In this episode, I sit down with no script, just a heart full of gratitude for this hobby that has become such a meaningful part of my life. It’s been about six weeks since the last episode, and a lot has happened since then. Here’s what I cover:

The QSO That Sparked This Episode

A parks-on-the-air activation at my favorite spot, Decker Wildlife Management Area, led to a surprise moment: someone on the other end of the mic told me they listen to this podcast and love it. That simple comment was enough to inspire me to hit record today.

Call Signs, Vanity Temptations, and Community Feedback

I reflect on my call sign, KQ4UUR, and the encouragement I’ve received to keep it, even as I admit the temptation for a shorter call sign if (or when) I get my Extra license. I share why this one has grown on me and the history behind almost changing it.

Local Repeaters and the People Who Make Them Special

I talk about the 146.790 and 145.370 repeaters in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, the voices I hear there, and the friendships forming through countless conversations. I also share why I avoid certain ham-radio lingo like “rag chew” and “ham” itself, and why “amateur radio operator” resonates more with me.

Hamfests, GMRS, and Clearing the Air

I share a meaningful conversation with the president of the Southwest Ohio GMRS Association at the Cincinnati Hamfest, clearing up some early misunderstandings from my first days in radio and reflecting on how GMRS actually led me to amateur radio in the first place.

Club Leadership Invitations and Boundaries

I was recently invited to be on the ballot for Vice President of the Northern Kentucky Amateur Radio Club. I explain why I declined. Not out of disinterest, but because of how I structure my days, my early mornings, and my commitment to staying in alignment with my personal priorities.

Late-Night Activations and Parks on the Air Goals

Despite my early bedtime, I found myself doing several activations that stretched well past my preferred bedtime. I talk about the challenge, the fun of chasing QSO counts, and how close I’m getting to taken over a second section of of the leaderboard for my favorite park.

Starlink Mini and the Perfect POTA Setup

I share how my Starlink Mini, with its new $5/month standby plan, has become essential gear for parks without cell service, making navigation and logging possible even in remote areas.

Spurious Emissions and Radio Experiments

I discuss a fascinating club presentation on spurious emissions, what I learned about unlocking radios, and why I’m now more cautious before transmitting on non-certified bands.

Antennas, Gear, and Favorite Setups

From my ATAS struggles to the JPC-12 vertical antenna that keeps impressing me, I give an update on what’s working, what’s not, and what gear I prefer usingly lately.

By the end of this episode, you’ll hear a mix of stories, lessons learned, and the small moments that keep me coming back to the mic.

In this episode, I share the reason I've been "radio silent" since December as it relates to this podcast.

I launched this podcast on August 24th, publishing 12 podcast episodes within 17 weeks, but then stopped publishing until now, almost 7 months later. I've received many emails from folks asking about the absence of new episodes. So I decided to record this episode to explain the hiatus since December and to share a comprehensive list of my amateur radio adventures over the past seven months.

In this episode, I cover:

If you want to hear from me more frequently and don't want to wait until the next episode of this podcast, check out my main podcast called The Cliff Ravenscraft Show in your favorite podcast directory.

You can see a list of all my podcasts that are in “active production” at https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcast

In this episode of Cliff’s Notes on Amateur Radio, I sit down with Jim Newcomb, the founder of Lido Radio Products, to explore his incredible journey through the world of Amateur Radio and entrepreneurship. From his unexpected start at Icom America to creating one of the most trusted names in mobile radio mounting solutions, Jim shares behind-the-scenes insights, fascinating stories, and valuable lessons learned along the way.

We’ll delve into:

Whether you're just starting in Amateur Radio, returning to the hobby after years away, or a seasoned operator curious about the intersection of radio technology and entrepreneurial spirit, this episode offers inspiration and insight.

In this episode, I continue sharing my initial amateur radio gear purchases after selling my 1974 Classic Volkswagen Beetle, which provided me with a $9,000 budget for the hobby.

Radio Purchases

Antenna Related Purchases

Power Related Purchases

The HamAlert app is a fantastic tool to ensure you never miss when I’m activating a park. Available on both iOS and Android, HamAlert lets you set a trigger to receive push notifications whenever my call sign, KQ4UUR, is spotted.

