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.
There’s a lot to do on the air in September, 2024!
It’s a great month to sharpen your skills for some of the upcoming major events on the amateur radio calendar. We’ve listed a few highlights below, including the ARRL EME and VHF contests, a premier RTTY event, a couple of excellent park activation opportunities, and a bevy of State QSO Parties that let you operate from your home, as a fixed portable station, or as a “rover” operating from multiple counties in your vehicle.
RJ Bragg, WY7AA, took his Rovermobile (a 1972 Chevy El Camino) to the line of Platte and Goshen counties in Wyoming for the 7-Land QSO Party in May 2018. A bit of military surplus mast, dipoles for 20 and 40 meters, and an Icom 7000 were all he used to make 540 SSB contacts and hand out two juicy counties. (Image/RJ Bragg, WY7AA)
Here’s a rundown of September’s QSO Parties (note: Tennessee’s party ran prior to this posting):
Texas: September 21, 1400Z to September 22, 0200Z, and September 22, 1400Z to 2000Z
Iowa: September 21, 1400Z to September 22, 0200Z
New Jersey: September 21, 1400Z to September 22, 0159Z
New Hampshire: September 21, 1600Z to September 22, 0400Z and September 22, 1200Z to 2200Z
Washington State Salmon Run: September 21, 1600Z to September 22, 0700Z, and September 22, 1600Z to 2400Z (find more details on the Salmon Run official website)
Maine: September 28, 1200Z to September 29, 1200Z
Read more about State QSO Parties in these excellent OnAllBands articles:
You’ll find everything you need at DXEngineering.com to get maximum fun out of State QSO Parties, including transceivers, antennas, CW keys and paddles, and more.
Check Out These Other September 2024 Events:
NRAU (Nordic Radio Amateur Union) 10M Activity Contest: September 5, 1700Z to 1800Z (CW); 1800Z to 1900Z (SSB); 1900Z to 2000Z (FM); and 2000Z to 2100Z (Digital). Here’s a great chance to take advantage of 10M openings compliments of Solar Cycle 25. Looking for gear to maximize your 10M capabilities? Click to read about some of these 10M antenna upgrades available at DXEngineering.com.
Ohio State Parks on the Air: September 7, 1400 UTC to 2200 UTC (10 am to 6 pm Eastern Time). With DX Engineering proudly rooted in the Buckeye State, this annual event is near and dear to our ham radio hearts. Tom, KB8UUZ, DX Engineering technical writer, is a member of the contest committee for this 17th edition of this outdoor operating event that highlights Ohio’s beauty and diversity.
If you’ve never activated a park, here’s an OnAllBandsPOTA article on what you’ll need for successful portable operations, including these suggested items:
Yaesu FT-891 HF/50 MHz All Mode Mobile Transceiver
Also, don’t miss the flora, fauna, frequencies, and fun of Wisconsin Parks on the Air, September 21, 1600Z to 2300Z (11 am to 6 pm local/CDT), sponsored by the Fox Cities Amateur Radio Club, W9ZL.
IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB: September 7, 1300Z to September 8, 1259Z. This annual event presents an excellent opportunity for clubs to test their low-power portable operating capabilities; experiment with design, construction, and deployment of antennas; and use alternate means of power.
All Asian DX Contest, Phone: September 7, 0000Z to September 8, 2400Z. Sponsored by the Japan Amateur Radio League, this annual event is for both Asian and non-Asian stations making SSB QSOs on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
WAE DX Contest, SSB: September 14, 0000Z to September 15, 2359Z. The German Amateur Radio Club (DARC) invites amateur operators worldwide to participate in this Worked All Europe contest. The RTTY portion of the contest is scheduled for November 9-10. Read complete rules here.
ARRL September VHF Contest: September 14, 1800Z to September 16, 0300Z. Amateurs in the U.S. and Canada will be trying to work stations in as many 2 degree x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the U.S. and Canada may only work stations in the U.S. and Canada. All legal modes are permitted, including CW, SSB, FT8, MSK144, FM-Only, PSK31, FSK441, and JT65.
QRP Afield: September 21, 1500Z to 2100Z: Hosted by the QRP Club of New England, this low-power event rewards operators based on power levels and location (e.g., 10 points per contact for QRP operation from a field or mobile location).
ARRL EME Contest: September 21, 0000Z to September 22, 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. Effective in 2024, the contest exchange is now a station’s four-digit Maidenhead grid square locator. September 21-22 is designated for 2.3 GHz and up. October 19-20 and November 16-17 are for 50 to 1296 MHz.
ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest: September 21, 0900Z to September 23, 0759Z. 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.
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).
CQ World Wide DX Contest, RTTY, September 28, 0000Z to September 29, 2359Z. This annual event attracts more than 15,000 RTTY enthusiasts from around the world.
4th Annual Masonic Lodges on the Air, September 28, 1400Z to 2200Z. “The idea for the Masonic Lodges on the Air Contest grew out of the realization that many Freemasons have a love for Amateur Radio,” the event’s official website reads. The idea is to see how many Masonic Lodges you can contact in a day on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters SSB. You do not need to be a Mason to participate, but organizers ask that you get permission from your local lodge to contest from their property.
AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party: September 28, 2000Z to September 29, 2400Z. Sponsored by the Antique Wireless Association, this event is designed to “promote and encourage the use of amplitude modulation on the amateur radio bands” and to “enjoy the friendly atmosphere and pleasant audio quality of AM communication,” per the AWA website. Participants will try to make contacts using the amplitude modulation mode on 160, 75, 40, 20, and 10 meters. From its website, the vision of the AWA is to “preserve and share the history of technology used to communicate and entertain from the first telegram to today’s wireless text messaging.”
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.
(Image/DX Engineering)
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
***
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
***
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
***
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.
Paul, DX Engineering Customer
This is the BTV installation from Paul’s review above. (Image/DX Engineering)
The historic Rig in a Box N5J DXpedition from the Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge is in the books. Jarvis was the 18th Most Wanted DXCC Entity per Clublog when the activation was fully underway on August 9, 2024.
Thanks to countless hours of planning, technical advancements in the hobby, amazingly skilled offshore and worldwide remote operators, sponsors including DX Engineering, and an active community of DXers, the #18 ranking will certainly take a precipitous fall when the next most-wanted list is released.
N5J marked the first activation of Jarvis Island (a dual entity with Palmyra Island) since the April 1990 AH3C/KH5J DXpedition, which logged 55,000 QSOs over ten days. The only other time Jarvis has been QRV was AD1S/KH5 in November 1983—the first time this 1.7-square-mile coral island in the South Pacific was on the air.
Along with remote CW and FT8 stations, the N5J at-island operating team of Don Greenbaum, N1DG; Mike Snow, KN4EEI; Tomi Pekarik, HA7RY; Rig in a Box innovator George Wallner, AA7JV; and Adrian Ciuperca, KO8SCA recorded more than 100,000 QSOs on 160-6M in SSB, CW, and FT8 after 11 days of operation. Additionally, 3,000 operators qualified for an N5J special award by making FT8, CW, and SSB contacts and logging QSOs on five bands.
As noted by Ann Fried on the N5J Facebook page, “All the hard work and planning did a great service to hams worldwide.”
Pierre Leroy wrote, “Keep on doing good work. Conditions are not easy but ATNO from ON6PL.”
“Thanks to the whole team for outstanding work,” wrote Tor Langvand. “Challenging propagation from time to time. Nevertheless, >100K QSOs in the book is fantastic. Great job, all.”
Gerry Hull, W1VE, posted on the N5J Facebook page the day the DXpedition went QRT, “The Magnet team is busy taking down everything and preparing for the trip back to American Samoa. They are the real heroes who powered this operation! As the Team Lead for the CW Remote Crew, I couldn’t be happier about the outcome. As an advocate of remote DXing and contesting, I’m extremely pleased how everything worked.”
From the N5J website, the team wrote, “Thank you for all the QSOs. It was a blast.”
(Image/N5J Jarvis Island)
The Impact of RIB Operations
The Rig in a Box concept, which allows self-contained amateur radio stations to be placed on land while operators work remotely, is proving to be a game-changer for DXpeditioners as well as hams trying to check off the remaining rare entities on their DXCC scorecard.
George, AA7JV, member of the offshore crew of the N5J DXpedition, sets up a Rig in a Box station on Jarvis Island. AA7JV and the rest of the local team conducted the DXpedition from the MV Magnet, a vessel that was just offshore of Jarvis Island. (Image/N5J Jarvis Island)
RIB-centered ventures dramatically increase the chances that decision-makers governing wildlife protected areas will grant permission for these operations. RIB DXpeditions ensure that boots will only be on land to set up, tear down, and maintain the RIB stations, reducing environmental impact and eliminating a stumbling block that has kept many entities off the air for decades.
