Now, I really enjoy public speaking, and I have gotten significantly better at it—almost entirely thanks to amateur radio. The hobby has taught me how to communicate articulately and precisely, something that no other extracurricular activity or experience has done.

While I’ve overcome most of my challenges with communication, many of my peers still have issues with good communication skills. As a result, how young people communicate is a frequently discussed topic among older generations. I’ve heard these questions and similar examples countless times:

• “How do young people communicate?”
• “The Snapchat photos they send each other—do those count as communication?”
• “Do young people communicate or do they just sit on their phones?”

While I can’t fully endorse all of my generation’s communication habits (I don’t think I’ll ever catch on to some of the current slang), I must say that despite the basic nature of some of these efforts (for example, half-face Snapchat photos and simply saying “six-seven” accompanied by the hand gesture, of course), they are still forms of communication. But in today’s world, verbal communication remains a very important skill regardless of your age. Amateur radio gives young people the opportunity to engage in more mature and coherent communication.

Part of the problem with young people’s communication is that when interacting with each other, they are (to an extent) forced to fit into the mold of someone their age. They feel like they must use the vocabulary and communication methods of their age group. If they do not, they will almost certainly be made fun of. More importantly, they won’t be able to effectively get their message across.

Amateur radio provides an environment in which young people can communicate with adults and practice articulating their point without using the typical slang words that are necessary in their everyday lives. It allows young people to learn how to communicate by treating the youth of the hobby like adults right out of the gate. For example, young people in amateur radio have numerous opportunities to present at events–opportunities that many other young people do not have.

During my last few years of high school, I noticed that many of my classmates were scared to have a one-on-one conversation with a teacher or even just raise their hands to talk in front of the class. This fear disappears slightly when it comes to sending an email, but a whole new set of problems arise. Many young people today struggle to communicate in contexts that require a protocol to be followed, or that require formal speech to be used. This is where amateur radio can play a role in helping improve these deficits. When having an on-air QSO, the core of the contact is always the same: signal report, location, maybe a name or a number, and then the open opportunity to take the conversation a bit further. This “script” builds the connection between effective and efficient communication, which helps teach young people how to implement that in their daily lives.

Young people can also learn how to interpret social cues from simple on-air interactions. Getting on the air and making contacts itself can be incredibly intimidating at first. To ragchew with someone, you need to be able to read social cues without the benefit of body language. This can be challenging, especially when you’re trying to determine whether you should continue the conversation or cut it off. After getting on-air experience, though, reading subtle social cues becomes almost second nature. These skills can also be applied to in-person social interactions, making them even easier with the addition of body language clues.

With all of this in mind, the next time you criticize a young person’s communication skills, remind yourself that they’re still learning. The criticism may not be entirely wrong, but it’s directed only at young people. Unlike the generations before ours, the culture of communication does not revolve around “proper” communication—rather, it’s centered on efficiency and, occasionally, pop culture. Amateur radio provides an environment in which we can practice communication without screens or emojis. Our energy is much better spent making sure we maintain this environment and keep it inviting to youth rather than criticizing how young people communicate.

The post How Ham Radio Teaches Young People to Communicate appeared first on OnAllBands.

One of my rabbit holes is highlighted every year on the fourth Saturday in April. That’s when the Ohio Section ARES sponsors NVIS Day.

You may have read my articles on EmComm—one of my amateur radio passions. Like many other niches, EmComm has some quirks about it that require unique equipment and skills. We’re not trying to reach around the world; we’re making contacts around the corner.

The antenna is at the heart of what’s different about the EmComm arena. You’re longer looking for a very low angle of takeoff but rather a steep takeoff angle. Enter the NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) antenna. Note: “Near vertical” refers to the radiation angle, not the antenna configuration.

The idea here is first-mile communications. That means getting messages and traffic “out to” and “in from” a non-affected area to the affected area of a bad day incident. This may be a state or regional relay station, your state Emergency Operations Center, or a National Traffic System net. In this situation, we’re not talking about getting the signal to the farthest station. It’s about getting it to the “right” station.

I often explain NVIS as being like a garden hose. If you take the hose and point the nozzle just a little above horizontal, you can, with great accuracy, spray your little sister sitting under a tree with her friends 35 feet away. However, if you take that same hose and nozzle and turn it 90 degrees vertically, the results are vastly different. Now everyone within ten feet gets wet, but your sister and her friends remain dry.

In the ham radio world, it works like this. I have always used horizontal wire antennas, usually in a sloper configuration of some sort. They have served me very well. I am able to check into state traffic nets, regional MARS nets, and even national CAP nets. I can pretty easily get DX contacts in North, Central and South America, Europe, and Western Africa. But Southeast Asia and VK land have eluded me.

If you’ve been reading my articles, you know I recently erected a DX Commander Signature 18 Nebula eXtreme HF Multiband Vertical Antenna. The first contact I made on it was an Australian station. Then reality set in.  Time came that day to check into the Ohio Single Side Band Net, which is a part of the National Traffic System. Opening time came and went and I could hear nothing. I could not hear a single station in the state of Ohio.

