For those living within driving range of Summit Racing Equipment/DX Engineering headquarters in Tallmadge, Ohio, we hope you were able to participate in our first-ever Mobile Cruise-In October 3, 2024 in the Summit Racing parking lot. (Summit Racing is DX Engineering’s parent company.)
The event was billed as an opportunity to meet other local hams, check out new gear and open-box specials in the DX Engineering Showroom, and, most importantly, display your vehicle’s mobile radio setup and see other unique ways hams install their mobile rigs.
Hams from the surrounding area arrived to show off a variety of ways they go mobile. Members of the DX Engineering team were there to capture the camaraderie and ham spirit that invariably happens when amateurs get together to make eyeball QSOs and swap operating ideas:
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Couldn’t make it to DX Engineering for the cruise-in? No problem. Our celebration of all things mobile radio never stops.
We understand that it was logistically impossible for most OnAllBands readers, who operate from every corner of the globe, to attend the cruise-in (for our New Zealand fans, for example, it would have required an 8,607-mile excursion).
But take heart. You can still go mobile at DXEngineering.com. There, you’ll find everything you need to enjoy the fun and practicality of having ham radio communication at your fingertips when you’re on the road or off.
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Popular Mobile Radios & Accessories at DX Engineering
All of us at OnAllBands and DX Engineering would like to give a hearty “huzzah” to the entire CY9C St. Paul Island DXpedition team for helping thousands of hams worldwide record All Time New Ones and fill bands.
The 11-operator team made an impressive 114,842 CW, Phone, and Digital QSOs on 160 through 6 meters (including nearly 300 contacts via satellite) during their 10-1/2-day activation of uninhabited St. Paul. They manned multiple FlexRadio-based stations from St. Paul’s windswept and treeless Northeast Island site just off the coast of Nova Scotia until going QRT on September 5, 2024.
Kudos to the experienced operators who made it happen:
Craig, K9CT
Mike, K9NW
Adrian, KO8SCA
Pat, N2IEN
Lou, N2TU
Scott, NE9U
Dan, W4DKS
Glenn, W0GJ
Larry, W0PR
Murray, WA4DAN
Lee, WW2DX
As noted on the CY9C website, the successful activation required two helicopters and a boat to transport gear and operators to the island. The team experienced plenty of pileups, several days of “disturbed geomagnetic conditions” that limited QSOs, and windy but reasonably good weather. To help with the cost of the activation, CY9C asks “if possible, please be generous with donations.”
“Over four tons of gear, materials, and supplies were transported to St. Paul Island,” wrote Murray, WA4DAN.
Among this hefty load was equipment provided by sponsor DX Engineering, including:
Hams everywhere offered praise for the team’s diligent efforts:
“Thank you for outstanding activity in challenging conditions! Made all missing bands covered!” wrote EY8MM on the CY9C Facebook page.
“CY9C far exceeded my expectations, given the competition and not an easy path. I managed only two bands SSB 40 and 10m, but (6b) 80-15m CW and (9b) 160-10m FT8. It took some work and a good station, but they were there to be worked,” wrote VK3HJ.
“Thanks again to all of the foundations, clubs, and individuals who supported the CY9C DXpedition,” WA4DAN wrote. “We could not have done it without your help and support!”
The team plans to send out a “beautiful, double-folded, six-panel QSL card,” per the website.
In the video below, DX Engineering’s Michael Murphy, KI8R, with help from the active community of microwave operators and assistance provided by rain scatter propagation, makes two QSOs on 10 GHz—his first ever on the super high frequency bands.
You can watch both QSOs in action on the IC-905, along with tips on parabolic antenna positioning to maximize your receive signal, more about rain scatter, and some encouraging words on expanding your amateur radio horizons by giving these lesser-used bands a try.
“In the 40 years I’ve been in this hobby, this is probably one of the most awesome things I’ve ever done in ham radio,” KI8R said.
Last month we featured a video of Richard Desaulniers, Sr., VE2DX, displaying some of the new VE2DX Electronics products that would be coming soon to DX Engineering. Today, we’re pleased to announce that some of those items are now available at DXEngineering.com, with more items on the way. Here are a few highlights:
The VE2DX LED “On Air” Acrylic Sign enhances the look and feel of your shack and will let everyone know when you are operating.
When powered, the sign displays the “On Air” text in red. It remains transparent when not illuminated.
