About the operator

Meet Hunter

I’m Hunter Shiver, KJ5EDM, an Amateur Extra operator based in Fort Worth, Texas. My interest in radio started during a cellular and internet blackout. With modern networks down, a simple Baofeng UV-5R let me hear local amateur operators relaying important information. That was the spark.

Cyberpunk operator hand tracking an FM satellite pass

Radio timeline

January 2024: Licensed as KJ5EDM.
March 2024: Upgraded to General and started pushing into HF.
May 2025: Joined the local ham club and got involved with Field Day.
June 2025: Upgraded to Amateur Extra.
2025–2026: Focused more heavily on FM satellites, mobile HF, Field Day, CW, and building radio tools.

What keeps me interested

I don’t have a giant tower-and-yagi station, so a lot of my operating has grown out of practical constraints: attic antennas, mobile radios, handheld gear, portable antennas, and finding ways to make modest setups work.

That has honestly become one of my favorite parts of the hobby.

Current interests

HF operating, FM satellites, Portable operations, Mobile HF, Radio utilities, Learning CW, MeshCore, Meshtastic.

Although I enjoy operating from home, some of my favorite radio experiences have come from taking equipment into the field and making the most of a modest station. Amateur radio continues to surprise me, and that’s exactly why I enjoy it.