ACURA Blog
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Portable Ham Radio Setup: The Ultimate Guide for POTA Field Deployments
Master your next POTA activation. Learn how to optimize a truck-mobile ham radio setup using the Yaesu ATAS-120A, plus a deep dive into premium portable vertical antennas from Chameleon and REZ Antenna Systems.
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Ham Radio for Emergencies: How Hams Help When Phones Go Down
When cell towers and internet fail, ham radio keeps working. Here is how hams support emergency communications in coastal South Jersey, and how you can prepare before the next storm.
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Ham Radio vs. GMRS vs. CB: Which Is Right for You?
CB needs no license, GMRS needs no test, and ham radio needs an exam. Here is how the three compare on licensing, range and cost, and why many South Jersey families end up choosing ham radio.
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Listen to Ham Radio Online Free: Our Live SDR Receiver Explained
No license and no radio needed. Here is how to listen to ham radio online for free, what an SDR actually is, and how to use ACURA’s live HF receiver.
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How to Get Your Ham Radio License in New Jersey (Step-by-Step)
From your first practice test to your first call sign, here is the step-by-step path to a ham radio license in New Jersey, with local testing in Atlantic County.
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Best Beginner Ham Radios in 2026: What to Buy First
A handheld, a mobile rig or an HF radio? Here is how to choose your first beginner ham radio in 2026, with practical advice from ACURA members in South Jersey.
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How Ham Radio Nets Work: A Beginner’s Guide to Checking In
Ham radio nets are the friendliest way to start talking on the air. Here is how a net works, who runs it, how to check in, and when ACURA’s own nets meet in South Jersey.
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Amateur Radio License Test in New Jersey: Study and Sign Up
A first amateur radio license test can feel bigger than it is. You may be picturing a room full of seasoned operators, pages of formulas, and rules written in another language. In reality, an amateur radio license test New Jersey candidates take is a friendly, structured step into a hobby built around conversation, practical skills,…
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A Ham Radio Club South Jersey Can Count On
Sometimes the cell network is overloaded. Sometimes a storm has knocked out power, or a neighbor simply needs a clear answer over the air. At those moments, a ham radio club South Jersey operators trust becomes more than a hobby group. It is a place to practice, ask questions, make friends, and build the communication…
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Bridging the Gap: How Off-Grid Mesh Networking (Meshtastic) Is Bringing New Makers Into Amateur Radio
Meshtastic has put low-power LoRa radios in the hands of thousands of makers who never called themselves radio people. Here is why off-grid mesh networking is one of the best on-ramps amateur radio has seen in years.