We Took Ham Radio to 7,700 Feet for the 2026 ARRL June VHF Contest
The ARRL June VHF Contest is one of the premier operating events for VHF and UHF enthusiasts, challenging amateur radio operators to make as many contacts as possible across the 50 MHz and higher bands. Operators often seek out mountaintops, ridges, and other high-elevation locations to maximize line-of-sight coverage and take advantage of tropospheric propagation. Whether you’re chasing new grid squares, testing portable equipment, or competing for a top score, the June VHF Contest is a great opportunity to experience the excitement of weak-signal operating and discover just how far VHF signals can travel.
I have 2 radios in the car which means I have 2 microphones. I’ve always had them mounted on my Lido mount but I never really liked the way I did it. It was not the best placement. So I found a solution by Johnathan, KM4CFT that does away with my cluttered mess. A simple yet elegant 3D print solution. And I use PETG btw.
⭐️Dual Lido Yaesu Mic Holder: https://www.printables.com/model/1054805-dual-lido-yeasu-mic-holder
⭐️Lido Radio: https://www.lidoradio.com
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Local Elevator by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The show must go on! 🛠️ I’m currently on a road trip along on my way to Dayton Hamvention, but a piece of gear from Amazon decided to quit on me. In today’s video, I’m turning my motel room into a makeshift ham radio bench to see if I can get this Retevis RT95 mobile radio back on the air.
Being a "Ham on the Street" means being prepared for anything. Whether it’s a loose connection, a blown fuse, or a firmware glitch, I’ll show you my process for portable radio repair and the essential tools I keep in my travel kit to stay operational while traveling.
In this video, we cover:
🛠️ Unboxing and diagnosing the Amazon radio issue.
🛠️ Setting up a mobile repair station in a hotel.
🛠️ Step-by-step troubleshooting for the Retevis RT95.
🛠️ Tips for maintaining your ham radio gear while on a road trip.
GET THE GEAR:
👉 Retevis RT95 (or any other gear I have for sale): https://temporarilyoffline.com/blogs/tos-blog/revolving-list-of-for-sale-items
👉 Or get it new on Amazon: https://geni.us/fz4da42
👉 Surecom SW-102: https://geni.us/IAKUo
👉 Surecom SW-102 Case: https://geni.us/RYRBl
👉 Baofeng Mini: https://geni.us/C0FRgFe
👉 100w Dummy Load: https://geni.us/eTZ18Uh
👉 Dabbsson Power Station: https://geni.us/MFxgHY
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👉 Fun Stuff 👈
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Where possible, all links are affiliate links, this youtube thing is an expensive endeavor and every little bit helps.
Discover the compact Toad’s DI, featuring a CM108 sound chip and bare sockets for easy integration into any radio. Plus, check out the DI-6 with a 6-pin interface for Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood radios.
👉 Full Vid: https://youtu.be/Y9VUOyhzyKY
👉 The all new TOADs DI8: https://temporarilyoffline.com/products/toads-di8-daughterboard?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TO&utm_content=di8testing
👉 The TOADs Digital Interface: https://temporarilyoffline.com/products/toads-digital-interface?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TO&utm_content=di8testing
👉 The old TOADs DI6: https://temporarilyoffline.com/products/toads-di6-daughterboard?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TO&utm_content=di8testing
The Case That Makes Expensive Test Gear Less Scary
Tonight we’re checking out some custom cases for ham radio test gear, including the RigExpert antenna analyzer, TinySA, NanoVNA, and Surecom SW-102.
We’ll talk about protecting your gear, what makes a good field case, and where these tools fit in the shack, go-bag, or POTA kit. Plus, we’ll have a giveaway during the livestream.
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👉 Fun Stuff 👈
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Where possible, all links are affiliate links, this youtube thing is an expensive endeavor and every little bit helps.
From time to time, Temporarily Offline holds giveaways during our live streams—no entry fee or special conditions required. To participate, you must be watching live. We use Streamyard’s giveaway tool to draw and announce winners in real-time. Winners must provide valid shipping information to receive their prizes. If you’re not comfortable sharing this information, your prize will be forfeited and re-drawn, possibly during the same show. Rest assured, your contact details are only used for shipping and will never be shared with third parties. Unless otherwise noted, giveaways are limited to US residents only. Not Sponsored By Youtube.
Today I want to show you a hidden trick with 2-VFO radios that completely changed how I listen and manage to pile-ups on HF. Most amateurs use dual VFOs for split operation – listening to the DX on one VFO and the callers on the other. But I accidentally discovered another use entirely.
By using two completely different antennas at the same time – for example a vertical on one VFO and a low dipole or delta loop on the other – you can create a kind of stereo image in your headphones. Longer-distance, low-angle DX may appear strongly in one ear, while more local stations arrive more strongly in the other.
On 40m and below this becomes fascinating.
