Word of the Day: What is a “Rotator?”
A rotator—often incorrectly referred to as a “rotor”—is an essential piece of equipment for positioning a directional antenna. Mounted on the antenna mast, the rotator is moved by a controller […]
An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering HAM Radio 101
HAM Radio 101
HAM Radio 101
Word of the Day: Scarborough Reef
From time to time, our Word of the Day column will focus on an unusual or rare DXCC entity. Scarborough Reef is both. In 1996, Scarborough Reef(Huangyan Island), located in […]
HAM Radio 101
Summits on the Air (SOTA) Overview
The fun of Ham Radio reaches new heights with Summits on the Air (SOTA), a program that encourages Amateur Radio enthusiasts to operate from atop the world’s hills and peaks. […]
HAM Radio 101
ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Overview
ARRL stands for the American Radio Relay League, the largest membership association of Amateur Radio enthusiasts in the U.S. When you become a member, you’re supporting a non-profit organization that […]
HAM Radio 101
Word of the Day: Why Do Hams Call it a “Shack?”
Many of us bought our first computers at Radio Shack in the late 70s, danced to the B-52’s “Love Shack” in the late 80s, and watched Shaq O’Neal dominate opponents […]
HAM Radio 101
What is a Multiplier, or Mult, in Ham Radio Contesting?
Most, but not all, contests compute the final score as the product of QSO points and a tally of zones, countries, prefixes or other unique characteristics. Since they impact the […]
HAM Radio 101
AMSAT Overview (Word of the Day)
Based in Maryland, AMSAT (North America), the Amateur Radio Satellite Corp., is a volunteer organization that is celebrating 50 years of designing, building, launching, and commanding Amateur Radio satellites. It […]
HAM Radio 101
What is “Moonbounce?”
Moonbounce, also known as Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communication, is a popular technique used by Amateur Radio enthusiasts to communicate over great distances primarily using the 2M, 70cm, and 23cm bands—most commonly […]
HAM Radio 101
What is Split Operation in Ham Radio?
Split means transmitting on one frequency and listening on another. This helps everyone hear the DX station better so they can time their calls, follow instructions, and not create unnecessary […]
HAM Radio 101
Why is North Korea a Coveted DXCC Entity?
There are many reasons why certain DXCC entities are harder than others to record in our log books. Some are environmentally protected areas. Governing bodies rarely grant permission to operate […]
