After Action Report - Quartzfest 2025

[@Monitoring_Everything]

Absolutely great video. You are correct in your assessment of the amateur radio scene with a "certain" bunch of O.F.'s stuck in their Herman Munster radio era ways. Your the top 3 ham radio off-grid channels I watch and have learned so much. Keep up the great work.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I appreciate the kind note. Like I said, I am an outsider to the amateur radio scene and my goals seem to be pretty different than that of the typical ham. I am in it for practical, real-world offgrid comms. Most of my work is built on making operating easier for the average person. Take care.

[@BobBob-il2ku]

dam you got me excited about the possible js8call port to Linux/andorid

[@ericwilliams952]

Sorry you had such a bad time at quartz fest. I was impressed how on the fly You were still able to put on your presentation. We need younger HAM’s and new energy in the HAM community. Don’t give up on us. 73’s W7EMW I was there camping in the wind.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I had a good time, but some of the on-air interaction was not my cup of tea. I realize that these negative experiences are only coming from the minority of licensed hams.

[@m.p.6330]

Really liking the direction the channel is headed.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad to hear it. It's a matter of trying to figure out how to spend my time. R&D with light video production is where I need to go for the short term.

[@haxwithaxe]

Failure is not an option... it's a requirement. We always have to be prepared.

[@holdfastjoe8841]

This is great stuff! Those dresert winds are no joke! I'm also a software guy and I currently volunteer for two organizations plus I've been learning the ham thing recently. I think your doing a wonderful job, this stuff takes a lot of effort! I am lucky the places i help understand the load i took on and they're lenient when i had a goal set but slip the date. Sometimes things just happen, or a lot of things happen Your coffee story is funny. Allocating generator use for caffeine is hilarious lol I'm a fan of instant coffee so just need a little heat to boil a few cups of water and I'm happy

[@TheTechPrepper]

Cheers to another software guy. The winds are usually our biggest issue, that and our monsoon season in July. Glad you enjoyed the coffee story. When you have a handful of grown men knocking at your RV door every morning waiting for their cup of Joe, you plan accordingly. Take it easy!

[@holdfastjoe8841]

@TheTechPrepper oh man, the pressure to have hot coffee is real at that point! Good luck with the SFAR, I've heard mixed results. If you experience jams or failures of some kind Ruger is pretty good about repairs, it's just a pain in the neck to deal with. I've had several experienes with PSA's ar10 and they've been excellent. We have a little event for fun that's a 2 day 100-400 yard cmp style deal, standing, sitting, prone rapid, prone slow. The guy who brings the PSA ar10 does well, but in competitions where you're not pushing beyond 400 yards its hard to beat a 223 and he ran mid pack due to dealing with exhaustion managing that weight and recoil. On avg we ran about 600 rounds in each 2 day event and he had zero problems. Wasn't the first PSA ar10 that ran like that either, they seem solid, just heavy! If you aren't happy with the Ruger sfar look at PSA. Sending 30s will sure buck that arizona wind far better than 223, though the heavy 69-77gr 223s aren't bad!

[@tomsmall6220]

When you addressed the question about amperage draw, voltage is a key factor. Especially because Starlink can accept between 12-48 volts. Watts is a nice unit of measure because it is accurate regardless of voltage. For example, Starlink pulls about 60 Watts. 5amps at 12volts = 60watts 2.5amps at 24volts = 60watts This can come into play when using a Power Bank with PD USB-C. Thanks for the awesome content! Always appreciated 👍

[@TheTechPrepper]

Excellent point. Thank you for jumping in here and correcting the record.. I have a really bad habit of always assuming a 12VDC system and thinking in terms of current consumption and monitoring my systems using amp hours.

[@DomN5TCB]

Also going to paper maps is a good idea.

