Everyday Ham Podcast: Amateur Radio Conversations

Rory Locke (W8KNX), Jim Davis (N8JRD), & James Mills (K8JKU)

Welcome to the Everyday Ham Podcast, where three friends dive into the world of amateur (ham) radio with a casual, lighthearted twist. (Visit www.everydayham.com)From discussing what we're working on, current events, and lessons learned to sharing our gripes and off-topic banter, we bring a mix of fun, relatable conversations and radio expertise. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or new to the hobby, join us for engaging chats that celebrate the quirks, challenges, and joys of being on the air. 

  1. Hamvention 2026: Recap, Reactions, and a Brewing Showdown

    May 22 ·  Video

    Hamvention 2026: Recap, Reactions, and a Brewing Showdown

    Send us Fan Mail A concept radio with "almost nothing" on display managed to dominate Hamvention 2026, and we can't stop talking about what that means for the future of ham radio. We're fresh back from Dayton, a little punchy, and ready to unpack the best conversations we had with vendors, makers, and listeners who recognized our voices across the noise of the fairgrounds. If you care about where mobile rigs, repeaters, and digital features are headed next, this recap is loaded with real impressions and honest skepticism. We dig into the biggest manufacturer moments first: Yaesu's DR-3 repeater direction and the next steps for System Fusion, Kenwood's long-awaited TM-D750A progress and why "ship it later" can be the right call when firmware isn't ready, and Icom's X-026 concept strategy that had people cheering, arguing, and even storming away. We debate whether asking the community for feedback is a bold move or a frustrating tease, and why market size, R&D timelines, and expectations at Hamvention don't always align. Then we get practical with gear that feels closer to daily use, especially the Icom ID-5200. We talk interface upgrades, smart mobile touches like auto-dimming, and the big headline that grabbed our attention: native APRS encode and decode via firmware update. We also zoom out to the rest of the show, from Four Days in May and small vendor innovation to CW key makers, swap meet pricing, and what the flea market "junk scale" looked like this year. If you like this kind of grounded ham radio coverage, subscribe, share the show with a friend headed to their next hamfest, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Then come hang out with us in Discord and drop your take: is the X-026 hype brilliant or annoying? Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    52 min
  2. Hamvention 2026 Survival Guide: Strategy, Gear & The ICOM X-026 Reveal

    May 7 ·  Video

    Hamvention 2026 Survival Guide: Strategy, Gear & The ICOM X-026 Reveal

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to waste Hamvention is to treat it like a random walk. We're getting ahead of Dayton with the game plan we wish we had on day one: how to pace the weekend, when to hit the flea market swap meet, how to avoid the worst lines, and why the forums can be the most underrated part of the whole show. We also catch up from our shacks, because real ham radio life is never just shopping. Rory shares lessons from the Michigan QSO Party and why CW contesting is the best training ground for finally hearing callsigns at speed. James brings the portable angle with travel radio, Parks on the Air stories from Hawaii and the Grand Canyon, and what it takes to make a station work when you're far from home. Jim talks simple antenna building with a 9:1 setup and what he's learning by hosting a club System Fusion repeater and helping keep local machines on the air. Then we get into the big Hamvention gear energy: ICOM's X-026 concept has the internet buzzing about a mobile rig that could merge HF with VHF/UHF in a clean install. Kenwood's TM-D750A is still the question everyone wants answered. And Yaesu staying quiet has us all guessing what comes next in handhelds and battery life. If you're heading to Dayton, you'll leave with practical tips you can use immediately and a checklist mindset that keeps the weekend fun. Subscribe for our Hamvention field coverage, share this with a ham who's traveling to Dayton, and leave a review if the show helps you plan smarter. What's the one thing you refuse to miss at Hamvention this year? 📢 Subscribe & Follow! 🎧 Audio: https://www.everydayham.com 📺 YouTube: @EverydayHam 📷 Instagram: @everydayhampodcast 73! Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    1 hr
  3. Returning to the Moon: Optimism & Technology that Moves Our Space Needle

    Apr 9

    Returning to the Moon: Optimism & Technology that Moves Our Space Needle

    Send us Fan Mail Space travel didn't get safer, we just got used to it. That's the feeling driving our Artemis II nerd-out as we watch humans loop the Moon again for the first time since the Apollo era, with Orion pushing distance records and reminding everyone that deep space is still the bleeding edge. We start with real-life radio talk, because our hobby is built on practical lessons: Jim resets his brain by stepping away from the shack, then immediately buys a Xiegu G90 for a lightweight, throw-it-in-the-car HF kit. Rory shares how getting an antenna outside changes everything, plus the rhythm of QSO party season and adding more CW into the toolbox. James brings field notes from POTA in Hawaii, where being remote changes your expectations, your patience, and especially your battery math. Then we go full Artemis. We laugh about the one topic every mission forces into the open -- the toilet -- and why creature comforts are actually crew performance issues. We talk Orion's tight quarters, the surprisingly modern feel of mission control, and the communications backbone that keeps the whole thing working. From the Deep Space Network to next-gen optical laser comms, we dig into bandwidth limits and how proven gear like GoPros and a Nikon D5 earns its seat on a moon mission. We bring it back to ham radio with licensed astronauts on the crew, volunteer tracking efforts, and the thrill of hearing space comms piped onto VHF. Follow Everyday Ham: 🎙 Website: https://www.everydayham.com 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayHam 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayhampodcast/ Don't miss a single episode! Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and more -- links at EverydayHam.com. Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    55 min
  4. Ham2K PoLo Cloud Sync Is Live and It's Just the Beginning

