VHF Is Wide Open — Are You Listening?
28/08/26 15:36
The past few weeks have been an absolute blessing for VHF enthusiasts!
With a large dome of high pressure settling over much of the country, we have experienced some outstanding tropospheric enhancement and ducting. Band conditions have been intense, producing remarkable long-distance contacts across VHF and above.
And while SSB weak-signal operation has naturally been producing the greatest distances and some incredible DX, what really demonstrates the strength of these openings is what we have also been seeing on 2-meter FM.
When operators using ordinary FM equipment and vertical antennas are suddenly working stations hundreds of miles away, you know Mother Nature has opened the door!
Local hams have been making contacts as far away as Iowa, Georgia and Florida on FM, while those of us operating SSB and weak signal have been taking advantage of even greater range and opportunities.
If you are not exploring VHF and above for DX, you are missing out on a tremendous amount of excitement and fun.
My Own Experience
Even with my limited operating time, my mornings during these openings have been extremely productive.
On 2-meter FM, I made contacts approaching 450 miles. I unfortunately missed the Iowa contact. I could hear the station, but from my mobile station with a 5/8-wave vertical, I simply wasn't going to get heard over all the other stations trying to make the contact.
And remember — that's FM with a vertically polarized mobile antenna!
The following day I managed to work Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and Oklahoma, along with stations throughout Texas.
Meanwhile, SSB weak-signal activity was even more productive. That's exactly what we would expect. With horizontally polarized directional antennas, lower-noise receiving systems and the inherent weak-signal advantages of SSB, operators can take much greater advantage of an enhanced propagation path than we normally can with typical FM mobile installations.
So don't look at those FM distances as the limit of the opening.
Look at them as an indication of just how good the conditions really were.
If FM signals are traveling several hundred miles, it's time to get on SSB and start looking for some serious DX!
WATCH THE WEATHER!
One of the simplest things you can do to improve your chances of catching these openings is to start paying attention to the weather forecast as part of your operating routine.
When a strong high-pressure system is forecast to settle over a large region for several days, start watching the VHF, UHF and microwave bands closely.
High pressure alone doesn't guarantee an opening, but the stable atmospheric conditions and temperature inversions often associated with these systems can produce excellent tropospheric enhancement and, under the right circumstances, strong ducting.
Signals that would normally disappear beyond the radio horizon can suddenly travel hundreds — and sometimes considerably farther — than we normally expect.
Don't wait until someone tells you the band is open.
Turn the radio on and listen!
Check the SSB calling frequencies. Listen for distant beacons. Check FM simplex and even distant repeaters. Watch propagation reports.
If you're suddenly hearing stations, repeaters or beacons that normally aren't there, get on the air!
THE N5XO PROPAGATION PROJECT
I've also been working on a project designed specifically to make recognizing these conditions easier.
I wrote a standalone propagation-monitoring program that combines multiple sources of information to estimate current, real-time band conditions.
Rather than relying on a single propagation indicator, the system evaluates several types of data, including information from sources such as National Weather Service data, APRS activity, WSPR observations, solar and space-weather information, and other propagation-related sources.
The goal is simple:
Take a large amount of complicated propagation information and turn it into something an operator can understand at a glance.
The system evaluates the individual amateur bands from 6 meters through 3 centimeters, giving the operator an indication of the current conditions on each band.
It also provides a list of radio beacons that, based upon the selected band and current conditions, should potentially be within reception range.
That gives us something extremely valuable.
Instead of the computer simply saying, “Conditions look good,” it gives the operator something to actually go listen for.
During my testing over the past several weeks, I've been very pleased with how closely the program's indications have tracked the actual conditions I've observed on the air. There is still additional testing, refinement and development underway, but so far it has proven to be a useful and dependable tool for recognizing when conditions are becoming favorable.
AND WE'RE TAKING IT TO THE WEB
The standalone N5XO propagation program will eventually be made available for download.
But that's only part of the project.
I'm also developing a server-based propagation engine that will allow our club website to display current propagation information directly in a web browser.
The goal is to give club members an easy-to-read, continuously updated picture of propagation conditions centered around Grid EL09, without requiring everyone to install and configure the standalone application.
Ultimately, I want a member to be able to open the club webpage and quickly answer four questions:
What's open right now?
Which band should I be operating?
What kind of distance might current conditions support?
Which beacons should I be able to hear?
