Les Chalfant KI5GTR is the kind of operator who reminds us what Parks on the Air is all about. From zero to full-throttle in just a few years, Les has activated all 286 parks in Arkansas, is closing in on 700 unique park activations overall, and still found time to earn a serious contest plaque from his home QTH—Rookie Overlay #1 in the U.S. for the 2024 CQ Worldwide SSB Contest. Whether he’s logging 200 contacts from a forest clearing or tracking propagation through a 48-hour contest, Les blends outdoor adventure with competitive drive in a way that feels entirely fresh—and completely at home in the POTA movement. He’s not just participating. He is the story. Les embodies the best of what Parks on the Air has come to represent: accessibility, energy, community, and a love for radio that’s contagious. Join the conversation in the comments and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more stories like this. Special thanks to DX Engineering for their continued support—not just of this show, but of the entire Parks on the Air community. Whether you're operating off-grid, chasing DX from a contest station, or running 100 watts from the tailgate, DX Engineering makes it all work better.

ARRL Field Day is here—and whether you’re running 100 watts on a hilltop with a friend, part of a multi-operator 6A club effort, or setting up a 1B in your backyard, it’s one of the most beloved events in ham radio. In the latest Contest Crew episode, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Daniel Craig N6MJ, Christopher Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN share their Field Day plans and reflect on why this weekend means so much to hams of all kinds—including serious contesters. This episode is made possible by DX Engineering—your Field Day headquarters for everything from antennas to accessories. Thanks to them for supporting the ham radio community year-round. We want to hear about your Field Day too! Send photos and videos to W1DED (email on QRZ) during the event—we’ll be sharing highlights all weekend long.

Jeff Steinman N5TJ is one of amateur radio’s most accomplished contesters—a four-time WRTC medalist and the current holder of the all-time CQWW SSB world record, set from EA8BH in 1999. His contesting journey began with responding to a classified ad in QST by Lou K4VX that led to mentorship, a teenage single-op debut, and more than 50 return visits as a guest operator. That foundation—combined with decades of strategic refinement—has shaped a career defined by both performance and humility. In this conversation, Jeff reflects on the evolution of contesting, the value of guest operating, and why curiosity—not just technology—should guide new operators. Join the conversation and subscribe for more operator-focused interviews from Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting this episode—and for their continued commitment to Parks on the Air activators, DXers, contesters, and ham radio operators around the world.

Randy Thompson K5ZD is a world-class contester, but in this episode, he turns his attention to one of the fastest-growing events in ham radio: the World Wide Award (WWA). With the July Sprint just days away, Randy explains how WWA evolved from a WRTC beta test into a global scavenger hunt for activators and chasers—not a contest, but just as thrilling. WWA emphasizes daily contacts, real-time scoring, and broad participation across all bands and modes—including FT8, PSK, and RTTY. Think pileups. Think momentum. Whether you're chasing from home or operating as an activator, WWA offers a fresh, addictive way to connect with hams around the world. Join the conversation—and if you’re new here, subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more interviews that highlight the people and ideas shaping our hobby. Special thanks to DX Engineering, whose continued support extends from contesters and DXers to the operators powering programs like Parks on the Air (POTA). Whether you're operating from a summit or a superstation, they’ve got the gear—and the know-how—to help you do it right.

Manfred Wolf DJ5MW is one of Europe’s most consistent and respected contesters—earning five WRTC qualifications and podium finishes in 2014, 2018 and 2023. Based in Germany’s scenic “three countries corner,” he operates from a former ski jump tower outfitted with a modest but highly effective antenna setup. In this wide-ranging conversation, we trace his path from teenage CB enthusiast to world-class operator, with reflections on early contesting days, lessons learned from each WRTC, and his approach to staying competitive without superstation hardware. Like Jeff N5TJ, Manfred credits strong early mentors and a group of radio-active friends for his growth—and today, he’s paying it forward by supporting German youth operators and sharing advice for aspiring contesters. We also talk about his thoughts on contest rule changes, the role of the Online Scoreboard, and what to expect if you’re planning to attend Ham Radio Friedrichshafen. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more global perspectives on the operators shaping our hobby. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting this interview—and for their continued commitment to the Parks on the Air community, DXers, Contesters, and all ham radio operators around the world.

Kay Savetz K6KJN is saving ham radio—sort of. Not by answering the big question of how we build the future, but by preserving the proof that it all ever happened—and why it mattered, and still does. As curator of the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC), Kay has quietly assembled the most ambitious archive in the hobby’s history: over 155,000 items, 20 terabytes of newsletters, manuals, magazines, callbooks, cassettes, slides, rare field recordings—and yes, videos like this one. Some of it was born digital. Much of it was not. And more arrives weekly, packed into U-Hauls and pulled from attic boxes around the country. DLARC may not be “saving ham radio” in the way the title implies. But it’s safeguarding the stories, the documents, and the cultural trail that prove ham radio was real—global, human, and worth remembering. In this conversation, Kay shares the challenges of digitizing history, why curation matters, what still eludes the archive (hint: CQ Magazine), and how you can help—before it’s too late. 🎙️ Join the conversation—and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more stories like this. 🙏 This episode is made possible with support from DX Engineering—a trusted source for amateur radio gear worldwide. Their team understands that preserving the past of ham radio is just as important as building its future. We're grateful for their commitment to meaningful stories like this one.

