Mike Case W8MSC is one of the key figures behind Parks on the Air, helping transform a one-year, ARRL-sponsored park activation event into a lasting global program. Mike’s path into ham radio started later than most. Licensed in 2014 after a chance encounter reignited his technical curiosity, he brought a background in IT and a love for the outdoors. Field Day was the spark, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more than a once-a-year experience. That search led him to National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) in 2016, and when that program sunset, Mike did not step away. Alongside Jason Johnston W3AAX, Thom Martin W8TAM, and others, he helped shape what came next. From a small Michigan-based effort to a national, and now international, platform, he was there building the backend, refining the rules, and testing ideas in real time. What began as a scrappy operation running on a server in a basement, built with a “maybe we’ll get 1,000 users” mindset, quickly took off. Mike and the team had to evolve fast, moving from a simple LAMP stack to a cloud-based microservices architecture. Along the way came unexpected challenges, from broken log formats to scaling pains and the complexity of global expansion. There is also a human side to it, with activators sharing tips, a small Facebook group turning into a worldwide community, and a program that has become a gateway into the hobby for thousands. Now POTA is entering its next chapter. With the formation of a formal board, Mike is focused on transferring institutional knowledge and helping set a durable foundation for the future. A new IT system is on the horizon, with faster awards processing and a shift to global ISO standards to better support international growth. This conversation is part of a larger series featuring all seven board members, with two interviews already live on YouTube, offering a closer look at the people guiding POTA forward. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators across every corner of the hobby, from Parks on the Air activators to contesters and DXers pushing their stations to the limit. Their continued backing helps keep the spirit of operating alive worldwide.

Tom Morton K2GO is a Navy fighter pilot turned airline captain turned global aviation mentor—and through it all, a relentless ham radio operator who always found time to get on the air and meet new friends.

In Part II, Tom’s story widens from cockpit to command. He rises from top-of-class Navy aviator to instructor, then to carrier-qualified pilot and Landing Signal Officer, racking up nearly 200 carrier landings. His post-military career reads like a passport stamped across the globe: 707 captain in Cold War Berlin, widebody captain for American Airlines, and later a 777 and 787 instructor shaping the next generation of pilots from Dubai to Singapore to Seoul. Even in his 80s, he’s still flying jumpseat audits worldwide, quietly evaluating airline safety and standards.

But the throughline isn’t aviation—it’s radio. From aeronautical mobile QSOs over the Pacific to remote contesting from Virginia while living in Uruguay or Panama, Tom has ridden every technological wave the hobby has produced. He’s an early believer in remote operation—not as a shortcut, but as a democratizer—giving small-station operators access to big iron and helping keep contesting alive. He’s equally passionate about CW Ops and youth involvement, seeing both as the lifeblood of the next generation. His philosophy is simple: start small, listen more than you call, and respect timing—the difference between frustration and flow.

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DX Engineering continues to power the passion behind operators like Tom—supporting everyone from contesters to DXers with the gear and know-how that keeps signals moving around the world.

Seth Jones NU1D is a young contester who just got a front-row seat to big-league contesting, operating from J62K in St. Lucia during CQ WPX SSB, and discovering that the view is only half the story. It was also his first trip outside the United States, which adds a layer of awe you can’t fake. The pileups were real, but so was the moment. What begins as an application email turns into a months-long audition. Essays, Zoom calls, strategy sessions, and a slow immersion into how elite multi-ops think. Seth didn’t just show enthusiasm. He showed results, including a top North America finish in his category. By the time he landed in the Caribbean, he wasn’t just a guest. He was part of a system built on preparation, trust, and a team that knows how to win. Then came the shock. A 50-degree temperature swing from Maine. A mountainside villa overlooking the Caribbean. And immediate, relentless pileups. J62K isn’t plug-and-play. It is assemble-on-arrival, a temporary superstation with Elecraft K4s, stacked SteppIRs, and operators who understand how to extract every last QSO. Credit to the J62K team for doing something rare in this space. They make room for youth operators and treat them like real contributors, not spectators. But the real pivot is philosophical. Seth walks away convinced that multi-operator contesting is something deeper than score-chasing. It is shared skill. Operators, schedulers, builders. Everyone contributes a piece, and the result is bigger than any one person at the mic. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. DX Engineering keeps experiences like this within reach, supporting youth operators, contesters, and stations around the world who are pushing the limits of what’s possible on the air.

Ron Koenig WV4P is the guy they told “that won’t work.” He built it anyway and started winning. Licensed during Field Day 2017 because he was “bored,” Ron followed his competitive instincts straight into contesting. Alongside his wife Trina NR4L, that drive quickly escalated from wire antennas to a seven-tower station in Savannah, Tennessee. This was not a copy-paste superstation. Ron challenged long-held assumptions about antenna interaction, station density, and even geography, leaning on modeling and experimentation instead of convention. The result is a 100% remote operation with no on-site operating position, just infrastructure optimized for performance. His “empty-looking” towers are intentional, minimizing interaction to preserve clean radiation patterns. Even more controversial are configurations manufacturers said would not work, like running multiple bands through shared systems. Ron built it anyway. And it worked. But the station is only half the story. WV4P runs like a team sport, with tight operator pairings, carefully planned schedules, and a mix of local and remote operators connected through low-latency links. It is high-performance contesting with real constraints: internet instability, operator training, and the constant challenge of building a reliable team. Ron embraces all of it, treating the station as a living system, iterating, refining, and pushing further. The philosophy is consistent: question everything, trust results, and keep improving. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Big thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators who do not just follow the playbook, but rewrite it across contesting, DXing, and Parks on the Air.

Mark Pride K1RX is a veteran contester who makes the case that your biggest leap in ham radio might not come from upgrading your station, but from joining someone else’s.

