Articles written by: Mark Haverstock, K8MSH

psk reporter screegrab
HAM Radio 101

Ham Radio 101: Band Aid—How Do I Choose Which HF Band to Use?

Choosing the right ham radio band is a decision we all make when we fire up our transceivers. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced operator, you want to […]

solar sunspot in cycle 24
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Insights: Where Did All the Signals Go?

If you’ve spun the dial on your HF transceiver lately and found nothing but static, you’re not alone. For many operators, the once-bustling shortwave spectrum sounds more like the emptiness […]

waveform screenshot
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Tech—Options for Removing Unwanted Noise and Enhancing Audio at Your Station

Sometimes it’s tough to dig signals out of the noise. You can hear it but can’t make out all the words. If your radio’s built-in noise reduction isn’t sufficient, consider […]

grey line on a geochron atlas
Technical Articles

Gray Line: The Twilight Zone of Radio Propagation

Imagine for a moment that you’re sitting in your ham shack, coffee in one hand and microphone in the other. It’s either just before sunrise or just after sunset, and […]

Coaxial Dynamics Dry Dielectric RF Dummy Load
HAM Radio 101

Ham Radio 101: Dummy Loads—Smart Idea

Several options available at DX Engineering, including the new DXE 1,500W 1-54 MHz Dry Dummy Load You may have heard the term “dummy load” before. While the name might give […]

geochron world clock picture display
Products & Product Reviews

Ham Radio Equipment Spotlight: Geochron—What’s Happening in Your World?

Q. What timepiece did Ronald Reagan give to Mikhail Gorbachev as a gift? Which global time display appeared in the movies “Clear and Present Danger,” “Patriot Games,” and “The Hunt […]

dx engineering maxi-core 20 feedline choke, inside
Technical Articles

Ham Radio Tech: What Does a Common-Mode Choke Do?

You’re hosting a party and someone arrives who probably wouldn’t have made your invite list. Maybe someone brought them along, your XYL said you had to invite them, or they asked […]

ZOOM meeting screenshot of a ham radio club
Tools

Who’s Zoomin’ Who? Making the Most of Online Video Conferencing in Amateur Radio

The Queen of Soul may have been way ahead of her time. “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” is the title of a 1985 Aretha Franklin tune. In the context of the song, […]

ham radio class in session
HAM Radio 101

What’s the Best Way to Study for the Ham Radio Test?

Whether you’re interested in emergency communication, electronics, or just want to talk to people worldwide, passing the ham radio test is the first step. To get licensed, you need to […]

DXE USB Isolation Transformer
Products & Product Reviews

New Amateur Radio Product Overview: DX Engineering USB Isolator

Most of us think about antennas and radios when it comes to protecting our stations, but what about computers? They’ve also become an indispensable part of on-the-air operations, especially for […]