POTA: QRP or 100W—Which is Better?
If you spend any time hunting Parks on the Air® (POTA) stations or scrolling through activation reports, you’ll notice two very different approaches: the “turn it up to 100 watts […]
An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering Articles written by: Mark Haverstock, K8MSH
Technical Articles
Technical Articles
Ham Radio Operating Accommodations for Seniors Part 2: Retirement Communities
We aren’t getting any younger—according to the ARRL, the average age of ham members is 68. It’s likely many of us are retired and will eventually consider downsizing. This might […]
Technical Articles
Operating Accommodations: Ham Radio for Seniors, Part 1
Amateur radio has always been a hobby for all ages, from curious teenagers building their first radio kit to retirees chatting across continents. However, as we age, we may find […]
Technical Articles
Keeping Your Cool: Avoiding Heat Problems with Ham Radios
Every ham operator knows that heat is the silent enemy lurking behind every transmission. Whether you’re rag-chewing on 80 meters, running digital modes on FT8, or calling CQ in a […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
DX Files: Amateur Radio Halloween Edition
You’re in for a treat! We promise it’ll be bigger than “fun size.” (No candy corn here—only premium paranormal content.) Skip Longpath, custodian of the archives (and part-time exorcist of […]
Antennas and Tuners
Getting in Tune with Your Antenna: What Do Antenna Matching Devices Do?
If you’ve ever spent time tinkering with radios—whether ham, shortwave, CB, or even more exotic setups—you’ve probably heard about antenna matching devices. These gadgets, often referred to as antenna tuners […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
