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Brew and Activate

Brew & Activate - N1JUR

Welcome to Brew & Activate, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of Parks on the Air (POTA) every Friday morning! Join us for lively discussions that cover everything you need to know—from gear and antennas to optimal setups. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we’ll explore every aspect of outdoor ham radio operations, including those topics that might initially seem less exciting. Grab your favorite beverage and tune in for a great conversation!

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 41 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • S1 · E54
    Friday · 1 hr 53 min

    POTA vs SOTA vs Tiles — The OTA Wars

    POTA isn't the only game in town. Parks on the Air has exploded across amateur radio—but POTA is just one way hams are turning portable operating into a challenge. This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are entering THE OTA WARS. We're putting four different portable-radio programs on the board: POTA — Parks on the Air SOTA — Summits on the Air TILES — Tiles on the Air PARC — Protected Area Radio Community But this isn't about trashing one program or declaring that everybody should abandon POTA for the newest shiny thing. We're asking a much more interesting question: WHICH GAME FITS THE WAY YOU LIKE TO OPERATE? We'll look at what each program is trying to accomplish, what it rewards, how you participate, how activations differ, spotting and logging, scoring, awards, physical challenges, exploration and the communities developing around them. Then we're putting them through the Brew & Activate test. Which program fits the casual portable operator? Which one rewards adventure? Which one makes exploration part of the game? Which one would you recommend to a brand-new portable operator? And can you STACK multiple programs during the same activation? Because maybe the OTA Wars aren't actually a war. Maybe we've just been playing one game when there's an entire arcade sitting next door. Different games. Same radio. Join Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT LIVE on Brew & Activate. FRIDAY 10:00 AM EASTERN Come prepared to answer: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF PORTABLE RADIO? And which OTA are YOU choosing? ************************************************************* 📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JUR Practical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby. 🌐 Explore N1JUR https://n1jur.com 📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletter https://n1jur.com/newsletter ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED ⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join 🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreon https://patreon.com/cw/n1jur ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS See the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use: https://n1jur.com/gear Find available partner discounts and special offers: https://n1jur.com/discounts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRD N1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more: https://makerfweird.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO Cross Island Maine K1C Activation https://www.qrz.com/db/K1C

  • S1 · E53
    August 28 · 2 hr 40 min

    We Asked to See Your POTA Bags… BIG Mistake

    What does your POTA bag say about you? We asked the Brew Crew to open up their POTA bags and show us what they REALLY carry for Parks on the Air activations. Six brave operators answered the call. That may have been a mistake. This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are putting six real POTA bags under the microscope. Radios, antennas, batteries, coax, adapters, backup gear and a few items that are going to require some serious explaining. Welcome to the POTA BAG ROAST. But this isn't just about making fun of somebody carrying 37 adapters and enough battery capacity to survive the apocalypse. For every bag, we're asking: • Does the gear match the activation? • What's genuinely useful? • What's unnecessary? • What's missing? • What would WE change? • And most importantly… WHY ARE YOU CARRYING THAT?! Because there isn't one perfect POTA setup. A hiking activator shouldn't necessarily carry the same station as someone operating from a picnic table. QRP, 100-watt SSB, CW, quick activations, all-day operations and remote parks all create different requirements. Join us LIVE and bring your own POTA bag confessions. Tell us the weirdest thing you carry, the piece of gear that has saved an activation, and the item you finally stopped dragging into the field. ☕ BREW & ACTIVATE Brew & Activate is a weekly live show about Parks on the Air, portable ham radio, gear, operating skills, experiments, questionable decisions and becoming better operators. Hosted by: Eric — N1JUR Shannon — KC1OHT Grab a drink, join the Brew Crew and come hang out with us. 73! #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #PortableHamRadio #POTAGear ************************************************************* 📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JUR Practical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby. 🌐 Explore N1JUR https://n1jur.com 📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletter https://n1jur.com/newsletter ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED ⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join 🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreon https://patreon.com/cw/n1jur ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS See the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use: https://n1jur.com/gear Find available partner discounts and special offers: https://n1jur.com/discounts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRD N1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more: https://makerfweird.com

  • S1 · E52
    August 22 · 1 hr 3 min

    Can You Activate POTA With NO Internet?

