Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

How a Hamfest CW Contest Led to 100 Weekends at K3LR

George Gross N3GJ is the 10-meter backbone of K3LR, Tim Duffy’s legendary multi-multi contest station. For 30 years and 100 contest weekends, George has held the line through solar highs and brutal lows. Whether pulling callers out of static or setting the SSB hourly rate record (390 QSOs) alongside K1AR, George shows up. Every single time. His start was classic: a Hallicrafters receiver in the attic, Morse code copied by hand, and a dad who passed down the love of radio from his Vietnam-era roots. By high school, George was sending code at 30 WPM, making the trek to Buffalo to upgrade his license, and splitting firewood in exchange for a tribander on the roof. DXing came first—but it was a code-copying contest at a 1995 Ohio hamfest that put him on Tim Duffy’s radar and launched a decades-long run at K3LR. There’s a humility in George’s story—he calls himself “not a top-tier contester”—but that’s only half true. In the multi-multi world, he’s the ops dream: calm, consistent, patient enough to sit through dead bands, and sharp enough to squeeze every last QSO out of them. He’s also a reminder that you don’t need to be flashy to make an impact. You just need to show up and do the work. And maybe, on a good day, set a world record with your best radio friends. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators like George—from patient CW diggers to record-breaking contesters—and for giving hams around the world the tools to compete, connect, and chase the magic hour.

Inside EF8R: Braco E77DX’s Race to Rebuild Magic Mountain

As the sun came up this morning over Chebeague Island in Maine, my phone lit up with a WhatsApp call from Braco Memic E77DX. It was 6 a.m.—and within the hour, I was walking with him, virtually and on camera, through the legendary EF8R “Magic Mountain” contest station on Gran Canaria. He and his wife Julia had just landed, and Braco was already sizing up the challenge ahead: broken antennas, a silent generator, and only days to turn chaos into a world-class signal. The plan is bold. Braco will go first, chasing a world record in CQ WW SSB. Then Daniel Craig N6MJ arrives to take his own swing during CQ WW CW. Two world-class operators, one station, and a narrow window to pull it all together. This is the kind of behind-the-scenes story that rarely gets told—the sweat and scramble before the glory. I’m calling it the CQ WW Showdown, and this is only the beginning. Huge thanks to Icom America Inc. and DX Engineering for backing this coverage. Their support makes it possible to bring you inside the action and show what it really takes to compete at the highest level of contesting. Subscribe to Q5 so you don’t miss the upcoming coverage. Visit www.q5hamradio.com for links to other platforms. And thanks for supporting Q5—don’t forget, SQ1K has Q5 gear available for purchase.

Levi K6JO Commands a Tennessee Mega-Station in WAE SSB: Contest Crew

I'm back with the Contest Crew—Dan N6MJ, Bill W9KKN, Chris KL9A—and special guest Levi Jeffries K6JO, who takes us deep into the guts of serious HF contesting, from antenna stacks in Tennessee to the fine-tuned dance of 2BSIQ phone operation. Levi recounts his recent effort in the Worked All Europe SSB contest, operating remotely from Ron WV4P’s elite Tennessee hilltop contest station. The competition was tighter than expected, with Jim WX3B chasing him down in a dramatic scoreboard race and wielding a clear Northeast propagation advantage. Levi’s strategic grit was on full display—from wrestling with poor 20-meter conditions to catching rare multipliers on fickle 10 meters. Yet, what shone brightest was his sharp technical dissection, including a live test of the Teensy Maestro, a compact switching solution for Flex radios. In a candid reflection, Levi admits he may have misplayed his QTC timing—but not before giving a masterclass on 2BSIQ philosophy. This wasn’t just radio acumen; it was contest strategy with human nuance. And in the broader context of AI-assisted ops, Levi offered a compelling counterpoint: in low-rate, high-skill contests, it’s not just about copying calls—it’s about coaxing the unheard to speak. This episode sets the stage for a high-voltage CQWW season. As Chris KL9A and Dan N6MJ gear up for world record attempts—from CQ9A or EA8—the quiet rivalry and escalating arms race in gear, grit, and strategy hint at a historic fall. Add Braco E77DX to the mix, and Chris predicts not just one world record falling, but possibly three. It's a showdown to anticipate—and to watch unfold right here on Q5. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for championing the global contesting community. From WV4P’s hilltop mega-station to the casual contester, your support continues to power the passion behind the mic.