[@neubert500]

I am closer to 70 than 50, but it is not an age issue, but a narcissist issue. My background is different from most sad hams as I was a emergency first responder for 37 years and have NO respect for 95% of current hams and am very glad to see the younger guys who actually are interested in emmcoms instead of rag-chewing and DX . Keep sharing information little brother!

[@TheTechPrepper]

You may be right. It's all in the attitude. More sharing on the way.

[@dougmarklinger8485]

Using “break” is totally appropriate in your case. They were on the talk in frequency and you had traffic for the group. Like everything else, there’s a lack of rule following in ham radio. Too many “everyone gets a trophy” mindset and everyone just makes up their own rules. It was a lot better 30 years ago. Lol, now I sound like an old guy.😄

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for jumping in here. I appreciate your insight. What's wrong with 10th place ribbons? ;-)

[@ModernHam]

I share your mentality when it comes to feeling like an outsider in amateur radio. Listening to people talk like that for so long with no pause, I catch myself begging for them out loud to just take a breath and let go of the microphone for a moment. Nothing makes me more stone faced in this world then listening to someone key down their microphone until the TOT kicks them off the air, and 30% of their on air time being a pause while they are thinking the next part of whatever consciousness stream they are unloading, only to key it up again without delay. I guess that's ragchewing, but I don't get it. I don't get on voice with strangers for those reasons, but when I do, those practices quickly always remind me why I don't.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Well said, Billy. I have a love-hate relationship with this hobby. In the end, I am it for emergency communications and will continue down that path with a small pack of like minded operators. I owe you an email regarding the BBS. I am spinning my wheels on adding a VARA HF port. I have made equally as many steps forward as I have made backwards. Take care, my friend.

[@ryanhope8498]

I just turned 40 last year and just deciding to get into ham for alll the modern techy shit. I don't see me fitting into this community well either.

[@W1KAB-9]

Hey, I’m older than fk and I have never fit in. You are not alone. The reason I follow TTP is just because he is not a “typical” ham. I’m all about professionalism and that does not square with ragchewing on the air, like the example of the two that were holding the main event channel hostage. Like on marine radios, channel 16 is for emergency traffic. One can initiate a call on 16 for boat to boat routine traffic, but then you move to another channel. Guess those two have never been in emergency management.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Cheers to being outside of the circle!

[@DomN5TCB]

Were the winds connected to the weather systems affecting the LA fires.

[@MHow1900]

Want to “break” in here. I agree and disagree about ham radio. I think a big reason bad hams exist is that all of us younger hams do nothing to change it. We get butt hurt by a bunch of boomers. Just do your thing and ignore negative nanny’s or just tell them to shut up. Shame them into oblivion.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Excellent point. Thanks for breaking in.

[@DavidPoindexter-w6w]

Godd morning!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Morning, David! Thanks for joining another last minute video.

[@redinator9896]

Used a Yaesu ATAS this year for WFD. I wasn't comfortable using too much power so I made all my contacts QRP 😀

[@bruehlt]

Are you coming to Hamcation in Orlando?? The weather's beautiful - you should come on down!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Negative. I have zero vacation left after taking 7-weeks off last year to work on EmComm Tools. I am very likely going to Huntsville. Enjoy Hamcation.

[@bruehlt]

@TheTechPrepper too bad man I realize you're also not thrilled with the state of the community in general based on your video, don't get discouraged through we're not all like the ham FUDDS that hang out at QRZ.

[@W1KAB-9]

Quick question: You mentioned I believe that you are using an EFHW for HF at your house. Do you have enough room on your roof, or are you using it as a sloper to a remote anchor? I think you also said that you were running two HF rigs. Is the other HF antenna also an EFHW? Are they set up fit NVIS propagation? Just curious as to your antenna farm. (Maybe it’s just a garden for now. Give it time and it will grow!)

[@TheTechPrepper]

I have enough room on the roof for multiple 40m dipoles, however, the roof seems to de-tune the antenna, so I just run the VHF/UHF antennas on the roof. I have plenty of room on our property for wire antennas. The CHA LEFS 8010 run 133' alongside the property. For the BBS, I recently added a 40m dipole. I am considering a tower if the BBS takes off.

