Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio
by Kevin Thomas
Experience amateur radio on the go with the Q5 Ham Radio Podcast. Each episode delivers insightful conversations and stories from the amateur radio community, catering to both seasoned operators and newcomers.The Q5 Ham Radio Podcast keeps you connected to the world of amateur radio wherever you are.
Episodes
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CQ WW SSB 2026: Contest Crew Goes Multi-Single
The CQ Worldwide SSB Contest produced big scores, difficult propagation, unexpected equipment failures, and some unforgettable stories. But the scoreboard tells only part of what happened. I'm joined by the Q5 Contest Crew: Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring...
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Top 10 Tools Every Beginning DXer Needs | NA9P at W9DXCC
Jeff Bolling NA9P delivered one of the most interesting presentations I heard at this year's W9DXCC convention: Top 10 Tools the Beginning DXer Shouldn't Be Without. We're doing something a little different on Q5 this week. Jeff joins me to reprise his W9DXCC presentation in its entirety…
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Inside ES9C: Building a European Contest Powerhouse
Tonno ES5TV is the builder and owner of ES9C, one of Europe’s most formidable contest stations. He started in Estonia at age 13, influenced by his father, operating a 40-watt homemade Soviet radio into a Delta loop strung between apartment buildings. Today, ES9C operates from his family’s old...
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18 Days on Christmas Island: The VK9XY DXpedition
I'm joined by Max Freedman N4ML and Gregg Marco W6IZT to talk about VK9XY, an unusually ambitious DXpedition to Christmas Island—and one designed to put the next generation of serious operators in charge. Max is leading a 12-person team with 10 operators under the age of 26, representing six...
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The Unlikely Path to a WRTC Gold Medal: Uli DM5EE
Uli Ann DM5EE is a WRTC 2026 gold medal winner whose path to the top of radiosport was anything but conventional. For decades, Uli was primarily a low-power operator—working with wires, verticals, borrowed stations, and whatever opportunities came his way. He discovered contesting not because he...
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WRTC 2022 Rescored: Contest Crew Breaks It Down
I'm joined by Chris KL9A and Randy K5ZD to break down the WRTC 2022 rescoring, what changed in the final results, and what it could mean for WRTC judging going forward. A new review of the Italy logs resulted in two teams being disqualified after investigators found evidence of pirate multipliers...
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WRTC 2026: The European Perspective
I'm joined by Filipe CT1ILT, Dave 9A1UN, and Kris ES7A, all WRTC 2026 competitors, for a European perspective on the controversy surrounding four team disqualifications—and what it means for the future of elite contesting. Filipe, whose team moved from seventh to fourth after the…
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E77DX & DJ4MX: Speaking Out After Their WRTC 2026 Disqualification
Braco Memic E77DX and Sven Lovric DJ4MX speak publicly about their disqualification from WRTC 2026. They apologize, accept responsibility for arranging to have their starting frequencies held before the contest, and agree that the Judging Committee made the correct decision in disqualifying them....
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From Malawi to Tokyo: Ham Radio Is Opening New Doors
Amateur radio took two operators from Malawi halfway around the world—and what they bring home from Tokyo may matter even more than the trip itself. I'm joined by Urgent Jere 7Q6UJ and Elayi Banda 7Q7EB as they prepare to leave Tokyo after attending the Tokyo Ham Fair and events surrounding the...
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W4DXCC Is Back: What’s Coming to Pigeon Forge September 19th
One of the Southeast’s longtime gatherings for DXers and contesters is returning to Pigeon Forge—and W4DXCC has some new ideas for its comeback. Jay Slough K4ZLE previews the return of the W4DXCC DX & Contest Convention on September 19 at the LeConte Hotel in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. After a...
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The Ham Widows Ball Started With $100—and You’re Not Invited
There’s a side of the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) that has nothing to do with radios, antennas, multipliers, or scores—and Bill Vinci believes it can make ham radio stronger. Bill Vinci is the husband of noted contester and WRTC judge Rusty Epps W6OAT, and for years Bill has watched...
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Oceania DX Contest: When and Where to Point Your Beam
The Oceania DX Contest gives operators worldwide a reason to turn their antennas toward a part of the world that can be surprisingly easy to overlook. Grant VK5GR and Holger ZL3IO are experienced contesters and members of the community behind the Oceania DX Contest, an event whose history reaches...
