Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

Get ready to dive into the heart of the Northeast's biggest ham radio event—HamXposition 2024 in Marlboro, MA. In this episode, we sit down with Bob DeMattia, K1IW, the chairman of HamXposition, to explore the history and evolution of this premier event. Originally known as the Boxborough event, HamXposition has found new life in Marlboro, boasting better parking, more conference rooms, and a central location. This year’s event promises to be the best yet, with over 2,000 attendees expected. Bob walks us through what makes HamXposition a must-attend for hams of all ages and experience levels. From the mini Contest University to a wide array of educational forums, vendor exhibits, and a dedicated youth program, there’s something for everyone. Plus, don't miss the stellar lineup of speakers, including contesting experts like Tim Duffy K3LR, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Gerry Hull W1VE, and the renowned Space Weather Woman, Dr. Tamitha Skov. Bob also highlights the crucial volunteer efforts that keep this event running smoothly. Whether you’re a seasoned ham or new to the hobby, HamXposition offers a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes ham radio special. Tune in for the conversation, and if you enjoy it, please subscribe to W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio. 73, Kevin Thomas W1DED

Mark Wohlschlegel, WC3W, has had a distinguished 61-year journey in the world of ham radio, leading to his leadership of the DX Marathon program. Since taking the reins in 2022, Mark has overseen remarkable growth in the program, with participation increasing by over 50% in just the past year alone. His strategic focus on making the DX Marathon accessible to all hams—regardless of their equipment or experience—has revitalized the program and brought new life to the art of DXing, the pursuit of contacting distant radio stations across the globe. DXing, at its core, is about the thrill of long-distance communication. The DX Marathon, however, elevates this pursuit into a year-long challenge where hams compete to see who can contact the most countries and CQ zones. The beauty of the DX Marathon lies in its simplicity—no expensive gear or complicated procedures are required, making it a perfect entry point for newcomers and a fun challenge for seasoned operators. Mark has also made significant strides in expanding recognition for participants, adding more plaques and certificates to honor achievements and encourage continued participation. His dedication to outreach through platforms like Zoom has further propelled the program’s global growth, making DXing more accessible and exciting for operators worldwide. Whether you’re a seasoned DXer or new to the hobby, the DX Marathon offers a rewarding way to engage with ham radio’s most thrilling aspect. Join the conversation, explore the world of DXing, and see how you can push your own limits. If you enjoyed this discussion, please subscribe to W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio. 73, Kevin Thomas W1DED.

Gabriele Iuliani, IT9RGY, has journeyed far since his introduction to ham radio through the Scouts in Palermo, Italy. He credits ham radio with broadening his horizons beyond Sicily as he traveled extensively. Along the way, Gabry consistently sought opportunities to meet other ham radio operators and find stations to operate from. His list of special callsigns, contest stations, and countries where he’s operated is impressive. Some of the contest stations where Gabry has multi-oped include D4C, OM7M, 9A1P, OL7M, 4O3A, and IR4X. Gabry is widely liked and appreciated for the youthful and positive perspective he brings to amateur radio. I think you’ll enjoy this conversation with Gabriele, IT9RGY. Please subscribe to the channel, and thank you for watching. 73, Kevin W1DED

"Many leading contesters claim the WAEDC to be the most challenging contest of the year," says the official website for the Worked All Europe DX Contest. In this episode, the Contest Crew dives into the element that sets the WAEDC apart from all other contests: the QTC. Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, and Bill W9KKN explain what a QTC is, the protocol for handling requests, and demonstrate the process using DXLog. They also discuss other contest rules, operating tactics, and the significance of the WAEDC for those aiming to qualify for WRTC 2026. Join us for this episode of W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio and the weekly Contest Crew series. Please consider subscribing to the channel and sharing the video with your ham radio friends. 73, Kevin Thomas W1DED

