Have you ever felt that traditional ham radio clubs were missing something crucial – the actual fun of getting on the air? You're not alone. In this episode, we're joined by the founding members of the Hillbilly Hams Amateur Radio Club, a group that decided to create their own radio community when existing clubs felt too formal and business-oriented.

Shannon (K1LY), Sean (AA4AT), Amy (W4MAE),  Luis (KU5GZ ), and Doug (KE4MM) share their journey of forming a club that prioritizes enjoyment, active participation, and genuine camaraderie. With their signature overalls as unofficial uniforms and a lighthearted approach to operations, they demonstrate how a small group of friends can create something special in the amateur radio world without getting bogged down in bureaucracy.

The conversation reveals practical insights about club formation and heartwarming stories of radio adventures. From their first group activation to winter field day operations, the Hillbillies describe how they've created memorable radio experiences together. Their enthusiasm for Parks On The Air (POTA) shines through as they share stories of passing microphones around in a vehicle, encountering wildlife during activations, and celebrating each rare DX contact.

Hearing multiple perspectives on club culture makes this discussion particularly valuable, including from two ham radio couples who have made the hobby a shared passion. Their practical advice for those considering forming their club emphasizes starting small, defining your purpose clearly, and maintaining good relationships with other radio organizations while charting your path.

Whether you're considering starting your club, breathing new life into an existing one, or simply looking for inspiration to make your ham radio experience more enjoyable, the Hillbilly Hams offer a refreshing approach that reminds us why we fell in love with this hobby in the first place. Tune in to rediscover the joy of ham radio, hillbilly style!

Leave us a Review via Text Message!

Support the show

//**************************************************************//

Support the show:
Buy Us a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lfhpodcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LiveFreeandHamPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093543540309
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livefreeandham/

//***********//
Leave us a Show Review via SMS Text - https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2178012/open_sms

Leave the hosts a voicemail:
Call and leave us a voicemail with comments or questions, or tell us how to do our jobs! 978.233.1142

Affiliate:
Reliance Antennas - 10% off and free shipping at https://www.relianceantennas.com/ CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM
Halibut Electronics - 10% discount on all purchases https://electronics.halibut.com/ of $25 or more, limited to three uses per listener. CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM

YouTube Channel:
Live Free and Ham - @livefreeandham
Eric (N1JUR) - @N1JUR
Paul (N1OG) - @NovemberOneOscarGrouch
Todd (W1STJ) - @W1STJ

Swag/Shows/Updates:
https://livefreeandham.com

Join our discord:
https://discord.com/invite/zas2cAVNPs

If you would also like to learn more about the hosts:
Todd (W1STJ) - https://w1stj.com
Eric (N1JUR) - https://n1jur.com
Paul (N1OG) - https://www.qrz.com/db/N1OG