Best Vhf Podcasts (2026)

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Programming Your Handheld 22:18

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14d ago22:18

22:18

In support of the November/December 2025 article “Ten Tips for Programming Your 2-Meter Handheld,” Karin Thompson, KD4DXX, of RT Systems, joins the podcast to talk about how to approach the crucial task of programming your handheld.By Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY

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Ham Nation Growing Amateur Radio Through Education 1:23:17

1M ago1:23:17

1:23:17

Steve Goodgame ARRL Education and Learning Manager joins us to tell us how things have been going. Amanda shares a new "Should They Have Called ARES?", and "Ham It, Can It, Or Whatamit?" Lastly Josh has a segment on the Scouting Merit Badge! Huge thanks to ICOM for supporting Ham Nation on the Ham Radio Crash Course and their twice monthly giveaway…

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Ham Nation ARRL VHF Contest Report & HamCation Awards 1:15:11

1M ago1:15:11

1:15:11

Michael Cauley W4ORL and . Gordo has fresh short shots, Don brings us the latest from Amateur Radio Newsline and Amanda is ready with new Ham-it, Can-it, or What-Am-It! Huge thanks to ICOM for supporting Ham Nation on the Ham Radio Crash Course and their twice monthly giveaways! https://hamnation.icomamerica.com/ New LINK! ICOM Announced the IC-730…

1
Ham Nation LIVE ISS Pass! And HamSci! 1:36:35

1M ago1:36:35

1:36:35

An ambitious episode! We try for a live ISS pass with Randy @K7AGE . HamSci Gary Mikitin, AF8AGary Mikitin, AF8A is back to talk about what is new. Don brings a big Amateur Radio Newsline update and Amanda shares a new "Should They Have Called ARES?", and "Ham It, Can It, Or Whatamit?". Huge thanks to ICOM for supporting Ham Nation on the Ham Radio…

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Ham Nation Gordo Explains How To Hunt Down RFI! 1:29:48

1M ago1:29:48

1:29:48

Gordo explains how to track down the RFI effecting your HF and VHF/UHF radios. Don brings a big Amateur Radio Newsline update and Amanda shares a new "Should They Have Called ARES?", and "Ham It, Can It, Or Whatamit?". Huge thanks to ICOM for supporting Ham Nation on the Ham Radio Crash Course and their twice monthly giveaways! https://hamnation.ic…

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Preparedness Takes Practice 27:29

2M ago27:29

27:29

Jessica Crotty, CEO of C. Crane, a northern California company known for designing and supporting quality radios and communication products, visits the podcast in support of her November/December 2025 On the Air article “Confidence in Preparedness Starts with Knowing Your Equipment.” The conversation centers on the importance of not only having a l…

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Episode XXV: Falling Into Autumn DX 1:19:32

3M ago1:19:32

1:19:32

When Bryce and Nick last spoke, the U.S. had celebrated the Fourth of July the truly American way — with E-Skip! Sadly, the rest of July did not play out so actively, and thus, the DX duo was not particularly generous with their seasonal skip grade. Do you agree? Inside this fun-filled episode: At 5:00, Bryce talks about some of the excellent tropo…

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All About the EOC 23:49

3M ago23:49

23:49

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast in support of the September/October 2025 article “The EOC: Serving at the Hub,” by Rick Palm, K1CE, which talks about what an Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, is, and offers tips for hams who are serving at an EOC for the first time. Josh takes us through more Emerge…

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Get Inspired for Contest Season 17:49

4M ago17:49

17:49

The podcast welcomes Violetta Latham, KN2P, a young contester who has had the opportunity to operate at some big, famous contest stations such as K3LR, PJ2T, and W3LPL. Violetta will talk about how she got started in contesting and how she got to where she is today.By Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY

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Getting in on the POTA Fun 35:45

4M ago35:45

35:45

Portable operating in the Parks On the Air (POTA) program is one of the most popular ham radio activities these days. Colin Wheatley, W9UPK, author of the July/August 2025 of On the Air article, “POTA Activators and Hunters: The Great Symbiosis,” joins the podcast to explain more about how POTA works, and how to get in on the fun.…

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Episode XXIV: DX With Friends 1:19:25

6M ago1:19:25

1:19:25

The summer tradition continues — Bryce and Nick reunite in person from Cape Cod, this time for the July 4th holiday, which include DX fireworks amidst a controversial E-Skip season so far. We discuss the season from both sides of the pond, chat about our DX shacks at and away from home, discuss SDR innovations (or lack thereof) and the art of DX'in…

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Your Ham Radio Everyday Carry 23:45

6M ago23:45

23:45

Everybody's talking about everyday carry, or EDC, the trendy name for the collection of necessities you tote around with you every day, whether it's in a pocket or a bag. ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, joins the podcast to talk about easy ways to make radio part of your everyday carry.…

1
Field Day Options for the New Ham 16:44

7M ago16:44

16:44

With ARRL Field Day weekend just a little more than two weeks away, we talk to ARRL’s Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE; Digital RF Engineer John McAuliffe, W1DRF and Education and Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML, about how newer hams can navigate the most popular on-air event of the year. Get recommendations for setups, mo…

1
Episode XXIII: 2025 DX Season Preview 1:02:09

8M ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Let the games begin. For the first time in 2025, Bryce and Nick convene and there's a lot to discuss. The duo address: - Nick's columns at Radio World and how some broadcast industry news might have DX implications. - The latest notable DX logs and the amazing catches heard in Bermuda in April, via the fmdx.org webserver. - Check out the latest And…

