AE4JC

Faith

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A Solid Foundation… Something You Can Always Count On… A Place of Rest in a Troubled World

These things are nice and fun. And I have received quite a feeling of accomplishment from the HAM hobby. But the most important thing in my life is the relationship that I have with Jesus Christ. I lived for myself for years. But, in 2009, I gave my life to Jesus. And I didn’t think that He could do anything with me. But Jesus changed my life and has set me on a journey to live for Him. I know that one day all of this world will be gone. And I want to live with Jesus Christ forever. There is nothing greater in the world than this hope. And I hope that you have this hope also.

What's New

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Everything on this site, newest change first. New pages and revised ones both show up here — this list is generated from the site’s own history, so nothing has to be remembered onto it.

Prefer to be told instead of checking? The RSS feed carries the same thing, and there’s a link in the footer of every page.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m Matthew Foutch, AE4JC — based in Fairhope, Alabama. Manufacturing engineer by trade (LinkedIn), licensed since 2022. Real engineering and management writing lives over at engmgt.ae4jc.com.

Callsigns, membership numbers, and how to reach me on the air are on the Contact page.

A solid foundation… something you can always count on… a place of rest in a troubled world.

These things are nice and fun. And I have received quite a feeling of accomplishment from the HAM hobby. But the most important thing in my life is the relationship that I have with Jesus Christ.

Baofeng UV-5R

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

First radio. Primary mobile/handheld station for local FM repeater use for about a year before the 2024 mobile upgrade.

Used In

2022-06-22 — First mobile ham radio QSOs

2026-03-05 — Lunchtime worldwide APRS w/ Baofeng UV-5R/Mobilinkd/APRSdroid

CAT 6

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ethernet CAT 6 pinouts: straight-through vs. crossover wiring.

Straight-Through (T568B both ends)

Standard cable for PC-to-switch, PC-to-router, or any device-to-switch/router run. Modern auto-MDI-X ports also make this work fine for switch-to-switch or PC-to-PC links, which is why straight-through has become the near-universal default.

Pin	Wire
1	White-Orange
2	Orange
3	White-Green
4	Blue
5	White-Blue
6	Green
7	White-Brown
8	Brown

Both ends wired identically.

Crossover (T568A one end, T568B the other)

Needed for a direct PC-to-PC or switch-to-switch link on older hardware without auto-MDI-X.

Linux Mint

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The standard pick for reviving an old laptop that still has reasonable specs (dual-core or better, 4GB+ RAM). Beginner-friendly, close enough to Windows to feel familiar, and it just works on most hardware.

Install

Download the Cinnamon edition ISO from linuxmint.com/download.php.
Write it to a USB drive with balenaEtcher or Rufus (Windows) — at least an 8GB drive.
Boot the target laptop from the USB drive (usually F2/F12/Del at power-on to reach the boot menu — varies by manufacturer).
Choose “Start Linux Mint” to try it live first, or go straight to “Install Linux Mint” on the desktop.
Follow the installer: language, keyboard layout, Wi-Fi, then “Erase disk and install Linux Mint” for a clean repurpose (or alongside an existing OS if dual-booting).
Reboot when prompted, remove the USB drive.

After Install

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y to get current before installing anything else.
Install Tailscale if the machine needs remote access: tailscale.com/download/linux.

If the hardware is genuinely underpowered (an old Atom/Pentium machine, 2-4GB RAM, or a tablet like a Surface Go), see the lightweight Mint XFCE guide instead — Cinnamon will feel sluggish on that class of hardware.

OpenHamClock

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The real steps used to get OpenHamClock running as a dedicated local kiosk display — see the HamClock to OpenHamClock writeup for the backstory on why.

The end result: a repurposed 2011 Latitude booting straight into this, unattended, after a power cut.

Here’s the original X post on setting it up, along with the discussion that followed: https://x.com/mwfoutch1/status/2038314358200046059

Search

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Contact

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Callsigns

AE4JC — Amateur Extra, current, granted 2022-11-19.
WRTB583 — GMRS, granted 2022-06-01.

Membership numbers (SKCC, etc.) to be added. Callsign history (including the original KQ4AWC) is on Milestones and History.

Email

AE4JC@ae4jc.com — forwards to a real inbox I actually check, for anything that doesn’t fit an on-air chat.

Reach Me On The Air

If you’re passing through the Baldwin County / Mobile Bay area:

146.520 MHz Simplex — monitored when there’s a radio nearby (driving, in the garage), realistically about an hour a day. The national FM calling frequency.
147.090 MHz (+0.6 MHz, 82.5 Hz tone) — WB4EMA, Robertsdale / Baldwin County. Most frequently used.
146.985 MHz (-0.6 MHz, 123 Hz tone) — N4RGJ, Mobile. Part of the N4RGJ network, used regularly.
147.150 MHz (+0.6 MHz, DMR CC1) — N4FIV, Mobile. DMR side of the N4RGJ network.
146.685 MHz (-0.6 MHz, 82.5 Hz tone) — N4MZ Fusion, Foley / Weeks Bay. Used sometimes.

Also — if you’re in the Foley area and can’t reach AE4JC, try 146.490 MHz Simplex for Elvis (W4EFT).

Linux Mint XFCE (Lightweight)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

For genuinely underpowered hardware — old Pentium/Atom-class laptops, 2-4GB RAM, or tablets like an early Surface Go. The standard Cinnamon edition of Linux Mint will feel sluggish on this class of machine; the XFCE edition uses a much lighter desktop environment and stays responsive on the same hardware.

Install

Same process as the standard Linux Mint guide, with one change: download the XFCE edition ISO instead of Cinnamon, from the same linuxmint.com/download.php page.

News

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ongoing updates — gear changes, project notes, anything worth logging as it happens. Most recent first. Video entries pulled directly from the AE4JC YouTube channel; post entries pulled directly from X.

Tech Tips

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Show-and-tell how-tos from the AE4JC YouTube channel — setup guides, working settings, and fixes for real problems that came up in the shack.

Looking for a written, step-by-step procedure rather than a video? Those live under Setup Guides — OpenHamClock, Linux, and others.

Working meteors? The bands, the timing, the tools and the honest limits are gathered on Meteor Scatter.

WSJT-X and Digital Modes

Verified Working Settings: WSJT-X, N3FJP, JTAlertV2, and GridTracker2 — a confirmed-working configuration across the whole digital logging chain, so these four programs actually talk to each other correctly.

Yaesu FTM-300D

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

2024 mobile upgrade, paired with the FT-891. Handles local VHF/UHF FM and repeater traffic in the mobile station.

Used In

2024 — Mobile station upgraded, VHF band opening
2026-03-05 — Lunchtime worldwide APRS … and local VHF/UHF w/ Yaesu FTM-300D
2026-07-06 — Mobile Hamradio Stuff

Events

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Looking for contests specifically? See the Contest Calendar — updated automatically every 30 minutes.

Event Recaps

Recaps are logged in Milestones and History and News and cross-listed by topic.

Alabama QSO Party 2026 (South Alabama crew turnout with K4EES, N5VJX, WA4LDU, KD8JJF and NO5G, 2026-07-25/26)
Summer Support Your Parks Weekend 2026 (South Alabama POTA Posse activation at Blakeley State Park, 2026-07-18/19)
13 Colonies Special Event 2026 (N5VJX clean sweep + all 3 bonus stations, 2026-07-07)
Summer Field Day 2026 (N4MZ 2A AL EM60 at Camp Silvercreek; W5LFL’s first satellite contact, 2026-06-27/28)
Winter Field Day 2026 (N4MZ 3I AL, 9 of 12 Band Bonus; 1st in Alabama, 13th nationally, 2026-01-24/25)
13 Colonies Special Event 2025 (clean sweep completed, 2025-07-07)
Summer Field Day 2025 (N4MZ; 11 satellite QSOs on RS-44, AO-123 and JO-97, 2025-06-28/29)
Winter Field Day 2025 (N4MZ 2I AL; satellite array on snow, AO-07 contact, 2025-01-25/26)
Summer Field Day 2024 (N4MZ with GOTA station WB4EMA; W2BJN’s first satellite QSO, 2024-06-22/23)
Winter Field Day 2024 (N4MZ club participation; AO-73 contact with FOX10 on site, 2024-01-27/28)
Summer Field Day 2023 (first Field Day satellite attempt, FM HT only, 2023-06-24/25)

Meteor Scatter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Roughly 85 km overhead, a grain of sand hits the atmosphere at tens of kilometres per second and vaporises. For a moment it leaves behind a column of ionised air, and that column reflects radio.

The column lasts anywhere from a fraction of a second to a few seconds. In that window you can work a station 500 to 1,300 miles away, on bands that are supposed to stop at the horizon.

Contest Calendar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A rolling look at upcoming amateur radio contests, refreshed automatically every 30 minutes.

Data: WA7BNM Contest Calendar — the same feed OpenHamClock pulls.

Happening Now

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Live-ish band conditions and recent DX activity — refreshed automatically every 30 minutes (propagation data hourly, per the source’s own request).

POTA Posse Live Spots

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Live spots for the South Alabama POTA Posse, pushed here in real time as they happen.

When a Posse member gets spotted on the air, it shows up in the table below within seconds — no page refresh needed. If you’re hunting a Posse activation, this is the page to leave open.

CN85 POTA Leaderboards — Portland, Oregon

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Public Parks on the Air leaderboards for grid square CN85 — no sign-up, no roster, nothing to join. CN85 runs from 45°N to 46°N and 124°W to 122°W. That takes in the Portland metro area and the Willamette Valley from just north of Salem, a stretch of the Oregon Coast and Coast Range — Cannon Beach, Cape Lookout, Cape Meares, Saddle Mountain — and crosses the Columbia into southwest Washington as far north as Woodland. The 46°N line is closer than it looks: Fort Stevens, Astoria and Kalama all sit just outside, in CN86.

Personal Ham Radio Milestones and History

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Achievements and firsts, most recent first. Sourced directly from real X posts where marked with a link — dates, distances, and callsigns are as posted at the time.

Yaesu FT-891

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

First HF radio, run both mobile and portable. Workhorse of the HF station — POTA, DX, split-operation pileups, and the QuantumSDR/CloudlogCAT digital chain.

