Finding Your Calling: When and Where Are You Most Likely to Make QSOs?
One of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby is making contacts with other Hams. Finding operators on the air isn’t necessarily a matter of luck or chance. There are […]
An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering Technical Articles
Technical Articles
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles
What Is an Antenna System?
“System” is a word that gets thrown around a lot. What does it mean from the perspective of an amateur radio operator? Generally, I think of a system as a […]
Technical Articles
Building a Ham Workbench Table
After struggling for years repositioning radios and test equipment at the workbench, I finally found a simple but elegant solution. In a recent YouTube radio repair video, Stefan Steger, DL7MAJ, […]
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles
Getting Your Antenna in (and on) the Air: Tips for Installing Wire Antennas and Verticals
Mother Nature must like Ham operators. We’ve been provided with an abundance of tall, non-conductive antenna supports—aka trees—which grow and flourish on their own. When it comes to wire antennas, […]
Satellite Operation / Technical Articles
Satellite Basics (Part 6): Operating a Satellite while Roving
In our sixth and final installment of Sean Kutzko’s video series on the Basics of Operating Amateur Radio Satellites, he takes his show on the road to demonstrate one of […]
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles
Directional Antenna Performance without a Beam
For this OnAllBands blog post, we’ve changed our traditional Word of the Day entry to a Question of the Day: What is the best solution available for creating an optimized […]
Satellite Operation / Technical Articles
Satellite Basics (Part 5): Operating Satellites from Your Home Station
Editor’s Note: Welcome to OnAllBands’ new video series on the fun and challenges of making contacts through Amateur Radio satellites! Your host is Sean Kutzko, KX9X, OnAllBands blogger, former AMSAT Volunteer […]
Technical Articles
Satellite Basics (Part 4): Operating a Linear Satellite Demonstration
In our fourth installment of Sean’s video series, he follows up on his previous video, “Getting on the Linear Satellites,” by operating a recent pass of the XW2A linear satellite […]
Technical Articles
Operating Amateur Radio Satellites (Part 3): Getting on the Linear Satellites
In our third installment of Sean’s video series, he covers the basics of operating linear satellites, including their advantages over FM “birds,” equipment needed for a portable satellite station, a […]
Satellite Operation / Technical Articles
Three Big Tips for Operating Ham Radio on a Budget
You’ve finally earned that license and now it’s time to get on the air. Hooray! But you need gear, and your piggy bank hasn’t blossomed enough to afford those shiny […]
