Technical Articles

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 […]

close up of a circuit board in a small project box
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, […]

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 […]

Multimeter screen displaying 12.56 volts
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, […]

close up of a knob on a ham radio
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 […]

ham radio presentation screenshot
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 […]

closeup of an Icom IC-7200 radio screen in use
Technical Articles

So You Still Have Your License but Haven’t Operated in Years: A Guide to Getting Back into the Hobby

One of the problems of writing an article like this is that Hams who have not been active for years probably don’t know about “OnAllBands” and won’t find this article. […]

astronaut making a ham radio contact from space station
Amateur Radio News / Technical Articles

Hams in Space: Contacting the International Space Station

When astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL (sk), keyed down his 2 meter transceiver aboard the space shuttle Columbia on December 1, 1983, he became the first person to use Ham radio […]

large ham radio repeater shack atop a mountain
Technical Articles

Repeater Etiquette: Best Practices, Do’s and Don’ts

The local repeater is often where new Hams make their first contact. I recall feeling a bit nervous when I tuned in to my local repeater for the first time. […]

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 […]