I went into Ham Camp hoping to introduce kids to amateur radio. I came out of it more excited about the hobby myself. Sometimes giving back is the best way to remember why we got into ham radio in the first place.

Think about what amateur radio looks like today.

Radios on picnic tables.

Antennas hanging from trees.

Backpacks on mountains.

People standing in fields pointing Yagis at satellites.

POTA, SOTA, satellites, Tiles on the Air, and portable operating are changing where we play radio.

And I think that's a very good thing.

But operating outside also teaches you some lessons the shack never will. Battery problems, forgotten adapters, wind, weather, and the realization that maybe you didn't need to pack three antennas for a 30-minute activation.

In the latest Field Notes, I'm looking at why ham radio is moving outdoors—and a few things I've learned from taking my station into the field.

We need to talk about SWR.

Again.

After spending three Brew & Activate episodes going down the antenna rabbit hole, I keep coming back to the same problem.

Hams are obsessed with getting an antenna to 1:1.

But a dummy load has great SWR too.

So what actually makes an antenna work?

Efficiency. Height. Radiation pattern. Takeoff angle. Feedline loss. Installation.

And yes… SWR still matters.

It just isn't the final score.

In the latest Field Notes, I'm tying together our Brew & Activate antenna series and looking at why it might be time to stop chasing the perfect SWR number.

Almost every ham has one.

A Baofeng, Quansheng, Tidradio, Radioddity, or some other small handheld that cost less than the accessories attached to it.

We make fun of the menus.

The new Technician question pool is now in use. New questions were added. Old ones were removed. Plenty were rewritten. But changing the test raises a larger question:

Are we giving new operators the foundation they need to actually grow in the hobby?

The OLIGHT Oclip Pro combines a floodlight, spotlight, red light, magnetic mount, and clip in one compact package. I tested it around the shack and beside an active receiver to see whether it deserved a permanent place in my POTA bag.

Our amateur radio bands have value. Commercial communications are growing. Satellite systems are growing. Wireless technology keeps expanding. And everyone needs spectrum. Does that mean someone is taking away 20 meters tomorrow?

The Xiegu G7250 looks promising, but a large screen, 100 watts, and an Ethernet connection do not tell the complete story.

Here is a level-headed examination of what has been confirmed, what the specifications suggest, and what still needs to be proven.

In today’s digital age, online clubs are becoming increasingly popular. These virtual gatherings allow you to connect with hams from different countries without leaving your home. You can participate in discussions, share tips, and even engage in contests—all from the comfort of your couch! Online clubs often have forums, chat rooms, or even live video meetings, making it easy to forge friendships and share knowledge with fellow enthusiasts.