Articles written by: Mark Haverstock, K8MSH

Ham Radio 6 Meter Loop Antenna
Technical Articles

Ham Radio 101: Six Meter Magic

Try, try, try to understand, it’s a magic band. (Apologies to the rock band Heart–too bad they didn’t know about 6 meters.) “The Magic Band” is a phrase used to […]

DX Engineering RF Coaxial Connectors
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Spring Antenna Repairs and Upgrades for Ham Radio Stations

With all the storms that pounded us this winter, now is the time to check your antennas for wear and damage. How do you check for problems and where do […]

LDG SWR RF Power Meter
Technical Articles

What Hams Need to Know About S-Meters

What is the first bit of information we typically give or receive when we begin an on-air QSO? It’s the signal report, of course. Sure, we’ll talk about the weather, […]

dipole antenna block diagram
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Ham Radio 101: What is a Fan Dipole Antenna?

A dipole is the go-to antenna for many hams, but why is it so popular? Beacause it’s an inexpensive, yet effective antenna you can build yourself using wire, insulators and […]

DX Engineering Rig Key Line Module
Technical Articles

Getting Your Share in Ham Radio

Mom always said to share. That’s good advice, even for hams. But what if sharing is a pain—plugging and unplugging, moving connections, or constantly rewiring to coordinate your station? Sure, […]

Extra Class License Manual Book
HAM Radio 101

Tips on Prepping for Your Ham Radio License Test

Study for two minutes. Get a cup of coffee. Study for two more minutes. Browse Netflix. Study again for two minutes. Check email. Study for another two minutes. Get lost […]

Ham Radio Splatter Readout
Technical Articles

When it Comes to Ham Radio, Splatter Matters

In the course of my ham operations, I sometimes hear stations that splatter, some more than others. Last week, there were a couple of DX stations that obviously wanted to […]

dual conversion super heterodyne radio black diagram
Technical Articles

Superheterodyne, SDR, Hybrid SDR: Which is Best?

Software Defined Radios (SDR) have become popular with hams over the last few years. Many own one, and those who don’t have certainly heard of them. What is an SDR […]

Extending the Life of Your Antenna System
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Extending the Life of Your Antenna System

Wouldn’t it be great if your antenna system would work forever without any maintenance? Put it up once and enjoy it indefinitely–no tower climbing, cleaning connections, or replacing corroded parts. […]

Yaesu FTDX10 Compact HF/50 MHz 100W SDR Transceiver 
Products & Product Reviews

Taking a Close Look at the Yaesu FTDX10 Compact HF/50 MHz 100W SDR Transceiver 

If you make one of the best HF transceivers on the market, what do you do for an encore? You make another radio with excellent receiver performance that incorporates some […]