Used In

2024 — First HF contacts, Yaesu FT-891 with Wolf River Coil
2026-03-10 — The basics of setting up your FT-891 for split operations
2025-12-31 — Syncing FT-891, Quantum SDR, and Cloudlog through CloudlogCAT
2025-12-29 — Testing a QuantumSDR/FT-891/SDRSwitch/LNA/SG-500 combo

Station

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Real gear, mostly in the order it was acquired — pulled directly from the QRZ bio — followed by three dedicated deep-dives (Mobile Station, Satellites, Moonbounce) that each cover their own build-up on their own timeline rather than being woven into the list above by date. For specs, reference links, and photos per item, see the Gear database.

The shack, two ways: mid-troubleshoot (learning the oscilloscope and chasing an AC hum on the IC-255A/TE-32 combo) and tidied up for its well-known shot, shared to X and r/battlestations.

Yaesu FT-991A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Second HF/VHF/UHF all-mode transceiver, set up for WSJT-X digital modes. Runs with its stock Yaesu MH-31 dynamic hand mic.

Used In

WSJT-X, FT-991A, Dell Windows 11 Setup w/ Graphics & Audio Fix

Local Repeaters

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Active repeaters in the Baldwin County / Mobile / Pensacola area, pulled from RepeaterBook listings. General reference, not limited to what I personally monitor — see Contact for that.

Callsign	Location	Mode	Frequency	Offset	Tone
KI4SAZ	Magnolia Springs	D-STAR	145.31000	-0.6 MHz	—
KI4SAZ	Magnolia Springs	D-STAR	444.30000	+5.0 MHz	—
N4MZ	Foley, Weeks Bay	FM Fusion	146.68500	-0.6 MHz	82.5 Hz
WA4MZE	Foley	FM	147.24000	+0.6 MHz	—
N4MZ	Robertsdale, Baldwin County EMA	FM	443.37500	+5.0 MHz	82.5 Hz
KN4DND	Robertsdale, Baldwin County	DMR	443.32500	+5.0 MHz	CC1
WB4EMA	Robertsdale, Baldwin County	FM	147.09000	+0.6 MHz	82.5 Hz
WN1R	Orange Beach, Welcome Center	FM DMR	443.40000	+5.0 MHz	123 Hz, CC5
W4IAX	Spanish Fort area	FM	146.82000	-0.6 MHz	—
WB4CNL	Daphne	FM WIRES-X	145.56250	Simplex	—
N0ECT	Pensacola, NAS Pensacola	FM AllStar	448.40000	Simplex	100 Hz
KC4SME	Pensacola, I-10 MP 5	FM	146.61000	-0.6 MHz	100 Hz
N4RGJ	Mobile	FM	146.98500	-0.6 MHz	123 Hz
N4FIV	Mobile	DMR	147.15000	+0.6 MHz	CC1
W4UC	Pensacola, Fire Sta 16	FM Fusion	443.85000	+5.0 MHz	100 Hz
W4UC	Pensacola, Fire Sta 16	FM	145.45000	-0.6 MHz	100 Hz

Not a complete area listing — reflects what’s been screenshotted so far. More can be added as they come in.

Local Nets and Meetings

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Nets running in the Baldwin County / Mobile / Pensacola / regional Alabama area, combined and coordinated from N4MZ and W4IAX. General reference — see Contact for the three I personally check into.

VHF/UHF Nets

Net	Frequency	Offset / Tone	Day & Time
Baldwin County ARC	147.090	+0.6 MHz, 82.5 Hz	Monday 7:00 PM
Baldwin County ARES	147.090	+0.6 MHz, 82.5 Hz	Thursday 7:00 PM (except 3rd Thursday)
MARC WX + Training Net	145.470	-0.6 MHz, 123 Hz	Tuesday 7:00 PM
MARC 6-Meter SSB	50.130 USB	—	Tuesday 7:30 PM
MARC 6-Meter FM	53.030 / 52.030	—	Wednesday 8:00 PM
North Baldwin Co. ARC	145.430	123.0 Hz	Tuesday 7:30 PM
MARC Emergency Training / Club Net	147.300	+0.6 MHz, 203.5 Hz	Wednesday 7:30 PM
Mobile (146.820)	146.820	-0.6 MHz, 203.5 Hz	Wednesday 8:00 PM
Mobile County ARES	146.940	no tone	Thursday 8:00 PM
Mobile County CD Net	146.820 (alt 147.300)	203.5 Hz	Friday 6:30 PM
Deep South	146.745	123 Hz	Wednesday 7:00 PM
Deep South ARES	147.015	no tone	Monday evening
Pensacola	147.300	100 Hz	Saturday 7:30 PM
Westminster Village (AB4WV), Spanish Fort	146.520	Simplex, no tone	Saturday 9:00 AM
Weeks Bay repeater — impromptu morning round table	146.685	-0.6 MHz, 82.5 Hz	Daily, ~7:30 AM

Westminster Village’s Saturday simplex net is usually run by Pattilynne, KM4ZGB, per the club’s own site.

Clubs and Organizations

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Local Clubs and Groups

South Alabama POTA Posse — a Signal messaging app group coordinating local POTA activations.
Baldwin County Amateur Radio Club (N4MZ) — n4mz.com, Facebook group
Mobile Amateur Radio Club (W4IAX) — w4iax.com
Deep South Amateur Radio Club — deepsouthamateurrc.wixsite.com

Memberships

ARRL — arrl.org
AMSAT — amsat.org
Long Island CW Club — longislandcwclub.org
Straight Key Century Club (SKCC) — skccgroup.com

ICOM IC-255A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

First eBay project radio. Paired with a Communications Specialists TE-32 CTCSS encoder and a Mirage B 2518 G amplifier, used for simplex FM band openings on 146.520 and local FM traffic on 146.490. Also seen with an ICOM IC-HM8 keypad mic and an MFJ-862 SWR/Wattmeter (144/220/440 MHz) in the rack.

Used In

2024 — Mobile station upgraded, VHF band opening

2023-02-04 — ICOM IC-255A #industrialart #hamradio

2023-07-06 — Received an original manual, schematic, and board layout

QSL Cards

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

QSL cards received, most recent first. Search by callsign or date, or sort either way. Addresses, names, and other personal details are redacted before posting — callsigns and QSO details are kept intact.

Affiliate Disclosure

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Some articles and gear pages on this site contain affiliate links — mainly through the Amazon Associates program, and potentially other affiliate networks in the future. If you click one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I only link to gear I actually use and would recommend regardless of any commission. Any affiliate link is marked inline where it appears, and every article containing one carries this same disclosure.

Kenwood TH-D72A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Handheld used for FM satellite passes, tracking in real time with an Elk antenna.

Used In

2023-02-05 — Beginnings of AMSAT — FM satellites

2026-01-23 — First load-out of mostly AMSAT satellite gear

Privacy Policy

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Last updated: July 26, 2026.

This is a plain-language summary of what this site actually does with data, not a piece of formal legal counsel. If you have questions beyond what’s here, reach out via the Contact page.

What This Site Collects

Comments. Articles on this site use a comment system that requires a verified email address to post (no anonymous commenting). When you leave a comment, the system stores your email address, the display name you choose, your comment text, and technical data (like your IP address) used to prevent spam and abuse. This data is stored on a server I run myself — it is never sold, and never shared with anyone except as required by law.

ICOM IC-9700

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Linear-satellite station radio, paired with an Arrow antenna and an FFpower unit (Powerpole front-face mod), tracked with the Look4Sat Android app.

Used In

2023-09-08 — Beginnings of AMSAT — linear satellites

2024-03-25 — Arrow + IC-9700 setup for AO-73 during a prior Winter Field Day

2024-04-29 — Here’s a portable ham shack in my driveway… Featuring an IC-9700

Xiegu G90

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Man-pack portable HF radio, paired with a Buddistick Pro for quick-deploy setups like the RaDAR Rally.

Used In

2026-04-06 — RaDAR Rally

Yaesu FT-5D

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Handheld used for APRS messaging (RX/TX) and general VHF/UHF work. Paired with a Yaesu SSM-17A speaker/microphone.

Used In

2026-04-25 — RX & TX APRS MSGS with a Yaesu FT-5D
APRS Thursday with Yaesu FT5D MSG TEXT

Icom ID-52 PLUS

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Handheld, used with the RepeaterBook Connect app via Bluetooth. Sold 2026-08-16 — see the BTECH UV-PRO for what replaced it and why.

Used In

ID-52 PLUS RepeaterBook Connect Bluetooth Fix

2025-03-25 — Lunchtime ham radio: Trying out this ID-52PLUS in the background with D-STAR

Elk Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Log-periodic handheld antenna for FM satellite passes, paired with the TH-D72A. Also used for 2m SSB POTA activations on a portable mast.

Used In

2026-03-22 — 2m SSB POTA activation with an Elk Antenna

2023-02-05 — Beginnings of AMSAT — FM satellites

Arrow Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Handheld Yagi for linear-satellite passes, paired with the IC-9700.

Used In

2024-03-25 — Arrow + IC-9700 setup for AO-73 during a prior Winter Field Day

2023-06-20 — A guy can get into #hamradio satellites for around $200 with an Arrow Antenna and a Baofeng…

Wolf River TIA

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Portable HF vertical whip, first paired with the FT-891 for the first HF activation. Also used with the ICOM IC-705 for QRP DX work.

Used In

2024 — First HF contacts, Yaesu FT-891 with Wolf River Coil

2025-05-13 — Worked IK0ETA in Italy (5,276 mi) on 10m SSB QRP with ICOM IC-705 and Wolf River TIA

2025-01-21 — Portable setup with Wolf River TIA

Go2Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Real product name: “TN07 My Go2 Antenna” — a ground-mounted HF vertical whip with one ~25 ft radial about 12 inches off the ground, tucked along a fence line for the HOA-compliant fixed station. First HF antenna purchased.

Used In

2023-01-16 — Whip antenna and 100 watts reaching thousands of miles

2024-10-02 — Winlink Wednesday EMCOMM practice

2025-09-04 — One ~25 ft radial about 12 in off the ground

Buddistick Pro

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Man-pack portable HF antenna, paired with the Xiegu G90 for quick-deploy setups like the RaDAR Rally.

Used In

2026-04-06 — RaDAR Rally

Comet-NCG CSB-790A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

VHF/UHF base antenna at about 20 feet, used with the IC-255A for simplex FM band openings.

