Soccer, or football, stands as the giant of global sports, with a fanbase close to four billion. Its worldwide reach is as jaw-dropping as a Pele bicycle kick. The current World Cup being held in cities around the United States is projected to reach an audience of over 5 billion viewers.

Second place on the sports-popularity list goes to cricket (2.5 billion enthusiasts), and then basketball. America’s pastime, baseball, settles for eighth position—350 million fans below table tennis— and American football just cracks the list at number 10.

Be Part of the WRTC Excitement!

For amateur radio contesting fans, the World Cup coincides with the 2026 World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) being held for the first time in the UK, July 8-13. This will mark the 10th edition of the WRTC, which will feature 50 of the world’s top two-person teams competing from equal stations dotting Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire counties in East Anglia.

The actual 24-hour competition runs from 12:00 UTC on Saturday, July 11 to 11:59 UTC on Sunday, July 12 during the IARU HF World Championship.

You can be part of the excitement by following the WRTC leaderboard in real-time (powered by the World Radio League) and getting on the air and making QSOs with competing stations. Downloadable certificates will be awarded to operators for making contacts with the 50 teams. With QSOs possible across 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters in both SSB and CW, that’s a possible 500 QSOs with WRTC competitors. When you contact one of the special WRTC stations, you can see it on the World Radio League platform. Plus, you can check which of the 50 WRTC stations you still need to contact.

Click here for full details on the WRTC 2026 Awards Program and the different certificates available.

World Cup Operating Event

You can combine your love of soccer and amateur radio by making QSOs with 16 special event stations that will be on the air until July 19 in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. U.S. special event stations are located in cities hosting World Cup matches: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Find complete details about each station’s operating schedules here.

Looking Back at the First FIFA World Cup

Scott, N3RA, DX Engineering sales manager, made CW and SSB contacts with CX2AQ and CX9AU, both located in Montevideo—Uruguay’s capital and largest city. The CX9AU card features the historic Estadio Centenario, a stadium that was built in 1929-30 to host the first FIFA World Cup, which took place July 13-30, 1930.

Uruguay had won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in soccer in 1924 and 1928, making the country a logical choice to host the first World Cup. The inaugural 13-team event was won by the Uruguayan team, which defeated Argentina 4-2. Uruguay won its second World Cup 20 years later, upsetting the host Brazilian squad 2-1 before a massive crowd of around 200,000.

Visit DXEngineering.com for everything you need to upgrade your station to make sure you’re ready for the WRTC and when special event stations and entities like Uruguay are on the air.

You’ll find transceivers, antennas, amplifiers, CW keys and paddles, headsets and speakers, reference books like “Ham Radio DX: A Complete Guide,” and much more.

Editor’s Note: Every month, DX Engineering features QSL cards from our team members’ personal collections. To highlight upcoming DXpeditions, we’ll be displaying a few of our favorite cards along with details about what it took to make these contacts. We’re excited to share some of the special cards pulled from the thousands we’ve received over the years. We look forward to seeing your cards as well!

The post It’s All in the Cards—FIFA World Cup & WRTC Edition appeared first on OnAllBands.

Comet Antennas No-Hole Fender Brackets

DX Engineering offers nearly 30 of these vehicle-specific truck and SUV mobile antenna brackets that mount without drilling. Comet makes brackets covering popular Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, RAM, and Toyota rigs. Unlike lip-mounts that use set screws and penetrate the paint, these brackets use bolts that already exist on your fender.

What do mobile operating enthusiasts say about these Comet brackets?

“Works very well on my 2015 GMC Sierra pickup. Mounted a dual-band antenna and cable using this mount on the fender.”

Frank, DX Engineering customer

“The Comet no-hole antenna mount is an excellent product. It’s well made and eliminates the need to drill holes in any vehicle. Plus, it leaves a professional appearance. It’s great!”

Albert, DX Engineering customer

“I did not want to drill any holes, use a mag mount or other type of mount. This one fit perfectly, no changes to the vehicle were required, and it does the job perfectly. It is exactly what I was looking for.”