In this video I demonstrate:
How I configure left/right audio
Why different antennas hear signals differently
How arrival angle affects reception
Why this helps untangle pile-ups
Why 2-VFO radios are far more useful than most people realise
Homebrew Radio from 1950s Crystals to Satellite - Stuart M0SGV
Stuart M0SGV started soldering at age 8 in the 1950s, building crystal sets with a copper tip heated over a gas cooker. Nearly 70 years later he is still at the bench, building tube transmitters from 1949 magazine circuits, Hans Summers QMX and QDX rigs, a Michigan Mighty Mite, and a high voltage power supply built from scratch to power all of it.
In this episode Stuart walks us through a dozen homebrew projects, shares his philosophy on project selection, and offers hard won advice on soldering and why leaded solder is non-negotiable. We also talk about his connections to the Michigan QRP Club and G QRP Club, and his next big project: a QO-100 geostationary satellite transceiver.
Join us as we explore how you can get involved in portable radio, QRP, and more in this episode of the All Portable Discussion Zone (AP/DZ). Every aspect of portable operations is covered in this biweekly podcast, from news and gear to achievements, the workbench, contests, awards, and beyond.
Connect with us:
* Discord: https://discord.gg/WVE3vVveWU
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/redsummitrf
* TikTok: @redsummitrf
* X (formerly Twitter): @NJ7V_
Support the channel:
* Buy us a Coke: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RedSummitRF
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Connecting FLrig for PTT and CAT control in WSJTX. Testing the DI8 connection for frequency changes and PTT. Watch for future FT8 tutorials!
👉 Full Vid: https://youtu.be/Y9VUOyhzyKY
👉 The all new TOADs DI8: https://temporarilyoffline.com/products/toads-di8-daughterboard?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TO&utm_content=di8testing
👉 The TOADs Digital Interface: https://temporarilyoffline.com/products/toads-digital-interface?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TO&utm_content=di8testing
👉 The old TOADs DI6: https://temporarilyoffline.com/products/toads-di6-daughterboard?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TO&utm_content=di8testing
The ARRL just introduced a new database showing key metrics for all the radios they have recently reviewed! https://compare.arrl.org/
Thermal Paper Camera: https://amzn.to/4xiw3PK
You can find many HOA stealthy options at DXEngineering! https://dxengineering.pxf.io/OexmXr
I found this cool ultra portable smart telescope here: https://dwarflab.com?aff=370 (5% off Discount Code: joshnass5
Recommendations from the show:
As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases
—————————————————————————————————————————
📻 Xiegu G90: https://www.radioddity.com/?ref=bkobuwhc
📻 QRPLabs QMX: https://qrp-labs.com/qmx.html
Yaesu FT-891: https://dxengineering.pxf.io/VOmdQj
📻 ICOM IC-705: https://dxengineering.pxf.io/radvMD
📻 theQRPStation: https://theqrpstore.com/product/link500-4n/
📻 ICOM IC-7300MK2: https://dxengineering.pxf.io/QYyEG6
📻 Yaesu FTX-1: https://dxengineering.pxf.io/ZVQEmz
📡 You can get $10 off the VGC VN-N76 using the code "josh" here: https://www.verotelecom.com/VR-N76-Dual-Band-Handheld-Radio-p2511333.html?
📡 Wouxun HTs: HTs: https://www.buytwowayradios.com/?
🔋 Batteries: https://dxengineering.pxf.io/kOmnJd
🔋 Solar: https://dxengineering.pxf.io/Qj5q23
📻 Want the best HT antenna? Signal Stuff Signal Stick https://signalstuff.com/?ref=622
🚶♂️ Big list of ham radio hiking gear: https://amzn.to/4ojAxQP
🔋 W0AEZ Battery: https://w0aez.com/discount/hrcc5?ref=hrcc
📡 The POTA-20 mast: https://www.gigaparts.com/nsearch/?lp=JOSH
📡 Lil’ Dude Mast: https://www.hamradiodude.com/
📶 TH-DD74 B.B.Link: https://islandmagic.co/products/bb-link-adapter
📡 My Big List of No-Regret Gear: https://amzn.to/415oY6s
📡 My Favorite ham radio portable gear items! Check out Gigaparts for 2x the points off the gear I use the most!
https://www.gigaparts.com/nsearch/?lp=JOSH
📡 I recommend the Ed Fong J-Pole? https://www.kbcubed.com/DBJ-2H-Amateur-Ham-2m-70cm-Dual-Band-Portable-Rollup-Antenna-by-Ed-Fong-p406009746cmid=amsreGRvTmttM0k9&afid=Mkx1eE1uN2M0S1k9&ats=bHNrMHVhZ3lZcjQ9
📡 Chameleon Antennas make the most robust antennas on the market, check them out here: https://chameleonantenna.com?bg_ref=99VqhYXETt
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