Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

Jake Maltz, WV4AM, is just 14 years old, but don’t let that fool you—he’s already proving to be a fierce competitor in the world of ham radio contesting. Inspired by his grandfather, Steve Narducci, W9SN, and mentored by seasoned contester Fred Dennin, WW4LL, Jake is racking up QSOs and sharpening his skills at an impressive pace. He’s got the drive, the speed, and, let’s be honest, the stamina to...

Victor VA2WA and Craig K9CT are revolutionizing ham radio contesting with real-time scoring. Contesting has long been a test of endurance, skill, and patience—but waiting weeks (or months) for results? That might be a relic of the past. Victor and Craig are leading the charge to bring instant results and real-time competition to amateur radio at hamscore.com . With real-time contesting, you’ll see...

Mark Pride is a veteran contester from New England and former leader of the renowned Yankee Clipper Contest Club. With more than six decades of ham radio experience, he’s done it all—from building top-performing stations to running at world-class rates—but what he enjoys most these days is mentoring. Whether it’s a brand-new op or someone trying to bump up their score, Mark has a gift for teaching...

The Contest Crew is… back on W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio with a tactical debrief on the upcoming CQ WPX SSB contest—and this time, the stakes are personal. Host Kevin Thomas, W1DED, is in Turks and Caicos to operate as VP5E, and he’s tapping into the collective brainpower of three of the world’s top contest minds: Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Dan Craig N6MJ. What follows is equal par...

Adrian KO8SCA is heading back to Bouvet. As one of the most respected DXpeditioners in the game, Adrian is co-leading a 24-person team on a high-stakes return to one of the rarest and most elusive ham radio locations on the planet. Bouvet Island—#10 on the ClubLog Most Wanted list—is legendary for its brutal conditions, remote location, and the abbreviated 2023 activation attempt. This time, the t...

Kody Beer, K3KLB, is no stranger to the cold—or the pileups. For his third consecutive Winter Field Day, he went all in, hunkering down in an Eskimo ice tent on the edge of Pineo Lake, Pennsylvania. With a Buddy Heater fighting off the single-digit temps, a BuddiHex antenna pulling in the stations, and an IC-7300 ready to go, Kody put in a full 12-hour shift on the air, racking up a staggering 1,0...

Levi Jeffries, K6JO, is a rising force in ham radio contesting, and this time, he didn’t just compete—he dominated. Operating from ZF1A in Grand Cayman, Levi took on the ARRL DX SSB Contest in the Single Operator High Power category and outscored the world, racking up over 8.5 million points and more than 8,400 QSOs. In this highly anticipated conversation with the Contest Crew, Levi breaks down e...

Pia Wurster, DL7PIA, isn’t just another young ham—she’s a force on the airwaves. From learning Morse code at age five to earning her amateur extra-class license at 12, Pia has embraced ham radio with unstoppable enthusiasm. Now 18, she’s racking up DX contacts, winning awards like the Youth plaque in the DX Marathon, and even organizing a special event station to mark her hometown’s 1250th anniver...

Chris Hurlbut, KL9A, is back with the Contest Crew for a deep dive into the highs, the lows, and the unexpected moments of the ARRL DX CW contest. From multi-multi strategy at K3LR to single-op lessons learned at K5ZD, the conversation is packed with insights on propagation, pileup management, and the all-important battle for every last QSO. Randy Thompson, K5ZD, reflects on his final ARRL DX CW c...

The Contest Crew is back—just in time for one of the biggest CW events of the year. Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, and Bill Fehring W9KKN sit down with W1DED to break down the ARRL DX CW Contest, offering insights that only seasoned contesters can provide. From high-rate strategy to the quirks of cut numbers, from self-spotting debates to multi-single tactics at ZF1A, this is an inside look...

David Stickelman KF6KAT and Tammy Stickelman are bringing ham radio back to the field—literally. Their portable setup is more than just a radio operation; it’s an event. Operating out of restored military vehicles, including an M35, an M37, and even a vintage M1950 Arctic tent, David and Tammy have turned their passion for emergency communications and camping into a full-scale mobile ham radio ope...

Dayton Hamvention, the world’s largest amateur radio event, returns to Xenia, Ohio, on May 16-18 for a celebration of ham radio unlike any other. It’s a gathering that highlights the very best of this incredible hobby, and in this interview, Michael Kalter W8CI reminds us why it matters so much. Before diving into the details of Hamvention itself, Michael shares his deeply personal connection to a...

