Michael | OE8YML
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Amateur Radio as a Hobby: What to Expect and What Does It Cost to Get Started?
You’re interested in amateur radio but not sure what to expect? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. Every year, hundreds of people in Austria discover this fascinating hobby. Whether you want to talk to stations around the world on shortwave, stand on a mountain summit with a handheld radio, or send digital data across thousands…
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DXCC, WAZ, WPX: The Major Amateur Radio Awards Explained
Introduction: The Fever for the Certificate You just made your first DX QSO on 20 meters — Japan, with only 100 watts and a wire in the garden. Your heart is still pounding. You checked the log three times to make sure JA1XYZ is really there. And then you wonder: is there actually a certificate…
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Contests for Beginners: Why You Should Enter at Least One Contest
Introduction You’re sitting in the shack, turning the VFO, and suddenly on 14 MHz you hear a tangle of callsigns, lightning-fast exchanges, and cryptic numbers. “CQ Contest, CQ Contest, OE2S, Oscar Echo Two Sierra.” Then someone answers, a few numbers are exchanged, and after six seconds the QSO is over. Welcome to the world of…
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ChatGPT, Claude & Co. for Radio Amateurs: AI as Learning Aid and Shack Assistant
Let’s be honest: who among us hasn’t asked ChatGPT how long a half-wave dipole for 20 meters needs to be? Or asked Claude to write an Arduino sketch for a CW keyer? Artificial intelligence has long since arrived in the shack — sometimes obviously, sometimes working in the background. And that’s a good thing, because…
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arcOS – The Linux Distribution for Ham Radio
Plug in USB stick, boot, operate. arcOS is a live Linux system with Fldigi, JS8Call, WSJT-X, Winlink, APRS and SDR – built for radio amateurs. Plug & play with Digirig Mobile. Comparison with other ham radio distributions.
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Emergency Radio Exercise Klagenfurt: Four Lighthouses, Four Dates in March
The Magistrate of Klagenfurt is running an emergency exercise: on four dates in March, emergency operations will be practised at four different “lighthouses”. Radio amateurs are explicitly invited to participate. The dates Date Time Monday, 10 March 2026 07:30 – 13:00 Tuesday, 11 March 2026 07:30 – 13:00 Tuesday, 17 March 2026 07:30 – 13:00…
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Memory Channels Processor – Never Type Repeater Data Manually Again
Let’s be honest: who hasn’t spent an entire evening typing repeater data into a new radio? Frequency, offset, CTCSS tone, name… channel by channel. Fifty repeaters later, your eyes are tired, your fingers are stiff, and you wonder: does it really have to be this way? Then comes the next radio. Or a firmware update…
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OERadio Meshmap – All Meshtastic Nodes at a Glance
A real-time map for the Meshtastic network in Austria and Europe – open, live, and without tracking. We’ve all been there: your Meshtastic node is running, happily transmitting away – and then you wonder: can anyone actually see me? Where are the other nodes? And how far does my signal really reach? That’s exactly what…
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OERadio Goes Mesh – The Path to a Dedicated MQTT Server
How we connect Meshtastic nodes via the internet – and how you can join in. Meshtastic is brilliant. Small LoRa nodes that communicate without internet, without a provider, and without monthly costs. Locally via radio, point to point, as it should be. But what if two nodes are 200 kilometres apart? Even the best antenna…
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Together Instead of Against Each Other
Thoughts on the culture of amateur radio — from someone who hasn’t always got it right himself. Amateur radio thrives on diversity: tinkerers, contesters, DXers, outdoor operators, SOTA activators — and yes, eccentrics too. Some sing on the frequency. Some tell stories. Some might “annoy” someone else. But as long as nobody deliberately interferes or…
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Meshtastic in Carinthia: Three Nodes, a Solar Panel, and Surprising Range
Hello everyone! Hermann here, OE8HSF, from Knappenberg near Hüttenberg – at a good 1,000 metres above sea level. You probably know the feeling: you stumble across a topic on the internet, think “I’ll just have a quick look” – and three weeks later you’ve got three nodes on your terrace, a BME280 sensor on a…
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MFJ-1982MP: 42 Metres of Wire, 9 Bands, One Happy Ham
