@ka5wss.bsky.social
I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it. Happy Festivus!
December 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it. Happy Festivus!
Recently received this certificate from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) celebrating my 40th year of being a member. Now I'm starting to feel old! QCWA eligibility is now well in my rearview mirror. It's been fun! #HamRadio
December 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Recently received this certificate from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) celebrating my 40th year of being a member. Now I'm starting to feel old! QCWA eligibility is now well in my rearview mirror. It's been fun! #HamRadio
The end of an era. If you have any IRCs lying around you have a year, at best, to use them.
End of the road for the International Reply Coupon (IRC) ei7gl.blogspot.com/2025/12/end-of… #hamradio
End of the road for the International Reply Coupon (IRC)
The International Reply Coupon or IRC was very much a part of amateur radio history for decades. If you wanted a QSL card from a station f...
ei7gl.blogspot.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The end of an era. If you have any IRCs lying around you have a year, at best, to use them.
Work just 6 #HamRadio stations in 3 different countries in Zone 16 for your first Zone 16 Award from Activity Group Belarus. Additional certificates are available for working more stations, countries and Russian call areas. www.ka5wss.com/posts/zone-1...
Zone 16 Award - KA5WSS
Make just 8 contacts (from three different countries) with stations in Zone 16 to qualify for Activity Group Belarus' Zone 16 Award.
www.ka5wss.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Work just 6 #HamRadio stations in 3 different countries in Zone 16 for your first Zone 16 Award from Activity Group Belarus. Additional certificates are available for working more stations, countries and Russian call areas. www.ka5wss.com/posts/zone-1...
Work 12 New Zealand #HamRadio operators in 12 different grid squares using #FT8 for your first Worked ZL Grid Square Award. Additional awards are available for working more grids. www.ka5wss.com/posts/worked...
Worked ZL Grid Square Award - KA5WSS
Work Ham Radio operators in 12 different grids to receive the Worked ZL Grid Square Award.
www.ka5wss.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Work 12 New Zealand #HamRadio operators in 12 different grid squares using #FT8 for your first Worked ZL Grid Square Award. Additional awards are available for working more grids. www.ka5wss.com/posts/worked...
Happy to see my fellow University of Texas Amateur Radio Club alumnus George Fremin (K5TR @geoiii.bsky.social) interviewed about his love for the ARRL Phone Sweepstakes contest. #HamRadio www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6lj...
Mastering ARRL Sweepstakes: K5TR’s Contesting Playbook
YouTube video by Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Happy to see my fellow University of Texas Amateur Radio Club alumnus George Fremin (K5TR @geoiii.bsky.social) interviewed about his love for the ARRL Phone Sweepstakes contest. #HamRadio www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6lj...
What happened to the FT8DMC website? There used to be a page for each award w/ details on the requirements and a photo or two of the certificates. Now, I get 404 page not found errors for all of them. Doesn't appear to be a simple rearrangement. I can't navigate to where these pages are. #HamRadio
December 1, 2025 at 8:34 PM
What happened to the FT8DMC website? There used to be a page for each award w/ details on the requirements and a photo or two of the certificates. Now, I get 404 page not found errors for all of them. Doesn't appear to be a simple rearrangement. I can't navigate to where these pages are. #HamRadio
This may make activation of some of the more tricky locations more difficult. I can see both sides of the argument. But it seems the remote station concept allows for a less intrusive, and safer, operation.
Norway proposes new restrictions to remote operation from places like Bouvet Island ei7gl.blogspot.com/2025/11/norway… #hamradio
Norway proposes new restrictions to remote operation from places like Bouvet Island
The regulator for amateur radio activity in Norway is the Norwegian Communications Authority (NKOM) and on the 24th of November 2025, they ...
ei7gl.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:12 AM
This may make activation of some of the more tricky locations more difficult. I can see both sides of the argument. But it seems the remote station concept allows for a less intrusive, and safer, operation.
Work just 8 #HamRadio stations in 5 different western European countries to earn the AGB Zone 14 Award (Class III). Work your way up to Class I with 25 QSOs into 20 different countries. www.ka5wss.com/posts/agb-zo...
AGB Zone 14 Award - KA5WSS
The Activity Group of Belarus offers the Zone 14 Award for making digital contacts with western Europe.
www.ka5wss.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Work just 8 #HamRadio stations in 5 different western European countries to earn the AGB Zone 14 Award (Class III). Work your way up to Class I with 25 QSOs into 20 different countries. www.ka5wss.com/posts/agb-zo...
