Editor’s Note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in the National Contest Journal from 2008-11 and updated with current information, offer valuable insights for both contesters new and old.

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I’ve been off the air again lately, this time due to a lightning strike. The last few months have been all about troubleshooting and rebuilding the station for the next wave of contests. Some of the work got me to thinking about the importance of basic technical skills to the successful contester.

Who You Gonna Call?

The technical skill set of amateurs has certainly changed over time, and the contesting sub-hobby is no different. Today’s contester probably spends more time solving computer-related problems than he or she does repairing radios, amplifiers, and antennas.

Computer care and maintenance for the contest station is probably a large enough topic for a separate article. However, the need for some basic fundamental technical skills has not gone away. This is particularly true for the traveling contester, who may not have any option but to perform field repairs himself when something goes wrong. We’re not talking about designing your own transceiver now, but about basic troubleshooting and technical skills which are valuable to contesters at every level of the game.

Learning “which end of the soldering iron to grab” is time well spent. Not only will you be able to make your own repairs when necessary, it can also save you a lot of money. Even if you prefer to use “plug and play” components in your station, you can save a bundle (pun intended) by making your own cables.

Most importantly, you will have a better chance of recovering if something breaks down during a contest.

The Bench

Start off right by building a workbench where you can store and manage tools, parts, and test equipment. Don’t make the mistake that I did for years—working on the floor. I used to just grab whatever was broken, place it on the floor, and start tearing into the project. Before long, I had parts and tools scattered all over the place, and it was also very painful on the lower back. Buy or build a table dedicated to electronics work. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I use a standard 6′ x 3′ office table. I’ve covered a section of it with an anti-static mat. Some kind of anti-static mat is a requirement these days, as many components have devices which are sensitive to static discharge.

Convenient access to electrical power is also a must for powering test equipment and other devices. Don’t forget a good bright light overhead. A magnifying lamp is also very helpful. I need a bright light and magnifier more every year, as my eyesight continues to deteriorate with age.

Another item to consider is storage for parts and cables. The small multi-drawer parts bins are handy for small components, and I like hooks on the wall for cable management.

Some space for test equipment documentation and other manuals is also necessary. Consider an L-shaped arrangement, with one space for test equipment and gear, and the other for schematic diagrams and other documentation. All areas must be well lit. Many test benches today include a computer and monitor arrangement for looking up parts and zooming in on schematic diagrams.

The Soldering Station

Those of us who started ham radio during the Heathkit era have a leg up on today’s amateur when it comes to soldering skills. My first radios were an HW-7, then an HW-101, both of which I built as a young teenager. I made hundreds of poor solder connections using a brass wood burner as a soldering iron. It was amazing that the equipment worked at all.

Years later, I met people who were technicians by trade, and they showed me the right way to solder and work with electronics equipment. Try to find someone who can show you the basics of soldering, and who can help you learn the right way to solder. There are some soldering tutorial videos on the internet which can also be helpful. I recommend investing in a decent temperature-controlled soldering station, as opposed to a Weller “gun” type or simple pencil iron. The right size tip and proper amount of heat make a lot of difference in successful soldering outcomes.

Get a few different sizes of solder and spend some practice time soldering different sizes of wire and components. Soldering is not rocket science, but it does require some practice to do properly. Soldering is a fundamental skill which is used in many parts of station construction. Once you have the basics down, I recommend trying to build a simple kit.

While Heathkit is no longer with us, there are still many useful ham shack accessories available in kit form. While there are many new alternatives to soldering available now to the ham, the astute contester will learn how to make his own high-quality soldered connections. I understand that there are top contesters who have hand-soldered every connector in their stations. That’s a LOT of connectors, and a lot of work. They must understand the importance of soldering hundreds of PL-259s correctly, every time. The old adage, “if you want something done right, do it yourself” also applies here.

Test Equipment

If you have testing equipment such as a multimeter, it’s worth spending some time to read the manual that came with it and learn how to use every available function properly. Learn the difference between how to connect a voltmeter versus an ammeter. Study and develop a basic understanding of the differences in AC and DC behavior.

Other test equipment useful to the contester includes an RF signal generator, a function generator, and an oscilloscope. Armed with these tools, it is possible to perform a lot of basic troubleshooting on a large variety of equipment.

