At Ham Radio Outside the Box the urge to experiment is always front and center. Isn't that what radio amateurs are supposed to do - continuously improve our knowledge and hone our expertise? In the minds of the government departments that give us our spectrum allocations we are a reserve resource of communications expertise to … Continue reading An Off-Center Fed Sleeve Dipole
Category: Winter
A Top Loaded End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna for 20m
Imagine this: a short, vertical antenna for 20m that requires no ground, no counterpoise or radials ... And ... no tuner. Now, let's add that it is only 14 feet tall and can be erected in just a couple of minutes. But wait, there's more: it is very lightweight, slips into a shirt pocket and … Continue reading A Top Loaded End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna for 20m
A CLEFHW Antenna?
I have been on a quest recently. My objective: to explore strange new antennas and boldly go where no ham has been before. It is not that I particularly seek out the weird and wonderful; instead I try to adapt existing antenna designs using lateral thinking ("ham radio outside the box") to create variations that … Continue reading A CLEFHW Antenna?
The Weather Outside is Frightful – Time to POTA on?
Winter came suddenly to southern Ontario this year - and it hit hard. The Town of Gravenhurst, at the southern end of the popular summer destination of Muskoka was whacked with more than three feet of snow in a single storm. We manage winter very well in this part of the world, but that sudden … Continue reading The Weather Outside is Frightful – Time to POTA on?
A Poor Ham’s Panadapter
I like to think of them as ham radio fish finders - those neat little waterfall displays on many modern radios. No tuning around listening for signals like in the "good old days", just click on a signal on the waterfall display, throw out your callsign and ya got 'em hooked. I live very close … Continue reading A Poor Ham’s Panadapter
6 Tips for Operating Outdoors in Winter
If you happen to live at a latitude within around 45 degrees of either of the Earth's poles, the word "winter" takes on a whole different meaning. In fact it is more than just latitude that determines climate. Countries such as the UK extend further north than even 55 degrees, but enjoy milder weather due … Continue reading 6 Tips for Operating Outdoors in Winter
Ham Radio Outside the Box 