Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

Kevin Thomas
  • 4.4 (5)
  • TECHNOLOGY

Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio sets a new standard in amateur radio media. Through longform interviews, sharp technical insight, and global storytelling, we explore the people and ideas shaping the future of the hobby. From top-tier contesters to everyday ops, Q5 dives into what makes ham radio personal, competitive, and endlessly compelling. New episodes feature behind-the-scenes station builds, SO2R deep dives, WRTC prep, Parks on the Air, HamSCI, and honest talk from the world's most dedicated operators. Proudly supported by DX Engineering and Icom —helping hams stay loud, connected, and ready for the next challenge. Subscribe for real conversations at the edge of the hobby.

  1. 5H AGO

    Peak Operating: The SOTA Climbing Adventures of GW4BML

    Ben Lloyd GW4BML is a lifelong climber who discovered Summits on the Air (SOTA) and now combines both passions as he explores destinations across Wales and Scotland. In this conversation on Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, Ben traces his path from a childhood introduction to amateur radio at age twelve—thanks to a visit to Glyn GW0JAI’s shack—to eventually earning his full license decades later. For years, radio remained a background interest while climbing dominated his life. But when Summits on the Air entered the picture, everything clicked. Suddenly the peaks he loved became incredible operating spots, and the hobby transformed into something physical, portable, and deeply social. That convergence led to a remarkable five-year stretch of family adventures built around summits, CW, and lightweight radio gear carried up steep trails. Ben shares the craft behind mountain operating—balancing antennas, batteries, and weather with the realities of high ground—and the unique satisfaction of making contacts from places where the station truly lives in your backpack. Those experiences eventually became a book, Summit of Dreams, where Ben chronicles years of SOTA activations, climbing routes, and the people met along the way. The book captures both the technical side of operating portable radio in challenging environments and the human side of the hobby—how a simple radio on a mountaintop can connect strangers across continents and turn solitary climbs into shared adventures. It’s a story about rediscovering radio through the landscape—and about how amateur radio can turn a solitary climb into a global conversation. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. From the shack to the summit, Icom keeps hams connected. We’re proud to have their support for Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

    23 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Contest Crew Goes to Chile for Portable Contesting with CE3/N5NU

    Jason Goldsberry CE3/N5NU is quietly redefining what contesting can look like when you have no choice but to leave the house. In this episode, I’m joined by the contest crew—Randy Thompson K5ZD, Bill Fehring W9KNN, Chris Hurlbut KL9A—and their guest Jason Goldsberry CE3/N5NU, joining us from Chile. Living in a sixth-floor apartment in Las Condes, just outside Santiago, Jason quickly discovered the reality of urban RF noise—an S9 wall that made home operating nearly impossible. So he did what contesters tend to do when faced with a problem: he engineered around it. The solution? Hiking into nearby parks with a full portable station—antennas, batteries, laptop, and radio—sometimes hauling 60 pounds of gear in two trips just to get on the air. During CQ Worldwide CW, Jason packed a Yaesu FT-891, lithium batteries, and a carefully designed vertical antenna system—including a two-element vertical beam for 10 and 15 meters and a parasitic vertical array for 20. Running 100 watts on battery power, shaded only by a giant umbrella to fight the Chilean sun, he logged more than 800 QSOs in roughly 15 hours of operating. For Jason, it’s less about competing for plaques and more about giving out the mult and having fun—experiencing the magic of propagation, like hearing Mongolia at 20-over-9 or working rare openings into Asia and Europe from a hillside. Along the way, he’s discovered an unusual intersection between worlds. Portable operators and contesters don’t always overlap—but Jason lives squarely in that narrow sliver where both passions meet. Whether it’s navigating pileups with clever listening techniques, managing battery life by watching his radio screen dim, or hiking into remote spots for a better takeoff toward North America, his approach proves that big fun doesn’t always require a big station. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators who push the limits—from contest superstations to field setups like Jason’s. Their gear and expertise help Parks on the Air activators, DXers, and contesters around the world build stations that perform wherever the signal needs to go.

