver on a 31-foot vertical antenna, with practical takeaways on equipment performance.
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications for Public Service
21-minute overview of amateur radio skills and equipment for grid-down emergency communications, drawn from 30 years of ARES volunteer disaster-response experience.
Flex 6300 and Maestro in Action
Five-minute hands-on walkthrough of a Flex 6300 software-defined radio and SmartSDR software after relocating the station and reinstalling the full setup.
Ham Radio Field Day with NFARL
Tour of North Fulton Amateur Radio League's Field Day 2022 setup: antennas, operating modes, live contacts, and a connection to the International Space Station.
ARRL Field Day 2022
Five-minute overview of ARRL Field Day: amateur radio operators setting up temporary emergency communication stations to practice disaster response and community coordination skills.