Brew and Activate

POTA isn't the only game in town.Parks on the Air has exploded across amateur radio—but POTA is just one way hams are turning portable operating into a challenge.This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are entering THE OTA WARS.We're putting four different portable-radio programs on the board:POTA — Parks on the AirSOTA — Summits on the AirTILES — Tiles on the AirPARC — Protected Area Radio CommunityBut this isn't about trashing one program or declaring that everybody should abandon POTA for the newest shiny thing.We're asking a much more interesting question:WHICH GAME FITS THE WAY YOU LIKE TO OPERATE?We'll look at what each program is trying to accomplish, what it rewards, how you participate, how activations differ, spotting and logging, scoring, awards, physical challenges, exploration and the communities developing around them.Then we're putting them through the Brew & Activate test.Which program fits the casual portable operator?Which one rewards adventure?Which one makes exploration part of the game?Which one would you recommend to a brand-new portable operator?And can you STACK multiple programs during the same activation?Because maybe the OTA Wars aren't actually a war.Maybe we've just been playing one game when there's an entire arcade sitting next door.Different games.Same radio.Join Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT LIVE on Brew & Activate.FRIDAY10:00 AM EASTERNCome prepared to answer:WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF PORTABLE RADIO?And which OTA are YOU choosing?*************************************************************📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JURPractical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby.🌐 Explore N1JURhttps://n1jur.com📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletterhttps://n1jur.com/newsletter━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Memberhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreonhttps://patreon.com/cw/n1jur━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTSSee the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use:https://n1jur.com/gearFind available partner discounts and special offers:https://n1jur.com/discounts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRDN1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more:https://makerfweird.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEOCross Island Maine K1C Activation https://www.qrz.com/db/K1C

What does your POTA bag say about you?We asked the Brew Crew to open up their POTA bags and show us what they REALLY carry for Parks on the Air activations.Six brave operators answered the call.That may have been a mistake.This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are putting six real POTA bags under the microscope. Radios, antennas, batteries, coax, adapters, backup gear and a few items that are going to require some serious explaining.Welcome to the POTA BAG ROAST.But this isn't just about making fun of somebody carrying 37 adapters and enough battery capacity to survive the apocalypse.For every bag, we're asking:• Does the gear match the activation?• What's genuinely useful?• What's unnecessary?• What's missing?• What would WE change?• And most importantly… WHY ARE YOU CARRYING THAT?!Because there isn't one perfect POTA setup.A hiking activator shouldn't necessarily carry the same station as someone operating from a picnic table. QRP, 100-watt SSB, CW, quick activations, all-day operations and remote parks all create different requirements.Join us LIVE and bring your own POTA bag confessions. Tell us the weirdest thing you carry, the piece of gear that has saved an activation, and the item you finally stopped dragging into the field.☕ BREW & ACTIVATEBrew & Activate is a weekly live show about Parks on the Air, portable ham radio, gear, operating skills, experiments, questionable decisions and becoming better operators.Hosted by:Eric — N1JURShannon — KC1OHTGrab a drink, join the Brew Crew and come hang out with us.73!#POTA #ParksOnTheAir #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #PortableHamRadio #POTAGear*************************************************************📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JURPractical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby.🌐 Explore N1JURhttps://n1jur.com📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletterhttps://n1jur.com/newsletter━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Memberhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreonhttps://patreon.com/cw/n1jur━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTSSee the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use:https://n1jur.com/gearFind available partner discounts and special offers:https://n1jur.com/discounts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRDN1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more:https://makerfweird.com

Can you successfully activate a Parks on the Air park with NO Internet?Modern POTA is loaded with incredibly useful tools: park maps, GPS navigation, spotting, propagation data, callsign lookup, logging apps, P2P information and instant log uploads.But what happens when the cell signal disappears?This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are putting the modern POTA workflow under the microscope.What actually requires the Internet?What can work completely offline?Do you need to self-spot?Can another hunter spot you?Could you still get your 10 contacts if the POTA spotting page disappeared completely?And just how dependent have we become on our phones during portable operations?We're also introducing the Brew Crew Airplane Mode Activation Challenge:One park.One activation.Airplane mode stays ON.Let's find out what breaks.Join us LIVE Friday and tell us:Could YOU successfully activate a POTA park without Internet access?*************************************************************📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JURPractical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby.🌐 Explore N1JURhttps://n1jur.com📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletterhttps://n1jur.com/newsletter━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Memberhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreonhttps://patreon.com/cw/n1jur━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTSSee the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use:https://n1jur.com/gearFind available partner discounts and special offers:https://n1jur.com/discounts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRDN1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more:https://makerfweird.com