The sign is operated with a user-supplied 12VDC power source. Additionally, you can enable automatic activation and turn on the sign during TX by integrating a dry contact relay controlled by your transceiver (not included).
These TrueCI-V data hubs connect Xiegu and Icom transceivers to multiple CI-V devices that need to be simultaneously served the interfaced transceiver’s CI-V data stream.
They feature TrueTTL/TrueCI-V technology—a combination of advanced RFI filtering on all ports, signals, power sources and grounds, with an auto-leveling design that ensures the output signals on all five ports remain at maximum TTL levels.
These five-port CI-V hubs feature USB-C power, CI-V status LEDs, and magnets under the enclosure to aid with installation. They support many types of station devices including frequency-based decoders, smart antenna switch controllers, amplifiers, tuners, band pass filters, and more.
These hubs interface to all Xiegu HF transceivers, which utilize the Icom CI-V protocol, with a 3.5mm mono audio jack (X5105), 3.5mm TRSS multifunction jack (X6100), or a MiniDin connector for the G90 and G106. These hubs will also work with Icom remote port transceivers from the legacy IC-735 to the newer IC-7300 and IC-9700 using a simple 3.5mm patch cable. Choose from these options:
CT17B-5X Version 2: Transceiver Interface Data Hub, TrueCI-V Icom/Xiegu CI-V Remote, Five Ports, RFI Filtered, Works on all Icom CI-V 3.5mm, 5VDC USB-C
CT17B-6XUSB Version 2: Transceiver USB Interface Data Hub Plus Five Ports TrueCI-V, Icom/Xiegu CI-V to USB PC, RFI Filtered, 5VDC USB-C
CT17B-5X: Transceiver Interface Data Hub, 5 Standard Icom/Xiegu CI-V Remote, Five CI-V Ports, RFI Filtered, Works on all Icom CI-V 3.5mm, Passive
Bluetooth Icom/Xiegu Five-Port TrueCI-V Data Hub models feature CI-V over Bluetooth and a five-port hub that connects the interfaced transceiver’s CI-V data stream to multiple accessories simultaneously. Bluetooth models are also the perfect electronic remedy for the missing physical CI-V port on the Icom IC-705. These Bluetooth devices pair with the IC-705 to send data to their five TrueCI-V ports. Alternatively, these interfaces can use CI-V over Bluetooth to pair with the computer to isolate it from the RF side of any Icom station. Choose from these new Bluetooth options:
CT17B-6XBT Version 2: Transceiver Bluetooth Interface Data Hub, Plus Five Ports TrueCI-V, Isolated Icom/Xiegu CI-V to PC via Bluetooth, RFI Filtered, 5VDC USB-C
CT17B-7XDM Version 2: Transceiver Bluetooth and USB Icom/Xiegu Data Hub, Plus Five Ports TrueCI-V Isolated Icom CI-V to PC via Bluetooth, RFI Filtered, 5VDC USB-C
There are a lot of exciting things happening on the DX Engineering Facebook page and DX Engineering YouTube channel. Make sure to check in from time to time for product reviews, ham radio news, overviews of the latest equipment, and interviews put together by DX Engineering for the benefit of the ham radio community.
One of the most popular shows is the Manufacturer’s Showcase hosted by Tim Duffy, K3LR, CEO of DX Engineering. Tim has interviewed dozens of representatives from the manufacturers whose products you’ll find available at DXEngineering.com. You can listen to these insightful interviews live and send questions in real-time Thursdays at 2:30 pm ET or visit YouTube to watch the archived videos, along with hundreds of other videos from DX Engineering—everything from instructional presentations on weatherproofing coaxial connectors to FM satellite etiquette.
Also, don’t miss Tim’s Weekend Special on Facebook Fridays at 4 pm ET, featuring interviews with hams on rare DXpeditions, innovators in the amateur radio community, youth operators, and more.
Today, we’re excited to feature K3LR’s interview with Ray Novak, N9JA, senior sales manager at Icom America.
If you’re a fan of Yaesu’s exceptional lineup of transceivers and amateur radio accessories or if you’re in the market for your first rig, don’t miss today’s OnAllBands showcase video.
It features Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO, interviewing John Kruk, N9UPC, amateur division national sales manager of Yaesu USA.