Youth in Ham Radio, Bound for J62K St. Lucia: Kylee KE0WPA

Kylee Shirbroun KE0WPA is 18 years old and a bright young voice in ham radio. Raised in the shadow of a 40-foot tower in Worthington, Minnesota, she made her first satellite contact while on vacation in Canada—the very day her technician license came through. Since then, she’s earned her general class ticket, become a contesting enthusiast, and taken on youth advisor roles with the Minnesota Wireless Association and the North Star Radio Convention. A familiar call sign on the Parks on the Air circuit, Kylee activates and hunts alongside her father, ND0C, running portable gear from their truck. She’s also active on Remote Ham Radio’s youth program, favoring a Croatian station for its direct path into Europe and Asia. But her biggest leap is still ahead: a 2026 trip to St. Lucia, where she’ll join the J62K team for CQ WPX—a serious contesting milestone for any operator, let alone a teenager. Her story echoes that of past guest Seth NU1D, who will also join the J62K crew. But what sets Kylee apart is more than her technical chops—it’s her drive to open the hobby to others. She’s not just preparing for ham radio’s future. She is its future. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to Icom. From the shack to the summit, Icom keeps hams connected. We're proud to have their support for Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Young and Gifted: From the Cockpit to the Contest Pileup

Violetta Latham KN2P is a 20-year-old Extra Class ham with more big station experience under her belt than many operators twice her age. A commercial pilot, flight instructor, and aircraft mechanic apprentice, Violetta's days oscillate between runways and radios. Licensed since she was nine—thanks to a sibling competition organized by her father—she’s grown from a childhood in a Mennonite-Amish household with no internet to flying jets and working pileups from the Caribbean. She’s operated from top-tier contesting stations like PJ2T, W3LPL, and K3LR as part of Team Exuberance, where she built deep ties with other rising stars like Marty NN1C and Levi K6JO. Her DXpedition résumé is growing fast: recent ops from St. Lucia (J62K), upcoming activation of the North Cook Islands (E51MWA), and a fully youth-led contest effort from PJ2T this October. Contesting is her passion—especially phone on 10 meters, where she thrives in fast-paced pileups and unexpected openings, like the middle-of-the-night path to Australia from St. Lucia. Whether she's navigating DXpedition logistics or logging overnight contest shifts in unfamiliar time zones, Violetta is making a name for herself in the next generation of operators. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators who chase hard-to-reach grids, light up the bands for Parks on the Air, and mentor the next generation of hams.

How K1AR Helped Shape Modern Ham Radio Contesting

John Dorr K1AR is… one of the most quietly influential voices in radiosport. A WRTC medalist, long-time CQ Worldwide committee leader, CQ Magazine editorial alumnus, and the unmistakable voice of the Dayton Contest Dinner, John has spent more than five decades shaping competitive ham radio—on the air and off. In this interview with Kevin Thomas W1DED, he traces his path from starstruck novice to CW powerhouse to director of the biggest contest on Earth. His ham radio origin story—hearing a loud CX station from Uruguay on Field Day 1969—has all the charm and intensity of the era. By the 1970s, he was chasing DX, placing second in the Novice Roundup, and becoming part of a new generation of contesters who would go on to define the sport. Contesting friendships forged in those early years still anchor him today, including his brother-in-law, K1DG. John’s first serious single-op effort—on a dare, with 10 minutes' notice—resulted in a U.S. win in CQWW, and kicked off years of intense high-level operations. He’s a realist about stations too. After years operating from legendary setups like K1EA’s and K3LR’s, he now runs 1500 watts into six wires from a “magical” valley in New Hampshire. No towers. No rotators. Still 4,000 Qs in CQWW CW. His message? “If you think you're loud, you're loud.” Whether you're grinding for a world plaque or chasing your own best score, John insists you’re winning—as long as you send in the log. From mentoring at CTU to his backstage leadership at WRTC and WWROF, John’s not just operating; he’s stewarding the culture. His answer to the youth question is candid: don't dumb it down, but meet them where they are. “If I want to relate to someone who’s 15, I have to do it by the ways they think.” This episode comes your way with support from Icom—pioneering amateur radio innovation for more than 50 years. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

