Welcome to the Radio Hobbyist blog, where we cover SDR, ham radio, shortwave listening, antennas, scanners, radio equipment, frequencies, and practical techniques. Browse the articles below by topic to find guides, reviews, comparisons, tutorials, and useful resources for your radio hobby.
Browse our latest articles or explore Radio-Hobbyist by topic.
Explore Radio Hobbyist by Topic
SDR Articles & Guides
- Best Budget SDR Receivers for Beginners and Advanced Monitoring
- Best SDR Antennas Worth Buying in 2026
- Best SDR Kits Worth Buying for Beginners and Advanced Users
- Best SDR Software for Beginners and Advanced Radio Monitoring
- Best SDRs for Beginners: The Complete Buyer’s Guide
- How to Access an SDRplay RSPdx from Android Over Wi-Fi
- How to Listen to Aircraft and Air Traffic Control with an SDR
- How to Receive SSTV with an SDR
- How to Track Aircraft with ADS-B Using an SDR
- PowerSDR & Flex 3000 Demo Videos: SDR Features Explained
- RS-918 HF SDR Transceiver Review: A Portable Powerhouse
- RTL-SDR Install & Config
- SDR Radio Videos
- SDR++ Setup Guide: How to Install and Configure SDR++
- SDRplay RSP Review: A Powerful Upgrade from RTL-SDR at $150
- SmartSDR & Flex 6300 Demo Videos: Features Explained
- The Best Sub-$200 Software Defined Radios for Beginners
- Things You Can Listen to With an SDR (Real Signals You Can Tune Today)
- What Is a WebSDR and How Does It Work?
- What Is Software Defined Radio and How Does It Work?
Ham Radio Articles & Guides
- ARES and RACES Frequencies: How Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Actually Work
- Baofeng BF-F8HP PRO Review: Is This 10W Tri-Band Radio Worth It?
- Baofeng UV-3R Unboxing: First Look at a Classic Budget Handheld
- Baofeng UV-5R Review: Is This Cheap Ham Radio Worth It?
- Best Bands to Use During a Solar Maximum
- Best Beginner Ham Radios for New Amateur Radio Operators
- Best Budget Ham Radios for Beginners
- Best Free Ham Radio and Shortwave Listening Software
- Best Ham Radio AM Frequencies for HF Operators
- Best Ham Radio Logging Software Worth Using in 2026
- Best Ham Radio Power Supplies
- Best HF Ham Radios: Honest Reviews and Buying Guide
- Best Mobile HF Radios: Top HF Transceivers for Your Vehicle
- Best Portable Ham Radios Worth Buying in 2026
- Best Portable HF Radios for POTA: Field-Tested Picks for Every Budget
- Best Time of Day for Ham Radio DX
- Best Way to Sell Ham Radio Equipment
- Can You Use a Ham Radio Without a License for Emergency Communication?
- Cheapest Ham Radios for Beginners and Everyday Use
- Download the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual PDF
- DXLook Review: Faster Real-Time Propagation Monitoring for Ham Radio
- EARCHI S9 Vertical Antenna Review: Why I Still Use the S9v31
- Emergency Traffic Nets: How Amateur Radio Supports Emergency Communications
- Ham Radio Deluxe Review: Features, Logging, Digital Modes & Real-World Use
- Ham Radio Digital Mode Frequencies Chart [HF Through 70cm]
- Ham Radio for Beginners: Everything You Need to Get Started
- Ham Radio Grounding: The Complete Guide for a Safer, Quieter Station
- Ham Radio HF Frequency Chart & Band Plan
- Ham Radio Licensing & Study Resources
- Ham Radio Q Codes: The Complete Guide to Understanding and Using Q Signals
- Ham Radio Signal Strength Reporting Explained: RST, SINPO, and Signal Reports
- Ham Radio Videos
- Ham Receiver vs Shortwave Receiver: Which Sounds Better?
- Head to Head: Icom 7300 vs Flex 6300
- How AI Is Changing Ham Radio (And What Operators Can Use Today)
- How Do I Find Ham Repeaters in My Area?
- How Good Is FT8? Pros, Cons and Whether It’s Right for You
- How Many Ham Radio Bands Are There?