Grace Papay, K8LG, has made a significant impact on the ham radio community since getting licensed in 2021 to honor her grandfather's 60 years in the hobby. Grace quickly became an avid contester, participating in numerous events, including multi-operator setups at prestigious stations like K3LR in Pennsylvania and J68HZ in St. Lucia. These experiences have helped her hone her skills and build lasting connections in the ham radio world. Grace is not just a skilled operator; she is also a dedicated advocate for youth involvement in ham radio. She has participated in youth leadership initiatives and mentoring programs, inspired by the philosophy of leaving the hobby better than she found it. Her commitment extends to her educational pursuits, with plans to study electrical engineering in college, influenced by her experiences in ham radio. Grace's story is one of passion, community, and the importance of encouraging the next generation of operators. Her achievements and leadership serve as a beacon for both newcomers and veterans in the ham radio community, showcasing the diverse opportunities and fulfilling experiences the hobby offers.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Craig Thompson, K9CT, about his outstanding contributions to the ham radio hobby. Craig's passion for radio, supported by his parents, led him to obtain his ham radio license at a young age, and his dedication has resulted in significant achievements. Craig is a member of the prestigious DXCC Honor Roll, having contacted 338 countries. His participation in numerous serious DXpeditions, including rare entities like Midway Island, Palmyra, and Navassa, has showcased his leadership, planning expertise, and teambuilding skills. One of his signature accomplishments is the creation of a world-class contest superstation in Illinois, which we discussed in detail. Most impressively, Craig has played a crucial role in promoting ham radio through various leadership roles. He has been inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame and actively works to increase the hobby's visibility, particularly among younger generations. His involvement with the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) and efforts to support youth participation in DXing demonstrate his commitment to the future of ham radio. Craig’s story is one of passion, dedication, and leadership. His accomplishments and efforts to sustain and promote the ham radio hobby continue to inspire the community. And he’s obviously having fun along the way.

Tim Coker N6WIN grew up in a ham radio family—his father, mother, and brother were all hams. Tim himself became a licensed amateur radio operator at the age of 11. Starting from these modest beginnings, Tim's ham radio operating soon turned toward competitive contesting. This path eventually led him to design and build the ND7K superstation in Arizona, along with his friend and world-class contester Dan Craig N6MJ. The effort has truly been a team approach from the earliest days, as Tim wisely reached out to hams with specific areas of expertise. Tim's teamwork philosophy extended to his multi-operator efforts, always aiming to win. His high expectations and leadership abilities continue to make a significant impact at ND7K. As a further example of Tim’s teamwork approach, he’s turned the keys to ND7K over to Dan Craig N6MJ for all the major 2024 contests to support Dan’s quest to qualify for the World Radiosport Team Championship 2026. Join me in this conversation with Tim Coker N6WIN for a look into the mind of an effective station builder and team leader.

Just 10 minutes after the CQ WPX CW contest ended, the Contest Crew reunited from their diverse operating spots to recap the last 48 hours. This live, in-person discussion brings to life what we usually only see on 3830 scores. Join the Crew as they delve into the intense weekend-long showdown between AK1W and ND7K in the single operator high power category, and the Montana KM7W team's multi-single effort. Expect plenty of insights, lots of laughs, and valuable perspectives you can apply to your next contest weekend!

In mid-June 2024, Tom Taormina will celebrate 65 years as a licensed amateur radio operator. Over the decades, Tom has built and rebuilt stations at the cutting edge of performance. He was a competitive contester who earned the top spot in the ARRL Sweepstakes. Tom and his buddy K5LZO innovated a lockout "octopus" that enabled them to operate two radios at once until the ARRL banned the process. He was instrumental in creating the North American QSO Party (NAQP), achieved #1 DXCC Honor Roll with 374 countries logged, and was inducted into the CQ Hall of Fame. Along with his friend Grady W5FU, Tom built the Nevada superstation W7RN and hosted a long list of elite, competitive operators. Join me in this conversation with Tom as he recounts his extraordinary ham radio career and achievements.

The WRTC 2026 is still two years away, but competitors are already working toward qualifying as team leaders, and observers are beginning to consider their travel plans. In this conversation with Mark Haynes, M0DXR, the chairman of the WRTC 2026, he highlights the many reasons to consider making the trip to support radiosport competitors from around the world. Mark and his committee estimate that over 500 people will converge on their WRTC 2026 headquarters and participate in the festivities. Join me for this short conversation as Mark updates us on the ongoing preparations.