You know the feeling? Standing in the garden, 42 metres of wire in one hand, coffee in the other, wondering: where is all this supposed to go? That is exactly how my adventure with the MFJ-1982MP started. An end-fed antenna that promises to cover everything from 80 to 6 metres. I set it up, measured…
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The OE8RADIO Dog Runs Through Carinthia – APRSRunner: Build Your Own APRS Runner
He knows no boundaries. No mountains. No rivers. No lakes. The OE8RADIO dog is on the move in Carinthia, spreading the good word – at a solid 80 km/h, straight across the landscape, through forests, over mountain peaks and right through Lake Wörthersee. Obstacles? He doesn’t know them. Breaks? He doesn’t need them. He just…
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BandWacht – Automatic Band Monitoring for Radio Amateurs
BandWacht is a new open-source tool for automatic band monitoring for radio amateurs. The software connects to any WebRX receiver on the internet, analyses the spectrum in real time, and notifies you immediately when activity is detected on a monitored frequency. The goal: Never miss a QSO again. BandWacht is currently in Beta (v0.1.0) and…
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OE8CKK APRS Service – Smart APRS Services Straight to Your Radio
The OE8CKK APRS Service is an interactive APRS service for radio amateurs that delivers a wide range of information directly to your radio via APRS message – no smartphone app, registration, or internet required. Everything works directly over the air to your radio. The service runs server-side and responds to APRS messages sent to the…
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POTA Austria – Your Line to the OE POTA Team
If you know us, you know: POTA is all about getting out into nature with your radio. Whether at a mountain lake, in a national park or simply at the edge of a forest – the main thing is being outdoors and on the air. New Contact Address We now have a dedicated email address…
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OERadio’s Calling You – The Official OERadio Song
OERadio’s Calling You The official song & music video of OERadio.at Your browser does not support HTML5 video. Song created with Suno AI · Video created with FreeBeat Verse 1 Burned my thumbs on a soldered mess Kitchen table turned to a radio desk Old tin box New bright sound Pulled a voice from the…
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IC-705 Remote Operation with Tailscale – Control Your Icom IC-705 from Anywhere
What’s This About? If you want to control your IC-705 remotely – from the office, a second QTH, or on vacation – the built-in Wi-Fi function and software like wfview on PC or SDR Mobile on iPhone/iPad provide a solid foundation. On the local network, this works without issues. But as soon as you want…
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Das Kärntner Q-Gruppen Lexikon — Fasching-Sonderausgabe 2026
This article is a humorous Carinthian dialect special and is only available in German. 🎭 Fasching is! — Sonderausgabe 2026 Q Das Kärntner Q-Gruppen Lexikon „Wos Kärntner YLs und OMs wirklich meinen” Inoffizielle Faschings-Sonderausgabe · Nicht von der IARU genehmigt · Nicht mal vom Ortskirchenrat · Bei Nebenwirkungen: Bier oder Spritzer trinken und Reindling essen…
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Ice skate deep snow activation at Freiberg (OE/KT-106)
I had my very first SOTA QSO with Michael OE5HKT on Buschberg OE/NO-207 at 491m on June 14, 2025. Arnold OE1IAH took me and a few other newly licensed people under his wing that day, and we all felt the same way. Everyone shook and stuttered their way through the QSOs and was drenched in…
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FunkPilot – AI assistant for radio amateurs
FunkPilot is your new AI assistant that was developed specifically for radio amateurs. It answers questions about amateur radio topics, helps with calculations and supports you in contest operations – all directly in the browser, without installation. What can FunkPilot do? FunkPilot combines several tools in one application: 🤖 QSO chat assistant The core of…
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Relaisblick – Interactive map of all Austrian amateur radio relays
With Relaisblick we present a new interactive web application that shows all amateur radio relays in Austria on a clear map. The tool was developed by OE8YML and is available as an open source project on GitHub. What is Relaisblick? Relaisblick is an interactive web application that visualizes all Austrian amateur radio relays on a…
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OERadio MCP Server – Amateur radio tools for AI assistants
Today we are starting an exciting new project: The OERadio MCP Server! This allows AI assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini to directly access our amateur radio computers – without you having to enter formulas or open websites yourself. What is an MCP server? MCP stands for Model Context Protocol – an open standard…
