For Guglielmo Marconi, the great challenge was to transmit wireless signals across the Atlantic and to all the ships at sea. He built stations at Poldhu, England; Glace Bay, Nova Scotia; and Cape Cod, United States—all near the ocean.

Was this done with a knowledge of oceanside propagation, or was it because he was in the business of ship-to-shore communication?

Those of us blessed with a waterfront residence on the east or west coast have much stronger communications links across the Atlantic or the Pacific than people living in the middle of the continent. We’ve all heard stories of antenna farms on or near saltwater marshes that get much improved signals. I even heard one about a ham with both feet in the Atlantic operating a low-power backpack radio with a whip and having a QSO with a station in France.

The “saltwater amplifier” is the increased ground conductivity near the sea, leading to more antenna gain. Average soil has a conductivity of 0.005 Siemens per meter, saltwater averages 5.0 Siemens per meter—an improvement by a factor of 1,000.

Do the math and that’s roughly 10 dB of gain. Imagine turning your 10-watt QRP radio into the equivalent of 100 watts.

Medium Wave Beside the Waves

Early on, some AM stations in the metro New York City area learned that oceanside towers can produce big signals. For more than four decades, High Island had been home to two of the biggest New York City AM signals: WFAN (formerly WNBC) on 660 kHz and WCBS on 880 kHz.

CBS’s station was so powerful that it could be heard as far away as Florida and Chicago on good days. Typical coverage included daytime signals up the coast as far as Cape Cod and down to Cape May. Then as now, CBS was one of America’s principal broadcasters, and the company found the saltwater ground system of Long Island Sound ideal for carrying radio waves.

Broadcasters have sometimes found some advantage or necessity to locate transmitter sites on islands. These islands vary from the isolated home of KUHB on St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea to the now defunct WMBL on “Radio Island” near Morehead City, North Carolina. It was the first radio station serving the area and was well known for its clear reception and surprisingly long range.

Gordo’s Ground Shootout

Gordon West, WB6NOA, once did a head-to-head comparison between a traditional copper-foil strip that went nearly all the way around his boat and a seawater ground. The results of his experiment were published in Sail Magazine. Using an Icom marine SSB/ham transceiver and Icom AT-130, he was careful to retune the antenna each time ground systems were switched for an accurate comparison.

While the copper foil capacitive ground did produce a usable signal, the seawater ground improved antenna power output considerably.

In addition, this configuration decreased the noise floor while receiving and increased sky wave signal strength. It also caused a four-foot fluorescent tube to glow brightly with modulation peaks.

He saw the light.

WSPR Test

Greg Lane, N4KGL, did a test comparing two identical verticals, one on the beach near the water and another inland, away from the beach. In addition, a low dipole was added to the mix to see if horizontal polarization made any significant difference. Only simultaneous spots were used for comparison.

Using a pair of identical WSPRlite transmitters on 20 meters, Lane first established a baseline with a WSPRlite attached to each vertical. Both were set up several hundred feet inland at the same distance from the ocean. Evaluating the 55 spots, all were similar in output and operation. Using a low-power wattmeter onsite showed no discernable difference in output.

Two trials were conducted with the saltwater vs. land antenna comparison. The first one had the antenna placed at the shore and the other 700 feet inland. The second trial had them placed 200 feet apart. Results showed the saltwater vertical always beat the inland vertical for any WSPR spot with an average 10.8 dB advantage. As expected, the closer the antenna to the water, the better the gain.

In the low dipole vs. saltwater vertical scenario, the saltwater vertical was better 32 times out of 33 spots, with nearly a 10 dB advantage. The only downside was higher radiation angles.

Overall, his observations appear to support the presence of a significant saltwater gain.

Radial Placement for Maximum Gain

The object of the saltwater effect is to improve the ground system for better efficiency. Rudy Severns, N6LF, reminds us when AC current (RF) flows in a conductor, the current tends to flow only near the surface. The ground current for a saltwater vertical antenna is restricted to a thin layer near the water surface (skin depth). This means radials need to be near the surface to take full advantage of the saltwater effect.  

Running a copper wire with a fishing weight (or several) to the edge of the surf would probably be sufficient for casual use at the beach. A floating radial on an anchored pool noodle would be a good solution in calm inlets and tidal pools.

Tides are a challenge. Local tides can range from a foot to more than 50 feet. That would significantly cover the radials and vertical element, changing the effective length of the antenna system. A workable long-term solution could be a floating dock or a float substantial enough to support the antenna. You don’t need a long radial—attaching a piece of sheet metal or screen several feet long to the bottom or side of the dock can provide a low-resistance ground without a trailing wire.

Several DXpeditions have used pairs of 1/4 wavelength elevated radials connected to vertical antennas directly over flooded reefs. The radials need to be kept well above the water surface, even at high tides, for best results.

Close Also Counts

The objective with a vertical monopole antenna is not just to have any ground connection, but to have a low-loss ground plane under the base of the antenna. Think of the ocean like a huge copper sheet, just not quite as conductive. Being within a few wavelengths of an ocean is the next best thing to having radials near or in the water. Walt, K4OGO, has some videos online that discuss antenna designs and setup for use on the beach.

Going mobile? When you park close to the sea, the radio waves go over the surface, reflect and bounce off into the atmosphere and skip, just like stones or pebbles across a pond.

Reflections on Saltwater Propagation

Seawater is too good of a conductor to pass radio waves—instead, it reflects them like a mirror off of its surface. Saltwater contains Na+ and Cl- ions. Saltwater is electrically conductive because these ions are free to move in solution.

You might argue that 10 dB is only a little more than 1.5 S-units, but it can mean the difference between “can’t hear a thing” and full copy.

This might be a good time to book that beach vacation to fish for some DX!

The post The Saltwater Amplifier Effect (& How it Impacts Your Amateur Radio Station Performance) appeared first on OnAllBands.

DX Engineering was excited to catch up with VE2DX Electronics founder and longtime amateur radio operator Richard Desaulniers, Sr., VE2DX, at Dayton Hamvention 2024. Watch VE2DX run down the Quebec-based company’s lineup of TrueCIV Icom Transceiver Data Hubs, Remote Antenna Switches, Portable Two-Inch Meter Displays, and the Icom Digital Meter HDMI Display TrueCIV Interface available at DXEngineering.com.

Richard also highlights new VE2DX products that will be coming to DX Engineering in the weeks ahead, including band decoders, Bluetooth CAT interfaces, and EMI filters.

Here’s a quick look at what’s available now from VE2DX at DXEngineering.com.

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Icom Digital Meter HDMI Display TrueCIV Interface

This small electronic device (IM1-HDMI V2) connects Icom transceivers to any size HDMI flat panel monitor or TV for an amazing multi-function meter display. It simultaneously interfaces to a PC and multiple accessories via USB, Bluetooth, and CI-V. 

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VE2DX TrueCIV 5-Port Icom Interface Data Hubs

These data hubs connect the interfaced transceiver’s CI-V data stream to multiple accessories simultaneously. VE2DX’s TrueCIV creates a new CI-V TTL standard that is unmatched for CI-V signal performance, signal integrity, maximum link length, and RFI prevention. These hubs deliver perfect CI-V data to many types of tuners, band pass filters, and more.

• CT17B-5 V2 TrueCIV 5-Port Icom Interface Data Hub (with USB C port)
• CT17B-6USB V2 USB TrueCIV Icom 5-Port Interface Data Hub (with USB C port, Icom CI-V to USB PC)
• CT-17B-5 Icom CI-V 5-Port Data Hub (passive)

Bluetooth Models

The hubs below feature CI-V over Bluetooth and a 5-port hub that connects the interfaced transceiver’s CI-V data stream to multiple accessories simultaneously.

• CT17B-6BT V2 Bluetooth TrueCIV Icom Interface 5-Port Data Hub (isolated Icom CI-V to PC via Bluetooth)
• CT17B-7DM V2 Bluetooth and USB TrueCIV Icom Interface 5-Port Data Hub (isolated Icom CI-V to PC via Bluetooth)

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2-Inch Digital Display Meters

VE2DX’s IM1-4BTPLUS V2 Icom Digital Meter and TrueCIV Interface is a high-quality two-inch meter display and TrueCIV version 2 data hub for most Icom transceivers. This unique mini-screen device can show two bar graph meters or two needle meter displays, as selected with two front panel buttons, as well as other transceiver status indicators. This specially programmed VE2DX device ingeniously samples Icom transceiver CI-V data to display available information in multiple formats, depending upon radio model. The meter includes CT17B-MICRO v2 internal 3-port hub with TrueCIV. The IM1-4BTTUFF V2 TUFF METER model is waterproof for outdoor operation.

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SO2R 2X6 Remote Antenna Switches

VE2DX SO2R 2X6 Remote Antenna Switches provide selection of any six antennas for connection to two radios, covering the frequency range of 1.8 to 54 MHz. All control signals are RFI filtered as are all VE2DX printed circuit boards with shielding on both sides. Each SO-239 antenna port features five relays to achieve a design with over 80db port isolation and full legal-limit power handling. Switches are available in 24VDC or 12VDC relay versions.

The post Product Spotlight: VE2DX TrueCIV Icom Transceiver Interface Data Hubs, Remote Antenna Switches & More (Video) appeared first on OnAllBands.

When cool weather approaches, you may begin to ponder the most efficient way to upgrade your existing antennas or add to your current capabilities.