The collective RTTY (Radio Teletype) experience between Ed Muns W0YK, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Randy Thompson K5ZD is formidable. Ed is arguably one of the most knowledgeable RTTY mode hams in the United States, with numerous entries and records in RTTY contests and positions managing the biggest RTTY contests in the world. Bill is a technically savvy operator who is engineering improvements in some of the best contest stations in North America and including RTTY capabilities in the mix. Randy simply loves any sort of radiosport where he can compete at a high level, and RTTY is no exception. In this conversation, this trio discusses RTTY from the basics to complex contesting techniques such as call stacking. If you’re curious about RTTY and would like to learn more, listen to Episode 14 of the Contest Crew. Thanks for watching and subscribing. 73, Kevin W1DED

Nate Moreschi, N4YDU, is an elite contester by any measure. His long list of competitive accomplishments includes entries as a single operator, multi-multi, multi-two, and multi-single. However, the numerous plaques on his wall and his World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) experiences only begin to scratch the surface of this ham radio operator, who often competes as NR3X and, most recently, as AA4NC. Nate's home shack brims with decades-old gear. He is not particularly fussy about the brands he operates, there is no climbable tower on his property (and he doubts there ever will be), and his collection of used and homemade antennas (he’s is a big experimenter) are not "superstation material." Nate is decidedly positive about ham radio, and his solutions for growing the hobby are refreshingly commonsensical: attend meetings, seek advice, get on the air, and absorb the magic of radio contacts. Join Chris Hurlbut, KL9A, and me for our conversation with Nate in Episode 13 of the Contest Crew. 73, Kevin W1DED.

Bob Wilson, N6TV, was a repeat attendee at the 2024 International DX Convention (IDXC) in Visalia, California. Bob started his amateur radio journey in high school and went to Visalia for the first time just before his freshman year at college. It's clear that Visalia holds a special significance for Bob. That early experience shaped his perspective about the hobby and contributed to his accumulation of expertise. In the decades since, Bob has become a well-known figure in the ham radio community. Now retired, he remains actively engaged in contesting as well as managing a side gig where he builds specialized equipment, like the Y-box, to improve radio connectivity. Additionally, Bob is a field tester for Elecraft, the popular California-based ham radio manufacturer. Bob Wilson, N6TV, embodies why attending Visalia, or any of the major international ham radio conventions, is a good decision: connectivity, camaraderie, and knowledge. Thank you for joining this episode. 73, Kevin W1DED

What if you asked some of the best ham radio contesters in the world for their list of the best, and worst, contesting habits? Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbutt KL9A and Scott Wright K0MD (aka The Contest Crew) had a spirited conversation about this very topic on our call this Tuesday night. They didn’t always agree but there was usually a consensus about the best and worst operating practices in the world of radiosport. Bucking all the usual training trends, the Crew didn’t simply rattle off bullet points from a powerpoint presentation, they explained each suggested practice, related it to their own experiences and debated with each other when appropriate. Per usual, there was a lot of levity in the conversation and no one took themselves too seriously. It is a hobby, after all, even though these guys would gladly out score you if you give them any sort of edge. Tune in for the ham radio banter and learn from decades of contesting experience. Thanks for subscribing if you have and please subscribe if you haven’t. 73, Kevin W1DED

State and Regional QSO Parties are a great entry point for new contesters and a nice break from the 48 hour madness of the major contests. They all have different characteristics and often dramatically different rules. Hours of operation are typically shorter and some have a unique focus on mobile operations. In this 11th episode of the Contest Crew, Randy K5ZD and Chris KL9A talk about their experiences with QSO parties, offer their unique perspective on what to expect, and have some useful tips. We hope you are able to join us, subscribe to the channel, and send us questions or topics for future shows.

