Radio: AnyTone AT-D878UVII PlusTarget Use: Personal hotspots (Pi-Star, WPSD, OpenSpot, ZumSpot, etc.)Networks: BrandMeister-style dynamic talkgroupsDesign Goal: Fast access, zero clutter, predictable behavior Core Design Philosophy Hotspots are not repeaters. A hotspot codeplug must prioritize: This template assumes one hotspot frequency…
DigiPi 2.0, created by KM6LYW, is a purpose-built, open-source software distribution designed to simplify the deployment of APRS packet radio digipeaters and iGates using low-cost, readily available hardware. It is widely adopted by amateur radio operators who want a reliable,…
The 2-meter band is one of the most heavily used portions of the VHF spectrum in amateur radio. Its popularity for FM repeaters, simplex operation, packet, APRS, satellites, weak-signal work, and experimentation makes it especially important that operators understand harmonics—what…
DigiPi 2.0: Building a Reliable APRS Digipeater & iGate with Low-Cost Hardware DigiPi 2.0, created by KM6LYW, is a purpose-built Linux distribution designed to simplify the deployment of APRS packet radio digipeaters and iGates. It combines proven packet-radio tooling with…
How to read this table and Fundamental (MHz) 2nd Harmonic (MHz) 2nd Overlaps 3rd Harmonic (MHz) 3rd Overlaps 4th Harmonic (MHz) 4th Overlaps 160 m 1.800–2.000 3.600–4.000 80 m 5.400–6.000 — 7.200–8.000 40 m 80 m 3.500–4.000 7.000–8.000 40 m…
Harmonics are an unavoidable byproduct of RF generation. Every HF transmitter—no matter how modern or well-filtered—produces harmonic energy at integer multiples of its fundamental frequency. On the HF bands, these harmonics have both theoretical significance and practical operating consequences, particularly…
The Yaesu FT-65 occupies a deliberate niche in the handheld transceiver market: a rugged, affordable, analog-only VHF/UHF radio designed for operators who value reliability and clarity over feature bloat. Whether you are a newly licensed amateur, an experienced operator looking…
Long before smartphones tracked our every move and apps pinged our location to friends, ham radio operators created something remarkable: a system that could track vehicles, report weather conditions, send messages, and share telemetry data—all without the internet, cell towers,…
If you’re looking to connect your Xiegu transceiver to a computer for logging, digital modes, or CAT control, a USB CAT interface makes the process quick and straightforward. Whether you’re operating FT8, logging with Ham Radio Deluxe, or controlling your…
Few topics generate as much debate among whiskey drinkers as whether to add water or ice. Purists argue that whiskey should be consumed neat; others insist that dilution “opens up” the spirit. Both sides are partially correct—because dilution and temperature…