The Ham radio category covers amateur radio technology, operating techniques and practical station building. Topics include HF, VHF and UHF communication, antennas, transceivers, tuners, digital modes, portable radio, SOTA/POTA operation, propagation, repeaters, SDR receivers, feed lines, grounding, station accessories and real-world radio performance. The articles are written for licensed radio amateurs, beginners preparing for the hobby and technical readers interested in long-distance radio communication.
For most people, license-free radio communication means either CB radio or simple walkie-talkies bought for hiking, road trips, or family use. In reality, the landscape of license-exempt radio systems is far broader and more technically diverse. Across the world, regulators have designated specific frequency bands where individuals and businesses can operate radio equipment without applying…
The Xiegu G90 and the Yaesu FT-891 are often mentioned together when portable HF operation is discussed, especially in the context of SOTA (Summits On The Air) and POTA (Parks On The Air). While both radios cover the same HF + 6 m spectrum, their design philosophy, power strategy, and real-world field behavior are fundamentally…
The Anytone AT-5000 is a compact HF transceiver designed with a very clear and disciplined goal: extract the maximum practical performance from the 10-meter amateur band without drifting into the complexity, cost, and installation burden of full multi-band HF radios. Although it is frequently grouped together with “export radios” or CB-derived designs, the AT-5000 deserves…
Leaving a radio transceiver in a parked car is far more stressful for electronics than most users realize. A closed vehicle behaves like an uncontrolled climate chamber: in summer it can easily exceed 70–80 °C (160–175 °F), while in winter it can remain for hours or days at –20 °C (–4 °F) or even lower….
Quick picks: If you want fast recommendations before the deep dive, start here: Best overall license-free (FRS): Motorola Talkabout T800 series Best budget family set (FRS): Motorola Talkabout T110 series Best waterproof (FRS): Motorola Talkabout T600 H2O Best rugged backcountry option: Rocky Talkie (FRS Mountain Radio / GMRS option) Best GMRS handheld for repeaters: Wouxun…
Creating a compact, low-power amateur-band repeater is one of the most rewarding and technically sophisticated RF-hacking projects available to U.S. operators. Unlike large, coordinated repeaters, a mini-repeater is designed for close-range coverage enhancement—basements, garages, backyards, apartment buildings, events, remote outbuildings, or experimental RF setups. Despite its small size, building one involves real RF engineering: filtering,…
