by Michael Martens | Jun 27, 2017 | Amateur Radio
It’s good to get back. ARRL Field Day is an event that I seldom miss. Of the near 20 years that I’ve been licensed, I think I’ve only missed two Field Day events. Both times I was biking on a week long tour of the State of Wisconsin. So after taking...
by Michael Martens | Jun 16, 2017 | Ham Radio Q and A
Field Day is fast approaching and soon parks and empty fields like the one behind me will be bustling with activity. On the fourth full weekend of June more than 40,000 hams throughout North America hit the airwaves in what is billed the world’s largest amateur radio...
by Michael Martens | May 31, 2017 | Ham Radio Q and A
You’ve seen these printed on QSO cards, but what do they mean. I’m talking about grid squares, a unique method of geolocation that is popular with HF digital and VHF & UHF operators. When I say unique, I mean the grid square system has the ability to convey your...
by Michael Martens | May 23, 2017 | Ham Radio Q and A
Long time viewers of my Youtube channel know that I periodically do reviews of products that I find may be of benefit to the amateur radio community. Back a few months ago I reviewed the Iso-Tip Pro 50 butane soldering iron. This inexpensive portable iron has been an...
by Michael Martens | Apr 2, 2017 | Ham Radio Q and A
Today we’re on a fox hunt for a hidden transmitter. It’s just like the ‘Amazing Race’ but instead of getting clues, we are using radio direction finding techniques to search for the transmitter hidden somewhere in the city. On April 1st, 2017...
by Michael Martens | Mar 15, 2017 | Amateur Radio
It’s that time of year. We pull out the shoebox of receipts, gather all the statements, and begin the tedious process of calculating our income tax for the previous year. Now I must admit that the computer and tax software has made things much easier than it was a...
by Michael Martens | Feb 7, 2017 | Ham Radio Q and A
I enjoy searching for hidden transmitters. I did my first fox hunt more than 15 years ago and built a tape measure yagi antenna for that purpose. That antenna served me well and not only sniffed out hidden transmitters, but also located an individual causing...
by Michael Martens | Feb 1, 2017 | Ham Radio Q and A
Here in Northern Wisconsin we love our cold weather activities. And what goes along with that is providing radio communications for winter time events. Hams in our area have been active in parades, nordic ski events, and dog sled races. With snow on the ground several...
by Michael Martens | Jan 16, 2017 | Ham Radio Q and A
There’s a certain do it yourself aspect to amateur radio. Some take DIY much further than others, from simple kit building to elaborate home brewed radio and antenna systems. But eventually every ham will come to a point were they will need to solder something. be it...
by Michael Martens | Dec 30, 2016 | Ham Radio Q and A
Well, the new year is right around the corner, so lets take a look at the past year. Hi I’m Michael, KB9VBR, thanks for joining me on another episode of Ham Radio Q&A. 2016 was a great year for my blog and ever growing Youtube channel. I really appreciate all my...
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