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QBlitz – Q-group quick trainer for radio amateurs
QBlitz is here! Our new Q-group quick trainer helps you learn the most important Q codes for amateur radio testing and daily radio operations – interactively, playfully and with a scientifically based learning method. What are Q-Codes? Q-Codes are international abbreviations used in amateur radio to efficiently communicate common questions and statements. From QTH (location)…
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Akkublick – battery planning for radio amateurs
Battery view – battery planning for radio amateurs Akkublick is a battery planning tool for radio amateurs. The tool helps you calculate the optimal battery capacity for your portable radio operation and ensure that you have enough energy for your activations. 🎯 Features Capacity calculation: Calculate the required battery capacity based on transmission power and…
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Strahlblick – HF Safety Calculator
Rahlblick – HF safety calculator Strahlblick is an RF field strength and safety distance calculator according to ICNIRP guidelines. The tool helps radio amateurs to calculate the electromagnetic field exposure of their antenna system and to check compliance with safety limits. 🎯 Features EIRP calculation: Effective isotropic radiated power taking into account antenna gain and…
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BandBlick – IARU Region 1 band plan
BandBlick – IARU Region 1 Bandplan BandBlick is an interactive amateur radio band plan visualizer for IARU Region 1. The tool offers a clear representation of all amateur radio bands with their segments and types of use. 🎯 Features Spectrum visualization: Clear graphical representation of all band segments with color coding according to type of…
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MorseFleet: Learn Morse code while sinking ships
Learn Morse code in a playful way – while sinking ships! MorseFleet combines the classic ship-sinking game with Morse code training. Instead of simply typing in coordinates, you enter them using a Morse key (or the space bar). This is how you learn Morse code while you’re fighting the computer. Play MorseFleet now Features Two-way…
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CQ SOTA – Funk, frost, cold fingers and a barking co-operator
Spontaneously – and in the increasingly desperate hope of escaping the persistent fog in the valley – we decide to go on an after-work trip to the Dobratsch one wintry afternoon. Also there: Finot, our always over-motivated leader, Alina and me. The sun is shining on us at the top of Villach’s local mountain, but…
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Kabelblick – coaxial cable attenuation calculator
Calculate the signal loss of your coaxial cables With Kabelblick you can quickly and easily calculate the attenuation of your coaxial cable at any frequency. No matter whether you work on shortwave, VHF, UHF or even in the microwave range – Kabelblick shows you exactly how much signal is lost in the cable. Start Kabelblick…
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QSO Buddy: Practice radio conversations interactively
You finally want to speak confidently into the microphone? QSO Buddy is your interactive trainer for amateur radio conversations (QSOs). Learn step by step how a typical radio conversation works – from the CQ call to the farewell at 73. Why QSO Buddy? Many newcomers have respect for the first QSO. What am I saying?…
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Antennenblick: Interactively Understand Radiation Patterns
Anyone who works with antennas knows the problem: Radiation diagrams in books and online resources are often static, difficult to interpret and only show a single operating case. Antennablick changes that – a new, interactive tool for understanding antenna radiation patterns. What is antenna view? Antenna view visualizes the radiation characteristics of different types of…
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PrefixPlay: Learn call sign prefixes while playing
If you want to be quick in a contest or simply want to know where a call sign comes from, you have to know prefixes. PrefixPlay makes learning amateur radio call sign prefixes a game. Why learn prefixes? Every amateur radio call sign begins with a prefix that reveals the country. When you hear “UA3…”…
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CQ Nothing: Why doesn’t anyone answer?
You call CQ at 20 meters – and there’s… nothing. No answer. CQ Nothing helps you understand why this can happen and how to systematically analyze errors. What is CQ Nothing? CQ Nothing is an interactive learning tool for amateur radio beginners. It presents realistic scenarios from radio operations and asks you to analyze possible…
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First Contact – Learn shortwave propagation through experimentation!
