Sofas on the Air

Saddle up for Episode 17 of Sofas on the Air as Ara (N6ARA) and Mark (KD7DTS) are joined by none other than Forrest (KI7QCF) - the Godfather of the Brass Knuckle Gang and founder of the QRQ Crew! The SOFAteers enjoy a glass of High West Midsummer Night’s Dram to lubricate a deep dive into high-speed CW, Forrest's legendary key collection, the explosive growth of BKG, mountain-topping SOTA adventures, and all the behind-the-scenes stories you won't see anywhere else. Hit play, keep it real, and join the ride!As always, the Sofa was captained by Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA.

PATREON
We strongly believe that in-person chats are more fun! Want to help us fly SOTA icons out for in-person interviews?

Join our Patreon (and Discord) community!
https://www.patreon.com/c/SofasOnTheAir

Are you audio-only? We're on most of the Podcast services!
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nCqdV4j1TdPEenmwpCEPS?si=82449a53352a477d
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sofas-on-the-air/id1820292444

SHOW NOTES
Brass Knuckle Gang: https://www.bkg.club/
QRQ Crew: https://www.qrqcrew.club
Bandpass filter talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzXHuE4UW6I

Sources for stuff you may want to purchase and/or install:
- KI6CR Paddles - https://www.ki6cr-labs.com/
- Ara’s N6ARA Store: https://n6ara.com
- NR7Y Firmware: https://briand.github.io/cw-firmware-docs/hardware/rework-overview/

CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro: Welcoming Forrest KI7QCF
10:25 - Drink: High West A Midsummer Night’s Dram (Act 13, Scene 7)
21:41 - Topic 1: Brass Knuckle Gang (BKG) Origins & Growth
1:09:20 - Topic 2: Keeping It Real & YouTube Community Impact
1:19:44 - Topic 3: The QRQ Crew & High-Speed CW
1:31:40 - Topic 4: The KI7QCF Key Collection
1:50:10 - Topic 5: SOTA Activations & Forrest's Goat Plan
2:08:49 - Patreon Questions
2:23:52 - Other Plugs & Shoutouts
2:27:05 - Outro & Closing Credits

THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Umesh KK6TXI - outro music
Di KO6BTM - intro/outro graphics and cover art

In Episode 16 of Sofas on the Air, Chris (KI6CR) sips coffee while chatting about amateur radio, Summits on the Air (SOTA), and his latest hardware and software creations. Chris discusses his innovative SOTA Planner tool for mapping out multi-summit activations, his Activator Toolkit WordPress plugin for automating post-hike blog summaries and contact maps, and two new Morse code products: a custom-designed miniature Elecraft KH1 paddle and a Quansheng adapter that enables modification-free CW operation on NR7Y-enhanced 'Shengs.
As always, the Sofa was captained by Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA.

PATREON
We strongly believe that in-person chats are more fun! Want to help us fly SOTA icons out for in-person interviews? Join our Patreon (and Discord) community!
https://www.patreon.com/c/SofasOnTheAir

Are you audio-only? We're on most of the Podcast services!
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nCqdV4j1TdPEenmwpCEPS?si=82449a53352a477d- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sofas-on-the-air/id1820292444

SHOW NOTES
The SOTA Planner: https://sotaplanner.com/
Activator Toolkit: https://wordpress.org/plugins/activator-toolkit-for-sota/

Chris Online
https://www.ki6cr-labs.com/
https://www.ki6cr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@KI6CR
https://www.instagram.com/ki6cr_chris/
Ara’s N6ARA Store: https://n6ara.com

CHAPTERS
0:00 How Ya Doing?
18:00 Topic 1: How’d Ya Get Into SOTA
37:10 Topic 2: Project #1 - the SOTA Planner
1:15:45 Topic 3: Project #2 - Activator Toolkit
1:28:25 Topic 4: Project #3 - Elecraft KH1 Paddle
1:55:17 Topic 5: Project #4 - Quansheng Adapter for CW
2:09:57 Topic 6: Chris Starts a Company
2:26:47 Topic 7: Patreon Giveaway!
2:32:30 Other plugs
2:35:57 Thanks to our Patreons & Outro

THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Umesh KK6TXI - outro music
Di KO6BTM - intro/outro graphics and cover art

In Episode 15 of Sofas on the Air, hosts Ara (N6ARA) and Mark (KD7DTS) fly in their very first Patreon-funded guest: QRP Amateur Radio Club International Hall of Famer, QRPer.com founder, and Ham Radio Workbench co-host Thomas Witherspoon (K4SWL). Accompanied by tasty beverages, the Sofa journeys through Thomas’s portable operating journey, his appreciation for the unique experiences of both Parks on the Air (POTA) and Summits on the Air (SOTA) activations, and insights from his recent radio trip to England. The hosts also answer Patreon supporter questions, conduct a giveaway powered by radioactivity, dive into their favorite non-radio YouTube channels, and reflect on operating strategies for shifting solar cycles, all while sharing updates on new field gear and manufacturing projects like the N6ARA TinyFilter. As always, the Sofa was captained by Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA.