And when it comes to amateur radio antennas, you won’t find a better place to start your search than DX Engineering.com, where you’ll discover a huge selection of top amateur radio antenna brands and accessories, including today’s spotlight innovators: InnovAntennas. 

Exclusively Sold in North America by DX Engineering

Back in the summer of 2021, WiMo of Herxeim, Germany, on behalf of InnovAntennas Limited UK, selected DX Engineering as the sole North American distributor of the range of antenna products by InnovAntennas.  WiMo, one of Europe’s leading ham radio manufacturers and retailers, has been producing InnovAntennas as an OEM for more than five years.

This partnership has benefited discerning ham radio operators who have seen extraordinary results from InnovAntennas’ finely engineered, extensively tested, and robustly constructed products. These include the DXR Series Multiband HF Beams, featuring short booms (10.2 to 12 feet) with full-size elements or capacity-loaded shortened elements; High HF Band Optimized Log Periodic Arrays; Heavy-Duty HF+6M Yagi; 10M and 6M Yagis; and other options.

Today, OnAllBands is excited to highlight some of the latest additions to InnovAntennas’ already impressive lineup. 

50-LFA-4-LN 4-Element 50 MHz Yagi

Here’s a great opportunity to be ready for the 6M “Magic Band” bonanza whenever it rolls around.

Specifically designed for noisy city environments, this loop-fed, low-profile antenna is optimized for front-to-back performance on a relatively short boom of 11.15 feet. The results: rejection of as much local noise as possible and more signals heard. The 50-LFA-4-LN offers excellent forward gain of 9.4 dBi (14.9 dBi at 10M above ground), an exceptional 32 dB front-to-back rating, and SWR less than 1.4:1 across 50-50.5 MHz.

The antenna includes a center mount boom that accommodates mast clamps for up to two-inch masts. It provides a sleek 1.77-square-foot wind load, making this beam ideal for typical 6M stations.

LFA-WOS 6M 7-Element Yagi

This antenna was specially designed by G3WOS for hams who are looking for the perfect 6M antenna for use with a freestanding mast.

Boasting good gain characteristics and a particularly long boom for excellent front-to-back ratio, the mid-sized LFA-WOS is a great choice for EME and weak-signal DXing. Featuring an average gain of 12.9 dBi, it delivers suppressed lobes in both azimuth and elevation plots, making it ideal for noisy city installations. Its maximum transmit power is 5 kW with SWR less than 1.1:1 in the 50-50.45 MHz range.

For enhanced performance, both the last third of both the reflector and first director elements are bent toward the driver loop. The antenna comes with marine-grade stainless steel fittings, original Stauff insulation clamps, and mill-finished boom and elements for high accuracy.

OP-DES 50 MHz Yagi Antennas

OP-DES stands for Opposing Phase Driven Element System. This means the ends of the dipole radiator of these antennas is angled backwards toward the reflector, parallel to the boom. This results in opposing phase relationships in the ends of the driven element, providing a clean directional pattern with few side lobes. Users can expect optimized gain over a wide frequency range, while retaining a good front-to-back ratio.

The driven element dipole of an OP-DES antenna has a low impedance of 50 ohms. This eliminates the need for matching elements or a transformer balun. For this reason, the antenna is offered without a balun, but an RF choke balun made of ferrites on coax should be used at the feedpoint terminal studs. With the coaxial cable directly connected to the driven element dipole, well over full legal limit power levels are possible.

The InnovAntennas OP-DES 50 MHz Yagis are designed through careful numerical optimizations to provide excellent gain with good bandwidth. As a result, a low SWR of 1.1:1 is achieved in the frequency range of 50-50.6 MHz for the OP-DES 50 MHz Yagi six-element model (below) or 50-51.35 MHz for the five-element model.

LFA3-HG 50 MHz 5-Element Yagi

This model was designed to deliver the best gain on a relatively short boom. It offers forward gain of 10.7 dBi (16.2 dBi at 10M above ground) and an exceptional 31 dB front-to-back rating with SWR less than 1.4:1 in the 50-50.4 MHz range. The low-profile LFA3 achieves a significant reduction of noise, allowing clear reception of much weaker signals. The introduction of the loop-shaped and phase-fed dipole delivers considerably fewer side lobes in the Yagi directional pattern.

With less energy absorbed from the sides and from behind, the antenna becomes quieter and achieves a higher forward gain.

VertiGO HF Vertical Antennas

Last year, DX Engineering began carrying three models of InnovAntennas VertiGO HF Vertical Antennas. They come with a base-mounted remote tuner for DX and domestic operation:

• IVA-18484-0122: Tunable for 40-15M, 33 Feet (below)
• IVA-18484-0123: Tunable for 60-17M, 43 Feet
• IVA-18484-0124: Tunable for 80-17M, 66 Feet

Find the complete lineup of InnovAntennas antennas at DXEngineering.com.

The post New Product Spotlight: InnovAntennas Adds to Its Lineup of Amateur Radio Antennas Available at DX Engineering appeared first on OnAllBands.

If you’re thinking about enhancing your amateur radio performance, get a closer look at the features and benefits of the ACOM 500S Solid State Linear Amplifier, covering 160-4M (1.8 through 70.5 MHz*) with a power output of 500W (PEP or digital). Its compact (11.45″ W x 6.18″ H x 10.62″ D) and lightweight (17.2 pounds) construction makes it a great choice for DXpeditions and operations in the field.

Here are just a few of its many features:

• Operating information is shown on a multi-function, high-resolution five-inch 24-bit color display
• Unit can be controlled by either the six front-panel buttons or remotely
• Intuitive screen menus for easy operation—no special skills required from the operator when changing frequency
• Compatible with all transceiver models available on the market. Does not need any special signals; “ground on transmit” and less than 25W of RF drive power is sufficient.

With the help of DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Michael Murphy, KI8R, watch firsthand how this compact amateur radio amplifier is loaded with ham-friendly capabilities. Anchor your shack with the rugged reliability of a solid-state RF amplifier—check out this review and see how the 500S is a versatile addition to the ACOM lineup.

R2kR2U

See ACOM 500S Amplifiers available at DXEngineering.com, including models with 120VAC or 240VAC AC plugs already installed. Find the full range of ACOM amplifiers at DXEngineering.com.

* Operation on the 4M band, 70-70.5 MHz is only legal in certain countries in IARU Region 1, many in Europe, plus Greenland. Operation is not authorized on this band in most of IARU Region 2 including North, Central and South America. This amplifier may be sold for use in any part of the world. Legal operation is the responsibility of the user.

The post ACOM Solid State 500S Linear Amplifier—Video Review appeared first on OnAllBands.

Today’s OnAllBands video shines a bright spotlight on a company that has been helping amateur operators enjoy brighter, more intelligible, and fully customized audio since its founding in 2002.

DX Engineering is proud to carry bhi Limited’s real-world-proven, audio-improving amateur radio products available at DXEngineering.com. The lineup includes Digital Signal Processing (DSP) noise-canceling modules, speakers, and headphones; parametric equalizers; audio isolation devices; adapter cables; and audio accessories all designed to help hams enjoy clearer sound that leads to higher contest scores, better emergency communication, more weak-signal DXing QSOs, and stress-free rag-chewing.

In the video below, DX Engineering’s Paul, KJ8EEP, interviews Graham Somerville, M3ZGS, owner and managing director of the Burgess Hill, England-based company known for its innovative devices that remove unwanted background noise and interference for vastly improved speech quality.

In the video, Graham demonstrates the capabilities of the bhi DUAL-IN-LINE DSP noise-canceling module (below), which features an improved algorithm that produces exceptional audio quality in noisy conditions, eight filters for noise cancelation from 8 to 40 dB, and compatibility with both high and medium mono and stereo audio input signals.

Graham also displays the bhi ParaPro EQ20-DSP Parametric Equalizer, which lets you customize the sound of your received audio and boost the audio power to your speakers. The unit, as well as parametric equalizers with Bluetooth, enable you to adjust any specific part of the frequency range, providing greater flexibility and accuracy to set the audio to suit your own hearing.

Read more about the following bhi Limited products in these links from OnAllBands:

• New Product Spotlight: bhi DSP Noise-Canceling In-Line Module
• bhi Universal 12 VDC Power Supply
• NCH Active Noise Canceling Headphone

The post Manufacturer Spotlight: bhi Limited Noise-Canceling Products (video) appeared first on OnAllBands.

Coax cable has its roots dating back to the mid-1800s, when engineers developed transatlantic cable communication. These early telegraph cables were made up of a center conductor encased in a cylindrically shaped rubber-like insulator. They had no outer shield—the seawater surrounding them completed the circuit.

The coax cable we now use was based on a design developed by Lloyd Espenschied and Herman Affel at Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1916. In the 1930s, coaxial cable was used to connect radio networks, television networks, and long-distance telephone networks.

When World War II came along, military contractors cranked out coax for the war effort. The development of polyethylene made it possible to produce cheap, flexible coaxial cables for easy and quick deployment. After 1945, military surplus coax cable could be obtained cheaply, making it popular among hams in the postwar years. It became an easy-to-use alternative to open wire feed lines.

You’ve Got Coax Questions? We Have Answers

Let us help you unravel the mysteries and myths behind the cable that helps connect you to the rest of the world.

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What Are RG, M17, and LMR Numbers?

RG stands for Radio Guide, which was the original military specification for coax cable. The number that follows the RG was just a page in the radio guide book. In reality, these are just general descriptions of the cables available.