Claude Ray AC4SH is a Parks on the Air legend. Having activated all 224 Georgia parks and logged over 50,000 QSOs, Claude’s expertise in portable ham radio is unmatched. Now, he’s channeling his passion and knowledge into the upcoming Georgia State Parks on the Air event, set for April 1-2, 2025. In this conversation, Claude opens up about his journey from earning his extra class license to becomi...

James Gallo, KB2FMH, is no stranger to adventure, but his recent DXpedition to Burkina Faso might just take the cake. A retired New York City plumber with a flair for storytelling and a passion for ham radio, James recounts an expedition marked by danger, diplomacy, and a healthy dose of camaraderie. From navigating military barricades and armed escorts to having their equipment confiscated by loc...

Randy Thompson, K5ZD, is fresh off logging over 6,000 QSOs in the World Wide Award program and brings serious—and seriously helpful—advice for anyone looking to sharpen their contesting skills. Joined by Chris Hurlbut, KL9A, this episode of Contest Crew dives deep into how operators can break through pile-ups, improve their rate, and avoid common pitfalls. Randy doesn’t hold back as he shares his...

Bill Thomas WT0DX is a pioneer in digital communication technologies and a force in ham radio with a remarkable career spanning over 40 years. A prolific inventor with over 150 patents to his name and an Emmy Award for contributions to television, Bill's professional legacy includes groundbreaking work in electronic program guides, digital television, and audience research systems. He’s been a lea...

Fabio Schettino I4UFH is a fascinating figure in the world of ham radio contesting. With over 45 years in the hobby, Fabio has pushed boundaries—from masterminding massive multi-multi operations at IG9A in Lampedusa and setting records from Cape Verde’s D4C station. He’s not just a top-tier contester but also an innovator, creating log analysis software and SO2R switching devices that raised the b...

Stuart Hayes, VE3RGO, is living proof that you don’t need a "big gun" station to thrive in the world of amateur radio contesting. As a "small pistol" operator with modest equipment, Stuart shares how resourcefulness, persistence, and club camaraderie can lead to big wins and rewarding experiences. Despite having a simple setup, Stuart’s commitment to learning and competing has earned him remarkabl...

Luca Aliprandi, IK2NCJ, is back! In this much-anticipated Part Two, Luca joins us live from the renowned D4C superstation in Cape Verde for an exclusive deep dive into its history, operations, and the world-class contest results that have cemented D4C’s legendary status. Luca takes us behind the scenes with stories of resilience—from rebuilding after natural disasters to maintaining bonds with top...

Luca Aliprandi, IK2NCJ, is a legendary figure in the world of ham radio contesting and station building. From his early days experimenting with CB radios to founding the renowned D4C contest super station in Cape Verde, Luca’s journey is a testament to his passion for radio and innovation. In this interview, Luca shares stories of his humble beginnings, his groundbreaking work at IG9A and D4C, and...

Stan Stockton, K5GO and ZF9CW, is a true legend in the ham radio contesting world, known for his groundbreaking innovations in station building, antenna design, and his impressive contesting expertise. Despite his remarkable achievements, including competing at the highest levels like the World Radiosport Team Championship, Stan remains modest—rarely discussing his accolades and letting his work a...

AJ Stockton, NK4O, is the first guest on Coached by the Contest Crew—an experimental new format building on the success of the popular Contest Crew series. Known for delivering expert advice and generalized tips to elevate contesting performance, The Contest Crew is now taking a deeper dive, coaching individual operators based on their recent contest entries. This new format provides tailored insi...

Kevin Thomas W1DED is the guest, not the host, in this special episode of W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio. In a unique turn of events, prior guest Marion Mason, W1GRL, takes the reins as interviewer, flipping the script to spotlight Kevin’s journey and contributions to ham radio. Kevin reflects on his reentry into the hobby during the pandemic, his interest in Parks on the Air, his growing passion for c...

McKenzie Denton KO4GLN is a name to remember in both ham radio and leadership. A pre-med junior at Old Dominion University, McKenzie has already achieved what most only aspire to in a lifetime. Licensed during the pandemic, she has risen quickly to earn her Extra Class license, rejuvenate her university’s amateur radio club, and take on roles like Virginia Section Youth Coordinator for the ARRL—al...

José Nunes, CT1BOH, is a force of nature in ham radio contesting. Licensed at the age of 15, José’s journey began with a fascination for DXing, but it was a dinner with the legendary Jim Neiger, N6TJ, in 1985 that transformed his hobby into an obsession. He made a vow to himself that night to win the CQ Worldwide Contest—and he did, shattering records along the way. José has competed in an incredi...