Welcome to
My QSO Journey
Call Sign: KZ7K | Location: Maricopa, Arizona
After 10 years of playing radio in a grey area and procrastinating on getting licensed, December 15, 2025 I finally attempted and passed my Technician exam and initially that was the only thing I wanted But 3 days later I passed my General and on January 27, 2026 I passed my Amateur Extra.
Today I spend my time chasing DX contacts, operating portable from remote locations, working DX stations on FT8, and training for emergency communications situations.
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Every guide on this site ties back to one of these roadmaps. Jump to the one that matches where you’re at.
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Fresh off the bench
Latest From The Blog
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Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. CERT and ARES get confused for each other constantly, and while they are separate programs with different scopes, they overlap enough that many hams find real value in doing both. What CERT Actually Is Community Emergency Response Team training is a FEMA-backed program that teaches civilians basic disaster…
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Part of our Clubs and Nets guide. A lot of ham radio clubs struggle with attendance not because interest in the hobby has dried up, but because the meetings themselves have become something members quietly dread rather than look forward to. Respect People’s Time Start on time, end on time, and have a real agenda…
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Part of our Getting On The Air guide. You do not need a radio with a built-in TNC to get onto APRS. A collection of solid phone apps lets you track, message, and monitor the APRS network directly from a device you already carry everywhere. How Phone-Based APRS Actually Works Most APRS phone apps connect…
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Part of our Building Your First Ham Radio Station guide. Modern shacks lean on software for logging, digital modes, CAT control, and often remote operation, which means a dead computer can take your entire station offline just as effectively as a dead radio, and most hams have a backup plan for the radio but not…
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Part of our Getting On The Air guide. Years of logged contacts represent real, often irreplaceable data, especially confirmed contacts working toward awards like WAS or DXCC, and a single hard drive failure without a backup can wipe out a decade of logging in an instant. Why This Gets Overlooked Logging software like Ham Radio…
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Part of our Building Your First Ham Radio Station guide. Installing a dual-band mobile follows the same basic principles as any mobile radio install, and getting the fundamentals right the first time saves you from chasing mystery problems down the road. Power: Straight to the Battery Run power leads directly to the battery rather than…
Clearing the shack
Gear I’m Selling
I periodically clear out gear I’m not using anymore. Take a look at what’s currently up for grabs.
Ready to test?
Get Licensed, Online
I’m a licensed Volunteer Examiner and run online exam sessions using ExamTools and HamStudy, no folding table or community center required. Whether you’re going for your Technician or upgrading to Extra, I’ll help you find a session and walk you through what to bring.