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PODCAST

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio

Cliff Ravenscraft

I’m Cliff Ravenscraft (KQ4UUR), a lifelong communicator who’s been podcasting since 2005. In 2024, I fulfilled a dream I’d carried since age 13 by finally becoming a licensed Amateur Radio operator. Since then, Cliff’s Notes on Amateur Radio has become my space to document this journey, sharing the joy, discoveries, and connections the hobby brings. Here you’ll find stories from the field, lessons learned through experience, and meaningful conversations with operators from across the globe

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All Episodes

63:51

019 - Meet W0KEG Kevin “KEGMan” Giebel - A Parks on...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2025/11/05

In my series called POTA Hunters, I sit down with the voices I hear in nearly every activation to get to know the people behind those familiar call signs.In this second episode, we meet Kevin “KEGMan” Giebel (W0KEG), one of the most dedicated and enthusiastic hunters in the Parks on the Air community. Though Kevin has only been licensed for about a year and a half, his passion and presence on the bands make him one of the most recognizable voices in POTA. Highlights Hear how Kevin got

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60:58

018 - Meet AL7KC Mike Sambuco - A Parks on the Air...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2025/10/30

This episode contains my first conversation in a new series called POTA Hunters, where I sit down with the voices I hear in nearly every activation to get to know the people behind those familiar call signs.Today, we meet AL7KC Mike Sambuco. When I first got into Parks on the Air (POTA), I quickly noticed the awards page, especially the one for hunting all U.S. states. Because I was doing frequent activations and hunting park-to-park contacts, those boxes began filling in pretty fast. But

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34:46

017 - I Am Going To Activate 26 Parks In Two Days...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2025/10/22

My Ambitious POTA Goal: Activate 25 Parks in Two Days (THIS WEEKEND!)Since earning my General License in September 2024, I’ve completely fallen in love with Parks On The Air (POTA). One of the goals I set for myself early on was to activate every park in my home state of Kentucky, which has 183 recognized eligible POTA parks. To track my progress, I exported the full Kentucky park database and created a custom Google My Maps visualization that updates as I go. You can view the live version

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12:51

016 - Help Me Decide What Comes Next for Cliff’s...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2025/10/16

In this short episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes and sharing two ideas that have been on my mind for Cliff’s Notes on Amateur Radio. I’m genuinely looking for your feedback to decide which of these ideas (maybe both!) I should move forward with.Idea #2: “Pota Hunters” Series The first idea is something I’m calling “POTA Hunters.” As you probably know, I’ve been incredibly active with Parks on the Air (POTA). Over time, I’ve noticed that I regularly hear from the same voices,

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68:58

015 - Portable Go Bag Complete After POTA Equipment...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2025/09/08

This episode was inspired by a QSO with Ron Rowe, W2ELS. If you’d like to hear another episode of this podcast, there’s only one way to make it happen: hunt me down in the park, mention the show, and request a new one!In this session, I share highlights from my recent Parks on the Air adventures and a few lessons learned along the way: Taking First Place at Decker WMA: The thrill of running pileups again and topping the charts in QSOs. Mic Challenges & Solutions: My struggles with

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98:21

014 - Parks, Pileups, and Podcast Listeners

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2025/08/28

In this episode, I sit down with no script, just a heart full of gratitude for this hobby that has become such a meaningful part of my life. It’s been about six weeks since the last episode, and a lot has happened since then. Here’s what I cover:The QSO That Sparked This Episode A parks-on-the-air activation at my favorite spot, Decker Wildlife Management Area, led to a surprise moment: someone on the other end of the mic told me they listen to this podcast and love it. That simple

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70:45

013 - Did I Get Bored With Amateur Radio After Four...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2025/07/14

In this episode, I share the reason I've been "radio silent" since December as it relates to this podcast.I launched this podcast on August 24th, publishing 12 podcast episodes within 17 weeks, but then stopped publishing until now, almost 7 months later. I've received many emails from folks asking about the absence of new episodes. So I decided to record this episode to explain the hiatus since December and to share a comprehensive list of my amateur radio adventures over the past seven

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90:46

012 - The Untold Story of ICOM’s Rise and Lido...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/12/12

In this episode of Cliff’s Notes on Amateur Radio, I sit down with Jim Newcomb, the founder of Lido Radio Products, to explore his incredible journey through the world of Amateur Radio and entrepreneurship. From his unexpected start at Icom America to creating one of the most trusted names in mobile radio mounting solutions, Jim shares behind-the-scenes insights, fascinating stories, and valuable lessons learned along the way.We’ll delve into: How Icom America grew into an industry leader

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74:37

011 - HF & POTA Gear Haul 2024 - Part 2

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/11/22

In this episode, I continue sharing my initial amateur radio gear purchases after selling my 1974 Classic Volkswagen Beetle, which provided me with a $9,000 budget for the hobby.Radio Purchases ICOM 7300 - For Home Base Station - Amazon Link Yaesu FT-891 - For Mobile / Portable Use - Amazon Link Yaesu YSK-891 Separation Kit for FT-891 - Amazon Link Lido heavy Duty Cup Holder - Direct Link Antenna Related Purchases Yaesu ATAS 120A - Mobile Auto Tuning Antenna - Amazon Link LDG Z-11 PRO