(Image/N5J Jarvis Island)
Get up close and personal with the N5J team in this video featuring DX Engineering CEO Tim Duffy, K3LR, interviewing operators aboard the MV Magnet on August 9, 2024.
“In addition to us being here there are three Fish and Wildlife scientists that are currently on the island,” explained George, AA7JV, in the video. “They’re conducting research and working on the island. This is really the result of Don (N1DG) having worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service to convince them that amateur radio can be not just a user but a partner. And as a partner we can contribute to their efforts, and in return for that, they let us operate from these very highly protected reserves where normally they do not let anybody.”
DX Engineering Equipment on Jarvis Island
In DX Engineering’s ongoing mission to stand beside hams who are putting rare DXCC entities on the air, the company contributed a range of gear to complement the RIB setups:
The teams at DX Engineering and OnAllBands salute everyone involved in making the N5J DXpedition to Jarvis Island possible. Look for posts about more DX Engineering-sponsored DXpeditions in the days ahead.
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?”
(Image/DX Engineering)
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:
After seeing much success the first few years, Youth On The Air (YOTA) Camp in the Americas returned this past summer to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Approximately 30 campers from six different countries, ranging from 15 to 25 years old, attended.
Throughout the week, campers took part in sessions on satellite operating, high altitude ballooning, CW, soldering/kit building, POTA, and more—all led by other young people.
More importantly, the campers (including myself) had the opportunity to meet other young hams and form friendships that will last a lifetime.
(Image/Katie Campbell, KE8LQR)
Every YOTA camp is full of new adventures, and this year was no different.
We started planning for this year’s camp as soon as last year’s event in Ottawa ended, since planning an event through emails and Zoom meetings can be a little tedious. We started looking at details like what we would do during this year’s camp, where we’d host specific sessions on and off campus, and what sessions to have. Then we started creating the schedule.
By November 2023, we’d started writing press releases and posting information about camp to our social media to build excitement and spread the word about where and when it would be. We also started looking for young people to lead sessions, particularly returning campers from the previous years.
As we got closer to camp, we had Zoom meetings about once a month to discuss important issues and things that came up while we were emailing back and forth. It seemed like everything was straightened out and ready to go, but Murphy decided that would be the perfect time to remind us of his law:
Anything that can go wrong…will!
We arrived in Halifax the Friday before camp started and encountered a “small” problem. The pallets with nearly all of the supplies for camp were stuck at customs in Massachusetts, and the office would be closing in about half an hour.
We racked our brains for a solution and made a few phone calls.
Eventually, we connected with The Ham Radio Guy, Marvin, W0MET, who offered to drop everything, pick up the pallets, and even drive them to Maine to meet us at a halfway point so we could pick them up.
Very early the next morning, Julie Rapp and Colleen, KB8VAQ, started the 15-hour drive to Maine from Halifax while the rest of us stayed back and started setting up what we could. Finally, while we were at dinner, we got the message that Colleen and Julie had gotten through customs, crossed the border with the pallets, and would get back at about 2 am Sunday.
We all got up bright and early on Sunday and worked together as fast as we could to unload everything and set it up. We managed to get almost everything straightened out, although there would be a running joke throughout the week whenever we couldn’t find something:
“Where is X?”
“Oh, probably on the pallets!”
Julie Rapp; Colleen, KB8VAQ; and Marvin, W0MET ceremoniously cutting the box of YOTA equipment after finally arriving in Canada! (Image/Katie Campbell, KE8LQR)
With setup complete and all t’s crossed and i’s dotted, camp was a go!
Campers started arriving at noon to get settled into their dorms at Mount Saint Vincent University and meet their roommates until the opening ceremony at five (watch a video of the opening ceremony here).
After the opening ceremony we had a quick tour of the shack and antennas before we could start operating. The next morning, we started the first day of camp with logging and SDR sessions. Then, the ID-52 handheld transceivers that Icom donated for us to use all week were passed out and our Icom rep, Rose, VA3RZZ, led a session about D-STAR.
After lunch, we headed outside for our pico balloon launch, led by Wintta, VA3WGY, and Stefan, VA3STQ.
(Image/Katie Campbell, KE8LQR)
Unfortunately, both balloons hit a storm a few hours later and went down just north of Sable Island.
After launching our balloons, we had sessions about nets and CW, followed by a session where campers and staff could share resources and groups for young hams. We all had dinner and then the final session of the day was “Train the Trainer,” where some of the camp staff explained how to run a YOTA camp, from planning and preparation to actually hosting the event.
