The Frequency of Connection | Free Radio for Your Friend 2025

"I would like to nominate Josiah for a radio. He began his interest in Ham Radio just 2 years ago. He was inspired by stories I told him of my Dad who was in the Signal corps in WW2 in the Pacific. He was on a ship that was sunk and they held the Radio and radar station in the sinking boat till finally they were able to go to shore where he continued his radio communications in battle. Josiah took up Ham radio without knowing anything about it, learning on his own. He was able to pass his Ham test with flying colors! He has continued to be very active in our small community in emergency communications and has been part of Red Cross emergency testing and other emergency planning. The bottom line is he has very little money for radios but would really, really put anything to good use! Thank you for your consideration and I know he would be very thankful to have any radio to help his continued work in emergency communications. "

"Derek was the first person I met after I got my ham license. In fact, we both got our license on the same day! Derek has helped me out in so many ways. I would not be as far in Radio if it wasn’t for him. Derek has helped me with an antenna, coax cable, a radio for a dang good price, and various odds and ends for the radio. He introduced me to Yaesu Radios, so we are doing C4FM, and fusion on these radios! Derek has helped me with various odds and ends such as now he has furnished me with an antenna splitter! Derek has been such a great friend! We talk at least three times a week over the air, and plus many texting sessions! "

"My wife passed the Tech license exam in August of 2023 at 77 years old and received the call sign WO6AVO. The attached picture is Dianna and our Club's technical director (David Voit - WB6TOU) preparing to launch a high altitude communications balloon and later celebrating a successful effort."

"Every time I take off with my paraglider, I feel that mix of excitement and vulnerability that only flying can bring. Up there, suspended between earth and sky, it’s easy to feel small. But then I hear a familiar voice through my VHF radio, clipped to my harness — the tiny piece of technology that keeps my world connected — a friend laughing, someone offering advice, or a pilot reminding me I’m not alone. I’ll never forget one flight when I felt overwhelmed in rough air; my heart was racing and I wasn’t sure I could keep going. Then a gentle voice came over the frequency, steady and warm, guiding me step by step until I found smooth air again. That moment changed something in me. It reminded me that connection is the real safety net we carry, even higher than our wings. In the sky, we may fly on our own lines, but through our radios we share courage, kindness, and the comfort of knowing someone is always there on the other end. That’s the magic of this sport — and the magic of a little radio that turns empty air into a place where people meet, help, and lift each other higher."

"My son Trevor has always been interested in electronics and how things work. Recently, while still in high school, he got into amateur radio and worked hard to earn his license with me! Now he’s looking for some quality equipment to help him keep learning and get more involved in the hobby."

"Well, last year I accomplished my daughter and her family becoming active members of the GMRS community following the devastation of Hurricane Helene here in NC. This year I believe I have the opportunity (with the help of Radioddity) to bring another family member into the radio family!
My brother Mike has consistently given me a brotherly hard time about my radio hobby, from the time I began AM DX listening when we were both kids at home up thru this past weekend when we rode together as a couple of 50-something 'old guys' in my vehicle and he was asking about my mobile radio installation (It includes a Radioddity DB-20G). Just brothers being brothers, right? I mean really...what fun would it be without some friendly sibling rivalry and good natured ribbing?
Something has changed though over the past few months. My brother is about to retire from his career in law enforcement and he's been asking questions about ham radio! Cautiously of course as he wouldn't want me to think he's actually considering amateur radio as a hobby as he's headed into retirement, right? He still won't admit he's actually interested in becoming a ham himself but I've picked up on the subtle hints and the fact he's been tight lipped about anytime I ask him if he's ready to take his Technician exam yet. The silence tells me he's up to something and the Radioddity GS-10B would be a great way for him to start into his radio journey as well as his retirement on December 1st of this year.
I'm extremely proud of my brother and his service to our state over the course of his career. I'm even more thankful that he's made it home safely to his wife each and every shift. While Mike will be celebrating a well earned retirement in a few weeks from his position as a State Trooper, I'll keep dispatching the calls for service for his coworkers in the field for a few more years as I also work in the comm center for the same agency. Kind of ironic that is looks like he's finally going to get a break from HAVING to hear me on the radio at work to being able to chat with me via amateur radio at our leisure, isn't it?
Thank you to the Radioddity team for again holding this event and giving back to the radio community. I appreciate the chance to win a GS-10B to present to my brother as he begins this next chapter of life (and maybe, just maybe giving him a hard time about joining them ranks of the amateur radio family). Thanks! Scott"

