Chris KL9A is back—and so is the Contest Crew. After a short break for Dayton, the full squad—Bill W9KKN, Dan N6MJ, Randy K5ZD, and the man of the hour, Chris KL9A—returns with jabs, laughs, and real-world tips. This episode digs into Chris’s thrilling victory from Madeira Island (CQ9A) in the Single Op High Power category at CQ WPX CW 2025, with details that go beyond the scoreboard. We also touch on the CQ9A station support from Valery Zhytkovich EW6W, Chris’s powerful and personal keynote at the Dayton Contest Dinner, reactions from Hamvention weekend, and the debut of Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, which launched to a packed booth and great reception in Dayton.Join the conversation in the comments and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more episodes like this one.

Bdale Garbee KB0G is the President of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the private foundation quietly reshaping the future of ham radio. With deep roots in the early internet and the historic allocation of 44Net, ARDC today manages a $100M+ endowment, granting millions each year to fund innovation, education, and community growth. In this conversation, Bdale traces the remarkable journey from ham radio’s early experiments with packet radio and TCP/IP, through the unexpected windfall of 44Net’s value, to the creation of a professional, forward-looking foundation now driving some of the most ambitious projects in amateur radio. He offers an inside look at how ARDC evaluates grants, what defines success, and why the foundation’s long-term vision matters for anyone who cares about the future of communication, experimentation, and connection.

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After reconnecting with amateur radio, I started W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio to learn, explore, and share. But something bigger emerged—a community, a vision, and a deeper sense of what this hobby truly deserves. Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio is the next chapter: an expanded platform for thoughtful storytelling, sharp interviews, and real conversation—across Substack, YouTube, podcasts, and maybe even print. It’s a name that goes beyond one person. This isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a raise-the-standard moment. Join me.

Kevin Thomas W1DED is back with the Contest Crew—Dan N6MJ, Chris KL9A, Randy K5ZD, and Bill W9KKN—for a relaxed but revealing breakdown of CQ WPX SSB 2025.

This time, it was ND7K vs. K3LR—not a grudge match, but a fun, full-throttle rivalry kicked off by Tim Duffy himself. K3LR, with Randy on the team, shattered the longstanding NQ4I US record, finishing with a massive 58 million points. Meanwhile in Arizona, Dan, Chris, and Bill turned ND7K into a mini-Dayton. With 18+ ops on site, last-minute rewiring, and a ton of teamwork, they pulled off 33 million points—breaking the same record just hours behind.

The conversation dives into what made both stations click: smart strategy, sharp ops, great food, and even better camaraderie. K3LR ran like a Formula One machine. ND7K brought flexibility, hustle, and smoked meat. A shared WhatsApp group kept the banter flowing and the spirits high.

Then the spotlight shifts. The Crew turns their attention to Kevin’s solo run from VP5E, where he earned an uniffical Top 6 North American finish in Single Operator High Power (Unassisted). Running 400 watts to a SteppIR with no rotor, it was a gritty effort with standout runs on Saturday—and a few hard lessons on 40 meters.

There’s advice. There’s critique. There’s encouragement. And this from Dan N6MJ: “You weren’t supposed to win. You were supposed to learn. But a #6 finish in North America? That’s outstanding.”

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Max IW1FRU, Lorenzo IU1NSA, and Carlo IK1HJS, Fabio I4UFH, and Maurizio IV3ZXQ are the team behind the World Wide Award—a ham radio event that has grown from a single spark during WRTC Italy in 2023 into a full-blown phenomenon lighting up the HF bands twice a year.

The origin story? Classic ham ingenuity. With Carlo leading WRTC Italy, the team needed a way to promote the event not just online, but on the air. That’s when he tapped Max and Lorenzo—two tech-savvy hams already tinkering with award software. Their goal: make something simple, engaging, and powerful enough to stir interest well beyond the contesting elite. What began as the WRTC Award became a platform that now powers World Wide Award, or WWA.

And it’s not small potatoes. We’re talking 3.7 million QSOs in a single month. Real-time scoring. Seamless logging. Instant EQSLs. Interfaces that look like they were built this decade. It’s a massive lift—and a serious injection of activity into the ham bands.

The best part? Anyone can join. Activators run like mini-DXpeditions, while hunters chase them down across modes and bands. It’s not a contest, which means less pressure, more flexibility, and a whole lot of fun. Operate when you want, however you want—and watch the pileups follow.

The January event runs all month. The July sprint is a one-week frenzy. Both are fueled by an elegant mix of high-tech backend, grassroots energy, and growing international participation. Even Randy K5ZD is all in, calling it one of his favorite operating events.

Looking ahead, the team is rolling out Ham Copilot—a real-time assistant for DXers—and HamStream, a livestreaming integration for QRZ profiles. They’re not just building tools; they’re reshaping how we experience the hobby.

Want in? Head to hamaward.cloud/wwa. Whether you’re an activator, a hunter, or just someone tired of hearing “ham radio is dying,” this might change your mind.

This conversation was part of W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio. Join the conversation. Subscribe for more.

Seth Jones is… a young ham from Maine with an old soul for radio. At just 14, he’s earned his Extra license, snagged the vanity callsign NU1D, and has already gotten a taste of everything ham radio has to offer—from contesting to POTA, from sleepovers with Yagis to field day with an Elecraft K3 and a 30-foot trailer tower.

Seth’s not here to be a trend; he’s here to operate. While grownups wring their hands about whether “kids these days” are interested in ham radio, Seth quietly builds DX contacts from his hundred-watt shack, learns Morse, and imagines a future where ham radio leads to career paths in engineering or even the FCC.

His journey started with curiosity and mentorship—and maybe a few YouTube videos—but it’s been powered by a deep fascination with reaching across borders and bands. If you think ham radio’s dying, you’re listening on the wrong frequency.

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Jake Maltz, WV4AM, is just 14 years old, but don’t let that fool you—he’s already proving to be a fierce competitor in the world of ham radio contesting. Inspired by his grandfather, Steve Narducci, W9SN, and mentored by seasoned contester Fred Dennin, WW4LL, Jake is racking up QSOs and sharpening his skills at an impressive pace. He’s got the drive, the speed, and, let’s be honest, the stamina to run rates most ops twice his age would envy. In this conversation, Jake shares how a surprise visit from his grandfather sparked an obsession that led him from an old-school paper log to high-intensity multi-op contests. He talks about the thrill of working pileups, his experience at WW4LL’s station, and why contesting keeps him hooked. And in an era where teens are glued to screens, Jake sees ham radio as his own version of social media—only with better conversations and far less doomscrolling. Will this hobby shape his future? Maybe. But for now, it’s all about the next contest, the next DX contact, and the next challenge. Tune in to hear how mentorship, curiosity, and raw talent are bringing new life to the hobby. Join the conversation, drop a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe to W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio for more stories from the world of amateur radio.