@kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social
I’m on a mission to inspire and educate the amateur radio community. Licensed since 1999. Video producer and online content creator. I love camping, bicycling, Parks on the Air, and the ham radio lifestyle. #HamRadio #POTA #Video #Photography #Cooking
The CentyLab PocketPD is a USB Type-C bench power supply that fits inside your pocket and is perfect for ham radio applications. Paired with a USB Type-C PD/PPS charger or power bank, it is a full-featured power supply that can provide up to 20 volts and 5 amps. youtu.be/NnTKe5HLURE
29.10.2025 20:59 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
This week on the Activation Log, I share some background about my recent multi park POTA rove of Wisconsin's Menominee River and talk about how I go about planning these types of activities. Read now: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/10/24/m...
24.10.2025 12:32 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
I explore three hidden gems in this POTA rove through the Menominee River State Recreation Area, some of the most scenic, and under-appreciated, parts of Wisconsin's landscape ~KB9VBR youtu.be/A-fckQkImBc
22.10.2025 22:06 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Chameleon Antenna ups the performance of ground wire radials with their new product, the CHA FSR or Faraday Strip Radial system. This is a rugged ground counterpoise system improves on the convenience of faraday cloth and the effectiveness of wire radials. youtu.be/oMnQppoFhoE
15.10.2025 21:13 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
When we do events like the Ham Radio Campout, I often get asked on how to mitigate interference caused by other stations. In this week's Activation Log, I list my three step plan for peaceful multi-operator ham radio: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/10/10/w...
10.10.2025 13:00 — 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Season 14 of my channel kicks off with the 2025 Wisconsin Ham Radio Campout. Our 3rd annual event at Buckhorn State Park, US-1443, is the biggest and best yet, and probably the largest in-person POTA event in the state of Wisconsin. See what happened this year. youtu.be/Rs0q-J6CPi4
08.10.2025 21:38 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
In our finale, season 14 starts next week, Dave and I head to Lake Wissota State Park, US-1460, for a multi-operator activation as part of the Wisconsin Parks on the Air event. Can we sustain over 100 contacts an hour for the seven hour event? youtu.be/lKSfuzPmKlo
01.10.2025 21:11 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Big things are happening with the Ham Radio Outdoors Channel! Learn how you can be a part of it. youtu.be/m8A49Ucde-c
26.09.2025 22:22 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Which is right for you: Straight Key or Paddle? The Xiegu VK-5 straight Key and VK-6 paddle are two new products from Radioddity for CW operators. These keys are beautiful, functional, and a perfect companion for your G90, X6100, and X6200 transceiver. youtu.be/vXoiASq4f_o
24.09.2025 21:46 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Be sure to save your receipt.
24.09.2025 18:40 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Save Big Money at Menards!
#hamradio #baofeng
It’s a really solid antenna. I like to use it for these events and contests because I know I’ll put out a strong signal.
21.09.2025 01:37 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0I had the KJ6ER PERformer antenna up. Dave was on a wire dipole, so I stayed vertical to minimize interference
20.09.2025 23:39 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Wisconsin Parks on the Air is on! Catch Dave KZ9V and I at US-1460 Lake Wissota State Park. We’ll be on the air until 2300 utc. Using callsign W9P. Michael ~KB9VBR
20.09.2025 16:23 — 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0
The Chameleon Antenna CHA M25 Loading Coil unleashes the full capability of your SS25 25 foot telescoping whip on the ham radio 40 meter band by allowing you to fully extend the whip for 40 meter contacts. See how the M25 Coil works here: youtu.be/McsKxX-nHkM
17.09.2025 21:05 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Still image of Michael from a video clip, over his shoulder is a blurry image of a deer that caught in the frame.
Working on this week's video, what do I see? Urban deer photobombing the frame.
15.09.2025 23:51 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
We spend a long weekend at Wildcat Mountain State Park, a premier Wisconsin camping destination! I also put three antennas on the air, making incredible ham radio contacts. Which will be the best? The POTA PERformer, Challenger, or Rybakov? youtu.be/bagq00z7mhs
#Hamradio #POTA
Dave, KZ9V, joins me to show off an entire ham radio portable station he keeps in a small cigar box. youtu.be/eNIvf89TSf4
03.09.2025 21:27 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Coffee and 40m FT8 this morning.
31.08.2025 13:52 — 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Earlier this year, while at Hamvention, I picked up the Alpha Antenna SS34+ 34 foot stainless steel whip. This is the longest telescoping antenna on the market! Find out what happens when I put a full 1/4 wave vertical radiator for the 40 meter band on the air. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/0fA1qSpfegA
20.08.2025 20:57 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
A frequent question I get is "What's the best antenna for portable operation?" I scoured my notes and logs and analyzed countless photographs and videos of over 150 POTA activations I did in the last year, and came up with FIVE favorite antennas for Parks on the Air. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/Nz10os_lkCQ
13.08.2025 21:02 — 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Beat the dog days of summer, join Joe and I for another evening of Your Ham Radio Questions Answered. Thursday August 7 at 7:00pm CDT (0000 UTC 8 August). We've got some great topics and as always, we're ready to answer your ham radio questions. youtube.com/live/nk_Nsvl...
07.08.2025 13:42 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Dipoles are great for mediocre band conditions and the Chameleon Antenna's LEFS 4010 sports a unique feature: an extra feed point to connect a set of dipole wires. Expand the versatility of this end-fed antenna with the CHA LINK-D and CHA LINK-D15 link dipole accessories. youtu.be/MbUhC-UhGys
06.08.2025 21:24 — 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
I take on the elements for a POTA rove in southwestern Wisconsin. Three parks and three different antennas, will one be a hit or will the rain wash me out? ~KB9VBR youtu.be/iOXEgMgrFZI
30.07.2025 21:00 — 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Can we make the Radioddity HF-009 vertical antenna better by elevating it? Mashing up the Radioddity vertical with a Rez Antenna Scout Base for an elevated vertical antenna delivers some surprising results. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/RIcUUYIexJw
23.07.2025 21:27 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The Chameleon AZ-2, is a very capable three band 40, 30, and 20 meter link dipole antenna. Perfect for portable operations like POTA and SOTA, the AZ-2 combines light weight operation with the efficiency of a resonant dipole antenna. youtu.be/pezJ_Cxre_o
16.07.2025 21:31 — 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Located in Southern Wisconsin, the Badger Army Ammunition Plant was once the world's largest powder and solid rocket fuel factory employing over 3,000 people and occupying almost 10,000 acres. Now it is the location of the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area and a #POTA entity youtu.be/jLTutfe2FI0
09.07.2025 21:26 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The week on the Activation Log, my weekly #Hamradio blog, I deploy a vertical delta loop antenna for ARRL Field Day and share some of our favorite food we ate during the worlds largest amateur radio event. Read it now: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/07/04/t...
04.07.2025 13:24 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Loop antennas are great for their low noise and efficient operation. For this year's ARRL Field Day, I build a 20 meter vertical delta loop antenna and put it on the air. Will this homebrew antenna punch through the Field Day noise or leave me struggling for contacts? youtu.be/-WqOFKUKQaM
02.07.2025 22:30 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Join us around the campfire for a special livestream this evening, talking about our plans for ARRL Field Day weekend. Friday June 27 at 8:00pm CDT (28 June 0001Z). Crack open a cold one and join us in the chat. We promise to keep the mosquitos away.
youtube.com/live/CCn8kGv...