Alex Tkatch KU1CW has a remarkable ham radio story that begins as a teenager in Belarus, continues with immigration to the United States, and then takes him around the world. He's closing in on operating from 100 DXCC countries, has 5BDXCC from two continents and has been a perennial top finisher in contests as well as an operator in three World Radiosport Team Championships (WRTC). I caught up with Alex in Ham Tien Vietnam where he competed in the CQ WPX SSB contest with a station he practically built from the ground up. The heat was rising, and his internet connection questionable, so this wasn't a long conversation but there was a lot packed into 20 minutes. I hope you'll be able to join us. Subscribe if you like what you see and look for more in the future. 73, Kevin W1DED

Bill Fehring, W9KKN, an architect in the computer security industry, was first introduced to ham radio by his grandfather. Decades later, Bill took over his grandfather's call sign and has continued his ham radio legacy. During his early childhood in Illinois, Bill was fascinated by his grandfather's radio shack and the mysterious contacts made across the globe. Despite initially drifting away from the hobby after his grandfather's death, a rediscovery of old radio equipment reignited his passion. Bill is currently very active in the ham radio community, especially in contesting, providing technical assistance and volunteering with clubs. He’s a member of the Northern California Contest Club and a perennial participant in the California QSO party which the NCCC manages . His commitment extends beyond operating to mentoring newcomers and engaging with the broader contesting community to maintain the hobby's viability. Bill’s story is one of rekindled passion and a tribute to his grandfather's influence, showcasing a journey full of learning, community engagement, and the continuous allure of ham radio. Join my conversation with Bill Fehring today on W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio.

In this conversation, Kevin W1DED interviews Tim N3QE about his experience in ham radio and his focus on analytics and statistics in contesting. Tim shares how he got started in ham radio and his passion for tinkering with electronics. They discuss the number of contesters and DXers in the world, with Tim using the Drake equation to estimate that there are roughly 29,000 contesters and 100,000 DXers. They also explore the popularity of different logging software used by ham radio operators, with N1MM Logger being the most popular worldwide.

The Florida QSO Party is scheduled for the last weekend of April every year (check WA7BNM). Chris Plumblee W4WF, president of the Florida Contest Group, discusses the contest's revival in 1997 and its evolution into a significant annual event - one of the largest QSO parties in the US. The Florida QSO Party includes fixed, mobile, and expedition stations with categories for different power levels and modes. There will be an effort to activate all 67 counties in Florida, making the contest appealing for county hunters and ensuring widespread participation. For more information or to get involved, check out the Florida QSO Party website or their email reflector. Tune in and join the excitement!

The very popular New England QSO Party will take place May 4-5, 2024. NEQP founder, and well-known ham radio operator, Tom Frenaye K1Ki joined me for a conversation about this year's event. Did you know that of the four largest state QSO parties - California (CQP), Florida (FQP), the 7th Call Area (7QP), and NEQP - that Tom K1KI, was instrumental in founding two of them? While in high school, Tom and his buddy, Chris WB6EUZ, started the first California QSO Party (it was later taken over by the NCCC to become what it is today). Decades later, Tom noticed that the individual New England states didn't have the critical mass to produce highly participatory QSO parties on their own, so he founded the New England QSO Party. If you’re interested in learning more, and maybe operating in the 2024 NEQP, listen to this interview with Tom.

As anticipated, my conversation with Kyle Krieg AA0Z in which he made the case for change in the world of contests has stirred up considerable debate. The online world responded with a spectrum of viewpoints, some in favor of Kyle's insights, while others questioned his knowledge of the facts. To dig deeper, I engaged with the Contest Crew, a group of seasoned contesters and former contest organizers, to dissect the core arguments presented in the interview and the subsequent online discourse. This dialogue promises to be illuminating, offering a well-rounded examination of the various opinions circulating.

Have you dreamt about operating from the Caribbean and being the DX? Dr. Bill Schmidt K9HZ has not only created a radio paradise for himself on the island of St. Lucia but his villa and amateur radio station are available for rent. If you're intrigued, listen to Bill talk about how he and his wife settled upon St. Lucia for their retirement home and how a simple ham radio setup eventually became two towers, a SteppIR antenna, Elecraft K4's, and more. Even if you're not planning a trip, hearing the story behind your QSO with J68HZ (or J62K in the recent CQ WPX SSB contest) will surely put a smile on your face. Thank you for joining us and subscribing to W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio where we bring you (at least) one interview with an experienced ham radio operator every week. 73, Kevin W1DED