    Can you successfully activate a Parks on the Air park with NO Internet? Modern POTA is loaded with incredibly useful tools: park maps, GPS navigation, spotting, propagation data, callsign lookup, logging apps, P2P information and instant log uploads. But what happens when the cell signal disappears? This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are putting the modern POTA workflow under the microscope. What actually requires the Internet? What can work completely offline? Do you need to self-spot? Can another hunter spot you? Could you still get your 10 contacts if the POTA spotting page disappeared completely? And just how dependent have we become on our phones during portable operations? We're also introducing the Brew Crew Airplane Mode Activation Challenge: One park. One activation. Airplane mode stays ON. Let's find out what breaks. Join us LIVE Friday and tell us: Could YOU successfully activate a POTA park without Internet access? ************************************************************* 📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JUR Practical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby. 🌐 Explore N1JUR https://n1jur.com 📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletter https://n1jur.com/newsletter ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED ⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join 🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreon https://patreon.com/cw/n1jur ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS See the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use: https://n1jur.com/gear Find available partner discounts and special offers: https://n1jur.com/discounts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRD N1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more: https://makerfweird.com

  • S1 · E51
    August 15 · 1 hr 47 min

    Are You Actually Getting Better at POTA

    Are You Actually Getting Better at POTA? You’ve logged more parks. Made more contacts. Bought better gear. Earned some awards. But are you actually becoming a better POTA operator? This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT are looking beyond activation counts and asking what operator improvement really looks like. We're talking about the POTA skills nobody keeps track of: troubleshooting, propagation, pileup management, antenna decisions, adaptability, operating efficiency, mentoring and knowing what to do when the activation absolutely refuses to follow the plan. We'll build the POTA Skill Tree, put ourselves through the POTA Combine, talk about the difference between DOING POTA and PRACTICING POTA, and challenge the Brew Crew to deliberately improve one skill over their next ten activations. The big question: What can you do today that you couldn't do on your first POTA activation? Join us LIVE Friday at 10 AM Eastern and bring your answers. Brew & Activate Hosted by Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT Join the conversation, hang out with the Brew Crew, and check out the links below for the Discord community, memberships, Patreon and more. #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #PortableHamRadio ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JUR Practical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby. 🌐 Explore N1JUR https://n1jur.com 📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletter https://n1jur.com/newsletter ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED ⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join 🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreon https://patreon.com/cw/n1jur ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS See the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use: https://n1jur.com/gear Find available partner discounts and special offers: https://n1jur.com/discounts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRD N1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more: https://makerfweird.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO Brew and Activate Live Stream - Are you getting better at POTA? ➡️ https://youtube.com/live/JVJa8kDgXwE?feature=share

  • S1 · E50
    August 13 · 1 hr 31 min

    Your POTA Wallet Is Lying to You The Hidden Cost of Portable Radio

    Is POTA an expensive hobby... or do we accidentally make it one? This week on Brew & Activate, we're talking about the hidden economics of Parks on the Air. Not budgets. Not financial advice. Just the buying decisions almost every activator makes along the way. We've all been there... Buying another antenna because it might perform better. Adding another battery "just in case." Convincing ourselves that the next radio will finally be the perfect one. But what if the biggest expense in POTA isn't the equipment... It's buying things before we've learned whether we actually need them. We'll discuss return on investment, diminishing returns, upgrade traps, and why many experienced activators eventually end up carrying less gear—not more. Whether you're building your first POTA station or your tenth, this conversation might save you money... and help you enjoy the hobby even more. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JUR Practical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby. 🌐 Explore N1JUR https://n1jur.com 📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletter https://n1jur.com/newsletter ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED ⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join 🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreon https://patreon.com/cw/n1jur ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS See the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use: https://n1jur.com/gear Find available partner discounts and special offers: https://n1jur.com/discounts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRD N1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more: https://makerfweird.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

  • S1 · E49
    July 31 · 1 hr 27 min

    Has POTA Outgrown Itself?