Over the last couple of months my #HamRadio QSL Card Inbox netted some nice cards. Two of them for All Time New One (ATNO) countries. www.ka5wss.com/posts/octobe...
October 2025 QSL Card Inbox - KA5WSS
Slow months turned into excitement with a good collection of Ham Radio QSL cards, including for an ATNO.
www.ka5wss.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Over the last couple of months my #HamRadio QSL Card Inbox netted some nice cards. Two of them for All Time New One (ATNO) countries. www.ka5wss.com/posts/octobe...
I stumbled on this lengthy, detailed and interesting video about the origin of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M?...
The genius logic of the NATO phonetic alphabet
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
October 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I stumbled on this lengthy, detailed and interesting video about the origin of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M?...
Work German #HamRadio stations in just 5 different grids to get your first Grid DL Award. More awards await for working additional grids up to the 39 that cover the country. www.ka5wss.com/posts/grid-d...
Grid DL Award - KA5WSS
Work German stations in just 5 different grids for your entry level Grid DL Award. Additional awards are possible for up to 39 grids.
www.ka5wss.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Work German #HamRadio stations in just 5 different grids to get your first Grid DL Award. More awards await for working additional grids up to the 39 that cover the country. www.ka5wss.com/posts/grid-d...
Work 100 unique #HamRadio stations in the continent of Africa to earn FT8DMC's entry level Africa Stations Award. Additional awards await in 100 station increments up to the top level 1,000 station award. www.ka5wss.com/posts/africa...
Africa Stations Award - KA5WSS
Work 100 Ham Radio operators in Africa to earn the Africa Stations Award from FT8DMC.
www.ka5wss.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Work 100 unique #HamRadio stations in the continent of Africa to earn FT8DMC's entry level Africa Stations Award. Additional awards await in 100 station increments up to the top level 1,000 station award. www.ka5wss.com/posts/africa...
Work #HamRadio operators in 20 countries smaller than 1,000 square kilometers to earn FT8DMC's Worked Little Countries Award. Additional certificates are issued for country counts up to 100 for the Honor Roll edition. www.ka5wss.com/posts/worked...
Worked Little Countries Award - KA5WSS
The Worked Little Countries Award is issued for working at least 20 countries less than 1,000 square kilometers in size.
www.ka5wss.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Work #HamRadio operators in 20 countries smaller than 1,000 square kilometers to earn FT8DMC's Worked Little Countries Award. Additional certificates are issued for country counts up to 100 for the Honor Roll edition. www.ka5wss.com/posts/worked...
Work 8 #HamRadio stations in 6 DXCC entities to acquire your Zone 20 Class III award from Activity Group Belarus (AGB). Additional award levels await leading up to Class I, requiring 20 stations in 12 entities. Zone 20 refers to the CQ Zone straddling Europe & Asia. www.ka5wss.com/posts/zone-2...
Zone 20 Award - KA5WSS
Activity Group Belarus' Zone 20 Award has a starting point requiring just 8 QSOs with Ham Radio stations in 6 different countries along the European-Asian boundary.
www.ka5wss.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Work 8 #HamRadio stations in 6 DXCC entities to acquire your Zone 20 Class III award from Activity Group Belarus (AGB). Additional award levels await leading up to Class I, requiring 20 stations in 12 entities. Zone 20 refers to the CQ Zone straddling Europe & Asia. www.ka5wss.com/posts/zone-2...
The 2025 VOMARC Picnic took place at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park this past Saturday. We enjoyed grilled burgers and hotdogs while chewing the fat and activating the park as part of the #pota program. #hamradio www.ka5wss.com/posts/vomarc...
September 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The 2025 VOMARC Picnic took place at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park this past Saturday. We enjoyed grilled burgers and hotdogs while chewing the fat and activating the park as part of the #pota program. #hamradio www.ka5wss.com/posts/vomarc...
ClubLog's Most Wanted list has been updated. My highest "ranked" country confirmed from the list is Kure Is. (KH7K) at 5, followed by Johnston Is. (KH3) at 6. Both of those from contacts made about 35 years ago. Yikes! #HamRadio clublog.org/mostwanted.php
Club Log: DXCC Most-Wanted List for September 2025
clublog.org
September 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
ClubLog's Most Wanted list has been updated. My highest "ranked" country confirmed from the list is Kure Is. (KH7K) at 5, followed by Johnston Is. (KH3) at 6. Both of those from contacts made about 35 years ago. Yikes! #HamRadio clublog.org/mostwanted.php
The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) offers the colorful Tiki Award for working 5 different Kiwi #hamradio stations on 5 different bands. The 5 bands do not need to be the same for all 5 stations. The digital only version of the award is even free! www.ka5wss.com/posts/tiki-a...
