HAM Radio 101

HAM Radio 101

Weatherproofing 101: Quick Guide to Weatherproofing

When it comes to Ham Radio, water is not your friend. Taking the time to properly weatherproof your outdoor equipment can keep your station operating at peak performance and keep […]

antenna capacity hat
HAM Radio 101

What is an Antenna Capacity Hat?

Back in the day, folks used to say that you’re never fully dressed without a hat. In the Ham world, DX Engineering Hot Rodz® Adjustable Antenna Capacity Hats for select […]

wolfwave module
HAM Radio 101 / Products & Product Reviews

SOTABeams WOLFWAVE–What it Is and How it Can Help You

Today’s Word of the Day comes courtesy of SOTABeams, creator of the breakthrough WOLFWAVE Advanced Audio Processor, now available from DX Engineering. Connect the WOLFWAVE to your headphones or speaker […]

Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition logo
Events / HAM Radio 101

Prepping for the Pitcairn Island VP6R DXpedition

One of the biggest DXpeditions of the year is officially only about a month away. Time to start thinking about logging Pitcairn Island, the least populous national jurisdiction in the […]

large antenna array for ham radio
HAM Radio 101

Ham Radio Slang: “Little Pistols” and “Big Guns”

If you’re new to Ham Radio and someone calls you a “Little Pistol,” your first reaction might be, “Well, them’s fightin’ words.” Don’t be offended. It’s just the way Hams […]

HAM Radio 101

What is Cty.dat?

Cty.dat, or sometimes wl_cty.dat, also known as a “country file.” This file contains the lookup information that translates prefixes of callsigns into country and/or zone multipliers. Software uses this file, […]

HAM Radio 101

Biography: Jack Smith, K8ZOA (SK)

Some Amateur Radio operators leave behind such a legacy of hard work, high-level thinking, and pure devotion to the advancement of the hobby that their call sign will never fade […]

DX Engineering ferrite cores
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day: Ferrite–What it is and Why You Need It

If your station suffers from radio frequency interference (RFI), today’s Word of Day, ferrite, should become an immediate and permanent part of your Ham Radio vocabulary. Different mixes of ferrite—a […]

compact antenna module
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day: COMPACTenna

From time to time, our Word of the Day feature will highlight an innovative product from the world of Ham Radio. Today, we look at COMPACTenna’s patented line of small, […]

vibroplex vibrokeyer
HAM Radio 101

What is the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC)?

Today’s Word of the Day column focuses on another organization committed to keeping CW alive and clicking—the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC). Founded in 2006, the group boasts close to […]