The Contest Crew was busy during the recent CQ WPX SSB contest. Chris KL9A brought together a multi-single team from his Montana station KM7W. Dan N6MJ was single op from ND7K in Arizona. And Randy K5ZD was part of the V47T multi-single team on St. Kitts. You can skip the 3830scores.com comments and listen directly to the Crew talk about WPX in this episode. Since Chris was off doing a post contest vacation with his family, teammate Tim N6WIN sat in to represent the Shawmut Montana effort. Tim is also the station owner/builder of ND7K so his contribution to this episode was expansive. This conversation is packed with contest perspective, operating tips and team leadership advice. Please join us for the conversation and subscribe to the channel. 73, W1DED

James Gallo works tirelessly for ham radio. He seems to effortlessly, and simultaneously, support DXpeditions, Parks on the Air, and Special Events while also championing individual ham radio operators around the world. So, I wasn't surprised when James called to tell me about his recent efforts to create an international Special Event station (W2A is the American callsign) to support Autism Awareness during the week of April 1-7, 2024. James asked for an opportunity to talk about his plan in a short interview. If you want to learn more, go to W2A on QRZ. There will be information there on how you can sign up to support James and expand international awareness of autism.

Christopher Hurlbut KL9A has plans to get off the contest "travel circuit" and focus on his own contest station, the "Ranch" in remote Montana. In this eighth episode of the Contest Crew, Chris talks about his plans for the Ranch while crew members Scott Wright K0MD and Daniel Craig N6MJ add commentary about their own stations as well as Dan's contest station go-to, ND7K. You'll hear the decision process these contesters made in designing, building and evolving their stations while making clear that your station depends greatly upon your operating needs, physical limitations and budget. Please join the contest crew for their station building insight and subscribe to the channel if you like what you see and hear. 73, Kevin W1DED

Kyle Krieg AA0Z has made it clear how he feels about contests. He loves the idea of them, competes in them, and firmly believes that they need to change. And, he's not quiet about his views. You've probably heard him in online forums, on social media, and on his own YouTube channel. When I started the Contest Crew series, unsurprisingly, Kyle emerged as a loyal viewer and a persistent reminder of the "contests need to get with the times" mantra. Fully aware of the dust that might get kicked up, I invited Kyle to join me to talk about his ideas for contesting. None of the ideas Kyle presents are crazy, although he admits that he has some of those, too. Ham radio operators like Kyle, with his ideas about change, can be good for everyone. Take a listen and share your comments below.

To understand world-class radiosport contester Filipe Lopes, CT1ILT, you need only look toward his father, Jose, CT1CJJ. Jose was the role model that showed young Filipe the joy of morse code, the thrill (and preparation) of IOTA DXpeditions, the value of hard work in building a station and, most importantly, the camaraderie that comes with close ham radio friends. Filipe is now contributing his own unique skills to station building and innovation, bringing his close friends together to operate, and achieving extraordinary results in contesting with two (so far) appearances at the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC). If you participate in contests, you almost certainly have Filipe's family contest station, CR6K, in your log multiple times.

After one of our past Contest Crew conversations, Doug Grant K1DG, fired off an email reminding me that there are resources available to contesters - a book that he wrote (and that the ARRL publishes), and Contest University. So, I asked him to come on the show to talk about those resources. Doug is a worthy contest educator given his participation in 5 World Radiosport Team Championships (he medaled in 3) and his well earned place in the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. We also talk about learning options if you can't travel all the way to Xenia Ohio or just can't get the gumption to crack the tome that is "Contesting for Beginners" or the dense compilation of Contest University powerpoint slides. The bottomline is that you'll have plenty of options - including subscribing to this YouTube channel - if you want to learn about ham radio contesting. Thanks for joining the Crew for Episode 5.