It hit home: Most of my day-to-day operating was done using NVIS! Don’t get me wrong—I am super glad to have the DX Commander and will continue to enjoy making those DX contacts with it, but it must be an addition to my NVIS system. It’s like that wrench you use less regularly but could not do without.

So this year for NVIS day, we decided to focus on two styles of antenna. We would erect the DX Engineering 8040 NVIS and the Alpha Antenna HF/VHF/UHF MagLoop EmComm. We were able to electrically separate them far enough away to have two stations operate without any complications.

The Alpha went up quite easily and worked very well. Within minutes, we were able to start making contacts. It was easily tuned, and some new loop users were able to see the benefits of its directionality. Win number one!

The DX Engineering antenna was a kit, so it took longer to erect. But being a kit, there was much opportunity for discussion and education. I will say this: If you are considering this antenna, just account for the sheer size of the footprint it has on the ground, especially the 80M dipole portion. I would say lay out an area 150 feet by 150 feet.

Being two resonant dipole antennas on one mast at 90 degrees to each other, it is very efficient. But you have to be willing to take the time to properly tune it. This is the part very few people enjoy, but it will provide you with years of enjoyment if you don’t take shortcuts. An antenna analyzer like the RigExpert STICK-PRO makes it much easier to tune the elements.

When it was all said and done, the DX Engineering antenna was erected and tuned. After lunch, final tuning was done and it was ready for use. Another nice feature of this antenna is that if your state’s EmComm plan is for, let’s say, 40 and 20M, you just tune the two dipoles for those bands. This is a great- performing antenna for making contacts all over the Midwest and beyond.  Win number two!

When you start learning about antenna theory, antenna building can become addicting. I encourage you to start experimenting with building your own antennas. Wire antennas are extremely inexpensive to build, and you can learn a ton.

Until next time, 73 de AC8OW.

The post Ohio NVIS Day 2026: A Tale of Two Different but Effective Antennas appeared first on OnAllBands.

Radio waves don’t exist in isolation. Every antenna interacts with its environment. Houses, gutters, vehicles, power lines, aluminum siding, steel towers, wet leaves, and even your neighbor’s rusty trampoline all become part of the antenna’s “neighborhood.” Whether those neighbors are helpful or troublesome depends on distance, size, conductivity, frequency, and a bit of radio magic that sometimes seems suspiciously close to black magic.

Metal Objects: Friends, Enemies & Uninvited Participants

Metal is usually the most significant environmental influence on an antenna. Conductive materials interact strongly with radio frequency energy. In many cases, nearby metal effectively becomes part of the antenna system whether you intended it or not.

A metal object near an antenna can reflect, absorb, or reradiate RF energy. This can change the antenna’s radiation pattern, feedpoint impedance, and resonant frequency. Sometimes the effects are mild. Sometimes they are dramatic enough to make an antenna behave as if a committee designed it.

A classic example is the mobile HF antenna mounted on a car. The vehicle body actually serves as part of the antenna system, acting as a ground plane or counterpoise. Remove the metal car body and performance tanks. In this case, nearby metal is beneficial.

But metal can also create problems. Suppose a vertical antenna is mounted too close to a metal gutter or tower leg. The antenna may become detuned because the nearby conductor alters the electromagnetic field around it. The resonant frequency shifts, SWR changes, and the radiation pattern may be distorted. An antenna tuned perfectly in the driveway suddenly behaves differently when installed next to the house.

This is why antenna manufacturers often recommend a minimum spacing from metal objects. A few feet can matter, especially on higher frequencies like VHF and UHF where wavelengths are shorter. At 440 MHz, a quarter wavelength is only about 6.7 inches. A nearby metal pipe or railing can have a surprisingly large effect.

HF antennas are affected as well, although the suggested distances are greater because the wavelengths are longer. A 40-meter dipole near a metal roof may experience pattern distortion, increased losses, or strange directional behavior. You might think your antenna is omnidirectional until all stations from the west disappear into the ether.

Towers & Support Structures

Ironically, antennas are often mounted on metal towers, which themselves affect performance. Tower interaction is a well-known issue in antenna design.

For example, a Yagi antenna mounted too close to a tower may develop asymmetrical radiation patterns because the tower reradiates energy. The boom-to-tower spacing matters. This is why large contest stations carefully engineer antenna placement and sometimes use nonconductive mounting sections.

At VHF and UHF, small changes in geometry can significantly alter gain and front-to-back ratio. That beautiful computer-modeled radiation pattern may vanish once real-world metal is introduced.

Of course, hams have a traditional engineering solution for this problem: “Let’s put it up and see what happens.”

Trees: Nature’s RF Sponge

Trees are more complicated than metal. They are not highly conductive like aluminum or steel, but they contain water, sap, minerals, and organic material that interact with RF energy. The result depends heavily on frequency and moisture content.

At HF frequencies, trees often have modest effects unless the antenna is literally buried in dense foliage. Many wire antennas operate reasonably well in trees. In fact, trees have supported countless dipoles, end-fed wires, loops, and experimental contraptions since the dawn of amateur radio. Entire generations of hams have considered pine trees to be legitimate antenna accessories.

