My Radio Journal
Where I tell the stories behind the signals.
It’s a mix of amateur radio adventures, lessons learned, equipment discoveries, emergency communications, DMR and APRS, Coast Guard memories, and the occasional strange or funny moment that comes with a lifetime around radios. Some entries are practical, some are personal, and some are simply stories worth telling—but they all come back to the same idea: radio is ultimately about people, communication, and the connections we make along the way.
Calling CQ with APRS: Discovering APRS On The Air
APRS On The Air gave me a reason to go beyond position beacons. Using a phone, the Maverick’s Bluetooth KISS TNC, and real RF, I began hosting, chasing, and learning APRS one packet at a time.
The $16 Upgrade That Brought My Radios Back to Life
A roughly $300 handheld had left me wondering whether amateur radio from my Brooklyn apartment was practical. Then a Nagoya NA-701 costing about sixteen dollars let me hear one little repeater tail—and changed the direction of my entire station.
FROM BROOKLYN TO THE WORLD: The Maverick and HamSpot 5
A handheld radio, a little box beside my computer, and an internet connection have turned my Brooklyn apartment into a doorway to the world. The technology is impressive. The people on the other side of it are the point.
These journal entries are written with assistance from ChatGPT.
The thoughts, experiences, and final editorial choices are my own.