M17 refers to the military specifications set by the U.S. Department of Defense. Mil-DTL-17, or M17, is their current standard for coaxial cable. This mil-spec has replaced the old RG numbers and ensures that the new M17 coaxial cables will stand up to tough military requirements.

LMR stands for Land Mobile Radio, which indicates its original intended use for mobile radio systems. The 400 in LMR 400 refers to the cable’s nominal diameter, which is 0.405 inches.

Every manufacturer has their own variations, including differences in shielding material, insulation, outer jackets, and other traits. Transmission loss, power handling, and other specs will vary somewhat from one brand to another. So an RG-8 cable from one manufacturer may be slightly different from that of another.

For example, the Belden 8214 version of RG-8/U has an 11 AWG stranded center with bare copper braid and an outside diameter of .403 inches. DX Engineering RG-8/U has an 11 AWG stranded center, bare copper braid, and an outer diameter of .405 inches. Loss figures and power ratings are similar, within a few tenths of a dB.

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What Does “Velocity Factor” Mean?

The velocity factor is the speed at which an RF signal travels through a material compared to the speed this same signal travels through a vacuum. It’s expressed as a percentage. Cables with a lower velocity factor are more lossy, but that’s because they use solid insulation instead of a low-density foam or air with small spacers to keep the center conductor roughly centered inside the outer conductor. Velocity factor is also used in calculating a particular cable’s wavelengths for matching or phasing antennas.

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Can You Bury Coaxial Cable Without Using a Conduit?

Some coax cable is meant to be buried directly in the ground and other cables are not. If you look at the cable and find the words “direct bury” on the cable then you can bury it without a conduit. Cables that are not designed to be buried will deteriorate with exposure to soil and moisture.

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Why is Coax 50 ohms?

The best coaxial cable impedances were experimentally determined at Bell Laboratories in 1929 to be 77 Ω for low-attenuation, 60 Ω for high voltage, and 30 Ω for high power.

The arithmetic mean between 30 Ω and 77 Ω is 53.5 Ω; the geometric mean is 48 Ω. The selection of 50 Ω is a compromise between power-handling capability and attenuation. Also, 50 Ω works out well because it’s close to the feed point impedance of a 72 Ω half-wave dipole, mounted approximately a half-wave above normal ground.

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Can I Coil Up Extra Coax?

For HF frequencies, it’s not a problem if you need to coil up small amounts of excess cable. Wrap loosely to avoid cable damage. For VHF/UHF, higher losses come into play—longer cable, more loss. The best option is to cut the coax to fit or at least buy the shortest cable you can that still fits.

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Why Do I Get Better SWR by Adding Coax Cable?

The shield of the coax line can actually become part of the antenna. If you’re feeding a dipole that doesn’t have a balun or choke, then adding a short piece of cable will add to the antenna length, affecting the SWR reading.

Another reason is the coax can act as an impedance transformer. The impedance changes along the transmission line with standing waves. By adding some cable, you’ve changed the impedance to something your tuner can more easily match.

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I’ve Got Leftover 75 Ω TV Coax Cable. Can I Use It with My Ham Antennas?

Sure, you can use 75 Ω coax instead of 50 Ω. If you’re feeding a dipole, 75 Ω coax is a better match since dipole impedance is about 72 Ω. In other cases, like feeding a typical 1/4 wave vertical (36 Ω depending on radials), it would be a worse match.

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Can You Mix Different Types of 50 Ω Coax Cable to Extend a Feed Line?

For example, you have 25 feet of RG-8/U and need to extend it 50 feet to your antenna. You have 50 feet of LMR-400 available. No problem.

The only downside would be losses caused by linking the cables and differences in the cable. If you used RG-8X instead of the LMR-400, you’d likely experience a small loss of signal to the antenna.

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With CB Radio, I Was Told to Feed My Antenna with Multiples of a Half-Wavelength—18 feet for CB. Does This Also Apply to Ham Radio?

The 18 feet length is a myth. It might be about half wavelength in free space at CB frequencies but that does not take the velocity factor of the coax into consideration. If an antenna has a perfect match at the feed point, a half wavelength in coax will repeat that match but with velocity factors running between about .66 and .85 for most modern coax, a half wavelength in coax would be between 11.88 and 15.3 feet, not 18 feet.

The proper length of coaxial cable is just long enough to connect the radio and antenna together. There’s no special length needed, no magic measurement so your radio will work better.

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The post Ham Radio 101: Everything You Wanted to Know About Coax But Were Afraid to Ask appeared first on OnAllBands.

DX Engineering Becomes 2026 WRTC Sponsor

With the 2024 Paris Olympics past the halfway point, OnAllBands thought it would be appropriate to give a shout out to what’s been dubbed the Olympics of Amateur Radio—the quadrennial World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC).

The next WRTC—a test of supreme operating skill, strategy, endurance, and teamwork—is scheduled for 2026 in the United Kingdom, following up the 2023 Italy competition which was delayed a year due to the pandemic.

In July 2026, 50 elite two-operator teams from around the world will compete from comparable stations set up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire counties during the 24-hour IARU 2026 Contest. To qualify for WRTC 2026, teams must rank highly in a series of amateur radio contests held between October 2023 and March 2025.

Beyond the competitive nature of the high-profile competition, the event—like the traditional Winter and Summer Olympics—is meant to stand as a model of global cooperation. It also serves as an ideal opportunity for young amateurs to grab the torch lit by their predecessors.

“WRTC is a means to demonstrate international goodwill and friendship in the true ham spirit. It also allows youth operators to demonstrate their skills within this highly competitive event. WRTC UK 2026 will focus not only on providing a fair and enjoyable event for those who qualify either as a competitor or referee but will also provide engagement to spectators all over the world.”

The WRTC UK Website

DX Engineering and the WRTC

DX Engineering has a strong connection with the WRTC. OnAllBands blogger and member of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame Ward Silver, N0AX, was a founder of the WRTC, which had its inaugural competition in Seattle in 1990. Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO and member of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame, competed in five WRTCs (San Francisco 1996, Finland 2002, Brazil 2006, Russia 2010, and Germany 2018). Scott Jones, DX Engineering sales manager, competed in the San Francisco WRTC. Jeff Steinman, N5TJ, three-time WRTC champion (San Francisco, Slovenia 2000, and Finland), is a member of the DX Engineering sales/technical support team. (Note: Just a few more good reasons to get your amateur radio gear—and the best advice anywhere for upgrading your stations—from the folks at DX Engineering.)

WRTC 2026 chairman Mark Haynes, M0DXR, and the event’s director of hospitality Georgina Haynes, M6YGL (husband and wife), stopped by DX Engineering headquarters last year to present their roadmap for a memorable event, which will require untold hours of volunteer work and intelligent planning to handle the thousands of details while creating a level playing field for the 100 competitors.

To support this important gathering on the ham radio calendar, DX Engineering has signed on as a silver sponsor of WRTC 2026. Other sponsors include Icom, Mastrant Antenna Guying, OM Power Amplifiers, and Vibroplex.

Watch Tim, K3LR, interview Mark, M0DXR, and Georgina, M6YGL, at the DX Engineering Showroom in Tallmadge, Ohio.

“WRTC UK 2026 is a complex and challenging project to plan and execute,” the contest website noted. “This is a fantastic opportunity for domestic and international hams to get involved with one of the most exciting projects that our hobby has to offer. We are so fortunate to be holding this event in the UK and this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you or your club can help as a volunteer, please get in touch.”

Visit the WRTC UK 2026 website for up-to-date information and details on how you can get involved.

The post The Paris Olympics Has Us Thinking Ahead to the Ham Radio Olympics in 2026 appeared first on OnAllBands.

Saint Lucia QRV in August

Located in the eastern Caribbean, the West Indies island country of Saint Lucia will be in play this month for DXers (August 10-17) thanks to N4XTT, who will be operating as J6/N4XTT from this popular tourist spot and 230^th Most Wanted DXCC Entity per Clublog.

The holiday-style operation and POTA activation (J6-0001) will be on 40-10M in CW, SSB, and FT4/FT8.

The mountainous, volcanic island of Saint Lucia has an area of 238 square miles (about the size of El Paso, Texas) and a population of around 180,000. It has the distinction of being the world’s only sovereign state named after an actual woman—Saint Lucy of Syracuse (AD 283-304), also known as Saint Lucia, a venerated saint in Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Her traditional feast day is observed by Western Christians on December 13—the date, according to legend, that French sailors were shipwrecked there and named the island in her honor.

There are a number of other islands—not sovereign states—named after women, including Greenland’s Princess Dagmar Island, Australia’s Lady Julia Percy Island, Ecuador’s Isabela Island, and Canada’s Lady Franklin Island. This list also includes another DXCC entity, Saint Helena, named after St. Helena of Constantinople.

Wait a sec, there’s one more country named after a woman, right?

We wrote “actual” woman above because there is another sovereign state named after a mythological goddess. Can you name the country and the goddess? See answer below. Need a hint? Sorry. We don’t want to make it too easy. You’ll EIther get the right answer or you won’t.

QSL Cards

The avid DXers at DX Engineering have made several contacts with operators on Saint Lucia over the years. Here are a few of the QSL cards from their collections.

Wayne, K8FF, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, received the card below from J6/DK1RP.

Scotty, KG9Z, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, provided us with this QSL card from the J6LCV DXpedition in October 1981.

Tom, KB8UUZ, DX Engineering technical writer, received the QSL cards below from J68RI (20/15M QSOs) and J69DS from Babonneau, Saint Lucia. Babonneau is a region in the northern part of the island known for its extensive rain forests.

