Deep Dives

Sometimes the YouTube video doesn’t give you the details you are looking for. Some things are longer than a blog post. These Deep Dives provide detailed yet accessible information on a variety of amateur radio topics. They are more than a content snack, but not a book.

Configuring and Optimizing a Digirig

9 minute read Digital modes Hardware

You just got a Digirig so you can use digital modes on your ham radio. But it’s not working, or it’s not working well. This guide will help you understand how a Digirig works, and how to configure it for optimal performance.

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FRS/GMRS Privacy Codes Demystified

20 minute read GMRS Fundamentals

Does your FRS or GMRS radio have privacy codes, sub codes, or interference eliminator codes? They are all kind of the same thing, except different. What if you want to use your Cobra GMRS radio or a Baofeng with your Motorola TalkAbout? I’ve got answers for all these questions, plus a short tutorial on squelch, which is really what these privacy codes are.

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Getting Started With Anderson Powerpoles

11 minute read Power Hardware

You’ve probably heard of Anderson Powerpoles and how useful they are for an amateur radio operator. Here’s everything you need to know to get started making your own power cables with Powerpole connectors.

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How to Build a Portable APRS Command Center

12 minute read APRS In the Field

I built an APRS command center with live maps, messaging, a digipeater, and beaconing. This command center can run from battery power, works with a handheld or mobile radio, and can support multiple concurrent operators. It works with and without internet access. I put this together to support events where there is no internet access. Here’s how I did it.

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Untangling the Word Channel in Amateur Radio

10 minute read Fundamentals

The word “channel” gets used at least four different ways in amateur radio, sometimes in the same sentence: a regulator-assigned label for a frequency, a slice of RF spectrum, the full radio setup needed to communicate with another station, or a memory location in your radio. This deep dive untangles the meanings - with examples from GMRS, Marine VHF, the 60 meter band, FM repeaters, and DMR.

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