Articles written by: Mark Haverstock, K8MSH

inside 2003 Dayton Hamvention hara arena event hall
Events / HAM Radio 101

Hamfests—What’s in it for Me?

If you’ve been to one—or several—you already know. If you haven’t, read on. You could be missing a good time! A hamfest is a convention of amateur radio enthusiasts, usually […]

HAM Radio 101

Who Stole My Bands? A Look at Ham Radio and the Capricious Sun.

Forty meters is open. You’re making plenty of QSOs, even snagging a few DX stations. Suddenly, signals begin to fade or even disappear—and they don’t seem to come back. You […]

hamplus remote switch, mounted to side of house
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Tips: Keep Your Feet on the Ground and Your Station on the Air

Having entered my seventh decade, I know I can’t do all the stuff I used to do when I was in my 30s. Climbing trees, towers, and extension ladders or […]

Yaesu HT Tail handie talkie demonstration
Uncategorized

Does Your HT Have Low-T? How to Improve Your Handheld Radio’s Performance

It’s time for the weekly club net and you’re ready to check in on the local repeater. With HT in hand, you confidently press the PTT button. “This is KE8ABC, […]

Battery powered soldering iron
Technical Articles

Ham Radio 101: Soldering Tips

Learning how to solder using proper techniques is a fundamental skill every ham should master. Whether you’re attaching connectors to a coaxial cable or constructing a balun, knowing how to […]

screen grab of a software defined ham radio
HAM Radio 101

Ham Radio 101: Modes

What’s a “mode”? The term really has two meanings in ham radio, and the definitions overlap somewhat. An operating mode is a description of what you are doing to send […]

telescoping ham radio mast kit
Antennas and Tuners / Products & Product Reviews

Reaching New Heights with Telescoping Masts for Ham Radio Operations

The telescopic antenna mast is popular with many hams. It’s simple to install and reasonably inexpensive to purchase, offering an alternative to a tower for supporting a modest antenna. A […]

dx engineering wire antenna kit and hardware
Uncategorized

Pros and Cons of HF Attic Antennas

In a perfect world, all hams would have plenty of room for antennas. HOAs wouldn’t exist, and there would be no need to hide antennas in the attic (provided you […]

graphic EQ display for a ham radio
Station Accessories / Technical Articles

Ham Radio Equalizers | Getting the Most from Your Ham Radio’s Equalizer

Got a TX problem? Audio working against you? Chances are your radio has a solution built into its menu. Some call it transmit bandwidth (TBW) while others know it as […]

MMDVM block diagram
Technical Articles

What You Need to Know About MMDVM Hotspots

D-STAR, DMR, YSF—amateur radio always seems to have a strange affinity for acronyms. Here’s a new one to add to the alphabet soup: MMDVM. It’s what helps you connect to […]