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WRTC 2026 Rescored: What Happened and What’s Next
WRTC 2026 ended with one podium. Weeks later, an investigation produced another. The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) brings together many of the world’s top contest operators to compete from comparable stations under a common set of rules. I'm joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris…
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The Next POTA.app Is Live for Your Test Drive: What Comes Next
The Beta Version of the Next.POTA.app is live, bringing new tools for operators and a faster development model for what comes next. Thom Martin W8TAM is a member of the Parks on the Air board and part of the technology team working on the "Next" POTA system. He joins me as Next.POTA.app becomes...
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Get Ready! NAQP SSB: Contest Manager N6MJ
Dan Craig N6MJ is one of world's top contesters—and now the new contest manager for the North American QSO Party SSB contest. It’s a fitting assignment: NAQP was the first major contest Dan ever won, back in 1997 when he was just 16 years old, operating from his dad’s house and discovering that...
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How Two Young Contesters Beat the Odds at WRTC 2026
Finishing near the top at WRTC takes far more than fast operating. It demands preparation, teamwork, logistics, and thousands of decisions made under pressure. Connor Black W4IPC and Kees Van Oosbree W0AAE join me after their outstanding performance at WRTC 2026, where they captured the Youth...
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Life After WRTC: Next Steps for the Contest Crew
WRTC may be over, but for serious contesters, the work that determines the next season is already underway. I'm joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN for another Q5 Contest Crew roundtable, starting with the still-unresolved WRTC results and moving quickly into…
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Inside YOTA 2026: How 95 Young Hams Build, Learn, and Operate
What does the future of amateur radio actually look like? At YOTA Summer Camp 2026 in Austria, it's already on the air. Florian "Flo" Zwingl OE3FTA and Emir "Braco" Memic E77DX take us behind the scenes of one of the largest international youth amateur radio events in the world. Nearly 100 young...
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State of POTA 2026 | Co-Founder Thom W8TAM on AI and What's Next
Parks on the Air has grown into one of amateur radio's biggest success stories. So what's next? Thom Martin W8TAM, co-founder of Parks on the Air and a current member of the POTA Board of Directors, joins me for a candid conversation about the organization's next chapter. We discuss POTA's...
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Inside Germany's Silver Medal WRTC Strategy: DJ5MW and DM5EE
What separates a podium finish from the rest of the field at WRTC? Success is always grounded in raw operating skill, but it's also built on hundreds of small decisions made before and during the contest. Manfred Wolf DJ5MW and Uli Ann DM5EE joined me after earning second place at WRTC 2026 in...
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What Really Decided WRTC 2026? Contest Crew EU Explains
The scores are final, but the real lessons from WRTC 2026 are only beginning. I'm joined by Emir "Braco" Memic E77DX, Sven Lovric DJ4MX, Kris Kass ES7A, Dave Kucelin 9A1UN, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, and Mike Larsmark SJ2W just days after WRTC 2026 to break down one of the closest and most competitive...
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What WRTC 2026 Taught the World's Best Contesters | Contest Crew
What really separates the winners from everyone else at the World Radiosport Team Championship? One week after WRTC 2026, Contest Crew North America sits down for an honest look at the contest, the strategy, and the moments that made the difference. I'm joined by Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig…
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What to Expect at the 2026 Cincinnati Hamfest
The Cincinnati Hamfest has become much more than a flea market—it's a gathering built around learning, friendships, and the future of amateur radio. Ron Brooks, AC8MA joins Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio to preview the 2026 Cincinnati Hamfest, which also serves as this year's ARRL Great Lakes Division...
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One Week to WRTC: Strategy, Gear and Last-Minute Prep
The world's best contesters are almost on the air, and this is what the final days before WRTC really look like. Just days before WRTC 2026 begins, I'm joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and special guest Tim Duffy K3LR for one last conversation...