Tiki Award - KA5WSS
NZART issues the Tiki Award for working 5 different ZL Amateur Radio stations on 5 different bands.
www.ka5wss.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) offers the colorful Tiki Award for working 5 different Kiwi #hamradio stations on 5 different bands. The 5 bands do not need to be the same for all 5 stations. The digital only version of the award is even free! www.ka5wss.com/posts/tiki-a...
The Tropic of Capricorn Award requires just 3 #HamRadio QSOs with countries through which the line passes. Two more levels track your progress as you work up to the total of 10. The ToC is the southernmost line of latitude over which Sun can appear directly overhead. www.ka5wss.com/posts/tropic...
Tropic of Capricorn Award - KA5WSS
Work just 3 Ham Radio operators using FT8 in countries that lie along the Tropic of Capricorn line for the Bronze level Tropic of Capricorn Award.
www.ka5wss.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The Tropic of Capricorn Award requires just 3 #HamRadio QSOs with countries through which the line passes. Two more levels track your progress as you work up to the total of 10. The ToC is the southernmost line of latitude over which Sun can appear directly overhead. www.ka5wss.com/posts/tropic...
Worked All Continents (WAC) is just one of many Continental Awards available to #hamradio operators. Some offer slight variations which make them and interesting addition to your collection. And some differ even in their definition of what a continent is! www.ka5wss.com/posts/contin...
Continental Awards - KA5WSS
Multiple organizations offer "Worked All Continent" Ham Radio awards with differing interpretations about what constitutes a continent.
www.ka5wss.com
August 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Worked All Continents (WAC) is just one of many Continental Awards available to #hamradio operators. Some offer slight variations which make them and interesting addition to your collection. And some differ even in their definition of what a continent is! www.ka5wss.com/posts/contin...
Work just 10 other stations in one day to earn IK3GER's My Logbook Diploma. Work 100 in a day for an excellence seal endorsement. You can do the same for a single band or mode. www.ka5wss.com/posts/my-log...
My Logbook Diploma - KA5WSS
Work just 10 QSOs in a single day to qualify for IK3GER's My Logbook Diploma.
www.ka5wss.com
August 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Work just 10 other stations in one day to earn IK3GER's My Logbook Diploma. Work 100 in a day for an excellence seal endorsement. You can do the same for a single band or mode. www.ka5wss.com/posts/my-log...
You need to have QSOs with Japanese #HamRadio stations in 25 different grids for the entry level Worked All Japan Grid Squares Award. The FT8 Digital Mode Club offers the award in 3 levels with the top level award requiring working 75 grids. www.ka5wss.com/posts/worked...
Worked All Japan Grid Squares Award - KA5WSS
To receive the Worked All Japan Grid Squares Award, Ham Radio operators must work Japanese stations in at least 25 different grid squares.
www.ka5wss.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
You need to have QSOs with Japanese #HamRadio stations in 25 different grids for the entry level Worked All Japan Grid Squares Award. The FT8 Digital Mode Club offers the award in 3 levels with the top level award requiring working 75 grids. www.ka5wss.com/posts/worked...
Work just 10 #HamRadio stations in 8 countries within CQ Zone 14 to receive the Activity Group Belarus' Zone 14 Award Class III. To get to Class I requires at least 30 QSOs with 25 countries in the zone. Then, you can chase the same requirements per band and per mode. www.ka5wss.com/posts/agb-zo...
AGB Zone 14 Award - KA5WSS
The Activity Group Belarus' Zone 14 Award can be obtained by working stations in at least 8 different countries in western Europe.
www.ka5wss.com
July 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Work just 10 #HamRadio stations in 8 countries within CQ Zone 14 to receive the Activity Group Belarus' Zone 14 Award Class III. To get to Class I requires at least 30 QSOs with 25 countries in the zone. Then, you can chase the same requirements per band and per mode. www.ka5wss.com/posts/agb-zo...
You need work #HamRadio stations in only 5 separate grids of #Argentina for your first Grid LU Award. Work more stations for more awards. There are separate awards for doing so on single bands as well. www.ka5wss.com/posts/grid-l...
Grid LU Award - KA5WSS
The Grid LU Award can be had with just 5 different Argentinian grids. You can get more certificates with more grids.
www.ka5wss.com
July 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
You need work #HamRadio stations in only 5 separate grids of #Argentina for your first Grid LU Award. Work more stations for more awards. There are separate awards for doing so on single bands as well. www.ka5wss.com/posts/grid-l...