David, DX Engineering customer

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Due to the particular vehicle-specific angles necessary to form these brackets, almost all are designed for the driver’s side only. By using an existing fender bolt, the bracket extends between the hood and fender gap. The mounted antenna sits vertically, along the side of the hood.

A 3/4-inch hole in the bracket accepts the standard NMO connector and cable assembly. You may also use these brackets to attach an antenna that has a UHF mount. Simply choose a Comet UHF mount cable assembly; they include a large washer and jam nuts to keep the 5/8-inch diameter UHF connector from falling through the 3/4-inch hole in the bracket.

Here are three new Comet No-Hole Fender Brackets available at DX Engineering:

• Toyota 4Runner, 2010-24, Driver’s Side
• Ford Raptor, 2017-27, Driver’s Side
• Jeep Wrangler, 2018-26; Jeep Gladiator, 2020-26, Driver’s Side

Also, check out the diverse range of Comet Antennas products at DX Engineering, including:

• Mobile Antenna Mounts, including magnet mounts, mobile mount cable assemblies, adjustable lip mount assemblies, and more
• VHF/UHF Mobile Vertical Antennas
• Duplexers and Triplexers
• VHF/UHF Base Vertical Antennas
• Handheld and Scanner Antennas
• Mobile Whip Antennas
• 500MARKII Antenna Analyzer

Click on “What’s New” at DXEngineering.com to check out all the latest gear available at DX Engineering!

The post New Products Spotlight: More Models of Comet No-Hole Fender Brackets for Mounting Mobile Antennas appeared first on OnAllBands.

***

Don’t miss this important opportunity to let your representatives in Washington, D.C. know how homeowner’s association (HOA) antenna limitations negatively impact the vitality of amateur radio and could have serious consequences when emergency communication is needed during a disaster.

ARRL’s nationwide letter-writing campaign supports the passage of the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, which was reintroduced in February 2025 by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D- Conn., and Representatives August Pfluger, R-Tex., and Joe Courtney, D-Conn.  

We strongly encourage you to watch the video below featuring John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, ARRL West Gulf Division Director, being interviewed by DX Engineering CEO Tim Duffy, K3LR. N5AUS discusses where the legislation stands today, its importance to the amateur radio community, and how you can make a difference in a matter of minutes.

“The biggest things that we have are voices and votes,” N5AUS said. “In order to get across to Congress that there is a substantial amount of support in the amateur radio community for relief from these private land restrictions, we started a letter writing campaign.”

He noted that the campaign has generated 156,000 letters from amateur operators asking Congress to support the two bills, but your letters and calls to your representatives are very much needed at this critical stage.

“As the old saying goes, keep the cards and letters coming,” N5AUS said.

The bipartisan House and Senate bills would prevent restrictive HOA rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when these antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles, per the ARRL. The passage of the legislation would grant amateur radio operators the same rights to install antennas on their property as those enjoyed by users of TV antennas, wireless internet, and flagpoles.

Click on these links to read the bills:

• H.R.1094 in the House
• S.459 in the Senate

From the ARRL, passage of the bill would:

• Prohibit HOAs from outright banning amateur radio antennas
• Establish an approval process for installation
• Create a federal right of action for hams in disputed cases

Read much more about the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act here, including frequently asked questions and how amateur radio clubs can get involved in the campaign.

Let Your Voice Be Heard—5 & 9!

The ARRL is encouraging every radio amateur in the U.S. to send letters to Washington via this form: https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/.

You do not have to be an ARRL member to use the form. Just enter your call sign, name, address, and email address, and click “Send My Letters” to add your voice to this important issue. The letters will automatically be sent to your elected officials, encouraging them to support the bills.

The post Your Voice Matters! The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act Still in Need of Your Support (Video) appeared first on OnAllBands.

Here are just a few of the hottest products you’ll want to put on your must-have list:

“Salty Walt’s Next Level Portable Antenna Sketchbook”: Salty Walt, K4OGO, has done it again! On the heels of his popular “Portable Antenna Sketchbook” comes 144 pages of practical, field-tested, easy-to-build antennas along with plenty of antenna theory, insights on maximizing your station setup, and techniques that can dramatically improve your signals. Note: Book does not include instructions on how to find that “lost shaker of salt.”