Used In

2024 — Mobile station upgraded, VHF band opening

2024-08-22 — Astronaut Sunita Williams ISS contact, heard via FTM-300D w/ Comet CSB-790A

2024-06-12 — Antennas are Comet-NCG CSB-790A and Yaesu ATAS-120A

Par Electronics Six Meter Moxon (modified)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Modified 6m Moxon antenna, part of the six-meter DX/meteor scatter setup.

Used In

2026-03-25 — Modified Par Electronics Six Meter Moxon

Yaesu ATAS-120A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Auto-tuning mobile HF antenna, used with the FT-891 and FT-857D. Covers 10/15/20/40m plus 6m/2m/70cm.

Used In

ATAS 1:1 SWR Tune with FT-891 Hand Mic

2024-06-12 — Antennas are Comet-NCG CSB-790A and Yaesu ATAS-120A

Mirage B 2518 G

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

2m amplifier, used with the IC-255A for simplex FM band openings.

Used In

2024 — Mobile station upgraded, VHF band opening

2023-04-25 — Opened up this Mirage B2518G to see why the preamp isn’t working

BTECH AMP-V25 Amplifier

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

VHF (136-174MHz) amplifier, 20-40W output from 2-6W input, for HT digital and analog modes.

Used In

2023-05-14 — From only 2 stations and 25 miles max in the past 10 days to 14 stations and 184 miles max in the past 12 hours — the little AMP-V…

BTECH AMP-V25D Amplifier (DMR)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

VHF (136-174MHz) amplifier, 20-40W output from 2-6W input, DMR-capable alongside analog modes.

BTECH RF Radio Amplifier (2M)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

2m-band remote-head RF amplifier, rack-mounted in the garage alongside its 70cm-band twin — used with a Yaesu HT for always-on APRS/repeater work through a Comet CSB-790.

Used In

2025-05-23 — “I’ve had that BTECH amp for a few years now… It works well.”

2025-05-23 — “…boosted by this BTECH amp to ~25 watts…”

2024-02-21 — “Primary always-on station is the FT-5DR with the BTECH amp shown in the photo running out to a Comet CSB-790…”

BTECH RF Radio Amplifier (70CM)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

70cm-band remote-head RF amplifier, rack-mounted in the garage alongside its 2m-band twin — a fixed-station pair.

ACOM 1200S Amplifier

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Solid-state HF amplifier. Used for six-meter FT8 during a VHF contest, then developed a fault quickly enough to go back for repair less than two weeks after first use.

Used In

2026-06-15 — First use: 6m FT8 VHF contest, ~30 stations logged

2026-06-27 — Boxed up and shipped for repair

SGC PowerCube 500W Amplifier

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

HF amplifier for the FT-891 station.

Used In

2025-12-23 — First QSOs with an SGC Powercube 500W amplifier

TE Systems Amplifier

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

TE Systems 0552G six-meter amplifier, picked up at a local hamfest tailgate.

Used In

2026-04-19 — “Inside a TE Systems 0552G Six Meter Amplifier…”

2025-09-23 — “@Gregbadilla It’s a TE Systems 0552G.”

2025-11-07 — “It was bugging me that I couldn’t work a few of the FT8 stations I was hearing just now on 6 meters. So I plugged in this old TE…”

Communications Specialists TE-32

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

CTCSS encoder, paired with the IC-255A. A long-running AC hum in the tone signal was traced through several troubleshooting posts across late 2023/early 2024, still unresolved as of the last update.

Used In

2024 — Mobile station upgraded, VHF band opening

2023-12-31 — The shack is looking quite hammy as we continue to try and get all the AC hum noise out of this old CTCSS encoder circuit

FFpower unit

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Power unit for the linear-satellite station, with a Powerpole front-face modification.

Used In

2026-01-23 — First load-out of mostly AMSAT satellite gear

100Ah Mobile Power Supply

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Portable battery power supply for POTA activations.

Used In

2024-06-10 — POTA activation testing new 100Ah mobile power supply

N2EME SDR Switch

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

RXin/RXout SDR switch with LNA and 3dB splitter, wiring the antenna, power supply, and transceiver into the SDR receive chain.

Used In

2025-12-27 — N2EME RXin/RXout SDR Switch, LNA, 3dB splitter, antenna, power supply, and transceiver connections

QuantumSDR

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

SDR panadapter run alongside the FT-891, synced into Cloudlog via CloudlogCAT.

Used In

2025-12-29 — Testing a QuantumSDR/FT-891/SDRSwitch/LNA/SG-500 combo
2025-12-31 — Syncing FT-891, Quantum SDR, and Cloudlog through CloudlogCAT

Quantum Spectrum DSP Gadget

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

DSP gadget picked up to begin dedicated daily CW transmit/receive practice.

Used In

2025-01-29 — Got a Quantum Spectrum DSP gadget

2025-01-28 — Maximizing signal quality, working out ATAS tuning and mobile functionality

6m Bandpass Filter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bandpass filter added to the six-meter station.

Used In

2026-05-09 — First QSO through a new 6m bandpass filter

Bird 43 Thruline Wattmeter (w/ PEP Kit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bird 43 Thruline wattmeter with a PEP kit from Matthews Watts Electronics added.

Used In

2025-12-30 — Added a PEP Kit

CW Paddles (first set)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

First set of CW paddles, picked up while learning to call CQ in Morse at 15 WPM — a real change from the straight key previously used.

Used In

2026-06-07 — First set of CW paddles

RCA VH226E Rotator Controller

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Antenna rotator controller.

Used In

Radio Interference In The Shack: RCA VH226E Rotator Controller

2025-07-02 — Antenna System $724, Rotator & Controller $760, 50’ control cable X2 $230, 50’ coax X2 $130 = $1,844 plus…

ICOM IC-705

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Portable QRP HF/VHF/UHF SDR transceiver, run with Wolf River TIA for DX and Winlink/VARA digital work with an AH-705 tuner and a Microsoft Surface Go 2.

Used In

2025-05-13 — Worked IK0ETA in Italy (5,276 mi) on 10m SSB QRP (5W) with IC-705 and Wolf River TIA

2025-04-22 — First attempt at VARA FM Winlink with a new ICOM IC-705

2025-08-23 — 15-meter FT8 with 10 watts: IC-705, WSJT-X, N3FJP, JTAlertV2, GridTracker2

Yaesu FT-857D

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Portable manpack HF/VHF/UHF all-mode transceiver (out of production), run with a Digirig and Microsoft Surface Go 2 for Winlink/digital modes, and with a CHA LEFS 8010 end-fed sloper.

Used In

2024-06-22 — Purchased a Yaesu FT-857D from a man named “Frog” in a restaurant parking lot

2024-08-12 — Tried out the new-to-me FT-857D tonight for the first time on HF

2024-08-13 — First ever FT8 contact: FT-857D & Surface Go 2 combo

Digirig

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Digital-mode sound card/PTT interface, used with the FT-857D for Winlink/VARA and other digital modes.

Used In

2025-08-03 — This new digirig is quite a bit smaller than the one purchased a couple years ago

2024-09-25 — EMCOMM practice: Winlink HF with FT-857D, Digirig

Comet GP-9

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

VHF/UHF base antenna (8.5 dBi at 146 MHz, 11.9 dBi at 446 MHz), used for APRS digipeating and VHF net check-ins.

Used In

2025-10-16 — That’s a Comet GP-9

2025-05-23 — APRS packets automatically generated during recent VHF band openings

Hamstick Dipole

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

10m hamstick dipole, tuned with a NanoVNA, mounted in the attic or on a side-yard pole depending on the event.

Used In

2025-08-08 — Assembled and tuned a 10m hamstick dipole, lashed onto a birdhouse pole

2025-10-09 — Moved my 10 meter hamstick Dipole up into the attic

2025-10-10 — Worked M6ZXZ in England through a hamstick dipole up in the attic

MFJ-1700B Antenna Switch

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Transmitter-antenna switch, picked up at a ham tailgate.

Used In

2024-07-11 — Time to install this MFJ-1700B Antenna Switch from a recent ham tailgator

2024-08-10 — Inside the MFJ-1700B TRANSMITTER-ANTENNA SWITCH

CHA LEFS 8010 End Fed Sloper

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lightweight end-fed sloper (EFHW), added to the FT-857D manpack kit.

Used In

2024-07-19 — Added a CHA LEFS 8010 (Lightweight End Fed Sloper) EFHW to the FT-857D Manpack

MFJ-1984MP End Fed Half-Wave

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

End-fed half-wave antenna, 40-10m, noted as a real improvement to 40m station performance.

Used In

2023-01-08 — Started using a MFJ-1984MP, End Fed, 1/2 Wave, 40-10M antenna

Dakota Lithium 20Ah Battery

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Portable 20Ah lithium battery, used with the FT-857D manpack/EMCOMM setup.

Used In

2024-10-02 — Winlink Wednesday EMCOMM practice: FT-857D, 20 watts, Dakota Lithium 20Ah

AF-3500 EMF Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“AF-3500 EMF Meter RF Detector and Reader with Calibration Certificate - Measures High and Low EMF Emissions from Cell Phones Towers, Smart Meters, Modems, Power Lines, Appliances, Electrical Boxes”).

Acquired 2022-08-02 from Amazon.

Android Phone (estate sale)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Secondhand Android phone from an estate sale, used in the “lunchtime mobile ham shack” for APRS Thursday check-ins and monitoring six meters.

Used In

2026-06-05 — First time using this Android phone that I purchased for cheap at an estate sale. Checked in and monitoring #APRSTHURSDAY and tried calling CQ a bit on six meters

Anteenna TW-16A Duplexer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Anteenna TW-16A Duplexer SO-239-PL-259(VHF 1.3-170MHz)/PL-259(UHF 350-540MHz)”).

Acquired 2023-12-27 from Amazon.

Anteenna TW-72 Duplexer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Anteenna TW-72 Duplexer SO-239-PL-259(VHF)/PL-259(UHF) with Cable”).

Acquired 2024-11-12 from Amazon.

Antenna Rotator Cable, 125'

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“125’ Length 3 Conductor Rotor Wire - Antenna Rotator Cable”).

Acquired 2022-11-02 from Amazon.

Antenna Rotator Cable, 50'

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“50’ Length 3 Conductor Rotor Wire - Antenna Rotator Cable”).

Acquired 2024-06-17 from Amazon.

APRSdroid

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Android APRS client, paired with a Mobilinkd TNC — runs in the Ridgeline’s center console for mobile APRS, powered via a cigarette-lighter battery eliminator with USB charging from the vehicle.

