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.

Bringing Ham Radio to Malawi: Don Jones 7Q6M

In this episode of Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, Kevin Thomas W1DED travels (virtually) to Malawi to hear the remarkable story of Don Jones 7Q6M (K6ZO). From his base at the Embangweni Mission Hospital, Don has spent years operating on HF, mentoring young operators, and helping grow a national amateur radio community in Malawi. We talk about the challenges of building a station where parts and power are scarce, how the Malawi Project became a pipeline for new operators, and how the Jeffrey Dahn Memorial Foundation now carries forward the mission of training African youth in electronics and radio. Along the way, you’ll hear how partnerships with groups like W3HAC and Yasme Foundation, plus support from the broader amateur radio community, have made a lasting impact. Amateur radio isn’t just about contacts—it’s about transforming lives. Don’s story shows how a signal from rural Africa can inspire the next generation of operators worldwide. Sponsored by DX Engineering. From contest superstations to mission-hospital setups in Malawi, DX Engineering provides the gear that keeps amateur radio operators on the air. Trusted by DXers, contesters, and portable operators around the globe. https://www.dxengineering.com

Contest Crew Returns: SO2R Secrets and CQWW Plans

I'm joined by Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, and Bill Fehring W9KKN for another episode of our popular Q5 Contest Crew series—your backstage pass to the minds and methods of ham radio’s top contesters. Randy is deep into a full station rebuild in Ohio, cranes and all, with a shiny new PGXL amp and a garage full of cables he’s still trying to decode. Dan, meanwhile, operated WAE remotely from N2QV, reveling in a seamless K3-to-K3 setup—but bailing to the spa when solar flares ruined the bands. Chris is juggling Montana wildfire prep and fall contest training, while Bill is mid-move from California to Illinois, paring down old projects and dropping 30 pounds ahead of CQP. The main event: SO2R and 2BSIQ. From legacy Microham boxes to rare YCCC kits and elegant DIY rigs from K6AM, the crew breaks down what works, what doesn’t, and why audio switching is more about what’s between your ears than your radios. For newer ops, it’s a masterclass; for veterans, it’s a reminder that even the pros keep refining. They close with fall CQ Worldwide plans—ZF1A, CQ9A, V47T—and WRTC pairings for England, including the headline: Dan and Chris are teaming up again. Let the trash talk commence. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Big thanks to DX Engineering for backing contesters, DXers, and portable ops with the tools and tech to stay loud and competitive across the globe.

How Flyover Country Made a Contesting Giant: Pat Barkey N9RV

Pat Barkey N9RV is a Contest Hall of Famer whose radio journey began with a childhood plan to stay connected to his best friend over a summer apart. What started as a search for CB radios led him instead to a neighbor’s ham shack — and into a lifelong obsession with CW, contesting, and station building. First licensed in 1967, Barkey quickly found himself handling traffic in Michigan and later immersed in the competitive scene at the University of Michigan, surrounded by future contesting greats like K8QKY and N4KG. Now operating from Montana, Barkey is a consummate station builder and CW competitor with four custom-built multi-tower stations to his name. He's one of the rare contesters more likely to be found with a wrench in hand than chasing someone else’s dream station. His career is defined not just by operating skill — though he's racked up plenty of Top Ten finishes and WRTC appearances — but by a deep, practical understanding of the hardware and human connections that power contesting. In May 2025, Barkey was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame — a recognition not just of his wins, but of his ethos: contesting as a vehicle for friendship, storytelling, and technical curiosity. From his early days in Michigan to his joke-filled rivalry with KL9A in Montana, Barkey embodies the spirit of radiosport — competitive, collaborative, and never quite finished building. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. This episode of Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio is powered by Icom—innovative radios trusted by amateur operators across the globe.

Out and About with Stuart VE9CF: Founder of Historic Sites on the Air

Stuart Crawford VE9CF is… a Canadian ham with a military past, a marketer’s mind, and a newfound mission to tell stories through amateur radio. First licensed in the ‘90s as VE4SRC, Stuart’s callsign changed with each military posting—from Manitoba to Alberta to New Brunswick. But the hobby took a 30-year backseat as career and family took the wheel—until recently, when he returned to radio with fresh focus and a two-letter callsign that nods to his time in the Canadian Forces. What began as simple Parks on the Air activations quickly evolved into something deeper. Stuart realized that many historic locations—churches, forts, battlegrounds—were missing from existing portable ops programs. So he built his own. Historic Sites on the Air (hsota.org) is now a growing initiative that invites hams to activate places that matter—not just for their scenery, but their stories. His gear is classic field-ready: FT-891s, lithium batteries, and antennas chosen for the setting—from a Buddipole to a truck-mounted ATAS. But the real hook isn’t the equipment—it’s the ethos. Whether he’s operating near an 1850s church or a remote Acadian fort, Stuart’s goal is the same: protect the site, share the history, and get a few good contacts while you’re at it.
Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Many thanks to DX Engineering for backing operators who bring ham radio into new places—whether that’s a battlefield in New Brunswick or a lighthouse off Halifax. Their support helps make activations like Stuart’s possible.