Making Math Easy for Ham Radio Experimenters

If you buy all your equipment and spend most of your on-air time simply chatting to friends, then keep calm and carry on; you are doing us all a favor by keeping the bands alive. Some of us, on the other hand have to take a look "under the hood" to learn what is really … Continue reading Making Math Easy for Ham Radio Experimenters →

A Simple DIY “Unikeyer” Based on the K3NG Design

I have two main rigs for operating outdoors, mainly for Parks on the Air (POTA) activations. I dream that one day I will have three, but my order for a QRP Labs QMX is on a never-never delivery list - well maybe one day! Rig number 1 is a Yaesu FT-891 which, although capable of … Continue reading A Simple DIY “Unikeyer” Based on the K3NG Design →

An Upside Down Antenna?

What do you call an end-fed three quarter wave antenna with a quarter wave counterpoise? Or is it an end-fed full wave antenna with a folded quarter wave section? Or maybe even an end-fed half wave fed with ladder line? Here are some hints. It doesn't need any ferrite toroidal cored transformers; so no hysteresis … Continue reading An Upside Down Antenna? →

Ham Radio – it’s a dirty business

I could have given this post a title such as "How I Became Dependent on Alcohol" but enough of the linguistic deception. Some of my recent experiences with operating in the field have convinced me to spend more time maintaining my equipment. Oh, and yes, alcohol does enter into it. It started back in the … Continue reading Ham Radio – it’s a dirty business →

Is a 20m Antenna also Resonant at 2.4GHz?

In a previous post I wrote that I would be adding SSB and Data capabilities to my recently constructed plastic "ammo case" go-box for operations out in the Big Blue Sky Shack. Those modifications were completed much more quickly than I had anticipated. I am primarily a CW operator and have no immediate intention to … Continue reading Is a 20m Antenna also Resonant at 2.4GHz? →

A DIY Antenna Launcher – for pennies

There are countless methods of launching a wire antenna into a tree that have been written about online. For example a PVC pipe air pressure machine. Sounds downright dangerous to me. Maybe they work just fine, but what if one of the joints isn't glued properly and the darned thing explodes in your face? Besides, … Continue reading A DIY Antenna Launcher – for pennies →

A New FT-891 Ammo Case Go-Box for POTA

My inner voice recently told me to stop building, re-building, re-engineering and modifying my outdoor operations kit and just go get on the air with it. I told my inner voice to hush-up; I need to do this. Each iteration of my design feels like the ultimate build - until it has been out to … Continue reading A New FT-891 Ammo Case Go-Box for POTA →

My Custom Portable POTA Pack – does it work?

How many ways can you operate when activating a park for the Parks On The Air (POTA) program? I count 4 ways; I have tried them all but one is my favorite. #1 When I read the accounts of other activators on social media I conclude the most popular way is to operate from inside … Continue reading My Custom Portable POTA Pack – does it work? →

A QSO with a POTA Hunter Operating a Very Unusual Rig

I just returned from a 9-day POTA camping trip with my wife in Ontario's Algonquin Park region. We stayed in provincial park campgrounds using our travel trailer for accommodation. And, of course, I "activated" each park for POTA - with one exception, and there is a cautionary tale concerning that exception! The trip took in … Continue reading A QSO with a POTA Hunter Operating a Very Unusual Rig →

Simplest Way to Guy a Telescopic Fiberglass Antenna Pole

There are a lot of YouTube videos showing different ways to support a fiberglass antenna pole, none of which seemed to meet my needs which are fairly basic: rapid deployment, lightweight and uncomplicated. So I devised my own method that I hope you will find interesting. Some hams pound a long piece of angle iron … Continue reading Simplest Way to Guy a Telescopic Fiberglass Antenna Pole →