Used In

2024-12-05 — This APRSdroid setup works well in the console of a Honda Ridgeline
2025-03-06 — Lunchtime APRS Thursday check-in with APRSdroid, Mobilinkd TNC, and Baofeng UV-5R

Astatic PDC1 100W SWR Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Astatic PDC1 100 Watt SWR Meter”).

Acquired 2024-08-01 from Amazon.

AT-14 4-Way Coaxial Remote Antenna Switch

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“AT-14 Heavy-Duty 4-Way Coaxial Remote Antenna Switch Kit - 500W PEP, 1.8MHz-60MHz, SO-239 Connectors”).

Acquired 2025-05-10 from Amazon.

BAOFENG BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“BAOFENG BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen) 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio (136-174MHz VHF & 400-520MHz UHF) Includes Full Kit with Large Battery”).

Acquired 2022-06-04 from Amazon.

Used In

2024-11-26 — Started assembling a VHF/UHF kit: UV-5R with a Mobilinkd TNC4 for APRS/Winlink; BF-F8HP on the bag face

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.baofengtech.com

Baofeng UV-5R Mini (2-pack)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Baofeng UV-5R Mini Dual Band Radio - 5W 2-Way Radio w/999CH | Bluetooth & NOAA Weather | USB-C Charging | Emergency Kit for Camping, Hunting (2 Pack) (Yellow)”).

Acquired 2025-11-02 from Amazon.

Used In

2026-02-06 — Checked into a Kansas City hospital/blood-bank comms net:
2026-01-25 — A yellow HT of the same appearance hung from a tree branch by its coax

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.baofengtech.com

Baofeng UV-5RX3 Tri-band Radio

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Baofeng x Radioddity UV-5RX3 Tri-band Radio VHF, 1.25M, UHF Amateur Handheld Ham Two Way Radio Walkie Talkie with Earpiece and Programming Cable”).

Acquired 2022-12-20 from Amazon.

Used In

2022-12-23 — “I’ve bought another Baofeng. This one is a UV-5RX3 for use on the 1.25 Meter Band (222.0 to 225.0 MHz)” — confirms the Amazon purchase (3 days after the 2022-12-20 order)

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.baofengtech.com

Baofeng UV-9G GMRS Radio

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“BAOFENG UV-9G GMRS Radio Waterproof IP67, Outdoors Two Way Radios Long Range Rechargeable, Handheld Dual Band NOAA Scanner, GMRS Repeater Capable, Programming Cable Included”).

Acquired 2022-05-21 from Amazon.

Used In

None identified yet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.baofengtech.com

bayite DC Current/Voltage/Power Energy Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“bayite DC 6.5-100V 0-100A LCD Display Digital Current Voltage Power Energy Meter Multimeter Ammeter Voltmeter with 100A Current Shunt”).

Acquired 2026-04-29 from Amazon.

BECEN 100W Dummy Load

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“BECEN PL259 Male Plug Dummy Load DC to 1.0GHz 50 Ohm (100Watt)”).

Acquired 2022-07-17 from Amazon.

Bingfu Dual Band VHF/UHF SMA Antenna (2-pack)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Bingfu Dual Band VHF UHF 136-174MHz 400-470MHz Ham Radio Antenna Handheld Two Way Radio SMA Male Soft Antenna 2-Pack for Icom Yaesu Vertex Ham Radio Walkie Talkie Standard Horizon Marine VHF Radio”).

Acquired 2024-11-29 from Amazon.

BTECH AMP-U25 Amplifier (70CM)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

70cm-band remote-head RF amplifier, compact remote-head RF amplifier on the garage shelf, sitting directly above its 2m counterpart — which is now documented as BTECH AMP-V25 Amplifier (the two notes were merged 2026-08-02, since Matthew owns three BTECH amps and the inventory carried four notes).

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: baofengtech.com

BTECH DMR-6X2 PRO

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“BTECH DMR-6X2 PRO DMR & Analog Two-Way Radio (Bluetooth + GPS) USB-C Battery - 7W VHF/UHF (136-174MHz & 400-480MHz), Encryption, Talker Alias, APRS, Roaming, Voice Recording, with Accessory Kit”).

Acquired 2024-12-19 from Amazon.

Used In

None identified yet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.baofengtech.com

BTECH GMRS-50V2 Mobile GMRS Radio

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“BTECH GMRS-50V2 50W 256 Fully Customizable Channels Mobile GMRS Two-Way Radio. Repeater Compatible, Dual Band Scanning (VHF/UHF), FM, & NOAA Weather Broadcast Receiver”).

Acquired 2024-03-06 from Amazon.

Used In

2024-05-28 — Trying out this BTECH GMRS-50V2 at lunch time… Learning and comparing

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.baofengtech.com

BTECH RPS-30PRO 30A Bench Power Supply

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“BTECH RPS-30PRO 30 Amp Regulated Universal Compact Bench Power Supply, AC-to-DC Power Convertor, 13.8V (9~15VDC Adjustable) with Noise Offset Adjustment, Includes Multiple Power Connections”).

Acquired 2022-08-25 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: baofengtech.com

Chameleon CHA SS25 Antennas

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two bought together — a pair, which usually means either a spare or a two-element arrangement. Ordered two days before the ICOM IC-705 station, so plausibly bought as portable antennas for it, though the orders do not say so.

Acquired 2025-03-25 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: chameleonantenna.com

Cloudlog

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Web-based logging software (@cloudloghq) — Matthew’s primary log, synced with the FT-891/QuantumSDR combo via “CloudlogCAT.” Has an AMSAT DF2ET timer feature built in, useful for satellite passes.

Used In

2024-03-11 — Started using Cloudlog yesterday. I like it.
2025-12-31 — Syncing FT-891, Quantum SDR, and Cloudlog through CloudlogCAT

Comet CF-4160 Duplexer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

VHF/UHF duplexer combining the 2 m and 70 cm paths onto a single common feedline. In the 2023-08-16 photos it is mounted to the stacked BTECH AMP-V25 Amplifier (2 m) and BTECH AMP-U25 Amplifier (70CM) pair, which is exactly what it is for — the two amps each drive their own band, and the CF-4160 merges them so one coax run feeds a dual-band antenna.

Acquired 2023-04-12 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Comet CF-416A Duplexer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Comet duplexer, bought four months after the Comet CF-4160 Duplexer and at exactly the same price . Different model, not a duplicate note — the April order reads CF-4160J, this one reads CF-416A.

Acquired 2023-08-06 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: cometantenna.com

Comet GP-1 Base Vertical Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dual-band 2 m/70 cm fibreglass base vertical, 4.2 ft, SO-239. Per the DXE shipping email: Antenna, Base Vertical, Fiberglass, Dual-Band 2M/70cm, UHF Female SO-239, 4.2 ft. Height, Each. Distinct from the Comet GP-9 — different model, different antenna.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: cometantenna.com

COMPACtenna 2M/440 microBEAM

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Compact dual-band beam. Added to the inventory from the HRO order record — it had no note at all, despite being a .

Acquired 2023-01-18 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Connect Systems CS800D PLUS

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

DMR radio.

Used In

2025-02-12 — Used my Connect Systems CS800D PLUS to check into an emergency practice net
2024-09-25 — EMCOMM practice: Winlink HF with FT-857D, Digirig … and VHF net with CS800D PLUS

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.connectsystems.com

cwtraining

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Koch-style CW trainer with per-category character sets and Farnsworth timing. A companion performance screen from the same session shows a completed drill: 97% — 8 min 28 s, 26 characters practiced, 115 attempts, 111 correct, 4 errors.

Used In

~2024-09-16 — Settings screen and a 97% drill result captured in the same session

Daiwa CS-201A 2-Position Coax Switch

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Daiwa CS-201A 2 Position Coax Switch”).

Acquired 2023-10-29 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Dakota Lithium Powerbox 10

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Portable battery box powering the field station. Photographed running the Xiegu G90 during a POTA activation alongside a Buddistick Pro on its mast and a Baofeng UV-5R Mini (2-pack) handheld.

Used In

2026-04-04 — POTA field setup in a pine savanna: G90 + Buddistick Pro on a guyed mast,

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: dakotalithium.com

DC-DC Buck Boost Converter Module

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“DC-DC Buck Boost Converter Module 5.5-30V 12v to 0.5-30V 5v 24v Adjustable Step Down Up Voltage Regulator Constant Current Voltage 3A 35W Power Supply with LCD Display”).

Acquired 2022-07-15 from Amazon.

Diamond K400-3/8C2 Mount

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Vehicle antenna mount. Ordered alongside the ATAS-120A mobile antenna.

Acquired 2024-03-14 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: diamondantenna.net

DROK Buck Boost Voltage Regulator

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Buck Boost Voltage Regulator, DROK DC 6-30V to DC 0.5-30V 5V 12V 24V Adjustable Voltage Converter, 4A 60W Power Supply Step Up Down Transformer Board Module with USB Port Case LCD Display Volt Amp”).

Acquired 2023-02-21 from Amazon.

DX Engineering Grounding & Guying Hardware

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Part of the AE4JC station.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: dxengineering.com

DX Engineering RG5000HD Receiver Guard

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Electronic RF limiter that protects a receiver front end from nearby transmitters. Bought as a pair — consistent with protecting two receivers, e.g. a satellite station running full duplex.

Acquired 2025-05-20 from DX Engineering.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: dxengineering.com

EAntenna EA642ZB7 6m/4m/2m Triband Yagi

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Triband 6 m / 4 m / 2 m yagi — 7 elements in a 2 + 2 + 3 layout on a common boom, DK7ZB design. Photographed here on the house mast with its rotator in December 2022 — the “quick-change Yagi” from the original mast install, matching that post’s plan for a removable 6m–2m beam. It now travels as a portable antenna.

Acquisition record unknown. It was in service on the house mast by December 2022. The September 2025 EAntenna order in the DX Engineering history was previously attached to this entry in error — that part number is a 5-element 2 m beam, a different antenna.

Easy Up 33ft 2in Telescoping Mast

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Steel push-up mast, bracketed to the house eave on standoff wall mounts and flying a VHF vertical since December 2022 — about as extravagant as the HOA allows.

Acquired 2022-11-25 from Amazon — the same day as the eave standoff brackets it stands on.

Used In

2022-12-17 — Install day: “Just finished installing this 30’ push-up pole today… planning a quick change adapter for a 6m-2m Yagi”
2023-01-15 — In service with a VHF vertical at the top

Correction 2026-08-03: this page briefly showed a truck-bed mast deployment — that mast is a Max-Gain Systems fiberglass mast, a different unit.