That's where we're headed.
SSB IS WHERE THE REAL FUN BEGINS
If you're currently operating only FM on VHF, give weak-signal SSB a try.
FM DX during a major opening can be tremendous fun, and working a station several hundred miles away from a mobile is something you'll remember.
But SSB opens an entirely different level of VHF operating.
A horizontally polarized directional antenna, low-loss feed line and an all-mode radio can dramatically increase your effective weak-signal capability. Add some antenna height and careful station design and you'll begin discovering just how far VHF signals can really travel.
You don't need a monster station to get started, either.
During strong propagation events, remarkable contacts can be made with surprisingly modest equipment. And even under less-than-ideal conditions, a well-designed station, patience and good operating technique can produce some very respectable DX.
That's what makes weak-signal operating so addictive.
HF propagation is fascinating, but VHF, UHF and microwave weak-signal operation is an entirely different world. Tropospheric enhancement, ducting, Sporadic-E, meteor scatter and other propagation modes can suddenly turn what appeared to be a dead band into a highway.
Sometimes an opening lasts hours.
Sometimes you have only minutes.
You have to be there when it happens.
So watch the weather. Watch the propagation indicators. Learn the calling frequencies. Learn where the beacons are located.
And when you see that big high-pressure system settling in over your part of the country, don't just check 2-meter FM.
Fire up the SSB station, point that beam down the path and start calling CQ.
You may be amazed at who comes back.
73,
Greg – N5XO HAMster Weak Signal Group
When the Weather Forecast Predicts Great VHF Conditions
21/07/26 10:39
By Greg Lewis, N5XO
Last week, every weather forecast across Texas and much of the South was talking about one thing—a massive heat dome settling over the region.
As soon as I saw those forecasts, I posted several messages on Facebook and in our HAMster Weak Signal Group telling everyone to get ready. I explained that this week had all the ingredients for outstanding VHF and UHF propagation, and that operators should expect enhanced simplex and weak-signal conditions.
Yesterday and today, those predictions proved to be right on the money.
Not only have I personally been making contacts right and left, but many of my fellow HAMsters have been doing exactly the same thing. We've been working stations on both 2-meter FM simplex and 2-meter SSB into Louisiana, Arkansas, and hundreds of miles across Texas—contacts that simply aren't possible under average band conditions.
Stations that normally struggle to hear one another have suddenly been exchanging strong signals. Operators who are accustomed to local coverage have found themselves working entirely new areas with ease.
Since then, I've received numerous emails and text messages asking the same question:
"Greg...how did you know this was going to happen?"
The answer is actually pretty simple.
It Wasn't a Guess
This wasn't luck.
It wasn't wishful thinking.
And it certainly wasn't a crystal ball.
It was simply understanding how weather affects radio propagation.
Whenever meteorologists begin talking about a large, persistent high-pressure system or "heat dome" during the summer, my attention immediately shifts from the weather forecast to the propagation forecast.
Over the years, I've learned that when the atmosphere begins setting up in a certain way, the VHF bands often respond in spectacular fashion.
What Is a Heat Dome?
A heat dome is a massive area of high atmospheric pressure.
Instead of allowing warm air to rise and mix with cooler air above it, the high-pressure system compresses the atmosphere and traps the hot air near the surface.
That creates:
- Very hot temperatures
- Light winds
- Stable atmospheric conditions
- Little vertical mixing of the air
- Clear skies for days at a time
Weak-signal operators hear something entirely different.
We hear...
Potential tropospheric enhancement.
The Atmosphere Becomes Layered
Normally, the atmosphere is constantly mixing.
Warm air rises.
Cool air sinks.
Humidity changes.
Everything is fairly turbulent.
Under a strong heat dome, however, the atmosphere becomes extremely stable.
Layers of air with different temperatures and humidity begin stacking on top of one another.
These layers change the way radio waves travel through the atmosphere by altering its refractive index.
Instead of traveling straight into space, VHF and UHF signals begin bending slightly, allowing them to follow the Earth's curvature much farther than they normally would.
Temperature Inversions
One of the biggest contributors is something called a temperature inversion.
Normally, temperatures decrease as altitude increases.
During an inversion, warmer air sits above cooler air near the ground.
That boundary acts almost like an invisible waveguide for VHF and UHF signals.
Instead of escaping upward, signals become trapped between atmospheric layers and can travel hundreds of miles.