Sebastian Delmont KI2D is the creator of PoLo—the open-source portable logger from Ham2K that’s become a favorite among Parks on the Air activators. What began as a side project to streamline his own field operations has grown into a widely adopted logging tool for portable ops. With a clean interface, fast logging, and offline capability, PoLo captures the rhythm of real-world radio—from trail to tailgate. Originally from Venezuela and now based in New York, Sebastian blends the instincts of a software engineer with the soul of a field operator. He’s a CW guy, a contester, and a builder who prefers practical solutions over flash. In this conversation, we explore the origins of PoLo, how community feedback has helped shape its evolution, and why Sebastian thinks the best software often comes from scratching your own itch. Join the conversation and subscribe for more stories like this—only on Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for making these interviews possible—and for their continued support of the Parks on the Air community. From portable ops to contest superstations and DXpeditions, DX Engineering equips operators at every level to do what they love, wherever they are.

Randy K5ZD, Chris KL9A, and Bill W9KKN are… answering your questions in this special Contest Crew Inbox edition. From the top: Yes, Randy’s new Ohio station is coming along. Listeners wanted an update—and he delivered, sharing the goals behind his build (spoiler: he claims he's not chasing top-five scores—we’re not so sure) and the practical decisions that led to twin 80-foot towers. Chris checked in from Montana with a progress report of his own: big plans, limited time, and a summer of upgrades ahead. Then: the Inbox deep dive. You asked about WRTC 2026—who’s in, how team selection works, and what still needs to shake out.You asked why top operators live in the Extra portion of the band—and got a candid breakdown from Chris on rate strategy, propagation, and why upgrading finally made sense.You asked what it would take to get more elite competitors using the Contest Online Scoreboard—and the crew delivered straight talk on culture shifts, competitive hesitation, and whether real-time visibility helps or hurts performance.You asked about livestreaming contests—and the responses were thoughtful and mixed. It’s an intriguing idea, but concerns about fairness, rules, and audience engagement remain.And finally: Is contesting a sport? Depends who you ask. Chris says it’s fun because it’s serious. Randy calls it a game with serious players. Bill likens it to golf: casual or cutthroat—it’s all part of the landscape. The Inbox is staying open. Got a question for the Contest Crew? Hit send. Big thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Whether you're a contester, DXer, POTA activator, or just getting started, DX Engineering supports every corner of the hobby—and helps make these conversations possible. Join the community and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Helmut Mueller DF7EE is a contest category tactician with a past passion for portable ops—and another of ham radio’s great storytellers. Operating from Germany and often Madeira Island (CT3 has been getting a lot of airtime lately!), Helmut has earned top scores in major contests—not by outgunning the high-power field, but by strategically selecting entry categories that give him a competitive edge. In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on the early spark that came from a neighbor’s antenna-laden rooftop, the CB radio gift from his grandfather that set him on the path, and the thrill of his first major pileup from Bonaire. Helmut’s contesting philosophy is simple: find the niche where you can win. Whether it’s 24-hour Classic or tribander-and-wires setups, he’s honed a sniper-style approach that consistently delivers. Over the years, he’s operated from legendary stations like PJ2T and CQ3W—and once helped lead what he calls the “German ham radio invasion” of the Caribbean. More than a contesting tale, this is a celebration of operating skill, technical creativity, and global camaraderie. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Braco E77DX is a man who doesn’t flinch— not at a chaotic pileup, not in a storm, and certainly not when a contest weekend kicks off with him climbing towers solo on a cloud-shrouded Cape Verde mountaintop. In this episode, he walks us through the behind-the-scenes grind of his (unofficial) second-place finish in the 2025 CQ WPX CW Single Op High Power All Band category—a race where the real drama wasn’t just on the scoreboard, but in the sheer effort it took to get on the air. While Chris KL9A arrived in Madeira to a turnkey station thanks to Valery CQ9A, Braco touched down to cold, damp weather, antenna issues, and a 10-meter stack with sky-high SWR. No support crew. No margin for error. Just Braco—climbing, troubleshooting, and coaxing the station to life. Then came the contest: logging software crashes, rollercoaster conditions, and finally, a monster Sunday push that closed the gap and made Chris sweat down the stretch. But this isn’t a story of excuses—it’s one of endurance. Braco doesn’t sugarcoat second place, but he does believe in showing up, digging deep, and posting scores live—for the good of the sport and the community. Watch the full conversation to hear his take on operating, sportsmanship, and why being the predator—even when the prey gets away—still matters. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. This episode is made possible with support from DX Engineering, whose commitment to equipping operators worldwide helps bring conversations like this one with Braco E77DX to life.