EverStart 27DC Marine Battery

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Flooded lead-acid marine deep-cycle battery, bought as the cheap practical option for powering the TE Systems Amplifier portable. It did not hold up: at the amp’s 48–55 A draw the voltage sagged enough to cost output power, and ~50% depth-of-discharge left only about 55 Ah usable out of a nominal 109 Ah — in a 50 lb package.

Used In

before 2026-05 — Portable power for the 6 m amplifier during Field Day, POTA and rover
2026-05-27 — Documented and superseded in Matthew’s own comparison article

EZ 32A Ground Mount Mast Plate

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“EZ 32A Heavy Duty Ground Mount for Telescopic/Push Up Masts - Mast Plate”).

Acquired 2022-11-25 from Amazon.

FireStik K-1A CB Antenna Quick Disconnect Mounts

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“FireStik LOT of 2 K-1A Internal CB Radio Antenna Quick Disconnect Mounts”).

Acquired 2023-10-18 from Amazon.

Used In

2023-10-27 — “These FireStik quick disconnects seem to be better than the TRAM units. Why? Easier to assemble/disassemble…”

FNIRSI-1014D Digital Oscilloscope

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“FNIRSI-1014D Dual-Channel Digital Oscilloscope Includes Signal Generator Function,Built-in 1GB Storage Space,100MHz Analog Bandwidth,1GSa/s Sampling Rate with 100x High Voltage Probe”).

Acquired 2022-07-28 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: fnirsi.com

Frequency Counter Kit (DIY)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Ranjaner 1Hz-50MHz Frequency Counter Kit, DIY Module Board for Oscillator, Crystal Measure Frequency Meter Accessories”).

Acquired 2022-08-01 from Amazon.

HamClock Laptop (garage)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Old laptop repurposed with Linux, running HamClock. One of two (see HamClock Laptop (shack)); this one lives in the garage. Quit at least once and needed a Linux reinstall, at which point OpenHamClock was added alongside the original.

Used In

HamClock Laptop (shack)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Old laptop repurposed with Linux, running HamClock — a dedicated ham radio world-clock/propagation/satellite-pass display. One of two (see HamClock Laptop (garage)); this one lives in the shack, later upgraded to OpenHamClock.

Used In

2023-01-18 — It’s an old laptop that was repurposed with Linux running hamclock
2026-01-30 — One of my first projects as a ham was repurposing an old laptop with Linux to run hamclock. I have one in the shack and the other in the garage.
2026-03-31 — I’m impressed by a new install of OpenHamClock in my shack

Hamilton Auto FT8

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Automation layer over WSJT-X that runs the FT8 QSO sequence — picking callable stations from decodes, calling, exchanging reports, and confirming — without manual keyboard work.

Used In

~2026-06-07 — Release page screenshot; same date range as the FT8 logging visible in

Harvest Taurus 6M Dipole Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Harvest Taurus 6 Meter 50-52 MHz Veritcal or Horizontal Dipole Tunable Antenna - 500W BR137”).

Acquired 2022-09-06 from Amazon.

Heathkit Electronic Keyer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Vintage Heathkit electronic keyer with integral paddle, from the same W5RMB estate sale as the WR-50B — part of the vintage CW corner alongside the modern paddles and straight keys. Exact model number awaiting a read off the cabinet.

Used In

2025-11-23 — Estate sale haul

Heil Sound HTH-K Headset

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Heil communications headset — single-ear design with a boom mic and an inline control on the cable, per the GigaParts product page.

Acquired 2023-04-18 from GigaParts.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: heilsound.com

HYS Dual Band Telescopic Rod Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“HYS Dual Band Telescopic/Rod Soft Antenna VHF/UHF BNC (8inch)-(14inch) 2M/70CM Antenna for Vertex HR146, HX300, HX320, HX400 Walkie Talkie”).

Acquired 2025-04-04 from Amazon.

HYS NMO Base Magnetic Mount

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“HYS NMO Base Magnetic Mount, Tri-Magnet Mount, NMO Mag Mount Steel Housing with Rubber Sleeves, W/5M(16.4ft) RG58 Coaxial Cable PL-259 Plug”).

Acquired 2023-05-02 from Amazon.

ICOM IC-255A (second unit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Second IC-255A in the station, confirmed by Matthew 2026-07-19. This one has a clean, separate eBay purchase record; the other (the original “first eBay project radio,” bundled with the IC-HM8 mic) is tracked at ICOM IC-255A.

Acquired 2024-01-01 from eBay.

Used In

Not yet sorted — the existing IC-255A “Used In” history hasn’t been split between the two physical units. See ICOM IC-255A for that shared list until it can be sorted.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.icomamerica.com

ICOM IC-290H

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

144MHz 2m all-mode transceiver. Confirmed by Matthew 2026-07-19, found via eBay purchase-history mining — the listing itself says “IC-290” without the “H” suffix Matthew uses; noted here rather than silently assumed to be the exact same sub-variant.

Acquired 2022-10-28 from eBay.

Used In

None identified yet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.icomamerica.com

ICOM IC-705 Station Accessories

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Part of the AE4JC station.

Acquired 2025-03-27 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: icomamerica.com

ICOM IC-HM186LS Speaker Mic

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two identical ICOM speaker mics bought two months apart. Either a second for another radio, or a replacement for a failed first — the orders cannot distinguish these, and this note does not guess.

Matthew owns several ICOM radios that could take it: ICOM IC-705, ICOM ID-50A, Icom ID-52 PLUS, ICOM IC-9700.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: icomamerica.com

ICOM ID-50A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

D-STAR handheld, bought the day after Christmas 2024. Had no note at all despite being a .

Acquired 2024-12-26 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Used In

None identified yet. Try ae4jc-x-search.py "id-50" and --ocr "id-50a".

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.icomamerica.com

ICOM RS-BA1 V2 Remote Control Software

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Remote station control software. Pairs with Matthew’s ICOM radios — ICOM IC-9700, ICOM IC-705, ICOM IC-255A — though which one he uses it with is not established.

Notable as one of the few genuinely paid software items in this inventory; most of the software here is free apps (see Mobile Ham App Suite).

Acquired 2025-06-12 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: icomamerica.com

K9DP 100W BCI Filter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“K9DP 100w BCI Filter for HF shortwave radios/receivers”).

Acquired 2026-05-13 from Amazon.

Kenwood TS-50

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

HF mobile/base transceiver, won at an N4MZ club silent auction along with an MFJ-4225MV switching power supply and a Vectronics mobile antenna tuner (same auction lot — see MFJ-4225MV Switching Power Supply). Now run with an LDG RC-100 remote tuner controller, LDG 4:1 unun, and a NISSEI RS-101 SWR/power meter — often clipped to the house gutters as an improvised antenna.

Acquired 2024-02-16 from In-person, N4MZ club meeting silent auction.

Kungber DC Power Supply Variable 30V 10A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Kungber DC Power Supply Variable, 30V 10A Adjustable Switching Regulated DC Bench Linear Power Supply with 4-Digits LED Power Display 5V/2A USB Output, Coarse and Fine Adjustments with Alligator Leads”).

Acquired 2022-07-05 from Amazon.

Kyocera Phone (mobile APRS)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Part of a Baofeng + Mobilinkd + Kyocera “always-on” mobile APRS messaging rig. Worked for about a week, then died — infrequent truck use couldn’t keep the battery topped up, deep discharge eventually killed the USB port too.

Used In

2026-05-29 — “Well, it died. Put my Baofeng + Mobilinkd + Kyocera mobile APRS rig into service last week for always-on messaging. Worked great … for about 7 days. Infrequent truck use couldn’t keep the battery topped up. Deep discharge eventually killed the USB port too.”

LDG Balun & Unun Collection

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

LDG’s matching transformers. Per the LDG datasheet Matthew photographed alongside them:

RU-4:1 — matches vertical and end-fed antennas to an LDG automatic tuner; can also work standalone on resonant verticals
RU-9:1 — for high-impedance end-fed long wires
RU-1:1 — a common-mode choke for coax-fed antennas
RBA 1:1 / RBA 4:1 — baluns for balanced feed (dipoles, ladder line)

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: ldgelectronics.com

LDG RC-100 Remote Tuner System

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

LDG RC-100 controller paired with an LDG RT-100 remote antenna tuner, run with the Kenwood TS-50 — the house gutters are wired together and tuned through this system. Also includes at least one LDG unun (a 4:1, and per one X post possibly a 1:1 as well, ordered around the same time to experiment with).

Used In

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: ldgelectronics.com

LDG RU-4:1 Unun

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

4:1 unun for matching end-fed and vertical antennas, intended to work with an LDG automatic tuner but usable standalone on resonant verticals. Mounted on a board with coax jumpers, suggesting a permanent feedpoint installation rather than portable use.

Acquired 2024-07-27 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Used In

2024-10-02 — Photographed installed on its mounting board, with the LDG balun/unun

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: ldgelectronics.com

Leo Bodnar LBE-1420 GPS Clock (IC-9700 High Stability Kit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A GPS-disciplined oscillator replacing the IC-9700’s internal reference, with an injection board to feed it in. The point is frequency accuracy and stability — which matters specifically for the work Matthew does on that radio: satellites, 23 cm, and weak-signal digital modes, where a drifting reference costs you contacts.

Acquired 2024-06-03 from Leo Bodnar Electronics, direct.

Used In

2024-06-17 — Delivered and photographed. The same day, the IC-9700’s voice player

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: leobodnar.com

LiTime 12V 100Ah RV Lithium Battery (2nd unit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“LiTime 12V 100Ah RV Lithium Battery, Group 31 Rechargeable LiFePO4 Battery with Up to 15000 Deep Cycles, 1.28kWh and Higher Energy Density, Perfect for Van, Trolling Motors, Boat, Marine. (1 Pack)”). Confirmed by Matthew 2026-07-12 as a genuine second battery, distinct from 100Ah Mobile Power Supply (the original, first used in a 2024-06-10 POTA activation).

Acquired 2026-05-20 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: litime.com

Log Periodic Antenna 0.1-12GHz

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Log Periodic Antenna 0.1‑12GHz Bandwidth, for Signal Measurement,Communicating and Radio Reconnaissance”).

Acquired 2024-12-16 from Amazon.