    Mar 26 ·  Bonus

    Ham2K PoLo Cloud Sync Is Live and It's Just the Beginning

    Send us Fan Mail Your logging app is not just a logbook anymore, and Ham2K PoLo is proof. We sit down with Sebastián Delmont KI2D, the creator and lead developer of PoLo, right as his Ham2K LoFi cloud sync service goes live. If you have ever exported an ADIF file, emailed it to yourself, merged duplicates, or realized your other device has the QSO you need, this conversation hits home fast. We dig into what Ham2K LoFi actually does and why syncing ham radio logging data is more complex than tossing files into iCloud. PoLo syncs at the QSO level, has to survive offline activations, and needs to merge cleanly when you reconnect. Sebastián also breaks down the practical side: app store subscription approvals, backend costs, and why he chose a pricing model that stays approachable at $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year, with a free tier designed to cover most operators while protecting server load. Then we zoom out to the fun part: what sync enables next. Think shared logs for multi-op POTA and SOTA days, QR code log sharing, and a path toward Field Day logging without the laptop maze. We also talk about upcoming tools like a web-based log browser for easy desktop ADIF export, future push uploads to services like QRZ and POTA, and a bigger Log Filer vision that can import ADIF archives and unify your QSO history across sources like Logbook of the World. If you are looking for a modern ham radio logging workflow that works on iOS, Android, and even Apple Silicon Macs, hit play and come along for the roadmap. Subscribe, share this with a friend or clubmate, and leave a review. What would you want PoLo to automate next? Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    41 min

  5. Mar 5

    Are Radio Prices Going Up? Bouvet, Yaesu & HamClock

    Send us Fan Mail A Bird 43 wattmeter score at the swap, two new budget handhelds worth a look, and Rory's CW skills getting sharper through QSO parties and daily POTA hunting set the stage for a packed Episode 15. FT2 mode is here and it is fast - we're talking 3.75-second transmit/receive cycles and roughly 240 QSOs per hour at peak. But speed costs you something: the weak-signal performance drops significantly compared to FT8, and your time sync has to be nearly perfect. We map out where FT2 makes sense and when you should stick with what works. Then we head south - way south - to Bouvet Island. The 3Y0K DXpedition has the bands blazing and livestreams running via Starlink. But not every station should be in that pile. We talk strategy and sportsmanship: use PSK Reporter or GridTracker to confirm your signal is actually going that direction before calling, understand how Fox and Hound works, and know when your antenna and geography just are not going to win the slot. The market news is hard to ignore: significant Yaesu MSRP increases across popular rigs including the FTDX10, FT-891, and FTDX101MP. We break down why tariffs, logistics, component costs, and yen-to-dollar swings are all pushing prices up - and whether waiting for Hamvention deals still makes sense. Finally, HamClock lives on. After the passing of its creator Elwood, the community moved fast. Hamclock.com (W4BAE) restores the data feeds with redundancy and a simple host file edit. OpenHamClock offers a polished browser-based and self-hosted option. HamVision is an emerging alternative worth watching. And Geochron remains a solid turnkey choice for those who want it to just work. We wrap with a genuine win from the ARRL: amateur operators are exempted from foreign adversary contact reporting requirements. When the community organizes, good things happen. Don't miss a single episode! Follow Everyday Ham on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and more, and subscribe to our YouTube channel at @EverydayHam. Ideas or feedback? Email us at cq@everydayham.com. Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    1h 2m

  6. Feb 5

    Do You Really Need a New Radio? Honest Ham Radio Upgrade Advice

    Send us Fan Mail Do you really need that new radio? In Episode 14, James (K8JKU), Jim (N8JRD), and Rory (W8KNX) get honest about the pressure to upgrade ham radio gear and share what they’ve learned from their own buying mistakes. We begin with a moment of remembrance for Elwood Downey, creator of HamClock, and share what his contributions meant to the community. Then we catch up around the shack — Jim’s new CW trainer, James’s hotel radio experiments from Germany, and Rory’s progress with Morse code through the Long Island CW Club. The main topic digs into upgrade pressure. Jim confesses his $10K shack might not outperform his old $890 FT-DX10 and $99 end-fed combo. Rory makes the case that antennas matter more than radios. James shares his FTX-1F disappointment and why he went crawling back to his trusted FT-891. The unanimous takeaway: more antenna, less radio. We also talk BuddiHEX plans, hamfest buying strategies heading into Hamcation and Hamvention season, and preview our upcoming trip to Orlando. Don’t miss a single episode! Follow the Everyday Ham Podcast on your favorite podcast platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and more) and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. https://www.everydayham.com Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    51 min

