In this episode of the Live Free and Ham Podcast, Eric (N1JUR), Paul (N1OG), and Todd (W1STJ) are joined by Winter Field Day President Marvin (W0MTH) and board member / social media wrangler Mike (K1WFL) to talk all things Winter Field Day—from strategy and survival to why operating in the cold is way more fun than it sounds.

Welcome to Live Free and Ham, where pop culture nerdery meets New England charm and a dash of chaotic good. In this episode, we ride the MMANA bus with Hollywood at the wheel, nerding out to Dipoles and plotting like caffeinated goblins.

Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of nerdy niceties and chaotic chuckles. In this episode, our crew shouts “private livestream!” louder than their coffee orders, debates win links like they’re sports stats, and tangents dive headfirst into Nvidia drama, ham radio legends, and the legendary 75-ohm feeder story. It’s part tech talk, part backstage chaos, and all-firecracker-funny.

In this episode of Live Free and Ham, Eric (N1JUR) and Todd (W1STJ) try to kick things off smoothly… which of course means Grouch’s PC explodes (metaphorically), the guest shows up muted, and nobody can remember the name of that gorgeous Vermont park.

They’re joined by Mike W4OPS from the National Amateur Radio Alliance to talk about “making better radio operators one member at a time” while swapping stories about confused Patreons who watch the livestream replay and wonder why the chat is dead, epic Parks on the Air activations, and why the phrase “these cats” somehow made it into an Apple Podcasts review.

Dust off your headphones and join our quirky crew for a rambling, real-life radio session filled with portable towers, weather woes, and the unpredictable chatter of ham enthusiasts. From dodgy aerials and improvised coax hacks to far-flung contacts spanning Canada, Ireland, England, Argentina, France, and Bermuda, this episode serves up a candid snapshot of a day spent chasing signals, swapping build tips, and debating park meetups, WinLink, and POTa ethics. If you love behind-the-scenes banter, nerdy technical twists, and the camaraderie of a weekend radio club, this one’s your frequency. Plus: a birthday cue, a mystery choke on a stick, and a whole lot of “what the heck was that?” Tune in and press play on the unpredictable world of amateur radio.

This episode follows a weekend of hands-on radio tinkering, travel, and improvisation that captures the messy, thrilling reality of DIY amateur radio. From the sunny chaos of Florida to a backyard experiment zone, we tag along as the crew tests unconventional feedlines, tackles a 50-to-75-ohm conversion puzzle, and pushes through gear debates with both humor and stubborn curiosity. Hear how nine different feedline break points performed in real-life conditions, the challenges of coordinating RV wiring, and the surprising performance of a galvanized pipe antenna in a makeshift setup. We dive into the tactile joy of field tuning with manual vs. auto tuners, the drama of coax, radials, and connectors, and the thrill of a successful 59- reporting reception off an improvised vertical.

Ten meters roared, the waterfall glowed, and somewhere in the chaos, a “maritime emergency” calling spot was buried under contesters. We stepped straight into CQ Worldwide and asked a hard question: who really owns a frequency when the world shows up? From band etiquette to practical emergency options, we unpack the culture and the realities that matter when the dial is full and you still need to make smart choices. We also get our hands dirty with a portable radio. A Rybakov vertical goes from “set up wrong” to “set up right,” and the difference is dramatic: transformer near ground, wire up the mast, radials laid out, and 10 meters becomes a runway. We share our favorite tactics for activating a park during a major contest, including working the WARC bands, hunting first, and a fun twist—dialing power down as we approach a park kilo to finish at one watt. Along the way, we wade into AI in the context of contesting.

The tide doesn’t care about your logbook—and that’s exactly why we chased it. We loaded radios, batteries, and a vertical dipole into kayaks, paddled two miles on a rising tide, and landed on a slippery sliver of grass called Eagle Island. The result? A sustained, three-hour pileup on 10 meters that reached across Europe, South America, and 20 U.S. states, with park-to-park contacts stacking like driftwood.

Our guest, Keith (AC1RH), is a relentless Parks on the Air activator with nearly six figures of QSOs and a knack for turning tough parks into routine wins. He walks us through the exact route from Cashman Park, why you absolutely must time the tides, and how a simple tarp plus sandbags kept a 600-watt station alive as the river crept around our boots. We break down his go-to radios (FT-991A and FT-891), the five-band vertical dipole that shines on saltwater, battery choices that balance duty cycle and carry weight, and the logging workflow that keeps pace with chaos. If you’ve ever wondered how saltwater really boosts verticals, you’ll hear it in the reports.

The best radio goals aren’t just wish lists—they’re roadmaps with real checkpoints, community support, and a bit of swagger. We kick off by tightening the feedback loop: Discord for day-to-day chatter, a new AllStar hub (580871) for live linking, monthly livestreams, and voicemails you’ll actually hear on the show. That community energy pays off fast. A tongue-in-cheek “news desk” breaks real news: Kim KC1VYM passed her Extra, sparking a broader conversation about study habits, HamStudy as a secret weapon, and why revisiting Technician fundamentals still sharpens seasoned ops.