[@W1KAB-9]

@@TheTechPrepper, towers are great if one needs to access the top very often. For my plans in Maine, however, I’m torn between a tower at the house vs large aluminum tubing for aesthetics. Across the street I’m definitely going to use a tower for my digipeater/over the air TV antenna where I’m going to need 50+ feet and connect one of my VLANs with a microwave dish. Rohn towers are expensive, but mine is probably 50 years old and still in great shape. Really pumped on your bulletin board. Everything you are doing, keeping things “off line”, are spot on in the right direction!

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

I have been using a Strike Eagle 1-8 FFP in 3-gun competitions. Great choice for the price. Batteries? Battle Born is quite proud of their batteries, still. There are more Vara nodes around here, than Ardop, so I use Vara on Windows. However, I have not tried it on Linux/Wine. Future goal.

[@TheTechPrepper]

VARA seems to be more popular and is considerably more robust. I will be adding it to the list of modems that I support, but it has a few pain points on the technical side that I am having a hard time getting over. I'll work on it. If it has value, I'll have to embrace it.

[@CrimsonPaladin-o2k]

In TTPBBS I see a reference for Wikipedia. Are you serving up Kiwix over this? Apologies if you got into it with this video as I wasn’t able to watch it all. Do you have a video where you cover that specifically?

[@TheTechPrepper]

That currently requires a connection from the TTPBBS to the Internet, however, now that I have kiwix integrated with EmComm Tooks, I have a future project so serve the wikipedia BBS application from the local .zim files. No ETA on this, but that's the plan. Great question.

[@RenThraysk]

Did you see the recent announcement of the Liberux Nexx phone? Might be vapourware, but the specs are good, 8 core cpu, 32gb ram, 3 hardware kill switches for mic/cams, wifi, and cell, and linux os. Another possibly goofy idea is to use a gaming handheld. Something like the Odin 2. Base model is similar spec to a Samsung S23 (cpu & ram), but no cellular and only a fullhd screen, and runs Android 13 out of the box.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I missed it, but I'll take a look. Thanks for the shooting this my way.

[@Porty1119]

A lot of warehouse barcode scanners run Android and don't have a cellular radio. My ATAK EUD is a Zebra TC21.

[@RenThraysk]

@ Interesting, wouldn't have thought they were putting good enough cpus in them for ATAK. That's why I was looking at gaming handhelds. Did see GameForce 2 Ace gaming handheld going for $162 new. 8 core rock cpu, 12gb ram, full hd 5.5" screen, 256gb emmc and a m.2 2242 slot, as well as a TF card slot running lineageos.

[@ronlabe5487]

It seems to me, you are trying to do to much on your own. You are a great builder, with good ideas. If you're failing to monetize, maybe you need to partner with a person great at that part. I often wonder why you have to have a day job when you are knees deep in the emcomm project. There is something wrong when that project can't support you.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I have had several business partners in the past and I've never found someone that had the same drive or would run at the same speed, so I've opted to go solo the last 5 years with the TTP venture. The job offers stability. It's needed when supporting a family. KZbin has proven very unreliable.

[@ronlabe5487]

​@TheTechPrepper As one of your prospective customers and supporter, i have thrown my bilfold at the computer a few times. I want to pay you a couple hundred dollars for emcomm, but have found it somewhat difficult to give you money. Im sure im not the only one feeling that. I am now a buy me a coffee supporter, but have a possibly unreasonable apprehension about putting my credit card info in internet terminals. I also understand what it's like to support a family. With the size of solution yoy are creating, it seems like you should be able to be supported by the business while focusing your attention on perfecting it.

[@turdferguson2863]

I also dislike how AI is shoved into our phones, my messaging and email is now geminied and I don't approve.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Gemini is precisely the straw that broke the camel's back.