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N9UPC explains that Yaesu has made 2024 a year of education for amateur operators—a mission near and dear to the hearts of the hams at DX Engineering. N9UPC and other members of the Yaesu team have been fixtures at hamfests and club meetings, answering questions and helping amateurs get the most out of the company’s popular transceivers, including the FT-710 AESS HF/50 MHz Base/Portable Transceiver (below) and FTDX10 HF/50 MHz 100W SDR Transceiver.
“We’ve been getting out there, and, man, we have had a blast,” N9UPC said. “And I tell you it’s not so much talking about our products, but it was so interesting for us at Yaesu to see the many different ways that people are using our products beyond what we even had our products designed for.”
The device provides Internet-to-RF communications that expand the range of Yaesu VHF/UHF C4FM amateur radios using internet-enabled Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology. With WIRES-X, an amateur radio node station connected to the Internet and interfaced to the WIRES-X HRI-200 unit can communicate using VoIP over long distances reliably and with ease.
So you’re building a small dual-band Yagi and the instructions tell you to split the coax at the feedpoint. Stop right there. DX Engineering’s Michael Murphy, KI8R, shows you a better solution in the video below from DX Engineering’s YouTube channel.
Using a DX Engineering Flanged Feedpoint Connector and compatible hardware mounted to the boom will save you troubles down the road by keeping your coax connector water-tight. Plus, KI8R shares tips on how to seal all your antenna connectors to keep your coax free from damaging moisture using 3M Temflex 2155 Rubber Splicing Tape and 3M Scotch Super 33 Plus Vinyl Electrical Tape.
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More About DX Engineering Flanged Feedpoint Connectors
These handy parts provide a direct transition from the coaxial cable to feedpoint for Yagi, loop-fed arrays, rotatable dipoles, and other antennas that do not have a coaxial connector.
The worry of failed weatherproofing at the end of a stripped coax is eliminated for the 50-ohm beam or loop antenna feedpoint with stud terminals. Flanged feedpoint connectors allow direct connection of a PL-259 or N male terminated coaxial cable.
Choose from three versions of DX Engineering Flanged Feedpoint Connectors:
Silver-soldered solid tinned-copper 12 AWG wire leads to the silver-plated connector, which is epoxy potted into a plastic housing for a weather-sealed direct feedpoint connection
Color-coded heat shrink (red is center; black is shield)
DX Engineering Flanged Feedpoint Connectors are also ideal for phased antenna pairs or multiples, on which a coaxial cable ferrite RF bead choke is desired at the feedpoint in place of a traditional balun. DX Engineering’s 40-bead DXE-FBC Ferrite Bead Choke Kit (below) fits on 0.405-inch diameter coax cable, like RG-213U and RG-8U, prior to connector installation.
For the 50-ohm beam or loop antenna feedpoint with stud terminals, we recommend using a combination of the DXE-FFPC-SO239 Flanged Feedpoint Connector, DXE-FFPM Mounting Bracket, and DXE-FBC Ferrite Bead Choke Kit.
It’s hard to keep up with all the new amateur radio gear you’ll find at DX Engineering! The latest products from leading manufacturers are being added weekly to the 30,000-plus ham radio items—from more than 175 top amateur radio providers—available at DXEngineering.com.
OnAllBands is dedicated to making sure you’re not missing out on that station addition that will improve your contesting scores, help you work more DX, upgrade your emergency preparedness, and enhance your 0verall enjoyment of the world’s greatest hobby.
DX Engineering has you covered with a bunch of new products you’ll want to add to your amateur radio must-have list, from premade coax assemblies to a new Icom handheld receiver. DX Engineering’s Michael Murphy, KI8R, highlights a few of the latest offerings in the video below.
Like what you see? Click on the links below for all the details.
Now that 13 Colonies is over, many hams will shift gears to go full throttle for an operating event that, in the words of songwriter Bobby Troup, will let you “get your kicks” on a bygone and beloved highway that still inspires worshippers of the open road.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, Route 66 on the Air is a nostalgic blast from the past for operators who will once again attempt to reach special stations along the historic highway, which covered 2,448 miles from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA. Opened in 1926 and fully paved in 1938, the route was known for its offbeat roadside attractions, thrilling landscapes, and legions of drivers who traveled its skid-marked path in search of America—or perhaps the perfect cheeseburger and milkshake.
Route 66 was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985.
