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HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day (CQ): What Does CQ Stand For?

From the ARRL Glossary, CQ is defined as “Calling any station.” It is the general call when requesting a conversation with anyone. Like many other telegraph terms which originated on […]

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Technical Articles

The Hows and Whys of Operating on Two Meters or Six During the Summer Months

Let’s face it: The HF bands haven’t been that great for a while. Trying to enjoy Ham Radio during the bottom of the 11-year solar cycle can be tough. The […]

Kenwood mobile ham radio transceiver
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day (Rig): What is a Rig in Amateur Radio?

Rig refers to a transmitter, receiver or, most commonly, a transceiver—a combination of a receiver and transmitter in one (back in the old days, these were separate pieces of equipment). […]

QSL card from St. Vincent and the Grendanines QRV
HAM Radio 101

What is a QSL Card? (Word of the Day)

If you’re new to Ham Radio, maybe you’ve seen a friend’s shack filled with postcards displaying tropical locales, the International Space Station, battleships, and other images. These are QSL cards. […]

Ham Radio QSL Card from Fiji
Events / Photo Galleries

It’s All in the Cards: A Look at QSL Cards from Fiji

Every month, DX Engineering features QSL cards from our team members’ personal collections. To highlight upcoming DXpeditions, we’ll be displaying a few of our favorite cards along with details about […]

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HAM Radio 101 / Products & Product Reviews

The Age-Old Debate: New vs Used HAM Radio Equipment

To buy new or not to buy new, that is the question. If Hamlet had been an amateur radio operator (with a name like Hamlet, why not?), maybe he would […]

pan adapter module for ham radio
HAM Radio 101

What is a Panadapter (Word of the Day)?

A band scope that displays signals on a band visually, usually as a line or area graph, allowing for a view of activity across a slice or an entire band. […]

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HAM Radio 101

What is Contest University (Word of the Day)?

Contest University is an annual one-day seminar/workshop in Dayton, Ohio, held the day before Hamvention. Top Amateur Radio contesters, including members of the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, impart […]

MFJ Multi-Band CW Transceiver Box
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day (QRP): What Does QRP Mean?

The 2019 QRP Amateur Radio Club International (ARCI) “Four Days in May” (FDIM) begins May 16 and runs until May 19. For the uninitiated, what does QRP mean? QRP is […]

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Events

Field Day 101: How Your Club Can Achieve Field Day Success

Field Day (FD) has a number of different meanings to the Ham Radio community. For the purposes of this article, we will skip whether you think it is a contest […]