Antennas & Feedlines

Ham Radio Antenna Restrictions: Working With Your City, HOA, and Neighbors

Navigate antenna restrictions from cities, HOAs, and neighbor complaints. Know your legal rights under PRB-1, practical negotiation tactics, and stealth options.

August 25, 2026

Ham Radio and HOA: Legal Rights and Stealth Antenna Strategies

Navigate HOA antenna restrictions with legal knowledge and stealth antenna designs. PRB-1, CC&R workarounds, and hidden antennas that actually perform.

August 22, 2026

Half-Wave Verticals: Why No Radials Needed and How to Build One

Learn why half-wave vertical antennas don't need radials, the physics behind end-fed designs, and a step-by-step build for 20m with tested dimensions.

August 19, 2026

Feedline Chokes and Common-Mode Current: The Fix for 90% of Station Problems

Common-mode current causes RFI, weird SWR readings, and RF burns. Learn how feedline chokes work, where to place them, and which designs actually perform.

August 12, 2026

End-Fed Random Wire vs End-Fed Half-Wave: They're Not the Same Antenna

The critical differences between an end-fed random wire antenna and an end-fed half-wave (EFHW). Why they need different transformers, different counterpoises, and work differently.

August 11, 2026

End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna: Build, Theory, and Why It's So Popular

Build and understand the End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) antenna. Theory, construction guide, matching transformer, and why it's the most popular multi-band wire antenna.

August 10, 2026

Complete POTA Setup: Radio, Antenna, and Power for Park Activations

July 31, 2026

Coaxial Cable Loss Calculator: What's Actually Reaching Your Antenna?

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.

July 30, 2026

Coax vs Ladder Line: Which Feedline Belongs in Your Station?

Coax vs ladder line for ham radio: loss comparison, when each excels, installation tips, and practical tradeoffs for real-world antenna systems.

July 29, 2026

Coax Cable for Ham Radio: RG-8X vs LMR-400 vs RG-213

Compare coax cables for ham radio: RG-8X, LMR-400, RG-213 and more. Learn which feedline to use based on frequency, run length, and budget.

July 29, 2026

Antenna Feedpoint Impedance: Understanding 50 Ohms and What Happens When It's Not

Why antennas have specific feedpoint impedances, what determines the 50-ohm standard, and practical methods for matching antennas that don't present 50 ohms.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Height vs Gain: What Actually Puts More Signal on the Target

Should you buy a higher-gain antenna or raise the one you have? Real-world analysis of antenna height versus gain for HF, VHF, and practical ham stations.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Launchers: Getting Wire Antennas Into Trees Without Climbing

Learn how to launch wire antennas into trees using slingshots, pneumatic launchers, and bows. Practical tips for safe, efficient antenna installation.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Modeling Software: EZNEC, MMANA-GAL, and 4NEC2 Compared

Compare the three main antenna modeling programs used by hams. Which one fits your needs — EZNEC, MMANA-GAL, or 4NEC2? Real-world workflow for each.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Modeling With Free Software: EZNEC and 4NEC2 for Practical Hams

How to model ham radio antennas with EZNEC and 4NEC2 software. Setting up your first model, interpreting results, ground effects, and validating designs before building.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Modeling with MMANA-GAL and 4NEC2: Getting Started

Beginner's guide to antenna modeling with MMANA-GAL and 4NEC2. Covers what modeling tells you, how to interpret results, limitations, and practical workflow for designing antennas.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Rotators: Choosing, Installing, and Maintaining Your Beam Turner

Learn how to choose, install, and maintain an antenna rotator for your ham radio beam. Covers top models, brake types, and real-world mounting tips.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Switching Systems: Relay Boxes, Remote Switches, and Stacking

Guide to ham radio antenna switching systems. Coaxial relay switches, remote antenna selectors, stacking switches, and how to manage multiple antennas safely.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Traps Explained: How They Work and When to Use Them

Learn how antenna traps work using LC circuits to create multiband antennas. Practical guide to trap design, placement, and when traps make sense for your station.

July 28, 2026

Antenna Tuner Explained: Do You Need One for Ham Radio?

What antenna tuners do, when you need one, and the best options for HF ham radio. Manual vs automatic, internal vs external — all explained clearly.

July 28, 2026

Balun vs Unun: When to Use Each (And Why It Matters)

Confused about baluns and ununs? Learn the difference between 1:1, 4:1, and 9:1 ratios, when each is appropriate, and how to pick the right one.

July 28, 2026

Best Antenna Analyzers for Ham Radio (2026)

July 28, 2026

Best Antenna and Tuner Combos for HF Beginners

July 28, 2026

Best Coax for Every Situation: RG-58, RG-8X, LMR-400, and Hardline

Compare RG-58, RG-8X, LMR-400, and hardline coax cables for ham radio. Loss figures, specs, and practical recommendations for every use case and budget.

July 28, 2026