    30 min

  3. 2D AGO

    Inside the VP0SG South Georgia DXpedition

    Rune Øye LA7THA is helping lead the planned VP0SG South Georgia DXpedition, a major effort to activate one of the rarest DX entities in amateur radio. Rune LA7THA and Erwann Merrien LB1QI bring deep DXpedition experience to the project. Over the years they’ve been involved in activations including São Tomé S9LA, Zimbabwe Z2LA, Zambia 9J2LA, and Namibia V55LA, along with cold-weather operations from Svalbard JW0W and the massive Bouvet 3Y0J expedition. Those experiences—especially the logistical and technical lessons learned during Bouvet—now inform their approach to South Georgia. The team has already secured its expedition vessel, MV Meridian, operated by 60° South Expeditions, and assembled a 14-operator international team. Their plan is to run five stations from a tented camp on the island, with six operators on shore at a time, rotating between the island and the ship for rest. The station design also includes several remote receive stations located hundreds of meters from the main camp and connected via gigahertz microwave links. Funding and final permissions are the key milestones ahead. The expedition budget is approaching $400,000, and while the team has received encouraging feedback from the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, the official landing authorization is expected later this year. Once that approval is secured, the team expects broader support from DX clubs, foundations, and individual donors worldwide. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. This episode of Q5 Ham Radio is powered by Icom Incorporated, whose radios continue to support operators everywhere—from everyday stations to ambitious DXpeditions pushing signals across the globe.

    21 min

  4. 2D AGO

    Young Ham NU1D Heads to J62K St. Lucia for CQ WPX SSB

    Seth Jones NU1D is a 15-year-old ham radio operator from Maine who’s been steadily building his skills on the air. In the year since his first appearance on Q5, Seth has kept busy. Operating with a modest home station—an older Yaesu FT-897, a G5RV dipole about 40 feet up, and 100 watts—he’s jumped into major contests like CQ Worldwide, ARRL DX CW, NAQP, and the IARU Championship. Along the way he’s taught himself CW, logged hundreds of contacts even after missing part of a contest weekend, and gained experience the way most contesters do: by getting on the air as often as possible and learning something each time. Now he’s preparing for a new kind of experience. Seth was selected as one of two youth operators invited to join the team at the J62K multi-operator contest station in St. Lucia for CQ WPX SSB. It will be his first time traveling outside the United States—and his first chance to operate from a major multi-op station alongside experienced operators like Bill Schmidt J68HZ, Kyle Chavis WA4PGM, and others. For someone who’s been manually keying CW from a desk at home, it’s a big step into the world of large contest stations. What stands out most is Seth’s approach to the hobby. He talks about finding mentors, visiting other stations, and staying involved in the Maine ham radio community whenever he can—whether that’s Field Day, club meetings, or remote contesting with WW4LL. For Seth, the goal right now is simple: keep learning, keep operating, and see where the hobby leads. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 and for helping operators everywhere—from Parks on the Air activators to dedicated DXers and contesters—build stations that bring the world a little closer.

    13 min

  5. MAR 5

    Inside WP3Z: The Caribbean DX Contest Station That Could Be Yours

    For many contesters, the dream is simple: operate from a serious DX station in a prime location and run the pileups yourself. In this episode, José KP3J joins Q5 to talk about the remarkable Caribbean contest station he built and the story behind it. For years it has served as the home of the La Sierra Contest Group, producing big scores and unforgettable operating experiences. Now José is beginning to think about the station’s next chapter—and what it might look like for a new group of operators to take the reins. We talk about the station, the philosophy behind building and maintaining a competitive DX operation, and the idea of stewardship as these stations pass from one generation of operators to the next. Q5 is sponsored by DX Engineering.

