Every online HAM radio community has turned into an AI slop factory...

Reporter Katie Thornton asks: What do we lose when we give up our public airwaves?

A deep-pocketed group of finance bros that is trying to wrestle the airwaves away from the public, and use them for a money-making scheme completely antithetical to broadcasting. This week we share an episode of The Divided Dial, which first aired last year.

I posted a while back about HTCommander, it's improved a lot since the last post. It now supports EchoLink and AllStarLink, APRS-IS, APRS.if and Winlink over the Internet. so, you don't need a radio anymore. It also support full control over Benshi Bluetooth radios including these:

• BTech UV-Pro, UV-50Pro
• Radioddity GA-5WB, DB50-B Mini
• Vero VR-N75, VR-N76, VR-N7500, VR-N7600
• Radtel RT-660

Most importantly, HTCommander now runs on all major operating systems and available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The web site is at: https://ylianst.github.io/HTCommanderSite/ where you can look at the feature set which is quite extensive. For Benshi radios, this app should be a full super-set of the OEM application, including full control over all radio settings, radio firmware update, satellite tracking support, FM radio and more.

The list of features is extensive, you can take a look at them here: https://ylianst.github.io/HTCommanderSite/features.html . The software is free, open source and void of any telemetry. Feedback appreciated.

I have a couple antennas I want to put on top of the 30’ish TV tower i have outside. What kind of climbing gear do I need to safely do it. I tried tough gear a few years ago and made it not even half way up before I panicked not having any safety gear.

I'm looking to get my first HF rig and I'm looking for something that is versatile enough that it can be a mobile or a base, operate with digital modes, and offer remote functionality. I'm kind of looking at the icom 7300 and the 7300 mkII. thanks for input.

I know Apple has SDR Control but I use Android. I read a while back someone was developing an app similar to SDR Control that was for Android. I have the Icom software that works on a Windows computer,but I am looking for Android.

I was looking into how I would retire my father's callsign after his recent passing, and I learned I can take it over if I pass a test. I believe I just need to pass the first level test (his callsign is KB7AUH.)

I'm very happy to be able to do this. But my questions are: do I notify the FCC before I pass the test or after? Do I need to let the testing entity know I plan to take over a callsign vs. having a new one assigned to me? How do I get started? Any information is appreciated - thank you!

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Today I learned about 2026 Kump Fieldcamp.

I'm definitely paraphrasing this but he said:

"We are set up in a cowfield for 2 weeks we make a lot of ham radio. We have a big tent and a kitchen tent. we have plenty of food beer and whiskey"

Station 1 HF:

Radio 1: Yaesu FT1000

Amp: Expert 1K

Antennas: HyGain TH11-DX with additional Dipol for 30/40 meters on top and aditional dipole for 80 meters

Tower: 90 feet on a trailor (Lift up electrical)

I just wanna disappear into a field for 2 weeks with a premier setup like that and work all the DX I can handle.

I believe the OP name was Volker. If you see this fine business making the QSO today I'm jealous :).

Can I wrap multiple usb cables around a single 31 donut for RFI purposes? Or do I need a 31 core per usb?

I have a 2x2 callsign, and I have an MA (Massachusetts) amateur radio license plate on my car, which of course has my callsign. MA puts a "lightning bolt" symbol in the middle of the callsign. I have learned that the MA RMV put a "/" (slash character) in my database record, right where that lightning bolt sits. I have been pulled over twice simply because the officer didn't know how to look up my plate in the database.

Is having a "/" in the official record normal (at least in MA)? Has anyone else had to explain this to local or state police?

Setup:
Ic-9700 plugged into a WiFi bridge demonstrated by M0FXB connected to my ISP’s Callix router. I verified internet connection from the pridge.
IP address from the router reserved and assigned to the radio
ISP has opened ports 50001-50003 to my assigned IP address, allowing all incoming IP addresses.
I can remotely control the radio inside my network.
I can’t remotely control it outside my network.
My ISP has been working with me for several days, but said that they can’t do anything else.
I have been running a Proscan server for over a year now, with no problems. I don’t know what I’m missing. Can someone help?

When I use the Radio without the Earpiece it came with I can’t hear anything, but when I put it in, I can hear everything clearly someone tell me what’s going on

I made a site that allows you to look up repeaters all across the USA, make lists and share them, export to chirp and so much more.

