An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering 
Since the early days of radio, dipoles have been the go-to antennas for hams. They’re effective, inexpensive, and simple to make. But there’s more to building and installing one than […]
Copper Cactus. Steampunk Stick. Slim Jim. Whatever you call it, the J-pole antenna is a reliable alternative to verticals and ground planes for VHF/UHF communication. Due to their simple construction, […]
The world of ham radio is filled with in-depth specs and technical jargon that could make an average person’s head explode. Folks just starting out in amateur radio may fall […]
Open the box of a new handheld radio and you’ll find the usual stuff—the radio, battery, charger, belt clip, “rubber duck” antenna, and instruction manual. Looking at rubber ducks from […]
Whether you’re a seasoned ham or buying your first antenna, choosing the right one is more about how you operate as an individual and less about the antenna’s capabilities. In […]
Single-band wire dipoles are one of the easiest antennas to make. But just because they are easy to make doesn’t mean they do not work well. In fact, single-band wire […]
When it comes to ham radio, there are grounds…and then there are grounds. Here are three types we typically find with radio systems: Safety grounds protect you from a shock […]
A rotator is a handy device used in ham radio communication systems to change the orientation of an antenna. Rotators have two parts, the rotator unit and the controller. The […]
Space, the final frontier for antenna installations. The ham’s ongoing mission: to explore their shrinking lot sizes and seek out smaller antennas that will keep them on the air—ones that […]
In this installment of Ham Mobile Install, we will be discussing ways to set up an antenna for mobile operations. Remember, the goal here is to get on the air […]