  7. Jan 8

    How to Learn CW in 2026: Two Paths to Morse Code Success

    Send us Fan Mail Five watts, a tiny coil antenna on a travel tripod, and a camera-bag station that reaches across states—CW isn't a relic, it's a practical advantage. In this episode, we invited Terry W8TMB to walk us through how he learned Morse code without drowning in drills, why CW pairs perfectly with POTA and QRP, and what actually works when your sending is solid but your copy lags behind. We compare two popular learning paths: CW Academy and Long Island CW Club. CW Academy offers a free, semester-style program with fixed class times and steady accountability—great if you thrive with structure. Long Island CW Club takes a different approach with flexible, year-round carousels, multiple time slots each week, and an emphasis on getting on the air early. Their $30/year (or $90 lifetime) membership includes about 170 classes per week, a powerful browser-based practice tool, and thoughtful accessibility options for autistic, visually impaired, and hearing-impaired hams. From there we dig into practical tactics: stop counting dits and dahs—train your ear to recognize full characters. Use Farnsworth spacing to create breathing room. Drill random call signs to break predictability. Send back what you copy immediately to lock it in. Ditch the decoders and cheat sheets; they slow your ear. Code-talk license plates on road trips, work short daily sessions, and aim your practice at real exchanges like POTA and simple contests. Terry's field kit shows what's possible: a CFT-1 five-band QRP rig, a 3D-printed coil antenna from Ham Radio Duo, and a 16Wh battery that lasted two hours with 75% remaining. As bands shift with the solar cycle, CW keeps you in the game. 🔗 RESOURCES: CW Academy: https://cwops.org/cw-academy/Long Island CW Club: https://longislandcwclub.org/Morse Mania App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/morse-mania-learn-morse-code/id1511042196LCWO: https://lcwo.net/V-Band: https://hamradio.solutions/vband/Don't miss an episode! Follow the Everyday Ham Podcast on your favorite podcast platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and more) and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 🎙️ Hosts: James K8JKU, Jim N8JRD, Rory W8KNX Guest: Terry W8TMB Website: https://www.everydayham.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayhampodcast/ Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    59 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    2026 Ham Radio Predictions: New Rigs, Community & What's Next

    Send us Fan Mail What does 2026 have in store for ham radio? A year into the podcast, James (K8JKU), Jim (N8JRD), and Rory (W8KNX) turn up the dial with a forward look at the hobby's near future — grounded in real gear, real operating, and real community. We start in the shack with winter POTA prep, a feather-light 33-foot mast, a fiber-fueled network overhaul, and a pair of pristine rotary phones begging for a ham project. Then we get into the predictions. On the gear side, we share our predictions for what hardware might be on the horizon — what we'd love to see from the major manufacturers and where we think the industry is heading. But hardware isn't the whole story. POTA and SOTA remain the heartbeat of growth because they lower the barrier to entry and make radio feel alive. We share why portable operating will keep rising even as solar conditions tighten. At home, we're betting on a repeater revival — AllStar links, creative nets like SSTV nights, and "leave no call unanswered" as the culture shift that keeps VHF/UHF useful and welcoming. College clubs are buzzing again, and the formula scales: be kind, run practical events, and meet people where they are — on-air, at meetups, or on Discord. AI comes up, minus the hype. Think helpful, not magical: audio-assisted logging, smarter noise control, and developer tooling that speeds up ham software. It's another tool, like a good tuner — valuable when it saves time and stays out of the way. We wrap with personal goals — Extra class ambitions and a fresh pull toward CW — and a reminder that every license class is valid. The hobby thrives when we celebrate each step and keep the airwaves friendly. Connect with us: 🌐 Website: https://www.everydayham.com 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayhampodcast/ 💬 Discord: Join our community at everydayham.com What rig are you hoping to see next? How will you help revive your local repeater? Drop your predictions in our Discord or in the comments! Don't miss a single episode! Follow the Everyday Ham Podcast on your favorite podcast platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and more) and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Short show intro audio clip Short outro audio clip The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.  Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

    51 min
See All (23)

4.9
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Everyday Ham Podcast, where three friends dive into the world of amateur (ham) radio with a casual, lighthearted twist. (Visit www.everydayham.com)From discussing what we're working on, current events, and lessons learned to sharing our gripes and off-topic banter, we bring a mix of fun, relatable conversations and radio expertise. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or new to the hobby, join us for engaging chats that celebrate the quirks, challenges, and joys of being on the air. 

Information

You Might Also Like