Parks on the Air has grown into one of amateur radio's biggest success stories. So what's next? Thom Martin W8TAM, co-founder of Parks on the Air and a current member of the POTA Board of Directors, joins me for a candid conversation about the organization's next chapter. We discuss POTA's remarkable growth to nearly 90,000 participants, the unique challenges of running a global volunteer organization, and the work happening behind the scenes to prepare POTA for the future. Thom also shares the story of how recent advances in AI helped overcome years of software development challenges, putting a public beta of the next-generation POTA platform within reach. We also tackle several topics that generate frequent discussion within the community, including park boundaries, N-Fers, Pass the Mic, volunteer leadership, and why maintaining a simple, consistent set of rules is essential as Parks on the Air continues to expand around the world. Whether you're a new activator, a seasoned hunter, or simply curious about where POTA is headed, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people, technology, and decisions shaping its future. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and the amateur radio community. Their continued support helps DXers, contesters, Parks on the Air activators, builders, and operators around the world get on the air with confidence. Welcome to the Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio community. Thanks for watching, and 73!

What separates a podium finish from the rest of the field at WRTC? Success is always grounded in raw operating skill, but it's also built on hundreds of small decisions made before and during the contest. Manfred Wolf DJ5MW and Uli Ann DM5EE joined me after earning second place at WRTC 2026 in Wyboston. England to explain exactly how they prepared and adapted through one of the most competitive World Radiosport Team Championship events ever held. We discuss how the new partnership came together after qualification, why they relied on proven equipment (courtesy of DL1IAO), how they analyzed historical logs and propagation forecasts, and why one of their most important decisions was keeping the beam on Europe longer than many competitors expected. The conversation also covers their remarkable sustained run rates, the impact of exceptional Sporadic-E conditions, operating through software interruptions and deliberate interference (DQRM), and the mindset required when you have no idea where you actually stand until the contest is over. Despite spending much of the weekend near the top of the public leaderboard, both operators describe why they remained focused on execution rather than results. If you've been following our WRTC 2026 coverage—including the event previews, behind-the-scenes reports from Wyboston, Contest Crew discussions, and post-event analysis—this episode provides one of the clearest looks yet at how a world-class team thinks its way through a 24-hour championship. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

The scores are final, but the real lessons from WRTC 2026 are only beginning. I'm joined by Emir "Braco" Memic E77DX, Sven Lovric DJ4MX, Kris Kass ES7A, Dave Kucelin 9A1UN, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, and Mike Larsmark SJ2W just days after WRTC 2026 to break down one of the closest and most competitive World Radiosport Team Championships yet. Braco and Sven reflect on their third-place podium finish, Filipe explains how preparation time, station setup, and operating decisions affected performance, and the group discusses everything from antenna tuning and station logistics to rate management, self-spotting, WRL score reporting, and the surprisingly cold overnight operating conditions. Along the way, they share stories about a police stop on the way to the site, equipment failures, generator issues, and what every team wishes they had known before the contest began. The conversation also explores one of the biggest takeaways from WRTC 2026: constant frequency movement and adapting strategy in real time. Combined with Filipe's post-contest statistical analysis and the release of the public logs, this episode offers valuable insight for contesters preparing for future WRTCs—and anyone looking to improve their operating skills. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and helping contesters, DXers, Parks on the Air operators, builders, and amateur radio operators around the world stay on the air with the equipment and expertise they depend on.

What really separates the winners from everyone else at the World Radiosport Team Championship? One week after WRTC 2026, Contest Crew North America sits down for an honest look at the contest, the strategy, and the moments that made the difference. I'm joined by Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, and Bill Fehring W9KKN as they break down their experiences competing in England at WRTC 2026. Rather than simply reliving the weekend, they dive into the log analysis that followed. Why did some teams dominate the opening hours? What strategic decisions looked right during the contest but proved wrong afterward? How much did station location, multiplier hunting, and band changes really matter? The conversation also explores life behind the scenes at WRTC, operating under identical station conditions, the remarkable volunteer effort that made the event possible, and why the competition continues to push even the world's best contest operators to improve. Whether you're preparing for your next contest or simply want to understand how elite operators think under pressure, this discussion offers a rare look inside one of amateur radio's most demanding competitions. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and helping operators around the world—from contest stations and DXpeditions to builders and Parks on the Air activators—get more from every day on the air.

The Cincinnati Hamfest has become much more than a flea market—it's a gathering built around learning, friendships, and the future of amateur radio. Ron Brooks, AC8MA joins Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio to preview the 2026 Cincinnati Hamfest, which also serves as this year's ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention. From major exhibitors and technical forums to VE testing, RV camping, and club recognition, Ron explains why this regional event continues to attract operators from across the Midwest and beyond. This year's program includes appearances from Ten-Tec and AlphaRF, demonstrations of the Phoenix SDR, presentations on DXing, fox hunting, and an ARRL update, plus on-site support from QRZ. Ron also shares how the Milford Amateur Radio Club uses the hamfest to strengthen the amateur radio community—not simply as a fundraiser, but as a place where operators reconnect, meet new friends, and encourage newcomers to earn their first license. One particularly interesting development is the club's ARDC-supported repeater project, which will create what Ron expects to be the highest-profile Wires-X system in southwest Ohio. It's another example of how today's hamfests continue to support tomorrow's infrastructure while preserving the traditions that make amateur radio unique. Whether you're planning to attend, looking for technical presentations, or simply enjoy seeing how successful regional hamfests are evolving, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the Midwest's signature amateur radio gatherings. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and helping operators everywhere—from DXers and contesters to builders, POTA activators, and everyday hams—get more from the hobby.