This phenomenon is known as tropospheric ducting, and while this week's conditions haven't necessarily been full-blown ducting everywhere, they have certainly produced excellent tropospheric enhancement across much of Texas and neighboring states.
What We've Been Experiencing
The past two days have been a perfect example of why understanding weather patterns is so valuable to VHF operators.
Across the HAMster group we've been hearing reports of:
- Outstanding 2-meter FM simplex contacts.
- Long-distance 2-meter SSB QSOs.
- Stations working into Louisiana and Arkansas.
- Hundreds of miles of coverage across Texas.
- Signals that sound more like local contacts than distant stations.
- Strong, stable copy that lasts for extended periods.
Why Weather Forecasts Matter
Many amateur operators watch solar reports or DX clusters.
Weak-signal VHF operators should also become students of the weather.
Whenever forecasts begin mentioning:
- Heat Domes
- Strong High Pressure
- Persistent Upper-Level Ridges
- Calm Winds
- Clear Skies
- High Humidity
Those weather patterns frequently create the stable atmosphere needed for enhanced VHF and UHF propagation.
Learn to Read More Than the Radio
One of the best propagation tools available isn't expensive software or a fancy receiver.
It's your local weather forecast.
After years of chasing weak signals, you begin recognizing atmospheric patterns that repeatedly produce enhanced propagation.
The atmosphere leaves clues.
Meteorologists simply describe them.
Once you know what to look for, you can often predict outstanding operating conditions several days before they arrive.
That's exactly what happened this week.
The Takeaway
This week's excellent conditions weren't a surprise.
They were simply the atmosphere behaving exactly as physics says it should.
Watching fellow HAMsters take advantage of the conditions has been every bit as enjoyable as making the contacts myself. Seeing operators work stations hundreds of miles away on both FM simplex and SSB is a great reminder that VHF is capable of far more than many people realize.
The next time your television meteorologist starts talking about a heat dome settling over Texas...
Don't just think about how hot it's going to be.
Think about turning on the radio.
The atmosphere may be opening a highway across the sky.
73,
Greg Lewis, N5XO Founder, HAMster Weak Signal Group
Simplex Is Not the Problem… It's the Solution
12/07/26 06:16
Why Simplex and Weak Signal Operating Still Matter
By Greg Lewis, N5XO
Over the past several years I've heard the same comment repeated more times than I can count.
"Simplex nets are a bad idea."
Usually that opinion comes from someone who simply cannot participate effectively on simplex because their station, antenna system, or operating location doesn't allow it. The conclusion they reach is that all nets belong on repeatersbecause "that's where everyone can hear everyone."
I respectfully disagree.
In fact, I believe that mindset runs contrary to one of the very foundations upon which Amateur Radio was built.
Let's Define the Difference
Before we go any further, let's make sure we're talking about the same thing.
A Simplex Net
A simplex net operates with every station transmitting and receiving on the same frequency, with no repeater or outside infrastructure involved.
Every signal you hear is traveling directly from one station to another.
Your success depends upon:
Your station.
A Weak Signal Net
A Weak Signal Net is a specialized form of simplex operation.
Instead of simply trying to communicate locally, operators intentionally push the limits of their stations to make contacts at remarkable distances using modes such as:
They're looking for the contact everyone else thinks can't be made.
That's experimentation.
That's engineering.
That's Amateur Radio.
Repeaters Are Wonderful...
Let's be perfectly clear.
I own repeaters.
I appreciate repeaters.
Repeaters serve an incredibly valuable purpose.
They allow handheld operators to communicate over large areas.
They support emergency coordination.
They provide daily conversation and fellowship.
They introduce countless newcomers to our hobby.
Repeaters absolutely have their place.
But...
They should never become a crutch.
What Happens When the Repeater Isn't There?
This is the question every Amateur Radio operator should honestly ask themselves.
What happens when:
If your entire Amateur Radio experience depends upon talking through a repeater...
...your communications capability just disappeared.
The operator who regularly practices simplex doesn't have that problem.
Neither does the Weak Signal operator.
They're already accustomed to communicating directly.
Exactly the way Amateur Radio was originally designed.
Emergency Communications Begins With Direct Communications
One of the stated purposes of Amateur Radio is providing emergency communications.
Notice what it doesn't say.
It doesn't say:
"Emergency communications...provided the repeater is still working."
Infrastructure is wonderful...
until it isn't.
