Brew and Activate

Brew & Activate - N1JUR
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Welcome to Brew & Activate, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of Parks on the Air (POTA) every Friday morning! Join us for lively discussions that cover everything you need to know—from gear and antennas to optimal setups. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we’ll explore every aspect of outdoor ham radio operations, including those topics that might initially seem less exciting. Grab your favorite beverage and tune in for a great conversation!

  1. VHF Contesting from the Field ARRL June VHF Contest Prep with N2MAK

    hace 4 d

    VHF Contesting from the Field ARRL June VHF Contest Prep with N2MAK

    This Friday on Brew & Activate, Mike N2MAK joins me to talk about the upcoming ARRL June VHF Contest — what it is, how he is preparing for it, what operators should expect, and why VHF contesting might be way more connected to portable operating than people realize. We’re going to dig into the crossover between portable radio, VHF/UHF operating, contest strategy, field setups, antennas, location, timing, and making contacts when you’re not running a monster station on a mountain with a beam the size of a small bridge. If you’ve ever done POTA, SOTA, rover-style operating, simplex work, 2 meters, 6 meters, or you’ve looked at a VHF contest and thought, “Is this something I could actually try?” — this is the episode to hang out for. Mike will be sharing how he gets ready, what bands and gear he thinks about, what newer operators should understand before jumping in, and how portable operators can use contests like this to sharpen their skills. So grab your coffee, charge the batteries, check the coax you definitely meant to check last week, and come hang out with us live. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    1 h 27 min
  2. Getting Nerdy About Antennas SWR, Resonance & Reactance (Part 1 of 3)

    8 jun

    Getting Nerdy About Antennas SWR, Resonance & Reactance (Part 1 of 3)

    Most ham radio operators know they should pay attention to SWR. Far fewer understand what SWR is actually trying to tell them. In Part 1 of our new 3-part antenna series, we're getting nerdy and diving deep into one of the most misunderstood topics in amateur radio. We'll break down Standing Wave Ratio (SWR), what causes it to change, what the numbers really mean, and why low SWR doesn't automatically mean you have a great antenna. We'll also explore common myths, practical POTA examples, field deployment challenges, feedline behavior, reflected power, and how changing conditions in the field can impact your readings. Whether you're running an end-fed, dipole, vertical, or loaded coil antenna, or something in between, understanding SWR is the first step toward understanding what your antenna system is actually doing. This is Part 1 of a special 3-part Brew & Activate series: ☕ Part 1: SWR – The Most Misunderstood Number in Ham Radio ☕ Part 2: Resonance – Where Your Antenna Wants to Live ☕ Part 3: Reactance, Efficiency & Why Solar Cycle 25 Changes Everything Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    1 h 44 min
  3. Stop Overthinking Antennas: Portable HF Tips with Matt from Reliance Antennas

    3 jun

    Stop Overthinking Antennas: Portable HF Tips with Matt from Reliance Antennas

    Antennas might be the most important part of your portable ham radio setup — and also the thing most of us overthink, misunderstand, rebuild, argue about, and occasionally blame when the bands are just being rude. This week on Brew & Activate, I’m joined by Matt from Reliance Antennas to talk about everything antennas. We’ll dig into portable antenna setups, POTA operating, end fed antennas, random wires, transformers, tuners, coax, chokes, antenna testing, field reliability, and what really matters when you’re trying to get on the air from a park. We’ll also talk about the Reliance Antennas brand, how Matt designs and builds antennas for real-world use, and what operators should think about when choosing or building their own antenna system. Whether you’re brand new to HF, getting into Parks on the Air, or you’ve been throwing wires into trees for years, this one should be packed with practical takeaways. Bring your antenna questions. Bring your hot takes. Bring your emotionally complicated SWR stories. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    2 h 5 min
  4. POTA Q&A + Honor & Activate: Let’s Light Up RF This Weekend

    24 may

    POTA Q&A + Honor & Activate: Let’s Light Up RF This Weekend

    This week on Brew & Activate, we’re keeping it loose and opening things up for a live POTA, portable radio, and Tiles on the Air Q&A. Bring your questions about activations, hunters, gear, antennas, go-kits, logging, pileups, quick lunch-break activations, or whatever RF weirdness is currently living rent-free in your brain. We’ll also take a few minutes to talk about Honor & Activate, the Tiles on the Air Memorial Day weekend event, and how we can use radio to do something a little more meaningful while still having fun, getting outside, and lighting up some RF. Whether you’re chasing parks, activating tiles, building a better go-kit, or just trying to figure out why your antenna only behaves when nobody is watching, come hang out with the Brew Crew. Links: Honor & Activate: https://tilesontheair.com/MemorialDay Tiles on the Air: https://tilesontheair.com ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    1 h 37 min
  5. Your POTA Bag Is Lying To You — Here’s How To Fix It