You probably know this: You sit in front of the rig, turn the VFO and ask yourself – why is there nothing going on at 20m while the place is full at 40m? Or why does the ZS6 from South Africa suddenly come in with S9+20 at 10m, even though the tape was completely dead…
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Becoming a radio amateur – Getting started is easier than you think
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to communicate with people all over the world via radio without the Internet? This is exactly what amateur radio makes possible! It opens up a fascinating world full of technology, international contacts and exciting experiments. Whether you want to deepen your technical understanding, meet new people…
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Becoming a radio amateur – Getting started is easier than you think
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to communicate with people all over the world via radio without the Internet? This is exactly what amateur radio makes possible! It opens up a fascinating world full of technology, international contacts and exciting experiments. Whether you want to deepen your technical understanding, meet new people…
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What is an SDR? An overview for radio enthusiasts
Software instead of hardware: The SDR principle A Software-Defined Radio (SDR) is a radio receiver in which a large part of the classic hardware is replaced by software. Instead of requiring separate devices for each operating mode or frequency band, the software takes over the signal processing with SDR. This makes SDRs extremely flexible and…
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How far can I really get? Easily create RF propagation maps yourself
Planning radio coverage made easy – with Radio Mobile Online If you want to know how far your signal really reaches, Radio Mobile Online is a really powerful tool. The tool was developed specifically for radio amateurs and simulates radio wave propagation using terrain data and proven mathematical models.In this short guide, I will show…
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🏕️ Wavelog – the online logbook for portable radio operation
A flexible logbook that can be accessed at any time is particularly important for portable radio operations (e.g. POTA, SOTA, field days).With Wavelog, a modern, web-based amateur radio logbook is now available on oeradio.at, which is particularly suitable for mobile use. 🔗 https://wavelog.oeradio.at(The link can be found permanently in the menu under Tools.) 📡 Why…
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Setting up MSI2500 SDR (RSP1 Clone) on Ubuntu – step-by-step instructions
This guide shows how to get an MSI2500 based SDR receiver (like RSP1 Clones) running on Ubuntu Linux with GQRX. The instructions are also suitable for beginners without much Linux experience. What is the MSI2500? The MSI2500 is an SDR receiver chip that is installed in many inexpensive SDR dongles. These devices are often sold…
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Making SDR Accessible Worldwide: A Radio Amateur’s Guide to Cloudflare Tunnels
Or: How I learned to forget port forwarding and love the cloud 🙂 Introduction Dear radio amateurs! Tired of struggling with your router’s port forwarding settings? Annoyed by DynDNS services that give up at the most inopportune moment? Want to share your awesome OpenWebRX+ setup with the world without exposing your home network to the…
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MeshCom: Your entry into a decentralized radio mesh network for radio amateurs
What is MeshCom? – a simple overview MeshCom is an open source project from the Institute of Citizen Science for Space & Wireless Communication (ICSSW), which aims to realize text-based communication via LoRa modules in amateur radio (433 MHz). Advantages of MeshCom Use in amateur radio context Since MeshCom is based on amateur radio principles…
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📱 Use HAMSIP with the iPhone – step by step for beginners
You want to make calls with your iPhone via HAMSIP? Here we will show you how to set up everything – from the VPN connection to the Hamnet to the finished telephony with a SIP app. These instructions are written in such a way that they work even if you have no experience with VPN…
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Setting up HAMSIP telephony on the PC – step-by-step
This is a follow-up to “HAMSIP Telephony: Our New Toy” and describes how to set up HAMSIP completely on a Windows PC, without a SIP phone and additional network hardware. 1. Request Hamnet access 2. Set up VPN on Windows 3. Request SIP user 4. Install and set up MicroSIP 6. Import contacts (optional) Download…
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HAMSIP telephony – Our new toy
Some time ago we attended a HAMNET workshop in Vienna and since then we have been playing around with the Internet for radio amateurs. A separate number range on the Internet, starting with 44.xxx.xxx.xxx, is reserved for radio amateurs. Apparently the association that manages this sold some of it to Amazon, but there are still…
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Radio meeting in Maria Rain at the Schmankerl in April
Invitation to the radio meeting in Maria Rain Dear radio friends, The radio friends Klagenfurt Land and Karl, OE8JHK, cordially invite you to a friendly radio meeting. When? Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 6:00 p.m.Where? Gasthaus “Schmankerl”, Maria Rain Look forward to a cozy evening with interesting conversations about our shared hobby and the opportunity…
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Powerful radio power supply with Einhell batteries
As an enthusiastic radio amateur, you are always looking for innovative solutions to operate your station efficiently. I asked myself: Why not use the tried and tested Einhell 18V batteries to supply my transceiver with maximum performance? An experiment that is not only practical, but also offers a lot of learning potential! This DIY amateur…
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Radio and skiing at the end of the world
The story started with our visits to the radio camp in Döbriach on Lake Millstättersee. The idea was actually to get our son interested in radio engineering. But it infected me with the radio virus. I met a lot of new people there and was also part of some Sota activations. Having always enjoyed mountain…
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2m SSB Round – Every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. LT (UTC+1): A highlight thanks to Raimund OE8ANK
Dear radio friends, Thanks to a great idea from Raimund OE8ANK, there is now a new way to liven up the 2m bands and conduct exciting QSOs: the SSB round on 2m. This takes place every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. LT on 144.320 MHz USB. A big thank you to Raimund for this initiative, which…
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Broadband receiver with a Quansheng UV-K5 – is that possible?