Episode 3 brought the entire Contest Crew together from their far-flung corners of the United States: Scott K0MD from Minnesota, Randy K5ZD from Massachusetts, Dan N6MJ from California and Chris from Montana. The conversation focused on plans for the upcoming ARRL DX CW contest as well as tips to stay motivated, the art of multiplier moving, station rivalries, multi-op vs single-op, WRTC qualifying, club participation and Randy's unique version of non-serious contesting. The only thing better than this crew's decades of ham radio contesting experience is the friendly, fun-loving dynamic that is self-evident when they get together - even virtually. Whether you're a veteran contester, or a newcomer to radiosport, please join us for our weekly, informal gathering of the Contest Crew. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the channel. If you have questions for the Crew, send them to W1DED via my email address on QRZ. 73, Kevin

A handful of top-notch ham radio contesters have agreed to join me on a regular basis to talk about their contest experiences and best practices. In this inaugural gathering of the "CQ Contest Crew," Chris Hurlbutt KL9A and Randy Thompson K5ZD participate in a discussion about the recent North American QSO Party, Chris' experience with overcoming challenges at N9RV's contest station, and some sage operating advice from Randy. In the future, Dan N6MJ and Scott K0MD will also be joining the group to add their unique perspective. If you have questions that you'd like to have answered on future shows, send me an email (QRZ). Thanks for watching, and subscribing to, W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio.

Kevin Stockton N5DX is the unofficial winner of the 2024 ARRL DX CW in the Single Operator All Band High Power category. Like other US contesters at his level (N6MJ, KL9A), Kevin came from a ham radio family and began contesting under the tutelage of his father, Stan K5GO. Over a decade in the early 2000's, he participated in many K5GO multi-op efforts picking ups skills from his dad and his dad's buddies. He qualified for the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship in Boston. By 2015. magic happened when he began contesting from the extraordinary N2QV / WU2X station located in the Catskills of New York State. In-person operating quickly evolved to fully remote operation from his home in Arkansas and his winning streak in various contests have continued to the present. Please join us for my conversation with Kevin Stockton N5DX and if you like what you hear, please subscribe.

Propagation was outstanding during the second weekend in February 2024 and, by all accounts, the ARRL DX CW contest was one for the record books. Dan Craig N6MJ was operating SOAB HP from the ND7K superstation, Randy Thompson K5ZD was also competing in the SOAB HP category from his impressive station in Massachusetts, and Chris Hurlbut KL9A was on the 15 meter desk at perennial Multi-Multi winner K3LR. Per usual, the Contest Crew weighs in with insight about the weekend and what they encountered on the bands. The conversation is full of contesting tips and their trademark interpersonal competitiveness and banter. Join me for Episode #04 of the Contest Crew and don't forget to send me questions and topics for future shows with the Crew.

Marty Sullaway, NN1C, gives me hope that the amateur radio hobby will endure long into the future. He is technically savvy, operationally sound, and willing to commit the hours needed to be extraordinary. At a very young age, he’s already attained an envious level of proficiency. Marty joined me to talk about contesting in general and the recent ARRL 10 Meter contest specifically. For that contest, Marty operated ZF1A in Grand Cayman remotely with his usual team of top-notch ham radio contesters.

Veteran Ham Radio operator and contester, Fred Dennin WW4LL, explains the planning, strategy and execution behind his very successful (winning) ARRl 10 Meter contest entry. Fred explains that despite a last minute change in operating stations, moving to low power, and antenna issues, good planning and skills was able to overcome those obstacles. His team, operating remotely as PJ4LL from Bonaire, earned themselves the top spot in the Multi/Single Low Power category.

Jeff Pulver, WA2BOT, agreed to talk to me about his experience operating a remote super station in the 2022 ARRL SSB Sweepstakes. Not only did I get interesting insight into ham radio contesting, and the Sweepstakes specifically, but I also heard a fascinating story about how ham radio opened up an amazing, unimaginable, world of success for Jeff. Join our conversation to hear exactly how a 9-year old’s fascination with amateur radio led to contesting which led to contesting software development and eventually put Jeff Pulver on the cutting edge of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology and the regulatory decisions that created a new industry. If there ever was a story about how ham radio can contribute positively to a career path, this is it.

If you're interested in where the next wave of ham radio operators will come from, you need to meet Vicki Carnes, AD3I. Vicki is known as the "spark plug" in her local club, the York County Amateur Radio Society, and nowhere is this more true than in her work with the youth of South Carolina. Whether a chance encounter with a Cub Scout troop while on a Parks on the Air activation, developing a formal training course for Girl Scouts to earn their ham radio merit badge, or working with the local public schools, you'll find Vicki at the center of the conversation and leading the way.