How Top Ham Radio Ops Train for CQ World Wide: Contest Crew

In this episode, Q5 hosts the Contest Crew—Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, and Bill Fehring W9KKN—four of the most methodical and high-performing minds in amateur radio contesting. In this insider roundtable, we pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to prepare for a major contest like CQ World Wide. From physical readiness to log analysis, from code training to grocery lists, this is a masterclass in how the best think, prep, and execute. Randy, the elder statesman of the group, delivers a simple but brutal truth: sleep is your secret weapon. He outlines a strategy built around rest ("you can't store sleep") and a months-long checklist of station readiness. Dan and Chris—longtime contest partners and friendly rivals—walk through their CW training regimens using RUFZ and MorseRunner. Chris, a self-confessed sleep-deprived perfectionist, shares his obsessive prep list, covering everything from antenna repairs to sandwich logistics. Bill brings a grounded, data-driven perspective for the rising contester—highlighting call sign typing drills, fitness routines, and phonetic games to sharpen mental agility. All four underscore the importance of goal-setting and log analysis—not just for winning, but for learning. There’s practical wisdom here for everyone, from CQ WW hopefuls to weekend S&P warriors. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for their continued support of Q5 Worldwide and their commitment to empowering DXpeditioners, Parks on the Air activators, and contesters across the globe.

Antenna Savant K2TR on Building Stations That Win

Fred Lass K2TR is a legend by reputation and by record—once dubbed “King Fred” during the founding days of YCCC, a title he wears with his usual self-effacing humor. From a modest childhood in Niagara Falls to a career in broadcast engineering, Fred built a life around RF. A licensed ham since the 1960s, he’s revered for his antenna mastery with technical talks that still pack rooms at Dayton Hamvention and Northeast HamX. He’s an original Murphy’s Marauder and a founding voice of what became the powerhouse Yankee Clipper Contest Club. Fred's technical chops aren’t just theoretical. As chief engineer at a broadcast station in the 1970s, he saved his employer hundreds of thousands of dollars by designing a circularly polarized antenna upgrade that required no new tower—a feat of RF and mechanical design rooted in skills honed through ham radio and a degree from RPI. Today, he’s still pushing boundaries, planning an ambitious VU4 Andaman Islands DXpedition with antenna arrays designed for the unique circumstances of that location—challenging propagation paths, remote logistics, and in-band station isolation. And, you'll find him contesting with the multi-multi titan, K3LR. Thanks to Icom for sponsoring Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio—because legendary QSOs deserve legendary radios. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Power Genius, Contests, and Helicopters: 4O3A’s Ham Radio Life

Ranko Boca 4O3A is a force in global contesting and amateur radio innovation. From his breathtaking hilltop QTH in Montenegro—accessible only by rugged vehicles or his personal helicopter—Ranko has redefined what it means to build a world-class station. A telecom engineer by training and a contester since the 1970s, his early days were shaped by club stations and soldering irons. Today, he leads SkySat and the 4O3A product line, home to cutting-edge hardware like the Power Genius XL and Station Genius—gear that’s reshaped high-performance amateur radio. After a stint in broadcast engineering and a war-disrupted career that took him to Hungary, Ranko returned to Montenegro with a singular vision: build not just a top-tier contest station, but a company that delivers "broadcast-grade" equipment to hams worldwide. His station, nearly destroyed by wildfire in 2017, is now being rebuilt—bigger, tougher, and smarter than before. He calls it “living in a big radio club,” and he means it literally: 4O3A’s R&D is as much about passion as it is about profit. In contesting, Ranko doesn’t shy from strong opinions. He’s called for bold changes in the CQ World Wide rules: shorter operating times for health and fairness, equal QSO points to level the geographical playing field, and a new "Single-Op Two Band" category to democratize high-level competition. And while he refuses to name a definitive “third best” contester in the world, his praise for legends like N5TJ and K1TO—and for regional masters like YT6W and YT7AW—shows he’s thinking globally, but never forgets home. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering, whose support of ambitious operators—from Parks on the Air to top-level contesters—keeps this hobby pushing the limits, from the mountaintops of Montenegro to basement shacks worldwide.

Inside HamSCI’s First Field Exercise at K3LR: Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF

HamSCI just completed its first-ever multi-day field exercise at the world-class K3LR contest station in West Middlesex, PA. For four days, students, professors, researchers, and volunteers came together to install components of the Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS), explore the physics behind HF communication, and experience the hospitality of station owner Tim Duffy K3LR. In this interview with HamSCI founder Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, we go inside the project: from pounding ground rods and deploying a DX Engineering active receive antenna, to configuring the RX888 wideband SDR and seeing the first live data roll in. You’ll also hear about the camaraderie, the antenna farm tour, and even the first-ever QSOs made by new hams at K3LR. This is more than a technical milestone—it’s a glimpse at how amateur radio connects science, education, and community. A special thanks to DX Engineering for their support of HamSCI and this project. DX Engineering—trusted by contesters, DXers, and portable operators worldwide.