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56:02

010 - HF & POTA Gear Haul 2024 - Part 1

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/11/21

In this episode, I share my Amateur Radio journey over the past three and a half weeks since my first Parks On The Air activation in episode 9. I share why I've been "radio silent" when it comes to new podcast episodes for this show during this same period of time. I quickly mentioned TCRS Episode 731 and TrainWithCliff.com. I've become quite obsessed with Parks On The Air, operating HF portably, and have even set a goal to activate every park in the POTA database for the state of Kentucky

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118:32

009 - My First Parks On The Air (POTA) Park Activation

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/10/14

I'm deeply grateful for the incredible gift Mark Volstad (AI4BJ) gave me today. Mark reached out midweek, offering to assist with my first official POTA Park Activation using his own gear. This episode captures the excitement of this milestone in my amateur radio journey.This episode is lengthy and includes all 102 QSOs made during my first POTA Park activation. For a deeper understanding of Parks On The Air, I recommend watching this informative video.

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75:26

008 - Unlocking the World of HF - A Tale of...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/10/05

My First Solo Adventures with HF RadioIn this episode, I share my first solo adventures with HF radio, with the help of many different people who have made that possible for me. Selling the Volkswagen Beetle In the previous episode, I mentioned that I had a strategy for coming up with a budget for my amateur radio hobby. I knew I would want to make some purchases, so I decided to put my 1974 Volkswagen Beetle up for sale. I’ll update you on how that plan has gone so far. Receiving Generous

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63:40

007 Unlocking the World of HF: How POTA and Passion...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/09/19

In this episode, I share the story of my recent journey toward earning my General HAM Radio License and how my experience in the Parks on the Air (POTA) program motivated me to fully commit to passing the exam. You'll hear about my study techniques, my unexpected weekend adventure with a seasoned HAM operator, and how it all culminated in acing the exam.Introduction: Recap of last week’s episode where I mentioned I was hesitant but had signed up to take my General HAM Radio exam. I talk

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63:54

006 - Reconnecting Others to their Love of Amateur...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/09/12

In this episode, I share how this podcast has had the unexpected benefit of reconnecting others who had previously been active in amateur radio but had lost their passion for it over time.In fact, this episode was inspired by a heartfelt Voxer message I received from my friend Marc Jeffrey (2E0MCJ), who had been inactive in amateur radio for several years, but was inspired to dust off his equipment and get back on the air after listening to the first few episodes of this podcast. I then

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47:32

005 - The Vanity Call Sign Trap: From Buyer's Remorse...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/09/08

In this episode of Cliff's Notes on amateur radio, I share the story of my immediate buyer's remorse after receiving my assigned call sign.It all began on August 21, 2024, the day I received my amateur radio license. I was so excited that I could hardly sleep, waking up at 4 AM to check my email. To my surprise, the FCC had already issued my license at 3:24 AM that morning! When I saw my assigned call sign, KQ4UUR, my heart sank. It just didn't resonate with me. Determined to find

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40:24

004 - How To Get A 100% On Your Technician Amateur...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/09/05

Are you ready to get your Technician Amateur Radio License? In the United States, the Technician license exam consists of 35 questions drawn from a pool of 423. To pass, you need to score 74% or higher—that's 26 correct answers. In this podcast episode, I'll share the exact method and study course I used to score 100% on my Technician Amateur Radio Exam with less than 10 hours of total study time. Coupon Code (KQ4UUR) for HamRadioPrep.com. Please use coupon code KQ4UUR at checkout to get a

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77:14

003 - Digital Radio Options | A Conversation with...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/08/29

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Deacon Bradley (N5JOV), a friend who has had his amateur radio license since 2020. Deacon shares his journey into amateur radio and why he chose the Yaesu FT-60 as his first radio.The conversation then shifts to the world of digital radio options such as Yaesu's Fusion, Icom's D-STAR, and the open DMR protocol. Deacon also shares his personal experiences in Summits on the Air (SOTA). Additionally, we discussedthe importance of amateur radio in

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73:51

002 - Why Radio? Why Now? How GMRS & Cheap Baofeng...

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/08/25

In this episode, I share my unique journey of how I finally got serious about getting my amateur radio technician license. I've always been interested in radio, from my childhood experiences with Mr. Microphone and CB radio, to having a two-meter radio as a teenager. But I never took the step to get licensed seriously.That all changed during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020. With my normal routines disrupted, I started to feel a sense of fear and anxiety about the situation. I heard

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64:18

001 - An Introduction To The Host of This Podcast

Cliff"s Notes on Amateur Radio ·

2024/08/24

Hi! My name is Cliff Ravenscraft and in this introductory episode, I share my background and journey that has led me to amateur radio. Some key points: - I've had a lifelong fascination with radio and communication technology, starting from a young age with toys like Mr. Microphone and CB radios. - As a teenager, I briefly explored getting an amateur radio license but didn't follow through at the time. My interests shifted to other forms of communication like BBSs, the early internet,

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19 results

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