Are You Actually Getting Better at POTA?You’ve logged more parks. Made more contacts. Bought better gear. Earned some awards.But are you actually becoming a better POTA operator?This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are looking beyond activation counts and asking what operator improvement really looks like.We're talking about the POTA skills nobody keeps track of: troubleshooting, propagation, pileup management, antenna decisions, adaptability, operating efficiency, mentoring and knowing what to do when the activation absolutely refuses to follow the plan.We'll build the POTA Skill Tree, put ourselves through the POTA Combine, talk about the difference between DOING POTA and PRACTICING POTA, and challenge the Brew Crew to deliberately improve one skill over their next ten activations.The big question:What can you do today that you couldn't do on your first POTA activation?Join us LIVE Friday at 10 AM Eastern and bring your answers.Brew & ActivateHosted by Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHTJoin the conversation, hang out with the Brew Crew, and check out the links below for the Discord community, memberships, Patreon and more.#POTA #ParksOnTheAir #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #PortableHamRadio━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JURPractical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby.🌐 Explore N1JURhttps://n1jur.com📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletterhttps://n1jur.com/newsletter━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Memberhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreonhttps://patreon.com/cw/n1jur━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTSSee the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use:https://n1jur.com/gearFind available partner discounts and special offers:https://n1jur.com/discounts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRDN1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more:https://makerfweird.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEOBrew and Activate Live Stream - Are you getting better at POTA?➡️ https://youtube.com/live/JVJa8kDgXwE?feature=share

Is POTA an expensive hobby... or do we accidentally make it one?This week on Brew & Activate, we're talking about the hidden economics of Parks on the Air. Not budgets. Not financial advice. Just the buying decisions almost every activator makes along the way.We've all been there...Buying another antenna because it might perform better.Adding another battery "just in case."Convincing ourselves that the next radio will finally be the perfect one.But what if the biggest expense in POTA isn't the equipment...It's buying things before we've learned whether we actually need them.We'll discuss return on investment, diminishing returns, upgrade traps, and why many experienced activators eventually end up carrying less gear—not more.Whether you're building your first POTA station or your tenth, this conversation might save you money... and help you enjoy the hobby even more.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JURPractical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby.🌐 Explore N1JURhttps://n1jur.com📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletterhttps://n1jur.com/newsletter━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Memberhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreonhttps://patreon.com/cw/n1jur━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTSSee the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use:https://n1jur.com/gearFind available partner discounts and special offers:https://n1jur.com/discounts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRDN1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more:https://makerfweird.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Has POTA outgrown the platform it was built on? Parks on the Air has become one of the most successful operating programs in amateur radio—but with that success comes a bigger question: can a volunteer-driven organization keep up with the demands of a rapidly growing global community? This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT take a constructive look at POTA’s growth, the website, the mobile experience, feature development, volunteer limitations, and whether the program is beginning to face the same growing pains that affect much larger amateur radio organizations. Then we turn the conversation over to the Brew Crew. If you were given one development sprint, what would you improve first? Better search? A native mobile app? Smarter maps? Personal park notes? Improved dashboards? Offline tools? Or something completely different? This is not a complaint session and it is not a developer pile-on. It is an honest, forward-looking conversation about what POTA has become, what should never change, and what a future POTA 2.0 could look like. Join us live, bring your ideas, and help us build the community wishlist. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JUR Practical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby. 🌐 Explore N1JUR https://n1jur.com 📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletter https://n1jur.com/newsletter ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED ⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join 🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreon https://patreon.com/cw/n1jur ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS See the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use: https://n1jur.com/gear Find available partner discounts and special offers: https://n1jur.com/discounts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRD N1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more: https://makerfweird.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

How much gear is really necessary for a successful POTA activation?If you've been activating for any length of time, chances are your "portable" radio bag has slowly become... less portable. Every new antenna solved a problem. Every adapter seemed like a good idea. Every backup battery was "just in case." Before long, you're hauling equipment that's been riding along for months—or even years—without ever leaving the bag.This week on Brew & Activate, we're taking an honest look at the gear we all carry but rarely use. We'll explore why we overpack, the difference between being prepared and packing out of fear, and how experienced activators naturally evolve toward simpler, more efficient stations. Along the way, we'll share real-world examples from the POTA community, discuss the items that truly earn their place in your kit, and challenge you to rethink what belongs in your go bag before your next activation.Whether you're building your first POTA kit or refining one that's seen hundreds of parks, this episode will help you carry less, operate smarter, and focus more on enjoying the activation than managing your gear.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list

It starts innocently enough..."I'm just going to try this Parks on the Air thing once."Then suddenly you're researching antennas at midnight, convincing yourself you need one more battery, planning vacations around park numbers, and explaining to your family why the truck is permanently stocked with radios, coax, and enough gear for a weekend expedition.Sound familiar?This week on Brew & Activate, Eric (N1JUR) and Shannon (KC1OHT) take a hilarious trip through the life cycle of a POTA operator—from the nervous first activation to full-blown gear acquisition syndrome, award chasing, burnout, and finally becoming the Elmer who helps the next generation get on the air.Along the way we'll share real stories, plenty of laughs, practical tips, and probably expose a few habits we've all developed along the way.☕ Join the Brew Crew on Discord:https://discord.gg/zwg9mWyHmY🎁 Member Perks & Discounts:https://n1jur.com/discounts📬 Join the Newsletter:https://n1jur.com/newsletterWhether you've activated one park or one thousand, chances are you'll recognize yourself somewhere in this story.#HamRadio #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #PortableRadio #AmateurRadio #HamRadioCommunity #BrewAndActivate #N1JUR #POTAActivation #OutdoorRadio Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list

