Sisu: You Probably Don’t Have It (but should wish you did). COMMENTARY.

There’s something happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear… Back in 2014, well before Off Grid Ham was even an Idea, I wrote the following article for another website. I’m digging it out again because after Field Day 2022, I believe the ham community could use a pep talk…. Read more »

The Secret Life of Solar Panels.

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solar panels

It’s not magic, it’s science. Few hams who use solar panels know how their panels work, or how they are made. Of course, it’s not necessary to know any of this in order to use them. Still, having a basic knowledge of solar panels makes one a more well rounded,… Read more »

Portable Antennas For The Off Grid Ham.

portable antenna

We’re not special. Off grid amateurs spend a lot of time focusing on the power source for their equipment. While that’s understandable, we musn’t be distracted from the rest of the amateur radio chain. This time we’re going to look at the other end of the system: portable antennas. To… Read more »

Add a DC Power Monitor To Your Off Grid System.

dc power monitor

More than just bling. Charging, discharging, watts in, watts out, current, voltage, and other values can tell you what your off grid system is doing. Having data helps you plan your power usage and forecast problems before being caught short. A DC power monitor addresses all these issues and is… Read more »

BREAKING NEWS. Americans Step Up: Privately Funded Shortwave Broadcasts to Ukraine Will Happen.

Power to the people. A regular Off Grid Ham reader tipped me off about an effort to privately-fund shortwave broadcasts to Ukraine. After a little fact-checking, I have determined that this is not just whimsical talk. It’s going to happen. A lawyer in California has launched a crowd funded effort to… Read more »

Kirchoff’s Current Law And Today’s Amateur.

kirchoff's current law

A very high bar. Prussian-German scientist Gustav Kirchoff (1824-1887) was a pretty impressive guy. His research led to a series of electrical principles collectively referred to as Kirchoff’s Laws. Those of us who endured electrical engineering school or technical college are very familiar with Kirchoff. Yet, he’s not particularly well… Read more »

The Transmitters of Freedom, Chapter 3: COMMENTARY.

shortwave

A moral imperative. On two previous occasions (here and here) this blog published editorials calling for a shortwave radio broadcast “revival” to oppressed foreign countries with censored internet and no free speech protections. Since then, shortwave broadcasts have declined even more. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and other world… Read more »

Передавачі свободи, Розділ 3: КОМЕНТАР.

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shortwave

Примітка редакції: Ця стаття була написана не носієм української мови. З англійської його переклав google translate. Off Grid Ham заздалегідь просить вибачення за будь-які граматичні/контекстні помилки, заплутані твердження та невідповідні культурні посилання. Нічого, крім високої поваги, не надається. Моральний імператив. У двох попередніх випадках (тут і тут) у цьому блозі… Read more »

Lithium Batteries vs. The World!

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storage batteries

Battery envy. I recently received a very nice email from Mike in Missouri where he described converting his home off grid system to lithium batteries, at a cost of over $7000.00 USD! My own home system is still on old school flooded batteries because I have not recached a point… Read more »

The Flame Goes Higher: COMMENTARY.

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amateur radio politics.

The frog in the soup pot. I believe the average Off Grid Ham reader has above-average intelligence. They also have a good grasp of what’s going on in the world. While this blog does not often delve into amateur radio politics (and even then we tread lightly), every now and… Read more »

Winter Ham Radio Operating Opportunities!

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WINTER HAM RADIO

Are you hibernating this winter? Where I live, and for most of you, it’s really cold! It seems like after the Christmas season is over no one is motivated to do much winter ham radio. It is a great time to keep going with radio activities. Of course, we need… Read more »

The Off Grid Ham Quick Start Guide!

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off grid ham quick start

When you want it now. off grid ham quick start I recently received an email from a reader who suggested that I write an article about how a newcomer to off grid radio can get started: Batteries, solar panels, etc. I was like, wait…whaaaat? Off Grid Ham is not a… Read more »