Whether you’re operating in the field, at home, or deep in the backcountry, these designs are built to perform. Explore military-inspired antennas, create efficient wire arrays with minimal supports, and discover new ways to maximize your station’s potential.

Antennas detailed in the book include:

• Three-element vertical beam
• Two-element quarter-wave vertical with reflector
• Two-element vertical Yagi with director
• Half-square Bobtail curtain
• Co-phased vertical whips
• Corner-fed cubical quad
• Portable rhombic
• Terminated end-fed V
• V-beam tuned transmission line trap
• Vertical Moxon
• Vertical phased arrays
• Portable magnetic loops
• Variations on the telescopic whip

Also, take a moment to watch the interview below with K4OGO from the DX Engineering YouTube Channel. And check out Salty Walt’s YouTube channel, Coastal Waves & Wires, here.

DX Engineering Nomad Guy Ring Kit: Here’s a reliable solution for stabilizing DX Engineering Nomad Portable Masts in a variety of operating conditions. Designed as durable guy rings specifically for Nomad masts, these kits feature precisely placed holes that enable secure three-way guying for improved support. They are engineered to fit both 0.260- and 0.855-inch outside diameter mast tubes. Each kit includes six convenient hooks for attaching guy ropes. Offered in a two-pack, these guy ring kits help ensure the stability and performance that operators depend on in the field.

mAT-TUNER mAT-1F Automatic Antenna Tuner: This tuner is designed specifically for the Yaesu FTX-1 Field HF/50/144/430 MHz SDR All Mode Base/Portable Transceiver. Capable of matching the 10W output of the FTX-1 Field, it draws power from the radio via the included control cable. Providing frequency coverage from 160-6M, the mAT-1F has a BNC jack for an antenna as well as a pair of banana jacks for long wire antennas.

The bottom of the mAT-1F has jacks for the coax in from the radio and the control cable. An LED indicator shows if the tuner is tuning, online, or in bypass mode. Control of the tuner is accomplished from the FTX-1, which sees the tuner as if it were a Yaesu FC-90 tuner. The unit measures a portable-friendly 5.590″ x 2.638″ x 1.102″ and weighs in at 12.5 ounces.

Check into OnAllBands regularly for more products and more ways to improve your on-air experience.

The post New Products Spotlight: Salty Walt’s Latest, Nomad Guy Rings, and an FTX-1 Field Tuner appeared first on OnAllBands.

With POTA, we are looking to easily set up and get on the air. In most cases we will only be in a park for a couple of hours. We want to quickly get on the air, make as many good contacts as possible, load our gear in the car, and head out.

With EmComm, depending on the event, we could be there for an extended period. I was set up after Hurricane Katrina for nearly six months. I realize that is the extreme, but isn’t that what we train for? Most disaster scenarios would probably not extend past a few days in our current climate, but those few days could be crucial.

Assuming you have your radio, antenna, and power, let’s walk through an EmComm setup focusing on the not-so-obvious items. 

First, you will need shelter. It doesn’t matter whether the sun is shining or the snow is blowing, you will need protection from the elements to be effective. You cannot assume you will be able to operate from your local EOC or other building, as it may be just as affected as the rest of the community you are serving.

I have seen some elaborate mobile communications vehicles and trailers for this very purpose. Everything necessary to deploy is set up inside the vehicle and ready at a moment’s notice. Desks, chairs, radios and antennas—even food and water—are usually part of these setups.

However, most of us are not quite that fortunate. I keep these things handy in a corner of our home. These are staged to quickly throw into the Jeep. Also, just as important as having the supplies is practicing with them. At a minimum, I use this setup at NVIS Day, Field Day, and International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. In the heat of battle is not the time to make sure you have everything and know how to use it proficiently.

I use a pop-up style tent for my portable shack. Measuring 10-foot x 10-foot x 8-foot, it has a front porch canopy, 360-degree windows, and a top vent that can all be covered during bad weather. All of the poles are internal. It is erected by simply pulling a tab on each wall and the roof. It has an integral floor to keep water and critters from entering, plus a weatherproof cable pass-through for coax and power cables.

