Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

Uncomplicated Contesting: Nate N4YDU

Nate Moreschi, N4YDU, is an elite contester by any measure. His long list of competitive accomplishments includes entries as a single operator, multi-multi, multi-two, and multi-single. However, the numerous plaques on his wall and his World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) experiences only begin to scratch the surface of this ham radio operator, who often competes as NR3X and, most recently, as AA4NC. Nate's home shack brims with decades-old gear. He is not particularly fussy about the brands he operates, there is no climbable tower on his property (and he doubts there ever will be), and his collection of used and homemade antennas (he’s is a big experimenter) are not "superstation material." Nate is decidedly positive about ham radio, and his solutions for growing the hobby are refreshingly commonsensical: attend meetings, seek advice, get on the air, and absorb the magic of radio contacts. Join Chris Hurlbut, KL9A, and me for our conversation with Nate in Episode 13 of the Contest Crew. 73, Kevin W1DED.

Visiting Visalia: Bob N6TV and Why You Should Go

Bob Wilson, N6TV, was a repeat attendee at the 2024 International DX Convention (IDXC) in Visalia, California. Bob started his amateur radio journey in high school and went to Visalia for the first time just before his freshman year at college. It's clear that Visalia holds a special significance for Bob. That early experience shaped his perspective about the hobby and contributed to his accumulation of expertise. In the decades since, Bob has become a well-known figure in the ham radio community. Now retired, he remains actively engaged in contesting as well as managing a side gig where he builds specialized equipment, like the Y-box, to improve radio connectivity. Additionally, Bob is a field tester for Elecraft, the popular California-based ham radio manufacturer.   Bob Wilson, N6TV, embodies why attending Visalia, or any of the major international ham radio conventions, is a good decision: connectivity, camaraderie, and knowledge. Thank you for joining this episode. 73, Kevin W1DED

10 Habits of Winning Contesters: The Contest Crew

What if you asked some of the best ham radio contesters in the world for their list of the best, and worst, contesting habits? Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbutt KL9A and Scott Wright K0MD (aka The Contest Crew) had a spirited conversation about this very topic on our call this Tuesday night. They didn’t always agree but there was usually a consensus about the best and worst operating practices in the world of radiosport. Bucking all the usual training trends, the Crew didn’t simply rattle off bullet points from a powerpoint presentation, they explained each suggested practice, related it to their own experiences and debated with each other when appropriate. Per usual, there was a lot of levity in the conversation and no one took themselves too seriously. It is a hobby, after all, even though these guys would gladly out score you if you give them any sort of edge. Tune in for the ham radio banter and learn from decades of contesting experience. Thanks for subscribing if you have and please subscribe if you haven’t. 73, Kevin W1DED

State QSO Parties: The Contest Crew Tells You How and Why

State and Regional QSO Parties are a great entry point for new contesters and a nice break from the 48 hour madness of the major contests. They all have different characteristics and often dramatically different rules.  Hours of operation are typically shorter and some have a unique focus on mobile operations. In this 11th episode of the Contest Crew, Randy K5ZD and Chris KL9A talk about their experiences with QSO parties, offer their unique perspective on what to expect, and have some useful tips. We hope you are able to join us, subscribe to the channel, and send us questions or topics for future shows. 

Ham Radio Dream Life in Vietnam: KU1CW aka 3W9A

Alex Tkatch KU1CW has a remarkable ham radio story that begins as a teenager in Belarus, continues with immigration to the United States, and then takes him around the world. He's closing in on operating from 100 DXCC countries, has 5BDXCC from two continents and has been a perennial top finisher in contests as well as an operator in three World Radiosport Team Championships (WRTC). I caught up with Alex in Ham Tien Vietnam where he competed in the CQ WPX SSB contest with a station he practically built from the ground up. The heat was rising, and his internet connection questionable, so this wasn't a long conversation but there was a lot packed into 20 minutes. I hope you'll be able to join us.  Subscribe if you like what you see and look for more in the future. 73, Kevin W1DED

From Grandfather to Grandson: W9KKN Revives a Ham Radio Legacy

Bill Fehring, W9KKN, an architect in the computer security industry, was first introduced to ham radio by his grandfather. Decades later, Bill took over his grandfather's call sign and has continued his ham radio legacy. During his early childhood in Illinois, Bill was fascinated by his grandfather's radio shack and the mysterious contacts made across the globe. Despite initially drifting away from the hobby after his grandfather's death, a rediscovery of old radio equipment reignited his passion. Bill is currently very active in the ham radio community, especially in contesting, providing technical assistance and volunteering with clubs. He’s a member of the Northern California Contest Club and a perennial participant in the California QSO party which the NCCC manages . His commitment extends beyond operating to mentoring newcomers and engaging with the broader contesting community to maintain the hobby's viability. Bill’s story is one of rekindled passion and a tribute to his grandfather's influence, showcasing a journey full of learning, community engagement, and the continuous allure of ham radio. Join my conversation with Bill Fehring today on W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio.

Analyzing Trends in Ham Radio: Tim Shoppa N3QE

In this conversation, Kevin W1DED interviews Tim N3QE about his experience in ham radio and his focus on analytics and statistics in contesting. Tim shares how he got started in ham radio and his passion for tinkering with electronics. They discuss the number of contesters and DXers in the world, with Tim using the Drake equation to estimate that there are roughly 29,000 contesters and 100,000 DXers. They also explore the popularity of different logging software used by ham radio operators, with N1MM Logger being the most popular worldwide.

Florida QSO Party: Florida Contest Group President W4WF

The Florida QSO Party is scheduled for the last weekend of April every year (check WA7BNM). Chris Plumblee W4WF, president of the Florida Contest Group, discusses the contest's revival in 1997 and its evolution into a significant annual event - one of the largest QSO parties in the US. The Florida QSO Party  includes fixed, mobile, and expedition stations with categories for different power levels and modes. There will be an effort to activate all 67 counties in Florida, making the contest appealing for county hunters and ensuring widespread participation. For more information or to get involved, check out the Florida QSO Party website or their email reflector. Tune in and join the excitement!

New England QSO Party is Coming Soon: Tom Frenaye K1KI

The very popular New England QSO Party will take place May 4-5, 2024. NEQP founder, and well-known ham radio operator, Tom Frenaye K1Ki joined me for a conversation about this year's event.  Did you know that of the four largest state QSO parties - California (CQP), Florida (FQP), the 7th Call Area (7QP), and NEQP - that Tom K1KI, was instrumental in founding two of them? While in high school, Tom and his buddy, Chris WB6EUZ, started the first California QSO Party (it was later taken over by the NCCC to become what it is today). Decades later, Tom noticed that the individual New England states didn't have the critical mass to produce highly participatory QSO parties on their own, so he founded the New England QSO Party.  If you’re interested in learning more, and maybe operating in the 2024 NEQP, listen to this interview with Tom.

In Defense of Contests: The Contest Crew Responds

As anticipated, my conversation with Kyle Krieg AA0Z in which he made the case for change in the world of contests has stirred up considerable debate. The online world responded with a spectrum of viewpoints, some in favor of Kyle's insights, while others questioned his knowledge of the facts. To dig deeper, I engaged with the Contest Crew, a group of seasoned contesters and former contest organizers, to dissect the core arguments presented in the interview and the subsequent online discourse. This dialogue promises to be illuminating, offering a well-rounded examination of the various opinions circulating.