Getting your ham radio license might sound intimidating at first, but it’s way more approachable than most people think. I started with zero experience—and now I’ve passed both the Technician and General exams. Right now, I’m studying for my Amateur…
Programming a Baofeng UV-5R for the first time can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to manually enter frequencies on that tiny keypad. But here’s the good news: CHIRP makes the whole process way easier. If your radio is…
This morning, I got the email from the FCC — my General Class license upgrade has officially been processed. And yep, it happened on April Fools’ Day! But don’t worry, it’s not a prank — I passed my General Class…
When I first got licensed on February 27, 2025, I was issued the callsign KE2FFT. A few weeks later, I decided to change my ham radio callsign, and that’s when I found W2DIY. I had already set up a bunch…
Everyone starts somewhere — and this is where my ham radio journey began. I’ve picked up a few radios along the way, each one marking a step in the learning process. Here’s a look at my beginner ham radio setup,…
Hey there — I’m Daniel, and welcome to W2DIY. I’m a new ham just starting out and learning the ropes of this incredible hobby. I started this blog to document my journey, share what I’m picking up along the way,…
Online courses: Ham Radio Prep is what I personally used — it’s video-based, easy to follow, and designed for complete beginners. Books: The ARRL Technician Manual or Gordon West’s study guides are popular options. Free apps and sites: Try HamStudy.org,…
When I first got licensed, I kept hearing phrases on the air that didn’t make sense right away. There’s a lot of lingo in ham radio — and while some of it can sound technical or old-school, knowing the basics…
When I first got my license, I kept hearing the term “net” tossed around. Everyone talked about checking in or joining a local net — but if you’re new like me, you might not know exactly what that means. So,…
When you’re just getting into ham radio, there are a ton of new features to explore — and VOX is one of those settings that sounds useful, but can catch you off guard if you’re not careful. VOX stands for…