    Has POTA outgrown the platform it was built on? Parks on the Air has become one of the most successful operating programs in amateur radio—but with that success comes a bigger question: can a volunteer-driven organization keep up with the demands of a rapidly growing global community? This week on Brew & Activate, Eric N1JUR and Shannon KC1OHT take a constructive look at POTA’s growth, the website, the mobile experience, feature development, volunteer limitations, and whether the program is beginning to face the same growing pains that affect much larger amateur radio organizations. Then we turn the conversation over to the Brew Crew. If you were given one development sprint, what would you improve first? Better search? A native mobile app? Smarter maps? Personal park notes? Improved dashboards? Offline tools? Or something completely different? This is not a complaint session and it is not a developer pile-on. It is an honest, forward-looking conversation about what POTA has become, what should never change, and what a future POTA 2.0 could look like. Join us live, bring your ideas, and help us build the community wishlist. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📡 KEEP UP WITH N1JUR Practical ham radio videos, operating guides, equipment reviews, community projects, and Field Notes from around the hobby. 🌐 Explore N1JUR https://n1jur.com 📬 Join the free Field Notes Newsletter https://n1jur.com/newsletter ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 GET MORE INVOLVED ⭐ Become a YouTube Channel Member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBAnDZb9q0hDFNEIUuOVDQ/join 🛠️ Follow exclusive builds, projects, and mentoring on Patreon https://patreon.com/cw/n1jur ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 GEAR, PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS See the radios, antennas, batteries, accessories, and production equipment I use: https://n1jur.com/gear Find available partner discounts and special offers: https://n1jur.com/discounts ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👕 WEAR SOMETHING WEIRD N1JUR, POTA, and ham radio shirts, mugs, stickers, and more: https://makerfweird.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

  • S1 · E48
    July 27 · 2 hr 4 min

    Your POTA Bag Is Lying to You | The Gear You Carry… But Never Use

    How much gear is really necessary for a successful POTA activation? If you've been activating for any length of time, chances are your "portable" radio bag has slowly become... less portable. Every new antenna solved a problem. Every adapter seemed like a good idea. Every backup battery was "just in case." Before long, you're hauling equipment that's been riding along for months—or even years—without ever leaving the bag. This week on Brew & Activate, we're taking an honest look at the gear we all carry but rarely use. We'll explore why we overpack, the difference between being prepared and packing out of fear, and how experienced activators naturally evolve toward simpler, more efficient stations. Along the way, we'll share real-world examples from the POTA community, discuss the items that truly earn their place in your kit, and challenge you to rethink what belongs in your go bag before your next activation. Whether you're building your first POTA kit or refining one that's seen hundreds of parks, this episode will help you carry less, operate smarter, and focus more on enjoying the activation than managing your gear. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list

  • S1 · E47
    July 18 · 1 hr 35 min

    Confessions of a POTA Addict

    It starts innocently enough... "I'm just going to try this Parks on the Air thing once." Then suddenly you're researching antennas at midnight, convincing yourself you need one more battery, planning vacations around park numbers, and explaining to your family why the truck is permanently stocked with radios, coax, and enough gear for a weekend expedition. Sound familiar? This week on Brew & Activate, Eric (N1JUR) and Shannon (KC1OHT) take a hilarious trip through the life cycle of a POTA operator—from the nervous first activation to full-blown gear acquisition syndrome, award chasing, burnout, and finally becoming the Elmer who helps the next generation get on the air. Along the way we'll share real stories, plenty of laughs, practical tips, and probably expose a few habits we've all developed along the way. ☕ Join the Brew Crew on Discord: https://discord.gg/zwg9mWyHmY 🎁 Member Perks & Discounts: https://n1jur.com/discounts 📬 Join the Newsletter: https://n1jur.com/newsletter Whether you've activated one park or one thousand, chances are you'll recognize yourself somewhere in this story. #HamRadio #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #PortableRadio #AmateurRadio #HamRadioCommunity #BrewAndActivate #N1JUR #POTAActivation #OutdoorRadio Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list

