Articles written by: Mark Haverstock, K8MSH

icom ham radio IC-7300 screen
Technical Articles

How to Use RF Gain, Noise Blanker, and Other Transceiver Features to Improve Copy

There will always be some kind of ambient noise on the HF bands. It may be either man-made (QRM) such as pulse noises from vehicle ignitions or natural (QRN) like […]

Hamplus antenna switch box
Technical Articles

Choosing a Coax Switch

When it comes to ham radio, one radio is never enough. The same thing goes for antennas–multiple bands usually mean multiple antennas. Soon, you’ve got a maze of coax connections […]

Icom IC705 ham radio
Technical Articles

Using the Icom IC-705 in the Field

Now that summer is here and the pandemic is winding down, grab some radio gear and head outdoors. It’s the season for portable operations and finally getting out of couch-potato […]

large Yagi antenna
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Antenna Traps—A Way to Cope With Limited Space

The downsizing of real estate these days reminds me of Halloween candy. Candy bars used to be big, but now they’ve shrunk to something they call “fun size.” Today’s properties […]

heil sound headset mic
Technical Articles

HAM Radio Tech: How Headphones and Headsets Can Improve Your Copy

Are you tired of spending time on the air struggling to copy the person on the other end of the conversation? Do barking dogs and noisy kids distract you from […]

rigexpert antenna analyzer
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

The Difference Between Antenna Analyzers and Antenna Tuners

Do you need an antenna analyzer or an antenna tuner? These devices are actually different tools for different tasks. They both are used with antennas, but one doesn’t necessarily replace […]

Technical Articles

The Pros and Cons of Using an Amp with QRP Radios

Less is more. QRP (low power operation) is becoming quite popular among hams who take a minimalist approach to amateur radio communications. Some radio amateurs who are licensed to use […]

off center-fed dipole wire antenna
Products & Product Reviews

Off-Center Fed (OCF) Antenna: Multitalented or Misunderstood?

The Off-Center Fed dipole (OCF)–also called a Windom by many–has received mixed reviews among amateur radio operators. Although thousands of hams use and love these multi-band antennas, some people, including […]

WSPR Radio Network Map
Technical Articles

Hey Hams, Let’s Give a Shout Out to WSPR!

When I want to check for information on propagation conditions, I often look at the N0NBH solar-terrestrial data banner that appears on many ham radio sites. But if you want […]

am m2 antenna element for ham radio
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Antenna Safety—Look Before You Install

The most important thing you can do when putting up an antenna is to look before you install. Go outside and survey your property. Consider every suitable location for your […]