Storm Prep: Portable Ham Radio Caravan
A single Winlink message changed everything. I was prepping for wind—but what came was a full-spectrum storm. This post captures what happened, as it happened, from inside the Portable Ham Radio Caravan.
emergency communications
New Release: Off-Grid Power for Emergency Communications
New Release: Off-Grid Power for Emergency Communications
LiNK500 RPR TNC: The Ultimate Tool for Data Mode Ham Radio Operators
Introducing the LiNK500 RPR TNC: A Versatile Tool for Digital Amateur Radio The LiNK500 RPR TNC is a highly versatile device designed to meet the […]
New Release: Starlink and Ham Radio
Since the disaster brought on by Hurricane Helene, followed up with the unnecessarily complex and utterly disordered and mismanaged FEMA response, I thought it time […]
New Release: Increased Tensions
Many of us have watched the new cold war brewing for some time now. This increase in tensions has had a profound impact on my […]
Portable Ham Radio on Solar Power Giveaway
OH8STN Portable Ham Radio on Solar Power GIVEAWAY 2024.
N9SAB Antenna Care Package Unboxing
N9SAB sent over a care package filed with lightweight, efficient, stealthy antennas for portable and fixed station ham radio use. Let’s unbox them together!
My Off-Grid & Grid Down Comms Energy strategy
The off-grid ham shack is fully energy self-sufficient, utilizing solar, wind, and other power sources, with a focus on low current devices for sustainable communication.
Building a Solar Powered Ham Radio Station
The Off-Grid Ham Shack series discusses creating a self-sufficient ham radio station or ‘Ham Shack’ capable of operating on solar power during any grid down scenario, emphasizing the importance of an energy strategy for off-grid communications. This system includes solar panels, a charge controller, battery, and power distribution system. Key elements are the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels to harness solar energy, a solar charge controller to regulate energy flow and prevent battery overcharging or damage, and a battery to store energy for later. As well, power distribution ensures the allocation of power to multiple devices simultaneously. A grid-down energy strategy is crucial to any communication-related emergency, be it CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS or PMR radio, UHF CB, DMR, DStar, Meshtastic or LoRa communications.
Retevis RA79, RA89 & HD1 GPS
Retevis, a renowned radio brand, has introduced budget-friendly and feature-rich dual-band HTs, the Retevis RA89 and the RA79. The RA89 is IP68 waterproof and dustproof, boasts a USB-C charging port with an optional dock, and provides clean clear audio. The RA79 offers wide reception from 50Mhz to 600Mhz and a unique functionality to swap batteries without powering down the radio due to its USB port placement on the radio case. These radios are on sale during the Retevis’s Black Friday event ending on 24 November.