With a simple setup, you’ll get instant alerts showing the park I’m activating and the frequency where I was most recently spotted. Whether you’re chasing parks or just want to tune in to my activations, HamAlert keeps you in the loop, real-time, so you can easily make contact.

Download either the ANDROID APP or the IOS APP

In this episode, I share my Amateur Radio journey over the past three and a half weeks since my first Parks On The Air activation in episode 9. I share why I've been "radio silent" when it comes to new podcast episodes for this show during this same period of time. I quickly mentioned TCRS Episode 731 and TrainWithCliff.com.

I've become quite obsessed with Parks On The Air, operating HF portably, and have even set a goal to activate every park in the POTA database for the state of Kentucky. In just three and a half weeks, I've completed 42 POTA activations across 15 different parks and made a total of 1,762 QSOs. You can Follow My POTA Stats By Clicking Here.

In this episode, I walk you through the gear I've purchased for my portable HF operations. Here's a list of equipment mentioned in the episode, with affiliate links included.

Power Related Purchases

Antenna Related Purchases

Misc Purchases

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! In episode 11, I'll share how selling my 1974 Volkswagen Beetle provided me with a $9,000 budget for radio gear, and I'll walk you through all the exciting purchases I've made with some of those funds.

I'm deeply grateful for the incredible gift Mark Volstad (AI4BJ) gave me today. Mark reached out midweek, offering to assist with my first official POTA Park Activation using his own gear. This episode captures the excitement of this milestone in my amateur radio journey.

This episode is lengthy and includes all 102 QSOs made during my first POTA Park activation.

For a deeper understanding of Parks On The Air, I recommend watching this informative video.

In this episode, I share my first solo adventures with HF radio, with the help of many different people who have made that possible for me.

In the previous episode, I mentioned that I had a strategy for coming up with a budget for my amateur radio hobby. I knew I would want to make some purchases, so I decided to put my 1974 Volkswagen Beetle up for sale. I’ll update you on how that plan has gone so far.

I was blown away when Greg Lamb (W0QI) offered to let me borrow his Kenwood TS-590S radio. His partner, Judy (W1ORO), made arrangements for me to pick up the radio. Greg also had an antenna he could lend me, a stealth-designed end-fed half-wave antenna from MyAntennas.com.

I had the opportunity to participate in a POTA (Park on the Air) event for high school students. I witnessed the setup process, including the use of a unique variation of a pneumatic potato launcher to set up antennas. It was an incredibly educational experience for me.

Thanks to Rod Milligan (KY4ROD), we managed to create a temporary setup for the HF antenna in my backyard.

After discovering that neither the internal speaker nor the external speaker jack of the Kenwood TS-590S were functioning, I found I could use the radio with headphones plugged into the 1/4" headphone jack on the front panel.

I was thrilled to make my first HF contacts with Ed Brown (KA8YOR) in Ravenna, Ohio, and Mo Jeanson (N2PEP) in Saratoga, New York. I continued to find more contacts on 20 meters, communicating with people as far as 763 miles away.

I obtained additional items necessary for indoor radio operation from R&L Electronics. While discussing the possibility of acquiring an antenna tuner, Fred Neal (W0NKY) overheard me and generously offered to lend me one.

Rod Milligan (KY4ROD) helped me evaluate the SWR on the antenna setup using an antenna analyzer.

Over the next three nights, I spent time in my studio from 9 pm to 1 am, making more HF contacts. I discovered the "wing nuts" community (https://wingnuts7230.com) and was excited to connect with them. I also made my first international contacts, which was a thrill.

Despite my less-than-ideal antenna setup, these international contacts were able to hear me clearly, and I was amazed to be communicating with people so far away.

For the past two months, I had been heavily focused on studying for my amateur radio licenses and immersing myself in the hobby. However, I needed to shift my attention back to my business, which led to a nine-day absence from radio communication.

I reflect on the valuable experiences and lessons learned during my radio journey so far, acknowledging the support and help from the amateur radio community. I express my continued interest in amateur radio and the long road ahead in this hobby.

