Amateur radio, commonly known as ham radio, is one of the most versatile and rewarding areas of the radio hobby. Whether you’re interested in emergency communications, long-distance DXing, or local repeater conversations, this category brings together practical guides, equipment recommendations, and operating tips for all experience levels.
The Baofeng BF-F8HP PRO takes the familiar inexpensive Baofeng handheld concept and adds considerably more capability. With 2-meter, 1.25-meter and 70-centimeter operation, up to 10 watts of advertised output, 1,000 memory channels, GPS, aviation reception, NOAA weather and USB-C charging, it is far more than a basic UV-5R-style handheld. But is the BF-F8HP PRO actually … Read more
The Tecsun PL-330 packs an impressive amount of shortwave capability into a remarkably small portable radio. It receives AM, FM, longwave and shortwave, while also adding USB/LSB SSB, synchronous detection, ETM+ scanning and 850 station memories—features normally associated with larger and more expensive shortwave receivers. The real question is whether that feature list translates into … Read more
The Baofeng UV-5R is one of the most famous budget ham radios ever made. Its combination of dual-band VHF/UHF operation, programmable memory channels, repeater support, scanning, CTCSS/DCS tones and extremely low price made it a gateway into amateur radio for thousands of operators. But is the UV-5R actually a good radio, or is it simply … Read more
The Yaesu FT-65R is a rugged 5-watt dual-band handheld built around straightforward analog VHF/UHF operation. It combines 2-meter and 70-centimeter coverage, a loud 1-watt speaker, a 1,950 mAh lithium-ion battery, useful scanning features, and IP54-rated protection in a relatively compact package. That makes the FT-65R particularly interesting for beginners and experienced operators who want a … Read more
A reliable power supply is the foundation of every ham radio station. Whether you’re operating a 5-watt QRP rig, a 100-watt HF transceiver, or a VHF/UHF base station, your radio depends on a stable source of clean 13.8-volt DC power. Choose the wrong power supply, and you may experience voltage drops, excessive fan noise, RF … Read more
Whether you’re chasing DX from a scenic overlook, checking into a traffic net during your morning commute, or operating from an RV on a cross-country adventure, a quality mobile HF radio lets you stay connected far beyond the range of local repeaters. Unlike VHF and UHF radios, HF opens the door to nationwide and worldwide … Read more
Parks on the Air (POTA) has become a favorite of many to enjoy amateur radio. Instead of operating from a fixed station, one can pack a radio, battery, antenna, and a few accessories into a backpack, head to a nearby park, and be on the air within minutes. Whether chasing DX, making casual contacts, or … Read more
Buying an HF transceiver has never been more challenging. The good news is that there are more capable radios on the market than ever before. The bad news is that every manufacturer claims to offer the best receiver, the best DSP, the best waterfall display, or the best value. After reading a dozen sales pages, … Read more
UPDATED: July 2026 If you’ve ever watched PSK Reporter struggle to keep up during a busy FT8 session, you’re certainly not alone. As digital modes have become increasingly popular, the amount of propagation data being generated every minute has exploded. What once worked well for a relatively small number of users is now under constant … Read more
Radio frequency (RF) noise is one of the biggest frustrations in amateur radio. You can spend thousands of dollars on a high-end transceiver and still struggle to hear weak signals if your local noise floor is too high. On the other hand, even a modest radio can perform remarkably well when it’s connected to a … Read more
Many new ham radio operators spend hours researching antennas and transceivers but give very little thought to the coax cable connecting them together. That can be an expensive mistake. Your feed line affects both transmit and receive performance, and the wrong cable can waste valuable RF power before it ever reaches your antenna. The good … Read more
Grounding in amateur radio is one of the most misunderstood parts of station design. Many operators assume it is a single requirement—install a rod, connect a wire, and the job is done. In practice, grounding is not one system but several overlapping electrical and RF reference structures that serve different purposes. A properly designed grounding … Read more