One of the biggest myths in amateur radio has nothing to do with antennas... it's the coax connecting your radio to them.Does coax really have to be 18 feet long? Can changing the length of your feedline lower your SWR? What exactly is velocity factor, and why does everyone seem to have a different answer?This week on Brew & Activate, we're diving into another ham radio rabbit hole to separate physics from folklore. We'll explain velocity factor in plain English, explore why coax behaves the way it does, and connect the dots between transmission lines, SWR, resonance, impedance, and real-world station performance.Whether you're building a portable POTA station, setting up your first HF antenna, or just trying to understand why your analyzer says one thing and your radio says another, this episode will help you make sense of what your coax is really doing—and what it isn't.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Who needs another pair of socks when you can bring another antenna?This week, Brew & Activate is coming to you from my Airbnb for a special Vacation Edition! There won't be the usual 90-minute show or deep technical dive. Instead, we're slowing things down, grabbing a cup of coffee, and seeing what happens when portable ham radio becomes part of the adventure.We'll be setting up a travel-friendly station, activating a new Tiles location, making contacts live, and chatting about why some of the best operating isn't from the shack—it's from wherever life happens to take you.Whether you're operating from a campsite, a cabin, a hotel, an Airbnb, or just your backyard, this stream is a reminder that amateur radio doesn't have to stay home when you leave town.So pour yourself a fresh cup, kick back, and pretend you're on vacation with the Brew Crew for the next 40 minutes.☕ Live portable radio operation📻 Tiles activation from the Airbnb🌎 Travel-friendly ham radio setup💬 Plenty of conversation, coffee, and RFIf you've ever packed a radio before packing your suitcase... this one's for you.

We spent the last two episodes learning what SWR and resonance actually mean. Now it's time to answer the biggest question of all:How do you know if an antenna is actually performing?In this final installment of our three-part antenna deep dive, we're moving beyond analyzer readings and getting into what really matters on the air. We'll explore why two antennas with identical SWR readings can perform completely differently, how antenna height affects your signal, why efficiency matters, and what changes as Solar Cycle 25 begins its downward swing.We'll also tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in amateur radio: the idea that a low SWR automatically means a good antenna.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Most amateur radio operators learn that a low SWR means a good antenna and a high SWR means a bad one. But what if that isn't the whole story?In this episode of Brew & Activate, we're tackling one of the biggest myths in amateur radio: the idea that resonance and SWR are the same thing.We'll break down what resonance actually means, why reactance (X) is often more important than SWR when tuning an antenna, and how an antenna can be perfectly resonant while still showing a 2:1 SWR. We'll also explore resistance (R), impedance matching, feedpoint impedance, and how to read antenna analyzer measurements in a way that helps you make better decisions in the field.Whether you're deploying antennas for Parks on the Air (POTA), chasing DX, experimenting with end-fed wires, or simply trying to understand what your analyzer is telling you, this discussion will change the way you look at antenna tuning.In This EpisodeWhat resonance really meansWhy X = 0 mattersThe difference between resonance and matchingWhy low SWR does not always mean a good antennaHow to interpret R and X on your analyzerReal-world examples from portable operationsCommon SWR myths many hams still believeJoin the ConversationDo you agree that SWR is one of the most misunderstood measurements in amateur radio?Have you ever chased a perfect SWR only to discover it didn't improve your signal?Drop your thoughts in the comments and continue the discussion with the Brew Crew.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop

This Friday on Brew & Activate, Mike N2MAK joins me to talk about the upcoming ARRL June VHF Contest — what it is, how he is preparing for it, what operators should expect, and why VHF contesting might be way more connected to portable operating than people realize.We’re going to dig into the crossover between portable radio, VHF/UHF operating, contest strategy, field setups, antennas, location, timing, and making contacts when you’re not running a monster station on a mountain with a beam the size of a small bridge.If you’ve ever done POTA, SOTA, rover-style operating, simplex work, 2 meters, 6 meters, or you’ve looked at a VHF contest and thought, “Is this something I could actually try?” — this is the episode to hang out for.Mike will be sharing how he gets ready, what bands and gear he thinks about, what newer operators should understand before jumping in, and how portable operators can use contests like this to sharpen their skills.So grab your coffee, charge the batteries, check the coax you definitely meant to check last week, and come hang out with us live.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Most ham radio operators know they should pay attention to SWR.Far fewer understand what SWR is actually trying to tell them.In Part 1 of our new 3-part antenna series, we're getting nerdy and diving deep into one of the most misunderstood topics in amateur radio. We'll break down Standing Wave Ratio (SWR), what causes it to change, what the numbers really mean, and why low SWR doesn't automatically mean you have a great antenna.We'll also explore common myths, practical POTA examples, field deployment challenges, feedline behavior, reflected power, and how changing conditions in the field can impact your readings.Whether you're running an end-fed, dipole, vertical, or loaded coil antenna, or something in between, understanding SWR is the first step toward understanding what your antenna system is actually doing.This is Part 1 of a special 3-part Brew & Activate series:☕ Part 1: SWR – The Most Misunderstood Number in Ham Radio☕ Part 2: Resonance – Where Your Antenna Wants to Live☕ Part 3: Reactance, Efficiency & Why Solar Cycle 25 Changes EverythingAffiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Antennas might be the most important part of your portable ham radio setup — and also the thing most of us overthink, misunderstand, rebuild, argue about, and occasionally blame when the bands are just being rude.This week on Brew & Activate, I’m joined by Matt from Reliance Antennas to talk about everything antennas.We’ll dig into portable antenna setups, POTA operating, end fed antennas, random wires, transformers, tuners, coax, chokes, antenna testing, field reliability, and what really matters when you’re trying to get on the air from a park.We’ll also talk about the Reliance Antennas brand, how Matt designs and builds antennas for real-world use, and what operators should think about when choosing or building their own antenna system.Whether you’re brand new to HF, getting into Parks on the Air, or you’ve been throwing wires into trees for years, this one should be packed with practical takeaways.Bring your antenna questions.Bring your hot takes.Bring your emotionally complicated SWR stories.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