Eric Olson, KD9TEZ (now KH6WI), is on active duty for the United States Navy in Hawaii. With 13 years of military comms experience, and the desire to add an engaging pastime to his schedule, becoming a licensed amateur radio operator was a natural. Given strict restrictions to operating from his home QTH, Eric immersed himself in Parks on the Air. This was fortuitous for all of us who needed a park activation in Hawaii to fully complete the Worked All States award. Eric has been nominated as an outstanding operator and recognized as such by Parks on the Air.

John Gendron, NJ4Z, recently returned from a 7-day DX Parks on the Air activation at K-0066 Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, USVI. John also operated with his club callsign, KP2/K4YTZ, while putting over 2300 contacts in the log. In this interview, John talks about the impetus to activate St. John, the preparation involved, the gear he chose to take on the plane, and the lessons he learned for his next POTA DX trip. John also speaks to the impact that Parks on the Air has had on his club, the York County Amateur Radio Society, and the overall ham radio community.

Iliyas Campbell, MM0MMN, has been traveling Scotland to activate parks, many for the first time, for Parks on the Air hunters everywhere. The photos and videos that he takes along the way are stunning and another reminder of why many ham radio operators enjoy operating portably. Iliyas talks about specific activation locations, the gear that he takes along, and how he operates from his home near Gleneagles Scotland.

Curtis Turner, KB3CMT, first responded to a Parks on the Air activator, KB3WAV, in 2018. After learning more about the program by listening, observing and making contacts with activators (hunting in Parks on the Air parlance), Curtis eventually made a decision to go to a POTA approved park, setup a portable ham radio station, and make the 10 QSO minimum required to have an official POTA activation. Curtis hasn’t looked back since as he’s racked up a very impressive set of statistics that have placed him in the top 50 activators world wide in terms of all-time unique parks activated, total parks activated and total contacts from those parks. Per usual, those that went before the rest of us have much to offer in terms of equipment choices, setup decisions and operating techniques.

Bob Farquharson has 543 Parks on the Air activations placing him 43rd worldwide (at the time of this interview) on the all-time top activator’s list. He is also one of only six amateur radio operators recognized with the Bailey-Sprott award for those few activators that have activated a park every day in 2022. In addition to POTA, Bob is passionate about Summits on the Air (SOTA). In this conversation, Bob shares his insight into planning, equipment choices, safety and his unique experience with harsh weather activations in Northern Maine.

Jim Cruz is currently at the top of the Parks on the Air leaderboard for number of unique parks activated in 2022. Jim has activated a mind-boggling 633 unique parks this year with two more months to go. When I saw his callsign on the POTA website with his associated statistics, I knew Jim's insight would be invaluable for my own POTA journey. Like POTA founder and president, Jason Johnston, W3AAX, Jim told me that he doesn’t do interviews despite having had several requests. I took this as a reflection of the man I’ve gotten to know; a man who is modest about his accomplishments and activates primarily to satisfy his own internal drive to plan, execute and succeed. I’m honored that he agreed to appear in this video interview to impart some of his vast knowledge and operating stories to the ham radio community. And, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Thank you for watching today on W1DED in Maine.

Jason Johnston is the founder and president of the wildly successful Parks on the Air (POTA) program. With over 325,000 participants since the program’s inception in 2017, Parks on the Air, and it’s underlying principles, clearly resonates deeply within the ham radio community. Parks on the Air encourages amateur radio operators to develop the expertise to operate portably while visiting qualifying national and state parks. The hams that do so are called Activators and those that make contact with them are referred to as Hunters. With over 9,000,000 QSO’s logged to-date, and the rapid expansion of the program worldwide, Parks on the Air has earned a special status in the ever evolving world of amateur radio.

