Amateur Radio Stories
After moving to a new QTH in the countrysidw last spring, I spent much of the summer working on a new antenna installation. My new shack will eventually be built in the garage. The storage room above the garage is due to be converted into a bedroom in November, so Continue reading FT8 without a PC: using FT8AF and an Android smartphone
QRM, man-made noise, interference. Whatever you name it, it can seriously ruin your reception. Especially when you live in an urban area. At my previous QTH in Vlaardingen (near Rotterdam in The Netherlands), reception was heavily affected by noise, and the situation only seemed to get worse. In May this Continue reading HF Reception: Urban vs. Rural
The endfed antenna has become one of the most popular choices among amateur radio operators in recent years. Its ability to cover multiple bands and its easy installation often make it the first antenna many radio amateurs put up. But there is one major drawback: the endfed antenna is highly Continue reading Endfed Antennas, QRM, and How to Improve Your Reception
End fed antennas are especially popular among ham radio operators… and for good reason. They work on multiple bands, are affordable, easy to build yourself, and quite forgiving when not perfectly installed. However, many amateurs fail to get the most out of their EndFed. The reason? It all comes down Continue reading Boost Your End Fed Antenna with Proper Counterpoise
Looking for an affordable plug & play solution for a WebSDR, I Found the WEB-888. The WEB-888 is a WebSDR based on the RX-888 Mk.II receiver and a mini-computer acting as a server. It is housed in a metal casing, with its electronics cooled by a small 40mm cooling fan. Continue reading How to replace the noisy fan on the WEB-888
When you want to transmit on different frequencies but only have the option to set up a vertical antenna, there are quite a few options. For instance, there are multiband vertical antennas with electrical adjustments using coils and capacitors. These tune the antenna to specific frequencies. A less common approach Continue reading How to get started with a remote antenne tuner
When you first see an ionogram, it can look quite difficult to read. With all those numbers, lines, and colored dots, you may not know where to start. So here is my guide to understand what an ionogram tells you and how to use it for HF ham radio communication. Continue reading How to read an ionogram
It’s one of the most frequently asked questions on forums, in Facebook groups, and at gatherings: Which coaxial cable is best for my antenna installation? The answer is that many types of coaxial cables are good by default; it just depends on what you expect from them. Do you want Continue reading Which coaxial cable should I choose?
If you already have 100 watts and 200 watts PEP output with the Yaesu FTDX10 and TS-480HX respectively, why would you still buy a 300-watt amplifier? The answer lies in full duty cycle modes like FT8 and RTTY. Both modes demand a lot from a transceiver’s final stage, something you Continue reading Review of the RM Italy BLA 350 Plus Amplifier
One of my long-term experiments involves receiving on HF. Transmitting on these bands works well with a Cobweb antenna for 10m to 20m and a wire with a CG-3000 automatic tuner for 30m to 160m. Reception in my densely populated area on the lower bands is challenging, often facing up Continue reading Reception comparison: vertical vs. horizontal loop
If you are a radio amateur or wish to become one, and local regulations do not allow you to place antennas outside your home, don’t panic, because there are several solutions. There are stealth antennas, of which the flagpole and metal gutter are perhaps the best known. But even if Continue reading Tips for ham radio antennas in an attic
In September 2023, I wrote a review about the 7-band Cobweb antenna manufactured by AWK in Poland. This symmetrical, or balanced, antenna is fed with asymmetrical, or unbalanced, coaxial cable. To prevent the coaxial cable from becoming an active part of the antenna, it is necessary to place a 1:1 Continue reading Replacing the 1:1 balun for a better performing Cobweb antenna