I have a ¼-inch floor covering that folds up nicely for transport and storage. This protects the tent floor and insulates from the elements. A compact folding table serves as the desk and is accompanied by a pair of folding “director’s chairs.” I have a few battery-operated lights and a battery-operated fan that I have tested to make sure they are RF quiet. A Buddy heater makes operating in cold weather more bearable, and I also have a folding cot that fits along one side for extended operations.

Now we have a well-thought-out, well-executed space to deploy our radio equipment and operate for as long as needed. I will now go through what I use for EmComm. It’s my POTA setup with a couple of enhancements. The enhancements are a computer and digital interface, as I do not attach a computer to my rig for POTA.

I use the Yaesu FT-891 as the center of the shack. It is rich in features given how small and lightweight it is. I know there is a lot of talk about the menu system, but like anything else, if you use it enough, it is a non-issue. I protect the rig with the Armoloq Tactical Protective Armor for the 891. This protects the radio, knobs, and connections at home, on the scene, or anywhere in between.

I also have a Yaesu FT-2980 for 2M operations. My 2M antenna is the Comet SBB- 7 atop a DX Engineering Nomad Mast connected with the DX Engineering Portable VHF/UHF Antenna Mount.

I use the Carlson Drive-On Mast Mount if no other suitable mast mount is available. If I need 2M/70cm operations, I can always use an HT and crossband repeat through the Yaesu FTM-300 in my Jeep.

The operating station is powered by a homebrew power box. The box contains a Samlex 1235P-M Power Supply and a Bioenno 1220A LiFePO4 Battery.

These two power sources are brought together with a West Mountain Radio Epic PWRgate and a West Mountain Radio RIGRunner DC Outlet Panel. A Bioenno Solar Panel is attached. I have operated for days on this setup. It allows for use of commercial power if available or solar/battery power if not available.

My go-to EmComm antenna is the Alpha Antenna Portable MIL EmComm Enhanced Antenna. This antenna has a vertical element for distant communications, but more importantly, it has four NVIS wire elements for near-field communications. This antenna provides some resonance from 80-6M without a tuner. However, depending on frequency used and environmental influences, you may want a tuner to clean things up a bit. 

I use the mAT-TUNER MAT-Y200. It provides a wide tuning range with ample memories and low power consumption. As a bonus, it attaches nicely to the top of the 891 with some Velcro straps.

Finally, I connect a Microsoft Surface to the rig via a Digirig Digital Mode Interface Kit. This provides for seamless soundcard and CAT control integration. It is vital that you have the rig and the computer working together along with WinLink and NBEMS before you are needed to perform in the field. Trying to download drivers and software updates with poor or no internet service is a formula for failure.

Please do not look at this list and think you must get it all at once. This article and list are the result of years of failures both in training and real-world events. Take your time, consult with others in your area, and don’t be afraid to call DX Engineering just to get advice on what might work in your situation.

As stated earlier, I practice with this several times a year and have a system in place for mob and demob. Also, I have used it enough to know where I like everything on the desk and how it all fits in the space provided. Remember, people are counting on you to professionally meet their needs. Trial and error should not be done during a real-world event.

Until next time, 73 de AC8OW

The post Amateur Radio EmComm Prep—A Look at What Equipment You’ll Need When the Worst Happens appeared first on OnAllBands.

With scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000, the generosity of amateur radio clubs and groups is virtually unmatched by any other hobby. Providing scholarships seems to be the perfect way to give back to the community.

If you’re a young ham heading to college soon, or even just considering it, looking into the various scholarships in the amateur radio community is well worth your time. Just meeting the first requirement— having an amateur radio license—narrows the pool of applicants immensely. This gives you a better chance of being selected for an amateur radio scholarship compared to the random scholarships that you find on websites where thousands of your peers are applying! 

Many of the amateur radio scholarships have further requirements beyond being licensed. For example, the YLRL (Young Ladies Radio League) offers two scholarships for female amateur radio operators who are pursuing a four-year degree, and one for female amateur radio operators pursuing a two-year degree. Read more about YLRL scholarships here.