If you are interested in building your own online business, I invite you to email me at [email protected] with the subject line "Building an Online Business Course." Share your dream for building an online business and any actions you've already taken. I may just grant you free access to my "Building an Online Business" course.

In this episode, I share the story of my recent journey toward earning my General HAM Radio License and how my experience in the Parks on the Air (POTA) program motivated me to fully commit to passing the exam. You'll hear about my study techniques, my unexpected weekend adventure with a seasoned HAM operator, and how it all culminated in acing the exam.

Introduction:

Parks on the Air (POTA) Experience:

My First Hands-On POTA Experience:

Study Techniques for the General Exam:

Passing the General Exam:

What’s Next:

The Search for HF Gear:

Creating A Budget For This Hobby

Gratitude for the HAM Community:

Affiliate Mention:

Want to connect on HF?

In this episode, I share how this podcast has had the unexpected benefit of reconnecting others who had previously been active in amateur radio but had lost their passion for it over time.

In fact, this episode was inspired by a heartfelt Voxer message I received from my friend Marc Jeffrey (2E0MCJ), who had been inactive in amateur radio for several years, but was inspired to dust off his equipment and get back on the air after listening to the first few episodes of this podcast.

I then dive into my own journey, discussing my first international contacts made using digital voice modes like DMR and the Kansas Citywide network. I share the fascinating conversations I had with amateur radio operators from India, the island of Malta, China, and Ireland marveling at the ability to connect with people around the world through this technology.

I also recount my experience attending my first hamfest in the Greater Louisville area. I compare the atmosphere to a "niche flea market" for amateur radio enthusiasts, and share my observations about the demographic of attendees, as well as the valuable relationships I built by connecting with members of my local amateur radio club. This led me to discuss my plans to join multiple amateur radio clubs in my area.

Another focus of this episode is my preparation for upgrading to the General class license. I share my study process, confidence level, and motivations for getting the General ticket, even though I don't yet have the equipment to fully utilize the HF privileges. I also mention what I learned about the possibility of taking the exam remotely through the WM7X test team.

Throughout the episode, I express my excitement about the potential of digital voice modes, my desire to learn more about D-Star, and my plans to potentially host my own international net.

I also encourage listeners to consider obtaining their amateur radio licenses or upgrading to the next level. As a reminder, you can use the HamRadioPrep.com course with my coupon code KQ4UUR for a special discount.

If you enjoy this podcast, you'll likely find great value in my main podcast, The Cliff Ravenscraft Show. Give it a listen at http://TheCliffRavenscraftShow.com.

 In this episode of Cliff's Notes on amateur radio, I share the story of my immediate buyer's remorse after receiving my assigned call sign.

It all began on August 21, 2024, the day I received my amateur radio license. I was so excited that I could hardly sleep, waking up at 4 AM to check my email. To my surprise, the FCC had already issued my license at 3:24 AM that morning!

When I saw my assigned call sign, KQ4UUR, my heart sank.

It just didn't resonate with me. Determined to find something more meaningful, I dove into researching how to apply for a vanity call sign. I hoped to secure something that reflected my initials, CJR, or referenced my business brand.

After identifying available options, I submitted an application and paid the $35 fee.

However, as I began using my call sign on the air, I discovered it wasn't as bad as I'd initially thought. People easily understood and remembered it. One person even remarked that it sounded like "thank you for who you are."

I also realized that many amateur radio operators are content with their assigned call signs, and I started to appreciate the unique identity that KQ4UUR had given me.

Ultimately, I withdrew my vanity call sign application. I realized that the benefits of changing my call sign didn't outweigh the hassle of updating all my amateur radio service accounts and apps, not to mention the relationships I'd already built using KQ4UUR.

This experience taught me that sometimes an assigned call sign can grow on us, and that the most important thing is getting on the air and building connections with others.

I'm now happy to continue using KQ4UUR and plan to keep it—at least until I potentially earn my Amateur Extra class license. I must admit, the idea of a coveted 4-digit call sign is quite appealing to me.

I'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Please feel free to leave a written review in your preferred podcast directory or send me an email at [email protected].