I’ve been making annual top ten lists of my videos for many years. I find it really interesting, when I crunch the numbers, which ones resonant with the audience and which ones don’t. Sometimes I know when I have ‘lightning in a bottle’ and other times I am a little surprised when a video I spent countless hours on falls flat.
But the big takeaway is looking backwards is a great way to judge what my audience is looking for and helps in making future content.
Which brings me to this week’s video: These are the BEST! Top Ten Ham Radio Moments of 2025 You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/b13h9as7nWk
Top Ten Ham Radio Videos of 2025
10 Radioddity HF-009 https://youtu.be/MLJhdk15vr0
9 Alpha SS-34+ Whip https://youtu.be/0fA1qSpfegA
8 40 Meter Coil Project https://youtu.be/I6sgg5vA_J0
7 Vertical Delta Loop Antenna https://youtu.be/-WqOFKUKQaM
6 Small Shack in a Box https://youtu.be/eNIvf89TSf4
5 What Surprised me at Hamvention https://youtu.be/CaCjzGtM5Qo
4 Elevated Hamstick Antenna https://youtu.be/S6Ht6XtW6Q8
3 True Story of KJ6ER https://youtu.be/cClmWBYzNaE
2 Top 5 POTA Antennas https://youtu.be/Nz10os_lkCQ
1 Chameleon Faraday Strip Radials https://youtu.be/oMnQppoFhoE
Products mentioned in this video
Use this link and get a $15 discount when you shop at Radioddity
https://radioddity.refr.cc/default/u/KB9VBR
Purchase (tr)uSDX transceiver 5-Band QRP Transceiver: https://amzn.to/47pPcEK
(tr)uSDX Battery Kit: https://amzn.to/3JG5fV7
Chameleon CHA FSR Faraday Strip Radial System: https://chameleonantenna.com/v8f9al
Chameleon SS Whip (17, 25 feet) https://chameleonantenna.com/lqrccf
Chameleon CHA Blank Adapter: https://chameleonantenna.com/qccypf
Alpha Antenna 2-40M VHF HF Vertical Antenna, SS34+: https://www.alphaantenna.com/product/ss34-vertical-vhf-hf-antenna/?aff=48
My four most watched videos of 2025
What I found interesting is that the four most watched videos on my channel in 2025 weren’t created in 2025. Instead they are older content that has stood the test of time. Evergreen content is my goal and it’s part of the reason why I don’t try to chase the latest trend. Instead I work on reliably producing content that will deliver year after year. It’s a long game, but one that is working well for me. So let’s look at what gets the most views on the channel:
4: Five Clever Things you didn’t know the FT-891 did
This video, published September of 2022 had 26,000 views in the last year with a total viewership of 116,000. The Yaesu FT-891 is my go-to portable rig, and I made this video several years ago in an effort to combat some of the misinformation that this radio’s menu system is ‘hard to use.’
The Yaesu FT-891 is a full featured HF transceiver in a compact package. If you are a new or prospective user of this radio, you may not even realize some of the great features it has built into it. This video will make you an FT-891 power user in no time.
3: Build a Random Wire End Fed Antenna and Make Amazing Contacts
Coming out in November of 2022, this video had 29,000 views in the last year with a total viewership of 145,000. I really love non resonant antennas, and in this video I share some of the love and experience with them.
Random wire or non resonant antennas, can be efficient radiators and their ability to move from band to band with the aid of an external tuner is a great asset for the portable HF operator. In this video I show you how to wind a 9:1 transformer and put your own non resonant antenna on the air.
2: The Best Ham Radio Antenna: The KJ6ER (POTA) PERformer
Debuting in August of 2024, this high rising video had 40,000 views in 2025 with a total viewership of 77,000. When I talk about lighting in a bottle, this video comes to mind. Produced in 2024, it’s been a quick riser, and I’m sure it will continue to have legs.
Greg, KJ6ER’s, PERformer antenna is a 1/4 vertical radiator for 10-40 meters with an elevated counterpoise. While not a new concept, his is an elegant interpretation. Watch the video that set off the PERformer craze here.
1: Project E.L.F. – The History of Communicating with Submarines
Published in November of 2021, this video seems to surge about every 18 months of so. I had a surge in 2025, netting 125,000 views with a total viewership of 352,000. This video is a bit of a departure for me. Not really fitting the ham radio focus my channel has, it catches my interest because it contains communications, history, and northern Wisconsin.
Did you know that nestled deep in the national forest in northern Wisconsin was a not so secret base with a 37 mile long antenna? It’s goal, communicating with submarines deep underwater. It’s a curious bit of cold war history you may not have known about.
Finishing Up
It’s Christmas Eve as I publish this, which means that if you are reading this letter, it’s a good chance I am out doing my annual POTA until the Battery Dies. December 24 I’ll be out at the Mead Wildlife Area, US-4310 until about 21:00 UTC or when my 20ah battery gives up the ghost. Last year I netted 400 contacts. Can I beat that this year?
I should have more downtime over the holidays, so if you miss me on Wednesday, I will most likely be out again Friday, Saturday, and even New Year’s Eve. Merry Christmas.
I hope to get you in the log soon.
Michael
KB9VBR
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