Tag Archives: amateur radio

If You Missed The Train, Don’t Worry. There Will Be Another.

covid-19

There’s a buzz about radio, and it’s not on the radio. The amateur radio social media pages and web forums are suddenly buzzing with activity. Mostly it’s from people who are not hams but want to become one. This anecdotal evidence is supported by a notable increase in web traffic… Read more »

Sorting Out Linear And Switching Power Supplies.

linear vs switching

Two of a kind? Some radio amateurs, especially those who are new to the hobby, may not even know there are two main types of power supplies. They could be forgiven for that. When you need a power supply, you just jump online, pick out that one suits your needs… Read more »

NEWS ALERT: Perovskite Solar Breakthrough.

      2 Comments on NEWS ALERT: Perovskite Solar Breakthrough.
perovskite

A promising technology. Off Grid Ham first discussed perovskite solar cells in February 2017. This still-emerging technology uses perovskite-structured crystals to pull energy from different colors of light. Silicon panels by comparison make electricity from a narrow band of light. The process for making perovskite solar is also cheaper and… Read more »

The Off Grid Ham 100 Watts for $300 Solar Energy Plant, 2020 Update.

off grid ham radio on a budget

A good value for the money never goes out of style. Back in February of 2016 the Off Grid Ham 100 Watts for $300 solar project made its debut. Over four years later it is still one of the most-viewed articles on this website with several hundred hits every month…. Read more »

Jumping Off The Grid.

      3 Comments on Jumping Off The Grid.
off grid radio guide

A lot of amateurs want to go off grid. The demand and desire to take amateur radio off grid is absolutely there. The problem is that information about off grid radio is sprinkled around. It’s hard to find straight answers. Many radio and survival blogs occasionally address the issue, but… Read more »

You’re A Ham Radio Beginner. Now What?

      4 Comments on You’re A Ham Radio Beginner. Now What?
ham radio beginner

Old timers, don’t click away just yet! This article is primarily for those who recently got their radio license, but I hope the old timers will hang around. The goal is to provide direction to the ham radio beginner and give more experienced operators some insight they can use to… Read more »

The Off Grid Ham 2019 Year In Review.

      12 Comments on The Off Grid Ham 2019 Year In Review.
2019

Thanks for making OGH a great website. 2019 has been a great year for Off Grid Ham! We racked up twenty-two articles (including this one), tens of thousands of page views, and a growing reader base from all over the world. It’s not lost on me that you readers are… Read more »

Cold Weather And Your Batteries.

      4 Comments on Cold Weather And Your Batteries.
agm batteries

Cold weather changes everything. It’s December, and for most of the USA we are heading into seriously cold weather. Cold has a lot of negative effects on off grid power and amateur radio gear. If you have not properly accounted for cold weather, then your equipment will let you down… Read more »

The Transmitters of Freedom Get A Little Louder.

shortwave broadcasting

A hot topic. My May 5, 2019 commentary, The Transmitters of Freedom Should Be Turned Back On, unexpectedly generated a great deal of attention. It quickly became one of the most reposted and shared articles on this website. It’s encouraging that so many people care about this issue. It warrants… Read more »

Survival Skills: When It’s No Longer A Hobby.

      7 Comments on Survival Skills: When It’s No Longer A Hobby.

Like it or not, you may become “that guy” (or girl). Amateur radio means different things to different people. Some like to tinker and experiment. Others are into DX or contests, or maybe community service projects. No matter what your motivations are, amateur radio serves a secondary usefulness that goes… Read more »

Go Box Zen 2.0

      6 Comments on Go Box Zen 2.0

Has it really been that long? I didn’t realize it’s been over three years since the last time Off Grid Ham specifically addressed go boxes. If the internet discussions and on air chatter are any indicator, it’s a very popular way to operate. It’s way past time to revisit the… Read more »

More Fake News, And A Promise.

      8 Comments on More Fake News, And A Promise.

Well, it’s happened again. Along the same lines of the hysterical hair on fire “they’re taking two meters away!” fake news from last summer, the latest amateur radio rumor mongering originates from the state of California. It seems that ham radio repeaters are being kicked off government-owned towers, particularly repeaters… Read more »