Brew and Activate

In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a practical way to use AI for POTA — no hype, no fluff, just something you can actually use before your next activation. Instead of bouncing between solar data, propagation maps, and signal reports… we’re using a simple, repeatable AI prompt that turns all of that into one clear answer based on your gear, your power, and your setup. 👉 We’l...

Is Tiles On The Air (TOTA) the next big thing in ham radio? In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a brand new program that’s starting to get attention across the hobby — Tiles On The Air. Instead of parks or summits, this program focuses on grid square activations, bringing a fresh twist to portable operating and giving hunters and activators a whole new way to get on the air....

Ever had your radio die right in the middle of a pileup? Yeah… it’s probably not your battery. It’s your math. In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down battery math in a way that actually matters in the field —no fluff, no overcomplicated engineering talk… just real-world understanding you can use on your next activation. We cover: ⚡ The difference between Amp Hours (Ah) and Watt Hou...

🚨 SPECIAL GUEST ALERT 🚨 This week on Brew & Activate, we’re joined by the creator of POTACAT — one of the most talked-about tools in the POTA community right now. If you’re a POTA hunter or activator, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. We’re diving into: What POTACAT actually does (and why people are buzzing about it) How it can help you hunt smarter and activate more efficiently Th...

Support Your Parks Weekend is coming up… And instead of activating alone, what if you turned it into a full-on POTA meetup? More operators are starting to use events like SYP Weekend to bring people together for: • Group activations • Club meetups • Multi-operator park setups So how do you actually pull that off? And more importantly… How do you do it without turning it into total chaos? 😄 This w...

Think you’re a solid POTA operator? Cool. Let’s test that. This week on Brew & Activate, we’re putting the Brew Crew to the test with a 10-question POTA quiz designed to separate the “I make contacts” crowd from the “I actually understand what’s happening” operators. We’re talking: • Real-world activation scenarios • Pileup strategy • Propagation curveballs • Logging mistakes that quietly wrec...

Do POTA activators need to self-spot… or should they just call CQ and let radio happen? This week on Brew & Activate we dig into a debate that’s been quietly heating up across the POTA community: self-spotting. Some operators say spotting immediately is just good operating — it helps hunters find you, helps QRP stations get contacts, and keeps activations efficient. Others say instant spotting...

POTA activations used to mean setting up, settling in, and spending time on the air. Now? More operators are running 15–20 minute activations, squeezing in parks during lunch breaks, and even going digital-only to get quick contacts. So the question is… Is this just efficient operating? Or are activations starting to feel like drive-by contacts? This week on Brew & Activate, we dive into the r...

What happens when you bring TWO radios to a POTA activation? Today on Brew & Activate, Eric (N1JUR) and Shannon (KC1OHT) dive into SO2R — Single Operator Two Radios — and what it would actually look like in the field. Is it efficient? Is it chaotic? Is it advanced operator maturity… or just picnic-table-level overengineering? We break down: • What SO2R really means in a POTA context • Voice +...

Most hunters focus on getting logged. Great hunters focus on how they operate. This is Episode 3 of our Brew & Activate Hunter Series — and we’re going beyond tools and timing. In this episode, we dive into: • Advanced POTA hunting strategy • Reading activator patterns • Pileup etiquette that actually helps • Why reputation matters on the air • Avoiding burnout and keeping hunting fun long ter...

Last week on Brew & Activate, we talked about the hunter mindset — why great POTA hunters win with patience, timing, and calm decision-making. This week? We go tactical. In Episode 2 of our hunter series, we break down the tools, tactics, and radio techniques that actually help you break POTA pileups — without turning this into a gear flex session. Because here’s the truth: Most hunters don’t...

Most Parks on the Air content focuses on activators — but this episode is for the other half of the contact: the hunters. Why do some POTA hunters consistently break pileups with ease… while others struggle even with good gear? In this Brew & Activate episode, we dig into the hunter mindset that actually wins contacts: Why timing beats callsign volume How great hunters listen before they trans...

