Episode 17: Hamvention 2026 Survival Guide: Strategy, Gear & The Icom X-026 Reveal
Published: May 7, 2026
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5WcO1lnuck
Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438895/episodes/19138519
Summary
The fastest way to waste Hamvention is to treat it like a random walk. The crew shares the game plan they wish they'd had on day one: pacing the weekend, flea market timing, dodging lines, and why the forums are the most underrated part of the show. Plus the Icom X-026 concept buzz, the eternal Kenwood TM-D750A question, and shack updates from the Michigan QSO Party to POTA at the Grand Canyon.
In This Episode
Rory's Michigan QSO Party lessons: CW contesting as callsign-copying bootcamp
James in Hawaii and the Grand Canyon, plus his 100th unique POTA park
Rob N1RWJ's first CW POTA activation
Jim's 9:1 end-fed "square-tenna" build and hosting the N8SL System Fusion repeater under his desk
Icom X-026 concept: could it finally merge HF with VHF/UHF in a clean mobile install?
Kenwood TM-D750A: three booths in Building 1, will it finally be real?
Day-by-day Hamvention strategy, flea market tips, and Sign Man badges
Don't sleep on the forums: POTA, The Road Ahead
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Episode 17
01:25 Discord community shoutouts
03:00 Rory's Michigan QSO Party recap
05:15 James in Hawaii, the Grand Canyon and 100th unique POTA park
14:00 Rob N1RWJ's first CW POTA activation
15:30 Jim's "square-tenna" build and DXCC chasing
17:45 The N8SL repeater under Jim's desk
21:50 Q5 Ham Radio interview and Michigan POTA Meetup plugs
24:25 Hamvention 2026 preview begins
26:45 Icom X-026 reveal and predictions
30:00 Kenwood TM-D750A: will it finally be real?
33:30 Buddipole, BuddiHEX and responsible adult decisions
38:00 Yaesu stays quiet and the case for a smaller HT
42:00 Coffee, food trucks and the Hamvention experience
44:30 Our day-by-day strategy guide
48:30 Flea market tips: weather, timing and looking under the tables
50:15 Sign Man badges and honor system pickup
52:35 The raffle and the small STEM building
54:00 Don't sleep on the forums (POTA: The Road Ahead)
56:10 Final tips: hydrate, sunscreen, marathon not a sprint
Mentioned in This Episode
Dayton Hamvention: https://hamvention.org/
Icom X-026 concept
Kenwood TM-D750A
Jim's interview on Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio with Kevin Thomas W1DED: https://www.youtube.com/@q5hamradio
3rd Annual Michigan POTA Meetup, June 6, 2026 at Hartwick Pines: https://www.michiganpotameetup.com
Rob N1RWJ's first CW activation article on QRPer: https://qrper.com
Buddipole and BuddiHEX
N8SL System Fusion repeater