PATREON
We strongly believe that in-person chats are more fun! Want to help us fly SOTA icons out for in-person interviews? Join our Patreon (and Discord) community!
https://www.patreon.com/c/SofasOnTheAir

SHOW NOTES Thomas’ Menagerie of Ham Topics
https://swling.com/

https://qrper.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasK4SWL

https://www.hamradioworkbench.com/

https://www.patreon.com/qrpswl

CHAPTERS
0:00 How Ya Doing?
22:42 New word: commensality
36:19 Topic 1: The Ara & Thomas Origin Story
1:14:02 Topic 2: Patreon Questions
1:31:12 Topic 3: Thomas’ trip to England
2:01:30 Topic 4: The NR7Y 'Sheng Giveaway
2:21:05 Topic 5: Tangent! Favorite YouTube Channels
2:41:25 Topic 6: The Next Solar Cycle
3:01:18 Manufacturing the N6ARA TinyFilter - an update!
3:12:40 Thanks to our Patreons & Outro

THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Umesh KK6TXI - outro music
Di KO6BTM - intro/outro graphics and cover art

Guests Josh KI6NAZ, Adam K6ARK, Doug WA6RLR and Becky W6BKY talk satellites, antennas, safety and more! This episode was recorded live and streamed via satellite from the 2026 W6TRW Field Day site.

Brian NR7Y is our very first DX guest. He flew into Los Angeles today just for this episode, and we’re tremendously excited to welcome him to this Sofa. There’s a funny story behind how he got here - stay tuned for that! In this episode you’ll hear Brian give a deep dive into his ‘NR7Y mod’, which enables amazingly good morse code on affordable VHF/UHF radios. We’ll also hear from Ara on the continuing pick ‘n place machine installation journey, and the upcoming release of the new N6ARA TinyFilters. If you make it to the end, we’re giving away an NR7Y mod’ed Quangsheng radio! Listen carefully & enter to win in the comments!As always, the Sofa was captained by Mark KD7DTS and Ara N6ARA.PATREONWe strongly believe that in-person chats are more fun! Want to help us fly SOTA icons out for in-person interviews? Join our Patreon (and Discord) community!https://www.patreon.com/c/SofasOnTheAirAre you audio-only? We're on most of the Podcast services!- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nCqdV4j1TdPEenmwpCEPS?si=82449a53352a477d- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sofas-on-the-air/id1820292444SHOW NOTESNR7Y's K5v1 Mod: https://github.com/briand/uv-k5-firmware-custom-cw/releasesNR7Y'sK5v3/K1 Mod: https://github.com/briand/uv-k1-k5v3-firmware-custom/releasesNR7Y's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BrianMaybeMediaThe BKG site: https://www.bkg.club/Ara’s TinyFilter for 2m: https://n6ara.com/product/tinyfilter-2m/CHAPTERS0:00 Welcome to the Sofa9:45 The N6ARA Tinyfilter & Pick 'n Place Machine25:58 NR7Y Mod, Chapter 1: The Original Hack34:28 NR7Y Mod, Chapter 2: First Firmware Mod (K5v1)44:15 NR7Y Mod, Chapter 3: Firmware for the K5v3 & K11:12:26 NR7Y Mod, Chapter 4: Feature Expansion, Limits & What's Next1:18:00 Special BKG Event1:23:01 Question from KI6NAZ/HRCC1:38:49 What CAN'T be done with the Quansheng?!?1:44:04 Just for the Listeners1:47:13 W6TRW Field Day Plans1:57:42 Thanks to our NR7Y-enabling Patreons & OutroTHANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSUmesh KK6TXI - outro musicDi KO6BTM - intro/outro graphics and cover artQUANSHENG GIVEAWAY RULES & DISCLAIMERNo Purchase Necessary: Entry is 100% free. A purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning. Eligibility: Open to participants worldwide who are 18 years of age or older. (Note: If outside the US, the winner is responsible for any local customs, duties, or import taxes required by their country).Giveaway Period: Entries open at the time of this video's publication and will close on [Insert Date] at [Insert Time, e.g., 11:59 PM Pacific Time].Winner Selection: One (1) winner will be chosen at random from the eligible video comments using a certified random comment selector tool. Commenter must provide valid amateur callsign to claim their prize.YouTube Release: This contest is run entirely by the @SOTA-Plus channel. YouTube is not a sponsor, co-sponsor, or administrator of this giveaway, and is completely released from any liability related to this contest.Compliance: All entries must comply with the YouTube Community Guidelines. Entries that do not comply will be disqualified. You can review the guidelines here: https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/policies/community-guidelines/Privacy: Any personal information (shipping address, email) collected from the winner will be used solely for the purpose of shipping the prize and will not be shared or stored.