Day two of Hamvention 2025 was absolutely amazing—and the weather couldn’t have been more ideal. I wish I had time this morning to write a proper recap, but I’m grabbing a quick breakfast and heading back to the Greene County Fairgrounds for day three.
That said, I wanted to drop a quick note and share a photo of a little surprise from the Flea Market…
Even though I told myself I wouldn’t buy another radio at Hamvention, I spotted one I simply couldn’t pass up:
I already own a TR-35 (a rig I absolutely love), so I let that one go. But I didn’t have an MTR-4B in my collection… and that red chassis in the early morning sunlight? Irresistible. The asking price was $200—very fair, in my opinion—so I snagged it.
Later that day, I showed it off to my good friend Joshua (N5FY), and wouldn’t you know it—he gifted me one of his MTR-4B protective covers!
As soon as I got back to the hotel room that evening, I installed it.
Day one of Hamvention 2025 (Friday, May 16) kicked off bright and early!
I started the day with a quick walk-through of the Hamvention Flea Market before the gates opened. I also shared an impromptu video with Patreon supporters—it was a peaceful moment before the weekend’s whirlwind began.
I spent most of Friday at the Ham Radio Workbench Podcast table, which served as a kind of home base. I had the pleasure of chatting with so many HRWB listeners, QRPer readers, and YouTube subscribers.
My dear friend Mike (VA3MW) shows off the new Flex Aurora.
Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourselves—it was a true joy to reconnect with many of you in person! Your kindness and encouragement fuel me through the wonderful chaos that is Hamvention.
First Stop: The Yaesu FTX-1 Field and Optima
As soon as the indoor exhibits opened, I made a beeline to the Yaesu booth to check out their new FTX-1 Field and FTX-1 Optima. They had multiple units on display, ready for hands-on testing.
In person, the rigs look fantastic—the displays are crisp, the fit and finish are excellent, and I really appreciate the modular design with snap-on battery and ATU options.
That said… my first reaction was: “This is bigger than I expected.” I wasn’t alone—I overheard several others expressing the same surprise.
I think that’s partly due to some early promotional material. One Yaesu rep video seemed to suggest the FTX-1 would be just a bit larger than the faceplate of an FTM-500D.
In reality, it has a much larger footprint. Even with just the battery attached, it has noticeable bulk—and with the optional ATU in place, it grows even more.
The Optima version, with its 100-watt amplifier and internal ATU, is larger still—definitely a full-size 100-watt rig. I’d say it’s bigger in every dimension than the FT-891.
I also recorded a quick video with my iPhone while checking out the FTX-1 at the Yaesu booth and shared it on YouTube yesterday, if you’d like a closer look.
Why I Cancelled My FTX-1 Reservation
After spending some time with the FTX-1, I walked over to DX Engineering and cancelled my reservation.
To be clear: I think Yaesu has done a great job with this rig. It’s incredibly feature-rich, well-built, and will no doubt be the perfect radio for a lot of operators. I’m willing to bet Yaesu will sell a ton of these—and rightfully so.
But for my specific needs—especially as someone who values small, minimalist radios for portable field use—the FTX-1 simply isn’t the right fit. Even the head unit of the FTX-1 Field is larger than I prefer. I could tell that, as much as I might enjoy the radio at home, I’d likely leave it behind more often than take it to the field.
So this was a personal decision, and canceling also frees up over $2,000 in funds for other gear that better aligns with my style of operating.
One thing I heard repeatedly throughout the day–a number of folks who had pre-ordered the FTX-1 Field through Ham Radio Outlet were frustrated. Several told me they were surprised—and disappointed—that HRO had a batch of FTX-1 Field units for sale at Hamvention, even though some customers placed reservations months ago.
These folks followed HRO’s instructions last year to reserve early and expected to be first to receive units in-hand.
Update: Two readers have noted that their FTX-1s reserved via HRO actually shipped on Friday, so perhaps all or some of the reserved orders actually shipped day of Hamvention.
Wrapping Up Day One
Mike (VA3MW) snapped this photo of us at the HRWB table.
Hamvention day one was absolutely amazing—but I’ll admit I was wiped out by the end of it (and I know I wasn’t alone!). I did make it to Club Night at Four Days In May (FDIM), but we headed back to the hotel early—just in time to avoid the intense storm that rolled through Dayton around 8:30–9:00 p.m.
I’m wrapping up this post over breakfast, then heading back to the Greene County Fairgrounds for day two. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead!
Once again, thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello. Your encouragement and kindness truly mean the world to me.
I’ve got a few quiet moments this morning as I sit in the dining room of our hotel in downtown Dayton, Ohio. It’s peaceful here—no one else is around, and no one has turned on the TV. Bliss…
Of course, that’ll change in a couple of hours when we pull into the parking lot at the Greene County Fairgrounds for Hamvention 2025!
So far, the trip and Four Days in May have been amazing.
I left Swannanoa bright and early Tuesday morning in the rain, but it cleared up as I crossed into Tennessee. The theme of the day was passing through thunder showers as I made my way north.
The plan was to activate Camp Creek State Park (US-5584) in West Virginia, grab lunch, then head to the QTH of Eric (WD8RIF).
