How to Improve the Efficiency and Gain of Your Single-Band Mobile Antenna
Back in the day, folks used to say that you’re never fully dressed without a hat. In the Ham world, DX Engineering Hot Rodz® Adjustable Antenna Capacity Hats for select […]
An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering Recent Posts
Antenna Tech / Technical Articles
HAM Radio 101
Word of the Day (Phonetic Alphabet): Why You Should Use the Phonetic Alphabet for HAM Radio Communication
When you’re communicating on the air, using the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, recognized by most Hams worldwide, can help avoid confusion that results because many letters sound alike. Phonetics are words […]
HAM Radio 101
Word of the Day (CQ): What Does CQ Stand For?
From the ARRL Glossary, CQ is defined as “Calling any station.” It is the general call when requesting a conversation with anyone. Like many other telegraph terms which originated on […]
Technical Articles
The Hows and Whys of Operating on Two Meters or Six During the Summer Months
Let’s face it: The HF bands haven’t been that great for a while. Trying to enjoy Ham Radio during the bottom of the 11-year solar cycle can be tough. The […]
HAM Radio 101
Word of the Day (Rig): What is a Rig in Amateur Radio?
Rig refers to a transmitter, receiver or, most commonly, a transceiver—a combination of a receiver and transmitter in one (back in the old days, these were separate pieces of equipment). […]
HAM Radio 101
What is a QSL Card? (Word of the Day)
If you’re new to Ham Radio, maybe you’ve seen a friend’s shack filled with postcards displaying tropical locales, the International Space Station, battleships, and other images. These are QSL cards. […]
Events / Photo Galleries
It’s All in the Cards: A Look at QSL Cards from Fiji
Every month, DX Engineering features QSL cards from our team members’ personal collections. To highlight upcoming DXpeditions, we’ll be displaying a few of our favorite cards along with details about […]
HAM Radio 101 / Products & Product Reviews
The Age-Old Debate: New vs Used HAM Radio Equipment
To buy new or not to buy new, that is the question. If Hamlet had been an amateur radio operator (with a name like Hamlet, why not?), maybe he would […]
HAM Radio 101
What is a Panadapter (Word of the Day)?
A band scope that displays signals on a band visually, usually as a line or area graph, allowing for a view of activity across a slice or an entire band. […]
HAM Radio 101
What is Contest University (Word of the Day)?
Contest University is an annual one-day seminar/workshop in Dayton, Ohio, held the day before Hamvention. Top Amateur Radio contesters, including members of the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, impart […]
