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AmateurLogic 219: Field Day 2026
July 18th, 2026 | 
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AmateurLogic.TV Episode 219 is now available for download.
Field Day 2026 at Pearl River County Amateur Radio Club and W5AXC. Antennas, radios, and hams make for a fun weekend.
Mike’s SenseCAP K1100 and the Helium network.
Episode Highlights:
In episode 219 of AmateurLogic.TV, the team reflects on their experiences at Field Day 2026 and explores various technical projects.
Pearl River County ARC: The team visited the Pearl River County Amateur Radio Club in Picayune, Mississippi, highlighting innovative setups like a multi-band dipole made from a chalk reel (3:12) and a vertical antenna construction (5:33).
W5AXC: George and Tommy shared their own station setups, discussing the use of the IC-7100, Icom IC-7760, and Yaesu FT-857D (11:15, 15:56), the challenges of getting antennas into trees, and the necessity of using antenna tuners and various battery solutions (12:33, 16:58, 25:00).
Technical Projects and News:
SenseCAP K1100: Mike demonstrates the Seeed Studio SenseCAP K1100 sensor prototype kit, discussing its integration with LoRaWAN and the Helium network to monitor greenhouse data (36:20, 41:40).
Mesh Networking: Emile discusses the Gulf Coast Mesh Network and the potential for experimenting with the 915 MHz ISM band (34:00, 56:59).
Homeowner Association (HOA) Solutions: Tommy shares an ARRL news story about a ham in California who successfully used a horizontal loop antenna around his fence (20:10).
Community Interaction: The episode concludes with viewer emails, including a discussion on troubleshooting an MFJ-949E tuner (47:47).
Ham College 141
Ham College episode 141 is now available for download.
General Exam Questions Part 2.
G1B – Antenna structure limitations, good engineering and good amateur practice, beacon operation, prohibited transmissions, retransmitting radio
https://hamcollege.tv
Key Topics Covered:
Antenna Structure Limitations: Discussion of FAA/FCC registration requirements for towers, with a focus on height (3:40–6:00).
Beacon Operations: Explanation of beacon purposes, such as observing propagation (8:09–10:18), power limits (typically 100 watts PEP), and frequency allocations (e.g., 28.2–28.3 MHz on 10 meters) (22:48–26:48).
Transmission Rules: Rules regarding one-way transmissions, the prohibition of encryption (with specific exceptions for control signals), and the use of procedural signals like Q-codes (10:18–14:28, 18:57–20:00).
Legal & Operational Standards: Guidelines for state and local government regulation of antenna structures (15:26–16:56) and the definition of good engineering/amateur practice, which falls under FCC oversight (26:51–28:43).
International Communication: Rules regarding contacting amateurs outside of FCC jurisdiction (20:17–22:45).
AmateurLogic 218: No Static At All
AmateurLogic.TV Episode 218 is now available for download.
Major elimination of static and noise in HF radio reception using neural networks and machine learning. Sodium ion battery tests. Hurricane season preparation.
Ham College 140: Beginning General Class Studies
Ham College episode 140 is now available for download.
General Class Exam Questions Part 1.
G1A – General class control operator frequency privileges. Primary and secondary allocations.
https://hamcollege.tv
In this milestone episode of Ham College, “Ham College 140: Beginning Amateur Radio General Class Studies,” Professor Thomas and Dean Martin transition from Technician level studies to the General Class amateur radio license.
Here is a summary of the key topics covered:
In this milestone episode of Ham College, “Ham College 140: Beginning Amateur Radio General Class Studies,” Professor Thomas and Dean Martin transition from Technician level studies to the General Class amateur radio license.
Here is a summary of the key topics covered:
Transitioning to General Class
The Appeal: The hosts discuss why creators should upgrade to General Class, primarily for the expanded HF (High Frequency) privileges that allow for worldwide communication beyond the limited “sliver” available to Technicians on 10 meters.
Exam Details: They break down the Element 3 exam: 35 questions total, with a requirement of 26 correct answers (74%) to pass. The full question pool contains 425 questions.
Study Resources: Recommended materials include the Gordon West General Class study guide, ARRL license manuals, and the question pools available at ncvec.org.