Michael OE8YML has long been fascinated by Quansheng devices. He was particularly interested in developing a cost-effective broadband receiver. Although there were already various kits on the market, none initially fully met his requirements. The turning point came through Paul OM0ET, who runs an excellent YouTube channel for amateur radio. In one of his videos,…
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HackRF Portapack Maymem H4M
The discovery I am constantly looking for interesting devices, kits, etc. During my online research I came across the PortaPack Mayhem MH4 – a promising SDR system for technology enthusiasts. After ordering, a waiting period of about a month began. When the package finally arrived it contained: Overview The PortaPack Mayhem MH4 is a highly…
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How POTA fever caught us
Last year, after POTA fever caught me and my XYL Sandra, OE4SLC, I attempted my first activation right near our QTH. Equipped with the JPC-12 antenna and the IC-705 with 10W power, we went out into the park. The setup was initially simple, but still exciting. The battery was an Ermit 18A, and although it…
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Martin OE8KKK – The veteran of the Carinthian QRGs
There are names that are not only well known in amateur radio, but are almost legendary. One of them is undoubtedly Martin, “da Tino” OE8KKK, a man whose reputation resonates far beyond the borders of Carinthia – not least thanks to his impressive antenna systems that would make even NASA scientists jealous. The Antenna Galaxy…
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Emergency power supply with discarded batteries
For our project “2nd Life for GEL batteries” we converted two 140Ah GEL batteries from a UPS system. These batteries, which had to be replaced due to their age, should be given a second chance at the Shack. Our procedure is explained step by step here. The start: voltage test and charging process After collection,…
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Track air traffic live: SDRangel & RTL-SDR as ADS-B receivers
At the flea market in Vienna Aderklaa, in addition to the sale of used goods, there was also an interesting conversation with the radio amateur OE3LCR. He explained how to receive aircraft data inexpensively using simple equipment. After this conversation I found a suitable video from Arthur DL2ART (channel “Funkwelle”), which confirms that reception is…
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Experiments with self-sufficient power supply for our radio station
After repowering our roof PV system after 10 years of operation, a few older PV modules remained that are ideal for experiments and craft projects, such as the emergency power supply for our radio systems. The bottleneck for us is now simply the space on the roof or other suitable areas where you can mount…
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Common Mode Current Indicator for Shortwave
This project article describes step by step the construction of a sheath wave indicator that shows directly on the coaxial cable whether sheath waves are being generated. When sheath waves occur, an LED lights up. The idea for this project originally came from Heinz, DL8MH, who presented it in one of his YouTube videos. This…
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New tools on our website
We are pleased to introduce you to a number of useful tools and calculators on our website! These new features are specifically designed for radio amateurs and help to perform calculations, understand radio conditions and obtain live data for radio operations. An exciting update for anyone who wants to improve their radio practice or gain…
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Turn old into new – recycle batteries and use them for radio activities
Recycling is worth it! Our amateur radio club Spittal Drau has impressively proven this. At the beginning of this year, one of our members received a special gift basket from a radio amateur friend from OE7 / Tyrol – it contained dismantled battery blocks. They immediately went to work to discover the potential of these…
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Simple Strain Relief for Cables
In this guide I want to report on the ultimate strain relief, which is excellently suited for coaxial cables and all other types of cables. The strain relief is excellently suited for relieving coaxial cables that are either connected to a free-hanging balun or routed through the air and then connected to a feedpoint. But…
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Build Guide: 80-Metre Dipole