Tuesday morning, campers split up into either a kit-building or ARDF session. After that, we had our ARISS contact, led by Ruth, KM4LAO. Tuesday evening, we had dinner in downtown Halifax before going on a tour of the city and the harbor. After the tour, it was back to the university for some operating time or socializing before lights out.
On Wednesday, we got to do some satellite operating before a presentation from Dr. Yaroslav “Yarko” Pustovyi about Maritime Launch Services. After his presentation, it was time to get ready to activate Georges Island the next day. Once we finished up our POTA prep, we had some more time to operate VE1YOTA or socialize.
On Thursday, it was time for POTA! We split up into groups and rotated which location we were operating from or touring. My group started out at the HMCS Sackville, where we got to tour the ship and learn more about its history before getting on the air with the station on board.
After we made some contacts there, it was time to head to Georges Island for POTA. We took a ferry over and got on the air straight away. After some antenna troubleshooting, we finally started making contacts and got a few really large pileups!
After that, my group took the ferry back and got to tour the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and even operate from the station there. Then, it was time to go back to the university for dinner and shack/social time.
On Friday morning we had our closing ceremony (watch here), returned our radios, said our goodbyes, and started making plans to see each other at camp next year!
We’ve already started planning for camp in Denver, Colorado, and hope to see you there!
High school student Katie Campbell, KE8LQR, earned her Amateur Extra license at the age of 11. Among other activities, she teaches youth Morse code through the Long Island CW Club; helps out with her school’s amateur radio club, K8LPS; is a member of YACHT (Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team; was a featured presenter at Contest University 2024; and is on the planning committee and PR team for the YOTA group.
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.
(Image/DX Engineering)
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.
The Summit Racing Retail Superstore in Tallmadge, Ohio. (Image/DX Engineering)The DX Engineering Showroom is housed in the Summit Racing Retail Superstore, allowing shoppers to take care of their automotive and amateur operating needs in one place. (Image/DX Engineering)DX Engineering has held a hamfest and several sales events in the Summit Racing Retail Superstore. (Image/DX Engineering)
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.
(Image/N5J Jarvis Island)
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.
Grace, K8LG, with father Doug, K8DP, at K3LR operating during the 2023 RSGB IOTA Contest. (Image/DX Engineering)
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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.
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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.
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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.
(Image/DX Engineering)
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.
Hams looking to add Tristan da Cunha —a collection of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean—to their list of DXing conquests may get an opportunity in the days ahead.
W7GJ reported that he would be operating from IOTA AF-029 the last week of August and into September, but a check of the DXpedition’s website, as of this posting, now has the dates as September 26 to October 25, depending on shipping schedules and very limited space availability on ships sailing from Cape Town, South Africa. The 6M ZD9GJ operation will mainly focus on EME, with some SSB and FT8 activity.
Only accessible by boat (about a six-day trip from Cape Town), the British Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha is the world’s most remote inhabited archipelago—about 1,700 miles off the coast of Cape Town, 1,500 miles from Saint Helena, 4,000 miles from Argentina, and 2,500 miles from the Falkland Islands. It lies 1,400 miles northwest of Bouvet Island—the most remote uninhabited spot on the planet. This makes Tristan da Cunha the closest inhabited land to Bouvet.
The archipelago, which experiences mild temperatures, little sunshine, and lots of rain, is made up of 38-square-mile Tristan da Cunha; the wild reserves of Gough Island and Inaccessible Island; and uninhabited 1.5-square-mile Nightingale Island.
A travel article from Business Insider placed the population of volcanic Tristan da Cunha at around 230. Inhabitants of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas (the only settlement on Tristan da Cunha, below) were forced to flee in lobster-fishing boats to neighboring Nightingale Island after an eruption of Queen Mary’s Peak in 1961 destroyed their settlement. They were resettled in England, but most returned two years later to rebuild on the island.
The island features a school, churches, the Tristan Thatched House Museum, a supermarket, administration building, and an invasive mice and rat population that nightly feeds, without natural predators to stop them, on seabird eggs and chicks. A community tradition known as “Ratting Day,” which began as a way to reduce the island’s rodent population, has evolved into a competition in which teams compete to catch the largest number of critters, with honors also being given to the team who produces the rat with the “longest tail.” One academic article noted that “Black Rats…reached the island from a shipwreck in 1882.”
