Ham and Shortwave Radio
Radio-Hobbyist is a personal blog run by Canadian amateur radio operator Rick Blythe (VE3CNU), offering approachable guides, tutorials, and equipment reviews for ham radio beginners, shortwave listeners, and scanning enthusiasts. Perhaps you’ve come across my YouTube channel: The Radio Hobbyist, with over 9,000 subscribers. Common Challenges for Beginners in Ham Radio – And How This … Read more
On March 16, 2026, Environment Canada will permanently shut down the VHF Weatheradio Canada transmitter network and the “Hello Weather” telephone service. After exactly 50 years of continuous service, the synthesized voices that guided mariners through storms and alerted families to tornadoes will vanish from the airwaves. For those of us who have spent decades … Read more
Choosing a Shortwave Radio That’ll Ignite Your DXing Passion I’ve scoured the latest reviews, forum rants, and hands-on tests to distill what really matters. We’ll break it down into must-haves for killer reception, user-friendly features that won’t frustrate your late-night sessions, and build quality that survives a backpacking adventure. Plus, I’ll toss in a handy … Read more
Selecting your first shortwave receiver boils down to balancing fun with functionality. Here’s what to prioritize: Model Price Range Key Bands Key Feature Best For Who For? Tecsun PL-330 $80 SW/FM/AM/LW ATS & Compact Size Travel beginners Budget Pick Sangean ATS-909X2 $230-310 SW/FM/AM/LW/Air Superior Sensitivity Reliable DXing Best Overall Tecsun PL-880 $150-180 SW/FM/AM/LW Long Battery … Read more
This page serves as a central resource hub for anyone preparing to earn or upgrade a U.S. amateur (ham) radio license. Whether you are studying for your first Technician exam or working toward General or Amateur Extra, the resources below are trusted, widely used, and aligned with current FCC standards. Bookmark this page—everything you need … Read more
Getting your ham radio license is the first major step into amateur radio, whether your interest is emergency communications, storm spotting, off-grid preparedness, or technical experimentation. In the United States, all amateur radio operators must pass an FCC-administered exam, and preparation is key. Today, most new operators choose an online ham radio licensing course instead … Read more