I rolled into Camp Creek around 11:15 in light rain. Eric had confirmed there was at least one picnic shelter in the park, so I figured I’d activate from there to avoid scrambling if a downpour started.
I grabbed my end-fed half-wave and throw line from the back of the car—but then heard a very distant rumble of thunder. It was barely audible, but I decided to play it safe and set up under the metal shelter roof using my AX1 vertical instead. If I could wrap up the activation in 10–20 minutes, I could be packed up before any storms moved in.
It only took two minutes to set up the KX2 and AX1. I started scanning 20 meters for an open frequency, but could only hear one ragchew in progress—the band was otherwise dead.
I called QRL on 14,033.5 kHz, hoping for the best, when a loud clap of thunder hit.
Ugh.
I don’t mix radio and thunderstorms, so I packed up quickly, tucked in my tail, and hit the road. Camp Creek will have to wait for another day.
For lunch, I stopped at Tamarack in Beckley, WV. While the dining area might look like your typical folk art center café, the food is exceptional—the staff are in training for the famous Greenbrier Resort. I had a trout filet with green beans and mushrooms, kale, and sweet potato fries. It was incredible.
After a relaxed lunch, I hit the road again. A couple of hours later, I crossed the Ohio River and rolled into Ohio.
I arrived at Eric’s QTH around 4:30 and was warmly greeted by my canine buddy Theo—“The Great Warg” himself. You might remember him from some of Eric’s previous POTA adventures.
The Great Warg with WD8RIF circa May 2022.
Eric and I packed the car and headed into uptown Athens, Ohio for a quick bite.
On Wednesday morning, we hit the road early and activated Lake Alma State Park (US-1967), then headed to Great Seal State Park (US-1954) for a second activation.
Lake Alma State Park (US-1967)
While conditions were a bit unstable, we didn’t have to work too hard to complete both activations. (Full field reports and activation videos are coming soon.)
Great Seal State Park (US-1954)
Afterward, we drove another 90 minutes to Dayton and made a few stops at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, including the clothing store—where I stocked up on my usual Rite in the Rain pads—and the Commissary, where Eric picked up his annual supply of Nutella!
We checked into our hotel and later grabbed dinner at Carillon Brewing Co., one of my favorite spots in Dayton.
Yesterday, we left the hotel around 7:00 AM to attend Four Days in May at the Holiday Inn Fairborn.
I wish I had more time to describe what an incredible event it was—truly a highlight of the year!
L to R: Vlado (N3CZ), Thomas (K4SWL), and Phil (W9IXX)
We wrapped up the day at a jam-packed Vendor Night. And I do mean jam-packed—it was shoulder-to-shoulder.
A huge thank you to the many readers and subscribers who introduced themselves. I truly appreciate it!
I’ll cap off this report now because it’s time to hit the road again. More to come!
Just a quick update: I’m heading out today for Four Days in May (FDIM) and Hamvention—both taking place this week—and will be on the road and fully immersed in the events for the next several days.
While I’m away, things may be a bit quiet here on QRPer.com.
My inbox is likely to pile up, and my posting may be limited while I soak in the energy, fun, and (let’s be honest) chaos of the world’s largest ham radio gathering and one of the best QRP conventions of the year!
Thanks for your understanding—and if you’re also attending Hamvention or FDIM, I hope to see you there!
This year seems to have flown by already. No doubt it’s because it’s been one of the busiest years of my life so far (and I kind of hope it doesn’t get any busier!).
It feels like I was just wishing everyone a Happy New Year, and now—poof!—we’re only a week away from Four Days In May and Hamvention!
I’ll be leaving the QTH next Tuesday morning, doing an overnight at the QTH of my buddy Eric (WD8RIF) and his wife Vickie (KC8MAJ), then (hopefully) fitting in a day of POTA en route to our hotel in Dayton, Ohio.
We’ll spend all day Thursday at Four Days In May—always my favorite part of the Hamvention weekend.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we’ll be at Hamvention, held at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio.
When I’m not out and about checking out vendor booths and catching up with friends, I’ll be hanging out at the Ham Radio Workbench / Packtenna / Halibut Electronics / Sierra booth in Building 3—booths 3011 and 3012.
Hamvention Lists
I remember when I first started attending Hamvention regularly (back in 2008 or 2009), I’d go with an extensive list of items to hunt down. Often you can find things at Hamvention that are hard to source elsewhere—especially items that aren’t easy to ship. I’d typically come home with a couple of boxes full of gear.
These days, though, my shack is pretty well stocked—and lately, I’ve been more focused on paring down than accumulating. So it’s rare for me to have more than one or two items on my Hamvention list.
This year, it’s pretty simple: I’ll be looking for another Alpha Delta 4-position antenna switch and possibly a few other components. Truthfully, I mostly keep an eye out for cool innovations from smaller mom-and-pop companies. I always leave a little room in my pack for those kinds of purchases!
How About You?
If you’re attending Hamvention, what’s on your list?
If you’re not attending Hamvention but plan to go to Ham Radio Friedrichshafen, the Tokyo Ham Fair, the National Hamfest, or a national or regional hamfest where you live—what are you planning to buy?
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As soon as I got back to the hotel room that evening, I installed it.
She’s ready for the field.
