Ham Radio Is More Interesting Once You Start Doing Things
Field Notes is where I document what I learn along the way—portable operating, antennas, gear, projects, activations and the ideas that need a little more room than a video description.
Fresh From the Logbook
The newest article from N1JUR Field Notes.
Where Do You Want to Go Next?
Field Notes is only part of the story. Dig deeper into getting on the air, taking radio outside, or figuring out which gear actually earns a place in the setup.
Getting Started
A practical path from wondering where to begin to actually getting on the air.
Start Here →
Activations
POTA, SOTA, Tiles and the lessons that come from actually operating away from the shack.
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Gear
The radios, antennas and setups I use, test and keep bringing back into the field.
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Dig Into the Field Notes
Browse the complete collection of articles, projects, experiments, lessons and occasional RF rabbit holes.
Why Most Portable Setups Fail Before You Even Key Up
The operator who gets on the air quickly almost always ends up having more fun than the operator building a NASA ground station in the parking lot.
Overpacking Kills Motivation
This is the part people don’t talk about enough.
Heavy setups slowly make you not want to activate.
Don't worry. I'm not starting another argument about whether FT8 is "real radio." We've done that.