[@holdfastjoe8841]

I agree, I'm not in favor of big brother knowing every detail of our lives I've been moving more communication over to protonmail but if the sender uses anything connected to one of the big boys or the email passes through one of their servers they get the data anyway This offline local stuff is one of the few ways to maintain privacy for now.

[@turdferguson2863]

@@holdfastjoe8841 oracle gets all the data, they know how often I text my mother but yet we don't get to see who was on "the list."

[@nerdlywehunt]

All my buddies that are at Quartzfest are either sick as dogs, drunk as a skunk or BOTH! Not my cup of tea!

[@DomN5TCB]

I think you wound be an "in" ham in Texas ARES 14, and 1. 14 is Harris County, where Houston. 1 are the counties touching Harris.

[@stevesummersell_K4WXX]

Did you happen to run across Natalie (NW6S)?

[@TheTechPrepper]

I did not. I only went to two sessions: the opening ceremony and the Welcome with Gordon West.

[@stevesummersell_K4WXX]

@ Rats! I was hoping she could see your new program. I got my ICOM 705 through her linktree and I believe you said on the other video that it works quite well with it 👍🏼

[@KD2UDR]

Look into the Unplugged phone shawn ryan hands them out .. very privacy related

[@TheTechPrepper]

RR. Thanks for the heads up.

[@raithjames860]

Not familiar with the mornoff did you mean mora? If yes, it's a great inexpensive knife. I feel your pain brother. I don't bother with a lot with random ham contacts. Occasionally, you come across some interesting people that are very knowledgeable and have more to discuss then their maladies and disintegrating old bodies. Only reason I got into ham 5 years ago was to find an alternative source of communication from my cabin 700 miles north to the family at my QTH in case of a coms failure. My preparation is comprised of tri-weekly trail runs in the valley and setting up my radio gear from a fanny pack. Use a cell phone without a cellular coverage as nav aid, radio manual storage, repeater book lookup etc. Thinking I should do a youtube video on the use of an offline phone for survival and communications. My coms perspective is based on that it will all come apart and the net will be no more. If you need a distant contact for your training and testing, I'm near Toronto CDN. Keep the videos coming.

[@RatchetFWD]

Haven’t finished the video but yes I’ve had a mora garberg or kansbal on my sights perhaps on my birthday list . You got a recommendation?

[@holdfastjoe8841]

How successful have you been using radio to talk to your family 700 miles away?

[@raithjames860]

@ SSB is hit and miss depending upon the conditions. JS8 is the only way to go. The kids being familiar with computers picked it up in 20 mins. Better propagation than CW. My cheat that still involves the net is email via winlink. Just experimenting with sotamat which FT8 frequency to send SMS and emails. One way only, and again still uses the net. I like the idea of a Bulletin Board which TechPrepper is using. Looking into that at the moment.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I mean Mora. ;-)

[@MrThisIsMeToo]

Good Lord. You spent what 5 days? People do it for months, years and even full time and do not have 5% of the drama / claimed achievements you call out.

[@TheTechPrepper]

My points were more around constantly training, testing and refining. The BBS is a great resource for offline community comms, but clearly this location presented an access issue. I have no idea how sharing the planning, the successes, the failures and the next steps is being taken poorly. Feel free to criticize the person who developed a free turnkey, easy to use comms platform, wanted to share it, had the event cancelled, and then found a solution to deliver it while everyone was hunkered down. Feel free to let us know what your Internet armchair qualifications are? What have you built or shared that has helped others be more prepared? This is a serious question.

[@holdfastjoe8841]

​@@TheTechPrepperI read this as him being surprised how much trouble you had in just 5 days not a criticism. Maybe he did mean it as a slight, but from my perspective I think you had one heck of a learning experience! Nice work fighting through!!

[@MichaelHoward1776]

I got a a Getac V110 G4 for Christmas thats rugged that i can use in the field and it runs EMCOMM-TOOLS great.