1
Simple HF Antennas for Field Day 15:23

8M ago15:23

15:23

ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, returns to the podcast to walk readers through his May/June 2025 On the Air article, "Building Simple Antennas for 10 and 15 Meters."By Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY

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Learn APRS at the April On the Air Live Session 17:51

9M ago17:51

17:51

This month, ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, returns to the podcast to update us on ARRL’s new monthly livestream, On the Air Live. The April session of On the Air Live will be a tutorial on the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS). A handheld radio will allow you to use the APRS. Listen in to find out how easy it is, and how to …

1
A VHF/UHF Antenna Menagerie 18:25

10M ago18:25

18:25

There are a variety of antennas that a ham can use on the VHF and UHF bands, from simple whips, all the way up to directional beams. This month’s podcast walks you through the various types and their use cases.By Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY

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Have a Ham Radio Open House in April 19:07

11M ago19:07

19:07

World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) is April 18 every year, and in 2025, WARD is extra special. ARRL invites radio clubs and schools to organize a Ham Radio Open House in April, to highlight the Amateur Radio Service for its development and practice of the latest radio communications and technology, and as a hands-on pathway into STEM fields for the nex…

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Slow-Scan TV: Sending Pictures by Radio 24:06

12M ago24:06

24:06

In preparation for the first On the Air Live interactive livestream launching on January 28, we take a look at the topic: slow-scan TV (SSTV), a ham radio mode that allows you to use RF to send static images. Steve Ford, WB8IMY, author of “SSTV: When a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” in the January/February 2025 issue of On the Air, joins the po…

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Episode XXII: Interview with Marek Farkaš, aka Noobish, on all things FMDX.org 1:35:26

1y ago1:35:26

1:35:26

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to DXers everywhere! By far the most innovation in our hobby right now is coming from the FMDX.org open source project, which includes the fantastic firmware improvements for the TEF6686 portable and the FM DX Webserver. There's now 157 active servers worldwide, including hotspots in Europe, Australia, and emergin…

1
Learn Even more with On the Air Live 17:42

1y ago17:42

17:42

In early 2025, the ARRL Education & Learning Department will launch an interactive livestreamed video podcast, On the Air Live. The monthly episodes will be aimed toward educating new and intermediate-level hams, inspiring them to explore the nearly endless aspects of amateur radio and develop their skills. ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, K…

1
December YOTA Month is Coming 13:08

1y ago13:08

13:08

December is Youth on the Air Month, also known as YOTA Month, and there are plans to celebrate young operators all month long. Blake Pearson, KN4VKY, one of the Americas YOTA Month Participation Coordinators, joins the podcast to explain how young hams can apply to use one of the official YOTA Month call signs, and how you can take part in the YOTA…

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ARES Task Book Updates 16:59

1y ago16:59

16:59

The ARES Task Book is an important resource and reference for amateur radio operators who hope to be of service to their communities. ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast to talk about the task book’s place in a ham’s training, as well as recent updates to the book.…

1
A Tour of 10 Meters 29:11

1+ y ago29:11

29:11

The 10-meter band offers something for hams of every license class, including Technicians, who can use voice, Morse code, and digital modes on this band. Scott Freeberg, WA9WFA, joins this episode of the podcast to take us on “A Tour of 10 Meters,” and to explain why right now is the best time to get on the band, thanks to the terrific radio wave p…

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Episode XXI: 2024 E-Skip Postmortem and Bermuda Cruise DX with Allan Nosoff 1:22:57

1+ y ago1:22:57

1:22:57

The less we speak of the 2024 Sporadic-E season, the better. But, Nick and Bryce first address the proverbial elephant in the room. Where did this dormant campaign stack up historically? It was, as UK DX'er Tim Bucknall so eloquently put it to us, an exercise in ionospheric constipation. Onto brighter things! Tropo season is upon us, and already th…

1
Practice Morse Code with W1AW 13:44

1+ y ago13:44

13:44

The podcast takes a field trip to W1AW, ARRL’s Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, to hear from W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, about all the ways to “Practice Code with W1AW,” from daily code practice sessions at a speed that suits you, to Qualifying Runs where you can earn certificates for submitting accurate copy.…

1
New Emergency Communication Courses from ARRL 11:23

1+ y ago11:23

11:23

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast to share details about ARRL's updated Emergency Communication courses, which have been broken into three successive levels – Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. The courses are available free of charge at the ARRL Learning Center.…

1
Get Ready for Field Day 2024 15:50

1+ y ago15:50

15:50

ARRL Radiosport and Regulatory Information Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, and ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, join the June episode of the podcast to spread the excitement about ARRL Field Day, which is coming up on June 22 - 23.By Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY

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Episode XX: 2024 DX Season Kickoff and May Aurora Opening chat with Bill Hepburn 1:12:12

1+ y ago1:12:12

1:12:12

In the 2024 DX season kickoff episode of the VHF DX Podcast, Nick and Bryce host the show from Bryce's home on Cape Cod, enjoying a rare outdoor recording session on a pleasant afternoon. The highlight of the episode is a discussion about the rare Aurora opening on May 10th, which provided an exceptional opportunity for DXing. This event was partic…

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ARRL Forums at Dayton Hamvention 2024 15:13

1+ y ago15:13

15:13

This year’s Dayton Hamvention, coming up May 17-19 in Xenia, Ohio, will be extra special — it’s also the 2024 ARRL National Convention. ARRL Director of Marketing & Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, joins this month’s podcast to share details about ARRL-sponsored activities at the show, including several of the ARRL-sponsored forums and the Youth R…