Dave, K8DV, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, reached J68V in November 2008 on 15M CW. The bottom left corner of the card shows the St. Lucia flag—a cerulean blue field with a golden triangle in front of a white-edged isosceles triangle. The flag has undergone several minor modifications since it was adopted in 1967, but it remains largely the same as the one designed 57 years ago.

The J68V card also shows St. Lucia’s most recognizable natural landmark. Called “Gros Piton,” the canine-tooth-shaped volcanic plug majestically towers over the southwest coast of Saint Lucia, 2,619 feet above sea level. The island’s other famous volcanic plug, “Petit Piton,” lies to the north of its more prominent brother. Both Pitons are popular attractions for hikers.

George, K3GP, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, received the QSL card below for reaching J6/SP7VC on 80M SSB in January 2015.

Scott, N3RA, DX Engineering sales manager, made an FT8 QSO with J68HZ on 6M.

I’ll take “Countries Named After Goddesses” for $1,000, Ken.

Now back to our OnAllBands Geography Question of the Day. While Saint Lucia is the only sovereign state named after a woman, what country is named after a mythological goddess? If you said “Ireland” (DXCC prefix EI), you would be correct. The names Ireland and Éire come from the Old Irish Ériu, a goddess in Irish mythology.

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For all your DXing, contesting, or rag-chewing needs—whether you’re a Big Gun, Little Pistol, or somewhere in between, visit DXEngineering.com for transceivers, amplifiers, antennas, 
headsets, and so much more.

Editor’s Note: 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 what it took to make these contacts. We’re excited to share some of the special cards pulled from the thousands we’ve received over the years. We look forward to seeing your cards as well!

The post It’s All in the Cards! QSL Cards from Saint Lucia appeared first on OnAllBands.

Were you able to make contact with the K3Y team of youth operators on the air July 27 during the 2024 RSGB IOTA Contest? We hope so. Your QSO made a difference in the life of a young amateur!

For the second straight year operating from the K3LR superstation in western Pennsylvania, a group of talented young hams got a taste of what it’s like making QSOs from a powerful amateur radio station, while chasers from every corner of the globe got to experience the bright future of our beloved hobby in action.

The four operators making up the team—Ian Alkema, KI8AN; Lilly Colón, W8LIL; Katie Campbell, KE8LQR; and Grace Papay, K8LG—were participating in the Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure (YDXA), a program that has sent amateurs ages 12-17 to stations around the world since its founding in 2010. You can read bios of the YDXA participants and parents here.

When this year’s international excursion fell through, Tim Duffy, K3LR, CEO of DX Engineering, once again offered his station as the site for the adventure.

Operating on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters in SSB and CW, the team logged close t0 2,000 QSOs. All contacts were made by the youth operators, with mentoring provided by parents and other experienced amateurs, including Tim, K3LR.

“It was a great day for these amazing young operators, as well as an important day for ham radio,” Tim said. “The K3Y team operated with impressive poise, skill, and teamwork, and they were an absolute pleasure to have at K3LR, representing the youth of our hobby in such a positive manner. A great deal of thanks goes to the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, other contributors for their sponsorship, and the many hams who sought them out on the air. Most importantly, I’d like to salute all the parents for doing such a wonderful job with these youngsters. The future of ham radio is in good hands.”

Edward Engleman, KG8CX, 2024 Hamvention Amateur of the Year and co-founder of the Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team (YACHT), wrote:

“Outstanding operation from all of you. Kudos. Thanks to Tim, K3LR, for believing in these youth and giving them an opportunity to long remember.”

“Well done, Katie, super contest operation,” wrote David Ayers, from England, on the DX Engineering Facebook page. “It’s going to take a lot more practice to get my CW back up to that standard.”

You can watch the K3Y team in action in this video from DX Engineering’s YouTube channel:

Youth Make a Stop at DX Engineering

Before traveling to K3LR, the K3Y team and parents stopped by DX Engineering in Tallmadge, Ohio, for lunch on July 26. Each participant gave a presentation on the impact ham radio has had on their life and their goals for the future.

“Amateur radio has and is continuing to be an incredible experience for me,” Ian said during his presentation at DX Engineering. “I have made so many new friends, received awesome awards, and was even able to take amateur radio to the outdoors.”

The presentations were broadcast live on DX Engineering’s Facebook page. You can watch the inspiring video below from DX Engineering’s YouTube channel:

The post Young YDXA Operators Once Again Display Their Amateur Radio Skills at K3LR appeared first on OnAllBands.

While not including any of the heavy hitters on the ham radio calendar, August is one of our favorite months at OnAllBands because it showcases the great diversity of amateur operating—everything from bouncing signals off the ionized trails produced by meteors to making two-way QSOs via the moon (both pursuits open to even Technician license holders).

You’ll also find ARRL’s Super High Frequency challenge and RTTY Rookie Roundup, along with State QSO Parties and another island chaser/activator opportunity for those who didn’t get their fill during July’s RSGB IOTA contest. Enjoy!

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NRAU (Nordic Radio Amateur Union) 10M Activity Contest: August 1, 1800Z to 1900Z (CW); 1900Z to 2000Z (SSB); 2000Z to 2100Z (FM); and 2100Z to 2200Z (Digital). Here’s a great chance to take advantage of 10M openings compliments of Solar Cycle 25. Looking for gear to enhance your 10M capabilities? Click to read about some antenna upgrades available at DXEngineering.com. 

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European HF Championship: August 3, 1200Z to 2359Z. This contest organized by the Slovenia Contest Club offers three additional categories added in 2023: Single-Op-Unlimited, Single-Op QRP, and One-Band (160M-6M). Access the latest rules here.

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ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest: August 3, 1800Z to August 4, 1800Z. Work as many stations as possible on the 222 MHz through 241 GHz bands using any allowable mode. A station in a specific grid locator may be contacted from the same location only once on each band, regardless of mode.

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MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest: August 10, 2200Z to August 12, 2159Z. MMMonVHF, in cooperation with the magazines DUBUS and Funk-Telegramm, invites you to take part in the 2024 edition of the “144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest.” Per the contest website, the Perseid meteor shower will be active until August 24. Its maximum is estimated to occur on Monday, August 12, between 1300 UTC and 1600 UTC. The contest site also notes that on August 12 around 0900 UTC, Earth will pass an old dust trail. Five more old trails, four of which are more than 1,300 years old, will be passed between 0400 UTC and 1100 UTC.

Called one of the “best shooting star displays of the year” by Space.com, the Perseid meteor shower is the result of the Earth passing through ice and rock left behind by the comet Swift Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the Sun and had its closest approach to the Sun in 1992. It won’t return until 2125.

From the NASA website, “When comets come around the sun, the dust they emit gradually spreads into a dusty trail around their orbits. Every year the Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.”

This is a great chance to take a crack at one of the coolest aspects of the hobby. Better yet, it’s an activity that’s open to Technician license holders. For other ideas on getting the most from punching your ticket, check out this article by OnAllBands blogger Sean Kutzko, KX9X, on 15 Things to Do with a Technician License.

Here’s another way to get involved in the excitement. Founded in 1988, the International Meteor Organization is a collection of meteor observers from around the world who ensure “the comprehensive study of meteor showers and their relation to comets and interplanetary dust,” per the group’s website. Check out how to become a member.

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YB Bekasi Merdeka Contest: August 10, 1200Z to August 11, 1159Z. This SSB-only, single-operator 80/40/10M contest commemorates the anniversary of Indonesian independence from Japan (August 17, 1945). The event is sponsored by the Indonesian Amateur Radio Organization.

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Kentucky State Parks on the Air: August 10, 1400Z to 2200Z. The Murray State University Amateur Radio Club (MSUARC) is sponsoring its annual Kentucky State Parks on the Air event. Activators will have an opportunity to operate from the Bluegrass State’s 50 parks and nine national sites, while chasers can make CW, SSB, and Digital QSOs with hams enjoying the diversity of the state’s outdoor areas.

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Keymen’s Club of Japan Contest: August 17, 1200Z to August 18, 1200Z. Formed in 1976, the Keymen’s Club of Japan is devoted to promoting CW operation on the amateur bands. Find club history and contest rules at the KCJ website.

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SARTG WW RTTY Contest: August 17, 0000Z to 0800Z and 1600Z to 2400Z; August 18, 0800Z to 1600Z. This annual RTTY-only event is sponsored by the Scandinavian Amateur Radio Teleprinter Group.

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ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest: August 17, 0900 to August 19, 0759. If you’re a fan of operating on the Super High Frequency (microwave) spectrum, this is your chance to shine. North American amateurs will attempt to contact as many stations in as many different locations as possible in North America on bands from 10 GHz (3-centimeter) through Light. Amateurs are encouraged to operate from more than one location during this event. Contesters may enter in either “10 GHz only” or “10 GHz and Up” categories. The second weekend of the contest will be September 21-22.

For those interested in 10 GHz operation, you’ll find the Icom IC-905 VHF/UHF/SHF All Mode Base/Portable Transceiver at DXEngineering.com. The rig boasts operating capability up to 10 GHz with the optional CX-10G Transverter (sold separately).

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North American QSO Party, SSB: August 17, 1800Z to August 18, 0559Z. All amateur licensees are eligible to work as many North American stations as possible during the 12-hour contest period. The CW portion of the contest runs August 3, 1800Z to August 4, 0559Z.