History has shown us repeatedly that hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, wildfires, and other disasters don't always leave infrastructure standing.
The operator who has learned how to communicate directly station-to-station possesses a skill that cannot be replaced by a taller tower or a more elaborate repeater system.
Amateur Radio Has Always Been About Pushing Limits
One of my favorite things about this hobby is that hams have spent over a century proving people wrong.
How many times have we heard...
"That band is useless."
"Those frequencies are garbage."
"You'll never communicate very far on that."
We've heard it over...
and over...
and over.
Then hams went out and did exactly that.
Six meters?
Called "The Magic Band."
Two Meter SSB?
Hundreds of miles.
432 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
1296 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
Microwave?
Thousands of successful contacts.
Moonbounce?
Signals literally traveling nearly half a million miles.
Every generation of Amateur Radio operators has expanded what people believed was possible.
Not by accepting limitations...
But by challenging them.
Our Nets Are Proving the Point
Here in South Texas, our Simplex and Weak Signal Nets continue demonstrating exactly why these activities matter.
Week after week we hear stations checking in from distances that surprise many operators.
Some are using modest stations.
Others have invested in improving antennas, feedlines, mast height, low-noise preamps, or operating techniques.
Many of those improvements happened because someone listened during a net and thought:
"If they can do it...maybe I can too."
That's exactly the kind of inspiration our hobby needs.
I've watched operators upgrade from:
Each improvement expanded their capabilities.
Each improvement made them a better operator.
No repeater could have taught those lessons.
Don't Lower the Standard...
Raise Your Station
If simplex is difficult...
don't give up.
Improve your station.
Raise the antenna.
Replace poor coax.
Experiment with antenna designs.
Learn about feedline loss.
Study propagation.
Try horizontal polarization.
Optimize your equipment.
Ask questions.
Learn from operators who have already traveled that road.
The answer isn't to abandon simplex.
The answer is to become better at simplex.
That journey is where Amateur Radio becomes truly rewarding.
The Culture We Should Encourage
Instead of saying:
"Simplex doesn't work."
Let's ask:
"How can we make it work better?"
Instead of saying:
"You need a repeater."
Let's ask:
"How can we improve your station so you don't?"
That subtle difference changes everything.
One accepts limitations.
The other overcomes them.
The Spirit of Amateur Radio
At its heart, Amateur Radio has never been about taking the easiest path.
It's about learning.
Experimenting.
Building.
Improving.
Teaching.
Mentoring.
Sharing.
Discovering.
If every contact is made through infrastructure built by someone else...
we miss one of the greatest educational opportunities this hobby offers.
Simplex reminds us that our station matters.
Weak Signal reminds us that our imagination matters.
My Challenge
If you've never joined a Simplex Net...
Give it a try.
If you've never operated 2 Meter SSB...
Borrow a radio.
Listen.
Ask questions.
If your station isn't reaching as far as you'd like...
Don't become discouraged.
Become curious.
Every antenna improvement teaches something.
Every foot of added height matters.
Every better connector, every lower-loss feedline, every improved operating technique moves you one step farther down the road.
You may surprise yourself.
And one evening you'll hear a distant station answer your call—a station you never imagined you could work.
That moment is what Amateur Radio is all about.
Not because a repeater connected you.
But because you connected.
That is the spirit of Amateur Radio.
That is why we continue promoting Simplex and Weak Signal operation.
Not because repeaters are unimportant.
But because Amateur Radio has always belonged to those willing to discover what lies just beyond the horizon.
And history has shown, time and time again...
Those horizons are always farther away than we first believed.
73,
Greg Lewis – N5XO Founder, HAMster Weak Signal Group Emergency Coordinator – Bandera County ARES
By Greg Lewis, N5XO
Over the past several years I've heard the same comment repeated more times than I can count.
"Simplex nets are a bad idea."
Usually that opinion comes from someone who simply cannot participate effectively on simplex because their station, antenna system, or operating location doesn't allow it. The conclusion they reach is that all nets belong on repeatersbecause "that's where everyone can hear everyone."
I respectfully disagree.
In fact, I believe that mindset runs contrary to one of the very foundations upon which Amateur Radio was built.
Let's Define the Difference
Before we go any further, let's make sure we're talking about the same thing.
A Simplex Net
A simplex net operates with every station transmitting and receiving on the same frequency, with no repeater or outside infrastructure involved.
