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 […]
An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering Technical Articles
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles
Technical Articles
Zero to 160m DXCC in One Year: Installing the DX Engineering 160 Meter Thunderbolt Vertical Antenna
I’ve been a Ham for over 50 years, but up until about four years ago I had never had a QSO on 160m! In 2016, I decided that had to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Technical Articles
Easy Building Projects for New Hams
One of the most fun activities in Ham radio is learning to build your own equipment. In the early years of amateur radio, long before factory-built equipment was easily available, […]
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 […]
Technical Articles
Troubleshooting Your Transceiver
Uh-oh, the radio’s broken! It’s either doing something it’s not supposed to or not doing something it’s supposed to. The natural response will always be to change a few things, […]
Technical Articles
Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your HF Station
There is a fine line between maintenance and troubleshooting, whether it’s a Ham station, a car, an audio system, or any bit of technology with several “moving parts.” One often […]
Technical Articles
Just Got Your License? Avoid These Mistakes and Get Off on the Right Foot
You just got your Tech license and your call sign. Now what? The first mistake some new Hams make is not getting on the air as soon as possible. They […]