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 best radio days start a little chaotic: rain on the windshield, a wire tossed higher than your plan, and a stranger asking, “What are you doing?” That moment led us into a POTA run where 10 and 15 meters opened like a faucet—France, Belgium, Spain, Germany—flowing in with the kind of clarity that makes you forget your battery just died mid-CQ. We break down why fall propagation favors 10/12/15/17, what to watch for when the D-layer calms down, and how “angry Sun” forecasts can still set you up for unforgettable runs.

We also put our study hats on. Todd faces three Extra-level questions—FST4’s full feature set, why CMOS sips power compared to Schottky TTL, and the hard boundary for spread spectrum above 222 MHz—and we unpack the why, not just the right letter. If you’re chasing your upgrade, you’ll leave with sticky memory hooks and real-world context you can use at the bench and in the field.

Dive into the world of All-Star Link with our special guest Freddie Mack (KD5FMU), better known as the Ham Radio Crusader. In this comprehensive conversation, Freddie shares his journey from law enforcement to becoming one of the most trusted voices in the All-Star Link community, offering invaluable insights for both newcomers and experienced operators.

Freddie unpacks the essentials of All-Star Link - a powerful technology that bridges traditional analog ham radio with internet connectivity while preserving the audio quality operators love. From choosing the right hardware (whether turnkey solutions like ClearNode or DIY options from HotspotRadios.com and Kits for Hams) to navigating software setup, this episode covers it all with practical, actionable advice.

The world of mesh networking collides with ham radio as we welcome Dave KB5UTY, affectionately known as "The Mesh Dealer," to share his journey from casual GMRS user to becoming Seed Studios' ham radio ambassador for Meshtastic technology.

Dave pulls back the curtain on a fascinating communication ecosystem that bridges traditional amateur radio with modern digital networking. As someone who "doesn't do anything half-assed," he explains how his dive into ham radio quickly expanded into a passion for innovative off-grid communication solutions. His story resonates with anyone who's felt the limitations of conventional communication methods and yearned for something more resilient.

We want to share a segment where each of the three hosts picks their favorite episode from our back catalog. We'll be taking some time off for Labor Day, the 24-hour POTA weekend, and the second weekend in September. During this break, we will re-air episodes that all three of us enjoyed recording. We’ll be back soon with more exciting content!

We want to share a segment where each of the three hosts picks their favorite episode from our back catalog. We'll be taking some time off for Labor Day, the 24-hour POTA weekend, and the second weekend in September. During this break, we will re-air episodes that all three of us enjoyed recording. We’ll be back soon with more exciting content!

We want to share a segment where each of the three hosts picks their favorite episode from our back catalog. We'll be taking some time off for Labor Day, the 24-hour POTA weekend, and the second weekend in September. During this break, we will re-air episodes that all three of us enjoyed recording. We’ll be back soon with more exciting content!

What makes the difference between casual POTA operators and those who've activated thousands of parks? The answer might surprise you.

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of elite Parks on the Air operators after discovering footage from Huntsville Hamfest featuring interviews with the program's top activators. The revelation that shook us? These operators who've made 30,000+ contacts across hundreds of parks are using basic equipment like hamsticks and simple wire antennas—gear many hams dismiss as entry-level.

The countdown to our 24-Hour Parks on the Air adventure has begun! With just 30 days until we gather at Greenfield State Park, we're diving deep into our plans for this ambitious marathon activation while addressing one key concern: will the bands cooperate?

September propagation can be unpredictable, but we're not letting that dampen our spirits. Our station setup will feature a Buddy Hex antenna feeding two IC-7300s through a triplexer, giving us flexibility to operate SSB and digital modes simultaneously. We've got backup plans including end-fed antennas for additional bands, possible satellite operations, and even the potential for VHF/UHF work if HF conditions deteriorate.

Ever wondered what it really takes to install a ham radio in your vehicle? Join us for a deep dive into the challenges, surprises, and rewards of mobile ham radio installation as Todd shares his recent experience mounting a Yaesu FT-510 in his Jeep Wrangler.

The journey wasn't without its hurdles. From deciding on the perfect antenna placement to puzzling through power connection issues, Todd's candid account offers invaluable insights for anyone considering their own mobile setup. We explore the unexpected complexity of routing wires through a modern vehicle, the mysteries of auxiliary power panels, and the satisfaction of finally hearing that radio come to life.

Picture this: a stunning sunset view from 13,000 feet, radio in hand, making contacts while floating gently down to Earth. That's exactly what Paul (N1OG) experienced during his milestone 50th skydive, bringing together his twin passions of ham radio and skydiving in spectacular fashion.

In this episode, we dive deep into planning our upcoming 24-hour Parks on the Air activation at Greenfield State Park in New Hampshire. This isn't just any POTA event—it's a full-blown ham radio celebration with multiple operating positions, livestreaming throughout, and a $5,000 fundraising goal for the ARRL Teachers Institute.