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PODCAST

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast

Live Free and Ham Podcast

We are your bi-weekly podcast covering all things ham radio in New Hampshire, New England, and beyond. This is the Patreon-only Feed.

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All Episodes

162:46

No Winlink, No Grouch, No Problem: The Show Must Ham On

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/11/17

In this episode of Live Free and Ham, Eric (N1JUR) and Todd (W1STJ) try to kick things off smoothly… which of course means Grouch’s PC explodes (metaphorically), the guest shows up muted, and nobody can remember the name of that gorgeous Vermont park. They’re joined by Mike W4OPS from the National Amateur Radio Alliance to talk about “making better radio operators one member at a time” while swapping stories about confused Patreons who watch the livestream replay and wonder why the chat is dead,

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195:14

Dings, Dangles, and Don’t-Call-It a Dipole

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/11/10

Dust off your headphones and join our quirky crew for a rambling, real-life radio session filled with portable towers, weather woes, and the unpredictable chatter of ham enthusiasts. From dodgy aerials and improvised coax hacks to far-flung contacts spanning Canada, Ireland, England, Argentina, France, and Bermuda, this episode serves up a candid snapshot of a day spent chasing signals, swapping build tips, and debating park meetups, WinLink, and POTa ethics. If you love behind-the-scenes banter,

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150:13

50 to 75 Ohms and Back Again: A Sunshine State Snafu...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/11/03

This episode follows a weekend of hands-on radio tinkering, travel, and improvisation that captures the messy, thrilling reality of DIY amateur radio. From the sunny chaos of Florida to a backyard experiment zone, we tag along as the crew tests unconventional feedlines, tackles a 50-to-75-ohm conversion puzzle, and pushes through gear debates with both humor and stubborn curiosity. Hear how nine different feedline break points performed in real-life conditions, the challenges of coordinating RV

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178:27

I Just Shipped My Pants And Other Ham Radio...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/10/28

Ten meters roared, the waterfall glowed, and somewhere in the chaos, a “maritime emergency” calling spot was buried under contesters. We stepped straight into CQ Worldwide and asked a hard question: who really owns a frequency when the world shows up? From band etiquette to practical emergency options, we unpack the culture and the realities that matter when the dial is full and you still need to make smart choices.We also get our hands dirty with a portable radio. A Rybakov vertical goes from “set

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177:55

We Paddled To An Island, Fired Up 600 Watts, And...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/10/21

The tide doesn’t care about your logbook—and that’s exactly why we chased it. We loaded radios, batteries, and a vertical dipole into kayaks, paddled two miles on a rising tide, and landed on a slippery sliver of grass called Eagle Island. The result? A sustained, three-hour pileup on 10 meters that reached across Europe, South America, and 20 U.S. states, with park-to-park contacts stacking like driftwood.Our guest, Keith (AC1RH), is a relentless Parks on the Air activator with nearly six figures

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177:55

Bullets, BaoFengs, And Bonsai: Yes, We Went There

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/10/18

The best radio goals aren’t just wish lists—they’re roadmaps with real checkpoints, community support, and a bit of swagger. We kick off by tightening the feedback loop: Discord for day-to-day chatter, a new AllStar hub (580871) for live linking, monthly livestreams, and voicemails you’ll actually hear on the show. That community energy pays off fast. A tongue-in-cheek “news desk” breaks real news: Kim KC1VYM passed her Extra, sparking a broader conversation about study habits, HamStudy as a secret

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186:01

Four flip-flops walk into a divider…

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/10/06

Radios bring us together; NearFest reminds us why. We packed a three-day ham festival into 24 hours—livestreams, campsite breakfasts, last-minute builds—and still found time to argue about antennas, fix MeshTastic nodes, and quiz Todd on Extra-class theory. It’s chaotic in the best way: flip-flops dividing by sixteen, Schottky vs zener symbols, and the old reliable “Eli the Iceman” to lock in AC phase memory. New hams got outfitted, veterans scored wild deals, and someone used a fox-hunt rig to find

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141:17

Three hams walk into Near-Fest and leave with fewer...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/09/29

The best radio days start a little chaotic: rain on the windshield, a wire tossed higher than your plan, and a stranger asking, “What are you doing?” That moment led us into a POTA run where 10 and 15 meters opened like a faucet—France, Belgium, Spain, Germany—flowing in with the kind of clarity that makes you forget your battery just died mid-CQ. We break down why fall propagation favors 10/12/15/17, what to watch for when the D-layer calms down, and how “angry Sun” forecasts can still set you up

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161:14

The Ham Radio Crusader's Guide to All-Star Link Nodes

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/09/27

Dive into the world of All-Star Link with our special guest, Freddie Mack (KD5FMU), better known as the Ham Radio Crusader. In this comprehensive conversation, Freddie shares his journey from law enforcement to becoming one of the most trusted voices in the All-Star Link community, offering invaluable insights for both newcomers and experienced operators.Freddie unpacks the essentials of All-Star Link - a powerful technology that bridges traditional analog ham radio with internet connectivity while