Troup’s popular 1946 rhythm and blues song, recorded by the likes of Nat King Cole and the Rolling Stones, mentions a travelog of stops along the route, including Oklahoma City, OK; Amarillo, TX; Flagstaff, AZ; Kingman, AZ; Barstow, CA; and San Bernardino, CA—all cities that will be represented by local clubs during the Route 66 on the Air event, which runs from September 7-15, 2024.
Find the complete list of 23 special event stations and rules at the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club (San Bernardino), W6JBT, website. Per the website, the event was started by the Northern Arizona DX Association and taken over a couple of years later by the Citrus Belt club.
Sound like fun?
Get your station ready for future events like Route 66 on the Air at DXEngineering.com, where you’ll find transceivers, antennas, and everything you need to reach stations from California to Illinois and beyond.
With many solid options available, choosing your first amateur radio handheld transceiver (HT) can be a challenge. DX Engineering’s Michael Murphy, KI8R, breaks down the questions you need to consider when searching for the handheld that’s right for you, from how much you’re willing to spend to how many bands you require. He also discusses HT accessories, radio programming software, and the importance of researching what others say about HTs on the market.
Watch the video and then click on the links below to begin your search for the perfect handheld transceiver at DXEngineering.com.
As of this posting, there’s still time to make contact with the CY9C DXpedition from St. Paul Island. The team is scheduled to operate continually until the evening of Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Don’t miss the opportunity to put this three-mile-long, rarely visited island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada—the 50th Most Wanted DXCC Entity per Clublog—in your logbook before the operation from the Northeast Island site goes QRT.
CY9C has been on the air since August 25.
On Monday, September 2, the team’s website reported that CY9C had recorded more than 81,000 QSOs, noting that there will be more SSB activity moving forward.
DX Engineering is a major sponsor of CY9C, having provided equipment including:
Watch Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO, interview members of the CY9C team (“a bunch of MacGyvers” who have been re-engineering equipment in the ham radio spirit, according to Craig, K9CT) from the wind-swept island.
The interview was held Friday, August 30, 2024.
OnAllBands will be posting a complete wrap-up of CY9C in the days ahead.
One of the great things about ham radio is the amazing variety of items that can be purchased to add more enjoyment to the world’s best hobby. Case in point: Today’s featured video on some of the latest products available at DXEngineering.com.
For more than two decades, the hams at DX Engineering have invested a great deal of time and brainpower toward enhancing the performance of Hustler BTV Series 4-, 5-, and 6-Band Vertical Antennas. This commitment has resulted in a slew of complementary DX Engineering-produced Hustler antenna products coupled with smart advice about installing ground radials for optimal results.
This combination of add-ons and operational wisdom continues to result in spectacular results for hams around the world. Here’s just one of many favorable opinions:
Five Stars (4BTV 4-Band HF Vertical Antenna): This antenna performs above and beyond what I expected! I hadn’t made any DX contacts in a very long time on the voice portion of the HF bands. After installing this per instructions and laying down 24 ground radials of various lengths due to confined space I easily made a contact into Germany through a pileup first try! Got a good 5-7 report with great audio! I also added the 17M add-on kit which performs flawlessly! Best antenna I have purchased!! Highly recommend this antenna if you are limited on space!
OnAllBands plans to cover all of the above in later posts, but first we’re checking out customer reviews of Hustler BTV Series add-on kits. In part one of this series, we explored the 17M add-on kit.
The 80M add-on is tunable for operating across a small segment of the 75/80m band with an SWR of 1.5:1 or less. Larger frequency excursions are easily made by lowering the antenna and adjusting the length of the top rod. A DX Engineering DXE-TB-3P Tilt Base Antenna Mounting System (sold separately) makes this a simple job. A good SWR meter or antenna analyzer will allow you to check the overall performance of the antenna while making final adjustments.
The DX Engineering 80M add-on kit requires no disassembly of your existing antenna. Simply add one of these kits to the top of the existing installation, make some minimal tuning adjustments, and enjoy getting on the air with an additional band. These kits come complete with Hustler RM75/80 resonator with large corona ball whip; Allen wrench for the two Allen set screws on the 80M resonator; and three-bladed spider assembly(above).
What Does the Customer Say About the 80M Add-On Kit?
Five Stars: Excellent! Simple to install and tune. Best reports ever with locals. Then worked Puerto Rico first night.
James, DX Engineering Customer
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Five Stars: Easy to install and tune. And nice to get all the needed parts in one kit with good instructions.
