Four flip-flops walk into a divider…
Radios bring us together; NearFest reminds us why. We packed a three-day ham festival into 24 hours—livestreams, campsite breakfasts, last-minute builds—and still found time to argue about antennas, fix MeshTastic nodes, and quiz Todd on Extra-class theory. It’s chaotic in the best way: flip-flops dividing by sixteen, Schottky vs zener symbols, and the old reliable “Eli the Iceman” to lock in AC phase memory. New hams got outfitted, veterans scored wild deals, and someone used a fox-hunt rig to find their car keys. That’s NearFest.We dig into what actually matters in the field. End-fed vs BuddyPole vs coil; why a carbon-fiber mast can sabotage a vertical; how to run honest A/B tests without wasting a Saturday; and why a “doer” can be faster than a “tester” when the sun is dropping. MeshTastic gets real-world love too: clean configs, quiet event channels, and plans to bring MQTT online for those outside RF reach. On-air etiquette earns a moment—146.52 is perfect for a hail, not a monologue—so we talk CQ, QSY, and being a good neighbor on simplex.
The conversation wanders, like a good campfire should: Huntsville’s magic at Monte Sano, Belton’s vibe, scooters and one-wheels for event mobility, and skydiving stories that turn into a listener-powered idea—numbered “Grouch” jump plushies, signed with altitude and DZ, to fund more jumps and better stories. We close with the next steps: a community-built POTA field guide with practical checklists, band plans, and setup shortcuts to help more operators get on the air with less friction.
If you enjoy smart radio talk with a little grit and a lot of heart, hit subscribe, tap the bell, and share this episode with a friend who loves a good gear debate. Leave us a review or a voicemail at 978-233-1142—what’s your best hamfest deal and your go-to portable antenna?
Leave us a Review via Text Message!
//**************************************************************//
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 let us know how we can improve 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