Used In

2026-05-03 — “6 m modified Par Moxon and 2 m / 70 cm Elk Log Periodic portable antennas…” — same photo also shows the Par Electronics Six Meter Moxon (modified)

Look4Sat

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Free Android satellite-tracking app — real-time pass predictions for FM and linear satellites, used with the IC-9700/Arrow antenna linear satellite station and earlier Baofeng/Arrow FM satellite work. One of Matthew’s earliest satellite-tracking tools.

Used In

2022-12-10 — Found this cool app for Android to track satellites of your choosing in real time for free. #Look4Sat
2023-02-21 — Great AMSAT pass tonight. 4 QSOs — Baofeng, Arrow Antenna, Look4Sat

Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) Module 0.1MHz-6GHz

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Low Noise Amplifier LNA Module Wideband 0.1MHz to 6GHz Frequency, 20dB High Gain LNA RF Power Preamplifier Module for Shortwave, FM Radio, Remote Control (Built-in Battery)”).

Acquired 2025-02-11 from Amazon.

M2 6M3-SS Yagi

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

6 m beam — Matthew’s most recent HRO purchase, and it fits a clear pattern in this inventory: the TE Systems Amplifier (375 W on 6 m), the LiTime 12V 100Ah RV Lithium Battery (2nd unit) bought specifically to feed that amp, and the 6 m E-skip and DX work documented throughout the photo corpus — including the 7,825-mile New Zealand FT8 contact on 2025-11-07.

Acquired 2026-03-04 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Max-Gain Systems MK-4-HD 25ft Mast (Truck System)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Heavy-duty fiberglass push-up mast in stealth black, carried on a trailer-hitch mount with a tilt feature for one-person raising — the whole portable antenna system rides on the truck. Distinct from the Easy Up steel mast permanently mounted on the house.

The full build story — and the ham it remembers — is here: The Mast Jerry Built: Remembering VE6AB.

Acquired 2025-11-03 direct from Max-Gain Systems, with the heavy-duty hitch mount kit in the same order.

Mcbazel Surecom SW-28HF VSWR/Power Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Mcbazel Surecom SW-28HF 1.5MHz-60MHz 120W Mini V.S.W.R. & Power Meter”).

Acquired 2025-08-24 from Amazon.

Messi & Paoloni Coax Assemblies

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The 100 ft HyperFlex is a feedline run; the short UltraFlex jumpers (18 ft, 3 ft and two 1.5 ft) are patch leads, consistent with the switching and duplexer hardware elsewhere in this inventory.

The buying pattern tells a story. Three orders in ten days, escalating:

Date	Bought	Shipping paid
2024-07-28	18 ft + 3 ft + 1.5 ft	free
2024-08-01	another 1.5 ft
2024-08-06	two more 3 ft

He paid shipping twice, on small items, to top up an order that had shipped free — and ended up with two 1.5 ft and three 3 ft jumpers. That is the signature of a build growing as it goes: patch leads for a switching setup, discovered one connection at a time.

MFJ-2240 Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

MFJ antenna, bought 2023. Exact type not established from the order — the model number and the oversize shipping flag are all that is recorded. Confirm before publishing.

Acquired 2023-09-25 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: mfjenterprises.com

MFJ-4225MV Switching Power Supply

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Switching power supply, won at the same N4MZ silent auction as the Kenwood TS-50 — still in the garage powering it as of 2026-07-12.

Acquired 2024-02-16 from In-person, N4MZ club meeting silent auction.

Used In

2024-02-16 — Won the raffle and three more items through silent auction at the N4MZ radio club meeting

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: mfjenterprises.com

MFJ-862 VHF/UHF SWR Wattmeter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

VHF/UHF cross-needle SWR and wattmeter covering the 2 m, 1.25 m and 70 cm bands, with 30 W and 100 W ranges. Rack-mounted at the operating position directly above the FT-991A.

Used In

~2024-04-29 — In the rack at the operating position, alongside the FT-991A, ICOM IC-255A

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: mfjenterprises.com

MFJ-868B HF+6M SWR/Watt Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“MFJ-868B MFJ868 MFJ-868 Original MFJ World’s Largest HF + 6M Peak Reading SWR/Watt Meter (20/200/2000W) Black”).

Acquired 2024-02-22 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: mfjenterprises.com

Microsoft Surface Go 2

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Small Windows tablet, the compute half of the FT-857D manpack digital station — runs WSJT-X for FT8/Winlink/VARA. First loaded up with ham software 2024-07-26 (crediting @OH8STN’s tips), first digital contact 2024-08-04 (Winlink email over VARA FM), first FT8 contact 2024-08-13.

Used In

2024-07-26 — Loaded up some #hamradio software on this (new to me) Microsoft Surface GO 2
2024-08-04 — First digital comms tonight with this FT-857D Microsoft Surface Go2 Manpack — Winlink email using VARA FM
2024-08-13 — First ever FT8 contact: FT-857D & Surface Go 2 combo

Midland Mag Mount CB Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Midland® - 18-2442 Mag Mount CB Antenna - High Performance Antenna with 17 Feet of Prewired Cable - High Performance Radio Communication”).

Acquired 2024-02-05 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: midlandusa.com

Midland MXT275 MicroMobile GMRS Radio

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Midland - MXT275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio - 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone - Overland Caravanning Tractors - Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels”).

Acquired 2024-05-31 from Amazon.

Used In

2024-07-01 — Programmed this Midland MXT275 for local GMRS repeaters today at lunch. Radio checked out okay

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: midlandusa.com

Mini Mic Pro V2

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Compact microphone carried in the QRP go-kit alongside the QRP Labs QMX Transceiver. Role not established from the photo — could be a radio mic, a recording mic, or a phone/content-capture mic.

Used In

2026-06-07 — Packed in the CW go-kit with the QMX, balun, battery bank and earbuds

Mirage B 2518 G (W4FRG unit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Matthew’s third Mirage amp, confirmed 2026-07-19 — same model (B 2518 G) as Mirage B 2518 G (the eBay-sourced unit), a genuinely separate physical amp bought in person from W4FRG at Buds Tailgator, not a duplicate/correction of that other note. Mirage B3016G is the third, different-model amp.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: mfjenterprises.com

Mirage B3016G

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

2m VHF amplifier, 30W in / 160W out, run in Matthew’s truck (confirmed 2026-07-19) — the mobile-station amp of the three Mirage units he owns; the other two are both B 2518 G units used in the shack, see Mirage B 2518 G and Mirage B 2518 G (W4FRG unit).

Acquired 2024-10-12 from eBay.

Used In

Not yet sorted — no X posts/photos matched to this specific unit yet, as distinct from Mirage B 2518 G.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: mfjenterprises.com

Mobile Ham App Suite

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Part of the AE4JC station.

Mobilinkd TNC4

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bluetooth TNC pairing a handheld to the phone so APRSdroid can beacon position and decode APRS traffic. Photographed live in the vehicle, beaconing as AE4JC-3 on 146.520 with an altitude of 95 ft and receiving stations out to 71 km.

Used In

2024-12-05 — Mobile APRS session: beaconing AE4JC-3 via TNC4 on 146.520, decoding
~2024-11-29 — Mobilinkd configuration app present on the phone

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: mobilinkd.com

Motorola Talkabout T475 FRS Radios

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Consumer FRS two-way radios. Not amateur-band equipment and not usable under the AE4JC callsign, but part of the wider portable-comms kit and worth inventorying alongside it.

Acquired 2022-09-06 from Amazon.

Used In

2022-09-06 — Purchased (Amazon)

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: www.motorolasolutions.com

N3FJP

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Contest logging software, used on a Windows 11 laptop — also used with the ICOM IC-705 alongside WSJT-X/JTAlertV2/GridTracker2 for FT8. Also the software the local Baldwin County (Alabama) club uses.

Used In

2024-12-16 — For contest logging I’m using N3FJP software on a Windows 11 Laptop
2025-08-23 — 15-meter FT8 with 10 watts: IC-705, WSJT-X, N3FJP, JTAlertV2, GridTracker2

Nagoya NA-320A Triband HT Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-320A Triband HT Antenna 2M-1.25M-70CM (144-220-440Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios”).

Acquired 2022-03-13 from Amazon.

NanoVNA-H (2022 unit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“2022 Upgraded NanoVNA-H Vector Network Analyzer 10KHz -1.5GHz Latest HW Version 3.6, Elikliv HF VHF UHF Antenna Analyzer Measuring S Parameters, VSWR and Peak Analysis, Phase, Delay, Smith Chart”).

Acquired 2022-09-19 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: nanovna.com

NanoVNA-H Upgraded (2025 unit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census ("[Upgraded] AURSINC NanoVNA-H Vector Network Analyzer 10KHz -1.5GHz Latest HW Version 3.6 | HF VHF UHF Antenna Analyzer").

Acquired 2025-01-21 from Amazon.

Used In

2025-10-17 — “The NanoVNA is a wonderful tool for figuring out stuff! I got a bit too rough pulling some coax…”

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: nanovna.com

NISSEI RS-101 SWR-Power Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

SWR & Power Meter, 1.8–60 MHz, sitting in the Kenwood TS-50 shelf stack alongside the LDG RC-100 controller and MFJ power supply.

Acquired 2024-08-04 from GigaParts.

OPEK CX-5 Coaxial Antenna Switch (3-position)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“OPEK CX-5 Coaxial Antenna Switch 1KW PEP Rated 3 Position”).

Acquired 2025-11-07 from Amazon.

Palomar Engineers SOFLC Feed Line Choke

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Snap-on ferrite feed line choke for suppressing common-mode current on coax runs. Sized 1" ID, covering 1–60 MHz — i.e. 160m through 6m.

Acquired 2024-07-08 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Used In

2026-07-12 — Shack shelf photo, boxed alongside the Kenwood TS-50 station

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: palomar-engineers.com

PEAKINGTECH 160W Desktop Charging Station

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bench/desk charging station with per-port voltage and current readouts. Not radio hardware itself, but shack-adjacent power infrastructure for phones, tablets, and laptops used for logging and digital modes.

Acquired 2026-05-28 from Amazon.

Used In

2026-05-28 — Purchased (Amazon)

Power Pole Out-Rigger 4

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Fused Anderson Powerpole distribution block — takes one 12 V feed and fans it out to four individually-fused Powerpole pairs, with an LED confirming correct polarity before anything is energised. Photographed at the operating position alongside the CS800D PLUS.

