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Michael KB9VBR

@kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social

150 followers 63 following 99 posts

I’m on a mission to inspire and educate the amateur radio community. Licensed since 1999. Video producer and online content creator. I love camping, bicycling, Parks on the Air, and the ham radio lifestyle. #HamRadio #POTA #Video #Photography #Cooking

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Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 23h

When we do events like the Ham Radio Campout, I often get asked on how to mitigate interference caused by other stations. In this week's Activation Log, I list my three step plan for peaceful multi-operator ham radio: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/10/10/w...

What happened at the 2025 Wisconsin Ham Radio Campout? - KB9VBR Antennas

When you get a bunch of hams together and on the air, you are bound to get interference from the adjacent transmitters. There are a few methods that can mitigate things

www.jpole-antenna.com

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 2d

Season 14 of my channel kicks off with the 2025 Wisconsin Ham Radio Campout. Our 3rd annual event at Buckhorn State Park, US-1443, is the biggest and best yet, and probably the largest in-person POTA event in the state of Wisconsin. See what happened this year. youtu.be/Rs0q-J6CPi4

The Wisconsin Ham Radio Campout SURPRISES Everyone!

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 9d

In our finale, season 14 starts next week, Dave and I head to Lake Wissota State Park, US-1460, for a multi-operator activation as part of the Wisconsin Parks on the Air event. Can we sustain over 100 contacts an hour for the seven hour event? youtu.be/lKSfuzPmKlo

I'm being challenged to do the impossible!

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 14d

Big things are happening with the Ham Radio Outdoors Channel! Learn how you can be a part of it. youtu.be/m8A49Ucde-c

EXCITING Channel Changes You Need To See!

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 16d

Which is right for you: Straight Key or Paddle? The Xiegu VK-5 straight Key and VK-6 paddle are two new products from Radioddity for CW operators. These keys are beautiful, functional, and a perfect companion for your G90, X6100, and X6200 transceiver. youtu.be/vXoiASq4f_o

Straight Key or Paddle? Which is BEST for you?

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 16d

Be sure to save your receipt.

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 16d

Save Big Money at Menards!
#hamradio #baofeng

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 20d

It’s a really solid antenna. I like to use it for these events and contests because I know I’ll put out a strong signal.

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 20d

I had the KJ6ER PERformer antenna up. Dave was on a wire dipole, so I stayed vertical to minimize interference

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 20d

Wisconsin Parks on the Air is on! Catch Dave KZ9V and I at US-1460 Lake Wissota State Park. We’ll be on the air until 2300 utc. Using callsign W9P. Michael ~KB9VBR

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 23d

The Chameleon Antenna CHA M25 Loading Coil unleashes the full capability of your SS25 25 foot telescoping whip on the ham radio 40 meter band by allowing you to fully extend the whip for 40 meter contacts. See how the M25 Coil works here: youtu.be/McsKxX-nHkM

EXPAND your 40 meter ham radio coverage with this simple add-on

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · 25d

Working on this week's video, what do I see? Urban deer photobombing the frame.

Still image of Michael from a video clip, over his shoulder is a blurry image of a deer that caught in the frame.

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Sep 10

We spend a long weekend at Wildcat Mountain State Park, a premier Wisconsin camping destination! I also put three antennas on the air, making incredible ham radio contacts. Which will be the best? The POTA PERformer, Challenger, or Rybakov? youtu.be/bagq00z7mhs

#Hamradio #POTA

Am I CRAZY to use three antennas in ONE POTA park?

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Sep 3

Dave, KZ9V, joins me to show off an entire ham radio portable station he keeps in a small cigar box. youtu.be/eNIvf89TSf4

An ENTIRE portable ham radio station in one box!

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Aug 31

Coffee and 40m FT8 this morning.

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Aug 20

Earlier this year, while at Hamvention, I picked up the Alpha Antenna SS34+ 34 foot stainless steel whip. This is the longest telescoping antenna on the market! Find out what happens when I put a full 1/4 wave vertical radiator for the 40 meter band on the air. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/0fA1qSpfegA

I Tried Alpha Antenna's SS34+ Whip and Here’s What Happened!

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Aug 13

A frequent question I get is "What's the best antenna for portable operation?" I scoured my notes and logs and analyzed countless photographs and videos of over 150 POTA activations I did in the last year, and came up with FIVE favorite antennas for Parks on the Air. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/Nz10os_lkCQ

My Top Pick for Portable Antennas May Surprise You!

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Aug 7

Beat the dog days of summer, join Joe and I for another evening of Your Ham Radio Questions Answered. Thursday August 7 at 7:00pm CDT (0000 UTC 8 August). We've got some great topics and as always, we're ready to answer your ham radio questions. youtube.com/live/nk_Nsvl...

Your Ham Radio Questions Answered LIVE August 2025

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Aug 6

Dipoles are great for mediocre band conditions and the Chameleon Antenna's LEFS 4010 sports a unique feature: an extra feed point to connect a set of dipole wires. Expand the versatility of this end-fed antenna with the CHA LINK-D and CHA LINK-D15 link dipole accessories. youtu.be/MbUhC-UhGys

Can your end fed antenna do THIS? Chameleon LINK-D Dipole

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Jul 30

I take on the elements for a POTA rove in southwestern Wisconsin. Three parks and three different antennas, will one be a hit or will the rain wash me out? ~KB9VBR youtu.be/iOXEgMgrFZI

Three Antennas in Three Parks! Which is the BEST?

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Jul 23

Can we make the Radioddity HF-009 vertical antenna better by elevating it? Mashing up the Radioddity vertical with a Rez Antenna Scout Base for an elevated vertical antenna delivers some surprising results. ~KB9VBR youtu.be/RIcUUYIexJw

This SURPRISED me! Elevating the Radioddity HF-009

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Jul 16

The Chameleon AZ-2, is a very capable three band 40, 30, and 20 meter link dipole antenna. Perfect for portable operations like POTA and SOTA, the AZ-2 combines light weight operation with the efficiency of a resonant dipole antenna. youtu.be/pezJ_Cxre_o

Are SIMPLE antennas the most effective? Chameleon AZ-2 Link Dipole

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Jul 9

Located in Southern Wisconsin, the Badger Army Ammunition Plant was once the world's largest powder and solid rocket fuel factory employing over 3,000 people and occupying almost 10,000 acres. Now it is the location of the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area and a #POTA entity youtu.be/jLTutfe2FI0

Ham radio at an ABANDONED army ammunition factory

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Jul 4

The week on the Activation Log, my weekly #Hamradio blog, I deploy a vertical delta loop antenna for ARRL Field Day and share some of our favorite food we ate during the worlds largest amateur radio event. Read it now: www.jpole-antenna.com/2025/07/04/t...

The antenna that won Field Day 2025 - KB9VBR Antennas

My quest for the BEST Vertical Delta Loop Antenna! chronicles my adventure in building, deploying, and using a 20 meter vertical delta loop antenna.

www.jpole-antenna.com

Michael KB9VBR @kb9vbrantennas.bsky.social · Jul 2

Loop antennas are great for their low noise and efficient operation. For this year's ARRL Field Day, I build a 20 meter vertical delta loop antenna and put it on the air. Will this homebrew antenna punch through the Field Day noise or leave me struggling for contacts? youtu.be/-WqOFKUKQaM

My quest for the BEST Vertical Delta Loop Antenna!

YouTube video by KB9VBR Antennas