Fortunately, the application process for almost all amateur radio scholarships is incredibly streamlined. The vast majority of scholarships offered for amateur radio use a common application facilitated by the ARRL Foundation and their scholarship committee—this is where all young hams should start their journey. To apply for all of the scholarships that are managed by the ARRL, you should fill out the ARRL Foundation application in the online program “Kaleidoscope.”

The first few pages of the application consist of questions about your plans for school. These are followed by questions that determine your eligibility for specific scholarships. For example:

• “Are you proficient in CW?”
• “Are you interested in/active in contesting?”
• “What class of license do you have?”

After answering these questions, you’ll have the opportunity to elaborate on your amateur radio experience, what the hobby means to you, and how you plan to incorporate it into your studies or life in college. In addition to answering these questions, you’ll be asked to submit a few letters of recommendation from people in your community and/or former/current educators. After submitting your application, you may also be invited to virtually interview for some of the larger scholarships.

While the ARRL manages the vast majority of scholarships in amateur radio, there are a few managed by clubs and organizations. For example, the YLRL scholarships mentioned above are run by the YLRL, and the application is separate from the ARRL Foundation application. To apply for the YLRL scholarship, fill out and submit the online application on their website.

The ARRL Foundation typically takes applications from fall until late December (the 2026 scholarship cycle ran from October 30, 2025, to December 30, 2025). The YLRL scholarship application for next year opens on February 1, 2027.

Click here for descriptions of available scholarships through the ARRL Foundation.

Here are a few tips for young hams applying for amateur radio scholarships:

• While the only “requirement” for many of them is that you have a license, the more active you are in amateur radio, the more likely you are to receive a scholarship. Get licensed, stay licensed, and get involved.
• Make sure you stay on top of deadlines and keep in touch with anyone who is also contributing to your applications (e.g., those providing recommendations). Late applications will not be accepted, and your recommenders are just as busy as you— just be sure to send a few reminders if needed.
• Ensure that you complete all parts of your application. Many require your transcript to be uploaded, and almost all require letters of recommendation.
• If you have questions or need something clarified, don’t be afraid to reach out! Sending an email to the support person is definitely worth what you could receive in scholarships—and it only takes a few minutes.

Amateur radio opens plenty of doors for those who knock. An amateur radio scholarship opportunity is another door in a sense—one backed by incredible generosity and hope for success from the groups that contribute. If you’re a young ham considering or planning on higher education, I strongly recommend that you take a look at the various scholarships that are available and apply for them.

The post A Young Hams Guide to Amateur Radio Scholarships appeared first on OnAllBands.

By late middle school, I had decided that traveling would be a goal of mine, and I was immensely excited to start pursuing it. I didn’t have to wait long before starting to make progress toward this goal, thanks to the never-ending support of my parents, who began to travel with me to the various amateur radio conventions around the U.S. and, eventually, in Germany!

I discovered how much I enjoyed traveling for amateur radio, learning about other cultures (even if they were only slightly different from my own in another part of the U.S. or in Canada), and forming friendships with other young hams from around the world. This led me to decide that I wanted to study abroad at some point.

After a bit of research, I found a fairly competitive program that operates reciprocally between the German Bundestag and the U.S. Congress. If selected, I would receive a full scholarship. After attending the Friedrichschafen Ham Fair in the summer of 2024, I decided to apply for the program and see how it turned out.

A few months after submitting my application, I was selected to advance to the interview round of the selection process. I made the trip to Atlanta for their interview event and was pleasantly surprised when one of my interviewers was familiar with amateur radio through her father. We discussed where my inspiration to study abroad had come from, and it quickly became apparent—to my interviewers and me—that amateur radio was the primary factor. I started to realize then how much the hobby has impacted my life.

A few months later, I learned that the interview had successfully landed me a spot in the program. I was incredibly excited and got to work on the secondary application that is used to match students with their host families. A few months passed after I had submitted the secondary application. By late July I still didn’t have a host family, so the organization that facilitates the host family assignments reached out and asked if my family or I had any contacts in Germany who would be open to hosting me for the year. We did not at that point but reached out to a few of the German hams we knew to see if they knew anyone who would be interested.