Aaron, DX Engineering Customer
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Five Stars: Easy to install, especially if you have the Omni-Tilt base on your 4BTV. Tuning was simple, took about three tries to get it centered on the frequency I wanted using the MFJ-223 analyzer. Performance with 32 radials is not bad. Expect about 45-50KHZ of usable 2:1 SWR bandwidth.
Samuel, DX Engineering Customer
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Arrived quickly, well packed. 80M resonator and whip in one box, three-leg spider in second box shipped separately. Easy to install on my 5+ year old 4BTV. Required a bit of retuning the vertical, mostly 40M (top section was shortened a bit). SWR about 1.5:1 80-40-20M and 1.2:1 15-10M with my 36 radials. Have had a few 80M QRP QSOs so far. Signal reports about one S unit weaker than my full length 80M dipole—not bad for a shortened radiator. QRO probably better.
There is no shortage of thoughts on what’s the ideal rig for making more QSOs when operating away from the home station, especially with the soaring popularity of POTA, SOTA, IOTA, BOTA, and other opportunities to have fun away from the shack.
Truth is, with so many excellent transceiver options, there’s no right answer. And if someone suggests that their answer is definitive, we suggest the following all-encompassing rebuttal courtesy of Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski: “Well, that’s like your opinion, man.”
If you’re new to ham radio or looking to upgrade your portable operating prowess, we’ve put together an informal, completely unscientific breakdown of what transceivers were used during Field Day 2024. The following is based on responses to a question posed on the DX Engineering Facebook page: “What radio did you use during Field Day?”
Like we’ve said many times before on OnAllBands, it never hurts to hear what others have to say about what works best for them. And keep in mind that the chosen radios were deployed to match a range of environments and goals—as well as price ranges.
Bottom line: Not everyone operates on Field Day the same way.
The rigs used on Field Day ranged from out-of-production radios to the latest SDR models from all popular manufacturers.
Based on more than 120 responses, the usual transceiver suspects led the pack of the most-used rigs for Field Day 2024: Icom IC-7300 HF Plus 50 MHz Transceiver
The above represents only a small portion of the diverse selection of radios put through their paces during Field Day 2024. Here some of the other Icom transceivers—many of which are no longer produced—that got a workout the weekend of June 22-23:
OnAllBands has been taking a close look at products that can help you get more out of your Hustler 4BTV, 5BTV, and 6BTV vertical antennas. We’ve got quite a bit of ground to cover, so we’re starting with the DX Engineering add-on kits that let you easily and effectively expand coverage. Check out this article on the Hustler BTV Series 17M Add-On Kit. Later this month we’ll be exploring what operators say about the 80M add-on kit.
Today, we turn our attention to the latest addition to DX Engineering’s lineup of devices that have turned the Hustler BTV verticals into an affordable and proven DXing juggernaut for hams around the globe, especially those dealing with limited space and HOA restrictions.
Users on eHam.net have called the DXE-AOKC-12M a “great product for the money,” “first-rate made,” “a superior product that performs, “very easy to assemble,” and “a straightforward way to add 12M to the Hustler without it looking like a Rube Goldberg contraption.” Check out all the reviews at eHam.net.
The RF power handling of the DXE-AOKC-12M 12 Meter Add-On Kit is conservatively rated for 1,500 watts PEP SSB, 1,000 watts CW, and 375 watts RTTY and Digital modes (including FT8) at an antenna SWR of 2:1 and below. This rating is for 12 meters only; it does not apply to BTV antenna trap or resonator frequencies where the use of less power is advised.
A Note About Installing Both the 17M & 12M Add-On Kits
The 17M and 12M kits work together because they do not interact with each other. Further, installing them on your BTV antenna will not drastically affect other bands. The 17M and 12M kits match each other, except for the coil on the 17M, and they add negligible wind loading to the antenna. The kits can mount on opposite sides of the Hustler BTV vertical and may be installed at the same time or at different times.
TIP: The use of the OMNI-TILT base is recommended for BTV ground mounting when both 17M and 12M kits are installed.
The 12M add-on kit includes:
Pre-assembled 12M element wire with soldered ring terminals
Four stainless steel band clamps with threaded studs
Upper insulated bracket
Two 14-inch tuning rods
Bottom aluminum stand-off bracket
Spring-loaded end insulator for the 12M element wire, which lets the antenna move naturally
Scotch-Brite® pad for cleaning the 12M element connections to the BTV antenna
Stainless steel hardware
Tuning the 12M Add-On
Installation of the DXE-AOKC-12M can have the effect of narrowing the SWR bandwidth of 20, 15, and 10M—a reasonable tradeoff for adding the extra band. After the 12M kit is installed and tuned, any required shift to the usable SWR frequency ranges on those bands can be accomplished by trap sleeve repositioning on the respective band trap. SWR may be optimized for CW and Digital or SSB segments by careful trap sleeve tuning adjustments.
