Ham On Y'all!!This is KD5FMU
I'm Freddie, "Freddie Mac" to most folks. I spent 33 years in law enforcement and retired as an Undersheriff. Now I spend my days with radios, Linux boxes, and a 3D printer, and I share what I learn on my YouTube channel, Ham Radio Crusader.
About me
My priorities are faith and family, and amateur radio fits right in. It's a hobby that brings neighbors together, helps in an emergency, and never runs out of things to learn.
After three decades of working for the people of Okmulgee County, I wanted a hobby where I could keep serving, teaching, and solving problems. Ham radio gave me all three. I like to build things, break them, fix them, and then explain the process in plain language so a beginner can follow along.
Everything on this site and on my channel is meant to be practical and tested, with step-by-step instructions you can actually follow.
Quick facts
- CallsignKD5FMU
- NameFreddie "Freddie Mac"
- LocationHenryetta, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma
- Background33 years in law enforcement, retired Undersheriff
- ChannelHam Radio Crusader
- ClubOkmulgee County Amateur Radio Association (O.C.A.R.A.)
What's on the bench
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AllStarLink 3
Building and troubleshooting nodes on Debian and Raspberry Pi, running dashboards like Supermon and Allmon3, and writing install scripts and server images that make setup easier for everyone.
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MeshCore, Meshtastic, and LoRa
Testing off-grid mesh radios from Seeed, RAK, LilyGo, Heltec, SenseCAP, Elecrow, and others, with a focus on solar-powered repeaters, antennas, and real field deployments.
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3D-printed gear
Designing weather-resistant enclosures, radio stands, and mounts for the Bambu Lab P2S, printed in PETG with TPU gaskets, then adjusting the dimensions after every test print.
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Linux and documentation
Scripts and projects on GitHub under KD5FMU, each with a full README and uninstall instructions, so you can undo anything you try.
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APRS
Tracking, messaging, and position reporting with the Automatic Packet Reporting System, explained the same hands-on, beginner-friendly way as everything else on the channel.
Ham Radio Crusader
My YouTube channel is where the projects come to life: tutorials, hardware reviews, and build walk-throughs aimed at newcomers and seasoned operators alike. I check my facts before I publish and show you what really works, including the mistakes along the way.
We Are Ham Radio.Ham On Y'all!!
Local club: O.C.A.R.A.
I'm proud to be part of the Okmulgee County Amateur Radio Association. The club's callsign is WX5OKM, and it maintains a local repeater. If you're in Henryetta, Okmulgee, or anywhere in the county and you're curious about getting licensed or just want to chat radio, come say hello.
Find me
On the air, listen for KD5FMU. Online, you can find me in all of these places. My bio.link page keeps the full list in one spot.