I explore three hidden gems in this POTA rove through the Menominee River State Recreation Area, some of the most scenic, and under-appreciated, parts of Wisconsin's landscape ~KB9VBR youtu.be/A-fckQkImBc

Chameleon Antenna ups the performance of ground wire radials with their new product, the CHA FSR or Faraday Strip Radial system. This is a rugged ground counterpoise system improves on the convenience of faraday cloth and the effectiveness of wire radials. youtu.be/oMnQppoFhoE

When we do events like the Ham Radio Campout, I often get asked on how to mitigate interference caused by other stations. In this week's Activation Log, I list my three step plan for peaceful multi-operator ham radio: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/10/10/w...

Season 14 of my channel kicks off with the 2025 Wisconsin Ham Radio Campout. Our 3rd annual event at Buckhorn State Park, US-1443, is the biggest and best yet, and probably the largest in-person POTA event in the state of Wisconsin. See what happened this year. youtu.be/Rs0q-J6CPi4

In our finale, season 14 starts next week, Dave and I head to Lake Wissota State Park, US-1460, for a multi-operator activation as part of the Wisconsin Parks on the Air event. Can we sustain over 100 contacts an hour for the seven hour event? youtu.be/lKSfuzPmKlo

Big things are happening with the Ham Radio Outdoors Channel! Learn how you can be a part of it. youtu.be/m8A49Ucde-c

Which is right for you: Straight Key or Paddle? The Xiegu VK-5 straight Key and VK-6 paddle are two new products from Radioddity for CW operators. These keys are beautiful, functional, and a perfect companion for your G90, X6100, and X6200 transceiver. youtu.be/vXoiASq4f_o

Save Big Money at Menards! #hamradio #baofeng

Wisconsin Parks on the Air is on! Catch Dave KZ9V and I at US-1460 Lake Wissota State Park. We’ll be on the air until 2300 utc. Using callsign W9P. Michael ~KB9VBR

The Chameleon Antenna CHA M25 Loading Coil unleashes the full capability of your SS25 25 foot telescoping whip on the ham radio 40 meter band by allowing you to fully extend the whip for 40 meter contacts. See how the M25 Coil works here: youtu.be/McsKxX-nHkM

Working on this week's video, what do I see? Urban deer photobombing the frame.

We spend a long weekend at Wildcat Mountain State Park, a premier Wisconsin camping destination! I also put three antennas on the air, making incredible ham radio contacts. Which will be the best? The POTA PERformer, Challenger, or Rybakov? youtu.be/bagq00z7mhs #Hamradio #POTA

Dave, KZ9V, joins me to show off an entire ham radio portable station he keeps in a small cigar box. youtu.be/eNIvf89TSf4

Coffee and 40m FT8 this morning.

Earlier this year, while at Hamvention, I picked up the Alpha Antenna SS34+ 34 foot stainless steel whip. This is the longest telescoping antenna on the market! Find out what happens when I put a full 1/4 wave vertical radiator for the 40 meter band on the air. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/0fA1qSpfegA

A frequent question I get is "What's the best antenna for portable operation?" I scoured my notes and logs and analyzed countless photographs and videos of over 150 POTA activations I did in the last year, and came up with FIVE favorite antennas for Parks on the Air. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/Nz10os_lkCQ

Beat the dog days of summer, join Joe and I for another evening of Your Ham Radio Questions Answered. Thursday August 7 at 7:00pm CDT (0000 UTC 8 August). We've got some great topics and as always, we're ready to answer your ham radio questions. youtube.com/live/nk_Nsvl...

Dipoles are great for mediocre band conditions and the Chameleon Antenna's LEFS 4010 sports a unique feature: an extra feed point to connect a set of dipole wires. Expand the versatility of this end-fed antenna with the CHA LINK-D and CHA LINK-D15 link dipole accessories. youtu.be/MbUhC-UhGys

I take on the elements for a POTA rove in southwestern Wisconsin. Three parks and three different antennas, will one be a hit or will the rain wash me out? ~KB9VBR youtu.be/iOXEgMgrFZI

Can we make the Radioddity HF-009 vertical antenna better by elevating it? Mashing up the Radioddity vertical with a Rez Antenna Scout Base for an elevated vertical antenna delivers some surprising results. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/RIcUUYIexJw

The Chameleon AZ-2, is a very capable three band 40, 30, and 20 meter link dipole antenna. Perfect for portable operations like POTA and SOTA, the AZ-2 combines light weight operation with the efficiency of a resonant dipole antenna. youtu.be/pezJ_Cxre_o

Located in Southern Wisconsin, the Badger Army Ammunition Plant was once the world's largest powder and solid rocket fuel factory employing over 3,000 people and occupying almost 10,000 acres. Now it is the location of the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area and a #POTA entity youtu.be/jLTutfe2FI0

The week on the Activation Log, my weekly #Hamradio blog, I deploy a vertical delta loop antenna for ARRL Field Day and share some of our favorite food we ate during the worlds largest amateur radio event. Read it now: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/07/04/t...