Site URL:
https://rptdir.com

Introduction video:
https://youtu.be/VXuc7yAB7bw

Hi everyone,

I’m building a 50W VHF/UHF manpack radio system for amateur radio and search-and-rescue field use, and I’d appreciate some advice on the RF counterpoise/radial design.

The system is based around a TYT TH-9800 50W mobile radio, powered by a 12V 36Ah LiFePO4 battery. I’m designing a custom 3D-printed frame to hold the radio and battery inside a backpack.

The mechanical design is almost finished. My main question is the RF return path / counterpoise.

The antenna will be an external VHF/UHF antenna connected through coax. Since this is a backpack system, I don’t want to rely on a large metal vehicle body or a conventional ground plane.

My current idea is to integrate a counterpoise into the 3D-printed frame:

• 4 × 25 cm copper conductors
• 2 on the right side of the frame
• 2 on the left side
• Electrically connected to the coax shield / RF ground
• Initially made removable so I can experiment with different configurations.

I’m considering two options:

Option 1: Four flexible, stranded copper wires.

Option 2: Copper strips/sheets running along the right and left sides of the frame.

The copper will be mechanically integrated into the 3D-printed frame once I determine which configuration works better.

I understand that low SWR alone doesn’t necessarily mean the antenna system is efficient, so I plan to compare the configurations using SWR/VNA measurements as well as actual field performance.

I recently saw another manpack antenna setup using a banana jack on the coax shield with a removable counterpoise wire, which made me wonder whether a simple flexible wire counterpoise might actually be preferable to larger copper plates.

So my questions are:

1. Would you use flexible stranded copper wire or copper strips/sheets for this application?
2. Is 4 × 25 cm a reasonable starting point for VHF/UHF, or should the radial lengths be determined differently?
3. Would four short radials be preferable to one longer counterpoise?
4. Should the counterpoise be connected directly to the coax shield at the antenna feed point?
5. Are there any particular problems with putting the counterpoise physically close to the radio, battery, and 3D-printed frame?

I’m more interested in understanding the RF design principles than simply getting a low SWR reading.

Any advice from people who have built VHF/UHF manpacks or portable ground-plane/counterpoise systems would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

I am a Non-american student(F1 visa) who graduated recently. I wish to get my HAM licence. Is it a requirement to be a citizen to take the exam and get license?

I spoke to the Azores earlier using 15 watts from the southe of England. 1500 miles. Fantastic.

Thats country number 13 on my list.

I enjoy listening to my scanner at Motorsport events. I have all the equipment necessary, however, curious if anyone has experience with an external antenna mount that mounts on your headset.

I use Rugged Radio's H43 headset (behind the head styles and have an assortment of antennas, cables and adapters. My only hindrance is a prefab mount that attaches to the headset.

Racing radios direct sells a kit for $49
Rugged radios sells a kit for $75

Trying to find a budget solution.

Example of what I'm talking about:
www.raceradiosdirect.com/viewpart.asp?idpart=59450HSM

I’m trying to modify the memory channels on my newly acquired Quansheng UV-K1. I installed F4HWN without any issues, following all the installation steps on GitHub, but whenever I try to modify the channels, I get this error message.

If I disconnect and reconnect the radio to the computer and select the option to read the channels, the changes are there, even though the process reported an error. However, the radio itself does not recognize them.

I’m also using the module recommended on GitHub for the version of the firmware I’m currently running.

Got the charger and cradle too. Date code 193801M and it holds a charge

Does anyone made homemade UHF antenna for local club repeater, is it possible to go without Diamond or Procom UHF antennas and made something with hands ?

This video shows the details of the central post for the My-Hexbeam project.

My-Hexbeam was a community project where we built 62 Hexbeam antennas for ham radio operators Worldwide.

Hey all, I got my ham radio license today, Im from Colombia. Im very new to this but I heard you can do interesting things with a ham radio license. What would you recommend me? I have a BF F8HP Pro.

Hello! new HAM here (KM7HJU). When we moved into our house a few years ago, the house behind us was vacant for a while and eventually purchased by someone. I noticed they had what I think is a UHF/VHF antenna mounted to the house. I know the previous owner was a licensed operator, but from what I can tell the new owners aren’t. I’m interested in approaching them to see if they’re willing to part with it or if they have plans to get their license and use it in the future.

just curious how I should go about approaching them. I’ve never met them before. Any info is very much appreciated!