What really makes you better at ham radio — more gear, or more time on the air?

In this episode of the Live Free and Ham Podcast, hosts Paul (N1OG) and Eric (N1JUR) are joined by Steve (KO4AFL) for a candid conversation about learning ham radio through real-world experience.

Steve shares his journey in the hobby, lessons learned along the way, and why mistakes, patience, and simply getting on the air matter more than having the perfect setup. The discussion covers common challenges operators face, realistic expectations, and how confidence is built one contact at a time.

This episode is a reminder that improvement in amateur radio doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from participation.

🎙️ Guest: Steve – KO4AFL

🎙️ Hosts: Paul – N1OG | Eric – N1JUR

Guest Links:

Steve KO4AFL - https://www.youtube.com/@KO4AFL

Ham Radio Clubhouse - https://www.youtube.com/@HamRadioClubhouse

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Support the show:

Buy Us a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lfhpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LiveFreeandHamPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093543540309

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livefreeandham/

************* Feedback and Questions!

You can always leave us feedback on our voicemail line at 978-233-1142

Affiliate:

Live Free and Ham - 10% off all LFH Swag CODE: LFH10

Reliance Antennas - 10% off and free shipping at https://www.relianceantennas.com/ CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM

Halibut Electronics - 10% discount on all purchases https://electronics.halibut.com/ of $25 or more, limited to three uses per listener. CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM

YouTube Channel:

Live Free and Ham - @livefreeandham

Eric (N1JUR) - @N1JUR

Paul (N1OG) - @NovemberOneOscarGrouch

Todd (W1STJ) - @W1STJ

Swag/Shows/Updates:

https://livefreeandham.com

Join our Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/zas2cAVNPs

If you would also like to learn more about the hosts:

Todd (W1STJ) - https://w1stj.com

Eric (N1JUR) - https://n1jur.com

Paul (N1OG) - https://www.qrz.com/db/N1OG

In this episode of Live Free and Ham, we’re joined by Shane from Ham Radio Clubhouse for a wide-ranging conversation about building a ham radio show, embracing livestream chaos, and learning by doing.

Shane talks about:

How Ham Radio Clubhouse got started

Why the show stays unedited and unscripted

What it’s really like running a long-term livestream podcast

His involvement in hot air ballooning and aviation projects

Why community matters more than polish in ham radio

We also dig into ham radio clubs, meetings, and how the hobby can stay fun, welcoming, and hands-on — instead of getting stuck in procedure and paperwork.

If you like honest conversations, real experiences, and ham radio content that feels more like hanging out than a lecture, this one’s for you.

👇 Get involved

• Join the Discord

• Leave us a voicemail

• Become a channel member

• Watch live and be part of the chaos

📻 Live Free. Ham Hard.

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Support the show:

Buy Us a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lfhpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LiveFreeandHamPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093543540309

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livefreeandham/

************* Feedback and Questions!

You can always leave us feedback on our voicemail line at 978-233-1142

Affiliate:

Live Free and Ham - 10% off all LFH Swag CODE: LFH10

Reliance Antennas - 10% off and free shipping at https://www.relianceantennas.com/ CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM

Halibut Electronics - 10% discount on all purchases https://electronics.halibut.com/ of $25 or more, limited to three uses per listener. CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM

YouTube Channel:

Live Free and Ham - @livefreeandham

Eric (N1JUR) - @N1JUR

Paul (N1OG) - @NovemberOneOscarGrouch

Todd (W1STJ) - @W1STJ

Swag/Shows/Updates:

https://livefreeandham.com

Join our Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/zas2cAVNPs

If you would also like to learn more about the hosts:

Todd (W1STJ) - https://w1stj.com

Eric (N1JUR) - https://n1jur.com

Paul (N1OG) - https://www.qrz.com/db/N1OG

Do you actually use the scan button… or do you just pretend? 🤔

In this episode, we get brutally honest about mobile ham radio, repeater scanning, radio organization, and why most of us only listen to the same 5 channels anyway. We break down real-world mobile setups, remote heads, SD card madness, aviation monitoring, and why “more features” doesn’t always mean better.

Then things get spicy—in a good way. We talk about Elmering, mentoring new hams, license testing vs real learning, and why helping someone get on the air matters more than memorizing multiple-choice questions. There’s also a Near-Fest story that perfectly explains how mentoring should actually work.

If you’ve ever:

Hated scanning

Over-programmed your radio

Felt overwhelmed by features

Learned more by doing than studying

…this one’s for you.

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Support the show:

Buy Us a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lfhpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LiveFreeandHamPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093543540309

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livefreeandham/

************* Feedback and Questions!

You can always leave us feedback on our voicemail line at 978-233-1142

Affiliate:

Live Free and Ham - 10% off all LFH Swag CODE: LFH10

Reliance Antennas - 10% off and free shipping at https://www.relianceantennas.com/ CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM

Halibut Electronics - 10% discount on all purchases https://electronics.halibut.com/ of $25 or more, limited to three uses per listener. CODE: LIVEFREEANDHAM

YouTube Channel:

Live Free and Ham - @livefreeandham

Eric (N1JUR) - @N1JUR

Paul (N1OG) - @NovemberOneOscarGrouch

Todd (W1STJ) - @W1STJ

Swag/Shows/Updates:

https://livefreeandham.com

Join our Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/zas2cAVNPs

If you would also like to learn more about the hosts:

Todd (W1STJ) - https://w1stj.com

Eric (N1JUR) - https://n1jur.com

Paul (N1OG) - https://www.qrz.com/db/N1OG