Nobody had any specific contacts willing to jump in and become a host family right away. My departure date was quickly approaching, so Sandy, DL1QQ, sent an email to the Bavarian Contest Club email reflector, asking if anyone would be willing to host an exchange student for a year. To our surprise, numerous families responded within hours, and I got in touch with those who offered.

After a few families and I had worked out that it would be possible and a good fit, I forwarded their contact information to the organization that facilitates the exchange program so they could vet the families as we patiently waited for my host family placement. I ended up with a non-ham family placement at first, but I was not able to stay with this original placement after I found out that I was allergic to their pets, so when I needed to move, I reached out to the families that had offered after the email and found a new placement with one of them.

A few weeks later, I moved in with my new (and permanent) host family. While moving in with a family that you’ve never met before is never easy, I felt at home right away with them. Amateur radio became a bonding mechanism for my host family and me—my host dad and I did plenty of contests together as the contesting season started to ramp up in the fall, and there was a SOTA activation while on fall vacation.

Amateur radio became an outlet to practice and improve my German. Upon arriving in Germany at the beginning of my exchange year, I spoke very little German, so I used local contests and club meetings to improve my speaking skills. This allowed me to mark my progress learning a new language.

Staying involved with the hobby as much as I had been at home has been one of my favorite parts of my exchange year, which is now coming to a close. Without the influence of amateur radio, I would never have considered going on an exchange year, so I’m glad that I did have that influence and inspiration to pursue it. As a result of my involvement with amateur radio, I’ve gotten a great start on learning a second language, and, more importantly, now have a second family and second home in Germany. I will always be grateful for the connections that amateur radio has brought me, as it has broadened my world more than I thought possible.

The post Amateur Radio’s Role in My Exchange Year appeared first on OnAllBands.

TheA/B Station Selector is designed for two-station multi-operator or Single Operator Two Radio (SO2R) contesting from 160 through 6 meters. Two radio inputs and one output for an amplifier, antenna or another relay allow the A/B Selector to function as two interlocked SPST normally open contact coaxial relays when controlled by a user-provided SPDT switch or antenna selection automation.

Featuring excellent port-to-port isolation, low SWR, and low insertion loss, this device is a critical component that enables a single radio to access the shared output port while simultaneously isolating the other radio from that port. With over 80 dB of isolation between the selected and unselected ports, there is no danger to the opposite receiver from high energy overload or burnout.  

In place of a manual switch, the A/B Selector can be controlled from a distance, or remotely with automation, to select between two antennas or two remote antenna switches for one station feedline. It can also be used to remotely toggle a transceiver, amplifier, or station output to either an antenna switch for normal operations or a dummy load for testing and tuning, instead of using a port on a remote antenna switch for the dummy load.

Other features include:

• Two A/B Station Selectors may be configured as a DPDT reversing switch. This is useful for switching two transceivers to two different towers, two antenna switches or two amplifiers that are tuned to different bands or segments, for SO2R stations.
• Multiple A/B Selectors can be configured for a Multi-2 or Multi-Multi contest station in combination with third-party multi-port antenna switches and band decoders to create an automated band-specific antenna selector system.
• This relay features three UHF female/SO-239 connectors, Radio-A, Radio-B and Common, and a removable control connector with compression screw terminals. DC voltage input is +12 to 14VDC @ 110mA with sink-to-ground connections for A or B port selection.
• It may be used for two different switching systems: one common input to two outputs or two inputs to a single common output.
• A single radio or amplifier connected to the common port can be remotely switched between two antennas connected to A and B, or between two amplifiers feeding separate antennas. Alternatively, a station may use the switch to select between an antenna and a dummy load.

Visit DX Engineering for more details about the A/B Station Selector Interlocked Coaxial Relay.

The post New Product Spotlight: DX Engineering A/B Station Selector Interlocked Coaxial Relay appeared first on OnAllBands.

Ham radio is often called the hobby of a thousand hobbies because it’s not really one activity—it’s a sprawling group of interests that happen to share a common RF connection. You can enter ham radio through antennas and accidentally discover electronics, satellites, weather, emergency communications, contesting, digital modes, geography, propagation science, and enough other specialized interests to make Comic-Con pale by comparison.

