Kevin Stockton N5DX is the unofficial winner of the 2024 ARRL DX CW in the Single Operator All Band High Power category. Like other US contesters at his level (N6MJ, KL9A), Kevin came from a ham radio family and began contesting under the tutelage of his father, Stan K5GO. Over a decade in the early 2000's, he participated in many K5GO multi-op efforts picking ups skills from his dad and his dad's buddies. He qualified for the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship in Boston. By 2015. magic happened when he began contesting from the extraordinary N2QV / WU2X station located in the Catskills of New York State. In-person operating quickly evolved to fully remote operation from his home in Arkansas and his winning streak in various contests have continued to the present. Please join us for my conversation with Kevin Stockton N5DX and if you like what you hear, please subscribe.

Propagation was outstanding during the second weekend in February 2024 and, by all accounts, the ARRL DX CW contest was one for the record books. Dan Craig N6MJ was operating SOAB HP from the ND7K superstation, Randy Thompson K5ZD was also competing in the SOAB HP category from his impressive station in Massachusetts, and Chris Hurlbut KL9A was on the 15 meter desk at perennial Multi-Multi winner K3LR. Per usual, the Contest Crew weighs in with insight about the weekend and what they encountered on the bands. The conversation is full of contesting tips and their trademark interpersonal competitiveness and banter. Join me for Episode #04 of the Contest Crew and don't forget to send me questions and topics for future shows with the Crew.

Marty Sullaway, NN1C, gives me hope that the amateur radio hobby will endure long into the future. He is technically savvy, operationally sound, and willing to commit the hours needed to be extraordinary. At a very young age, he’s already attained an envious level of proficiency. Marty joined me to talk about contesting in general and the recent ARRL 10 Meter contest specifically.  For that contest, Marty operated ZF1A in Grand Cayman remotely with his usual team of top-notch ham radio contesters.

Veteran Ham Radio operator and contester, Fred Dennin WW4LL, explains the planning, strategy and execution behind his very successful (winning) ARRl 10 Meter contest entry.  Fred explains that despite a last minute change in operating stations, moving to low power, and antenna issues, good planning and skills was able to overcome those obstacles. His team, operating remotely as PJ4LL from Bonaire, earned themselves the top spot in the Multi/Single Low Power category.

Jeff Pulver, WA2BOT, agreed to talk to me about his experience operating a remote super station in the 2022 ARRL SSB Sweepstakes. Not only did I get interesting insight into ham radio contesting, and the Sweepstakes specifically, but I also heard a fascinating story about how ham radio opened up an amazing, unimaginable, world of success for Jeff.  Join our conversation to hear exactly how a 9-year old’s fascination with amateur radio led to contesting which led to contesting software development and eventually put Jeff Pulver on the cutting edge of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology and the regulatory decisions that created a new industry. If there ever was a story about how ham radio can contribute positively to a career path, this is it.

If you're interested in where the next wave of ham radio operators will come from, you need to meet Vicki Carnes, AD3I. Vicki is known as the "spark plug" in her local club, the York County Amateur Radio Society, and nowhere is this more true than in her work with the youth of South Carolina. Whether a chance encounter with a Cub Scout troop while on a Parks on the Air activation, developing a formal training course for Girl Scouts to earn their ham radio merit badge, or working with the local public schools, you'll find Vicki at the center of the conversation and leading the way.

Eric Olson, KD9TEZ (now KH6WI), is on active duty for the United States Navy in Hawaii. With 13 years of military comms experience, and the desire to add an engaging pastime to his schedule, becoming a licensed amateur radio operator was a natural. Given strict restrictions to operating from his home QTH, Eric immersed himself in Parks on the Air. This was fortuitous for all of us who needed a park activation in Hawaii to fully complete the Worked All States award. Eric has been nominated as an outstanding operator and recognized as such by Parks on the Air.

John Gendron, NJ4Z, recently returned from a 7-day DX Parks on the Air activation at K-0066 Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, USVI. John also operated with his club callsign, KP2/K4YTZ, while putting over 2300 contacts in the log. In this interview, John talks about the impetus to activate St. John, the preparation involved, the gear he chose to take on the plane, and the lessons he learned for his next POTA DX trip. John also speaks to the impact that Parks on the Air has had on his club, the York County Amateur Radio Society, and the overall ham radio community.

Iliyas Campbell, MM0MMN, has been traveling Scotland to activate parks, many for the first time, for Parks on the Air hunters everywhere. The photos and videos that he takes along the way are stunning and another reminder of why many ham radio operators enjoy operating portably. Iliyas talks about specific activation locations, the gear that he takes along, and how he operates from his home near Gleneagles Scotland.

Curtis Turner, KB3CMT, first responded to a Parks on the Air activator, KB3WAV, in 2018. After learning more about the program by listening, observing and making contacts with activators (hunting in Parks on the Air parlance), Curtis eventually made a decision to go to a POTA approved park, setup a portable ham radio station, and make the 10 QSO minimum required to have an official POTA activation. Curtis hasn’t looked back since as he’s racked up a very impressive set of statistics that have placed him in the top 50 activators world wide in terms of all-time unique parks activated, total parks activated and total contacts from those parks. Per usual, those that went before the rest of us have much to offer in terms of equipment choices, setup decisions and operating techniques.