This week on Brew & Activate, we’re keeping it loose and opening things up for a live POTA, portable radio, and Tiles on the Air Q&A.Bring your questions about activations, hunters, gear, antennas, go-kits, logging, pileups, quick lunch-break activations, or whatever RF weirdness is currently living rent-free in your brain.We’ll also take a few minutes to talk about Honor & Activate, the Tiles on the Air Memorial Day weekend event, and how we can use radio to do something a little more meaningful while still having fun, getting outside, and lighting up some RF.Whether you’re chasing parks, activating tiles, building a better go-kit, or just trying to figure out why your antenna only behaves when nobody is watching, come hang out with the Brew Crew.Links:Honor & Activate: https://tilesontheair.com/MemorialDayTiles on the Air: https://tilesontheair.com*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

What’s actually in your POTA bag… and is it really ready?This week on Brew & Activate, we’re talking about one of the most common portable ham radio problems: keeping your POTA go-kit organized, charged, packed, and actually ready for the next activation.Because let’s be honest — most activations do not fall apart because of the radio. They fall apart because the coax is missing, the battery is dead, the adapter is in another bag, or the one cable you need is sitting back at the shack laughing at you.We’ll break down practical ways to organize your POTA gear, including core kits, mission-based add-ons, pre-flight checklists, post-activation reset routines, and smarter ways to track what lives in each bag.Then I’ll give you a first look at the gear bag tracker app I’m working on for portable operators. The goal is simple: help hams know what’s packed, what’s missing, what needs charging, and what needs to be reset before the next outing.Bring your best “I forgot the thing” stories. We’ve all got one. *************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a practical way to use AI for POTA — no hype, no fluff, just something you can actually use before your next activation.Instead of bouncing between solar data, propagation maps, and signal reports… we’re using a simple, repeatable AI prompt that turns all of that into one clear answer based on your gear, your power, and your setup.👉 We’ll walk through:A custom AI prompt you can copy and use before every activationHow to tailor it to your radio, antenna, and power levelA “what-if” scenario prompt to test different setups before you leave the houseReal examples of how this helps you pick the right band, mode, and strategyThis isn’t about replacing skill—it’s about making better decisions before you ever key the mic.🧠 TRY IT YOURSELFRun this before your next activation and see what changes:Your starting bandYour contact rateYour overall successThen come back and let us know 👇*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Is Tiles On The Air (TOTA) the next big thing in ham radio?In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a brand new program that’s starting to get attention across the hobby — Tiles On The Air.Instead of parks or summits, this program focuses on grid square activations, bringing a fresh twist to portable operating and giving hunters and activators a whole new way to get on the air.We’re joined by special guest Facundo (KK4ODA), the creator and developer of Tiles On The Air, to break it all down:What Tiles On The Air isHow it worksHow it compares to POTA and SOTAHow YOU can get startedWhether you're a seasoned activator or just looking for something new to try, this might be the next program you add to your rotation.🔗 Learn more about Tiles On The Air:👉 https://tilesontheair.com*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Ever had your radio die right in the middle of a pileup?Yeah… it’s probably not your battery.It’s your math.In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down battery math in a way that actually matters in the field—no fluff, no overcomplicated engineering talk… just real-world understanding you can use on your next activation.We cover:⚡ The difference between Amp Hours (Ah) and Watt Hours (Wh)⚡ Why your battery NEVER lasts as long as you think⚡ How modes like SSB vs FT8 completely change runtime⚡ Voltage sag (and why your radio shuts off early)⚡ Cold weather performance (this one gets people every time)⚡ The simple formula to actually plan your activation time👉 Plus: I built a simple battery calculator you can use on your phone in the field so you never have to guess again.👇 Grab the calculator here:[INSERT YOUR GOOGLE SHEET LINK]---💡 Bottom line:Amp hours tell a story…Watt hours tell the truth.#POTA #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #BatteryPower #FieldRadio #PortableOps*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