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161:14

The Mesh Dealer Takes Over Live Free and Ham

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/09/17

The world of mesh networking collides with ham radio as we welcome Dave KB5UTY, affectionately known as "The Mesh Dealer," to share his journey from casual GMRS user to becoming Seed Studios' ham radio ambassador for Meshtastic technology.Dave pulls back the curtain on a fascinating communication ecosystem that bridges traditional amateur radio with modern digital networking. As someone who "doesn't do anything half-assed," he explains how his dive into ham radio quickly expanded into a passion for

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65:03

PLEASE COPY - Mobile Signals: Ham Radio Meets Modern...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/09/10

We want to share a segment where each of the three hosts picks their favorite episode from our back catalog. We'll be taking some time off for Labor Day, the 24-hour POTA weekend, and the second weekend in September. During this break, we will re-air episodes that all three of us enjoyed recording. We’ll be back soon with more exciting content!

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29:18

PLEASE COPY - 20 WPM with a Hacksaw Blade and a Nail

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/09/03

We want to share a segment where each of the three hosts picks their favorite episode from our back catalog. We'll be taking some time off for Labor Day, the 24-hour POTA weekend, and the second weekend in September. During this break, we will re-air episodes that all three of us enjoyed recording. We’ll be back soon with more exciting content!

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76:58

PLEASE COPY - Overcoming Mic Fright

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/08/29

We want to share a segment where each of the three hosts picks their favorite episode from our back catalog. We'll be taking some time off for Labor Day, the 24-hour POTA weekend, and the second weekend in September. During this break, we will re-air episodes that all three of us enjoyed recording. We’ll be back soon with more exciting content!

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164:41

Finding POTA Legends

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/08/25

What makes the difference between casual POTA operators and those who've activated thousands of parks? The answer might surprise you.In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of elite Parks on the Air operators after discovering footage from Huntsville Hamfest featuring interviews with the program's top activators. The revelation that shook us? These operators who've made 30,000+ contacts across hundreds of parks are using basic equipment like hamsticks and simple wire antennas—gear many

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154:12

Planning for Propagation Challenges at the 24-Hour...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/08/16

The countdown to our 24-Hour Parks on the Air adventure has begun! With just 30 days until we gather at Greenfield State Park, we're diving deep into our plans for this ambitious marathon activation while addressing one key concern: will the bands cooperate?September propagation can be unpredictable, but we're not letting that dampen our spirits. Our station setup will feature a Buddy Hex antenna feeding two IC-7300s through a triplexer, giving us flexibility to operate SSB and digital modes

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153:54

Wired and Fired: When Fuses Blow But Your Radio Doesn't

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/08/05

Ever wondered what it really takes to install a ham radio in your vehicle? Join us for a deep dive into the challenges, surprises, and rewards of mobile ham radio installation as Todd shares his recent experience mounting a Yaesu FT-510 in his Jeep Wrangler.The journey wasn't without its hurdles. From deciding on the perfect antenna placement to puzzling through power connection issues, Todd's candid account offers invaluable insights for anyone considering their own mobile setup. We explore the

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141:57

Radio Rebels Plan Epic 24-Hour POTA Event

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/08/02

Picture this: a stunning sunset view from 13,000 feet, radio in hand, making contacts while floating gently down to Earth. That's exactly what Paul (N1OG) experienced during his milestone 50th skydive, bringing together his twin passions of ham radio and skydiving in spectacular fashion.In this episode, we dive deep into planning our upcoming 24-hour Parks on the Air activation at Greenfield State Park in New Hampshire. This isn't just any POTA event—it's a full-blown ham radio celebration with

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166:08

Golden Tickets and Gatekeeping: Reimagining Ham...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/07/23

fffffWhat if we could completely redesign the ham radio licensing system? This question sparks one of our most energetic discussions yet as we explore the gap between passing exams and becoming effective operators.Todd doesn't hold back, challenging the relevance of technical questions that rarely impact day-to-day operating. "There are questions on that test that I will never use in my ham radio career ever," he argues, expressing frustration with memorizing formulas and component diagrams that

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166:08

Evolving the Airwaves: What Ham Radio Could Become

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/07/15

What if your ham radio could seamlessly connect to any Bluetooth device? Imagine a rig that automatically finds local repeaters as you drive across state lines, or logs that standardize into one universal format instead of multiple competing systems.In this thought-provoking episode, we tackle the technology gap in amateur radio and explore how manufacturers and the community could embrace innovation to ensure the hobby's future. From Todd's passionate case for universal Bluetooth in all radios to

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104:41

Band Pass Filters and Bureaucracy: Field Day's...

Patreon: Live Free and Ham Podcast ·

2025/07/08

The lines between ham radio's traditional Field Day and the increasingly popular Parks on the Air program are blurring, prompting a thoughtful examination of what truly matters in our hobby. As operators pack their POTA bags weekly for activations, does the annual emergency preparedness exercise of Field Day still serve its intended purpose?This episode dives deep into how the ham radio landscape has evolved. POTA activators regularly set up portable stations in challenging conditions—essentially

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33 results

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