  • S1 · E46
    July 10 · 1 hr 28 min

    The Great Coax Mystery Does Coax Length Really Matter

    One of the biggest myths in amateur radio has nothing to do with antennas... it's the coax connecting your radio to them. Does coax really have to be 18 feet long? Can changing the length of your feedline lower your SWR? What exactly is velocity factor, and why does everyone seem to have a different answer? This week on Brew & Activate, we're diving into another ham radio rabbit hole to separate physics from folklore. We'll explain velocity factor in plain English, explore why coax behaves the way it does, and connect the dots between transmission lines, SWR, resonance, impedance, and real-world station performance. Whether you're building a portable POTA station, setting up your first HF antenna, or just trying to understand why your analyzer says one thing and your radio says another, this episode will help you make sense of what your coax is really doing—and what it isn't. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E45
    July 9 · 1 hr 2 min

    I Packed a Radio Instead of Extra Clothes

    Who needs another pair of socks when you can bring another antenna? This week, Brew & Activate is coming to you from my Airbnb for a special Vacation Edition! There won't be the usual 90-minute show or deep technical dive. Instead, we're slowing things down, grabbing a cup of coffee, and seeing what happens when portable ham radio becomes part of the adventure. We'll be setting up a travel-friendly station, activating a new Tiles location, making contacts live, and chatting about why some of the best operating isn't from the shack—it's from wherever life happens to take you. Whether you're operating from a campsite, a cabin, a hotel, an Airbnb, or just your backyard, this stream is a reminder that amateur radio doesn't have to stay home when you leave town. So pour yourself a fresh cup, kick back, and pretend you're on vacation with the Brew Crew for the next 40 minutes. ☕ Live portable radio operation 📻 Tiles activation from the Airbnb 🌎 Travel-friendly ham radio setup 💬 Plenty of conversation, coffee, and RF If you've ever packed a radio before packing your suitcase... this one's for you.

  • S1 · E44
    July 9 · 1 hr 47 min

    Your SWR Is Fine... So Why Can't You Make Contacts

    We spent the last two episodes learning what SWR and resonance actually mean. Now it's time to answer the biggest question of all: How do you know if an antenna is actually performing? In this final installment of our three-part antenna deep dive, we're moving beyond analyzer readings and getting into what really matters on the air. We'll explore why two antennas with identical SWR readings can perform completely differently, how antenna height affects your signal, why efficiency matters, and what changes as Solar Cycle 25 begins its downward swing. We'll also tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in amateur radio: the idea that a low SWR automatically means a good antenna. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E43
    June 23 · 2 hr 8 min

    Most Hams Get Resonance Wrong—Do You?

    Most amateur radio operators learn that a low SWR means a good antenna and a high SWR means a bad one. But what if that isn't the whole story? In this episode of Brew & Activate, we're tackling one of the biggest myths in amateur radio: the idea that resonance and SWR are the same thing. We'll break down what resonance actually means, why reactance (X) is often more important than SWR when tuning an antenna, and how an antenna can be perfectly resonant while still showing a 2:1 SWR. We'll also explore resistance (R), impedance matching, feedpoint impedance, and how to read antenna analyzer measurements in a way that helps you make better decisions in the field. Whether you're deploying antennas for Parks on the Air (POTA), chasing DX, experimenting with end-fed wires, or simply trying to understand what your analyzer is telling you, this discussion will change the way you look at antenna tuning. In This Episode What resonance really means Why X = 0 matters The difference between resonance and matching Why low SWR does not always mean a good antenna How to interpret R and X on your analyzer Real-world examples from portable operations Common SWR myths many hams still believe Join the Conversation Do you agree that SWR is one of the most misunderstood measurements in amateur radio? Have you ever chased a perfect SWR only to discover it didn't improve your signal? Drop your thoughts in the comments and continue the discussion with the Brew Crew. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop

  • S1 · E42
    June 12 · 1 hr 27 min

    VHF Contesting from the Field ARRL June VHF Contest Prep with N2MAK

    This Friday on Brew & Activate, Mike N2MAK joins me to talk about the upcoming ARRL June VHF Contest — what it is, how he is preparing for it, what operators should expect, and why VHF contesting might be way more connected to portable operating than people realize. We’re going to dig into the crossover between portable radio, VHF/UHF operating, contest strategy, field setups, antennas, location, timing, and making contacts when you’re not running a monster station on a mountain with a beam the size of a small bridge. If you’ve ever done POTA, SOTA, rover-style operating, simplex work, 2 meters, 6 meters, or you’ve looked at a VHF contest and thought, “Is this something I could actually try?” — this is the episode to hang out for. Mike will be sharing how he gets ready, what bands and gear he thinks about, what newer operators should understand before jumping in, and how portable operators can use contests like this to sharpen their skills. So grab your coffee, charge the batteries, check the coax you definitely meant to check last week, and come hang out with us live. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E41
    June 8 · 1 hr 44 min

    Getting Nerdy About Antennas SWR, Resonance & Reactance (Part 1 of 3)

    Most ham radio operators know they should pay attention to SWR. Far fewer understand what SWR is actually trying to tell them. In Part 1 of our new 3-part antenna series, we're getting nerdy and diving deep into one of the most misunderstood topics in amateur radio. We'll break down Standing Wave Ratio (SWR), what causes it to change, what the numbers really mean, and why low SWR doesn't automatically mean you have a great antenna. We'll also explore common myths, practical POTA examples, field deployment challenges, feedline behavior, reflected power, and how changing conditions in the field can impact your readings. Whether you're running an end-fed, dipole, vertical, or loaded coil antenna, or something in between, understanding SWR is the first step toward understanding what your antenna system is actually doing. This is Part 1 of a special 3-part Brew & Activate series: ☕ Part 1: SWR – The Most Misunderstood Number in Ham Radio ☕ Part 2: Resonance – Where Your Antenna Wants to Live ☕ Part 3: Reactance, Efficiency & Why Solar Cycle 25 Changes Everything Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E40
    June 3 · 2 hr 5 min

    Stop Overthinking Antennas: Portable HF Tips with Matt from Reliance Antennas

    Antennas might be the most important part of your portable ham radio setup — and also the thing most of us overthink, misunderstand, rebuild, argue about, and occasionally blame when the bands are just being rude. This week on Brew & Activate, I’m joined by Matt from Reliance Antennas to talk about everything antennas. We’ll dig into portable antenna setups, POTA operating, end fed antennas, random wires, transformers, tuners, coax, chokes, antenna testing, field reliability, and what really matters when you’re trying to get on the air from a park. We’ll also talk about the Reliance Antennas brand, how Matt designs and builds antennas for real-world use, and what operators should think about when choosing or building their own antenna system. Whether you’re brand new to HF, getting into Parks on the Air, or you’ve been throwing wires into trees for years, this one should be packed with practical takeaways. Bring your antenna questions. Bring your hot takes. Bring your emotionally complicated SWR stories. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • May 24 · 1 hr 37 min

    POTA Q&A + Honor & Activate: Let’s Light Up RF This Weekend

    This week on Brew & Activate, we’re keeping it loose and opening things up for a live POTA, portable radio, and Tiles on the Air Q&A. Bring your questions about activations, hunters, gear, antennas, go-kits, logging, pileups, quick lunch-break activations, or whatever RF weirdness is currently living rent-free in your brain. We’ll also take a few minutes to talk about Honor & Activate, the Tiles on the Air Memorial Day weekend event, and how we can use radio to do something a little more meaningful while still having fun, getting outside, and lighting up some RF. Whether you’re chasing parks, activating tiles, building a better go-kit, or just trying to figure out why your antenna only behaves when nobody is watching, come hang out with the Brew Crew. Links: Honor & Activate: https://tilesontheair.com/MemorialDay Tiles on the Air: https://tilesontheair.com ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E39
    May 15 · 1 hr 20 min

