Meet the Parks on the Air Board: Tom N4MTE

First Public Look at the WRTC 2026 Live ScoreboardL

James Cribbs N0WRL is the founder and CEO of World Radio League, and in this special episode he unveils—publicly for the first time—the live scoring platform being developed in collaboration with the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026. With WRTC now just weeks away in England this July, James walks the Contest Crew through a working demonstration of a new operator experience designed to bring the competition to life for contesters around the world. More than a traditional scoreboard, the platform combines live rankings, team profiles, spotting integration, performance analytics, station status monitoring, and visual race tracking intended to keep the amateur radio community engaged throughout the event. Joining the discussion is DX Engineering CEO Tim Duffy K3LR, alongside Contest Crew regulars Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Dan Craig N6MJ. What follows is far more than a software demo. The crew puts the system through a thoughtful review, challenging assumptions, questioning edge cases, and offering practical feedback on everything from spotting fairness and network reliability to promotion, onboarding, and user experience. The result is a rare behind-the-scenes look at how technology, contesting, and collaboration are coming together ahead of one of amateur radio's most prestigious events. If you've ever wondered how fans at home will follow WRTC in real time, this conversation offers the first detailed look at what is being built for July. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for helping make conversations like this possible. Through their support of contesters, DXers, Parks on the Air operators, and radio enthusiasts worldwide, they continue to strengthen the communities that make amateur radio thrive. Welcome to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Meet the Parks on the Air Board: Tom N4MTE

Tom Suggs N4MTE is a longtime amateur radio operator, Parks on the Air board member, and one of the program’s dedicated activators. His journey into radio began as a teenager inspired by an uncle’s ham radio station, where a simple contact with Norway sparked a lifelong fascination with geography, communication, and the magic of radio. After earning his license in 1985, Tom spent decades chasing DX and enjoying the many corners of amateur radio before discovering Parks on the Air in its earliest days. In this conversation, Tom reflects on hearing one of the first “CQ Parks on the Air” calls back in 2018 and deciding to give the program a try at a nearby battlefield. One activation was all it took. Today, he plans multi-state activation trips that can include dozens of parks in a single week and has already activated parks in 38 states. Along the way, he’s explored hidden corners of America, learned local history, and built friendships with hunters and activators across the world. Tom also offers a candid look inside the Parks on the Air leadership transition from founder Jason Johnson, W3AAX, to the current board structure. He explains why explosive growth made a volunteer-led governance model necessary and discusses the challenges ahead—from scaling infrastructure and supporting a growing international community to clarifying program rules while preserving POTA’s famously low barrier to entry. His vision is simple: keep the program approachable, keep the rules clear, and let operators focus on getting on the air and enjoying the parks. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for helping operators turn ideas into contacts, whether they’re activating a remote park, chasing a rare DX entity, or competing in a major contest. Their continued support strengthens the entire amateur radio community and helps keep operators worldwide on the air.

Contest Crew Europe: WPX Results and WRTC Prep

Contest Crew Europe returns with a post-WPX debrief and a look ahead to WRTC 2026. I'm joined by Kris Kass ES7A, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, Braco Memic E77DX, Sven Lovric DJ4MX, and Dave Kucelin 9A1UN as they unpack CQ WPX CW from a European perspective. At the center of the discussion is ES5TV’s ambitious eight-month multi-multi project. Kris shares the numbers behind the effort: 46 operators from 15 countries, more than 53,000 QSOs, and—most importantly—a remarkable influx of young operators. Nearly a third of all contacts were made by youth participants, many of whom arrived as beginners and left as confident contesters. The conversation becomes a case study in mentorship, showing what can happen when experienced operators give newcomers real operating time, real responsibility, and access to a world-class station. The crew also dives deep into CQ WPX CW. Filipe explains how his high-rate operation was less about chasing records and more about preparing for WRTC, using the contest to stress-test equipment, refine strategy, and sharpen operating skills. Along the way, the group debates operating speed, synchronization, live scoreboards, propagation surprises, and the tactical decisions that separate good scores from great ones. Attention then turns to WRTC 2026. Braco and Sven describe their preparation trip to England, complete with travel chaos, antenna studies, and low-power practice. Kris, Filipe, and the others discuss station testing, equipment logistics, customs challenges, and the realities of transporting radios and backup gear across borders. The result is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how some of the world's top contest operators prepare for amateur radio's biggest stage. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting contesters, DXers, and operators worldwide as they push their stations and skills to new levels. Their continued commitment to amateur radio helps make projects, competitions, and on-air adventures like these possible. Welcome to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

REZ Recon 40 II Founders Edition | Mike W5REZ Explains the Story

Mike Giannaccio W5REZ is the owner of REZ Antenna Systems and the driving force behind a unique project marking America’s 250th birthday. In this conversation, Mike shares the story behind a limited-edition run of commemorative Recon 40 II antennas—just five in total—created to honor the nation’s founding and support the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). What began as a REZ Antenna conversation about ways to celebrate the semiquincentennial quickly evolved into something larger. After learning more about the DAR’s efforts to preserve American history, support veterans, and participate in programs like Wreaths Across America, Mike and his team decided to create a collector-grade antenna unlike anything they had produced before. Each antenna is tied to a Founding Father and includes a custom display case, certificate of authenticity, and commemorative token. Mike also reflects on the enthusiastic response the project received at Dayton Hamvention, where operators immediately recognized the significance of both the antenna and the cause behind it. The antennas will be sold through individual eBay auctions, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the DAR. While future commemorative projects remain a possibility, Mike makes it clear that this exact series will never be repeated. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

CQ WPX CW Starts Friday: Contest Crew Strategy

The Contest Crew is back. Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Chris Hurlbut KL9A join Kevin Thomas W1DED for another deep dive into the biggest stories in competitive ham radio—from Dayton Hamvention and CQ WPX CW to the mounting pressure surrounding WRTC 2026. Fresh off a packed Hamvention weekend, the crew recaps CTU, the crowds in Xenia, memorable presentations, and why Dayton remains the epicenter of contesting culture. Randy describes it as one of the premier gathering places in the world for contesters and DXers, while Bill shares stories from hosting powerhouse operator Val EW6W/CQ9A through the nonstop pace of the convention weekend. The weekend also underscored how much the series has connected with contesters, with plenty of operators stopping by to talk about past episodes. The episode then shifts into full contest mode as the group breaks down CQ WPX CW strategy. Dan discusses operating remotely from N2QV while quietly escalating from a “casual effort” to chasing the existing record set by Milen ND3T. Randy and Chris unpack the unusual summertime propagation patterns that make WPX one of the most strategic contests of the year—where 40 meters becomes king, high bands stay alive late into the night, and smart off-time decisions can determine the final score. But the heart of the conversation is WRTC. The Contest Crew gives an unusually candid look at what preparation for the Olympics of contesting actually feels like: the stress, second-guessing, endless log analysis, and even the politics surrounding spotting networks and fairness. Randy explains the reasoning behind the new automated spotting systems, while Chris describes the psychological challenge of hearing dozens of elite competitors operating only miles away during the event itself. It’s equal parts technical strategy session and inside baseball from some of the best operators in the world. The episode closes with reflections on the newest CQ Contest Hall of Fame inductees and a reminder about youth opportunities at J62K in St. Lucia—another example of how mentorship continues to shape the future of contesting. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for continuing to support contesters, DXers, and operators around the globe with the equipment, technical expertise, and community investment that help keep amateur radio thriving at every level.