Antennas, whether the building of them or what happens afterward, has always been one of my great interests and adventures in ham radio–and even many decades before with other sorts…
Soldering Tools & the Engineer Solder Vacuum
I was thinking of what could be one of the most uninteresting topics in amateur radio, aside from two AM enthusiasts arguing for 10 minutes each over a few ohms…
An Audio Breakout Box for Icom
[This is a developing story that will take several weeks months. Progress will be updated regularly!] I have four microphones. Then there are inputs for computer sound, CW keying, and…
Calibrating the Icom IC-7300 Power Readings
So, there an operator is. They have set the multi-function button to Power, and have it set at 50%–in a continuous duty cycle like CW or RTTY. This setting should…
Upgrading the Heathkit SB-200 Amplifier
I have always had a love affair with the Heathkit SB line of gear. It is what I drooled over as a kid in the1968 ARRL Handbook, on page…
SSB ALC Modification for the Icom IC-7300
Sometimes after giving my station report, another operator will comment on my claim of a ‘modified‘ IC-7300 and/or “average PEP to the antenna is 130 to 140 Watts”— and ask…
An 80/20 OCF Dipole for 8 Band Coverage
As I began planning my most recent ‘antenna farm’ adventure, the first criteria was set in that any horizontal wire design must cover at least 5 bands, with a native…
The Rabbit Ranch
Tradition long ago established the weather report of one’s QTH as a standard part of an initial QSO. In my intro patter, I often mention that my Ambient Weather WS-2902…
Antenna Farm Plan for My QTH
Antenna systems generally emerge organically–constrained by property boundaries and the position of trees or other elements to elevate them. Fifteen years ago my choice was simple, to stretch along some…
ChatGPT for Antenna Design Advice?
In years past, one of my favorite performers has been the venerable 134′ doublet. While the dipole is easy to construct, some issues and compromises emerge concerning various lengths of…
Is Your Balun Big Enough?
I was going through some old shack photos, and ran across this “Magic Smoke Moment” from 2012. The 4:1 current balun on the left was wound on an FT240-31 ring–I…
The Venerable VTVM
Alright Sherman, it’s time to join Mr. Peabody and “Set the Wayback Machine” for 1970. We have arrived in an average-sized Midwestern town where we will visit two electronics operations—one…