Be cautious when buying used test equipment. While there are some good deals to be had, you want to be sure that the unit is operating within its published specifications and includes all necessary probes.

No ham shack bench would be complete without some type of antenna analyzer such as those available from RigExpert and Comet.

Vector network analyzers (VNAs) are available to the serious antenna enthusiast in a range of frequency range capabilities.

Troubleshooting Techniques

The simplest (and most common) of any test done while troubleshooting is the continuity check. Knowing how to test continuity can solve myriad problems and is often the only test needed to make a complete diagnosis. Signal tracing is probably the second most important. A continuity check is actually a type of signal tracing, in its most elemental form (apply current at one point and see if it reaches the other side). Signal tracing is where we inject a known value of AF or RF energy into a circuit and check various points along the circuit to see if the various stages are behaving the way they are supposed to. An AF or RF signal generator or function generator is used as the source, and an oscilloscope is generally used to trace the signal through the circuit.

I would be remiss not to mention a troubleshooting technique that has worked more than once for me. I have “repaired” broken radios using the following procedure. After removing the covers and inspecting the chassis carefully, I gently loosen and then re-tighten every screw which holds a circuit board to the chassis. There can be several dozen or even hundreds of screws in a modern transceiver. After checking and tightening every chassis screw, the next step is to remove and re-seat every inter-connecting cable inside the radio.

Again, there can be dozens of these in a modern transceiver, and some of the connectors are small and rather fragile. Use good lighting and proceed slowly and carefully. The idea behind this “fix” is to break through any oxidation barriers that have developed between connector pins and/or circuit board paths to the chassis ground. You might be surprised how often this fixes a problem.

The Little Things

Over the years, I have found several little items which make life at the workbench easier. I remember the day that a technician friend first showed me how to use shrink wrap tubing. I have since become a big fan of this material. Now my cables have a professional finished look, and I no longer have sticky globs of electrical tape at every junction. Be sure to get a couple of sets of clip leads—they are very handy, and no workbench is complete without them. A prototyping board is very useful for spinning up a quick test project. (My biggest problem is getting a finished project off of the prototyping board and into a decent chassis and enclosure.)

A label maker is very handy for labeling cables, parts drawers, and homebrew equipment panels. Take the time to learn how to properly solder PL-259 cables. It takes some practice, but with the right tools it can be done right. There are also crimp-style PL-259 connectors and DX Engineering’s crimp/solder variety.

Another thing every workbench needs is a collection of various types of connectors and adapters. Just when I think I have every possible combination that I could need, I wind up needing some other type of adapter. A good collection of phone, “RCA,” and RF connectors of both genders is a nice place to start.

Documentation

I could probably write an entire article on station documentation, but that will have to wait for another time. I do want to mention the importance of documenting your troubleshooting adventures. It is best to write things down shortly after they happen, before that “secret technique” discovered in the heat of the moment gets lost to the memory bit bucket. I like to keep a log of all repair projects. It helps me a lot when a problem recurs but also helps me to share my discoveries with other hams who may have encountered the same problem. I have received LOTS of help from other hams in keeping my station running. So please document your work—you never know when you might be able to help out a fellow contester. I repaired an Alpha 87A amplifier by replacing the transmit PIN diodes. Every step was documented and shared publicly. The resulting document has helped several others repair their amplifiers.

Learning Resources

The ARRL bookshelf is full of articles regarding technical troubleshooting. The “Hints and Kinks” series of articles from “QST” are very useful. For a deeper look into the theory and practical application of electronics, I recommend the “Hands On Radio” series by Ward, N0AX. Ward does an excellent job of taking us through a variety of circuit types.

Probably the best resource that I can recommend is to find a technician in your area who is willing to help show you the ropes. There is no substitute for learning from a skilled technician. YouTube videos are a good alternative for those with no one locally available.

That’s all for this installment. See you on the bands, and don’t forget to submit your log to the sponsor, no matter how many QSOs you made. It helps you, helps the sponsor, and helps the sport of contesting

The post Contesting 101: Building a Workbench & Basic Ham Radio Troubleshooting Techniques appeared first on OnAllBands.

Why was this premier amateur radio provider from Sicily, Italy, positioned so close to DX Engineering? Well, it wasn’t by accident. DX Engineering began selling Momobeam’s world-renowned Yagis; end-fed wire antennas; and choke baluns, RF chokes, and RF choke line insulators through an agreement with the company in 2025.