- How the 333 Rule Applies to Emergency Communications and Radio Preparedness
- How to Factory Reset the Icom 756 Pro
- How to Find a Ham Radio Repair Shop Near You
- How to Get Started with APRS on the Cheap
- How to Make Your First Ham Radio Contact
- How to Set Your Bandwidth Control Properly on Shortwave and Ham Radio Receivers
- How to Track and Decode APRS Packets from the ISS Digipeater
- How to Use RF Gain for Better Shortwave Radio Listening
- Hurricane Watch Net Frequencies and Emergency Hurricane Communications
- I Looked Into This Cheap DSP Noise Reducer for Ham and Shortwave — Here’s What I Found
- Icom 7300 Firmware Update: Step-by-Step Guide
- Icom IC-7300 Spectrum Scope Settings: Ultimate Guide to Panadapter and Waterfall Customization
- Is Ham Radio the Same as CB Radio?
- Linux Ham Radio Logging Software for Amateur Radio Enthusiasts
- M17 and the Rise of Open-Source Digital Ham Radio
- Noise Blanker on the Icom IC-7300
- NR-1 Noise Blanker Review: Improving Weak Signal Reception
- PAR End-Fedz Antenna Review: My Real-World Experience
- PocketCHIRP Review: Android Radio Programming & Compatible Radios
- RadioLog Ham Radio Logbook Review
- RF Noise Reduction: How to Find and Eliminate Radio Interference
- SATERN Frequencies and Emergency Communications Guide
- Step-by-Step Guide to Receiving SSTV From the International Space Station
- The Best Ham Radio License Study Guide
- The Best Two-Way Radios for Bug-Out Bags and Off-Grid Emergency Communications
- The Complete Ham Radio Coax Cable Guide: Choosing the Right Feed Line for HF and VHF/UHF
- The Easiest Way to Start Ham Radio With No Experience
- The WSPRLite SB from Sotabeams
- Top Online Courses for Ham Radio Licensing Preparation
- Tytera TYT MD-390 DMR Radio Review: My First Impressions and Early Challenges
- Understanding Gray-Line Propagation in Ham Radio
- Using HRD Deluxe with a Flex Radio
- Venezuela Earthquake: Why Emergency Frequency Clearance Matters
- VHF & UHF Ham Radio Frequency Chart and Band Plan
- Warranty and Support for Ham Radios
- What Do 73 and 88 Mean in Ham Radio?
- What Is Ham Radio? Beginner’s Guide to Amateur Radio
- What Is Signal-to-Noise Ratio? Why It Matters More Than Power
- Why I Returned the Elecraft KX3: My Honest Review
- Why the Icom IC-7300 Is Still Worth Buying
- Xiegu X6100 HF Transceiver: A Brief Review
- Yaesu FT-65R Review: Is This Rugged Dual-Band Handheld Still Worth Buying?
- Yaesu FTdx3000 Unboxing and First Power-On: What to Expect
- Yaesu Tip Makes the FTdx1200 and FTdx3000 More Useful
Shortwave Radio Articles & Guides
- Best Beginner Shortwave Radios for New Listeners
- Best Budget Shortwave Radios for Beginners and Everyday Listening
- Best Free Ham Radio and Shortwave Listening Software
- Best Hand-Crank Solar Radio
- CommRadio CR-1a Review: A Premium Portable SDR Receiver That Still Impresses
- Comparing the Icom R75, JRC NRD-545, Yaesu FTDX 1200, and Perseus SDR on Shortwave
- CountyComm GP5/SSB Review: A Compact Shortwave Radio for Portable Listening
- Find shortwave stations – my easy method
- Frequencies Used by Russian Military (HF, VHF, UHF)
- Goodbye Universal Radio: Saying Farewell to a Radio Legend
- Ham Receiver vs Shortwave Receiver: Which Sounds Better?
- How Shortwave Radio Works
- How to Listen to Shortwave Radio: A Complete Beginner-to-Intermediate Guide
- How to Listen to Voice of Korea (Frequencies & Guide)
- How to Set Your Bandwidth Control Properly on Shortwave and Ham Radio Receivers
- How to Use RF Gain for Better Shortwave Radio Listening
- HQ Shortwave Radio Review: A Welcome Resource for Shortwave Listeners
- I Looked Into This Cheap DSP Noise Reducer for Ham and Shortwave — Here’s What I Found
- Icom IC-R75 Review: One of the Best HF Receivers Ever Made
- NR-1 Noise Blanker Review: Improving Weak Signal Reception
- RF Noise Reduction: How to Find and Eliminate Radio Interference
- Shortwave Listening Videos: DXing, Radios & Antennas
- Shortwave Propagation Explained
- Shortwave Radio Listening: Everything You Need to Get Started
- Tecsun PL-330 Review: Is This Compact Shortwave Radio Worth Buying?