However, trees are not invisible to RF. Leaves and branches absorb some energy, especially when wet. Water is particularly lossy at higher frequencies. After rainfall, antennas in trees may show measurable changes in tuning and signal strength.

At VHF, UHF, and microwave frequencies, trees become much more problematic. Dense foliage can attenuate signals significantly. A line of wet trees between two 70-centimeter stations can significantly weaken signals. Microwave operators regard trees with roughly the same affection sailors have for icebergs.

Seasonal Changes

An antenna system may behave differently throughout the year. Ever notice how UHF handheld radios work great in winter and mysteriously worse in summer? Leaves are often the culprit. A fully leafed-out forest can absorb and scatter RF energy surprisingly well.

In winter, bare branches contain less moisture and have less surface area, which can slightly improve signal propagation. In spring and summer, fresh leaves and increased sap content can increase RF absorption. This sometimes leads operators to believe their antenna has stopped working. In reality, nature redecorated the propagation path.

Rain adds another layer of complexity. Wet trees can detune nearby antennas and increase signal attenuation. If your SWR changes every time it rains, the antenna may be too close to foliage.

Multipath & Reflections

Both metal objects and trees can create multipath propagation. Signals bounce off surfaces and arrive at the receiving antenna slightly delayed and from different directions.

At HF, this effect is usually minor because ionospheric propagation dominates. For VHF and UHF, however, multipath can cause flutter, distortion, fading, or signal cancellation. For those of you old enough to remember analog TV broadcasts, they were often subject to “ghosting,” a form of multipath interference caused by signals arriving at the antenna via two or more paths with different delays. 

Urban environments filled with buildings and metal structures are notorious for this. Mobile operators often notice signals changing dramatically over just a few feet of movement. One spot gives full quieting; another has marginal reception.

Trees can contribute to scattering, especially in windy conditions. Moving branches create constantly changing reflection and absorption patterns.

Can Metal & Trees Ever Help?

Surprisingly, yes.

Metal reflectors are intentionally used in antenna design. Yagis depend on carefully positioned metal elements to shape radiation patterns and increase gain. Ground screens improve vertical antennas. Reflectors behind antennas can effectively direct RF energy.

Trees can also be useful support structures. A well-positioned dipole in a tall tree often outperforms a poorly placed antenna in the clear. Height usually matters more than perfection.

Many excellent HF antennas have lived happily among trees for decades. Understand that nearby foliage may slightly reduce efficiency or alter tuning but doesn’t necessarily ruin performance.

Sometimes operators obsess over minor environmental effects while ignoring much larger issues such as feedline loss, poor grounding, or insufficient antenna height. A mediocre antenna high in a tree often beats a perfect antenna mounted six feet above the ground next to aluminum patio furniture.

Minimizing Problems

Several practical steps can reduce environmental interaction:

• Keep antennas as far from large metal objects as practical
• Avoid running antennas parallel and very close to metal gutters or siding
• Use nonconductive support materials when possible
• Maintain clearance from dense foliage, especially at VHF/UHF
• Retune antennas after permanent installation if necessary
• Expect seasonal variation in antennas installed near trees
• Prioritize antenna height and placement over EZNEC perfection

And perhaps most importantly: test in the real world. Antenna modeling software is useful, but reality is always best.

Nothing’s Perfect

Nearby metal and trees affect antennas, sometimes dramatically. Metal objects can detune antennas, distort radiation patterns, and alter impedance. Trees can absorb RF energy, especially when wet, and become increasingly troublesome at higher frequencies.

Yet amateur radio history is filled with successful stations operating under imperfect conditions. Antennas have been installed in attics, forests, apartment balconies, and improbable backyard arrangements that appear to violate both physics and zoning regulations.

The ideal antenna site—a wide-open field with perfect conductivity and no obstructions—isn’t always available to us. Most operators learn to work with real-world compromises. In fact, much of amateur radio involves discovering how to make imperfect antennas work surprisingly well.

And if all else fails, remember the oldest antenna troubleshooting technique in existence: stare thoughtfully at the antenna, change absolutely nothing, and announce, “I think it’s working better now.”

The post Ham Radio Tech: Do Nearby Metal & Trees Significantly Affect Antennas? appeared first on OnAllBands.

OnAllBands has been featuring gear you’ll want to consider adding to your Field Day (June 27-28) essentials, including:

• Upgraded coaxial assemblies
• LiFePO4 batteries, solar panels, and generators
• Band Pass Filters
• Portable wire and vertical antennas, including DX Engineering TW Antenna packages like the one below:

Watch how fast and easy it is to deploy a TW antenna in this video from the DX Engineering YouTube channel:

Some good advice for Field Day newbies: Don’t wait until the day before the event to make sure you’ve got everything on your prep list. DX Engineering has everything you could possibly need to maximize your group’s performance on Field Day, no matter what your goals are for the weekend. While the weather and band conditions are out of our hands, here are a few other products you may want to add to your Field Day shopping list:

• Coaxial connectors
• Transceivers
• Portable masts
• Antenna analyzers
• Gear for improved audio (headsets, microphones, etc.)
• Coaxial cable prep tools
• Power supplies
• Equipment cases
• SWR/Wattmeters

Join the Star-Spangled Celebration!

