How to Make Your First Ham Radio Contact (QSO): Step by Step
How to make your first ham radio contact, step by step: repeaters, calling CQ on HF, what to say, phonetics, identifying and logging your first QSO
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October 2026
All articles published in October 2026.
How to Get a Ham Radio License in 2026: Technician Exam Guide
How to get a ham radio license in 2026: the new 2026-2030 Technician question pool, studying, FRN, VE exam sessions, the FCC fee and renewals
Read ArticleHow to Build a Dipole Antenna for HF: Length Formula and Tuning
How to build a dipole antenna for HF: the 468/f length formula, band-by-band lengths, materials, baluns, height, inverted V and tuning for low SWR
Read ArticleHam Radio Base Station Setup: How to Build Your First Home Shack
Ham radio base station setup guide: choosing a radio, 13.8V power supplies, feedline entry, grounding, bonding, lightning protection and RF noise
Read ArticleHF Propagation Explained: Solar Flux, K Index and Band Conditions
HF propagation for beginners: the ionosphere, MUF, solar flux, A and K index, which bands open when, grey line and Solar Cycle 25 in late 2026
Read ArticleHow to Get Started with FT8: WSJT-X Setup and First QSO
How to get started with FT8: equipment, WSJT-X setup, time sync, audio levels, FT8 frequencies, your first digital QSO and logging with ADIF
Read ArticlePOTA for Beginners: How to Hunt and Activate Parks on the Air
Parks on the Air (POTA) for beginners: how to hunt activators from home, activation rules, a simple portable station, calling CQ POTA and uploading your log
Read ArticleBest Handheld Ham Radio for Beginners: How to Choose an HT
Best handheld ham radio for beginners: features that matter, analog FM vs digital (DMR, D-STAR, System Fusion), popular first HTs and what to spend
Read ArticleHow to Use Logbook of the World (LoTW): Setup and Uploads
How to use Logbook of the World (LoTW): TQSL, callsign certificates and the postcard, station locations, uploading logs, confirmations and awards
Read ArticleHam Radio Emergency Communications: How to Join ARES
Ham radio emergency communications: ARES and RACES, how to join ARES, EC-001 and FEMA IS courses, nets, Winlink and building an emergency go-kit
Read ArticleJoin the ham radio community free.
Log QSOs, exchange digital QSL cards and find local clubs and events.