It’s everything to everyone. Field Day 2024 is about a month away. It’s a contest, readiness drill, science fair, publicity stunt, geek festival, and party all rolled into one. It’s the Grand Poobah of amateur radio events. And this year my challenge to Off Grid Ham readers is not to... Read more » The post Field Day 2024: Reach Outside Your Circle. appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

Didn’t see it coming. I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt completely blindsided to hear that MFJ Enterprises, a name that is surely known by every ham radio operator, is going out of business. The end of MFJ will also result in the sunset of its subsidiary brands,... Read more » The post Everyone is an “MFJ Guy”: COMMENTARY appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

Time + technology= options. Ham radio has a lot more options than it did years ago. Back in the day your choices were phone or CW and that was about it. In the 1970s/1980s slow scan TV and early data such as RTTY came about, but they were niche modes... Read more » The post Data Modes: Game Changer or Gimmick? appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

It’s about ham-less radio. I’m going to assume that everyone who reads this blog is either a ham or at least vaguely interested in becoming one. With that kind of a demographic, why should I even entertain the idea of covering unlicensed radio options? Well, it’s all about having choices... Read more » The post Everything But The Ham 2024. appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

You didn’t know you needed one. Off grid amateurs often forego having an inverter as part of their power capability, most likely because DC powered radio gear doesn’t need one. An inverter also adds expense, and in the case of portable operations, adds weight and space. But inverters bring a... Read more » The post Inverter Talk. appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

When one is none. Have you ever encountered a huge radio-related hassle over one small equipment failure? Your entire radio station can be kicked off the air because of one flakey connector or a blown fuse. If you don’t have a solution, you’re done. Equipment failures may be a mere... Read more » The post Keeping Your Go Bag Going. appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

Nothing is sacred, including batteries. Do you have concerns about technology intruding on your life and privacy? We have reached a point where even batteries —yes, batteries— are documented and recorded. What am I talking about? You may have never heard of a digital battery passport (DBP), but pay attention... Read more » The post Digital Battery Passport: Be Aware, Not Afraid. appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

A classic never goes out of style. Way back in 2016 I posted the Off Grid Ham 100 Watts for $300 Solar Plant. Even today, that article is still hugely popular and one of the most viewed posts on this website. In a 2020 update, the $300 threshold not only... Read more » The post The Off Grid Ham 100 Watts For $300 Solar Project -2023 Update appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

Exponential market growth! Lithium battery technology has made exponential market penetration in the last decade or so. Once an exotic and expensive platform, today nearly every battery-powered device uses lithium. Along with increased market acceptance comes attention, both good and bad. Most of the bad news circulating about lithium batteries... Read more » The post Lithium Battery Fire Risks: Sorting It Out. appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more

It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. It’s been quite a summer! Flooding, extreme heat, wild fires, and (at this writing) a hurricane just tore up the Western USA and another storm is churning in the Gulf of Mexico. Every time... Read more » The post Turn Thinking Into Doing (But Do Some Actual Thinking First). appeared first on Off Grid Ham ..read more