For more about tuning, assembly instructions, and further details, read the DXE-AOKC-12M manual. Visit DXEngineering.com to order this impressive Hustler upgrade.
It has become apparent over the years that many folks who love everything about ham radio also love their cars, trucks, motorcycles, and ATVs. This is supported by the fact that there are plenty of DX Engineering customers who also do their shopping for suspension systems, exhaust tips, piston sets, and fuel injectors at Summit Racing Equipment. In fact, we’ve lost count of the number of letters we’ve received from those who relish both turning corners and turning knobs.
For those who don’t already know, Summit Racing has been the parent company of DX Engineering ever since the aftermarket automotive parts giant acquired the ham radio manufacturer in 2000. (Look for much more about DX Engineering’s 25th Anniversary celebration in the months ahead.)
DX Engineering shares headquarters with Summit Racing in Tallmadge, Ohio, near Akron. The updated DX Engineering Amateur Radio Showroom is housed inside the Summit Racing Retail Superstore at the same location. Ham radio gear can also be purchased at the Summit Racing retail store in Sparks, Nevada.
Need a transceiver and a transmission? A set of radials for your Hustler BTV vertical antenna and some radials for your 1972 Chevelle? A thrust bearing and a main rod bearing? A brake rotor and a heavy-duty rotator? You’ll uniquely find them all under the same roof.
How cool and convenient is that?
For those who can’t make it to the stores in Ohio and Nevada, both Summit Racing (SummitRacing.com) and DX Engineering (DXEngineering.com) make ordering incredibly fast and easy online. Both companies are widely recognized for providing fast shipping (more about speed below) and the most knowledgeable and responsive customer/technical support in their respective industries.
Check out the DX Engineering and Summit Racing decals on Jarvis Island in August 2024! In the photo, George Wallner, AA7JV, member of the offshore crew of the N5J Jarvis Island DXpedition, sets up a self-contained Rig in a Box station on one of the rarest DXCC entities on the planet. The DXpedition was sponsored by DX Engineering. Also notice the VP Racing jug, available at Summit Racing, along for the trip.
Hams & Gearheads
At first inspection, automotive enthusiasts and ham radio aficionados may seem to have little in common. But look closer. The hobbies and the people who are passionate about them share a lot more than you might think.
A Need for Speed
Summit Racing is appropriately known as “The World’s Speed Shop®,” the place where you can find millions of go-fast parts to soup up your ride for the street, dirt track, road course, or drag strip.
While transceivers don’t come equipped with a finish-line parachute, speed is still very much a part of the hobby for scores of amateur operators. Many hams were first intrigued by the idea that their transmissions could reach across the globe thanks to radio waves traveling at the speed of light—186,000 miles per second (a tad quicker than your average quarter-mile pass). Elite CW practitioners hone their skills to reach mind-boggling speeds up to 60 WPM. Like a road race, marathon radiosport contests, such as the 24-hour World Radiosport Team Championship, become a test of both operating speed and endurance. Other ham radio activities, such as direction-finding competitions, depend on quick wits and speed when searching for hidden transmitters.
Finally, we know gearheads and hams alike don’t like to wait around their garages and shacks for parts to arrive—so you can expect speedy delivery of what you need—when you need it.
A Need to Build…and Rebuild
Whether completely restoring a classic, modifying a late-model muscle car, or creating a one-of-a-kind rat rod, there is nothing that makes a gearhead happier than wrenching on their latest project—permanently oil-stained fingernails be darned! Hams are no different. While getting on the air may be the ultimate reward, the satisfaction of installing an antenna, adding a new rotator, or building a homebrew amplifier ranks high for the hands-on ham.
Ask a gearhead or a ham how they spent their early years and you’ll hear stories of disassembled vacuum cleaners and radios, spare parts strewn across living rooms, and angry parents (though secretly proud) admonishing them for not asking first. The obsession to find out what makes things tick runs deep in both hobbies.