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Inside WRTC 2026: What It Took to Pull Off Ham Radio's Biggest Event
The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC 2026) was far more than a 24-hour contest. It was three years of planning that culminated in one of amateur radio's most ambitious international events. Mark Haynes M0DXR, WRTC 2026 Chairman, joins Q5 just days after the closing ceremonies to reflect…
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Inside WRTC: Contest Crew North America vs Europe
Contest Crew North America and Contest Crew Europe come together for a rare cross-Atlantic conversation just days before the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC). Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, and Braco Memic E77DX pull back the curtain on the final scramble...
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How Top Contesters Prepare for WRTC (Q5 Clip)
How do the world's top contesters prepare for the biggest competition in amateur radio? Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Tim Duffy K3LR discuss the preparation, strategy, and mindset behind competing at the World Radiosport Team Championship. From...
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The World's Best Contesters Have One Request: Spot Everyone
WRTC is designed to put the world's best contest operators on equal footing, with identical stations, antennas, and operating conditions. But fairness doesn't stop at the station boundary. In this special WRTC 2026 clip, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Bill Fehring W9KKN, Dan Craig N6MJ, Chris Hurlbut KL9A,...
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Why WRTC Is Ham Radio's Ultimate Equalizer
WRTC was created to remove the biggest variable in contesting: the station. What happens when the world's best operators compete with equal stations, equal power, and equal opportunities? I'm joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and special guest...
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Three Young Hams Preparing for South Georgia VP0SG
I'm joined by Violetta Latham KN2P, Leon Hellmich DL3ON, and Megan Lorenz EI5LA, the youth members of the VP0SG South Georgia DXpedition team, as they gather in Norway for a full-scale shakedown of one of amateur radio's most ambitious upcoming operations. From assembling tents and antennas to...
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First Public Look at the WRTC 2026 Live ScoreboardL
James Cribbs N0WRL is the founder and CEO of World Radio League, and in this special episode he unveils—publicly for the first time—the live scoring platform being developed in collaboration with the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026. With WRTC now just weeks away in England this…
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Meet the Parks on the Air Board: Tom N4MTE
Tom Suggs N4MTE is a longtime amateur radio operator, Parks on the Air board member, and one of the program’s dedicated activators. His journey into radio began as a teenager inspired by an uncle’s ham radio station, where a simple contact with Norway sparked a lifelong fascination with…
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Contest Crew Europe: WPX Results and WRTC Prep
Contest Crew Europe returns with a post-WPX debrief and a look ahead to WRTC 2026. I'm joined by Kris Kass ES7A, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, Braco Memic E77DX, Sven Lovric DJ4MX, and Dave Kucelin 9A1UN as they unpack CQ WPX CW from a European perspective. At the center of the discussion is ES5TV’s...
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REZ Recon 40 II Founders Edition | Mike W5REZ Explains the Story
Mike Giannaccio W5REZ is the owner of REZ Antenna Systems and the driving force behind a unique project marking America’s 250th birthday. In this conversation, Mike shares the story behind a limited-edition run of commemorative Recon 40 II antennas—just five in total—created to honor the nation’s...
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CQ WPX CW Starts Friday: Contest Crew Strategy
The Contest Crew is back. Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Chris Hurlbut KL9A join Kevin Thomas W1DED for another deep dive into the biggest stories in competitive ham radio—from Dayton Hamvention and CQ WPX CW to the mounting pressure surrounding WRTC 2026. Fresh off…
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Contest Crew Debriefs CQ WPX CW
The Contest Crew is back following the recent CQ WPX CW weekend, with a look inside their individual efforts, a glimpse at the inevitable Murphy moments, and their usual humorous take on the world of serious contesting. Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring…
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Inside the CQ WPX Log Checking Process with the Q5 Contest Crew
I’m joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN for a Contest Crew conversation that starts with one of the most humbling experiences in amateur radio: opening your CQ WPX log checking report. Note: this episode was recorded before Dayton Hamvention 2026, and another...
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Parks on the Air Skills: Contest with K1RX (Episode 7 of 7)
Mark Pride K1RX is a seasoned contester who sees Parks on the Air and contesting as two sides of the same coin, sharing skills, instincts, and a natural path between them. In this final episode of the contesting fundamentals series, Mark makes the case that many POTA operators are already doing...
