Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

Raisa R1BIG is taking her first leap into the exhilarating world of DXpeditions—and what a leap it is! Together with seasoned expedition leader Yuri N3QQ, she’s gearing up for a rare activation of Cano Island, Costa Rica, operating under the call sign TI1RRC. This adventure, organized by the Russian Robinson Club (RRC), is set to combine Islands on the Air (IOTA) and Parks on the Air (POTA), makin...

"The Contest Crew" is Back! This week’s episode dives into the ARRL 10 Meter Contest—a one-band bonanza that’s as unpredictable as the sunspot cycle. Kevin Thomas W1DED gathers his usual all-star panel of contest experts: Chris KL9A, Randy K5ZD, and Bill W9KKN to share tips, tales, and tactics for one of the most accessible and exciting contests in the amateur radio calendar. Randy explains the un...

Andy Blank, N2NT, is an experienced ham radio contester who recently operated as V47T from his legendary St. Kitts station in the venerable CQ Worldwide DX CW Contest. This year marked a career milestone for Andy as he achieved a first-ever personal goal: breaking 10,000 QSOs during the 48-hour event. But the drama didn’t stop there! On the Contest Online Scoreboard, a fierce rivalry unfolded betw...

The 2024 CQ Worldwide CW Contest is shaping up to be one for the record books! Early reports suggest that several impressive milestones were likely reached, with record-breaking performances across multiple categories. Contest Crew members Bill Fehring W9KKN and Daniel Craig N6MJ appear to have set a new North American record in the Multi-Single category from the legendary ZF1A station, a feat tha...

Dan Hausauer, W0CN, is a dedicated ham radio operator and contester who recently competed in the ARRL Sweepstakes SSB contest from Alex KH6YY’s renowned contest superstation in Hawaii (operating as WH7Z). With a lifelong passion for Sweepstakes, Dan pushed hard in this year’s contest, going head-to-head with Levi Jefferies, K6JO—who had bested him in 2023—in a friendly rivalry tracked live on the...

Chris Hurlbut KL9A shares the story of his (unofficial) ARRL Sweepstakes SSB Single-Op High Power win from his new Montana station. The Contest Crew—Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, Bill W9KKN, and Chris KL9A—chime in with their perspectives on Sweepstakes and offer tips for the upcoming CQ Worldwide CW contest. Don’t miss their helpful advice and humorous banter!

Dr. Patricia Reiff, W5TAR, is a name every ham radio operator should know. A trailblazer in both science and amateur radio, Dr. Reiff is a professor at Rice University who has contributed to major NASA space missions and has even brought ham radio into the classroom with her unique "Physics of Ham Radio" course. Not only has she been involved in groundbreaking space research for nearly 50 years, b...

The biggest ham radio contest of 2024, the CQ Worldwide SSB, took place last weekend. Scores and post-contest stories have been circulating on 3830 scores, social media, and contest club reflectors, and now the raw scores have been released by John Dorr, K1AR, the CQ WW Contest Director. In this episode, the Contest Crew adds their voices to the post-contest buzz from their locations in St. Kitts,...

Bill W9KKN, Dan N6MJ, and Randy K5ZD are here to get you pumped for the CQ Worldwide SSB contest, the most anticipated event on the ham radio calendar, set for October 26-27. With a wealth of experience, they’ve shared some valuable insights to help you prep and make the most of the contest weekend. Randy kicked things off by breaking down the contest’s structure, emphasizing the importance of DX...

Bud Trench, AA3B, is a name that resonates deeply within the ham radio community. His journey began in 1970, thanks to the encouragement of his STEM-aware parents, who recognized the value of nurturing a budding interest in science and technology. Long before STEM became a household term, they saw ham radio as a gateway to learning about engineering and communication. That early support led Bud to...

James Cribbs, KN4NEH, is a visionary in the ham radio community, driven by a passion to modernize and grow the hobby through innovative business ventures. He’s the founder and CEO of Ham Radio Prep, a user-friendly online education platform that has helped over 70,000 people in the U.S. earn their amateur radio licenses. James was inspired to create Ham Radio Prep after experiencing firsthand how...

Philipp Springer, DK6SP, and his Next Generation team are redefining DXpeditions with a blend of youthful determination and technical precision. Comprising Philipp, Tomi HA8RT, Sven DJ4MX, and Jamie M0SDV, the team—averaging just 28 years old—undertook a demanding expedition to Guyana, operating under the special callsign 8R7X. Operating from a rarely activated location, they established a highly...

