Ham.Community
A first contact, a signal across the world, a project that works, or a community.
Ham.Community is an online amateur radio learning and discussion space built for hams at every stage of the hobby, from brand-new operators to experienced Elmers. It gives members a place to ask questions, share ideas, talk through experiments, show off projects, discuss club activities, learn about equipment, and connect with others who enjoy different parts of amateur radio. The site is designed around the idea that amateur radio is a wide hobby, including CW, contesting, DXing, ragchewing, emergency communications, antenna building, portable operating, making, activating, chasing, and everyday radio learning.
One of the strongest parts of Ham.Community is its focus on mentorship. Their Elmers’ Circle highlights experienced operators who are willing to help others grow in the hobby. This can be especially helpful for new hams, returning hams, families, youth, and anyone who wants to ask questions in a place where learning is encouraged. The Elmers’ Circle is built around credible guidance from operators with real experience, especially in areas where poor advice could create safety or operating problems.
Ham.Community also includes discussion areas and groups where members can go deeper into specific interests. Members can explore topics such as learning, operating, buying advice, outdoor radio, show-and-tell projects, club activity, equipment, antennas, and other communications-related subjects. Their group features can support focused conversations, project collaboration, event planning, photo albums, videos, and community networking.
Other HAM.COMMUNITY Resources to check out:
LONG ISLAND CW CLUB Teachers of Morse Code
A Unique culture for all
The Long Island CW Club is one of the largest and most recognized Morse code learning communities in amateur radio today. Their focus is helping operators of all ages and skill levels learn CW in a structured, approachable, and supportive environment.
Their curriculum is designed around real communication. Instead of memorizing random characters, students learn Morse code using QSO-based training methods that help operators understand how CW is actually used on the air. They teach at 12 words per minute using the Koch Method, which trains students to recognize characters as complete sounds instead of counting individual dits and dahs.
The club developed its own web-based learning system called the LICW Morse Practice Page, allowing students to practice online using exercises directly connected to their curriculum. Instructor-led classes provide structure and guidance while encouraging productive individual practice habits.
What truly makes the Long Island CW Club stand out is the wide range of opportunities they provide for the amateur radio community. The organization conducts over 180 classes and forums weekly, ranging from beginner to advanced levels, with instruction available in both English and Spanish.
Their programs are designed for all ages. The club offers youth-focused training for children ages 5–17 across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom using methods adapted specifically for younger learners. They have taught hundreds of children Morse code and continue to make CW accessible for future generations.
Accessibility is also a major priority for the organization. Their website and curriculum are optimized for visually impaired students using screen readers, and they have developed haptic vibration devices to help students with hearing impairments learn Morse code through tactile feedback.
Beyond training, the club supports portable outings, QRP activities, POTA and SOTA interests, daily radio forums, museum ship operations, and International Marconi Day events.
For operators interested in learning Morse code or improving their CW skills, the Long Island CW Club provides one of the most comprehensive and welcoming learning environments in amateur radio today.
Near Space Education
strong foundation in learning and exploration.
NearSpace Education, founded in 2020, is an Indiana-based nonprofit dedicated to giving students real, hands-on STEM experiences using authentic space and aerospace technology. Emerging from its connection to NearSpace Launch a CubeSat manufacturer with a proven flight heritage since 2014, over 100 satellites, 900+ subsystems deployed, and a 100% mission success rate NearSpace Education brings cutting-edge innovation into the classroom. Through space camps, aerospace clubs, the nationwide Dream Big Program, and ongoing curriculum development, their mission is to inspire, equip, and impact the next generation of STEM learners.
Dream Big Project
The Dream Big Project by NearSpace Education is a hands-on space education program designed to give students real experience with real missions from coding and testing to launching hardware into orbit. Built around a new generation of 0.5U ThinSat CubeSats developed in partnership with NearSpace Launch, the program expands payload capacity and opens the door for more students to participate in space-based experimentation than ever before.
In Phase 1 NearSpace Education partnered with six tri-state colleges and universities to expose students to advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies, and space entrepreneurship. These early missions will culminate in a launch aboard Falcon 9 through SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare program, sending student-connected payloads into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Phase 2 expands the experience across Indiana through the Dream Big: STEPS to Space program (Scalable Testing of Electronics and Programming by Students). Over three years, up to 900 middle school students will take part in the full lifecycle of a satellite mission. They begin by learning programming using NASA-aligned curriculum and Micro:bit platforms, then design experiments tied to real space missions. From there, students test their hardware on high-altitude balloon launches reaching the edge of space, participate in flight selection, and ultimately have the opportunity to see their code and hardware launched into Low Earth Orbit aboard a CubeSat mission. The experience continues after launch, as students track data, analyze results, and present their findings—mirroring the work of real aerospace teams.