🚨 SPECIAL GUEST ALERT 🚨This week on Brew & Activate, we’re joined by the creator of POTACAT — one of the most talked-about tools in the POTA community right now.If you’re a POTA hunter or activator, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.We’re diving into:What POTACAT actually does (and why people are buzzing about it)How it can help you hunt smarter and activate more efficientlyThe story behind the app and where it’s headed nextLive Q&A with the creator 👀🔗 Check out POTACAT:👉 https://potacat.com*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Support Your Parks Weekend is coming up… And instead of activating alone, what if you turned it into a full-on POTA meetup?More operators are starting to use events like SYP Weekend to bring people together for:• Group activations• Club meetups• Multi-operator park setupsSo how do you actually pull that off?And more importantly…How do you do it without turning it into total chaos? 😄This week on Brew & Activate, we break down how to host your own POTA meetup for Support Your Parks Weekend.Whether you’re bringing one friend or your entire club…This episode will help you turn a simple activation into something memorable.👉 Support Your Parks Weekend is the perfect excuse to get people together and get on the air.Grab your coffee — and start planning your activation.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Think you’re a solid POTA operator?Cool.Let’s test that.This week on Brew & Activate, we’re putting the Brew Crew to the test with a 10-question POTA quiz designed to separate the “I make contacts” crowd from the “I actually understand what’s happening” operators.We’re talking:• Real-world activation scenarios• Pileup strategy• Propagation curveballs• Logging mistakes that quietly wreck your activation• And one FINAL BOSS question that… yeah… it’s gonna stingNo trick questions.No easy outs.Just the kind of stuff that shows up when things go sideways in the field.👉 Play along live in chat👉 Drop your answers (no Googling… we will know 😄)👉 See where you actually stack upIf you score:8/10 = You’re dangerous10/10 = You’re running the next activation… no excusesGrab your coffee ☕Warm up the rig 📻And let’s see who actually knows their stuff.#POTA #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #ParksOnTheAir #BrewAndActivate

Do POTA activators need to self-spot… or should they just call CQ and let radio happen?This week on Brew & Activate we dig into a debate that’s been quietly heating up across the POTA community: self-spotting.Some operators say spotting immediately is just good operating — it helps hunters find you, helps QRP stations get contacts, and keeps activations efficient.Others say instant spotting has changed the culture of portable radio. Are operators listening on the bands anymore… or just watching the website?We explore:• Why self-spotting became the norm in POTA• Whether calling CQ without a spot still works• The rise of “stealth activations”• How spotting changes pileups• What this means for hunters and activatorsAnd we ask a dangerous question:What would happen if the POTA spotting page disappeared for a day?Grab your coffee, your radio, and jump into the chat — because this one should spark some opinions.Because great operators don’t just make contacts… they make the hobby better.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

POTA activations used to mean setting up, settling in, and spending time on the air.Now?More operators are running 15–20 minute activations, squeezing in parks during lunch breaks, and even going digital-only to get quick contacts.So the question is…Is this just efficient operating?Or are activations starting to feel like drive-by contacts?This week on Brew & Activate, we dive into the rise of micro-activations and what they mean for the hobby.We explore:• Why short activations are becoming more common• The impact of digital-only activations• Whether speed is helping or hurting operating skill• What hunters actually think about quick activations• How to balance efficiency with enjoymentAnd we ask a tough question:Are we optimizing POTA… or rushing through it?Grab your coffee, your radio, and join the conversation — because this one hits close to home for a lot of operators.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

