Category: K8MRD Radio Stuff

Mike K8MRD’s Videos

KM4CFT Mini Mic Kit For QMX KX2 KX3 ZBitx truSDX usdx Pebble HF

Post author By admin
Post date July 22, 2026

KM4CFT Mini Mic Kit For QMX KX2 KX3 ZBitx truSDX usdx Pebble HF

Jonathan, KM4CFT has a new Mini Mic Kit available. This microphone works with a number of QRP radios. It’s similar to the K6ARK Mic that a lot of us have built, but this takes it to another level. It includes all the parts you need, mic, PTT button, 3.5mm input jack, 3D printed housing, etc, but this is built on a PCB that also features a 2 way switch, switching the tip and ring connections making it compatible with a variety of different radios. What that means is you can have one mic to use with both your KX2 and QMX for example. Those radios are wired differently between the Tip and Ring of the 3.5mm plug. Switch position 1 will control the KX2, switch position 2 will control the QMX etc. That’s pretty cool! And it’s only $25! https://hamgadgets.com/KM4CFT-Mini-Mic-kitp72.html There is also a pre-assembled version for $35. https://hamgadgets.com/KM4CFT-Mini-Mic-BUILT_p_73.html

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⭐️Links to many of the things I use can be found here:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/k8mrdradiostuff
As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
⭐️⭐️LINKS TO OTHER COOL STUFF: affiliate where available
⭐️Save 10% off at https://www.bioennopower.com with Coupon Code HRT
⭐️Save up to 20% off your Coax order at ABR Industries. Code K8MRD10 at checkout.

⭐️The SkyHook Portable Mast Antenna Mount
http://www.thehamstop.com/
Code K8MRDRADIO for 20% off
⭐️Fara-J Antennas: https://vfcomms.com/?sca_ref=10776057.9X2g5LehW7Er
⭐️Earn 2X Points At Gigaparts With Code K8MRD:
https://www.gigaparts.com/nsearch/?lp=K8MRD%20INFLUENCER%20PAGE
⭐️Save 10 % off Messi & Paoloni & ABR Industries Coax With Code MP10 https://www.gigaparts.com/nsearch/?lp=Mike%20Coax%2010%20Off#?lp=Mike+Coax+10+Off&search_return=all&res_per_page=60
⭐️10% off Messi & Paoloni Coax
Use code K8MRD for 10% off
https://messi.it
(USA & Canada get free shipping on orders $99 euros or more!)
⭐️Signal Stuff Signal Stick Antennas: https://signalstuff.com/?ref=4089

#hamradio #hamradiotube #parksontheair

K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

Will This 2000 Watt Inverter Ruin My HF Ham Radio?

Post author By admin
Post date July 20, 2026

Will This 2000 Watt Inverter Ruin My HF Ham Radio?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you too. So I finally got around to installing the new inverter I bought for my camper. I bought a LiTime 2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave inverter from Amazon. It was cheap, I have another LiTime inverter and I like it, but I don’t really use it around my ham radios. More just when the power goes out at my house. It’s too big for my camper and I wanted something smaller and this seemed like it fit my requirements. But what happened after I turned it on? Can it deliver the AC power I need while also being RF quiet so I can play radio too? Let’s find out.
I’m not leaving a link 😉

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K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

Cool Ham Radio T-Shirts From Amazon!

Post author By admin
Post date July 17, 2026

Cool Ham Radio T-Shirts From Amazon!

That’s right, you can get ham radio t-shirts from Amazon, and they’re actually good!
⭐️Checkout My Curated Ham Radio T-Shirt List Here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/k8mrdradiostuff
As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

MacWinlink Beta Native MacOS Winlink Client. It Finally Exists!!

Post author By admin
Post date July 15, 2026

MacWinlink Beta Native MacOS Winlink Client. It Finally Exists!!

This Is Huge News!! No More Windows Emulators. MacWinlink Is A Full Featured MacOS Winlink Client Capable Of Everything Winlink Express Does, But Running Natively On Your Apple Silicon Mac! Thank You VA3ZTF!
⭐️Download Here: https://github.com/jjones9527/macwinlink-releases/releases
⭐️QRZ Forum: https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/macwinlink-public-beta-release.996541/

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K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

MeshCore Is Dead To Me ! Here’s What I’m Using Now.

Post author By admin
Post date July 13, 2026

MeshCore Is Dead To Me ! Here's What I'm Using Now.

You read that right, MeshCore Is Dead To Me. Well, at least the version we’ve all been using. I won’t get into the drama because I hate drama, but I would encourage everyone to re-flash their MeshCore devices. Moving forward we should go to https://meshcore.io for all of our MeshCore needs. In this video I walk you through the very easy process of flashing both a Companion node and a Repeater, as well as show how to do OTA firmware updates to your repeater. It’s so easy K8MRD can do it!

