BEHIND THE MIC

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The Ham Radio Guy

Marvin Turner - W0MET

Ham Radio Guy provides education and news to the ham radio community with recent updates to new radios, tools, legislation, and inspire new hams to get on the air.

  1. Behind the Mic - Shack Smarts #2

    5D AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Behind the Mic - Shack Smarts #2

    In this Subscriber/Patreon-exclusive episode of Shack Smarts, we dig into one of the most overlooked advantages in portable operating: preparation and dry runs. Whether you’re gearing up for Field Day or heading out for a POTA activation, success doesn’t start when you arrive on site — it starts in your shack. In this episode, I break down practical ways to eliminate stress before you ever load the truck. We talk about staged gear layouts, packing order strategy, power planning, antenna pre-checks, and why doing a full mock setup at home can expose the little issues that turn into big headaches in the field. I also share lessons learned from my own Field Day operations and POTA outings — including how small adjustments in preparation can drastically improve efficiency, confidence, and on-air performance. Preparation isn’t just about remembering your coax. It’s about: Testing radios under load Verifying batteries and connectors Pre-programming frequencies and logging software Checking SWR and antenna configurations Timing your setup and teardown Having a backup plan (and then backing up the backup) If you’ve ever felt rushed, forgotten a critical adapter, or spent the first hour troubleshooting instead of operating, this episode is for you. As a reminder, Shack Smarts is exclusively available to paid Patreon members and Apple Podcast subscribers. These focused, practical episodes are designed specifically for those who want to sharpen their operating skills and get the most out of their portable and field experiences. They will not be released to the general public. Thank you for supporting this deeper level of content. Your support makes it possible to create practical, experience-driven material that helps all of us operate smarter, not harder.

    10 min
  2. 12/18/2025

    2025 Year in Review Episode #67

    2025 Year-End Review: Amateur Radio News, FCC Updates & Silent Keys As we close out 2025, Marvin Turner, W0MET, takes a comprehensive look back at the year in amateur radio. In this special year-end episode of The Ham Radio Guy, we cover the biggest equipment releases, major FCC and regulatory developments, industry changes, and key public-service milestones that shaped the hobby. Highlights include new radios from Yaesu, FlexRadio, Icom, and Kenwood, the expansion of the 60-meter band, ongoing spectrum and antenna-rights advocacy, the shutdown of Hamshack Hotline, and SteppIR’s exit from the amateur antenna market. We also reflect on milestones like the IARU’s 100th anniversary, the Hurricane Watch Net’s 60 years of service, and ARISS special events aboard the International Space Station. The episode concludes with a respectful tribute to several Silent Keys whose leadership and dedication left a lasting impact on amateur radio. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or new to the bands, this episode offers a thoughtful recap of where amateur radio has been—and where it’s headed next. 73, Marvin, W0MET     Affiliate Links   Dakota Lithium – LiPo batteries – 11 yr warranty. Dakota Lithium use Coupon Code: thehamradioguy   Hamstuffonline.com   American Filament   Use code HRG to give customers 5% off of up to 2 spools.   ABR industries – Coax https://abrind.com/?sld=w0met10   County Comms - Every day carry items https://countycomm.com/THEHAMRADIO   Ham radio Prep  https://www.HamRadioPrep.com/?rfsn=8918896.b362a3.  Use code HAMRADIOGUY.   Alpha Antenna.    https://www.alphaantenna.com/W0MET?aff=24   Bridgecom Systems https://www-affiliate-bridgecomsystems.goaffpro.com/    https://portal.referralcandy.com/FKVKH75/share_redirect?type=referral_link_email_click&location=reminder_email&message_id=1231229231   Big Poppa Smokers.  http://shrsl.com/4u7s0. FREEAFFBPS  Use code for Free shipping   Lido mounts https://www.lidoradio.com/pages/brands?sca_ref=8185043.zmqlAAzYNB you can also click on any link and use Coupon Code: HamRadioGuy   Spec 5 Meshtashtic https://specfive.com?sca_ref=8242389.ii7FfHThhfLNxdCl SOCIAL MEDIA   https://twitter.com/TheHamRadioGuy    https://www.patreon.com/TheHamRadioGuy   Email: W0MET@thehamradioguy.com   Sign up for the newsletter

    46 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Ham Radio Guy provides education and news to the ham radio community with recent updates to new radios, tools, legislation, and inspire new hams to get on the air.

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