This year’s Field Day theme combines America’s 250th birthday with amateur radio’s continuing role in emergency communications and public service: “Amateur Radio: A National Resource.” You can help promote amateur radio wherever you go with Field Day 2026 swag from the ARRL. Available at DX Engineering, Field Day 2026 T-shirts, ball caps, mugs, and other items let you show off your pride in America and the amateur radio service:

Also find the ARRL 2026 Field Day patch, drawstring bag, pin, notebook, and bucket hat (below) at DX Engineering.

Contest Time!

While you’re gathering what you’ll need for a successful Field Day 2026, be sure to take some time to keep your skills sharp by participating in an array of contests in June.

• ARRL International Digital Contest: June 6, 1800Z to June 7, 2400Z. Amateurs worldwide contact and exchange QSO information with other amateurs using any digital mode (excluding RTTY) that supports the 4-digit grid square exchange—attended operation only—on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and 6 meters. Technicians are limited per FCC Rules to 10 and 6 meters.
  
  
• VK Shires Contest: June 6, 0000Z to 2359Z. Per the contest website, the objective of this CW/SSB contest, sponsored by the Wireless Institute of Australia, is for amateurs around the world to contact as many “VK shires as possible in the contest period. VK amateurs are to work the world including VK, whilst the rest of the world can only work VK.”
  
  
• Atlantic Canada QSO Party: June 7, 1400Z to June 8, 0100Z. This is a fun, no-pressure contest that encourages Atlantic Canada stations to work everyone, and non-Atlantic Canada stations (U.S./Canada/DX) to work Atlantic Canada stations. Atlantic Canada stations are located in the provinces of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia—amateur radio prefixes VO1/2, VY2, VE9, and VA/VE1.
  
  
• Portugal Day Contest: June 13, 1200Z to June 14, 1200Z. This SSB/CW 80-10M event, sponsored by the Redo dos Emissores Portuguesses, is held annually in honor of Portugal Day. Portugal Day commemorates the life of poet and national literary hero Lus de Cames, who died June 10, 1580. He is most remembered for his epic poem about Portuguese history and achievements, “Os Lusiadas.” This National Day of Portugal is celebrated in communities around the globe, including several U.S. cities. The contest is open to hams worldwide.
   
• ARRL June VHF Contest: June 13, 1800Z to June 15, 0259Z. The objective is for amateurs in the U.S. and Canada to work as many stations in as many different 2-degree x 1-degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. All legal modes are permitted.
  
  
• ARRL Kids Day: June 20, 1800Z to 2359Z. Here’s a great chance to introduce a son, daughter, or grandchild to the thrill of ham radio. Why not let the young people in your life experience the same excitement you felt when making your first QSOs? ARRL Kids Day is also an important time to remind ourselves that the future of ham radio rests in getting youth pumped up about the fun and practical aspects of this great hobby.

For some great advice on encouraging young operators, read “Strategies Beyond Recruitment: A Plan to Engage Newly Licensed Hams” by OnAllBands blogger Violetta, KN2P.

• All Asian DX Contest, CW: June 20, 0000Z to June 21, 2400Z. Sponsored by the Japan Amateur Radio League, this annual event is for both Asian and non-Asian stations making CW QSOs on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
  
  
• Stew Perry Topband Challenge: June 20, 1500Z to June 21, 1500Z. Hams can enter this annual 160 meter, CW-only contest as single operator or multi-operator; high, low, or QRP power. High power is 1,500 watts output or whatever you can legally run in your country, whichever is less. Low power is 100 watts or less output. QRP is 5 watts or less, per the Stew Perry website. The challenge uniquely awards QSO point values based on distance between stations. Click here for complete rules.

Also check out these state QSO parties:

• Kentucky: June 6, 1300Z to June 7, 0100Z
• West Virginia: June 20, 1600Z to June 21, 0400Z

The post A Guide to June 2026 Ham Radio Contests—Field Day Edition appeared first on OnAllBands.

The TX9W team, which included members of the Oklahoma DX Association, logged more than 26,600 CW, SSB, FT4, FT8, and RTTY QSOs from the village of Atuona during their stay on this second largest of the Marquesas Islands, an overseas territory of France in French Polynesia. It stood as the 63^rd Most Wanted DXCC Entity worldwide (43^rd in Europe) when the DXpedition began.

Hiva Oa, the final resting place of artist Paul Gauguin, measures 124 square miles and has a population of around 2,300, most of whom live in Atuona.

(Image/TX9W)

DX Engineering was among several sponsors who helped to make this operation possible. As with many prominent DXpeditions, TX9W relied on DX Engineering branded coaxial cable as a critical component of their stations. Here’s what DX Engineering provided:

• DX Engineering RG-8X PL-259 Low-Loss 50-Ohm Coax Assemblies in lengths of 100, 50, 18, 6, and 2 feet

About DX Engineering RG-8X

This cable features a stranded copper center, braided copper shield and a non-contaminating Type IIa PVC jacket, which is good for direct bury applications. The 8X DX Series cable assemblies are intended for moderate-power HF stations or mobile applications where short runs and flexibility are key factors. Slightly larger than RG-58 cable, DX Engineering RG-8X offers better handling characteristics and very good shielding. Plus, this is the new type of foam that cannot gather moisture and has lower loss than old RG-8X foam cables.