If you enjoy the challenge of portable ham radio operations and, specifically, activating Parks on the Air, you should watch this fast-paced summary of a 4-day POTA trip to coast of Maine. The video includes insight into the various unique parks that were activated (13 total), radio and antenna setup, and operating results. If you're planning a trip to Maine, this video will provide you some perspective. If you're planning to activate anywhere, and especially multiple parks in a day, this will be guide in how to prepare and execute your activations. If you want to be reminded that often activations don't go as planned, there is that too

Fred Dennin, WW4LL, has been part of the ham radio community the majority of his life. He's an avid DXer, competitive contester, and co-owner of BeLoud.US, providing remote access ham radio super stations located around the world. Fred was first licensed as a kid in Muncie, Indiana and spent lots of time operating with his best friend Steve Narducci, W9SN. Decades later, after many successful contest efforts but realizing their stations in Georgia (WW4LL) and Tennessee (W9SN) were just not enough to compete against the geographically advantaged Northeast operators. They began a search for land in Aroostook County Maine, did extensive viability testing, and ultimately found themselves in business together with their first remote access ham radio station. Listen to Fred talk about these experiences firsthand in this episode of W1DED in Maine. Thank you for joining the conversation.

Seasoned ham radio contesters, Chris Hurlbut KL9A and Dan Craig N6MJ, were able to join me late Monday night for our weekly Contest Crew discussion. They responded to questions posed by a couple of relative newcomers to the contest world, N0GJW and M6ECG. Per usual, their answers and perspective are useful reminders of what to do, and not to do, when working the pile-ups. Despite being undisputed champs, these two are also well known for their humor, humility and willingness to help the rest of us improve our skills. Join me for this second episode of the Contest Crew and subscribe if you like what you hear. PS. Randy K5ZD and Scott K0MD couldn't join us this week but they'll be back for future Contest Crew conversations.

Max George NG7M was one of the ten W8S ham radio operators to activate Swains Island in October 2023. Despite elaborate planning that spanned years and continents, their path included damaged crates, missing gear, delayed boat transport, debilitating illness, relentless mosquitoes and unbearable, sweltering heat. With thousands of QSO's in their logs, and the team safely back home, Max talks about some of the highs and lows of the 2023 Swains Island DXpedition. If you've ever wondered what needed to happen to get W8S in your log, listen to Max tell his story in this short video interview.

Philipp Springer, DK6SP, was only 10 years old when he was first licensed (2008) and immediately became hooked on ham radio contesting. The specific interest took him to the 2018 World Radiosport Team Championship in Germany where he operated as Y82D. Although Philipp continues to study for his Master of Science degree in Logistics and Digitalization, he finds time to engage in ham radio leadership in very meaning ways. He is currently a board director of the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation, the president of the German DX Foundation, and a contest committee member with Youngsters on the Air. He’s also been the chair of the IARU Region I Youth Working Group. Philipp has some interesting, and very positive, perspective about youth in ham radio that focuses on networking and developing relationships with older amateur radio operators. Beyond contesting, Philipp has a particular interest in operating from DX locations and has an impressive list of countries where he has operated including 9A, 9J, A4, EI, ES, GW, P4, PJ2, PJ4, W8 and Z6. Listening to Philipp speak, and considering his oversized role in this hobby, will leave you encouraged about the future of ham radio. Thank you for watching, and subscribing, to W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio.

Established in 1964, long before the internet revolutionized our world, the mechanical Geochron world clock stood as a marvel. It elegantly anticipated sunrise and sunset times worldwide, while also displaying the current global time. Notably, President Ronald Reagan presented a Geochron to Mikhail Gorbachev, symbolizing American innovation. This remarkable timepiece even made an appearance in the movie "The Hunt for Red October." Despite the internet's widespread influence, Geochron continued to produce a limited quantity of mechanical clocks. It was during this era that Patrick Nolan, KJ7ZSU, found himself in possession of one of these clocks in need of repair. To his surprise, he discovered that they were manufactured not far from his home. This revelation and subsequent interactions inspired him to acquire the company. In this interview with Patrick Bolan, we delve into his journey and challenges as he transitioned the company into the digital age, expanding its presence in ham radio enthusiasts' setups worldwide. Learn more about how the digital Geochron now tracks the grey line, satellites, QSOs, propagation, and more, catering to ham radio operators' evolving needs.