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W1DED on Leadership and POTA’s Future: Interview by N8JRD
Kevin Thomas W1DED is one of the newest board members guiding Parks on the Air through its next chapter — but his connection to ham radio stretches back nearly 50 years. Licensed as a teenager in 1977, Kevin grew up around Heathkit gear built by his father, WA1YOA, before life, career, and…
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Has Ham Radio Lost Its Soul? VK9DX Has Thoughts
Nick Hacko VK9DX is one of ham radio’s most colorful voices, an elite contester, watchmaker, refugee-turned-builder, and unapologetically opinionated character who somehow manages to be equal parts philosopher and entertainer. Broadcasting from Norfolk Island, a tiny speck in the South Pacific…
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The Story Behind POTA with Mike Case W8MSC
Mike Case W8MSC is one of the key figures behind Parks on the Air, helping transform a one-year, ARRL-sponsored park activation event into a lasting global program. Mike’s path into ham radio started later than most. Licensed in 2014 after a chance encounter reignited his technical curiosity, he...
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From Carrier Decks to Contest Runs: K2GO’s Second Act
Tom Morton K2GO is a Navy fighter pilot turned airline captain turned global aviation mentor—and through it all, a relentless ham radio operator who always found time to get on the air and meet new friends. In Part II, Tom’s story widens from cockpit to command. He rises from top-of-class Navy...
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Becoming the DX at J62K | CQ WPX SSB
Seth Jones NU1D is a young contester who just got a front-row seat to big-league contesting, operating from J62K in St. Lucia during CQ WPX SSB, and discovering that the view is only half the story. It was also his first trip outside the United States, which adds a layer of awe you can’t fake.…
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Built to Win, His Way: Ron WV4P’s NJ4P Contest Station
Ron Koenig WV4P is the guy they told “that won’t work.” He built it anyway and started winning. Licensed during Field Day 2017 because he was “bored,” Ron followed his competitive instincts straight into contesting. Alongside his wife Trina NR4L, that drive quickly escalated from wire antennas to…
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Multi-Op Mastery: Contest with K1RX (Episode 6 of 7)
Mark Pride K1RX is a veteran contester who makes the case that your biggest leap in ham radio might not come from upgrading your station, but from joining someone else’s. In part six of this contesting fundamentals series, Mark shifts the focus from gear to people. For operators constrained by...
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The New Breed of Contesters: Remote, Young, Relentless
Nick Hauser, KT0W, is a young contester proving that the future of ham radio isn’t just alive—it’s remote, hybrid, and remarkably competitive. Licensed in 2016 alongside his father, Nick’s early spark came from National Parks on the Air, where rapid-fire pileups introduced him to rate and rhythm....
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Inside Hamvention 2026: What to Expect | Q5 Briefing
Michael Kalter W8CI is the voice and steady hand behind the Dayton Hamvention, serving on its executive committee and as official spokesperson while also helping lead the Dayton Amateur Radio Association. What he describes is not just a convention, it is a phenomenon. With attendance pushing past...
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Skill Development: Contest with K1RX (Episode 5 of 7)
Mark Pride K1RX is a veteran contester who believes the real upgrade isn’t your station—it’s you. In part five of this contesting fundamentals series, Mark shifts the focus away from gear and toward operating skill—the subtle, often overlooked craft that separates competent operators from great...
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Ontario QSO Party: What Matters This Year | Q5 Briefing
Larry Langs VE3LRL is helping lead one of Canada’s longest-running on-air events, the Ontario QSO Party, and this year he’s focused on a simple goal: get more operators on the air and keep them active. Now in its 29th year, the Ontario QSO Party returns the third weekend of April, with activity...
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Looking Ahead to Dayton Hamvention: Tim Duffy K3LR
Tim Duffy K3LR is the CEO of DX Engineering and one of the central architects behind contesting’s biggest gatherings, from Contest University to the legendary Contest Dinner at Dayton. In this conversation, Tim lays out the sheer scale and evolution of Contest University, now in its 17th year…
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About this show
Experience amateur radio on the go with the Q5 Ham Radio Podcast. Each episode delivers insightful conversations and stories from the amateur radio community, catering to both seasoned operators and newcomers.The Q5 Ham Radio Podcast keeps you connected to the world of amateur radio wherever you are.
Hosted by
Kevin Thomas
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