Every signal you hear is traveling directly from one station to another.
Your success depends upon:
- Your antenna
- Your feedline
- Your radio
- Your operating technique
- Your location
- Your understanding of propagation
Your station.
A Weak Signal Net
A Weak Signal Net is a specialized form of simplex operation.
Instead of simply trying to communicate locally, operators intentionally push the limits of their stations to make contacts at remarkable distances using modes such as:
- 2 Meter SSB
- 70 cm SSB
- CW
- Digital modes
- Tropospheric enhancement
- Meteor Scatter
- EME (Earth-Moon-Earth)
- Microwave bands
They're looking for the contact everyone else thinks can't be made.
That's experimentation.
That's engineering.
That's Amateur Radio.
Repeaters Are Wonderful...
Let's be perfectly clear.
I own repeaters.
I appreciate repeaters.
Repeaters serve an incredibly valuable purpose.
They allow handheld operators to communicate over large areas.
They support emergency coordination.
They provide daily conversation and fellowship.
They introduce countless newcomers to our hobby.
Repeaters absolutely have their place.
But...
They should never become a crutch.
What Happens When the Repeater Isn't There?
This is the question every Amateur Radio operator should honestly ask themselves.
What happens when:
- Commercial power fails?
- The backup battery dies?
- Lightning destroys the controller?
- The tower collapses?
- Internet linking disappears?
- Fuel for generators runs out?
- Multiple repeaters fail simultaneously?
If your entire Amateur Radio experience depends upon talking through a repeater...
...your communications capability just disappeared.
The operator who regularly practices simplex doesn't have that problem.
Neither does the Weak Signal operator.
They're already accustomed to communicating directly.
Exactly the way Amateur Radio was originally designed.
Emergency Communications Begins With Direct Communications
One of the stated purposes of Amateur Radio is providing emergency communications.
Notice what it doesn't say.
It doesn't say:
"Emergency communications...provided the repeater is still working."
Infrastructure is wonderful...
until it isn't.
History has shown us repeatedly that hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, wildfires, and other disasters don't always leave infrastructure standing.
The operator who has learned how to communicate directly station-to-station possesses a skill that cannot be replaced by a taller tower or a more elaborate repeater system.
Amateur Radio Has Always Been About Pushing Limits
One of my favorite things about this hobby is that hams have spent over a century proving people wrong.
How many times have we heard...
"That band is useless."
"Those frequencies are garbage."
"You'll never communicate very far on that."
We've heard it over...
and over...
and over.
Then hams went out and did exactly that.
Six meters?
Called "The Magic Band."
Two Meter SSB?
Hundreds of miles.
432 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
1296 MHz?
Hundreds of miles.
Microwave?
Thousands of successful contacts.
Moonbounce?
Signals literally traveling nearly half a million miles.
Every generation of Amateur Radio operators has expanded what people believed was possible.
Not by accepting limitations...
But by challenging them.
Our Nets Are Proving the Point
Here in South Texas, our Simplex and Weak Signal Nets continue demonstrating exactly why these activities matter.
Week after week we hear stations checking in from distances that surprise many operators.
Some are using modest stations.
Others have invested in improving antennas, feedlines, mast height, low-noise preamps, or operating techniques.
Many of those improvements happened because someone listened during a net and thought:
"If they can do it...maybe I can too."
That's exactly the kind of inspiration our hobby needs.
I've watched operators upgrade from:
- A handheld to a mobile.
- A mobile whip to a quality base antenna.
- Vertical polarization to horizontal polarization for Weak Signal.
- Fifty feet of lossy coax to quality low-loss feedline.
- Simple installations to carefully engineered stations.
Each improvement expanded their capabilities.
Each improvement made them a better operator.
No repeater could have taught those lessons.
Don't Lower the Standard...
Raise Your Station
If simplex is difficult...
don't give up.
Improve your station.
Raise the antenna.
Replace poor coax.
Experiment with antenna designs.
Learn about feedline loss.
Study propagation.
Try horizontal polarization.
Optimize your equipment.
Ask questions.
Learn from operators who have already traveled that road.
The answer isn't to abandon simplex.
The answer is to become better at simplex.
That journey is where Amateur Radio becomes truly rewarding.
The Culture We Should Encourage
Instead of saying:
"Simplex doesn't work."
Let's ask:
"How can we make it work better?"