    Your POTA Bag Is Lying To You — Here’s How To Fix It

    What’s actually in your POTA bag… and is it really ready? This week on Brew & Activate, we’re talking about one of the most common portable ham radio problems: keeping your POTA go-kit organized, charged, packed, and actually ready for the next activation. Because let’s be honest — most activations do not fall apart because of the radio. They fall apart because the coax is missing, the battery is dead, the adapter is in another bag, or the one cable you need is sitting back at the shack laughing at you. We’ll break down practical ways to organize your POTA gear, including core kits, mission-based add-ons, pre-flight checklists, post-activation reset routines, and smarter ways to track what lives in each bag. Then I’ll give you a first look at the gear bag tracker app I’m working on for portable operators. The goal is simple: help hams know what’s packed, what’s missing, what needs charging, and what needs to be reset before the next outing. Bring your best “I forgot the thing” stories. We’ve all got one. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E38
    May 8 · 2 hr 3 min

    Stop Guessing Your Bands — Use This AI Prompt Instead

    In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a practical way to use AI for POTA — no hype, no fluff, just something you can actually use before your next activation. Instead of bouncing between solar data, propagation maps, and signal reports… we’re using a simple, repeatable AI prompt that turns all of that into one clear answer based on your gear, your power, and your setup. 👉 We’ll walk through: A custom AI prompt you can copy and use before every activation How to tailor it to your radio, antenna, and power level A “what-if” scenario prompt to test different setups before you leave the house Real examples of how this helps you pick the right band, mode, and strategy This isn’t about replacing skill—it’s about making better decisions before you ever key the mic. 🧠 TRY IT YOURSELF Run this before your next activation and see what changes: Your starting band Your contact rate Your overall success Then come back and let us know 👇 ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E37
    April 28 · 1 hr 41 min

    Stop Chasing Parks… Start Activating Grids (Tiles On The Air)

    Is Tiles On The Air (TOTA) the next big thing in ham radio? In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a brand new program that’s starting to get attention across the hobby — Tiles On The Air. Instead of parks or summits, this program focuses on grid square activations, bringing a fresh twist to portable operating and giving hunters and activators a whole new way to get on the air. We’re joined by special guest Facundo (KK4ODA), the creator and developer of Tiles On The Air, to break it all down: What Tiles On The Air is How it works How it compares to POTA and SOTA How YOU can get started Whether you're a seasoned activator or just looking for something new to try, this might be the next program you add to your rotation. 🔗 Learn more about Tiles On The Air: 👉 https://tilesontheair.com ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

  • S1 · E36
    April 18 · 1 hr 48 min

    Stop Guessing Your Battery Life – The Only Math You Need for POTA

    Ever had your radio die right in the middle of a pileup? Yeah… it’s probably not your battery. It’s your math. In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down battery math in a way that actually matters in the field—no fluff, no overcomplicated engineering talk… just real-world understanding you can use on your next activation. We cover: ⚡ The difference between Amp Hours (Ah) and Watt Hours (Wh) ⚡ Why your battery NEVER lasts as long as you think ⚡ How modes like SSB vs FT8 completely change runtime ⚡ Voltage sag (and why your radio shuts off early) ⚡ Cold weather performance (this one gets people every time) ⚡ The simple formula to actually plan your activation time 👉 Plus: I built a simple battery calculator you can use on your phone in the field so you never have to guess again. 👇 Grab the calculator here: [INSERT YOUR GOOGLE SHEET LINK] --- 💡 Bottom line: Amp hours tell a story… Watt hours tell the truth. #POTA #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #BatteryPower #FieldRadio #PortableOps ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

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