The first time I did the ham radio thing was back in the stone age when I was a kid, not even a teenager yet. There are two things I continue to remember about that time as WN4DXX / WB4DXX. Number one: How absolutely shoulder-ripping heavy an EF Johnson Valiant transmitter was. Number two: How … Read more
6 December 2024 This post is for those of you who like to play in QRO-land. Yes, I am one of those. If you have had a failure of a higher-power balun, I may have a fix for you. Here’s the scenario I have gone through on several occasions with 5kw-supposedly-capable (with lots of disclaimers, … Read more
Hello to all of you who may be reading this. This article is for both those of you new to the amateur radio world as well as as everyone else. What I am discussing today are those newer SO-239 female connectors that are only cut in four places, once every 90 degrees. They are v-e-r-y … Read more
Hi folks, I bought a Palstar remote for my wonderful HF-Auto auto tuner. This will allow me to move the tuner of of my ‘shack’ to the other side of the QTH and downstairs. The open-wire feedline will enter at that point, which just so happens to be an odd 1/8 wavelength at 80 meters. … Read more
Hi there. It’s me again, and once again based on a personal experience, I bring you a reminder to do something basic where your antenna(s) meet your “shack” that will save you money if you live where thunderstorms occur. One day recently after finalizing my big center-fed way-up-in-the-air antenna, I was going to leave for … Read more
When I decided that I was going to put up a center-fed-with-open-wire line wire antenna for my second go at Amateur Radio after a multi-decade absence, I did the usual. Yes, probably what you have done. Some GoogleFu, and lots of reading of various “Oh yeah bro, THIS is the way you should put up … Read more