A single road connects Edinburgh of the Seven Seas with the island’s communally owned potato farms. Transportation is provided by a few privately owned vehicles and a bus.
The avid DXers at DX Engineering have made several contacts with operators who have received permission to operate on Tristan da Cunha over the years. Here are a few of the QSL cards from their collections.
Wayne, K8FF, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, received this card from the ZD9W DXpedition.
(Image/DX Engineering)
Scotty, KG9Z, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, provided us with this QSL card from ZD9CC.
(Image/DX Engineering)
Tom, KB8UUZ, DX Engineering technical writer, received the QSL card below from ZD9ZS.
(Image/DX Engineering)(Image/DX Engineering)
George, K3GP, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, received the QSL card below from ZD9AH. It features the island’s main road, a yellow nosed Tristan albatross, and Tristan da Cunha’s coat of arms. Look closely. The coat of arms includes two Tristan rock lobsters, mainstays of the island’s economy.
(Image/DX Engineering)(Image/DX Engineering)
Dave, K8DV, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, contacted ZD9T in November 2010 on 30 and 12M CW. The QSL card shows a drawing of a northern rockhopper penguin (known by islanders as “pinnamin”). The flightless birds breed on all islands in the Tristan da Cunha group. Read much more about the northern rockhopper penguin and everything else you’d want to know about this fascinating archipelago at the Tristan da Cunha website.
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!
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.
Vibroplex, which first manufactured and sold its signature Morse code “bug” key back in 1904, is the longest continually operating ham radio equipment provider on the planet, but that doesn’t mean the venerable company doesn’t have more than a few new tricks up its well-worn, rolled-up sleeves.
DX Engineering’s Rod Ehrhart, K8RR, caught up with Scott Robbins, W4PA, Vibroplex’s owner since 2009, at Dayton Hamvention 2024 to discuss the mAT-TUNER line of automatic antenna tuners, which the Knoxville, Tennessee-based company has distributed in the U.S. since 2019. Watch the video below:
Scott, W4PA, highlights two new mAT-TUNER offerings—mAT-50 Automatic Antenna Tuner and Coupler Packages and the 1500PRO Automatic Antenna Tuner, both available along with the entire mAT-TUNER lineup at DXEngineering.com.
The multipurpose, 1.8-54 MHz mAT-50 Automatic Antenna Tuner comes with either an Icom, Yaesu, or Kenwood coupler and corresponding control cable. This remote tuner has the capability of matching a variety of impedances and antennas including long-wires, dipoles, verticals, Yagis, whips, and virtually any coax-fed antenna. It features a maximum input power of 120W SSB/60W Digital.
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Install the sturdy, weather-resistant tuner outside near the antenna. Then install the coupler inside near the transceiver to provide power for the tuner and control its operation. The tuner does not require a control cable between the remote tuner and coupler, making installation simple. The only required connection between the antenna tuner and coupler is one 50-ohm coaxial cable. Advanced technology employed in the tuner delivers stable performance and excellent anti-interference capabilities for convenient one-key tuning.
The mAT-50 can also be used as a universal tuner for all transceivers if a mAT-50-Y or mAT-50-M coupler is connected to an external DC power supply (not included) and a control cable is not installed. You can then operate the tuner manually.
The mAT-1500PRO Automatic Antenna Tuner is an upgraded version of the original mAT-1500 tuner. Improvements include reduced weight, high- quality housing, and additional interfaces for Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood transceivers and their corresponding operating modes. This allows the tuner to be controlled directly from the transceiver, reducing the need for manual operation.
(Image/DX Engineering)
In addition, two antennas can be connected simultaneously, and the corresponding buttons for switching (in receive mode) are placed on the front panel for easy access. Other features include:
Designed for modern transceivers with a frequency range of 1.8-54 MHz
Rated for up to 1,500W SSB/800W Digital
16,000 memory locations
Fast tuning—found values for a frequency are stored in the memory, enabling adjustments as quick as 100ms
Loop-through of the PTT line makes it possible to loop in the power amplifier behind the tuner. The tuner interrupts the PTT line to the power amplifier during the tuning process. This avoids tuning with high power, greatly reducing the possibility of damaging the tuner relays.
6 to 1,000 ohms tuning range, which corresponds to an SWR range maximum of 10:1. This allows it to match all coax-fed antennas such as a G5RV with a balun at the transition between two-wire ladder line and coax cable, but also a wideband vertical antenna designed for the rated power.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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:
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