Off-Air Forecast
Received off the air from NOAA Weather Radio by KO6HWR's station and transcribed automatically, so details can be wrong. Official NWS forecast
Brandon Beeson (KO6HWR)
Licensed in February 2025 while looking for a hobby that was both intellectually engaging and portable — especially while hanging out in the backyard with my family. As a lifelong map enthusiast, I quickly realized how much topography and grid squares dictate our success on the air, and my main passions became HF SSB and POTA hunting, with the occasional FT8 QSO when the bands get tricky.
That 'homebrew' spirit carries over to building digital solutions too — I leverage modern tools to create these mapping utilities and a 3D-printable antenna accessory, all aimed at helping fellow hams visualize their signals, plan better links, and get the most out of their stations.
Main HF Station (Backyard)
Xiegu G90 · 66' EFHW @ 24ft · 17' vertical (secondary)
Office Shack (3rd Floor)
Baofeng AR-5RM · mag-mount on a window sill · morning nets & VHF/UHF monitoring
Grid Square
DM14
QSL
LoTW & QRZ Logbook — happy to return paper/email cards
Note: You might occasionally hear my two kids on the air with me while they sit at the rig "playing radio." They are learning the ropes under my supervision, so thanks for your patience as they discover the magic of RF!
Outside of radio, I work in IT and spend the rest of my time with my wife and our two kids — ham radio fits perfectly into that mix, a technical hobby that still keeps me present at home. Lately I've picked up sourdough baking too; turns out feeding a starter takes the same patience as waiting out a band opening.
From the Shack
Web Tools
Amateur Radio RF Mapper v1.4
Plan your next 2m simplex link, ham repeater, or Field Day setup. Evaluate Line of Sight, estimate signal strength, and generate 360° coverage heatmaps using real-world topographic data and RF physics simulations. Strictly for amateur and educational use.
Launch RF MapperBuilt by KO6HWR.
Maidenhead Grid Explorer v1.0
A mobile-optimized location utility for rovers, POTA activators, and VHF contesters. Use device geolocation to instantly pinpoint your exact grid square and visualize the surrounding grid borders on an interactive topographic map.
Launch Grid ExplorerBuilt by KO6HWR.
HF Skywave Dashboard v1.1
Live solar telemetry and the nearest ionosonde reading, translated into plain English: which bands are open for NVIS and for DX from your grid, right now and tonight. The POTA Hunter view lists the activators on the air and rates each one by how likely you are to hear them from where you are.
Launch HF SkywaveBuilt by KO6HWR.
3D Prints
Drag to Rotate
POTA Broom Thread Loop 3D Print
A rugged, 3D-printable ACME broom thread adapter that screws on standard fiberglass painter's poles. Features an integrated loop for securing wire antennas without needing a dedicated mast.
Download STL
Recommended print settings: PETG or ASA, 4 walls, 40% infill. PLA softens in a hot car or direct sun, and carbon-fiber filaments can conduct, so avoid both.
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: free to print, remix, share and sell, with credit to KO6HWR (ko6hwr.com).
Built by KO6HWR. Don't have a 3D printer? I use my friend Mark at Happy 3D Print Co. to print my projects.