Looking to upgrade your coaxial cables for 2026 Field Day and beyond? Click here for a wide selection of high-performance, long-lasting DX Engineering branded coax.

DX Engineering also provided a Chelegance JHEX-6 HF Six-Band Hex Beam Antenna.

Read much more about TX9W from its Facebook page and official website. From all of us at OnAllBands and DX Engineering, congratulations on a job well done!

The post TX9W Marquesas Islands Wrap-Up: DX Engineering Coaxial Cable Plays Major Role appeared first on OnAllBands.

In similar fashion, whenever we attend hamfests together, I frequently get asked how my dad managed to convince me to come along and spend my Saturday here. In an unexpected turn of events, he was, in fact, the one in need of convincing—but not a lot of it. (My parents are both shockingly patient and supportive of my seemingly odd hobby.)

Many YLs have had similar experiences. People assume they’re only attending an amateur radio event because they wanted to come along with their boyfriend, husband, dad, or whichever male family member or acquaintance accompanied them. This gets frustrating after a while. I’ve been asked more than once if I “wanted to get my callsign now,” even though I was wearing a callsign badge or was talking about what I like to do in the hobby.

Being a YL in amateur radio can be quite the experience. Fortunately, I love the hobby enough to make dealing with difficult moments worth it (although we really shouldn’t have to). After seven years in the hobby, I’ve learned that as a YL, standing one’s ground is very important. There will always be weird comments on Facebook and other social media—even in person— but standing your ground and not letting yourself be hurt by them is the best thing you can do.

If you’re finding it hard to enjoy the hobby because of encounters like these, getting involved as much as possible will help immensely. You’ll find a group of people with whom you enjoy spending time and who are supportive. Remember, you can get involved with every part of the hobby, regardless of whether it’s specifically for YLs or not, although YL-tailored events and groups can be a lot of fun as well. The YLRL (Young Ladies Radio League), for example, has a forum every year at Hamvention put on by their board (see video below). They also host quite a few YL-centered operating events throughout the year. The YLRL offers a worldwide group of YLs whose goal is to make the hobby more welcoming for women and to help them find communities they fit into.

In addition to the YLRL’s operating events, there are plenty of others—and the numbers keep growing.

The YLWWA (YL World Wide Award) took place in March. Modeled after the WWA, it was a very successful event. The objective was to make the participating YL operators the receiving ends of pileups for the week. I speak for the vast majority of the YL activators when I say that it did just that. In addition to having the opportunity to run seemingly endless pileups, there was an active group chat so we could support and encourage each other. The atmosphere in the group chat was very positive and fostered many friendships that will last much longer than the YLWWA week did.

Forming friendships with other YLs has been one of the most rewarding parts of the hobby for me. From local YL friends (even some at my high school who got their licenses) to YL friends who live countries or even continents away, the YLs that I know in amateur radio push me to be the best I can be, both in amateur radio and outside of the hobby. They make up an incredibly supportive group of women. Making friends with other YLs will definitely help you enjoy the hobby more. Of course, you shouldn’t feel like you need to limit your amateur radio friend group to just YLs.

I remember attending my first Hamvention with my parents before having “found my circle” at ten years old. By chance, the first forum we attended was conducted by a young YL only a few years older than me. She was giving a presentation about activities she had done with her local club. This was, more or less, the first time I had seen a YL this involved with the hobby. Here was someone I could imagine following in their footsteps.

At that moment, I knew I wanted to continue to pursue the hobby and inspire other young YLs like she had inspired me. I went on to present at the same youth forum as well as a few others, always keeping in mind that when I do a presentation, I have the opportunity to encourage another young YL who may be unsure about getting into such a heavily STEM-focused and male-dominated hobby. Having that privilege and the platform to do this has become one of my favorite parts of the hobby, and it serves as a source of motivation for me now.

The way today’s YLs speak about, portray, and take part in amateur radio shapes how future generations of YLs can and will be involved in the hobby. You never know when a young YL in your audience is looking for someone to relate to. While navigating being a YL can be frustrating, having an opportunity like this makes any of the potential challenges worth it. 

The post How to Navigate Being a YL in Amateur Radio appeared first on OnAllBands.

***

DX Engineering’s Facebook page recently posed this question to its readers:

HOA restrictions? Small space? What antenna setup is actually working for you?

A flurry of excellent responses followed. Here are just a few:

• “I use the Alpha Antenna HOA Buster Gutter Antenna and an end-fed random wire, but I paint the wire the color of the location to make it blend in or hide in a tree. But where I have a tall white fence, I just paint my wire white. I’m one of those ‘switch from time to time’ operators: use the gutter for a couple months, switch to the random wire for a couple months, so I use both at my station.”

• “I have the Hustler 6BTV Antenna in the backyard with 64 radials buried. If anyone complains put an American flag on it. It would look just like a flagpole.”

