Yesterday, I had the opportunity to celebrate International Marconi Day by operating as W2GSB, the official event station for the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club. It was my first time ever operating at a club station — and also…
Ever since I upgraded to General, I knew I wanted to get on HF—but I didn’t want to drop a fortune right away. That’s when I came across the Xiegu G90. It’s compact, full-featured, and one of the most affordable…
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…