by Michael Martens | Apr 29, 2015 | ARES/RACES
I’ve been a severe weather spotter for close to fifteen years. I’ve had my share of close calls, and even more so, I’ve experienced plenty of boredom. Being out in the field often is long stretches of nothing peppered with bits of extreme excitement. But for the last...
by Michael Martens | Mar 25, 2015 | Getting started
What’s the most popular band and operation mode in amateur radio? If you guessed 2 meter VHF FM, you would be correct. As new hams, our first radio is usually a small handheld model. This is a great way to get started in ham radio and connect with other local hams....
by Michael Martens | Mar 17, 2015 | Operating Events
Next to Field Day, my favorite operating activity is the Wisconsin QSO Party. Who wouldn’t love an event where your station becomes the sought after entity. So, for the 2nd Sunday in March, I fire up the rig and see how many other Wisconsin and out of state stations I...
by Michael Martens | Feb 25, 2015 | Amateur Radio
I love satellite communications. I get a certain thrill when I hear the satellite come up above the horizon and the static from the receiver all of a sudden swell with voices, beeps, and other noises. Likewise I feel a little sad when the pass is almost complete and...
by Michael Martens | Feb 6, 2015 | News
Radio Shack: that ubiquitous technology store that we all love to hate. How many disparaging names have you used to describe the place: Rat Shack, Radio Scrap, Radio Crap, etc. . . I’m sure there are many more. But the bigger question is, how will we fill that void....
by Michael Martens | Jan 28, 2015 | Amateur Radio
As ham radio operators, we’re always looking for a way to save a buck. I’ll frequently dig through a free bin of part, hoping to scavenge something for the next project. This scavenger mentality extends to coax feed-line. High quality coax cable can be expensive....
by Michael Martens | Dec 27, 2014 | Amateur Radio
In my annual retrospective, I get a chance to look back at all my articles on this blog and highlight the most popular selections. In publishing a new article every 1-2 weeks, there was plenty of content to choose from. What I find interesting are the types of...
by Michael Martens | Dec 24, 2014 | News
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from KB9VBR Antennas. May your holiday season be filled with peace and joy and plenty of rare DX. Did you get a new radio for the holidays? Don’t forget the antennas. The KB9VBR 2 meter J-Pole antenna or 2 Meter Slim Jim Antenna are...
by Michael Martens | Dec 1, 2014 | Amateur Radio
Shopping for your friend, family member, or significant other bitten by the ham radio bug can be challenge. Ham radio is such an encompassing field, that if you’re not in tune with their particular interests, you run the risk of getting them the wrong thing....
by Michael Martens | Nov 23, 2014 | Amateur Radio
Hamfests, the flea market of the amateur radio world, are part buying expedition and part social affair. Shopping a hamfest can be great way to outfit your shack, plus if you’ve been involved with ham radio more than a few years, a great way to connect and reconnect...
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