Special: Hamvention 2025 Breakdown: What We Saw, What We Loved

Published: May 20, 2025

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEibY5udQjg

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438895/episodes/17198150

Summary

The crew recaps their Hamvention 2025 adventure in Xenia, from walking the grounds with SLAARC club members in their distinctive yellow shirts to hands-on time with the biggest new gear of the year. Standouts include the Kenwood TM-D750A under glass, FlexRadio's Aurora series, and a collective realization that cutting-edge ham equipment now commands premium prices.

In This Episode

• Hamvention weather, crowds, and club camaraderie

• James' purchases: Yaesu FT5DR, Comet GP-3 antenna, and a Bioenno battery

• Meeting Ham2K PoLo developer Sebastián KI2D and podcast listeners

• New radio releases: Yaesu FTX-1F, Kenwood TM-D750A, FlexRadio Aurora

• Kenwood TM-D750A details: triple-band, 220 MHz power, built-in D-STAR hotspot

• The changing economics of amateur radio gear pricing

• Hands-on with the Icom IC-7760

• Buddipole antenna experiences and the Michigan POTA Meetup announcement

Chapters

• 00:14 Introduction and Hamvention weather recap

• 02:06 Social aspects and club presence at Hamvention

• 04:51 James' purchases: FT5DR, GP-3 antenna, Bioenno battery

• 08:17 Bioenno customer service experience

• 11:29 Meeting Ham2K PoLo developer Sebastián KI2D

• 14:11 Meeting new hams and podcast listeners

• 16:28 New radio releases: Yaesu FTX-1F, Kenwood TM-D750A, Flex Aurora

• 20:09 Kenwood TM-D750A details and features

• 24:52 Kenwood price predictions

• 29:24 Thoughts on rising ham radio equipment prices

• 30:24 FlexRadio Aurora 500W SDR features

• 37:37 Icom IC-7760 hands-on experience

• 41:36 Buddipole antenna experiences and purchases

• 47:14 Michigan POTA Meetup announcement (June 7, 2025)

Mentioned in This Episode

• Dayton Hamvention: https://hamvention.org/

• Yaesu FT5DR handheld

• Comet GP-3 antenna: https://www.cometantenna.com/product/comet-gp-3/

• Bioenno batteries and TSA's 100Wh lithium battery restrictions

• Kenwood TM-D750A

• FlexRadio Aurora series: https://www.flexradio.com/aurora/

• Icom IC-7760: https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=71-004759

• Ham2K PoLo and Sebastián KI2D

• Buddipole antennas

• Michigan POTA Meetup: https://www.michiganpotameetup.com

• South Lyon Area Amateur Radio Club (SLAARC): https://www.slaarc.com

• Everyday Ham Discord: https://discord.gg/4qvEUNPugy