The Hustler 6BTV 6-Band (80/40/30/20/15/10M) 24-Foot Vertical Antenna performs well in restricted spaces when installed with radial wires. It provides automatic selection of bands through optimum-Q traps, which are individually and precisely tuned and internally sealed. These traps are parallel-tuned circuits, which provide very effective isolation between the vertical sections, permitting precise multiband operation. The 6BTV has a power rating of 1,500W SSB/1,000W CW.

• “I have a couple dipoles up, but to my surprise the favorite antenna is a Hustler Vertical 5BTV.”

Get all the details about properly installing radial wires and so much more about maximizing your Hustler antenna in the 60-page DX Engineering 4BTV, 5BTV, 6BTV Instruction Manual.

• “Started with a Butternut HF6V painted brown to blend in with existing trees. Moved to a larger lot with numerous trees. I have a 75-meter full-wave loop, a two-element 20-meter quad that is fixed to the northwest, and a 160-meter half-wave inverted-L. All are number 14 Home Depot household wire antennas. 45 years and not detected by HOA. Be creative.”

• “Comet CHA-250HD for the win!! Vertical antenna and no radials. Worked over 150 countries!!”

• “I have 20-meter ham sticks in a dipole configuration about 18 feet and talk fairly well when the band is in my favor with 100 watts.”

• “A Diamond X50A in the attic and a Chameleon EMCOMM II between two trees in the yard.”

• “I live in one room at an assisted living center. I have an ATAS-25 tripod antenna standing just inside my window. I do CW every day with another old guy still living in the outside world.”

• “I use a homemade 20M inverted-V center-fed dipole in my attic that tunes 10, 15, 17, and 40M with the IC-7300 internal tuner. Does well in the U.S. and DX.”

Also, read these OnAllBands articles about dealing with HOA amateur radio limitations:

• “Antennas for HOA Restricted Residences”
• “Ham Radio Operating Accommodations for Seniors Part 2: Retirement Communities”
• Act Now! Tell Your Lawmakers to Support the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act.”

The post What Amateur Radio Antenna Do You Use in Your HOA or When Space is Limited? appeared first on OnAllBands.

Noise on the air isn’t one of them.

But like many aspects of amateur radio, finding the ideal ways to manage RFI on Field Day gives us the opportunity to flex our problem-solving muscles and tackle challenges that can make us better hams.

Remember how excited Ralphie’s “Old Man” gets when he needs to fix a flat tire in a “Christmas Story”? For those who approach amateur radio curveballs with the same enthusiasm, Field Day is like Christmas in June. But don’t forget a magnetic tray to keep your antenna hardware in place:

Also read about “Christmas Story” narrator/author, radio personality, humorist, and ham Jean Shepherd, K2ORS (SK), in this article.

Before we get into today’s post (Part 4 of our prepping for ARRL Field Day 2026 series), here are some resources from OnAllBands’ archive of Field Day articles regarding ways to deal with RFI. Click on the links below for insights on how to get the most out of the big weekend, June 27-28, 2026:

• “Noise Management on Field Day”
• “RF Management in the Field”
• “Minimizing Interference on Field Day”
• “Setting Up Multiple Antennas? Four Tips on Avoiding Interference”

Also, check out this excellent article from the May 2026 issue of “QST” magazine by Conrad, N2YCH, “Station Setup Techniques to Prevent Field Day RFI.” The article features Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO, who noted, among other advice, the importance of having an “RF-quiet environment” and following the guidance of Ward Silver, N0AX, in his book, ARRL’s “Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur, 2^nd Edition.” 

If you’re not sure of what’s best for your setup, another great resource is the team at DX Engineering—operators who have spent a lifetime mitigating noise issues on Field Day. You’ll also find an array of products at DX Engineering designed to help you make Field Day operating as successful as possible.

DX Engineering HF QRP Band Pass Filters

These filters are designed to confine both transmitted and received signals to one specific amateur band. They significantly reduce out‑of‑band noise, resulting in a noticeably lower noise floor and improved weak‑signal reception. Each filter features a sharp roll‑off just outside the band edges, providing exceptional rejection of adjacent‑band signals and maintaining maximum operating efficiency for QRP applications.

Offered for 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters, they install easily in line with the coax feedline using the BNC connectors provided on each end. With power ratings of 20W SSB and 5W digital, they are ideal for QRP enthusiasts participating in multi‑operator events such as Field Day, POTA, and SOTA.

Check out this document displaying the response curves of each DX Engineering QRP band pass filter (10M example below).

VA6AM Engineering Band Pass Filters

If pre-event testing reveals your radio has a problem, the noise needs to be filtered at the transmitter. This can be accomplished with band pass filters. DX Engineering carries band pass filters from several highly regarded providers, including VA6AM Engineering.

We’ll let Sean, a DX Engineering customer, explain why VA6AM band pass filters may be right for your Field Day setup:

“I have tried cheaper BPFs from other places. These are truly ‘You get what you pay for.’ I have three BPFs from VA6AM: 10, 15, and 20. I have used them independently and also with the multiplexer. They work flawlessly—no detectable interference across bands at all, even from the same antenna. With this setup I can run three radios at the same time to a multiband antenna, like a hexbeam or fan-dipole. It’s a great system—great for Field Day or as we do for multiple people doing POTA at the same time.”