    15 may

    Your POTA Bag Is Lying To You — Here’s How To Fix It

    What’s actually in your POTA bag… and is it really ready? This week on Brew & Activate, we’re talking about one of the most common portable ham radio problems: keeping your POTA go-kit organized, charged, packed, and actually ready for the next activation. Because let’s be honest — most activations do not fall apart because of the radio. They fall apart because the coax is missing, the battery is dead, the adapter is in another bag, or the one cable you need is sitting back at the shack laughing at you. We’ll break down practical ways to organize your POTA gear, including core kits, mission-based add-ons, pre-flight checklists, post-activation reset routines, and smarter ways to track what lives in each bag. Then I’ll give you a first look at the gear bag tracker app I’m working on for portable operators. The goal is simple: help hams know what’s packed, what’s missing, what needs charging, and what needs to be reset before the next outing. Bring your best “I forgot the thing” stories. We’ve all got one. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    1 h 20 min
  6. Stop Guessing Your Bands — Use This AI Prompt Instead

    8 may

    Stop Guessing Your Bands — Use This AI Prompt Instead

    In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a practical way to use AI for POTA — no hype, no fluff, just something you can actually use before your next activation. Instead of bouncing between solar data, propagation maps, and signal reports… we’re using a simple, repeatable AI prompt that turns all of that into one clear answer based on your gear, your power, and your setup. 👉 We’ll walk through: A custom AI prompt you can copy and use before every activation How to tailor it to your radio, antenna, and power level A “what-if” scenario prompt to test different setups before you leave the house Real examples of how this helps you pick the right band, mode, and strategy This isn’t about replacing skill—it’s about making better decisions before you ever key the mic. 🧠 TRY IT YOURSELF Run this before your next activation and see what changes: Your starting band Your contact rate Your overall success Then come back and let us know 👇 ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    2 h 3 min
  7. Stop Chasing Parks… Start Activating Grids (Tiles On The Air)

    28 abr

    Stop Chasing Parks… Start Activating Grids (Tiles On The Air)

    Is Tiles On The Air (TOTA) the next big thing in ham radio? In this episode of Brew & Activate, we’re diving into a brand new program that’s starting to get attention across the hobby — Tiles On The Air. Instead of parks or summits, this program focuses on grid square activations, bringing a fresh twist to portable operating and giving hunters and activators a whole new way to get on the air. We’re joined by special guest Facundo (KK4ODA), the creator and developer of Tiles On The Air, to break it all down: What Tiles On The Air is How it works How it compares to POTA and SOTA How YOU can get started Whether you're a seasoned activator or just looking for something new to try, this might be the next program you add to your rotation. 🔗 Learn more about Tiles On The Air: 👉 https://tilesontheair.com ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    1 h 42 min
  8. Stop Guessing Your Battery Life – The Only Math You Need for POTA

    18 abr

    Stop Guessing Your Battery Life – The Only Math You Need for POTA

    Ever had your radio die right in the middle of a pileup? Yeah… it’s probably not your battery. It’s your math. In this episode of Brew & Activate, we break down battery math in a way that actually matters in the field—no fluff, no overcomplicated engineering talk… just real-world understanding you can use on your next activation. We cover: ⚡ The difference between Amp Hours (Ah) and Watt Hours (Wh) ⚡ Why your battery NEVER lasts as long as you think ⚡ How modes like SSB vs FT8 completely change runtime ⚡ Voltage sag (and why your radio shuts off early) ⚡ Cold weather performance (this one gets people every time) ⚡ The simple formula to actually plan your activation time 👉 Plus: I built a simple battery calculator you can use on your phone in the field so you never have to guess again. 👇 Grab the calculator here: [INSERT YOUR GOOGLE SHEET LINK] --- 💡 Bottom line: Amp hours tell a story… Watt hours tell the truth. #POTA #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #BatteryPower #FieldRadio #PortableOps ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop Follow me on: Website: https://n1jur.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

    1 h 48 min
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Información

Welcome to Brew & Activate, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of Parks on the Air (POTA) every Friday morning! Join us for lively discussions that cover everything you need to know—from gear and antennas to optimal setups. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we’ll explore every aspect of outdoor ham radio operations, including those topics that might initially seem less exciting. Grab your favorite beverage and tune in for a great conversation!

Ficha técnica

  • Creado por
    Brew & Activate - N1JUR
  • Años en activo
    2 mil
  • Episodios
    43
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Derechos de autor
    © N1JUR Amateur Radio
  • Sitio web del podcast
    Brew and Activate
  • Proveedor

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