Used In

2024-08-19 — Photographed from seven angles in one session at the operating position,

Powerwerx Watt Meter-PP (DC Inline)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Powerwerx Watt Meter-PP, DC Inline Power Analyzer, 45A Continuous, 12 Gauge with Anderson Powerpole Connectors”).

Acquired 2022-07-05 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: powerwerx.com

Procomm 404 CB/Ham Antenna Spring

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Heavy Duty CB & Ham Radio Antenna Spring - StainLess Steel Procomm 404”).

Acquired 2023-10-18 from Amazon.

Proster LCR Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Proster LCR Meter - Capacitance Resistance Inductance Digital LCR Multimeter with LCD Over-Range Display”).

Acquired 2026-03-29 from Amazon.

PulseLarsen NMOMMR NMO Mount

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

NMO mini magnetic mount. Model NMOMMR as listed on the order.

Acquired 2023-01-25 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: yageogroup.com — the PulseLarsen antenna line passed to Pulse Electronics and then to Yageo, and pulselarsenantennas.com no longer resolves.

Putikeeg Mini Morse Code Key

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Putikeeg Mini Morse Code Key - CW Dual Paddle with Magnetic Base, Magnetic Return Paddles Morse Lambic Key for Amateur Ham Radio(Black)”).

Acquired 2026-05-28 from Amazon.

Pyramid PS7KX Bench Power Supply

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Universal Compact Bench Power Supply - 5 Amp Linear Regulated Home Lab Benchtop AC-to-DC 12V Converter w/ 13.8 Volt DC 115V AC 70 Watt Power Input, Screw Type Terminals, Cooling Fan - Pyramid PS7KX”).

Acquired 2022-04-15 from Amazon.

QRP Labs QMX Transceiver

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Low-power multiband CW/digital transceiver, the centerpiece of a self-contained portable go-kit. Photographed operating 40m CW at 7.038 MHz.

Used In

2026-06-07 — Go-kit photo: QMX operating 7.038 MHz CW, packed with a 1:1 balun, wound

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: qrp-labs.com

RCA WR-50B RF Signal Generator

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Vacuum-tube era RF signal generator, rescued from a local estate sale in November 2025: “The boat anchors were gone by the time I arrived. But I was able to dig out this nice looking RCA WR-50B…” It came from the estate of W5RMB — a ham whose meticulous gear records were themselves an inspiration for this inventory.

Used In

2025-11-23 — Estate sale haul

RF Level Meter 100K-1000MHz

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“RF Level Meter 100K?1000MHz Field Strength Indicator Strength Meter for Radio Antenna Radiation”).

Acquired 2024-04-29 from Amazon.

RF Meca BPF10 200W Band Pass Filter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

200 W transmit band-pass filter. Bought three months before the ACOM 1200S — plausibly related to running that amp cleanly on 6 m, though the orders do not say so.

Acquired 2025-08-12 from DX Engineering.

Rocket Machine Worx MiniPatch

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bulkhead coaxial connector panel — a feed-through plate for getting coax through a wall or enclosure without cutting cables.

Acquired 2025-10-15 from DX Engineering.

RTL-SDR Blog V3

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“RTL-SDR Blog V3 R820T2 RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO HF Bias Tee SMA Software Defined Radio with Dipole Antenna Kit”).

Acquired 2022-03-08 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: rtl-sdr.com

RTL-SDR Blog Wideband LNA Bias Tee

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“RTL-SDR Blog Wideband Low Noise Amplifier Bias Tee Powered”).

Acquired 2023-04-12 from Amazon.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: rtl-sdr.com

SDRplay RSP1A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wideband SDR receiver.

Acquired 2023-04-11 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: sdrplay.com

Shark S-F10 Antenna Mounts

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two Shark S-F10 units. What they actually are is not established — the order gives the model number and the oversize flag, nothing more. Shark Distributing sell CB/ham antenna products, and the handling charge suggests something long.

Do not publish a description of these until confirmed. The category assignment here is a best guess and may be wrong.

Acquired 2025-03-25 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Shortwave 1-49 Balun End Fed Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Shortwave Antenna 1:49 Balun 3‑30MHz Compact Standard Interface End Fed Half Antenna”).

Acquired 2025-05-08 from Amazon.

SOTAbeams Carbon-6 Telescopic Mast

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Carbon-fibre telescopic mast. Per the DXE email: Telescopic Mast, Compact Ultra-Light, Carbon Fiber, 19.6 ft. Extended, 17 in. Collapsed, 6 Sections, Each. Packs to 17 inches — a genuinely portable mast, distinct from the Easy Up 33ft 2in Telescoping Mast.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: sotabeams.co.uk

Stanley 12V Battery Charger/Maintainer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Consumer trickle charger/maintainer, photographed among the battery gear in the LiFePO4 comparison article.

Used In

2026-05-27 — In Matthew’s battery comparison article

straightkey (CW Practice App)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mobile app simulating a straight key for CW practice, with adjustable sidetone. Fits the 2022 timeframe — the year Matthew was licensed and building CW skills.

SURECOM SW-33 Mark II Handheld Power/SWR Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Gam3Gear SURECOM SW-33 Mark II 100 W 125-525 Mhz Mini Digital VHF UHF Two-Way Radio Handheld Power & SWR Meter”).

Acquired 2022-06-01 from Amazon.

TABABAO CW Telegraphy Key

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“TABABAO CW Telegraphy Key Auto Morse - Radio HAM Send Telegram Key Lambic Single Paddle Transmission Morse Code Key with Aluminum Alloy Body Base, Red-07”).

Acquired 2026-02-10 from Amazon.

Tektronix 2215A 60 MHz Oscilloscope

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Classic dual-trace 60 MHz analog CRT oscilloscope, gifted by fellow ham KW4OV. First real piece of equipment for the Test Bench station (previously pure backlog, no gear — see AE4JC.com Task Processing §6 Phase 3) — a real anchor item for that station rather than just an aspiration now.

Acquired 2026-07-14 from Gift from a fellow ham, KW4OV.

Used In

2026-07-13 — a teaser/guessing-game X post about the gift’s shipping packaging (“mustard colored tape,” country-of-origin guess) preceded the reveal
2026-07-14 — received and photographed powered on, confirmed working

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: tek.com

TKXEC 90W DC-DC Buck Boost Power Converter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“TKXEC Color Display Adjustable 90W DC DC Buck Boost Power Converter CC CV 0.5-36V 5V 6V 12V 24V Power Module Regulated Laboratory Power Supply”).

Acquired 2024-08-19 from Amazon.

tr-usdx QRP Transceiver

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“tr usdx transceiver 5-Band usdx Multimode QRP Assembled with case by PE1NNZ and DL2MAN”).

Acquired 2025-03-08 from Amazon.

Used In

2026-05-25 — “Used to see a lot of posts about these, but not so many lately. Anyone still using the (tr)uSDX?”

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: dl2man.de

Tram Browning 1191 Dual Band Antenna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“Tram Browning 1191 Amateur Dual Band Glass Mount Antenna UHF 440-450 MHz and VHF 144-148 MHz PL-259 for Icom HYT Vertex Mobiles two way radio antenna”).

Acquired 2022-06-14 from Amazon.

Used In

2025-12-10 — “The light was hitting the AE4JC #hamradio Ridgeline just right in the parking lot tonight. The antennas are… PS front: Tram Browning 1191 (2M/70cm) mostly for APRS, PS rear: Yaesu ATAS 120A mostly for HF+6 meters, DS rear: Comet CSB-790A (2M/70cm) mostly for UHF/VHF voice”

Tram CB Antenna (217)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“TRAM CB Antenna (217)”).

Acquired 2022-11-06 from Amazon.

Vectronics Mobile Antenna Tuner

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mobile antenna tuner, won at the same N4MZ silent auction as the Kenwood TS-50. Was in active use as of October 2024, used together with a NanoVNA — watching the VNA’s live SWR/Smith-chart trace change on screen while turning the tuner’s matching knobs. Not visible in the current (2026-07-12) garage rack photo, which shows an LDG RC-100/RT-100 setup instead — may have been set aside since, status unconfirmed.

Acquired 2024-02-16 from In-person, N4MZ club meeting silent auction.

Victron Blue Smart Charger 12V/25A

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Smart lithium-capable charger used with the portable battery bank. Appears in the same article that documents the switch to the LiTime 12V 100Ah RV Lithium Battery (2nd unit) — a LiFePO4 pack needs a charger with the right profile, which is presumably why it is there.

Used In

2026-05-27 — Photographed in the vehicle installation alongside the LiTime battery and

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: victronenergy.com

Virgo (Meteor Sky View)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

“Virgo Meteor Sky View” — a meteor scatter tool showing a zenith-centered sky projection with active meteor shower radiants plotted for the observer’s grid square (em60bm, southwest Alabama). Used for planning/timing meteor scatter contacts, ties into Matthew’s HamSCI Meteor Scatter MSK144 work.

Used In

Referenced in Matthew’s own X Article, “Virgo Meteor Sky View: A Ham Radio Tool for Meteor Scatter Communication” (screenshot dated 2025-08-12, Perseids peak) — [article.js archive, id 1956042576810700802]

WiMo IC-7300 Transceiver Lifting Handles

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Angled carry handles. Per the DXE email: Handles, Angled, for Icom IC-7300, IC-9700, IC-R8600, Includes Two Handles and Mounting Screws, Black Powder Coating, Kit. Matthew owns an ICOM IC-9700 but no IC-7300, so these are presumably for the 9700.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: wimo.com

WSJT-X

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

FT8/FT4/WSPR digital-mode software — the core of Matthew’s digital operating across every station (shack, mobile, garage, portable). First got it receiving FT8 on 2023-05-24 after “hours of YouTube videos,” first-ever FT8 contact came 2024-08-13 with the FT-857D/Surface Go 2 manpack combo.

Used In

2023-05-24 — Decided to try and get WSJT-X going for the first time… receiving FT8
2024-08-13 — First ever FT8 contact: FT-857D & Surface Go 2 combo

Yaesu FC-50 Antenna Tuner

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Yaesu’s external auto-tuner for the FT-891. Used as part of the POTA rig until late 2023, when Matthew stripped it out to cut weight and bulk.

Acquired 2022-07-31 from eBay.