If you’d like to support the developers of meshcore.io and keep the dream alive while also helping their legal battle, (read all about it here: https://blog.meshcore.io/2026/07/04/help-us-save-meshcore ) consider leaving a donation:

⭐️Crowd Funding Campaign: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-us-save-meshcore

⭐️GitHub Sponsors: https://github.com/sponsors/meshcore-dev/

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K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

I Can Finally See The S Meter On My 7300! LDG MC-7300

Post author By admin
Post date July 10, 2026

I Can Finally See The S Meter On My 7300! LDG MC-7300

This is a cool little gadget from LDG. This is the new MC-7300. A signal strength and power meter for the Icom 7300 & 7300MK2. It’s a super easy to use analog meter that has a bright, backlit RGB color changeable display. This is great for those of us who like to operate portable and can’t see the screen because it’s washed out by the sun, or if you simply have a hard time seeing the smaller meters on the 7300’s screen. Plus it just looks cool (coolness points are very important to the ham radio operator)! It’s not in stores quite yet but should be available sometime in July.
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K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

Total Teardrop Renovation Start To Finish

Post author By admin
Post date July 8, 2026

Total Teardrop Renovation Start To Finish

I didn’t want to, but @HamRadioK8FAE insisted, so we spent the weekend remodeling the teardrop. It looks amazing now! New paint & new floors totally transformed the camper. Some mistakes were made, solutions were found, and I got to buy a nail gun! In the beginning of all of this I had absolutely no intention of make a video but I did start getting some shots for B-Roll just incase I wanted to use it for something in the future. That ended up turning into my very first voice over narrated video taking us on the journey from start to finish. Hopefully it doesn’t suck too bad. What a transformation a couple coats of paint and some new flooring can make!
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K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

ABR Industries FME Connectors Are A Game Changer!

Post author By admin
Post date July 6, 2026

ABR Industries FME Connectors Are A Game Changer!

Coax installations in cramped spaces has never been easier with these ABR Industries FME Connectors!
⭐️Save up to 20% off your Coax order at ABR Industries. Code K8MRD10 at checkout.

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K8MRD Radio Stuff Youtube

Is ARRL Field Day Becoming Obsolete?

Post author By admin
Post date July 3, 2026

Is ARRL Field Day Becoming Obsolete?

I love ARRL Field Day. But I’m also primarily a portable operator who loves going in the woods with my ham radio. So I often wonder to myself, with the popularity of POTA & SOTA, and so many ham radio operators already operating portable, why do we still make such a big deal out of Field Day? Sure it’s a way to introduce ham radio to the public, meet people, have those eyeball QSO’s, get together with like minded individuals, learn, share, experiment…But honestly, doing field day from inside an air conditioned building, while very comfortable, kinda defeats the entire purpose of it. Why do so many operators wait for the 2 days a year (winter and summer field days) to go outside and play radio? You don’t even have to be doing an OTA. You can just setup in your back yard with a couple cold pops. Go down the street to a local park (which I have done many times before POTA entered my life). Just be outside. Be portable. Practice your skills. What do you need? What do you NOT need? How can you streamline your portable gear to maximize efficiency and minimize bulk and weight? We can only do that by practicing our skillset. We get better and we learn something each time we do it. For me, POTA IS the "practicing our emergency communication skills under adverse conditions". Battery power, often times QRP radios, antennas set up in less than ideal conditions, being out in the elements, going off the beaten path, trying to not get bitten by all the venomous things in Texas that want to kill you, etc. Being off grid. I had no cell signal on this activation either so I got to spot myself via satellite with the iOS app Offline Spotter which was pretty cool. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/offline-spotter-for-pota-sota/id6740120163
Just food for thought. What say you?

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Caitlins First QRP POTA Activation!

Post author By admin
Post date July 1, 2026

Caitlins First QRP POTA Activation!

This morning Caitlin @HamRadioK8FAE and I set out to do one thing. Hike, and Ham Radio. 2.5 miles in and 2.5 mils out to the famous Forrest Gump bench. My absolute favorite place in Huntsville State Park. The bands were a little up and down. The QRM was out in force being the day before field day. Good to hear so many people taking the day off work to play radio though lol! It was a bit of a challenge but she muscled through and we had a great time. She even let me use my radio when she was done!
⭐️Oh, here’s a link to the BNC thing I’m using on my 705 bag, it’s pretty awesome: https://k5acp.net/index.php/product/bnc-molle-antenna-clip-coax/
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