A key part of the program is its reach into communities. Through partnerships with organizations like Science Central, STARBASE Indiana, the Indiana State Museum, Terre Haute Children's Museum, and Angel Mounds State Historic Site, Dream Big brings high-altitude launches and public STEM events directly to students and families across the state.
Looking ahead, Phase 3 takes the program nationwide. The vision is ambitious: launch 150 high-altitude balloons, deploy 50 spacecraft—one representing each state—and impact more than one million students. By removing traditional barriers and giving students direct access to real aerospace experiences, the Dream Big Project is helping shape the next generation of innovators, explorers, and problem-solvers.
Salty Walt
From beach to field: build something, take it outside, Museum Ships on the Air, and see what happens
Salty Walt (K4OGO) – Coastal Waves & Wires
Walt Hudson, K4OGO, better known throughout amateur radio as "Salty Walt," brings a hands-on, real-world approach to portable operating. Through his YouTube channel, Coastal Waves & Wires, Walt shares practical antenna builds, field-tested radio setups, and operating adventures from beaches, parks, and coastal locations where he demonstrates that successful amateur radio doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.
Walt's focus is clear: make antenna building approachable. His work emphasizes doing over theory, encouraging operators to get outside, experiment, and learn by building. Whether it's a simple vertical antenna, an end-fed wire, or a creative field-expedient design, his approach removes the intimidation factor and replaces it with curiosity and confidence.
That same philosophy carries into his book, Salty Walt's Portable Antenna Sketchbook, published by the ARRL. The book features portable antenna designs illustrated from Walt's own notebook and paired with practical guidance for real-world use. Rather than focusing on complex engineering concepts, the book emphasizes simple materials, portable deployment, and getting operators on the air quickly—making it especially valuable for POTA activators, field operators, and anyone interested in portable radio. The ARRL has recognized Walt's impact on portable operating and antenna experimentation, highlighting how his practical designs have inspired operators to build and deploy antennas in the field.
Beyond teaching antenna construction, Walt demonstrates what amateur radio looks like when adventure becomes part of the hobby. His videos frequently show operating from beaches and coastal destinations while experimenting with equipment, propagation, and portable station configurations. His motto is simple: get outside, get on the air, and learn by doing.
Walt is also active in preserving amateur radio history. Through his involvement with the USS Wisconsin Amateur Radio Club and events such as Museum Ships on the Air, he helps connect operators with historic vessels and the stories behind them. These special-event stations give operators the opportunity to experience radio while celebrating maritime and communications history.
What makes Salty Walt's work stand out is its balance of simplicity, creativity, and encouragement. His projects are easy to follow, but they also invite experimentation. He demonstrates that you don't need perfect conditions, expensive equipment, or a complicated station to enjoy amateur radio—you simply need the willingness to try something new.
For anyone interested in antennas, portable operating, POTA, beach operations, or learning through experimentation, Coastal Waves & Wires is an outstanding resource.
Satnogs
Space isn’t far—you just need the right tools, curiosity, and the will to try it today with others
SatNOGS is a global, open-source network of satellite ground stations built by everyday people who want to explore space from right here on Earth. Designed to observe and receive signals from low earth orbit (LEO) satellites including CubeSats and even the International Space Station. SatNOGS turns curiosity into capability by giving individuals the tools to track, capture, and share real satellite data.
The project began in 2014 during a NASA Space Apps Challenge hackathon in Athens, Greece. What started as a small collaborative effort quickly grew into something much larger, eventually leading to the creation of the Libre Space Foundation and a worldwide community of builders, operators, and contributors. Today, SatNOGS represents a new way to participate in space exploration—open, accessible, and driven by people who simply want to learn and experiment.
At its core, SatNOGS is about making space more approachable. Ground stations can be built using readily available materials, with many designs relying on 3D printing, basic tools, and affordable components. A typical station can be assembled for a few hundred dollars, and even existing amateur radio setups can be integrated into the network with minimal cost. This lowers the barrier to entry and allows more people to take part in something that once required significant resources.
Once connected, a SatNOGS station becomes part of a larger network. Operators can schedule satellite passes, receive telemetry and scientific data, and automatically upload their observations for others to access. These signals can include everything from satellite health status to experimental payload data and weather information. The system is built using open-source technologies, including platforms like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Python-based software, making it both flexible and constantly evolving.
What makes SatNOGS especially powerful is its connection to community. Stations are spread across the world, each contributing a small piece to a much larger picture. When one station can’t see a satellite, another might. Together, they create a continuous stream of shared data, collaboration, and discovery.
SatNOGS isn’t just about receiving signals, it’s about participating in space in a real and meaningful way. Whether you’re building your first ground station, integrating existing equipment, or simply exploring what’s possible, SatNOGS opens the door to a hands-on experience that blends amateur radio, engineering, and global collaboration.
It’s a reminder that space isn’t as far away as it seems, you just need the right tools, a bit of curiosity, and a willingness to try.