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, […]
An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering Technical Articles
Technical Articles
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles
Wire Antennas—Beyond the Dipole
The oldest radio antenna is—guess what—a dipole. In fact, a dipole was used by Professor Hertz to discover electromagnetic waves in 1886. How did he decide to use a dipole? […]
