Brew and Activate
Claim This Podcastby Brew & Activate - N1JUR
Podcast Overview
<p>Welcome to Brew & Activate, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of Parks on the Air (POTA) every Friday morning! Join us for lively discussions that cover everything you need to know—from gear and antennas to optimal setups. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we’ll explore every aspect of outdoor ham radio operations, including those topics that might initially seem less exciting. Grab your favorite beverage and tune in for a great conversation!</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/2/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 3, 2026
Stop Overthinking Antennas: Portable HF Tips with Matt from Reliance Antennas
<p>Antennas might be the most important part of your portable ham radio setup — and also the thing most of us overthink, misunderstand, rebuild, argue about, and occasionally blame when the bands are just being rude.</p><p>This week on Brew & Activate, I’m joined by Matt from Reliance Antennas to talk about everything antennas.</p><p>We’ll dig into portable antenna setups, POTA operating, end fed antennas, random wires, transformers, tuners, coax, chokes, antenna testing, field reliability, and what really matters when you’re trying to get on the air from a park.</p><p>We’ll also talk about the Reliance Antennas brand, how Matt designs and builds antennas for real-world use, and what operators should think about when choosing or building their own antenna system.</p><p>Whether you’re brand new to HF, getting into Parks on the Air, or you’ve been throwing wires into trees for years, this one should be packed with practical takeaways.</p><p>Bring your antenna questions.</p><p>Bring your hot takes.</p><p>Bring your emotionally complicated SWR stories.</p><p>*************************************************************</p><p>Affiliate Links: </p><p>I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.</p><p>Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://maddogcoils.com.au/">https://maddogcoils.com.au/</a></p><p>Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.relianceantennas.com/">https://www.relianceantennas.com/</a></p><p>Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://n1jur.com">n1jur.com</a></p><p>SpoolTenna: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://spooltenna.com">https://spooltenna.com</a></p><p>SHOW LINKS: </p><p>Discord Brew and Activate - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv">https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv</a></p><p>Brew & Activate Podcast - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/">https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/</a></p><p>Brew and Activate Merch - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://livefreeandham.com/shop">https://livefreeandham.com/shop</a> </p><p>POTA Bucket List - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list">https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list</a></p><p>Guests/Hosts:</p><p>Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht">https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht</a></p><p>Help Support the Channel:</p><p>Patreon: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR">https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR</a></p><p>Buy Me a Beer: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur</a></p><p>N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop">https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop</a> </p><p>Follow me on:</p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://n1jur.com/">https://n1jur.com/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/n1jur">https://www.instagram.com/n1jur</a></p><p>Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527</a></p>
May 24, 2026
POTA Q&A + Honor & Activate: Let’s Light Up RF This Weekend
<p>This week on Brew & Activate, we’re keeping it loose and opening things up for a live POTA, portable radio, and Tiles on the Air Q&A.</p><p>Bring your questions about activations, hunters, gear, antennas, go-kits, logging, pileups, quick lunch-break activations, or whatever RF weirdness is currently living rent-free in your brain.</p><p>We’ll also take a few minutes to talk about Honor & Activate, the Tiles on the Air Memorial Day weekend event, and how we can use radio to do something a little more meaningful while still having fun, getting outside, and lighting up some RF.</p><p>Whether you’re chasing parks, activating tiles, building a better go-kit, or just trying to figure out why your antenna only behaves when nobody is watching, come hang out with the Brew Crew.</p><p>Links:</p><p>Honor & Activate: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tilesontheair.com/MemorialDay">https://tilesontheair.com/MemorialDay</a></p><p>Tiles on the Air: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tilesontheair.com">https://tilesontheair.com</a></p><p>*************************************************************</p><p>Affiliate Links: </p><p>I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.</p><p>Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://maddogcoils.com.au/">https://maddogcoils.com.au/</a></p><p>Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.relianceantennas.com/">https://www.relianceantennas.com/</a></p><p>Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://n1jur.com">n1jur.com</a></p><p>SpoolTenna: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://spooltenna.com">https://spooltenna.com</a></p><p>SHOW LINKS: </p><p>Discord Brew and Activate - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv">https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv</a></p><p>Brew & Activate Podcast - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/">https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/</a></p><p>Brew and Activate Merch - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://livefreeandham.com/shop">https://livefreeandham.com/shop</a> </p><p>POTA Bucket List - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list">https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list</a></p><p>Guests/Hosts:</p><p>Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht">https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht</a></p><p>Help Support the Channel:</p><p>Patreon: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR">https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR</a></p><p>Buy Me a Beer: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur</a></p><p>N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop">https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop</a> </p><p>Follow me on:</p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://n1jur.com/">https://n1jur.com/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/n1jur">https://www.instagram.com/n1jur</a></p><p>Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527</a></p><p></p>
May 15, 2026
Your POTA Bag Is Lying To You — Here’s How To Fix It
<p>What’s actually in your POTA bag… and is it really ready?</p><p>This week on Brew & Activate, we’re talking about one of the most common portable ham radio problems: keeping your POTA go-kit organized, charged, packed, and actually ready for the next activation.</p><p>Because let’s be honest — most activations do not fall apart because of the radio. They fall apart because the coax is missing, the battery is dead, the adapter is in another bag, or the one cable you need is sitting back at the shack laughing at you.</p><p>We’ll break down practical ways to organize your POTA gear, including core kits, mission-based add-ons, pre-flight checklists, post-activation reset routines, and smarter ways to track what lives in each bag.</p><p>Then I’ll give you a first look at the gear bag tracker app I’m working on for portable operators. The goal is simple: help hams know what’s packed, what’s missing, what needs charging, and what needs to be reset before the next outing.</p><p>Bring your best “I forgot the thing” stories. We’ve all got one.</p><p> </p><p>*************************************************************</p><p>Affiliate Links: </p><p>I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.</p><p>Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://maddogcoils.com.au/">https://maddogcoils.com.au/</a></p><p>Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.relianceantennas.com/">https://www.relianceantennas.com/</a></p><p>Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://n1jur.com">n1jur.com</a></p><p>SpoolTenna: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://spooltenna.com">https://spooltenna.com</a></p><p>SHOW LINKS: </p><p>Discord Brew and Activate - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv">https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv</a></p><p>Brew & Activate Podcast - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/">https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/</a></p><p>Brew and Activate Merch - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://livefreeandham.com/shop">https://livefreeandham.com/shop</a> </p><p>POTA Bucket List - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list">https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list</a></p><p>Guests/Hosts:</p><p>Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht">https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht</a></p><p>Help Support the Channel:</p><p>Patreon: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR">https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR</a></p><p>Buy Me a Beer: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur">https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur</a></p><p>N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop">https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop</a> </p><p>Follow me on:</p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://n1jur.com/">https://n1jur.com/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/n1jur">https://www.instagram.com/n1jur</a></p><p>Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527</a></p><p></p>
41 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Brew and Activate?
<p>Welcome to Brew & Activate, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of Parks on the Air (POTA) every Friday morning! Join us for lively discussions that cover everything you need to know—from gear and antennas to optimal setups. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we’ll explore every aspect of outdoor ham radio operations, including those topics that might initially seem less exciting. Grab your favorite beverage and tune in for a great conversation!</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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