Loop antennas are great for their low noise and efficient operation. For this year's ARRL Field Day, I build a 20 meter vertical delta loop antenna and put it on the air. Will this homebrew antenna punch through the Field Day noise or leave me struggling for contacts? youtu.be/-WqOFKUKQaM

Join us around the campfire for a special livestream this evening, talking about our plans for ARRL Field Day weekend. Friday June 27 at 8:00pm CDT (28 June 0001Z). Crack open a cold one and join us in the chat. We promise to keep the mosquitos away. youtube.com/live/CCn8kGv...

This week on the Activation Log, my weekly #Hamradio blog, I share my recent Parks on the Air activation on an isalnd in Lake Superior and show you the best knots to use for your ARRL Field Day antennas. Read now: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/06/27/l...

Is fresh water better than the Ocean for making #hamradio contacts? I venture onto the beach for some Lake Superior POTA fun, activating US-1439 Big Bay State Park, and US-4244 Big Bay Sandspit and Bog. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/k85-g77icIQ

Island time

This week on the Activation Log, my #HamRadio blog, I dig into the upcoming 13 Colonies Special Event with an interview of the North Carolina, K2J, coordinator and update on the progress of building a delta loop antenna for Field Day. Read it now: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/06/20/1...

13 Colonies Special Event celebrates the American Independence with multiple stations on the air the first week of July. Daryl, K4DCP, the NC State Coordinator shares everything we need to know about what K2J is doing along with how to participate youtu.be/9or1QQ0MVZM #Hamradio

Our neighbors are camping in a transit bus

This week on the Activation Log, my weekly #hamradio blog, I talk about my recent experience activating a submarine for Museum Ships Weekend and muse about building a Delta Loop antenna for Field Day. Read it now: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/06/12/s...

It's Museum Ships Weekend and I climb aboard the submarine USS Cobia at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum to put it on the air. We also travel to Point Beach State Forest on Lake Michigan, for some POTA fun! Did you make it in the log? youtu.be/zoBYcBkpYGo #Hamradio

Catch me on the air Saturday June 7 from 11am-12pm (1600-1700z) on 20 meters. I’m activating the submarine USS Cobia for Museum Ships Weekend. Special event call sign NB9QV. Watch DX Summit for frequency. ~KB9VBR #hamradio

All road trips should start with bacon.

Big things are happening in June! Tune in to Joe and I for another evening of Your #Hamradio Questions Answered. Thursday June 5 at 7:00pm CDT (0000 UTC June 6). We'll be talking about Field Day, Museum Ships Weekend, and what's new with SmartLogger. youtube.com/live/XjfYsaW...

The Radioddity HF-009 is a portable compact all in one HF vertical antenna kit that has everything you need to get on the air all packed away in a handy carrying case. This all-in-one kit is great for portable operations, especially for those doing POTA or SOTA. youtu.be/MLJhdk15vr0

This week on the Activation Log, my #hamradio blog, I wrap up our Hamvention adventure with the backstory on the road trip itself, including some of the parks we activated along the way. www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/05/30/o...

We're on a #hamradio road trip! Adventure awaits as we do the drive to Hamvention. Join us as we explore some of the sites along the way and put some parks on the air. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/SBXC_PyZB0o

We ask three big questions to attendees at #Hamvention 2025, the world's largest hamfest. What they said may surprise you. Of all the Hamvention videos out there, this is the one you don't want to miss. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/CaCjzGtM5Qo #Hamradio

The drive home from Hamvention has begun

Enjoying a cold one after a hot day at Hamvention

The Spooltenna is a compact 40 - 10 meter end fed half wave (EFHW) antenna specifically designed for portable radio operations like POTA and SOTA. The innovative part of the antenna is the unique spool form factor for efficient deployment, teardown, and storage. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/rIVCmt8E7gg

Rock and roll, ready to go. Our #Hamvention journey continues.

We’re Hamvention bound! First stop, US-1004, Kankakee State Park in Illinois

Great news! I've been secured as a last minute presenter for this year's Hamvention. My forum topic. Five Years of POTA, what I've learned will be on Friday May 16, at 10:25am in Room 4. The talk is an introspective look at why I love Parks on the air and my secrets on how to have more fun with it.

This week on the Activation Log: I sit down with Greg, KJ6ER, and he shares the backstory on his amazing PERformer antenna system. I also talk about my #Hamvention plans for next week. Find it here: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/05/09/t... #hamradio

I sit down with Greg Mihran, KJ6ER, and he shares the story behind the amazing KJ6ER (POTA) PERformer antenna; a vertical 1/4 wave antenna with elevated radials. The design won 2nd place in the ARRL QST 2024 Antenna Design Contest. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/cClmWBYzNaE

In my effort to eke out whatever efficiency I can with our trailer’s solar system, I replaced the 12v 200 watt panel with a 24v 250 watt panel. I’m hoping the controller will be able to capture more energy during the fringes times like dusk or dawn or when the panel is partially shaded.

This week on the Activation log: I share the excitement of doing my 500th Parks on the Air activation and talk a bit about the future of hamfests. Read more on my blog: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/05/02/5... #Hamradio