Kay Savetz K6KJN is saving ham radio—sort of. Not by answering the big question of how we build the future, but by preserving the proof that it all ever happened—and why it mattered, and still does. As curator of the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC), Kay has quietly assembled the most ambitious archive in the hobby’s history: over 155,000 items, 20 terabytes of newsletters, manuals, magazines, callbooks, cassettes, slides, rare field recordings—and yes, videos like this one. Some of it was born digital. Much of it was not. And more arrives weekly, packed into U-Hauls and pulled from attic boxes around the country. DLARC may not be “saving ham radio” in the way the title implies. But it’s safeguarding the stories, the documents, and the cultural trail that prove ham radio was real—global, human, and worth remembering. In this conversation, Kay shares the challenges of digitizing history, why curation matters, what still eludes the archive (hint: CQ Magazine), and how you can help—before it’s too late. 🎙️ Join the conversation—and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio for more stories like this. 🙏 This episode is made possible with support from DX Engineering—a trusted source for amateur radio gear worldwide. Their team understands that preserving the past of ham radio is just as important as building its future. We're grateful for their commitment to meaningful stories like this one.

Sebastian Delmont KI2D is the creator of PoLo—the open-source portable logger from Ham2K that’s become a favorite among Parks on the Air activators. What began as a side project to streamline his own field operations has grown into a widely adopted logging tool for portable ops. With a clean interface, fast logging, and offline capability, PoLo captures the rhythm of real-world radio—from trail to tailgate. Originally from Venezuela and now based in New York, Sebastian blends the instincts of a software engineer with the soul of a field operator. He’s a CW guy, a contester, and a builder who prefers practical solutions over flash. In this conversation, we explore the origins of PoLo, how community feedback has helped shape its evolution, and why Sebastian thinks the best software often comes from scratching your own itch. Join the conversation and subscribe for more stories like this—only on Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for making these interviews possible—and for their continued support of the Parks on the Air community. From portable ops to contest superstations and DXpeditions, DX Engineering equips operators at every level to do what they love, wherever they are.

Randy K5ZD, Chris KL9A, and Bill W9KKN are… answering your questions in this special Contest Crew Inbox edition. From the top: Yes, Randy’s new Ohio station is coming along. Listeners wanted an update—and he delivered, sharing the goals behind his build (spoiler: he claims he's not chasing top-five scores—we’re not so sure) and the practical decisions that led to twin 80-foot towers. Chris checked in from Montana with a progress report of his own: big plans, limited time, and a summer of upgrades ahead. Then: the Inbox deep dive. You asked about WRTC 2026—who’s in, how team selection works, and what still needs to shake out.You asked why top operators live in the Extra portion of the band—and got a candid breakdown from Chris on rate strategy, propagation, and why upgrading finally made sense.You asked what it would take to get more elite competitors using the Contest Online Scoreboard—and the crew delivered straight talk on culture shifts, competitive hesitation, and whether real-time visibility helps or hurts performance.You asked about livestreaming contests—and the responses were thoughtful and mixed. It’s an intriguing idea, but concerns about fairness, rules, and audience engagement remain.And finally: Is contesting a sport? Depends who you ask. Chris says it’s fun because it’s serious. Randy calls it a game with serious players. Bill likens it to golf: casual or cutthroat—it’s all part of the landscape. The Inbox is staying open. Got a question for the Contest Crew? Hit send. Big thanks to DX Engineering for supporting Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Whether you're a contester, DXer, POTA activator, or just getting started, DX Engineering supports every corner of the hobby—and helps make these conversations possible. Join the community and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.