Batteries don’t get the glory in POTA — but they absolutely decide whether your activation ends with a full log… or packing up early. In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down POTA batteries the right way: No spec-sheet flexing. No marketing hype. Just real-world field experience. We cover: What a POTA battery actually needs to do Why stable voltage matters more than raw capacity Handl...

Parks on the Air (POTA) is supposed to be fun… but myths and bad advice stop a LOT of hams from ever activating. In this episode, we break down the Top 5 most common POTA myths — and explain why they’re flat-out wrong. We cover things like: ❌ “You need a perfect setup before you activate” ❌ “You need high power to be successful” ❌ “You need expensive gear” ❌ “If you don’t get a pileup, you’re...

Support Your Parks Weekend: Winter is here—and Brew and Activate is getting you ready. We’re talking the origin story of Support Your Parks, how to plan a safe and efficient winter POTA activation, and then we’re ending with a community challenge: The Brew and Activate SYP-Winter Challenge: Get 10 QSOs on 60m (SSB or FT8) during an activation, then try one weird thing for 15 minutes: 30m (CW/FT8)...

Unlock the secrets to crystal-clear audio on portable HF operations in this hands-on live stream. Whether you’re a new activator, a portable contesting enthusiast, or someone asking “why does my audio sound bad?”, we break down what makes good audio in the field: clean transmit versus loud transmit, why microphone choice matters more than power, proper gain staging, and why DSP isn’t a magic fix....

Calling CQ and getting nothing back? It might not be your radio—it might be the sky. In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down ham radio propagation in plain English and explain MUF and LUF like you’re five years old. No math, no confusing charts—just practical tips POTA activators can use before heading out to the park. We’ll cover: • What MUF and LUF actually mean (simple explanation...

In this live stream, we dive into real-world park activations that didn’t go as planned and walk through practical fixes you can apply on your next POTA outing. We cover gear missteps, propagation surprises, logging glitches, and crowd-friendly setups, with actionable checklists and quick-build tips. If you’ve ever faced weak signals, dead batteries, or chaotic logs, this stream is for you. What y...

We’re going live with a special guest: Perry, W1GRD — the mastermind behind https://pota.news . If you’ve ever wondered, “Where did that park story come from?” or “How did I miss that activation?”… this one’s for you. We’ll dig into what POTA News actually does, the coolest features on the site, what’s new, what’s coming next, and how you can use it to stay in the loop without doom-scrolling (unle...

Join me as I dive into low-profile, RF-only self-spotting techniques you can use from the field when you have zero data or cell service. We’ll walk through hands-on demonstrations of several practical methods, including: Winlink over HF to post a spot via POTAGW, so your activation shows up on the POTA Spots page without internet access APRS/AX.25 packet spotting with i-gate or APSPOT gateways, an...

We'll dive into the most frequently asked POTA questions when activating for the first time with the hope to help you get more proficient in your Activations. Your a Hunter you say? We'll we got you covered too! Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1...

We get into the details and discussion about why you'd want to bring a wire out instead of a vertical when activating or maybe you're the type who prefers the challenge of a loop. I'll get into that and other antenna details this week. Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering a...

I’m excited to kick off this week’s discussion on a pressing issue: navigating the challenges posed by operators who occasionally take their role a bit too far in their quest to assert themselves as the "king of the park." Perhaps you've encountered a few of these so-called "lawbreakers," individuals whose disregard for the rules has left you feeling frustrated and yearning for justice to interven...

This week, we're embarking on a fascinating exploration of a topic that resonates with many of us: batteries. As outdoor activities continue to surge in popularity, the significance of reliable power sources has never been more pronounced. We’ll delve into the essential batteries used in portable applications, guide you through the process of building your own, and showcase some of the top-perform...

Hey everyone! This week, we're going to dive into the fun world of logging. I’ll be sharing some awesome features of popular apps like POLO and HAMRS, and we’ll compare some of the best logging tools used in POTA today. I’ll also chat about why I prefer one app over another when I’m out in the field. So grab your favorite cup of coffee, and let’s get ready to log some great adventures together! Ca...