Instead of saying:
"You need a repeater."
Let's ask:
"How can we improve your station so you don't?"
That subtle difference changes everything.
One accepts limitations.
The other overcomes them.
The Spirit of Amateur Radio
At its heart, Amateur Radio has never been about taking the easiest path.
It's about learning.
Experimenting.
Building.
Improving.
Teaching.
Mentoring.
Sharing.
Discovering.
If every contact is made through infrastructure built by someone else...
we miss one of the greatest educational opportunities this hobby offers.
Simplex reminds us that our station matters.
Weak Signal reminds us that our imagination matters.
My Challenge
If you've never joined a Simplex Net...
Give it a try.
If you've never operated 2 Meter SSB...
Borrow a radio.
Listen.
Ask questions.
If your station isn't reaching as far as you'd like...
Don't become discouraged.
Become curious.
Every antenna improvement teaches something.
Every foot of added height matters.
Every better connector, every lower-loss feedline, every improved operating technique moves you one step farther down the road.
You may surprise yourself.
And one evening you'll hear a distant station answer your call—a station you never imagined you could work.
That moment is what Amateur Radio is all about.
Not because a repeater connected you.
But because you connected.
That is the spirit of Amateur Radio.
That is why we continue promoting Simplex and Weak Signal operation.
Not because repeaters are unimportant.
But because Amateur Radio has always belonged to those willing to discover what lies just beyond the horizon.
And history has shown, time and time again...
Those horizons are always farther away than we first believed.
73,
Greg Lewis – N5XO Founder, HAMster Weak Signal Group Emergency Coordinator – Bandera County ARES
The Next Chapter for the HAMsters Has Begun!
08/07/26 10:17
HAMsters Antenna Building Workshop a Huge Success!
20/06/26 14:44
Building Knowledge, Building Antennas, Building Better Operators
The HAMsters Amateur Radio Group enjoyed an outstanding day of hands-on learning, construction, testing, and camaraderie on Saturday, June 20th, as members gathered for our Carolina Windom Antenna Building Workshop.
This project actually began at our May meeting, where we introduced the Carolina Windom antenna concept to our newer and less experienced operators. During that session, we explored how the antenna works, discussed its unique design characteristics, reviewed the materials required, and explained why the Carolina Windom has earned a reputation as a strong-performing HF antenna capable of providing excellent multi-band performance.
Over the past month, members gathered the necessary components, prepared materials, and came ready to put theory into practice.
Today was build day.
Working together in multiple teams, our members assembled two full-size Carolina Windom antennas designed primarily for 80-meter operation. Once construction was completed, we moved outdoors to the American Red Cross grounds where the antennas were temporarily installed among the trees for live testing and tuning.
One of the most valuable portions of the workshop involved teaching the practical skills that every HF operator eventually needs to master:
- Understanding SWR and antenna resonance
- Determining whether an antenna is too long or too short
- Learning how frequency shifts indicate required adjustments
- Properly lengthening or shortening antenna elements
- Setting realistic performance expectations
- Understanding the tuning process from start to finish
The results were excellent.
By the end of the day, three HAMsters members headed home with antennas that should provide many years of strong HF performance and countless enjoyable contacts across the amateur bands.
Just as importantly, everyone left with a much better understanding of antenna theory and practical station building skills.
The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic. We had enough participation to divide into multiple build teams, allowing experienced operators and newer hams to work side-by-side, share ideas, answer questions, and learn from one another. That spirit of mentorship and fellowship is exactly what amateur radio is all about.
Personally, I had an absolute blast. Judging by the smiles, conversations, and enthusiasm throughout the day, I believe everyone else did as well.
A special thank you goes out to everyone who participated, helped organize the event, and contributed their time and expertise to make the workshop a success.
Photos from the event, courtesy of Ruth Lewis (KE5MHJ) and Frank (K5GNU), have been uploaded to our Events and Activities Photo Library for everyone to enjoy.
In addition, the complete Carolina Windom construction and tuning guide used during the class has been added to our Technical Library for future reference.
This workshop demonstrated something we've always believed within the HAMsters organization: when experienced operators share their knowledge and newer operators are willing to learn, everyone benefits.
Today wasn't just about building antennas.
It was about building skills, building confidence, and building the future of amateur radio.
A great day, great people, and great radio.
73,
Greg Lewis, N5XO Founder, HAMsters Amateur Radio Group