"This 10-year-old young man is a friend of mine. Their family is a close family of mine. His grandfather is a ham radio operator. I am a ham radio operator and Luciano needs to be a ham radio operator and wants to might get his technician by December not sure yet he loves to converse loves to be with other people and talk about other countries and I’ve made it a goal to help him get his ham radio license for him to have a radio to start with would be terrific. It’s a very scientific mind. A great building mind I think having his own radio would help him get his license get on the air and talk with others around the world. Please let me help him get a radio. We appreciate the chance. "

"I met Chrissy about eleven years ago, and from the very beginning, her enthusiasm for radio communication stood out.
Over the years, we’ve worked side by side in AUXCOMM, RACES, and countless community events like the MS150, where she’s always been dependable, organized, and quick to lend a hand. Chrissy earned her General license through hard work and genuine curiosity for learning the technical side of the hobby.
Although she often uses one of my radios during our events, she’s reached the point where having her own HT would mean a lot, both as a symbol of independence and as another way to stay ready for deployment when needed.
Getting her own handheld radio would be more than just a convenience; it would be a milestone that reflects how far she’s come in the amateur radio community. Chrissy has a strong commitment to giving back and mentoring others, encouraging new operators to get involved just as she once did.
She’s not just a participant, she’s an example of the kind of person who keeps ham radio alive through service, skill, and heart. With her own gear, she’ll continue to be a vital part of the team and a proud ambassador for amateur radio in every event to come."

"My Youngest Son, he just turned 18 is trying to get into an engineering field and just got his Ham Lic. a few months ago (KE2FVC), I was so proud to see him get it before he even turned 18 ( I am a General Class) I would love to see him start out adulthood with a good radio to call his own, he has been a really good kid, works hard and helps everyone, works at his school after school for an hour each day.and not just 4.0 GPA but 4.0 All Quarters, All Years"

"My older brother Steve had a quadruple bypass heart surgery just before retiring as an information technology director for a surburban city. He did all the rehab/recovery exercises and diet suggested by his medical team and is doing quite well. He now spends his time looking after grandchildren by driving them to and from school, soccer, ballet, and other outdoor activities. He has begun bicycling again and has interest in hiking and camping again. He’s expressed interest in GMRS and amateur radio, and his community has an active GMRS repeater and an amateur repeater. I hope that by getting him a GMRS radio, he’d use it to coordinate with FRS radios with the grandkids, GMRS radio with my family, and he’d maybe later be prompted to enter the amateur radio world as a late in life, friend-making hobby (that I’m already enjoying). Thank you."

"Well this is my wife, whom I cannot get interested in gmrs such as myself. I would be hopeful that if she had her on radio, she could call her own using my license as family license. She might finally get interested in the hobby"

"My oldest son just moved from Missouri to take a job at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He is divorced and will be driving back and forth to Columbia. MO to see his three kids who are with their mom. For safety reasons I would like to win the radio for his travels. He can run off my GMRS Lic. WROD361. I already own several radios from Radioddity. GM30, GM30 Pro, "

"Ron is my father-in-law and has been a great, positive influence in my life. He loves all things transportation and communication, he also worked for years in telecommunications for a telephone company, I really couldn’t think of anyone else who could use and be more grateful for receiving this radio! He’s retired now and lives in the Appalachians and you don’t always have cell phone service in those areas and when bad whether comes through (which is often in the mountains) it knocks out cell phone towers and makes communication impossible; having a radio would provide peace of mind but also be the start to a great new hobby in his retirement as I know he wants to pursue a ham radio license. "

