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A concept radio with "almost nothing" on display managed to dominate Hamvention 2026, and we can't stop talking about what that means for the future of ham radio. We're fresh back from Dayton, a little punchy, and ready to unpack the best conversations we had with vendors, makers, and listeners who recognized our voices across the noise of the fairgrounds. If you care about where mobile rigs, repeaters, and digital features are headed next, this recap is loaded with real impressions and honest skepticism.

We dig into the biggest manufacturer moments first: Yaesu's DR-3 repeater direction and the next steps for System Fusion, Kenwood's long-awaited TM-D750A progress and why "ship it later" can be the right call when firmware isn't ready, and Icom's X-026 concept strategy that had people cheering, arguing, and even storming away. We debate whether asking the community for feedback is a bold move or a frustrating tease, and why market size, R&D timelines, and expectations at Hamvention don't always align.

Then we get practical with gear that feels closer to daily use, especially the Icom ID-5200. We talk interface upgrades, smart mobile touches like auto-dimming, and the big headline that grabbed our attention: native APRS encode and decode via firmware update. We also zoom out to the rest of the show, from Four Days in May and small vendor innovation to CW key makers, swap meet pricing, and what the flea market "junk scale" looked like this year.

If you like this kind of grounded ham radio coverage, subscribe, share the show with a friend headed to their next hamfest, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Then come hang out with us in Discord and drop your take: is the X-026 hype brilliant or annoying?

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The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.

Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

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The fastest way to waste Hamvention is to treat it like a random walk. We're getting ahead of Dayton with the game plan we wish we had on day one: how to pace the weekend, when to hit the flea market swap meet, how to avoid the worst lines, and why the forums can be the most underrated part of the whole show.

We also catch up from our shacks, because real ham radio life is never just shopping. Rory shares lessons from the Michigan QSO Party and why CW contesting is the best training ground for finally hearing callsigns at speed. James brings the portable angle with travel radio, Parks on the Air stories from Hawaii and the Grand Canyon, and what it takes to make a station work when you're far from home. Jim talks simple antenna building with a 9:1 setup and what he's learning by hosting a club System Fusion repeater and helping keep local machines on the air.

Then we get into the big Hamvention gear energy: ICOM's X-026 concept has the internet buzzing about a mobile rig that could merge HF with VHF/UHF in a clean install. Kenwood's TM-D750A is still the question everyone wants answered. And Yaesu staying quiet has us all guessing what comes next in handhelds and battery life. If you're heading to Dayton, you'll leave with practical tips you can use immediately and a checklist mindset that keeps the weekend fun.

Subscribe for our Hamvention field coverage, share this with a ham who's traveling to Dayton, and leave a review if the show helps you plan smarter.

What's the one thing you refuse to miss at Hamvention this year?

📢 Subscribe & Follow! 🎧 Audio: https://www.everydayham.com 📺 YouTube: @EverydayHam 📷 Instagram: @everydayhampodcast

73!

Short show intro audio clip

Short outro audio clip

The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.

Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/

Send us Fan Mail

Space travel didn't get safer, we just got used to it. That's the feeling driving our Artemis II nerd-out as we watch humans loop the Moon again for the first time since the Apollo era, with Orion pushing distance records and reminding everyone that deep space is still the bleeding edge.

We start with real-life radio talk, because our hobby is built on practical lessons: Jim resets his brain by stepping away from the shack, then immediately buys a Xiegu G90 for a lightweight, throw-it-in-the-car HF kit. Rory shares how getting an antenna outside changes everything, plus the rhythm of QSO party season and adding more CW into the toolbox. James brings field notes from POTA in Hawaii, where being remote changes your expectations, your patience, and especially your battery math.

Then we go full Artemis. We laugh about the one topic every mission forces into the open -- the toilet -- and why creature comforts are actually crew performance issues. We talk Orion's tight quarters, the surprisingly modern feel of mission control, and the communications backbone that keeps the whole thing working. From the Deep Space Network to next-gen optical laser comms, we dig into bandwidth limits and how proven gear like GoPros and a Nikon D5 earns its seat on a moon mission. We bring it back to ham radio with licensed astronauts on the crew, volunteer tracking efforts, and the thrill of hearing space comms piped onto VHF.

Follow Everyday Ham: 🎙 Website: https://www.everydayham.com 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayHam 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayhampodcast/

Don't miss a single episode! Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and more -- links at EverydayHam.com.

Short show intro audio clip

Short outro audio clip

The Everyday Ham Podcast is hosted by James Mills (K8JKU), Jim Davis (N8JRD), and Rory Locke (W8KNX) – three friends who dive into the world of amateur radio with a casual, lighthearted twist.

Follow us at: Website: https://www.everydayham.com/