Practical CW operating tips for new Morse operators. Covers first QSOs, handling nerves, common exchanges, abbreviations, and building speed for ragchewing.
New to ham radio contesting? Here's everything you need for your first contest weekend: picking a contest, exchange formats, logging software, and operating tips.
Detailed comparison of ham radio contest logging software. N1MM+, N3FJP, WriteLog, SkookumLogger evaluated for features, ease of use, and platform support.
How to calculate real coax cable loss at HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies. Loss tables for common cables, when loss matters, and how to minimize feedline losses.
How to choose your first HF antenna as a new General class ham. Covers dipoles, verticals, end-feds, and wire antennas with honest pros/cons for real situations.
Vertical or horizontal polarization for HF? We compare radiation patterns, noise, DX performance, and practical tradeoffs to help you pick the right antenna.
Build a ham radio antenna rotator controller using Arduino. Covers motor control, position sensing, calibration, computer interface, and integration with logging software.
How to build a ham radio go-box for portable, emergency, and field operations. Component selection, power systems, antenna options, and organization for rapid deployment.
Step-by-step guide to building HF vertical antennas. Ground-mounted with radials vs elevated — real performance data, materials list, and installation tips.
Complete guide to building a remote HF station. Covers hardware selection, internet connectivity, control software, audio routing, and reliability strategies.
How to build a dedicated receive-only SDR station for HF band monitoring, WSPR decoding, and propagation watching. Covers hardware, software, antennas, and use cases.
Step-by-step guide to building an APRS iGate with a Raspberry Pi. Covers hardware, software setup with Direwolf, and connecting to the APRS-IS network.
Build a complete QRP CW station for under $300. Radio kits, keys, antennas, and accessories for getting on the air with 5 watts of Morse code on HF bands.
How to build your own RF dummy load for ham radio testing. Oil-cooled and air-cooled designs, resistor selection, SWR verification, and power handling for HF through UHF.
Build a 49:1 UnUn transformer for end-fed random wire antennas. Complete parts list, winding instructions, and testing guide for multi-band HF operation.
Complete step-by-step guide to building a 1:1 current balun using toroid cores. Materials, winding technique, testing, and why current baluns outperform voltage baluns.