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ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY: August 18, 1800Z to 2359Z. From the ARRL, the Rookie Roundups “encourage newly-licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators—either on the air or in person.”

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ARRL EME Contest: August 24, 0000Z to August 25, 2359Z. The object of this annual event is to work as many amateur stations as possible via the earth-moon-earth path on any authorized amateur frequency above 50 MHz. August 24-25 and September 21-22 are designated for 2.3 GHz and up. October 19-20 and November 16-17 are for 50 to 1296 MHz.

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ALARA Contest: August 24, 0600 to August 25, 0559Z. The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association will be hosting the 44^th ALARA Contest, an SSB/CW event in which YLs may contact anyone while OMs may only contact YLs on all HF bands except 160M and WARC bands. Formed in 1975, ALARA boasts a membership of more than 200 operators, with many members sponsoring operators overseas. ALARA’s mission is to “encourage women’s interest in and active participation in amateur radio.”

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The U.S. Islands QSO Party: August 24, 1200Z to August 25, 0300Z. Previously known as the W/VE Islands QSO Party, the U.S. Islands QSO Party “promotes verifiable amateur radio contacts with stations located on islands in the United States and its Territories and Protectorates.” This 15-hour SSB/CW/Digital event offers two classes (QRP, 5 watts or less) or QRO (greater than 5 watts), and several categories: Island Fixed, Island Rover, and Non-Island.

Now in its 30^th year, the U.S. Islands Awards Program centers around activating and chasing U.S. river, lake, and shore islands. Thinking about activating an island? Here’s a state-by-state U.S. island directory.

***

Also check out these state QSO parties:

• Maryland-DC: August 10, 1400Z to August 11, 0400Z
• Hawaii: August 24, 0400Z to August 26, 0400Z
• Ohio: August 24, 1600Z to August 25, 0400Z
• Kansas: August 24, 1400Z to August 25, 0200Z; August 25, 1400Z to 2000Z
• Colorado: August 31, 1300Z to September 1, 0400Z

The post August 2024 Guide to Ham Radio Contests appeared first on OnAllBands.

Single-band wire dipoles are one of the easiest antennas to make.

But just because they are easy to make doesn’t mean they do not work well. In fact, single-band wire dipoles outperform many antennas in many circumstances.

You will need these supplies to build your dipole:

• Roll of wire
• Measuring tape(s)
• Wire cutters
• Balun
• Insulators
• Solder (optional)
• Antenna analyzer
• Cable ties

You can use many different kinds of wire. Some people have used string soaked in saltwater! However, copper or copper-clad steel wire is generally considered the best. Stranded wire is generally better since solid wire can stretch under tension.

So how long do you need the wire to be?

From the OnAllBands article, “How High Should My Dipole Be”:

“The half-wave dipole is two equal lengths of wire with the feedpoint in the center. Each wire, or element, is a quarter wavelength of the frequency you want to transmit on. The basic formula for dipole construction is dividing 468 by the desired resonant frequency, in MHz. As an example, a dipole cut for 14.225 MHz SSB is 468/14.225 = 32.9 feet total length. Divide 32.9 in half, and we see each element of this dipole needs to be 16.45 feet long.”

There are other factors to consider when determining dipole length, such as proximity of the ground and other nearby objects. Because it’s difficult to find the ideal length before actually hanging the wire, it is always best to start any wire antenna slightly longer than the calculations might indicate and then shorten the antenna, measuring its performance each time.

Now you have calculated this number. This is the length of wire you need on BOTH sides of the balun. Some of these wires are really long! How on earth do you measure and cut a wire that long?

Find a long, straight area. Roll out a heavy-duty measuring tape that will mark how long you need the wire to be. When my Elmer and I did this, we stuck a broomstick in the roll of wire and set both ends of the stick on different chairs. Next, as one held it steady, the other walked the wire out to the length of the rolled-out measuring tape.

Tie, solder, crimp, or any combination of these to each side of the balun. Short for “balanced to unbalanced,” a balun is a device used to convert a balanced signal to an unbalanced one.

For a good explanation of what that means, visit this OnAllBands article,“Baluns vs. Impedance Transformers.” Also check out this article from Moonraker, “What Is a Balun? Why You Need One and When to Use It.”

Attach your feedline to the balun. Attach insulators at the non-balun ends of the wire. This will help you hang your wire dipole without worrying if something is touching the ends of the antenna, causing your readings to be off.

Measure the SWR of the antenna. It is easiest to do this with an antenna analyzer with a graph display of SWR and frequency like those from RigExpert. If the SWR dip in the graph is at a lower frequency than the one you wanted, then your antenna is too long and you need to remove some of the wire. Clip very small amounts of wire from each side and take a lot of SWR readings. If the lowest SWR reading is at a higher frequency than your intended frequency, your wire is now too short.

Editor’s note: For more information on dipoles, read these OnAllBands articles:

• Dipoles—A Domestic Secret Weapon
• Tuning Your Dipole Antenna Installation
• Dipole vs. Vertical—Which Antenna is Better?

Also, if you’re not inclined to collecting all the pieces and parts to build your own dipole, DX Engineering has taken care of it for you with their Single-Band Dipole Kits, which include:

• Two premium 14 AWG stranded copper, relaxed PVC antenna wires with crimped and soldered 1/4-inch ring terminal on one end of each wire
• DX Engineering DXE-MC20-1-1 MaxiCore 20 1:1 Balun
• High-Strength DXE-WA-BMB Wire Antenna Balun Mounting Bracket and End Insulators
• Stainless steel hardware

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

The post Ham Radio 101: A Few Basic Tips on Building Wire Dipoles appeared first on OnAllBands.

If you’re looking for a practical solution to overcome limited space or HOA restrictions, Carlson Communications offers four sturdy aluminum roof tower options that provide a range of choices for mounting ham radio antennas, including Hex Beams, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite antennas, and others—both fixed or with a mounted rotator (Hy-Gain or Yaesu).

All towers are built to accept the Yaesu GS-065 thrust bearing, as well as mast diameters up to 2.5 inches and those extended up to seven feet. The towers’ legs, foot, and rotator shelf are constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum; X-braces are made from 5052-H32 aluminum; and hardware is stainless steel. Made in the USA, the towers are climbable with appropriate safety equipment.

Visit DXEngineering.com to view complete details of Carlson Communications Roof-Mounted Antenna Towers.

IO-45HD: 4.2 feet tall; 25-inch base width; maximum antenna wind area at tower top: 13 square feet at 80 MPH; maximum antenna, rotator, and mast weight: 200 pounds.

Per Carlson, the IO-45HD is perfect for moderate-sized HF beam antennas such as the Hy-Gain HF Explorer-14, the DX Engineering XB-5 Hexx Beam, and others. 

IO-610HD: 6 feet tall; 27-inch base width; maximum antenna wind area at tower top: 12 square feet at 80 MPH; maximum antenna, rotator, and mast weight: 200 pounds.

Per Carlson, the IO-610HD is perfect for moderate-sized HF beam antennas such as the Hy-Gain HF Explorer-14, Hy-Gain TH-3MK4, the DX Engineering XB-5 Hexx Beam, and others, including Mosely, KIO, and Traffie Tech models. 

IO-810HD: 8 feet tall; 32-inch base width; maximum antenna wind area at tower top: 12 square feet at 80 MPH; maximum antenna, rotator, and mast weight: 200 pounds.

Per Carlson, the IO-810HD is a good choice for small and moderate-sized HF beam antennas such as the Hy-Gain HF Explorer-14, Hy-Gain TH-3MK4, the DX Engineering XB-5 Hexx Beam, and others, including Mosely, KIO, and Traffie Tech models. 

IO-815HD: 8 feet tall; 32-inch base width; maximum antenna wind area at tower top: 15 square feet at 80 MPH, 90% within one foot of tower top; maximum antenna, rotator, and mast weight: 250 pounds.

Per Carlson, the IO-815HD is perfect for small and moderate-sized HF beam antennas and an excellent choice for stacking a VHF beam along with a small HF beam.

Watch this Dayton Hamvention® 2024 video of DX Engineering’s Paul, KJ8EEP, interviewing Carlson Communications CEO, James Carlson, KE8ULJ, about his company’s roof towers.

Also check out the Carlson Communications Heavy-Duty 25G Hinged Tower Base Plate at DXEngineering.com.

The post New Product Spotlight: Carlson Communications Roof Towers (Video) appeared first on OnAllBands.

When it comes to ham radio, there are grounds…and then there are grounds.

Here are three types we typically find with radio systems:

1. Safety ground
2. Lightning ground
3. RF ground

Safety grounds protect you from a shock hazard. The ground wire in your AC wall outlet is connected to a grounding rod driven into the earth by way of the entry panel. This provides a low-resistance path to dissipate any fault current safely.

Lightning/surge protection grounding works by routing voltage surges and spikes away from protected electrical devices. Devices such as lightning arresters are often installed on feed lines entering your shack and will direct surges to a ground rod.

Understanding RF Ground

RF ground is not the same thing as an electrical or lightning ground. The term is a misnomer—it really isn’t a ground at all. You know the dipole antenna is a half-wave long—two quarter-wave sections. If you have a quarter wave vertical antenna, it’s a monopole, which is actually half of a dipole. The RF ground makes up the other half of the dipole—you can provide this second half by adding radials to the antenna, or just a single elevated counterpoise wire that’s about a quarter wave long.

