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Inside YOTA 2026: How 95 Young Hams Build, Learn, and Operate | Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio
What does the future of amateur radio actually look like? At YOTA Summer Camp 2026 in Austria, it's already on the air. Florian "Flo" Zwingl OE3FTA and Emir "Braco" Memic E77DX take us behind the scenes of one of the largest international youth amateur radio events in the world. Nearly 100 young operators from more than 35 countries have gathered for a week of building, operating, experimenting, and learning from some of the hobby's most experienced mentors. This isn't a summer camp built around lectures. Every participant builds their own QMX+ HF station, constructs an HF antenna, learns operating skills, explores contesting, satellite communications, portable operating, and even experiments with propagation from inside an ice cave. Behind it all is an impressive seven-station HF contest-grade setup designed to let every participant get on the air. Flo explains how the camp welcomes everyone from shortwave listeners to accomplished contesters, while Braco shares why curiosity, technical challenges, and hands-on operating keep young people engaged year after year. Their message is simple: the next generation of amateur radio isn't waiting—it's already building stations, climbing summits, making contacts, and bringing new ideas to the hobby. If you've ever wondered whether young people are finding amateur radio, this episode offers a compelling answer. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.