Stay Tuned

Take antennas, for example. Some hams become so obsessed with antennas that the radio itself becomes almost secondary. They debate wire lengths with the intensity of philosophers arguing the meaning of life. They experiment with verticals, Yagis, loops, beams, dipoles, end-fed designs, magnetic loops, and configurations that seem to require either engineering credentials or an unusual level of optimism.

There’s a moment in ham radio when an operator says, “I just want to talk farther.” Six months later, they’re discussing feedline loss at three decimal places and measuring soil conductivity in the backyard. Massive antenna projects will follow. The only limits become property lines and your XYL’s tolerance.

Resistance is Futile

Electronics is another major rabbit hole. Many operators eventually ask questions about how electricity behaves and how simple components work together to create useful circuits. It usually starts with concepts like voltage, current, resistance, and power. From there, learners explore components such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, switches, and batteries.

Hands-on practice makes a huge difference. Some people start just as operators and end up building nearly everything they use on the air. Suddenly, the hobby becomes solder fumes, oscilloscopes, component drawers, and the realization that resistors multiply when left alone.

Electronics also teaches problem-solving, because troubleshooting is often part of the fun. Hobbies like ham radio, robotics, audio projects, and home automation become more rewarding once the fundamentals begin to make sense. When you really get good at this, you might try restoring classic tube radios from the 1930s.

Something in the Air

Then there’s propagation, the mysterious art of sending signals through an atmosphere that behaves like a moody teenager.

Propagation turns radio into a mix of meteorology, astronomy, and experimental science. Operators learn that the signal doesn’t care how expensive your microphone is. It cares what the sun, ionosphere, and local environment are doing today—hopefully reflecting signals.

HF operators learn about ionospheric layers, solar cycles, geomagnetic storms, gray line propagation, seasonal changes, and the strange feeling of being defeated by physics one minute and working another continent the next. This naturally leads to space—the final frontier.

Out of This World

Ham radio has a strong community of satellite enthusiasts. People track orbital passes, calculate Doppler shifts, point antennas at moving objects, and casually communicate through tiny spacecraft while standing in their driveways wearing pajamas.

Satellite operation combines radio, orbital mechanics, scheduling, and geometry. Some operators move even farther into the sky and explore moonbounce (EME—Earth-Moon-Earth). This involves transmitting signals to the moon and receiving echoes back. It’s one of those activities that sounds impossible until someone explains the equipment requirements—and then it still sounds impossible. Ham radio has a habit of making the improbable feel normal.

Digital

Digital modes create another branch entirely. For decades, radio meant voice, Morse code, and analog communication. Then computers entered the shack and everything changed.

Ham radio digital modes use computers and radio equipment to transmit information via digital signals rather than traditional voice communication. These modes can transmit text, images, telemetry, keyboard chats, and even weak signals that are difficult to hear by ear. Popular digital modes include FT8, RTTY, PSK31, and JS8Call.

Modern setups often connect a transceiver to a computer using audio interfaces and software that handles encoding and decoding. Digital modes are especially popular for weak-signal work, long-distance contacts, contesting, and experimenting with new ways to combine radio and computing. They’ve become one of amateur radio’s fastest-growing areas. Now the hobby becomes partly software engineering and partly signal processing.

People who never imagined themselves caring about audio interfaces suddenly find themselves installing drivers at midnight and adjusting waterfall displays with the concentration of someone launching a spacecraft.

Get With the Program

Speaking of software, computers and ham radio have become deeply connected. These days, it’s not unusual to see a computer or two in the ham shack. Logging programs track contacts. Contest software automates exchanges. Digital applications decode signals. Some operators build dashboards, remote stations, automation systems, or entire software-defined radio setups.

At this point, someone can spend an entire weekend operating without ever directly touching a traditional radio. SDR rigs utilize processors that make them increasingly like computers rather than radios.

Ham Radio 911

Then there’s emergency communications and public service. Many people enter amateur radio because they want practical communication skills. Volunteer events, storm spotting, emergency preparedness, and local support communications all attract operators who enjoy service-oriented activity.