What happens when you bring TWO radios to a POTA activation?Today on Brew & Activate, Eric (N1JUR) and Shannon (KC1OHT) dive into SO2R — Single Operator Two Radios — and what it would actually look like in the field.Is it efficient?Is it chaotic?Is it advanced operator maturity…or just picnic-table-level overengineering?We break down:• What SO2R really means in a POTA context• Voice + Voice vs Voice + Digital• Antenna isolation and RF considerations• Battery and power management• Logging without creating upload nightmares• The “semantics” — should you even do this?If you’ve ever thought:👉 “Could I run two bands at once?”👉 “Should I?”👉 “Would hunters hate me?”This episode is for you.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Most hunters focus on getting logged.Great hunters focus on how they operate.This is Episode 3 of our Brew & Activate Hunter Series — and we’re going beyond tools and timing.In this episode, we dive into:• Advanced POTA hunting strategy• Reading activator patterns• Pileup etiquette that actually helps• Why reputation matters on the air• Avoiding burnout and keeping hunting fun long termIn Episode 1, we covered mindset.In Episode 2, we covered tools and tactics.Now we’re talking maturity, awareness, and leveling up.Because the goal isn’t just to break the pileup.It’s to become the hunter activators want to hear.If you hunt Parks on the Air, chase activations regularly, or want to improve your operating skill — this episode is for you.📻 Join the conversation in the comments:What’s one hunter habit you’re working on improving?And if you missed the first two episodes in the series, start there and work your way up.Smart hunters use tools.Great hunters know when to ignore them.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Last week on Brew & Activate, we talked about the hunter mindset — why great POTA hunters win with patience, timing, and calm decision-making.This week?We go tactical.In Episode 2 of our hunter series, we break down the tools, tactics, and radio techniques that actually help you break POTA pileups — without turning this into a gear flex session.Because here’s the truth:Most hunters don’t need more power.They need better timing.And better settings.In this episode, we cover:How to use POTA spots without becoming dependent on themWhy stale spots create chaosRadio settings that make weak signals easier to copyWhy calling less often works betterTiming strategies that separate smart hunters from frustrated onesThe minimum effective hunter station (spoiler: it’s simpler than you think)If you’ve ever wondered why some hunters consistently get through — even with modest stations — this episode is for you.Tools are important.But they don’t replace skill.🎯 If you missed Episode 1 (Hunter Mindset), go watch that first — then come back and level up your tactics.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comDiscord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Most Parks on the Air content focuses on activators — but this episode is for the other half of the contact: the hunters.Why do some POTA hunters consistently break pileups with ease… while others struggle even with good gear?In this Brew & Activate episode, we dig into the hunter mindset that actually wins contacts:Why timing beats callsign volumeHow great hunters listen before they transmitWhy calling less often works betterWhat separates calm, effective hunters from frustrated onesIf you’ve ever hunted a park, waited patiently, missed it by seconds, or finally cracked a pileup — you’re not alone.This episode is about listening, adapting, and enjoying the hunt, not brute-forcing contacts or buying more gear.👉 Next Brew & Activate, we’re getting tactical:Tools, spotting strategy, and real operating techniques hunters actually care about.💬 Join the conversation:What’s your most frustrating — or most satisfying — POTA hunting moment?Links(Guest/Referred)*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Batteries don’t get the glory in POTA — but they absolutely decide whether your activation ends with a full log… or packing up early.In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down POTA batteries the right way:No spec-sheet flexing.No marketing hype.Just real-world field experience.We cover:What a POTA battery actually needs to doWhy stable voltage matters more than raw capacityHandling current spikes on transmitBattery performance in winter vs spring vs summerLiFePO₄ vs AGM vs power stations (pros, cons, and reality)Why watt-hours matter more than amp-hoursHow to choose the right size battery without overpackingIf you’ve ever asked:“Why does my radio shut down on transmit?”“Why did my ‘big’ battery die so fast?”“Do I really need that much power for POTA?”This episode is for you.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Website: https://n1jur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Parks on the Air (POTA) is supposed to be fun… but myths and bad advice stop a LOT of hams from ever activating.In this episode, we break down the Top 5 most common POTA myths — and explain why they’re flat-out wrong.We cover things like:❌ “You need a perfect setup before you activate”❌ “You need high power to be successful”❌ “You need expensive gear”❌ “If you don’t get a pileup, you’re doing it wrong”❌ “You have to be an expert to activate POTA”Spoiler: None of that is true.POTA rewards getting on the air, not perfection.Low power works. Simple antennas work. Used gear works.And no — you don’t need to be an expert to start.If your radio turns on, your antenna is up, and you’re calling CQ — you’re doing it right.👇 Drop a comment and tell us:Which myth held you back the longest?Or which one you still hear all the time?📡 Subscribe for more real-world POTA, portable radio, and ham radio talk🍺 Join us live on Brew & Activate for more myth-busting and field wisdom*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Support Your Parks Weekend: Winter is here—and Brew and Activate is getting you ready. We’re talking the origin story of Support Your Parks, how to plan a safe and efficient winter POTA activation, and then we’re ending with a community challenge:The Brew and Activate SYP-Winter Challenge:Get 10 QSOs on 60m (SSB or FT8) during an activation, then try one weird thing for 15 minutes: 30m (CW/FT8) or FT4.In this stream we cover: Where Support Your Parks came from and why it’s such a big weekend Activator + chaser strategies for event weekends Winter field tips: layers, hands/feet, wind management, condensation, and battery performance Quick “go kit” checklist you can screenshot How to make alternative bands/modes work (and still qualify the park)Drop a comment with your plan: activating or chasing, what park, what band/mode, and your weather forecast. After the weekend, come back and tell us how it went.#POTA #ParksOnTheAir #SupportYourParks #AmateurRadio #HamRadio #WinterCamping #FT8 #CW #SSB #60m*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Unlock the secrets to crystal-clear audio on portable HF operations in this hands-on live stream. Whether you’re a new activator, a portable contesting enthusiast, or someone asking “why does my audio sound bad?”, we break down what makes good audio in the field: clean transmit versus loud transmit, why microphone choice matters more than power, proper gain staging, and why DSP isn’t a magic fix. We’ll cover how antennas and grounding still influence voice quality, the realities of crowded bands and weak signals, and practical tips to avoid common pitfalls during POTA and SOTA activations. Expect a practical, radio-by-radio deep dive into how to get studio-quality audio in the field, with live walkthroughs, setup tips, and field-tested techniques you can implement right away.In this engaging, actionable stream, you’ll get a side-by-side look at popular rigs (IC-705, FT-891, Xiegu G90), plus a thorough mic and accessory guide, wind-noise mitigation, and real-world troubleshooting. We’ll explore mic choices (stock vs aftermarket), field-usable headsets, windscreens, placement, external speakers vs headphones, and how to log while monitoring audio. Don’t miss the live Q&A with listener feedback, where you can ask “Does my audio sound okay?” and receive practical guidance. Tune in for the best radio setup guidance for beginners, audio perfectionists, and budget activators alike, plus a teaser for the next livestream and a call to action to subscribe, like, and share with fellow operators.Grab a brew 🍺, grab a radio 📡, and let’s make smarter activations.*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop

Calling CQ and getting nothing back? It might not be your radio—it might be the sky.In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down ham radio propagation in plain English and explain MUF and LUF like you’re five years old. No math, no confusing charts—just practical tips POTA activators can use before heading out to the park. We’ll cover: • What MUF and LUF actually mean (simple explanations) • How propagation affects band choices for POTA • Easy tools to check propagation before an activation • A one-page propagation checklist for activators • A simple band decision flowchart that actually works in the field • Why 20m tells the truth and 40m saves activations. If you’re into Parks on the Air (POTA), portable HF, field activations, or want to stop guessing which band to use, this livestream is for you. Grab a brew 🍺, grab a radio 📡, and let’s make smarter activations. ************************************************************* Welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m genuinely thrilled to have you with me every Friday morning as we embark on exciting conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and related topics. Together, we will explore everything from gear and antennas to setups, including those aspects that might initially seem less thrilling! Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Guests/Hosts: Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

In this live stream, we dive into real-world park activations that didn’t go as planned and walk through practical fixes you can apply on your next POTA outing. We cover gear missteps, propagation surprises, logging glitches, and crowd-friendly setups, with actionable checklists and quick-build tips. If you’ve ever faced weak signals, dead batteries, or chaotic logs, this stream is for you.What you’ll learn:A repeatable Failure-to-Fix framework (Readiness, Radio, Reach, Records, Recovery)Real-case scenarios with concrete remediesPre-activation, on-site, and post-activation best practicesHow to build robust, low-stress park activations that engage hams and passersby alike*************************************************************Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.comSpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.comSHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvBrew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-listGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

We’re going live with a special guest: Perry, W1GRD — the mastermind behind https://pota.news. If you’ve ever wondered, “Where did that park story come from?” or “How did I miss that activation?”… this one’s for you. We’ll dig into what POTA News actually does, the coolest features on the site, what’s new, what’s coming next, and how you can use it to stay in the loop without doom-scrolling (unless you count scrolling spots). Expect:⦁ A guided tour of POTA.News and its best features ⦁ Tips for activators & hunters to keep up with the chaos ⦁ Live Q&A — bring your questions, hot takes, and park feedback Grab your beverage of choice, warm up your VFO fingers, and join us live — because this is the only news segment where “breaking” usually means breaking the pileup.Welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m genuinely thrilled to have you with me every Friday morning as we embark on exciting conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and related topics. Together, we will explore everything from gear and antennas to setups, including those aspects that might initially seem less thrilling! Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Guests/Hosts: Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR Shop: https://livefreeandham.com/shopFollow me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Join me as I dive into low-profile, RF-only self-spotting techniques you can use from the field when you have zero data or cell service. We’ll walk through hands-on demonstrations of several practical methods, including: Winlink over HF to post a spot via POTAGW, so your activation shows up on the POTA Spots page without internet access APRS/AX.25 packet spotting with i-gate or APSPOT gateways, and how to format your message for automatic posting CW-based spotting with the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) and how to craft a CQ that carries your park reference FT8/SOTAmat-style digimode tricks for off-grid spots, and how they feed through to online dashboards Quick, lightweight coordination through local nets or club feeds that can submit your spot for you. Backup options for extremely quiet conditions, including traditional on-air announcements and selective bridging Real-time setup tips for each method, including the exact formats, typical turnaround times, and where to watch the posts come through Pros, cons, and best-use scenarios (e.g., best option when you’re completely off-grid vs. when you have a marginal data link) How to minimize bandwidth and keep your operation discreet yet highly visible to fellow hams Safety and best practices: share park name and code publicly, avoid precise home coordinates, and respect band plans By the end, you’ll have a compact toolkit for “quiet” but effective self-spotting that still makes your POTA activation easy to find and chase—without relying on your phone’s data connection. Welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m genuinely thrilled to have you with me every Friday morning as we embark on exciting conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and related topics. Together, we will explore everything from gear and antennas to setups, including those aspects that might initially seem less thrilling!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Guests/Hosts: Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

We'll dive into the most frequently asked POTA questions when activating for the first time with the hope to help you get more proficient in your Activations. Your a Hunter you say? We'll we got you covered too!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Come join in on the discussion over on our Discord Channel on Live Free and Ham: https://discord.gg/zwg9mWyHmY Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

We get into the details and discussion about why you'd want to bring a wire out instead of a vertical when activating or maybe you're the type who prefers the challenge of a loop. I'll get into that and other antenna details this week. Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

I’m excited to kick off this week’s discussion on a pressing issue: navigating the challenges posed by operators who occasionally take their role a bit too far in their quest to assert themselves as the "king of the park." Perhaps you've encountered a few of these so-called "lawbreakers," individuals whose disregard for the rules has left you feeling frustrated and yearning for justice to intervene and restore order. Although we will keep all real names and callsigns confidential, we will shine a light on the actions that have raised eyebrows and sparked concern. Remember, our vigilant community is watching closely!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

