Understanding SWR
This decades-old video from Bell Labs gives the best explanation of SWR (standing wave ratio) I have ever seen. I enjoyed it so much I thought I would share it here.
Category how-to
Synchronizing Logs Between WSJT-X and JTDX
After conversations with friends in the WVDXA, I’ve begun using JTDX for working DX on FT8. Upon launching JTDX, however, I was immediately annoyed at the fact that it knew nothing about the thousands of QSOs I had already made…
How I Passed the Amateur Extra Exam – And How You Can, Too
Once I earned my General license in January of 2021, I didn’t imagine I would ever go for an Extra license. I heard several people say that the Amateur Extra exam was significantly more difficult than the General exam. And…
Designing a QSL Card with Google Sheets
For my first several weeks making contacts on FT8, in order to keep things simple I limited myself to making contacts with other hams who confirm QSLs via Logbook of the World. Now that I’m expanding into SSB I’ve started…
Lessons learned building my first VHF/UHF tape measure antenna
As soon as I got my Technician’s license and my first radio (a Yaesu FT-70DR), I set out to build one of the VHF / UHF (2m / 70cm) tape measure Yagi antennas I had been reading about online. This…