In a typical HF mobile setup, the vehicle is capacitively coupled to the ground, so the antenna is a cross between a lopsided vertical dipole—the whip being one side and the car body on the other—and a vertical with an elevated radial system.

Mobile Radios

Mobile installations present significantly more challenges than simply adding radials to your yard. The other half of the dipole is a random vehicle, a large chunk of metal of various sizes and configurations serving as a moving ground plane for your vertical antenna. The ground plane provides for return currents to the antenna and is an integral part of the vehicle antenna circuit.

One way to think about a ground plane is that it acts as a “mirror” for the active vertical element. As long as a mirror is big enough, you’ll hear your reflected signal from a distance. It doesn’t really matter if the mirror is circular, rectangular, or square. 

If the vehicle ground plane is lossy (which will happen to some extent), the performance of your antenna will suffer due to reduced current flow. Ground plane losses only add to existing losses from coil-loaded, physically shortened antennas typical of most mobile HF stations. It’s important to do what you can to minimize ground losses by improving the ground plane. Decreasing ground losses by just one ohm can make a significant increase in ERP (effective radiated power).

VHF/UHF mobile antennas have less ground losses if properly installed since their other half (vehicle ground plane) is sufficiently large for these frequencies

Bond, Frames Bond

Using the mirror analogy, a car is more like a collection of reflective tiles rather than a one-piece rectangular mirror hanging on the wall. Making the car work as a good signal reflector requires bonding.

Bonding is making low-impedance connections among the various conductive parts of your vehicle. The low impedance part is in the form of a conductive strap, such as a tinned braid, that is solidly attached between frame and body parts of the vehicle. Remember, the goal is to electrically join these surfaces into a single massive ground plane under the antenna and to improve the conductivity at RF frequencies. For larger gaps, one-inch-wide braid is a better solution, but keep it as short as possible. This helps it provide a low impedance connection.

For example, by using tinned braid you can electrically bond your exhaust pipe to the vehicle frame at several points along its length. Attach the braid to the pipe using ring clamps, screws with star washers, and soldered ring connectors to make a good connection to the car body or frame.

DX Engineering has a complete kit for exhaust bonding (below).

Tinned braid is also suitable for bonding hood and trunk lids as well for enhanced ground plane performance. The hinges of trunks and hoods may not provide sufficient electrical connectivity for an effective ground plane. On pickup trucks, you can improve the ground plane by bonding its bed to the cab with braid beneath the truck using existing bolts and connection points. 

Important! When installing your antenna, be sure that the antenna mount provides solid continuity between the antenna ground side/coaxial shield and your newly bonded ground plane. Permanently mounted antennas using bolts and washers are usually best for electrical continuity, as long as they are mounted to a portion of the vehicle that’s part of the overall ground plane.

Using magnetic-mounted HF antennas will often result in poor grounding continuity for the antenna. At the very least, provide an additional ground braid for mag-mounts. Also, install your antenna as high as possible on the vehicle, with as much metal under the antenna as possible.

When improving a ground system, the main benefit by far is for transmitting. However, an improved ground plane with reduced losses helps to boost the received signal strength, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio in your receiver.

Down to Earth

Moving from a rolling to a stationary RF ground plane, does efficiency increase or decrease with the number of wire radials?

Hams usually agree more radials on the ground are better, and it’s better to have more short radials than a few long ones. There has been a lot of debate about the extent of a radial system that might be needed. Based on a 1937 study, the FCC has suggested that a radial system consisting of 120 radials, each around 0.5 wavelengths long, would make an almost perfect ground system providing near 0 dB power loss at a low angle of radiation and a feed impedance of 35 ohms. It became the magic number for radial systems. However, such a radial system is impractical for most of us, especially on 80 and 160 meters.

Sometimes you have to make a size compromise. The ARRL Antenna Handbook provides some figures for alternative configurations:

• 16 radials of 0.1 λ gives a feed impedance of 52 Ω and a power loss of 3 dB
• 36 radials of 0.15 λ gives a feed impedance of 43 Ω and a power loss of 1.5 dB
• 60 radials of 0.2 λ gives a feed impedance of 40 Ω and a power loss of 1 dB

As we move toward 60 radials, diminishing returns kick in and the improvement gets progressively smaller. You’ll need to consider the cost of wire and the effort involved when deciding how far you’ll go.

There are other factors to consider, including local earth conductivity. The better the earth’s conductivity in a given region, the better the earth connection will be. It’s difficult to get a sufficiently good antenna RF ground plane on a rocky base. However, areas with moist soil provide a much better ground system. One of the best environments for a good ground connection is a salt marsh. This 1975 FCC Ground Conductivity map provides information about conductivity by region throughout the U.S.

There have been long-running discussions about the effectiveness of a vertical with an elevated ground system compared to one using a large number of radials on the ground surface. NEC modeling has shown that an antenna with four elevated λ/4-radials under ideal conditions would be as efficient as one with 60 or more λ/4 ground-based radials. In reality, you’ll probably need a few more than four.

The Ground That Isn’t Grounded

It acts as a reflector. It doesn’t radiate RF energy; it mirrors and reflects the energy. It also has a second purpose of providing the return path for RF current in unbalanced antennas.

No ground rod is involved, just lots of metal directly under a vertical antenna.

The post Ham Radio Tech: RF Ground—The Un-Ground appeared first on OnAllBands.

Did you know that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now requires all amateur radio stations in the U.S. and possessions to be evaluated for RF exposure? It’s been a little more than a year since this went into effect, so OnAllBands thought it would be a good time to remind our readers.

As of May 3, 2023 (the end of a two-year transition period), all transmitters operating in the U.S. were expected to comply with the exposure rules. The new rules did not change exposure limits, but those who were previously exempt from running exposure calculations now must comply.

Under the old rules, many amateurs were exempt from the need to do an evaluation—based on transmitter power used with each band, for example. Under the new rules, there are no longer any service-specific exemptions. These have been replaced with formulas that can be used to determine whether an installation needs to be evaluated.

The ARRL noted that these formulas can be used for exposure that is beyond the near-field/far-field boundary of your antenna, defined as wavelength/2π or 0.16 wavelength. Most stations that were exempt under the old rules will still be exempt from needing to perform a more complete evaluation under the new rules.

As OnAllBands reported last year:

“Under the updated FCC rules, every radio amateur is responsible for determining that their station does not cause exposure that exceeds the FCC MPE (Maximum Permissible Exposure) limits to any person, either within their homes or outside of them. This is also required for portable and mobile operations.”

Gregory Lapin, N9GL, QST Magazine, May 2023

Lapin noted that the FCC does not require that the results of a station’s exposure analysis be submitted, but “it is advisable to keep a record of the analysis so that if there’s ever an exposure complaint about that station, the calculations can be shown to the FCC.”

You can read N9GL’s entire QST article here.

There are many resources on the internet for calculating this RF exposure. The ARRL’s website includes an RF Exposure Calculator (below) to assist amateurs in performing station assessments.

The ARRL points out three ways to evaluate your station: calculations (using the above calculator, for example); antenna modeling; and measurements using calibrated equipment. You’ll find many more details about these methods and additional information in the ARRL document, Frequently Asked Questions about the FCC RF Exposure Rule Changes

We also highly suggest reading these resources recommended by the ARRL:

• 100th Edition ARRL Handbook’s RF Safety Section
• Helping Amateurs Interact with Neighbors Asking about Radio Transmissions 
• ARRL Learning Network Video on RF Exposure 

Also check out these FCC resources on RF exposure

• FCC Frequently Asked RF Exposure Questions
• FCC Radio Frequency Safety
• FCC Q & A about Biological Effects and Potential Hazards of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

The post Get up to Speed on Amateur Radio RF Exposure Rules appeared first on OnAllBands.

OnAllBands has exciting news for multi-operator contest stations. DX Engineering now carries the RigSelect Pro Transceiver Switch and SO2R Controller—a device loaded with advanced features for contesters looking for a competitive edge. 

The RigSelect Pro makes it possible to implement a station in which any two of up to four connected radios can be selected as the SO2R pair—and in any order. Further, users can switch one set of headphones, microphone, paddle/key, and PTT line among any of four radios.

Contesters can enjoy quiet, solid-state, telcom-quality relays for all audio switching, which makes switching extremely fast. Status and menu options can be clearly viewed on a color TFT display. The compact unit (2.83″ H x 7.72″ W x 6.69″ D) tips the scales at only 2.76 pounds.

The RigSelect Pro supports OTRSP (Open Two Radio Switching Protocol) directly. Multiple configurations of SO2R audio management are available depending on operator preferences. Key, microphone, and PTT can be quickly switched between any two of up to four connected radios under control of a logging program using the OTRSP protocol.

There are three logical serial ports available for computer control of the RigSelect Pro via two physical USB-C connectors:

• On the RUN USB connector, one port is for CW commands to the built-in genuine K1EL WinKeyer 3 CW chip.
• A second port connects a logging program to RigSelect Pro using OTRSP to make lightning-fast computer-controlled transitions between radios. Because of these two ports on the RigSelect Pro, an interface program is not required on a PC. Connection can be made directly between most logging programs and the two CW/OTRSP ports.
• A third port on the APP USB connector is available for the Windows RigSelect Application for Microsoft Windows. This allows the operator direct control of RigSelect Pro via a Windows interface for quick adjustment of RigSelect Pro options and settings without using the front panel menu system.

