Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio

I’m Cliff Ravenscraft (KQ4UUR), a lifelong communicator who’s been podcasting since 2005. In 2024, I fulfilled a dream I’d carried since age 13 by finally becoming a licensed Amateur Radio operator. Since then, Cliff’s Notes on Amateur Radio has become my space to document this journey, sharing the joy, discoveries, and connections the hobby brings. Here you’ll find stories from the field, lessons learned through experience, and meaningful conversations with operators from across the globe. Whether you’re just getting started, deeply experienced, or rediscovering your love for the hobby, this is a space to celebrate the wonder and connection that radio brings.

Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio is a technology podcast hosted by Cliff Ravenscraft, with 21 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Cliff Ravenscraft hosts Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio, a technology show with 21 episodes published.

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  Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio

  021 - Jeff Franklin N3FMC

  Mar 7, 20261h 2mS0

  <p>In this episode of the POTA Hunter Series, I sit down with Jeff Franklin, N3FMC (“Ford Motor Company”), a familiar voice that many Parks on the Air activators recognize instantly.</p> <p>Jeff shares the story of how his fascination with radio began in early childhood after seeing his father’s pager and wondering how wireless communication worked. That curiosity quickly turned into experimentation with CB radios, homemade antennas, and eventually a full introduction to amateur radio.</p> <p>We talk about Jeff’s early days in the hobby, including learning Morse code with the help of an Elmer, b...

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  Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio

  020 - My First POTA Activation of 2026, and a Surprise All States Award

  Mar 1, 20261h 1mS0

  <p>It’s been a while since I last released an episode of Cliff’s Notes on Amateur Radio, and in this episode, I share exactly why that is, what’s been happening in my world, and what finally brought me back behind the microphone.</p> <p>Over the past several months, amateur radio took a back seat. Work was intense, winter was cold, and my focus was deeply anchored in other creative and professional commitments. I hadn’t been activating parks, I hadn’t been on the local repeaters much, and radio simply paused for me. That pause wasn’t intentiona...

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  Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio

  019 - Meet W0KEG Kevin “KEGMan” Giebel - A Parks on the Air Legend | POTA Hunters Series

  Nov 5, 20251h 4mS0

  <p>In my series called POTA Hunters, I sit down with the voices I hear in nearly every activation to get to know the people behind those familiar call signs.</p> <p>In this second episode, we meet Kevin “KEGMan” Giebel (W0KEG), one of the most dedicated and enthusiastic hunters in the Parks on the Air community. Though Kevin has only been licensed for about a year and a half, his passion and presence on the bands make him one of the most recognizable voices in POTA.</p> <h3>Highlights</h3> Hear how Kevin got started in amateur radio and...

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  Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio

  018 - Meet AL7KC Mike Sambuco - A Parks on the Air Legend | POTA Hunters Series

  Oct 30, 20251h 1mS0

  <p>This episode contains my first conversation in a new series called POTA Hunters, where I sit down with the voices I hear in nearly every activation to get to know the people behind those familiar call signs.</p> <p>Today, we meet AL7KC Mike Sambuco.</p> <p>When I first got into Parks on the Air (POTA), I quickly noticed the awards page, especially the one for hunting all U.S. states. Because I was doing frequent activations and hunting park-to-park contacts, those boxes began filling in pretty fast. But one of the hardest to get, right up...

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  Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio

  017 - I Am Going To Activate 26 Parks In Two Days This Weekend

  Oct 22, 202535 minS0

  <p>My Ambitious POTA Goal: Activate 25 Parks in Two Days (THIS WEEKEND!)</p> <p>Since earning my General License in September 2024, I’ve completely fallen in love with Parks On The Air (POTA).</p> <p>One of the goals I set for myself early on was to activate every park in my home state of Kentucky, which has 183 recognized eligible POTA parks.</p> <p>To track my progress, I exported the full Kentucky park database and created a custom Google My Maps visualization that updates as I go. You can view the live version of my map here:</p> <p>👉 https...

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