HAM Radio 101

a four square receive antenna array for ham radio
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day (4-Square): What is a 4-Square?

An increasingly common array of four vertical antennas arranged in a square that is electronically steered in four, switchable directions. Once used mostly as transmit antennas, particularly on lower frequencies […]

microphone and 73 Ham Radio illustration
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day (73!): What Does 73 Mean?

When a Ham concludes a transmission or meet-and-greet by saying “73,” he or she is honoring a tradition that goes back to the early days of telegraph communications. Western Union […]

175 mile radius map around Baltimore
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day: “175 Mile Radius” in Amateur Radio

Here’s a phrase that pops up in the fine print of many Ham Radio contest rules. It means a geographic requirement for groups of stations jointly submitting their scores as […]

ham radio operators working during a field day
HAM Radio 101

Word of the Day (HAM): What Does HAM Mean in Amateur Radio?

Editor’s Note: CW? SWR? QRM?  Yes, Amateur Radio has its own lingo–and we’ll cover that unique terminology in our daily Word of the Day column. We’re kicking off our Word […]