The RigSelect Pro also supports a powerful computer control capability via an internal command set which is available on the APP connector. In addition to all the OTRSP commands, there are 65 different RigSelect commands available. These can be combined in a macro for use either within the App or assigned to a front panel pushbutton. In addition to the above features and the OTRSP protocol, RigSelect implements the audio switching capabilities popularized in the YCCC SO2R Box as listed below with some improvements.

• Blank TX on XMIT: This is an SO2R option to blank the audio from the radio that is transmitting a computer-generated message.
• Blank with Blend: Blend is also available in the Blank TX on XMIT option. This allows a lower volume audio signal from the transmitting radio to still be heard in that radio’s earpiece. The volume level of the Blend can be set using the “Blend Volume” setting.
• Split-Latch Option: This is an SO2R option where both earpieces are switched to the tip (left) main receiver channel of the receiving radio while the other radio is transmitting under computer control.
• Split-Stereo: In Split-Stereo, both earpieces are switched to the receiving radio stereo outputs during transmit. Once transmit is concluded, the headphones will be returned to the radios they were connected to prior to transmit.
• Standard SO2R: This is not a specific option but is the result of not selecting any of the other transmit radio audio switching options. This is also the factory default. In other words, “Standard SO2R” is what you get when Split-Latch, Split-Stereo, and Blank-on-TX are all turned off. In this case, nothing happens to headset audio when transmit is occurring. You continue to hear the transmitting radio in its assigned earpiece. This will usually be a sidetone or monitor signal.

For more details about the RigSelect Pro, watch Tim Duffy, K3LR, interview Courtney Krehbiel, KD6X, owner of KD6X Designs, in the video below:

The post New Product/Vendor Spotlight: RigSelect Pro Transceiver Switch and SO2R Controller (Video) appeared first on OnAllBands.

Watch YDXA team members give live presentations on DX Engineering’s Facebook page July 26 at 12:30 pm EST.

For the second straight year, the young amateurs chosen to participate in the Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure (YDXA) will be operating in the United States from one of the world’s premier contest stations—K3LR, owned and operated by Tim Duffy, K3LR, CEO of DX Engineering.

When plans for the youth team to travel to an international location had to be canceled, Tim, K3LR, agreed to once again offer his contest superstation in western Pennsylvania for the annual adventure, which has sent young operators ages 12-17 to remote locations—including Costa Rica, Saba Island, and Curaçao—since its founding in 2010.

This year’s Dave Kalter adventure is sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, K3LR Contest Superstation, and DX Engineering. The goal of the program is to give young hams the chance to hone their abilities while creating unforgettable experiences that will foster a lifelong passion for amateur radio. The program was named for founding YDXA member Dave Kalter, KB8OCP, who became a silent key in November 2013.

The 2024 team, which will be operating as K3Y during the RSGB IOTA Contest, is comprised of Ian Alkema, KI8AN; Lilly Colón, W8LIL; Katie Campbell, KE8LQR; and Grace Papay, K8LG. Katie and Grace took part in the 2023 YDXA at K3LR and are returning to provide mentorship to the first-time participants. Rising stars in the amateur radio world, Katie and Grace were also speakers at Contest University 2024 in Dayton, Ohio discussing the topic, “How to Integrate Youth Operators in Multi-Op Contesting.”

You can watch their Contest University presentation in this video starting at 1:32:40.

The K3Y foursome, along with parents (Tim Alkema, K8LK; Karl Colón, KC2GTR; Colleen Campbell, KB8VAQ; and Doug Papay, K8DP) will be visiting DX Engineering headquarters in Tallmadge, Ohio, on July 26 for lunch with the DX Engineering team and a tour of the company.

From there they’ll travel to K3LR where the group will be chasing island stations during the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 27, 1200Z to July 28, 1200Z). The group will be active on July 27 only.

Watch the Youth Participants Live

While at DX Engineering, each YDXA participant will be giving a presentation about how they got involved with ham radio, their experiences on and off the air, and goals for future involvement. These will be broadcast live on DX Engineering’s Facebook page at 12:30 pm EST. We encourage you to tune in. Based on last year’s presentations, we guarantee you’ll walk away feeling inspired about the future of the greatest hobby in the world.

“We’re thrilled to have these bright and talented young operators visiting DX Engineering and then operating at K3LR,” Duffy said. “At DX Engineering, we feel it’s more important than ever for the ham radio community to give young and enthusiastic amateurs these life-changing experiences. Last year’s RSGB IOTA operation at K3LR was such a huge success for everyone involved. It was exciting to watch the level of skill on display as well as see how the young operators benefited from mentorship provided by longtime hams.”

Last year’s team of Katie, KE8LQR; Grace, K8LG; Agnes Wagner, AD8IR; and Ben Wagner, AD8FQ, took full advantage of the opportunity to operate from this powerful station, making 2,283 SSB QSOs on five bands during the event. They made contacts with amateurs in all 50 states, six continents, and 60 DXCC entities, while bonding as a team and impressing other IOTA participants with their on-air abilities.

DX Engineering Plays a Part

DX Engineering’s support of young operators aligns with the theme of the 2024 DX Engineering Amateur Radio Products Catalog—Giving Back.

“The idea of giving back to the ham radio community by encouraging young operators, sponsoring DXpeditions, and promoting amateur radio in our communities is a significant part of what DX Engineering is all about. We encourage everyone to help out when they can. The lessons that come from being an amateur operator—effective communication, problem solving, and the many technical aspects of the hobby—last a lifetime.”

Tim Duffy, K3LR, CEO of DX Engineering

Be sure to check out OnAllBands in early August for our follow-up post on the K3Y team.   

The post 2024 YDXA Youth Team to Visit DX Engineering Before Heading to K3LR for the RSGB IOTA Contest appeared first on OnAllBands.

All of us at OnAllBands and DX Engineering would like to offer our hearty congratulations to Marek, FH4VVK, and his support team for the successful one-operator activation (FT4GL) of the Glorioso Islands.

This French-controlled atoll in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar ranked as the 7^th most-wanted DXCC entity per Clublog when the DXpedition began from Grande Glorioso Island in May. When it wrapped up on June 18, FH4VVK had logged more than 60,000 QSOs, with HF contacts made in all modes used (only 160M was “not satisfactory,” per the FT4GL blog). QSOs included ATNOs for smaller stations who were given preference in the latter stages of the operation.

Among those vying for this rare contact were the avid DXers from DX Engineering, including customer/technical support specialist and DXCC Honor Roll member (first place, mixed modes) Wayne, K8FF. He reached FT4GL on 20/15/12M FT8, adding to his growing list of digital contacts.

Scotty, KG9Z, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist and owner of the Nine-Band DXCC, 160M WAS, and other honors, also filled multiple bands on FT8 in Fox/Hound mode. He called FT4GL a “great one-man operation.”

“We warmly and from the bottom of our hearts thank all the people who have shown their gratitude and trust in us throughout this adventure. Numerous messages and emails of encouragement helped Marek and the whole team to continue so that this activity went as smoothly as possible, and the pilots who were very responsive in informing the community of the correct news.”

The FT4GL team from the FT4GL Facebook page

Here’s a sampling of the outpouring of positivity from online posters:

“Absolutely outstanding, Marek. The DX community is forever grateful for activating a very rare entity for us, and for such an extended period of time. 73 and safe travels from all of us at K4TOR.”

Tor Langvand

***

“Glad that Marek was able to activate FT4/G. ATNO for me and many others. Great job mate!”

Wesley Beck

***

“He did a fantastic job. I met my goal, which was an FT8 and SSB contact. As for the lids that interfered: Those who can, do, those that can’t try to take out their lack of ability and knowledge on those that can. These people are a special kind of lid.”

Steve Fetter

***

Not sure what constitutes a “lid” in the ham radio world? Read this article from Mark, K8MSH, “The Five Types of Operators You Don’t Want to Be.”

Unfortunately, as the comment above and the FT4GL team noted, Marek was not immune to some of the bad actors who have become all too commonplace during rare activations. Pirate stations, music broadcasters, and other interference turned this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity into an “intense and sometimes difficult experience” not representative of “the OM spirit,” per the FT4GL blog.

Read this OnAllBands article on the DQRM (Deliberate QRM) that plagued 3Y0J Bouvet Island 2023 and other high-profile DXpeditions.

Sharing in the Glory

DX Engineering was proud to supply Marek with VA6AM 150W PEP HF Band Pass Filters for 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10M to help make more QSOs possible. These high-quality, multi-stage inline passive band pass filters are specifically designed to limit the transmitting and receiving RF passband to a single amateur band. 

Next Up—Jarvis Island and St. Paul Island DXpeditions

DX Engineering was also pleased to provide two August 2024 DXpeditions with mission-critical gear:

• The 100% RIB (Rig in a Box) N5J operation from the Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge, one of the rarest DXCC entities on the planet, is scheduled for August 5-20.

Going along for the trip will be DX Engineering DXE-ATK65A Telescoping Aluminum Antenna Tubing Kits, DX Engineering 400MAX Type N Low-Loss 50-Ohm Coax Assemblies,  Mastrant-R Support and Guy Line Rope, and more.

• The 10-operator CY9C DXpedition team is scheduled to put St. Paul on the air August 26 to September 5 from the windswept and treeless Northeast Island site, just off the coast of Nova Scotia.

DX Engineering has contributed equipment for a beverage antenna: DX Engineering Beverage Antenna System, DX Engineering RPA-2 Modular Receive Preamplifier, and DX Engineering Beverage Termination Resistors.