Used In

2022-12-03 — POTA activation of K-3711 from the Gulf Coast: *“CQ CQ #POTA AE4JC in
2023-11-10 — Removed: *“A couple weeks ago I pulled the FC-50 tuner off of my FT-891

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: yaesu.com

Yaesu FT-891 (Ham Radio Outlet unit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Second FT-891 in the station. Matthew owns two — this one is confirmed bought from Ham Radio Outlet; the other has a solid Amazon order record 2022-06-14) and is tracked at Yaesu FT-891. He wasn’t fully certain which unit maps to which purchase (“at least one came from Ham Radio Outlet… maybe the other came from Amazon”), so this is the HRO-confirmed one by elimination, not by direct receipt match.

Yaesu FT-891 (third unit, sold 2025)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The third FT-891 Matthew owned. Kept as a spare in the garage rather than put into service, then sold on. Both remaining FT-891s are documented separately.

Acquired 2025-10-23 from bought from an individual, cash.

Used In

2025-08-06 — Offered for sale on X: *“What’s a fair price for a used FT-891 nowadays?
2025-10-23 — Sold: *“Proof submitted that I am able to part with a ham radio. 🙂

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: yaesu.com

Yaesu FT-891 Accessories (HRO kit)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Part of the AE4JC station.

Acquired 2024-04-25 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: yaesu.com

Yaesu G-5500DC Az/El Rotator

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Az/El rotator, the fourth-largest single purchase in the HRO history. Originally for satellite tracking; now doing double duty as the az/el positioner for a portable 23 cm EME (moonbounce) station build. It ties together a lot of this inventory: the ICOM IC-9700, the Leo Bodnar LBE-1420 GPS Clock (IC-9700 High Stability Kit), and the Cloudlog satellite timers seen in the photo corpus.

As of 2025-11-16 Matthew was weighing the M2 PR5500 accuracy mod to sharpen EME moon tracking — not confirmed whether it was ever bought.

Yaesu SSM-17A Speaker Mic

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Compact Yaesu speaker microphone. Bought about two months after the Yaesu SSM-63A Speaker Mic — both are Yaesu speaker mics, so this is a second, different model, not a duplicate note.

Acquired 2023-05-20 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: yaesu.com

Yaesu SSM-63A Speaker Mic

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Speaker microphone, ordered alongside the FT-5D handheld it pairs with.

Acquired 2023-03-12 from Ham Radio Outlet.

Owner’s Manual

Available from the manufacturer: yaesu.com

YOJOCK USB-C Tester Power Meter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Found in the 2026-07-12 Amazon order history census (“YOJOCK USB C Tester Power Meter 4-30V 0-6.5A Digital Multimeter, Type C Voltage and Current Tester Meter, Power Capacity, Working Time Ammeter Voltmeter USB Cable Charger Detector (Classic Version)”).

Acquired 2024-09-16 from Amazon.

BTECH UV-PRO

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dual-band UHF/VHF handheld from BaoFeng Tech, new to the kit in August 2026 and now my everyday carry radio.

The draw over the UV-5R-class handhelds already in the bag is programming and position: app-based programming over Bluetooth instead of a cable and a laptop, plus onboard GPS.

Features

GPS
App programming, multiple Bluetooth connection methods
Multiple emergency functions
Broadcast FM receiver, 87–108 MHz
30×6 channel groups
NOAA weather alert
Dual watch / dual reception
USB direct charging

In the box: radio body, battery, antenna, belt clip, power cable.

EAntenna 144LFA5 5-Element 2m Yagi

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Monoband 2 m weak-signal beam — 5 elements, 144–146 MHz, 11.1 dBi, 19 dB front-to-back on a 5.97 ft boom. The LFA in the name is the interesting part: Loop Fed Array. The driven element is a full-wavelength rectangular loop whose long sides run parallel to the boom and are inversely phased, which knocks down the sidelobes and lifts the front-to-back ratio. It presents 50 Ω on its own, so there is no gamma match or hairpin to tune.

Remnants of RaDAR: Origins of the POTA Rover

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This morning in the South Alabama POTA Posse group chat, K4BOS posted a certificate he came across while going through his POTA awards. A Warthog, dated 26 July 2025.

He spotted something in it I would have scrolled straight past. Up in the corner is the orange RaDAR logo, and the wording underneath reads:

Demystifying RF Exposure: What My Meters Couldn't Tell Me

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday morning I was running FT8 on 15 meters, 40 watts — calling a station in the Republic of the Congo, and answering one closer to home who’d come back to me with a report. Routine morning. Then I noticed the needle on one of the meters at my cable entry panel was coming up off zero.

The needle on the ZHFU field strength meter during 40 W of FT8 on 15 meters. Real time, no speed-up.

Not far — it wanders between roughly 2 and 6 on a 50 µA scale. But it was moving, and it was moving while I was transmitting.

Camping and POTA at Blakeley State Park

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Back in September 2024, I spent a night camping and activating at Historic Blakeley State Park (US-11292) – one of the bigger POTA parks in South Alabama, and one I keep coming back to.

Getting the digital rig set up

I got there in the evening and had the digital station up before dark. While I waited for the new UTC day to roll over so I could start logging, I scanned around on the Baofeng and listened to local repeater traffic. The plan was to start on 30 meters as soon as the day changed.

The Mast Jerry Built: Remembering VE6AB

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Last September I posted something simple: “Admiring this @VE6AB mast rotator… Fine business!” — a trailer-hitch-mounted antenna rotator I’d found online, built by a ham in southeastern Alberta named Jerry Clements. I linked his own blog post about it and moved on with my day.

A little while later, a reply came in: “Yes Jerry had amazing content too bad he is a SK.”

SK. Silent Key. Gone.

Engage New Hams: Survey of Starter Radios (1955–2026) – Building a Functional and Rewarding Hobby

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Present Challenge: A new ham gets their Technician license and a radio, excited to get on the air … but often struggles to find meaningful activity. The hobby thrives when it is both functional (your gear actually works and makes real contacts) and challenging (a continuous learning and growing activity with progressive goals).

To understand more, I asked the ham community on X, Reddit, and Facebook:

EverStart 27DC Lead-Acid vs. LiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery Comparison

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Huge Weight and Performance Difference: Why the LiTime LiFePO4 is Better for Powering a Portable 6-Meter Ham Radio Amplifier

I spend a lot of time on portable ham radio — Field Day, POTA activations, rover operations, etc. One of my key pieces of gear for 6-meter SSB portable DX is an old TE Systems amplifier that puts out up to 375 watts with 25-40 watts of drive and pulls roughly 48–55 amps at full power.

Perfect Portable Power for Your QMX: PD Trigger Cable + INIU Power Bank – History and How It Works

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the world of portable power for your 12-volt QMX tranceiver, few combinations are as elegant and practical as pairing a simple USB-C Power Delivery (PD) “trigger” cable with a capable modern power bank. The FASTELECTRIC USB-C to 5.5mm × 2.1mm DC barrel cable (ASIN B0CQP37NG9) and the INIU 22.5W 10,000mAh PD power bank (ASIN B09176JCKZ) create a powerful, compact system. Together they deliver clean, stable 12 V power — exactly what the QRP Labs QMX transceiver wants for reliable field operation.

6m FT8 Radio System Performance Comparison

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ham Radio is full of surprises… 📡

One of the great things about the ham radio hobby is the opportunity it provides to share and learn with friends.

Last weekend, during a six-meter Sporadic-E opening, I watched my friend Corey (KQ4TPD) match me nearly contact for contact as I was working FT8 with WSJT-X. Our stations are only about 18 miles apart. From what I observed for a short while, I figured we would work most of the same stations. But a full comparison of our logbooks turned out quite different from what I expected.

The Hidden Lifeline of Transatlantic Flights: ARINC HF Radio

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When you’re tracking an airliner crossing the Atlantic on Flightradar24, there’s a lot more happening than meets the eye. Thousands of miles from any land-based VHF tower, pilots stay connected to air traffic control and their airlines through a remarkable, nearly century-old system: ARINC High Frequency (HF) radio.

The live frequency chart at radio.arinc.net/atlantic/ gives a real-time look at this critical communications network.

Realizing The Popularity of WSPR

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

From 300 stations to thousands over the course of 18 years …

Now logging ~ 6 million spots per day. More active than ever!

WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter) started in 2008. It was designed and initially programmed by Nobel Prize-winning physicist and ham radio operator Joe Taylor, K1JT (Princeton professor).

The idea originated as a suggestion from Murray ZL1BPU for a low-power propagation beacon mode (originally called MEPT-JT, for Manned Experimental Propagation Transmitter). Joe took it up, refined the protocol, and released the first version in April 2008 (announced around March 13, 2008). The software and protocol were later made open-source (GPL) and are now maintained by a small team. Bruce Walker, W1BW, created and maintained the original WSPRnet central database and website for uploading and mapping spots.

From HamClock to OpenHamClock

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

One of my first projects as a ham was repurposing an old laptop with Linux to run HamClock — one in the shack, one in the garage. It’s been central to both stations ever since, showing band conditions, DX spots, and Live Spots at a glance. So it hit hard to hear that HamClock’s creator had passed away. Rest in peace, and thank you for years of free, excellent software.

Virgo Meteor Sky View: A Ham Radio Tool for Meteor Scatter Communication

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The following screenshot shows the Virgo software (version 2.23, last updated June 25, 2024), which is a specialized tool for amateur radio operators (hams) engaged in meteor scatter communication. Meteor scatter involves bouncing VHF/UHF radio signals off the ionized trails left by meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere, enabling long-distance contacts during meteor showers when activity is high.

Key Elements in the Interface:

Adventures in Antenna Switching

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

HEY DUMMY, you’re switched into the dummy load!

Recently, I’ve assembled a portable ham radio system to run WSJT-X for FT8 and WSPR digital modes. Being a relatively new ham, it’s taken me a while to get this new-to-me system working. The following experience reminds of the fact that I have a lot to learn and that I still enjoy the journey of learning.

This was my first try on HF digital with a vintage FT-857D connected to a Microsoft Surface Go 2 running Windows 11.

South Alabama POTA Posse

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

An informal group of South Alabama hams who coordinate Parks on the Air (POTA) activations together — organized in a Signal messaging app group, not tied to any one platform. See Clubs and Organizations for the rest of the local club landscape.

Known members

AE4JC — Matthew Foutch (this site)
N5VJX — Wally
KQ4TPD — Corey
K4BOS — Damian

Not a complete roster — just who’s been named publicly so far. Contact if you’re part of the Posse and want to be listed.