Ask a certain type of gearhead “How many vehicles are enough?” or a similarly inclined ham “How many radios are enough?” and you’re likely to get a shrug. Why? Because there simply isn’t a way to quantify an answer for those whose thirst for rides and rigs have no boundaries.
As of January of 2024, it was reported that Jay Leno’s vehicle collection consisted of over 180 cars and 160 motorcycles. Jerry Seinfeld’s cache of cars exceeds 150, including more than 40 Porsches. For those less monetarily endowed, it’s still difficult to turn down a project vehicle regardless of condition or space limitations. Same goes for hams who can’t pass by a hamfest flea market without adding another vintage rig to their collections or peruse DXEngineering.com without adding the latest SDR model and companion gear to their shopping cart.
Attend a car show or a day at the track and you’ll discover that competitiveness and camaraderie go hand in hand. Trophies and trips to the winner’s circle are nice, but longtime gearheads will tell you it’s the friendships with other enthusiasts that count most at the end of the day. Need proof? Listen to a couple of strangers become fast friends as they ease into a “bench racing” give-and-take or share stories of the “cars that got away.” Hams have the added benefit of being able to make friends from all parts of the world simply by getting on the air and calling CQ. Goodwill is at the core of what it means to be an amateur operator, whether hanging out with your club on Field Day or rag-chewing with an operator thousands of miles away.
Some Quick Comparisons
Going mobile: The most obvious merging of the two pursuits is equipping your vehicle with a mobile transceiver for fun on the road as well as serious emergency communication.
Endless variety: Both hobbies offer so many avenues of interest that it’s impossible to do it all at once. As the bloggers at OnAllBands have recommended time and again, if you’re starting out in ham radio, it’s best to initially pick one aspect of the hobby rather than spreading yourself too thin.
Passing it on: Like fathers, mothers, grandparents, and uncles who share their passion for car culture with their sons, daughters, grandkids, and nephews, ham families can’t help but pass on their love of all things radio to the next generation of operators.
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We’d love to hear from all the ham/gearheads out there! Tell us about what you think is the crossover appeal of getting on the air and putting power to the pavement.
Also Check Out a Handy Beacon for Home and Road Emergencies
Back in 2022, DX Engineering was excited to add a varied selection of highly respected Eton devices to its lineup of more than 175 manufacturers whose products are available at DXEngineering.com.
As fans of DX Engineering already know, the company carries many items that have applications that stretch outside of amateur radio, including coaxial cable prep tools, soldering equipment, coaxial cable assemblies, equipment cases, and even the DX Engineering ISO-PLUS Ethernet Filter, which has found a legion of enthusiasts in the audiophile community.
While Eton’s high-quality Elite Series shortwave radioscertainly fall under the amateur radio umbrella, the Palo Alto, California-based company also makes gear with a broader appeal to families who want to be ready for unexpected emergencies, or hams who want to be fully equipped at home or during their portable ops. Choose from:
The 7.125-inch-tall unit features durable aluminum construction, foldable reflective tripod legs, a bright one-watt LED spotlight, and three LED flashing beacons that can be easily activated during emergencies by turning its hand crank. Two minutes of cranking typically produces 15 minutes of usable power. With both input and output USB charging, you can even charge your smartphone to make an emergency call or text your family to let them know you are safe. It comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, carrying pouch, and car power adapter.
The latest addition to the Eton lineup, the Odyssey Multiband Bluetooth Emergency Radio makes a useful companion for outdoor adventures and emergency preparedness needs. It provides AM/FM/Shortwave/Weather band coverage, allowing you to stay connected to broadcasts from around the world and ensuring that you’re never out of touch with the latest news and weather updates. You receive NOAA Weather Alerts to keep you abreast of severe weather conditions in your area.
Multiple power options are available, including its 2000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery and high-efficiency solar panel charging that keeps the radio ready when you need it most. You can also use 3 AAA alkaline batteries as a backup power source (not included).
The Eton Odyssey offers versatility with a 5V 1.0A USB output for charging smartphones and other devices. Hand-crank charging yields 10 to 15 minutes of music, weather updates and news, along with one minute of talk time.
The radio features a digital tuner and display for precise station selection and tuning. It also includes Bluetooth connectivity, making it an all-in-one entertainment and communication device. The IPX4 weather-resistant design ensures durability in various conditions, while the bright LED flashlight, LED beacon, and siren provide essential visibility and signaling in emergencies.