This week, we're embarking on a fascinating exploration of a topic that resonates with many of us: batteries. As outdoor activities continue to surge in popularity, the significance of reliable power sources has never been more pronounced. We’ll delve into the essential batteries used in portable applications, guide you through the process of building your own, and showcase some of the top-performing batteries that are perfect for your adventures in the field. Get ready to power up your outdoor experiences like never before!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Call me tacky and old-fashioned, but I love "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." This week, while Cameron debates the merits of getting in his car and driving, we're going to discuss "POTA Roves." I've invited Shannon (K1LY) and Shaun (AA4AT) to share their experiences with roves and to explain why you might want to try one yourself.Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Hey everyone! This week, we're going to dive into the fun world of logging. I’ll be sharing some awesome features of popular apps like POLO and HAMRS, and we’ll compare some of the best logging tools used in POTA today. I’ll also chat about why I prefer one app over another when I’m out in the field.So grab your favorite cup of coffee, and let’s get ready to log some great adventures together! Can’t wait to see you there!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

This week, I'm thrilled to dive into an electrifying concept that could elevate the world of POTA and take it to the next level—imagine blending the excitement of Head to Head (H2H) Gaming with E-Sports! We've seen some innovative moves in the contesting realm, like those short "sprints" that allow players to engage in mini-games and build a live leaderboard, updating scores in real-time. What if we brought that energy to POTA? Picture this: you’re out activating, and with just a click on the POTA.APP page, you can challenge another activator to an exhilarating 1v1 showdown! How about seeing who can rack up the most contacts in just 30 minutes? Or even battle it out for the title of the furthest contact? These thrilling events could add a dynamic new layer to POTA, enhancing both our education and experience with the gear we love.I can't wait to discuss this further on the next Brew and Activate! Stay tuned for all the exciting detailsAffiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Hey there! Welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m excited to have you join me every Sunday morning for some engaging conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and much more. We’ll dive into all the details, including gear, antennas, setups, and even some of the less exciting topics.So grab your favorite morning coffee, settle in, and let’s explore the wonderful world of POTA together on Brew & Activate! I can't wait to see you there!This week, POTA is ruining ham radio! While it might not be literally "killing" it, it sure is a lot of fun. I just came off the weekend of the 24-hour POTA event, and I’m absolutely amazed by all the great experiences we had while activating a park. I want to discuss how POTA has opened up new opportunities, both in the hobby and in sharing it with the people I encounter.Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Hey there! Welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m excited to have you join me every Sunday morning for some engaging conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and much more. We’ll dive into all the details, including gear, antennas, setups, and even some of the less exciting topics.So grab your favorite morning coffee, settle in, and let’s explore the wonderful world of POTA together on Brew & Activate! I can't wait to see you there!Thank you all for your understanding and support of the channel! As we now have a new home on Friday Mornings at 10 am EST. And this new live stream launch is going to be amazing! We hope you can all be part of the relaunch of Brew and Activate at NEARFest on Friday! Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Hey there! Welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m excited to have you join me every Sunday morning for some engaging conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and much more. We’ll dive into all the details, including gear, antennas, setups, and even some of the less exciting topics.So grab your favorite morning coffee, settle in, and let’s explore the wonderful world of POTA together on Brew & Activate! I can't wait to see you there!This week, we’re excited to explore the often-overlooked US-TEST Park! It's an incredible resource for both new and experienced activators to enhance their skills. I’ve personally used US-TEST many times from the comfort of my QTH, discovering new antennas, setups, and radio tweaks—all while enjoying POTA. Join us to uncover some fantastic reasons why integrating US-TEST into your routine will make your future activations even more successful. Let’s embark on this journey together!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

The fall season is still with us, but winter is looming just around the corner. In this discussion, we will explore what our POTA kits should look like for winter activations. We hope to provide you with some tips and tricks to help you continue activating during the cold winter months.Hey there! Welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m excited to have you join me every Friday morning for some engaging conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and much more. We’ll dive into all the details, including gear, antennas, setups, and even some of the less exciting topics.So grab your favorite morning coffee, settle in, and let’s explore the wonderful world of POTA together on Brew & Activate! I can't wait to see you there!Thank you all for understanding and supporting the channel! As we now have a new home on Friday Mornings at 10am EST. Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Hello and welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m genuinely thrilled to have you with me every Friday morning as we embark on exciting conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and a variety of related topics. Together, we will explore everything from gear and antennas to setups, including those aspects that might initially seem less thrilling!This week I am super excited to get into the world of POTA on the High bands! I’m delighted to announce that Mike N2MAK will join us to share his wealth of experience in VHF/UHF Activation. He’ll offer insights and recommend budget-friendly, entry-level setups that can kickstart your contact-making journey!Trust me, you won't want to miss this enlightening episode. I can’t wait to see you there!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

This week, we’re excited to dive into a fascinating topic from one of our listeners: Late Shift vs. Early Shift! We’ll uncover what they are, reasons to choose each, and the unique benefits they bring to your lifestyle!Hello and welcome to Brew & Activate! I’m genuinely thrilled to have you with me every Friday morning as we embark on exciting conversations about Parks on the Air (POTA) and a variety of related topics. Together, we will explore everything from gear and antennas to setups, including those aspects that might initially seem less thrilling!Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/Discord link to Brew and Activate: https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVvGuests/Hosts:Shannons Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1ohtHelp Support the Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JURBuy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jurN1JUR Shop: https://www.n1jur.com/store Follow me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jurFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527