The post Glorioso Islands DXpedition Wraps Up. More Rare DXing Opportunities on the Horizon. appeared first on OnAllBands.

St. Paul Island QRV in August and September

It is one of the great ironies of DXing that it’s most often the smallest of places that are the biggest deals in the ham radio world. Evidence of this is tiny St. Paul Island, located about 15 miles northeast of Cape Breton Island along the boundary between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Cabot Strait.

At three miles long and one mile wide, the uninhabited, frequently fog-bound island—once named the “Graveyard of the Gulf” by sailors whose ships met their fate on its granite cliffs—will be the hot ticket for DXing enthusiasts when the DX Engineering-sponsored CY9C DXpedition team puts this 50^th Most Wanted DXCC Entity (as of July) on the air from August 26 to September 5, 2024. 

Today, the island’s automated, solar-powered lighthouse—built in 1962 as a replacement for a lighthouse constructed in 1917—welcomes the handful of visitors who arrive at St. Paul, including the Canadian Coast Guard, SCUBA divers, and amateur radio adventurers like the 11-operator CY9C team. CY9C will be using two helicopters to transport gear and team members to the windswept and treeless Northeast Island site.

The team will be employing six FlexRadio station setups for CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. The stations will include the FlexRadio Power Genius (PGXL) Amplifier (below), now available at DXEngineering.com. A seventh FlexRadio station will be devoted to UHF/VHF/EME and satellites.

The team of experienced hams, which includes members of the CQ DX Hall of Fame and participants in the CY0S Sable Island DXpedition in March 2023, plan to be active on 160-6M, employing Yagis on 20-6M and elevated sloping dipoles and verticals on the low bands. The team notes that at any given time, a minimum of three stations will be using the new SuperFox FT8 mode. Lighthouse chasers will be hoping to add this to their conquests (STP-002), as well as POTA (CA-0122) and IOTA (NA-094) enthusiasts.

You can get the latest news and read more about frequencies, the CY9C band plan, and 6M/2M/70cm/23cm operation details at the DXpedition’s official website.

DX Engineering is once again showing its commitment to high-profile DXpeditions by supporting CY9C 2024. The company provided the following equipment:

• DX Engineering Beverage Antenna System
• DX Engineering RPA-2 Modular Receive Preamplifier
• DX Engineering Beverage Termination Resistors

In August 2016, DX Engineering supported the St. Paul Island CY9C DXpedition by providing a range of DX Engineering-manufactured gear, including:

• Dual-Band 40/30M Thunderbolt Vertical Antenna
• Patented Radial Plate
• SO-239 SecureMount Bulkhead Connector
• Pre-Assembled Radial Wire Kits
• 1,000 Feet of RG-8X Coaxial Cable
• Butternut 9-Band HF9V Vertical Antenna covering 80 through six meters

Back in September 2016, CY9C DXpedition members Jay Slough, K4ZLE, and Wayne McKenzie, K8LEE (SK), stopped by DX Engineering headquarters in Tallmadge, Ohio, to chat with Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO, about the challenges and rewards of this successful “tent and generator” operation (in Jay’s words) from St. Paul Island, in which the team braved capricious weather while manning camps on the island’s Atlantic Cove and Northeast Island sites.

“That island, in my opinion, experiences all four seasons in one day,” noted Wayne, K8LEE, who served as the DXpedition’s dedicated RTTY operator. “It can be very, very rainy with high winds—30, 35 knots—and very cold and damp in the evening, and then in the morning it’s extremely hot.”

Tom, KB8UUZ, DX Engineering technical writer, received the QSL card below from the 2016 CY9C DXpedition. The card’s back provides an excellent view of the Northeast Island site.

KB8UUZ earned the QSL card below by reaching CY9AA on six meters in June 1997.

Mark, W8BBQ, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, received this QSL card from the July 2014 CY9M DXpedition. He worked CY9M on 160, 80, 40, 15, 12, and 10M CW; and 40, 20, and 17M SSB.

For all your DXing, contesting, or rag-chewing needs—whether you’re a Big Gun, Little Pistol, or somewhere in between, visit DXEngineering.com for transceivers, amplifiers, antennas, 
headsets, and so much more.

Editor’s Note: 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 what it took to make these contacts. We’re excited to share some of the special cards pulled from the thousands we’ve received over the years. We look forward to seeing your cards as well!

The post It’s All in the Cards! QSL Cards from St. Paul Island appeared first on OnAllBands.

We’ve been fortunate to have a hard-working program chair in charge of arranging our club presentations. Even when he’s wintering in Florida, he makes sure everything is ready for the next meeting and joins in via Zoom.

It’s not just about filling a time slot for the monthly meeting. Without good programs, no club can succeed or survive for very long. The program chair’s most challenging job is providing programs that will appeal to club members—not put them to sleep.

Sometimes clubs take member surveys to get ideas, seek club officer input, or ask members during casual conversations what programs they’d like to see. Unfortunately, the answer is often “I don’t know” or “Something about ham radio.” So program planners must constantly think of new ideas and strive to make every program interesting and timely.

Ideas

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. There are many potential speakers out there, including ones who have already done programs for other radio clubs. They may have a list of topics they’ll do or may even have some videos of previous presentations you can download and show to your group.

Club Members: Your group may have some individuals who have some expertise in specific ham radio topics that could be turned into an interesting presentation. Elmers are a logical choice—people who are good at explaining technical topics so they are easily understood.

Being a good storyteller also helps. One of our members did a presentation about electromagnetic pulses (EMP) and their effect on radio equipment. But he also wove in a story about our area and the Cold War.

Hamfests: Hamfests are a great place to learn more about the hobby through forums, presentations, and vendors. Many of these presentations have been recorded as PowerPoints or videos and are available online or by request.

Vendors will sometimes have presentations available or be willing to speak live to your club via video conferencing. This is a win-win situation. Your club gets a program and the vendor gets to introduce products and how they work. Our club recently had a presentation from a California-based company that sells products that suppress RFI/EMI and noise, as well as a line of baluns and antennas. We got some tips on dealing with RFI and some questions answered as well.

Ready-to-Go: Ready-made PowerPoints and videos? They’re available. See the list of links at the end of the article.

High-Profile Hams: If you’re lucky, you may be able to schedule a well-known ham to do a program. A number of years ago, our ARES group had the opportunity to hook up with H. Ward Silver, N0AX, for a video conference. John Portune, W6NBC, is one of our favorite Zoom speakers when it comes to building antennas, along with Al Christman, K3LC, who lives locally.

Contest stations K3LR and W3LPL have online video tours where you can see their well-equipped contest stations. You can also see their extensive antenna farms, complete with some bird’s-eye drone views.

Borrowed Ideas

During my travels, I’ve visited several radio clubs and seen some great presentations. An interesting one I saw in Arizona was about the pico balloon, an ultra-lightweight plastic balloon suspending a tiny, lightweight amateur radio transmitter. They’re capable of sailing around the globe—sometimes many times. Unlike other balloons, they use hydrogen because it leaks less than helium.

Be sure to get the presenter’s contact information and ask if they’d be willing to do a presentation for your club—most likely it will be done by Zoom.

Project Sessions

These don’t always have to be on a regular meeting night. Schedule them when it works best for your group—maybe a Saturday. If you choose to make it the meeting activity, keep it simple and doable within a reasonable amount of time. Things like making coax jumpers, 2-meter J-pole antennas, or a simple choke/1:1 balun can be completed during the meeting time. Individuals can be responsible for materials or the club can make a group order. (Suggestion—get the money upfront for group orders.)

A variation of this would be the show-and-tell. Members bring in projects they have completed and share with the group. They can answer questions about parts needed, how it works, and building tips.

Courtesies: Always be a class act.

Here are some things you should remember:

Before:

• Invite the speaker at least two months in advance of the meeting.
• Give the date, place, theme, and any other information pertinent to the meeting.
• Specify the amount of time allotted and whether a question-and-answer session will be expected.

After Accepting:

• When the speaker accepts, acknowledge the acceptance promptly. Provide further information about the meeting and location and agree on the presentation time.
• Inform the speaker immediately if there is any change in the scheduled meeting time and place.
• Send a reminder e-mail or phone call before the meeting date.

During the Meeting:

• Start the meeting on time. The presenter’s schedule comes first—don’t make them wait for your business meeting to end.
• Introduce the speaker with a brief bio.
• Members who insist on chattering or being a distraction should take the conversation outside.

After the Meeting:

• Write a thank-you to the speaker within 48 hours of the meeting. Comments complimenting the speaker on specific points in the speech are always appropriate.

When You Need to Punt

Poet Robert Burns once said, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” No one can prevent the unexpected. Everything from illness to snowstorms, floods, and technical difficulties can prevent your speaker from showing up for your program. You can plan for such emergencies by setting up a reserve of programs in case a speaker cancels—or your Zoom connection fails.

Start Here 

These links should help you find a suitable program for your meeting. This is not an exhaustive list, but it should give you some ideas.

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DX Engineering

• Club Presentations

Various Ham Radio Topics

• Contest University Presentation Videos
• Gary, W9XT has downloadable PowerPoint presentations and will do Zoom presentations on request.

Educational Topics

• K8ZT

ARRL Sections–Speaker’s Bureau 

• Ohio Section
• East Bay (CA)

DARA Hamvention Videos (YouTube)

• Forum Videos–various topics
• Ham Radio Crash Course–Concise (less than 20 minutes)

The post Get with the Program & Get More Out of Amateur Radio Club Meetings appeared first on OnAllBands.