In this article I describe the construction of a sturdy and powerful dipole antenna for the 80-metre band, specifically optimised for operation on 3.7 MHz in the SSB range. With good materials and precise tuning, a stable antenna was created that works excellently for radio connections across Europe. Materials and Tools Calculation and Length of…
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Project: Frank-N-Stein radio devices USB charger
Sometimes you are faced with the problem that a radio has lost its charger or is defective. The “Frank-N-Stein” project created exactly such a case. An old radio without a charger was equipped with a 2S 1A Type C charger board, which can now charge the battery via USB-C. With a maximum charging power of…
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Self-sufficient radio weekend in the Hohe Tauern
We are invited to spend the Pentecost weekend in a hunting lodge in the Carinthian Hohe Tauern. We are Sabine OE5SLE and I Manfred OE5MBP. Sabine discovered Bergfunken 4 years ago after getting her license, and we have already activated a few SOTA summits. Now we would like to try out a self-sufficient radio weekend.…
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Insight into the BrandMeister DMR network functions
The Dobratsch converter (OE8XFK) is integrated into the BrandMeister network (https://brandmeister.network/?page=device&id=232895). The BrandMeister DMR network offers many functions. The role of the BrandMeister dashboard The BrandMeister dashboard (brandmeister.network) is the central control tool for radio amateurs who use the BrandMeister DMR network. It provides a user-friendly interface with various features that enable communication to be…
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SOTA initial activation OE/KT-411 Krobather Berg
On August 14, 2024, Michael, OE8YML, and his daughter Tamara set off to the Krobather Berg (OE/KT-411) to be activated for the first time as part of the SOTA program. The ascent began in Paindorf and first led along the road to Krobathen before continuing along a forest road into nature. Thanks to the friendly…
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SOTA initial activation OE/KT-411 Krobather Berg
On August 14, 2024, Michael, OE8YML, and his daughter Tamara set off to the Krobather Berg (OE/KT-411) to be activated for the first time as part of the SOTA program. The ascent began in Paindorf and first led along the road to Krobathen before continuing along a forest road into nature. Thanks to the friendly…
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SOTA Activation of the Danielsberg in the Mölltal Valley
On 9 August 2024, OE8YML (Michi) and OE8CXC (Sergio) set off on an exciting SOTA activation of the Danielsberg in the Mölltal valley. The summit, known for its fantastic views and easy accessibility, provided the perfect setting for their endeavour on this day. Preparation at the Summit Shortly after arriving at the summit area, Michi…
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Voice Bot via Digital Modes: The Future of Radio?
In a groundbreaking development, amateur radio operator Michael DC9VQ has made Nunu NARSPT‘s DMRBot available to the general public made. This exciting news was successfully tested using the Dobratsch repeater (OE8XFK). But what exactly makes this bot so remarkable? The DMRBot allows radio amateurs to ask questions via a specific talk group and receive answers…
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POTA activations Schütt and Dobratsch
The recent POTA activations by Michael OE8YML at the AT-0112 Schütt – Graschelitzen and AT-0016 Dobratsch sites were a complete success. Michael was able to activate both parks via SSB on shortwave, once again demonstrating his expertise in radio operations. What was particularly pleasing about these activations was the fact that a total of 11…
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POTA park activation Görtschacher Moos – Obermoos
Michi OE8YML was able to successfully carry out the POTA activation Görtschacher Moos (Park AT-0091 Görtschacher Moos – Obermoos) in the Gailtal on September 17th, 2023. This POTA activation Görtschacher Moos was not only a further step in Michi’s activations, but also a wonderful opportunity to combine the beauty of nature and the joy of…
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wiki.echtcool.net – Karl’s Workshop on the Web
There are radio amateurs who operate. And there are radio amateurs who build, measure, solder, mill, program, repair – and then document it all properly. Karl from Tretram, OE8JHK, clearly belongs to the second category. Auf seiner Seite wiki.echtcool.net Karl collects his projects – from a church tower clock to a satellite station, from a…