In the third round of the Contest Clinic series, top ham radio contesters Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, Chris KL9A, and Bill W9KKN—collectively known as the Contest Crew—return to answer your most pressing questions! This accomplished group of contesting pros dives deep into everything from station setup strategies to contesting mindsets, sharing insights that only decades of experience can provide. Wheth...

David Jaffe, WD6T, is an American composer, performer, and software developer who has successfully balanced parallel career paths in both music and technology. With over 90 compositions to his name, including the landmark “Silicon Valley Breakdown”, and key contributions like the development of the NeXT Music Kit for Steve Jobs, David’s influence in electronic and computer music is profound. Along...

The Contest Crew, featuring seasoned contesters like Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN, have returned for another round of answering your burning ham radio contesting questions. This crew has become a staple in the contesting ham radio community, admired for their expertise and high-level achievements—including, in the case of N6MJ and KL9A, winning th...

Juliana Almeida, PU5JDA, is a young and accomplished ham radio operator from Brazil who’s already making her mark in the world of amateur radio. Licensed at just 10 years old, she was introduced to the hobby by her father, Sergio PP5JR, a well-known contester in Brazil. Juliana has since followed in his footsteps, developing a passion for competition and honing her skills through contests, where s...

Emir “Braco” Memic, E77DX, is synonymous with excellence in ham radio contesting. With roots going back to his start in Bosnia in 1987, Braco has spent decades honing his skills and building some of the most formidable contest stations in Europe. From his early days contesting in the CQ WPX to operating the legendary OE4A station, Braco’s journey reflects his relentless pursuit of perfection in ra...

Mitch Mason K7RL is one of the most accomplished ham radio contesters in the Pacific Northwest. Operating from his station on Camano Island, Washington, Mitch has mastered the unique geographic and propagation challenges of the region. With decades of experience, he’s built an impressive station featuring a 135-foot rotating Bertha pole that is supplemented with a second tower. Those are outfitted...

The Contest Crew— Randy Thompson K5ZD, Daniel Craig N6MJ, Christopher Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN—have operated from some of the best contest stations in the world. They’ve contributed to designing and building top-tier stations, explored and implemented new technologies, honed their operating skills through persistent practice and hundreds of contest entries, and won both single-operator...

Tim Shoppa, N3QE, is back with us to explore how technician-class ham radio operators can expand their operating options. A veteran contester, Tim offers practical insights into technician license holders' opportunities in contests like the ARRL 10-meter and by learning contesting skills in the Parks on the Air program. He also touches on the potential impact of the ARRL's 2018 Technician Enhancem...

Experience the CY9C DXpedition on the rugged and remote St. Paul Island, located off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. In this exclusive on-island interview, team member Craig Thompson, K9CT, provides an in-depth look at St. Paul Island, ranked 50th on the DXCC most-wanted list. He discusses the island’s challenging weather, its historical significance, and the extraordinary efforts required to re...

Dave Edmonds, WN4AFP, has had a long, 48-year history in amateur radio, culminating in his deep involvement with State QSO Parties, where he serves as the South Carolina State QSO Party Administrator. After rediscovering his passion for ham radio in 2013, Dave shifted his focus toward State QSO Parties, challenging the conventional belief that high-power stations are necessary to succeed in contes...

Within ham radio, two seemingly distinct communities—contesters and Parks on the Air (POTA) activators—are discovering a surprising synergy. Contesters, known for their intense, high-skill competitions, and POTA enthusiasts, who relish the challenge of operating from remote, natural locations, are finding common ground that offers new opportunities for both. Dean Wood, N6DE, a seasoned contester a...

The Contest Crew reminds us that the contest isn't over when the last QSO is logged. As the holders of the US #1 and #2 positions in the CQ WPX CW, Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, and Bill W9KKN could be relaxing and enjoying their success. Instead, they are busy reviewing data from the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN), analyzing the Raw Scores and associated public logs, and drawing lessons from the Contest On...

The Contest Crew agrees that it is not officially a contest, but as Randy K5ZD likes to say, "if there is stack ranking, it sure looks like a contest!" Field Day takes place every year on the fourth full weekend of June, and in 2024 that's June 22-23. Randy K5ZD, along with Chris KL9A and Bill W9KKN, discuss the long-standing tradition of Field Day, sharing their personal experiences and offering...