Technical & Regulatory Review:
The episode dives into specific sub-elements of the General Class exam, including:
Operating Privileges: Understanding frequency allocations and where General Class operators are prohibited from transmitting (specifically segments on the 80, 40, 20, and 15-meter bands reserved for Extra Class).
Modes & Power: A review of power limits (up to 1,500W PEP for General, with some exceptions like 30m and 60m) and mode-specific segments (CW, Phone, Image, and Data).
Secondary Usage: Explanation of what it means to be a “secondary user” on a band (e.g., on 60 meters), emphasizing that amateur stations must not interfere with primary users and must accept any interference from them.
Channel Announcement:
A major highlight of this episode is the announcement that Ham College is moving to its own dedicated YouTube channel (Ham College TV). While it remains part of the Amateur Logic family and will still stream live at live.amateurlogic.tv, recorded episodes will now be hosted on this new separate channel, https://youtube.com/HamCollege-ALTV .
The episode concludes with a practice quiz where the hosts (and the live chat) test their knowledge on frequency segments and band regulations, providing a helpful review for anyone looking to upgrade their license before upcoming events like Field Day.
AmateurLogic 217: Hamvention 2026
AmateurLogic.TV Episode 217 is now available for download.
George and Tommy’s Excellent Adventure to Hamvention 2026. Meet some old friends. See some new items and some that don’t even exist yet. Visit the West Chester Amateur Radio Association (WC8VOA) at the VOA Museum. And get a quick peek of some of the new things at the VOA Museum in a special episode coming soon.
This episode of AmateurLogic.TV, AmateurLogic 217: Hamvention 2026, is a deep dive into the 2026 Dayton Hamvention, featuring on-the-ground footage, interviews with vendors, and a visit to the Voice of America (VOA) Museum.
Key Highlights
Hamvention 2026 Coverage: George and Tommy share their “most excellent adventure” at Dayton, highlighting the sights, sounds, and gadgets they encountered.
New Radio Tech & Prototypes:
Icom “X” Concept: A highly anticipated, mysterious new HF/VHF/UHF mobile radio prototype (X026) was shown under glass, sparking speculation about features like a Wi-Fi-enabled control head.
Icom IC-5200: Updates on the upcoming IC-5100 replacement, featuring a color touchscreen and a potential firmware update for APRS.
QRP Amplifiers: An interview with Jim (WA2UJ) from RF Power Tools showcasing their 50W and 100W amplifiers designed specifically for radios like the IC-705.
The National VOA Museum & Ham Club: A tour of the newly renovated National VOA Museum and the WC8VOA club shack. Mike Braun (KB8ZE) discusses their state-of-the-art contesting station, their monthly license testing. Lee Hite discusses the history of the top secret “re-entrant rhombic” antennas that made the station so powerful during WWII.
Mesh Networking: A look at the latest in “Meshtastic” hardware from Low Mesh, including waterproof pocket rangers and outdoor Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) nodes for long-range, low-power data mesh networks.
Audio & Gear: Jerry from Heil Sound discusses their current lineup, the legacy of Bob Heil, and available replacement parts for classic Heil products.
SDR Play: A discussion on using SDR devices (like the RSPduo) as panadapters and lab-grade spectrum analyzers and more with long-time friend Steve (W7UDI).
Technical Updates: A reminder about the new Technician Class question pool taking effect July 1st, 2026, and an encouraging look at the current state of Solar Cycle 25.
The episode wraps up with some lighthearted moments, including a “giant mutant ninja skunk” sighting at the VOA site.
Ham College 139
Ham College episode 139 is now available for download.
Technician Exam Questions Part 26 of 26
T0A – Power circuits and hazards: hazardous voltages, fuses and circuit breakers, grounding, electrical code compliance, Lightning protection; Battery safety.
T0B – Antenna safety: tower safety and grounding, installing antennas, antenna supports.
T0C – RF hazards: radiation exposure, proximity to antennas, recognized safe power levels, radiation types, duty cycle.
https://hamcollege.tv
AmateurLogic 216: Repair or Replace
AmateurLogic.TV Episode 216 is now available for download.
Exploring the Ham Dash App ham radio dashboard. Consolidating the shack with Raspberry Pi 5 and M.2 solid state drive. Should you Repair or Replace that appliance with the recently expired warranty.