    19 min

  6. MAR 4

    XOTA: The Case for Portable Ham Radio with Luk DD1LD

    Dzianis “Luk” Lukashevich DD1LD is an Alpine mountaineer turned ham radio innovator, leading Germany’s SOTA Alpine Association and reshaping what outdoor portable operation can look like. Introduced to amateur radio as a teenager, he returned in earnest in the mid-2000s, quickly combining two passions: climbing and operating from summits. Since then, he’s been a relentless activator across programs—SOTA (Summits on the Air), POTA (Parks on the Air), WWFF (Worldwide Flora and Fauna), IOTA (Islands on the Air), even LOTA (Lighthouses on the Air). His operating philosophy now runs on a new frequency: “Go Green” portable ops, where every activation begins and ends without a car—by bike, foot, or public transport. The idea of XOTA—“any on the air”—captures Luk’s inclusive style. Why limit yourself to one program when the entire outdoors is your shack? This spirit led him to a record-breaking 10-region SOTA activation across the German Alps in a single day and to summiting Sweden’s highest peak solo during a multi-day trail run—all while operating QRP with rigs the size of a credit card. His gear has evolved, but his ethos remains: lightweight, ecological, and always up for a challenge. Luk’s not just a climber with a key. He’s a contest-caliber operator attempting SO2R in the woods, mentoring his young sons in CW before they can read, and imagining a future where ham radio overlays like “Go Green” become standard. Whether it’s a picnic table POTA run or an ascent to a summit, he’s always looking for the next edge—and the next QSO. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to Icom for sponsoring Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio—because legendary QSOs deserve legendary radios.

    53 min

  7. MAR 3

    World Wide Award Introduces the First YL Program

    The World Wide Award for YLs is new—and it launches March 9. Designed to increase visibility, participation, and on-air activity among women in amateur radio, the program creates a clear, structured path for operators around the world to make contacts with YLs and earn recognition. Marion W1GRL and Carlo IK1HJS explain how the award works, who can participate, qualification details, and why this initiative matters right now. If you want to be part of the inaugural run, now is the time to register, review the rules, and get ready. Early participation will shape the momentum of this program from day one. Q5 is proudly supported by Icom—building radios that inspire operators to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

    18 min

  8. MAR 2

    Inside the New POTA Board’s Vision: Mark K8MST

    Mark Torigian K8MST is a retired attorney, former general counsel for Hyundai Motor Company, and now a driving force behind establishing strong governance principles with the newly formed Parks on the Air board. Licensed in 2021 after decades of putting off the hobby, Mark dove headfirst into ham radio—and POTA—during the pandemic, first as a hunter, then as an activator with hundreds of parks under his belt. In just a few years, he went from newcomer to board member of one of the fastest-growing programs in amateur radio. With nearly 50 million QSOs logged, 84,000 registered operators, and 85,000 parks across 236 DX entities, POTA isn’t just thriving—it’s reshaping the hobby. Mark brings something different to the table: four decades of legal and corporate governance experience. At Hyundai, his mission was program integrity—building rules, systems, and internal controls that could withstand explosive growth. Now he’s applying that same mindset to POTA. Not to burden activators and hunters with red tape, but to strengthen the foundation behind the scenes: bylaws, board structure, financial oversight, data privacy protections, and clearer rules that eliminate ambiguity. “If ten hams interpret a rule and you get twenty-five answers,” he says, “we need to fix that.” Behind the curtain, a 21-person volunteer development team led by James Linden, VE3JLN, is rewriting the IT backbone—modernizing a decade-old cloud-based system that now processes more than a million QSOs a month. Add to that the financial reality: roughly $5,000–$6,000 per month just to keep the servers running. No corporate sponsor bankrolls this operation. It’s volunteers, modest book royalties, and community donations keeping the engine alive. And yet, the spirit remains intact. Mark tells the story of operating Winter Field Day at minus 15 degrees—three antennas up in an hour—proving that POTA is more than a game. It’s training. It’s readiness. It’s community. His pledge? Make it better without breaking what already works. Stronger governance. Greater transparency. Seamless improvement. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A special thank you to DX Engineering for standing behind operators everywhere—from Parks on the Air activators to dedicated DXers and contesters—with equipment and expertise that keep stations on the air. Your support helps ensure this global community continues to grow and thrive.

    26 min
See All (216)

Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio sets a new standard in amateur radio media. Through longform interviews, sharp technical insight, and global storytelling, we explore the people and ideas shaping the future of the hobby. From top-tier contesters to everyday ops, Q5 dives into what makes ham radio personal, competitive, and endlessly compelling. New episodes feature behind-the-scenes station builds, SO2R deep dives, WRTC prep, Parks on the Air, HamSCI, and honest talk from the world's most dedicated operators. Proudly supported by DX Engineering and Icom —helping hams stay loud, connected, and ready for the next challenge. Subscribe for real conversations at the edge of the hobby.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Thomas
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    216
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

You Might Also Like