Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

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.

WRTC was created to remove the biggest variable in contesting: the station. What happens when the world's best operators compete with equal stations, equal power, and equal opportunities?
I'm joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and special guest Tim Duffy K3LR, for a deep look at the World Radiosport Team Championship just weeks before competition begins.
We explore the history of WRTC from Seattle and San Francisco to Finland, Brazil, Moscow, Boston, Germany, Italy, and now the United Kingdom. Along the way, the group explains how the event evolved from borrowed stations with wildly different conditions into one of the most sophisticated operating competitions in amateur radio.
The conversation also pulls back the curtain on the qualification process. Earning a seat at WRTC can require years of contesting, travel, station access, planning, and sacrifice. For many operators, qualifying may be harder than the event itself.
Finally, we discuss what actually separates the top teams once the contest starts. Is it preparation? CW speed? Strategy? Accuracy? Propagation knowledge? Or something else entirely? Past champions and competitors share what they believe determines who stands on the podium when the weekend is over.
Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.
Thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio and the operators who push the limits of amateur radio performance. Whether you're chasing DX, building a contest station, activating a park, or improving your station one component at a time, DX Engineering continues to support the worldwide amateur radio community.
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I'm joined by Violetta Latham KN2P, Leon Hellmich DL3ON, and Megan Lorenz EI5LA, the youth members of the VP0SG South Georgia DXpedition team, as they gather in Norway for a full-scale shakedown of one of amateur radio's most ambitious upcoming operations. From assembling tents and antennas to testing radios, networking gear, and emergency procedures, this weekend is about far more than equipment. The team—made up of operators from across Europe and the United States—is preparing for a 2027 expedition to South Georgia, one of the rarest and most sought-after DXCC entities on Earth. The three young operators share how they were recruited, the friendships and mentoring relationships that opened doors, and why youth involvement is critical to the future of DXpeditioning. What stands out is the professionalism behind the scenes. The team has divided into specialized groups focused on antennas, radios, and logistics while training on everything from knot-tying to biosecurity protocols. With most of the expedition's equipment traveling months in advance by container—and operators limited to a small amount of personal gear on an RAF flight to the Falklands—success depends on meticulous planning long before anyone sets foot on the island. There are lighter moments, too: parents discovering South Georgia through photos of penguins, and young operators realizing they've earned a seat alongside some of the most experienced DXers in the world. The conversation offers a rare look at how a major DXpedition comes together—and why investing in the next generation matters just as much as putting a rare entity on the air. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting the operators who make ambitious projects like this possible. Whether it's helping DXers chase the rarest entities, contesters push their limits, or Parks on the Air activators explore the outdoors, their commitment to amateur radio continues to strengthen the hobby around the world.

James Cribbs N0WRL is the founder and CEO of World Radio League, and in this special episode he unveils—publicly for the first time—the live scoring platform being developed in collaboration with the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026. With WRTC now just weeks away in England this July, James walks the Contest Crew through a working demonstration of a new operator experience designed to bring the competition to life for contesters around the world. More than a traditional scoreboard, the platform combines live rankings, team profiles, spotting integration, performance analytics, station status monitoring, and visual race tracking intended to keep the amateur radio community engaged throughout the event. Joining the discussion is DX Engineering CEO Tim Duffy K3LR, alongside Contest Crew regulars Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Dan Craig N6MJ. What follows is far more than a software demo. The crew puts the system through a thoughtful review, challenging assumptions, questioning edge cases, and offering practical feedback on everything from spotting fairness and network reliability to promotion, onboarding, and user experience. The result is a rare behind-the-scenes look at how technology, contesting, and collaboration are coming together ahead of one of amateur radio's most prestigious events. If you've ever wondered how fans at home will follow WRTC in real time, this conversation offers the first detailed look at what is being built for July. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for helping make conversations like this possible. Through their support of contesters, DXers, Parks on the Air operators, and radio enthusiasts worldwide, they continue to strengthen the communities that make amateur radio thrive. Welcome to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Tom Suggs N4MTE is a longtime amateur radio operator, Parks on the Air board member, and one of the program’s dedicated activators. His journey into radio began as a teenager inspired by an uncle’s ham radio station, where a simple contact with Norway sparked a lifelong fascination with geography, communication, and the magic of radio. After earning his license in 1985, Tom spent decades chasing DX and enjoying the many corners of amateur radio before discovering Parks on the Air in its earliest days. In this conversation, Tom reflects on hearing one of the first “CQ Parks on the Air” calls back in 2018 and deciding to give the program a try at a nearby battlefield. One activation was all it took. Today, he plans multi-state activation trips that can include dozens of parks in a single week and has already activated parks in 38 states. Along the way, he’s explored hidden corners of America, learned local history, and built friendships with hunters and activators across the world. Tom also offers a candid look inside the Parks on the Air leadership transition from founder Jason Johnson, W3AAX, to the current board structure. He explains why explosive growth made a volunteer-led governance model necessary and discusses the challenges ahead—from scaling infrastructure and supporting a growing international community to clarifying program rules while preserving POTA’s famously low barrier to entry. His vision is simple: keep the program approachable, keep the rules clear, and let operators focus on getting on the air and enjoying the parks. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for helping operators turn ideas into contacts, whether they’re activating a remote park, chasing a rare DX entity, or competing in a major contest. Their continued support strengthens the entire amateur radio community and helps keep operators worldwide on the air.

Contest Crew Europe returns with a post-WPX debrief and a look ahead to WRTC 2026. I'm joined by Kris Kass ES7A, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, Braco Memic E77DX, Sven Lovric DJ4MX, and Dave Kucelin 9A1UN as they unpack CQ WPX CW from a European perspective. At the center of the discussion is ES5TV’s ambitious eight-month multi-multi project. Kris shares the numbers behind the effort: 46 operators from 15 countries, more than 53,000 QSOs, and—most importantly—a remarkable influx of young operators. Nearly a third of all contacts were made by youth participants, many of whom arrived as beginners and left as confident contesters. The conversation becomes a case study in mentorship, showing what can happen when experienced operators give newcomers real operating time, real responsibility, and access to a world-class station. The crew also dives deep into CQ WPX CW. Filipe explains how his high-rate operation was less about chasing records and more about preparing for WRTC, using the contest to stress-test equipment, refine strategy, and sharpen operating skills. Along the way, the group debates operating speed, synchronization, live scoreboards, propagation surprises, and the tactical decisions that separate good scores from great ones. Attention then turns to WRTC 2026. Braco and Sven describe their preparation trip to England, complete with travel chaos, antenna studies, and low-power practice. Kris, Filipe, and the others discuss station testing, equipment logistics, customs challenges, and the realities of transporting radios and backup gear across borders. The result is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how some of the world's top contest operators prepare for amateur radio's biggest stage. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting contesters, DXers, and operators worldwide as they push their stations and skills to new levels. Their continued commitment to amateur radio helps make projects, competitions, and on-air adventures like these possible. Welcome to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.