The latest proposed bill aiming to protect amateur radio operators from Homeowner’s Association (HOA) overreach and municipal regulations is the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act of 2024. This bipartisan bill, introduced in early 2024 by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), seeks to grant amateur radio operators the…
If you’re into ham radio, you probably have a few SDR radios that came from China squirreled away in a drawer somewhere. Platforms like Amazon are stacked with these budget-friendly little devices, and it seems like every month brings a few new models. Features change very little from one model…
In the world of amateur radio, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) holds a central, invaluable place. Established in 1914, the ARRL has spent over a century supporting, protecting, and growing the amateur radio community. If you’re a licensed amateur radio operator—or “ham”—and you haven’t yet joined or supported the…
The J-Pole antenna is a notable design that has gained significant traction among amateur radio operators due to its simplicity and effectiveness. The J-Pole antenna is a half-wave dipole composed of a vertical element and a quarter-wave matching stub for precise tuning. This simple configuration makes it a good choice…
Winter Field Day is a vibrant and challenging annual event that brings together amateur radio enthusiasts from around the globe to test their emergency communication skills in the harshest conditions of winter. Organized by the Winter Field Day Association (WFDA), this unique exercise is held on the last full weekend…