Filters from Pavel, VA6AM, are multi-stage inline passive electronic devices designed to specifically limit the transmitting and receiving RF passband to a single amateur band. They dramatically lower the noise floor for enhanced single-band weak signal reception perfect for DXing, contesting, and Field Day operations. Used individually on monoband radio and antenna combinations, these filters provide the isolation required to eliminate image and harmonic RF interference issues for dedicated monoband operations in multi-radio environments.

Built into durable aluminum enclosures and supplied with SO-239 connectors, these filters boast 60 dB of out-of-band suppression, typical insertion loss of less than 0.25 dB, and return loss of less than 26 dB, equivalent to SWR under 1.1:1.

The filters allow multiple transceivers to be operated on different bands simultaneously on the same antenna with use of a VA6AM HF multiplexer (diplexer: 80/40M; triplexers: 20/15/10M, 80/40/20M, or 160/80/40M). In addition, the VA6AM Split Diplexer covers 20/15/10M and 160/80/40M.

VA6AM 150W PEP band bass filters are available for 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.

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Antennas-Amplifiers Band Pass Filters

Also visit DXEngineering.com for monoband (160-10M, including WARC bands and 60M) band pass filters from Antennas-Amplifiers.

Designed for both reception and transmission, the filters boast a low insertion loss and are designed to significantly suppress out-of-band interference. They are enclosed in a robust powdercoated aluminum enclosure and come equipped with silver-plated SO-239 connectors, ensuring minimal SWR and high attenuation of out-of-band signals.

Visit DX Engineering for other band pass filter options: 4O3A XL Series High-Power Band Pass Filters (4,500W 160-6M, including WARC bands) and 200W PEP RF Meca Band Pass Filters (160-10M, including WARC bands).

Also explore the use of ferrite snap-on beads available in kits at DX Engineering, as well as use of common-mode chokes where the feedline attaches to station equipment. DX Engineering carries its own branded versions of 50-ohm and 75-ohm high CMI receive feedline chokes and models from these and other manufacturers:

• REZ Antenna Systems
• COMTEK
• InnovAntennas

Also find ferrite RFI suppression kits at DX Engineering.

Stay tuned. OnAllBands will be featuring more gear to get you fully prepared for Field Day 2026!

The post Guide to Prepping for ARRL Field Day 2026: Part 4, Band Pass Filters appeared first on OnAllBands.

Enter the Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System (NBEMS).

NBEMS is an open-source software package that allows licensed amateurs to send data via RF. You’ll need a computer running Windows, Mac or Linux, and an analog transceiver. No additional software is required beyond the NBEMS suite. You will have to install the manufacturer’s COM port drivers for your transceiver prior to connecting the transceiver to the computer.

Additionally, if your transceiver has a built-in soundcard, there is no other hardware needed. If you have an older transceiver without a built-in soundcard, then you will need an external soundcard inline between your computer and your transceiver.

The DigiRig Digital Mode and Radio Control Interface is a great unit that can even provide PTT and rig control in addition to the soundcard feature.

NBEMS is a free download that can be located with a simple internet search. For the most functionality, be sure to download the entire suite. This will ensure that you not only have the actual messaging software but all templates and rig control configurations. Setting up the software is just like any other interfacing software. Audio points to the soundcard and rig control points to the newly installed COM port. You choose the correct rig control command set.

Once everything is installed and set up, you are ready to start receiving, sending, and passing traffic. Typically, with this software, there is an established frequency, mode, and speed which is published ahead of time. The agency or net control will typically open the net as appropriate, and you will simply “check in” using your keyboard just like you would on a voice net.

The nice thing about this software is that not only can you send and receive messages, but you can fill out forms that are stored within the software library. There are many forms including NIMS, GIS, ARRL and many others that may be used in an emergency or disaster situation. They are formatted to be transmitted and received within the framework of NBEMS.

Again, these messages and forms are being sent free of any infrastructure. Additionally, you can encode and decode RTTY and CW using this suite. On a rare occasion, I have participated in disaster relief CW nets using NBEMS.

It truly is a powerful tool, and I encourage anyone who is involved in EmComm to become fluent with it. By using NBEMS and WinLink, your served agency should never be left in the dark when communicating with Higher Headquarters.

Until next time, 73 de AC8OW.

The post Ham Radio EmComm Insights: A Look at the Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System appeared first on OnAllBands.

The truth, as usual in ham radio, lies somewhere between engineering and sorcery.

End-fed antennas have become popular because they solve a problem nearly every amateur eventually faces: How do you get an HF antenna on the air when you do not have enough space, towers, trees, or cooperative neighbors? The appeal is obvious. One wire. One support point. Easy installation.

In other words, the end-fed antenna is the radio equivalent of duct tape. It may not be elegant, but it gets the job done.

The Good

The biggest advantage of an end-fed antenna is simplicity. A half-wave wire fed at one end can be installed in places where center-fed antennas become impractical. If you only have one tall tree instead of two, an end-fed may be your solution. Toss a wire into the air, connect a matching transformer, and suddenly you are working stations hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Portable operators love end-fed antennas. Hikers, Parks on the Air® enthusiasts, and emergency communicators appreciate that an end-fed antenna packs easily in a go-kit. A lightweight wire and transformer can be deployed quickly, without requiring much hardware or patience to assemble.

