Contesting and Its Challenges
Contesting and its challenges in amateur radio, contests are an intense activity where operators aim to make as many contacts as possible within a set period. Many new and experienced…
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Ham Radio and Space: ISS Contacts
Ham radio and space, amateur operators have long dreamed of communicating beyond Earth. With the International Space Station (ISS), that dream became a reality. The ISS hosts an active amateur…
Calling CQ
Amateur radio operators use the phrase “CQ” as an open invitation to communicate. When you call CQ, you are asking for any station listening to respond. Therefore, calling CQ is…
CAT Control and CI-V in Amateur Radio
Modern transceivers often include computer interfaces that allow operators to control and automate many functions. CAT control and CI-V are two of the most common systems used for this purpose.…
Planning for POTA: Beyond the Basics
When Planning for POTA (Parks on the Air activation), many operators focus only on the radio, antenna, and power supply. However, success often depends on bringing the right support gear.…
DMR Tier 1 & 2: What’s The Difference?
DMR Tier 1 & 2 is an open standard designed for professional, novice, and amateur communication. It operates using TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), allowing two independent voice or data…
FreeDV in Amateur Radio: New Modes
FreeDV is an open-source digital voice mode designed for use on the HF amateur radio bands. It replaces traditional analog SSB (Single Sideband voice with compressed digital audio, delivering clearer…
Soil Affects Antenna Performance: Learn The Difference
How soil affects antenna performance, it plays a crucial role in determining its efficiency, particularly for vertical and ground-mounted systems. Soil impacts the ground conductivity and dielectric constant, both of…
Toroid Mix for Baluns and Chokes
Toroid mix plays a critical role in the design and performance of baluns and common-mode chokes, especially in ham radio and RF applications. The key to effective performance lies in…
HF Radio Propagation: How Weather Effects Propagation
HF radio propagation relies on the ionosphere to reflect signals back to Earth. Because of this, environmental and atmospheric conditions can significantly influence signal behavior. While many factors play a…