Additional features include a DC power input via the included USB-C cable, an AUX-IN jack, headphone jack, alarm clock, and digital clock. The included carabiner allows you to conveniently clip it to your belt or go-bag. For added security, its SOS emergency beacon and siren are invaluable tools for getting help when needed.
When DX Engineering acquired Hi-Z Antennas’ lineup of HF receiving array products in 2022, the company’s research and development team went to work to make sure Hi-Z’s most popular devices would continue to be available to amateur operators worldwide.
The goal of this ongoing effort has been to roll out Hi-Z-inspired devices that retain the functionality of the original designs while making significant electronic and mechanical improvements. The evolution of these updated receive array devices includes efficient production, superior durability, and smoother operation.
DX Engineering is pleased to announce the release of Hi-Z Manual Directional Consoles—specialized BCD grounding switches that are specifically designed to operate Hi-Z Phasing Combiner relay units, also known as Phase Controllers.
Each HIZ-MDC console controls the phasing and direction selection of only Hi-Z Antennas Receive Vertical Antenna arrays and supplies power to the array element amplifiers. Consoles feature a large rotary switch knob and green LEDs arranged as receive array directional azimuth indicators with corresponding compass bearing degree markings on the front panel. The MDC-4 that controls the four-element Hi-Z Four Square Receive Array is below.
Selection of a specific model Manual Directional Control Console is required. Choose the model that corresponds to the desired version of Hi-Z Antennas Receive Array Phasing Combiner or legacy Phase Controller. Each console serves as a replacement for legacy, discontinued Hi-Z manual Shack Switches, and for the discontinued Hi-Z SS-2 and SS-2PLUS:
HIZ-MDC-4 works only with the multiband Four Square Arrays PC-4A and PC-4ELEMENT.
HIZ-MDC-6 works only with the multiband Three Element Six-Direction Triangular Arrays PC-3A and PC-3ELEMENT.
HIZ-MDC-8PRO works only with the 85/113 ft. diameter multiband 8 Circle Arrays PC-8PRO and PC4-8PROUP/PLUS.
HIZ-MDC-8 (below) works only with the 200 ft./100 ft. diameter monoband 8 Circle Arrays PC-8, PC-8A, and PC-8B.
Features include:
Rugged construction
Four large non-skid rubber feet
Stainless steel chassis with cold-rolled steel black powdercoated lid
Large, easy-grip rotary switch with end-of-rotation stops
The required multi-conductor array power and BCD control cable (purchased separately for the required number of conductors and length to the array) passes through a grommet on the rear panel and is connected internally
A rear panel 2.1mm +13.8VDC power connector accepts the included mating 2.1mm plug and unterminated DC power cable for connection to a user-provided +13.8VDC 1A fused, well-filtered power supply
An Important Note About Receive Antenna System Performance
The performance of a receive antenna system can be dramatically improved when the array elements are placed where RF noise is minimal. One of the most important aspects of the installation is to maximize the array’s distance from any structures, towers, transmitting antennas, metal buildings, large trees, and fences that induce RF noise or affect the antenna field.
Preserving the array directional pattern requires that we ignore the temptation to position the receiving antenna closer to the station, based on coaxial cable loss or control cable cost. RF loss is negligible on 160 and 80 meters with up to 1,000 feet of economical RG-6U feedline. Therefore, the control cable must be chosen for the conductor size necessary to deliver sufficient voltage at the current required by the phasing combiner and element amplifiers, despite the higher cost. The benefits of the investment in the appropriate control cable for a well-placed, far-away receive antenna array are the immeasurable profits of significantly improved reception.
A convenient chart in each model’s manual will help you choose a control cable conductor size based on the distance to the array and the resulting voltage drop with maximum current flow through the supply and ground return conductors.
Looking for a versatile transceiver that’s perfect for roving during VHF contests, drive-up SOTA operations, Super High Frequency activity, everyday use in your home station, and a whole lot more? You’ll find all this and loads of fun with the Icom IC-905 VHF/UHF/SHF All Mode Base/Portable Transceiver, says Michael Murphy, KI8R, who covers the features and benefits of this rig in the video below.
Key Features & Benefits of the Icom IC-905:
The IC-905 features a separate controller and RF module, allowing for the installation of the weatherproof RF module near the antennas. A LAN cable makes the connection between the controller and the RF module, significantly reducing power loss. PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology provides flexibility and simplifies the installation of the RF module.