Another benefit is versatility. Many end-fed half-wave antennas can operate on multiple bands with relatively low SWR. A 40-meter end-fed half-wave, for example, may also work reasonably well on 20, 15, and 10 meters. That makes it attractive to operators who want multiband capability without having to build separate antennas for each band.

And despite endless Internet arguments, end-fed antennas often work surprisingly well. Sometimes very well. Hams love debating theory, but the station on the other side of the QSO only cares whether your signal arrives above the noise. Many operators have earned DXCC, worked contests, and broken pileups using nothing more than an end-fed hanging from a branch.

Stealth is another huge benefit. Thin antenna wire is nearly invisible. In neighborhoods controlled by homeowners’ associations, where a visible antenna may trigger emergency HOA meetings and dramatic Facebook posts, an end-fed can quietly disappear into the trees. Some operators hide their antennas so effectively that even they can’t find them.

The Bad

Unfortunately, the laws of physics eventually come into play. The biggest issue with end-fed antennas is that “end-fed” does not mean “magic.” The current still needs a return path. In a center-fed dipole, the currents balance naturally between the two halves of the antenna. In an end-fed system, the radio, feedline, ground, counterpoise, or random household wiring may become part of the antenna whether you intended it or not.

This is where common-mode current enters the story like an uninvited guest. Without proper choking or grounding, RF current can travel down the outside of the coax shield. The feedline radiates. Computer speakers begin reproducing conversations from stations in Djibouti. Motion sensors activate mysteriously at 2 a.m. Don’t blame the antenna—the problem is poor management of RF currents.

Matching can also be tricky. The feedpoint impedance of an end-fed half-wave antenna is very high, often several thousand ohms. That is why most systems require a transformer, commonly a 49:1 or 64:1 unun. If the transformer is poorly designed, losses increase and heat becomes a problem.

In ham radio, the phrase “the transformer gets a little warm” often translates to “you may want to keep a fire extinguisher nearby.”

Bandwidth can present another issue. Some end-fed antennas exhibit narrow operating ranges, especially on lower bands. Operators may find themselves adjusting tuners or compromising on performance.

Then there’s the matter of noise. End-fed antennas sometimes pick up more local electrical noise than balanced antennas. Because the feed system may interact with nearby wiring and structures, urban operators occasionally discover their antenna receives every switching power supply within three counties. If you have ever heard a mysterious buzzing sound every evening precisely at sunset, congratulations. Somewhere nearby, an LED fixture is preparing to light up the darkness.

The Ugly

The ugly side of end-fed antennas is the mythology surrounding them. Few antenna types inspire more exaggerated advertising claims. Reading some product descriptions, one might conclude that a 29-foot wire and a magic 9:1 unun can outperform a full-size beam on every band simultaneously, while also curing lower back pain and improving your memory.

Reality is less dramatic. No end-fed antenna can repeal the laws of antenna physics—a compromised antenna is still compromised. Efficiency, radiation pattern, and losses still matter. A short wire on 80 meters remains a short wire on 80 meters, no matter how convincing the marketing language becomes.

Another ugly truth is that many operators install end-fed antennas with absolutely no understanding of counterpoises, choking, or RF management. The results can be unsettling. Entire stations are accidentally included in the radiating system. At lower power, this may cause mild weirdness. At higher power, it becomes a science fiction event.

Stories abound of operators triggering touch lamps, rebooting computers, opening garage doors, and causing voice assistants to respond to random RF noise. Somewhere, at this very moment, an end-fed antenna is probably convincing a smart refrigerator to lower the temperature in the vegetable bin.

Portable operators sometimes discover another ugly reality: support trees are not always cooperative. The classic “throw a line over a branch” technique occasionally evolves into “throw a line over every branch except the correct one.” Entire afternoons have disappeared while hams attempt to rescue ropes, weights, and their dignity from trees.

And then there is the operator confidence effect. Once a ham successfully works DX with a wire installed at a ridiculous angle, they begin to believe antenna geometry no longer matters. Soon, the antenna resembles modern abstract art. The wire droops across fences, zigzags through trees, loops around gutters, and terminates somewhere suspiciously close to the barbecue grill.

The operator proudly declares, “Works great!” And somehow—annoyingly—it often does.

Final Thoughts

End-fed antennas are not miracle devices. They are practical tools with real strengths and real compromises. When properly designed and installed—with adequate choking, grounding, and realistic expectations—they can perform remarkably well. For many operators, especially those with limited space or portable operating needs, end-fed antennas open the door to HF operating that might otherwise be impossible.

These antennas are approachable, affordable, and effective. But they also reward understanding. The more you learn about feedlines, impedance transformation, common-mode current, and antenna placement, the better your end-fed antenna will behave.

In amateur radio, there is an old truth: Every antenna is a compromise. End-fed antennas compromise in particularly creative ways.

The post End-Fed Antennas for Amateur Radio: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly appeared first on OnAllBands.