For these hams, the hobby is about reliability and community rather than chasing rare contacts. When all else fails, ham radio works is a mantra among emergency responders. Amateur radio shines when central infrastructure—like cell towers and the internet—goes down, because it operates entirely independently of the power grid.

The Thrill of Victory

Contesting is another world. Some operators treat contests as casual fun, others treat them with the seriousness of an elite sport. The objective may be to make as many contacts as possible within a time limit. This turns radio into strategy, endurance, optimization, and sometimes questionable amounts of caffeine. Remember, you’ve got to play to win.

Contest operators learn geography, operating efficiency, antenna selection, propagation prediction, and how to remain awake during hours that sensible humans reserve for sleep.

Hunting DX

There’s also DXing—the pursuit of distant contacts. DX operators collect countries, regions, islands, rare stations, and operating achievements. The excitement of hearing a faint signal from somewhere extremely remote creates a special kind of enthusiasm. Extremely remote means places like Bouvet Island, Sable Island, and Baker Island.

To outsiders, it sounds like, “You talked to someone?” To hams, it sounds like, “You worked a rare entity on 17 meters during a solar disturbance through a pileup using three watts?” Context matters.

May the Morse Be with You

Morse code (CW) deserves its own mention because it’s effectively a separate hobby masquerading as a mode. Learning Morse introduces listening skills, timing, operating discipline, and a connection to the earliest days of radio. It also provides a reliable means of communication during less-than-optimal conditions.

Some people become fascinated by the rhythm, efficiency, and tradition of CW. Others decide digital modes are enough and leave Morse to the people who communicate at speeds that appear suspiciously close to telepathy.

Radio to Go

You’re not stuck at home—take your rig with you. Many hams enjoy mobile operation on HF/VHF/UHF while traveling or on the way to work. Some enjoy portable operation at mountain summits, on beaches, and at special events. POTA (Parks on the Air®) is one of the most popular and accessible ways to gather radio contacts while in the great outdoors.

Fox hunting is a radio direction-finding activity where operators search for a hidden transmitter, often called the “fox.” Participants track signal strength and bearing to locate the transmitter’s position. It combines radio skills with navigation, observation, and a bit of detective work. Some hunts take place on foot, while others use cars and become fast-paced mobile events.

One Thing Leads to Another

We’ve barely scratched the surface—there’s so much more.

Ham radio encourages curiosity about the world. That’s one reason ham radio survives across generations. People don’t usually stay for only one thing—they stay because when one branch becomes familiar, another branch opens.

The hobby of a thousand hobbies isn’t hyperbole. It’s a reflection of how amateur radio functions less as a single activity and more as a platform for exploration. For example:

• You can start with a microphone and end up learning RF engineering
• You can start with a wire antenna and end up studying atmospheric science
• You can start chasing distant signals and end up making lifelong friendships

Ham radio is a hobby that keeps revealing other hobbies hidden within it—each one connected by invisible waves and the same old question that every operator eventually asks: “What can I try next?”

The post Ham Radio: The Hobby of a Thousand Hobbies  appeared first on OnAllBands.

13 Colonies (July 1-7, 2026) is the perfect fusion of history and ham radio. Celebrating its 18th year, this annual challenge has grown to become one of the most anticipated weeks on the amateur radio calendar. How anticipated? Last year, operators logged more than 264,000 QSOs in their quest to reach special event stations in Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

In addition to breaking through large pileups to reach stations up the East Coast, operators will again have the challenge of making QSOs with three bonus stations: GB13COL (Great Britain), TM13COL (France), and WM3PEN (Philadelphia). Modes of operation (SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital, et. al.) are up to each colony/state and bonus station.

In honor of the 250th anniversary, there will be a specially designed certificate and unique QSL cards given out to participants.

There’s still time to give yourself an edge in pursuit of that clean sweep by visiting DXEngineering.com, where you’ll find shack upgrades including transceivers, HF amplifiers, antennas, antenna tuners, CW keys and paddles, high-quality coaxial cable, and more.

The post The 13 Colonies Special Operating Event is Coming Soon. Are You Ready to Make a Clean Sweep? appeared first on OnAllBands.