"Chris is my stepson and he enjoys the outdoors very much, kayaking, camping and hiking. Although he loves the outdoors he doesn’t keep himself situationally aware of the time or his location. I sometimes loan him my Radioddity GM-30 plus GMRS radio for the gps option. When he calls me I can find him in the forest. When my wife and I go out she is also easily confused about her location. It happens at least once a year at least losing track of time. It would make it so much easier to keep track of the both of them. "

"My grandson is bright, inquisitive but struggles with communication. He will be as n asset to others if he can communicate better. Straight a student lovable and helpful. "

"Jacob is my son. A supremely hardworking young man. He earned his Eagle Scout at 15-1/2 years old. He's a Senior in High School, works a Co-Op Job at a local Mechanical Engineering business, and also as a Pharmacy Tech Trainee (because of his age - 17). He loves kayaking at our local Army Corps recreational area. Whenever we go, he mentions how nice it would be to have some waterproof radios so we could communicate more without yelling. We also go for occasional hikes around the town/state where some small family-style radios would come in useful.
I'm slowly working on him to get his HAM certification(s) and this might be a good first step. Thanks for your consideration! - Daniel (and Jacob)"

"Jenna, who is my daughter, has a special needs child that she is raising on her own. She very much likes to keep track of the weather, to ensure that if a storm is in the area, she can travel to our house, for shelter, as she lives in a very small single story home. We just got our GRMS license applied for, so that we can stay in communication, as she does live about 1 mile away. A weather radio, or even a grms radio would make her very excited to keep in touch, or get warnings about the weather conditions. "

"My friend Seth and I started in 1976 with listening to Crystal Radio sets and Shortwave radios. He would thorough enjoy a new generation of SW radio receivers. We both started with SONY and SANYO SW receivers, we graduated to TECSUN and ICOM sets now. It would be fun to get a radio for my friend since childhood."

"Virgina Linkous is an 83 year old Spanish Teacher at Primavera Preschool in Tampa, Florida. The preschool has hundreds of students and being able to tune in a Spanish Radio Station on Short Wave Radio would be a wonderful experience for the preschool children at Primavera. Your educational gift will be a blessing for both Virgina and the children at the school. "

"I have a dear family friend who has a 13 year old son with Myotonic Dystrophy, and is on the Autism spectrum. Her son, Keith, has been fascinated with radio communications. I have a QT-40, and every chance he gets, he enjoys listening to DX QSOs when there are propagation conditions. Several of my radio friends talk with him over the air, although the Myotonic Dystrophy makes it difficult for people to understand him, they give him a thrill each time.
I also have a small collection of shortwave receivers, and he enjoys listening to musical broadcasts from other countries. His favorite are Radio Romania with Romanian folk music as well as Rádio Nacional da Amazônia from Brazil.
I taught Keith how to tune in stations, and he’s become quite good at caring for a radio, and he helped me put up a dipole antenna in my home.
Our hobby depends on young people having an interest in radio communications, and I can see how much he enjoys being exposed to music from other cultures.
Thank you, and good luck to the other nominees."

"Rebecca Brannon is my youngest daughter. She is the Youth Programs Specialists at a small museum in Gastonia NC. Among other programs, she is responsible for after school and summer programs for children in the community through the museum. She prepares multiple lessons covering a range of topics from science to crafts to DIY. I thought that it would great for her to have and share the weather station with her students as part of her year-round programs. "

"Pictured is my son, Wesley. He is highly creative, and loves trains! He enjoys exploring, playing "spies" with his older brother, and making things. He's very creative with LEGO, and is always making new creations. The Explorer & Maker Kit would open up new ways of creating for both him and his brother."