Antenna Tech

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 […]

ham radio station basic illustration
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

What Is an Antenna System?

“System” is a word that gets thrown around a lot. What does it mean from the perspective of an amateur radio operator? Generally, I think of a system as a […]

a pulley and cable system for installing a wire antenna
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Getting Your Antenna in (and on) the Air: Tips for Installing Wire Antennas and Verticals

Mother Nature must like Ham operators. We’ve been provided with an abundance of tall, non-conductive antenna supports—aka trees—which grow and flourish on their own. When it comes to wire antennas, […]

a collection of antenna radiation pattern diagrams
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Directional Antenna Performance without a Beam

For this OnAllBands blog post, we’ve changed our traditional Word of the Day entry to a Question of the Day: What is the best solution available for creating an optimized […]

antenna radiation pattern diagram
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

How High Should My Dipole Be?

The half-wave dipole is one of the most basic antennas in all of Ham radio. It also tends to get a bad rap; how many times have you heard somebody—possibly […]

wire antenna kit
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Dipole vs Vertical: Which Antenna is Better?

The dipole versus vertical question doesn’t really have a single “right” answer, and amateurs will offer different responses based on their individual preferences. It’s almost like the Ford versus Chevy […]

backyard ham radio antennas
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

How to Get on the Air When You Aren’t Supposed to Have Visible Antennas 

It all started when I wanted to put up an antenna, but it couldn’t be visible from the street. The peak of my roof is 24 feet so that created […]

stealth antenna base mount
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Antennas for HOA Restricted Residences

We hear the question a lot: What are good antenna recommendations for use at my HOA restricted residence? Even if you live in a neighborhood that has an HOA, you […]

Rigextpert antenna analyzer
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Troubleshooting Antenna Systems

After the previous couple of articles about troubleshooting (“Maintaining and Troubleshooting an HF Station” and “Troubleshooting Your Transceiver”), it’s time to move outside the station. An antenna system may not […]

ham radio antenna being hung in attic
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles

Put My Antenna in the Attic? That Can’t Work, Can It?

In the attic, you ask? Yes, in the attic! Many Hams, including many of you reading this, are limited by HOA or other outdoor antenna restrictions. But even if you […]