The world's best contesters are almost on the air, and this is what the final days before WRTC really look like. Just days before WRTC 2026 begins, I'm joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and special guest Tim Duffy K3LR for one last conversation before everyone heads to the UK. From last-minute radio problems and travel logistics to strategy, pit crews, youth teams, and the new live scoreboard by the World Radio League, this episode captures the anticipation that only comes before the biggest event in contesting. Chris and Dan discuss preparing for what could be their final WRTC together, Randy shares the realities of sorting through contest equipment just days before departure, and Tim offers perspective from his European tour, Friedrichshafen, and meetings with many of the operators who will soon be on the air. We also talk about the expanded WRTC media coverage, the stories worth following beyond the leaderboard, and why every amateur radio operator can become part of the event simply by getting on the air and making contacts. From experienced veterans to the next generation of youth competitors, WRTC 2026 promises compelling stories both on and off the bands. If you enjoyed our earlier WRTC conversations, this episode sets the stage for everything that follows as contest weekend begins. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and helping bring coverage of the people, stations, and events that inspire contesters, DXers, Parks on the Air operators, and builders across the amateur radio community.

The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC 2026) was far more than a 24-hour contest. It was three years of planning that culminated in one of amateur radio's most ambitious international events. Mark Haynes M0DXR, WRTC 2026 Chairman, joins Q5 just days after the closing ceremonies to reflect on what worked, what nearly didn't, and what it really took to bring the world's best contest operators together under equal conditions. From building 50 identical operating sites to coordinating volunteers, referees, transportation, generators, networking, media coverage, and hundreds of participants, Mark shares the stories viewers never saw during the event. He also discusses the surprisingly small volunteer force that made it all possible, the technical challenges encountered during the contest, and the emotional closing ceremony after years of preparation. The conversation also looks beyond the competition itself. Mark explains how WRTC continues to evolve through live scoreboards, expanded media coverage, youth participation, and the lessons already being documented for the organizers of WRTC 2030. Along the way, he shares memorable moments from contest weekend, unexpected logistical challenges, what impressed him most about the competitors, and why the event succeeded despite its extraordinary complexity. If you've been following Q5's WRTC coverage, this episode continues the story with an inside look at one of the most challenging volunteer efforts ever undertaken in amateur radio. It also offers valuable insight for contesters, event organizers, volunteers, and anyone interested in how a world-class ham radio competition comes together. A special thank you to DX Engineering for believing in Q5 and our vision for ham radio media. Your support has made it possible to bring in-depth coverage like this to the amateur radio community. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Contest Crew North America and Contest Crew Europe come together for a rare cross-Atlantic conversation just days before the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC). Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, and Braco Memic E77DX pull back the curtain on the final scramble before one of amateur radio's most demanding competition. The discussion is equal parts technical and entertaining. The group dives into everything from spare radios and "secret boxes" to antenna rotor management in two-operator competition, revealing just how much coordination needs to happen. Randy offers insight into the enormous logistical challenge facing WRTC organizers, while Chris explains why teamwork, constant communication, and operating accuracy often matter more than expensive hardware. The conversation also tackles bigger issues surrounding WRTC. The operators discuss maintaining a true level playing field, the impact of "cheerleading" by supporters on the air, the event's no-flags policy, and the need for greater visibility throughout the amateur radio community. Filipe also shares the story behind his new CWForever.eu Morse training platform, a project that began as a simple tool for his contest team before attracting some of the world's fastest CW operators. Whether you're preparing to chase WRTC stations or simply curious how the world's best contesters think, this conversation offers a candid look at the preparation, philosophy, and friendly rivalry behind radiosport's premier event. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A special thanks to DX Engineering for making conversations like this possible. Their continued support helps contesters, DXers, Parks on the Air operators, and amateur radio enthusiasts around the world stay connected and keep pushing the hobby forward. Welcome to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio!

How do the world's top contesters prepare for the biggest competition in amateur radio?

Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Tim Duffy K3LR discuss the preparation, strategy, and mindset behind competing at the World Radiosport Team Championship. From intensive CW practice and log analysis to equipment checklists and operating strategy, they explain what matters most before the contest even begins.

Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and helping contesters, DXers, Parks on the Air operators, and station builders pursue excellence on the air. Their continued support helps bring conversations like these to the amateur radio community.

WRTC is designed to put the world's best contest operators on equal footing, with identical stations, antennas, and operating conditions. But fairness doesn't stop at the station boundary.

In this special WRTC 2026 clip, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Bill Fehring W9KKN, Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Tim Duffy K3LR discuss the role spotting, operating ethics, and community behavior play in maintaining a level playing field during the World Radiosport Team Championship.

The conversation explores why competitors encourage operators to work and spot all stations equally, how "cheerleading" can negatively influence results, and why integrity remains one of the most important traditions in contesting.

Their message is simple: the best operators should win because of operating skill, not because of outside advantages. Whether you're a dedicated contester, a casual operator, or simply curious about how WRTC works behind the scenes, this discussion offers an inside look at the challenges of keeping a world championship both competitive and fair.

Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. 

Thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and the operators who keep the bands active every day. From contest weekends and DXpeditions to everyday operating, their support helps connect the amateur radio community around the world.