- Tecsun PL-660 Review: Is It Still Worth Buying in 2026?
- Tecsun PL-680 Review: Is This the Better PL-660?
- Tecsun PL-880 Unboxing and First Impressions
- The Best Shortwave Radio Stations You Can Hear Around the World
- The Early Jazz Radio Broadcast International Expands Its Shortwave Schedule
- The End of CHU: Canada’s Official Shortwave Time Signal Goes Silent in 2026
- Tuning In to the World: Which Shortwave Broadcasts Deliver the Best International News These Days?
- What Has Replaced Shortwave Radio? (And Is It Still Worth Using?)
- What Is a WebSDR and How Does It Work?
- What Is Shortwave Radio?
- What Is Signal-to-Noise Ratio? Why It Matters More Than Power
- What to Look For in a Shortwave Radio
Antenna Articles & Guides
- Antenna Calculator: Wavelength, Dipole & Antenna Lengths
- Antenna Reciprocity: Fundamental Principles
- Antenna Videos
- Best Coax Cable for Ham Radio: Top Picks for Every Station
- Best Ham Radio Antenna Analyzers for Every Budget
- Best Ham Radio Antenna for Off Road
- Best Ham Radio Antennas for Beginners
- Best Ham Radio Antennas Worth Using in 2026
- Best Handheld Radio Antenna Comparison for Ham Radio Operators
- Best Shortwave Antennas: My Top Picks for Better DX Reception
- Coax Cable Loss Calculator: Calculate RF Signal Loss
- Dipole vs. Vertical Antennas: A Detailed Comparison for Ham Radio Operators
- Earchi.org antenna is a DX monster!
- Essential Guide to VHF Antennas for Marine Radio
- FG-01 Antenna Analyzer Review: A Simple, Low-Cost Tool That Works
- Ground Rod for Shortwave Antennas: Why Proper Grounding Matters
- Ham Radio Antenna Analyzer Guide: How to Measure and Tune Your Antenna
- Ham Radio Chokes and Baluns Explained: What They Do and When You Need One
- Harvest Taurus RO-109 HF6M Review: A Compact Multi-Band HF Vertical for Small Spaces
- How Much Does a Ham Radio Tower Cost?
- How to Build a Simple Shortwave Antenna That Actually Works
- How to Calibrate an Analog SWR Meter: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Choose the Correct Balun
- How to Split One Shortwave Antenna Between Multiple Radios
- Hustler 5BTV Vertical Antenna: A Look Inside the Box
- Inside the MFJ-1786 Magnetic Loop Antenna: Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide
- Long Wire Balun for Ham and Shortwave
- MFJ-1786 Magnetic Loop Antenna Setup
- PAR End-Fedz Antenna Review: My Real-World Experience
- Should You Disconnect Your Antennas During Thunderstorms?
- SWR Calculator: Return Loss & Reflected Power
- SWR Meter Guide: Everything Ham Radio Operators Need to Know
- The Best SWR Meter for Ham Radio
- The Comet SS-460SBNMO Mobile Antenna
- The ELAD ASA-15 antenna splitter
- Vertical Antenna vs Mag Loop for FT8: Real-World DX Test Results
- VHF Yagi Antenna Comparison: Choosing the Best Antenna for Your Station
- Watch This Antenna Tune Itself Automatically: MFJ-1786 Mag Loop in Action
- What Is Signal-to-Noise Ratio? Why It Matters More Than Power
- What Is the Best Ham Radio Antenna for DX?
Scanner & Scanning Articles
- Best Base Station Scanners: My Top Picks for Home Monitoring
- Best Budget Police Scanners
- Best Digital Police Scanners
- Best Digital Police Scanners for Beginners and Serious Monitoring
- Best Police Scanners
- Emergency Communications and Disaster Monitoring
- Emergency Radio Frequencies (Coast Guard, Military, Maritime)
- Environment Canada to Silence Weatheradio Network
- FEMA Frequencies and Emergency Communications Guide
- How Do Police Scanners Work? A Beginner’s Guide
- Hurricane Watch Net Frequencies and Emergency Hurricane Communications
- NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies for Emergency Alerts and Severe Weather
- Uniden BCD436HP Review: Is This Digital Scanner Still Worth Buying?
- Uniden Bearcat HomePatrol Review: Simple Scanning Without the Complexity
- What Is a Police Scanner? Everything You Need to Know
- What Is a WebSDR and How Does It Work?