In part six of this contesting fundamentals series, Mark shifts the focus from gear to people. For operators constrained by space, budget, or HOA realities, the multi-operator (multi-op) station becomes a kind of accelerator. It is not just about bigger antennas or better radios. It is exposure to how experienced operators think, adapt, and execute in real time. Mark likens it to competitive sailing. Every crew needs different skills, and there is always a seat for someone willing to contribute. Whether you are running high rates, hunting multipliers, fixing antennas, or just observing, the learning curve steepens fast.

There is also a cultural layer. Not all multi-ops are built the same. Some, like elite contest stations, are tightly focused on winning. Others take a more relaxed approach, balancing points with camaraderie. The throughline is chemistry, how personalities mesh over a 48-hour sprint. It is in that mix of pressure, humor, and shared purpose that “tribal knowledge” gets passed down, the kind you will not find in any manual. And often, it is where lifelong friendships begin.

Mark’s advice is practical. Show up prepared, know your logging software, and be honest about your experience. Start by observing if you can. Reach out through clubs, contest results, or QRZ, because most of these stations are looking for help. You do not need to be a superstar. You need to be curious, adaptable, and ready to learn.

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DX Engineering continues to support operators chasing growth at every level, from first-time multi-op participants to seasoned contesters refining their edge. Their commitment helps keep the momentum alive across Parks on the Air activations and competitive stations worldwide.

Nick Hauser, KT0W, is a young contester proving that the future of ham radio isn’t just alive—it’s remote, hybrid, and remarkably competitive. Licensed in 2016 alongside his father, Nick’s early spark came from National Parks on the Air, where rapid-fire pileups introduced him to rate and rhythm. That gateway led naturally into contesting, with mentorship from local operators like W0SD and opportunities at powerhouse stations including KL7SB and NJ4P. In just a few years, he’s gone from borrowing radios on 10 meters to posting serious scores across multiple stations and bands. What stands out isn’t just the operating skill—it’s the model. Nick is balancing college studies in network security with full-time work, squeezing in contests via remote stations between shifts and classes. From Alaska to Florida, he’s adapted to wildly different propagation conditions and station capabilities, all while maintaining a competitive edge. Yet when asked, he’s clear: remote is convenient, but nothing replaces being on-site—hearing the gear, swapping stories, and learning from veteran operators in person. His outlook is pragmatic and forward-looking. FT8, remote access, Discord chats, and online communities aren’t threats—they’re lifelines bringing new operators into an increasingly noisy RF world. And his advice to other young hams is simple: ask. The big stations want you there more than you think. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for continuing to champion operators at every level—from POTA activators to elite contesters—and for helping fuel the next generation of voices on the air.

Michael Kalter W8CI is the voice and steady hand behind the Dayton Hamvention, serving on its executive committee and as official spokesperson while also helping lead the Dayton Amateur Radio Association.

What he describes is not just a convention, it is a phenomenon. With attendance pushing past 30,000 and every booth and flea market space effectively sold out, Hamvention has become something closer to a global pilgrimage for radio operators. Kalter emphasizes preparation. Study the forums, download the app, plan your days, because the scale can overwhelm even seasoned attendees. The forums, he notes, remain the heart of the event, carefully selected from a flood of volunteer proposals that built Hamvention’s reputation.

But beneath the logistics is something more human. For Kalter, the magic is in reunion, the yearly convergence of voices and callsigns from around the world. It is where friendships pick up instantly and new ideas take shape. He lights up talking about the explosion of Parks on the Air, SOTA, SDR, and new technologies that are pushing operators out of the shack and into the field, testing skill and creativity in real conditions.

There is also a sense of continuity. From building a Knight Kit as a kid to marveling at today’s spectrum displays and software defined rigs, Kalter reflects the evolution of amateur radio itself. And if you want a glimpse of what comes next, he points to the youth forums, where the next generation is already stepping forward.

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A special thanks to DX Engineering for backing the amateur radio community year after year, supporting everyone from serious DXers to operators discovering Parks on the Air for the first time. Their dedication helps keep the spirit of Hamvention alive and growing.

Mark Pride K1RX is a veteran contester who believes the real upgrade isn’t your station—it’s you. In part five of this contesting fundamentals series, Mark shifts the focus away from gear and toward operating skill—the subtle, often overlooked craft that separates competent operators from great ones. His message is clear: improvement happens in the chair. Through short contests, special events, and deliberate “stress tests,” operators can sharpen timing, listening, and decision-making. Whether it’s CWOps sprints or month-long award programs, the goal isn’t just points—it’s building confidence and predictability on the air. What stands out is how quickly growth can happen. Mark shares the story of a Welsh operator he mentored who, with modest equipment, logged over 2,700 QSOs in a single event—discovering along the way her best band, improving her pileup skills, and even curing mic shyness. That’s the throughline: contesting compresses learning. It forces you to hear better, think faster, and adapt in real time. But Mark is equally blunt about what holds operators back. Bad habits—like repeating exchanges, over-talking, or failing to identify—quietly destroy efficiency. Contesting, at its core, is about transmitting maximum information in minimum time. The operators who thrive are the ones who strip communication down to its essentials and learn to match the cadence of whoever they’re working. Perhaps the most original idea here is “parallel play”—a kind of shadow operating where you practice logging real QSOs by listening to top operators, even from an SDR or hotel room. It’s a reminder that improvement doesn’t require perfect conditions—just intention. From search-and-pounce fundamentals to the adrenaline of running a frequency, Mark frames contesting as a discipline built on awareness, repetition, and small, compounding gains. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. DX Engineering continues to be a driving force behind operators pushing their limits, whether chasing DX, activating parks, or competing at the highest levels. Their support helps turn learning into performance across the global ham radio community.