“Momobeam antennas are trusted by amateur operators everywhere for improved contesting, optimized DXing, and an exceptional on-air experience,” said Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO. “DX Engineering is excited to bring these finely engineered and well-built antennas to our customers. Our team looks forward to a long and successful relationship with the professionals at Momobeam.”

Here’s a summary of the three Momobeam HF directional Yagis that drew attendees to their Hamvention booth:

• PENTA10 Five-Band HF Yagi: This popular antenna offers a compact footprint while delivering full-size performance across 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters—all through a single feedline. Optimized element spacing ensures exceptional gain, directivity, and on-air results. Plus, enjoy long-term durability and a clean, professional appearance.

Quick Specs: 10 elements, 12.8-foot boom length, 19.35-foot turning radius, 10kW power handling, 3kW RF choke balun included.

• DUO7 6/10M Dual-Band HF Yagi: This Yagi for 6 and 10 meters has an antenna boom length of 6.88 feet and weighs only 17.6 lbs., making it ideal for portable operations and installations where space is limited. Enjoy hassle-free setup with no calibration and excellent performance, with SWR below 1.5:1 across both bands. Its no-compromise design has seven elements fed through a single feedpoint.

Quick Specs: 9.84-foot turning radius, 10kW power handling, no balun included.

• Mono3-6P 6 Meter Yagi: This antenna for operation on the Magic Band weighs only 4.2 lbs. and has a boom length of 3.6 feet. Its field-ready design makes it perfect for POTA and SOTA activations. It offers impressive gain, excellent front-to-back performance, and a flat SWR curve of less than 1.5:1 across the 6M band. Designed for rapid deployment, it uses wing nuts to enable fast, tool-free assembly and disassembly.

Quick Specs: 3 elements, 5.6-foot turning radius, 3kW power handling, no balun included.

Mark Pride, K1RX, Momobeam North American representative,

graciously took a few minutes with OnAllBands to discuss the world-class mechanical design elements that separate Momobeam’s directional antennas from the competition.

“One of the major elements in the mechanical design is we use a square boom,” said K1RX. “With a square boom_, depending on the type of antenna, if it’s a large multi-element Yagi it might be a four-inch size or less, like a two-inch for the Penta. The square boom in combination with stainless steel hardware and the precision-machined components really does differentiate us from all the other people out there.”

“Something also to note is the plates that hold the elements to the boom. The bolt holes are set up such that when you put a bolt right next to the wall of the square boom, there’s no gap, so it eliminates any kind azimuth type of rotation off the boom. And if you put the plate on wrong, you’ll end up with a situation where the bolt holes don’t line up and you’ll know immediately that, okay, that’s not done properly. But the instructions are such that it’s very clear that you won’t make that mistake.”

“There’s high-quality UV-rated materials on the insulators for all the elements. Elements are suspended below the boom, which is probably the best mechanical method for mounting elements.”

“There’s properly telescoped tubing. The mounting of the elements, the way they’re connected through the telescopic plate, is we use a single bolt—stainless steel—and the outer tubing has a larger diameter than the inside tube. The objective there is you want to be able to pull one wall of that tubing against the other, as opposed to trying to put a bolt through the entire element. What happens is you end up with a loose element. It doesn’t quite compress, but by having a larger hole where the head of the bolt will actually sit, it causes the two walls to compress with no issue at all.

“So, you have an excellent electrical connection. And, of course, that in combination with Penetrox or a conductor grease, which DX Engineering sells, it’s again another perfect marriage. That’s a good recipe for success.”

Also, take a moment to watch this video of Mark, K1RX, being interviewed by Tim, K3LR:

The post A Few Words from Momobeam about the Mechanical Design of Its HF Directional Antennas appeared first on OnAllBands.

I had the opportunity to attend the fair for the first time in 2024 with my father. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to come back this year after spending the year in Germany. This allowed me to compare the experiences before and after having learned to speak German.

For anyone wondering how the fair compares to Dayton Hamvention® or HamCation, it’s very similar, although completely indoors. It’s slightly smaller (especially on the swap end of things) than these two, but a little larger than the Huntsville Hamfest.

One of the biggest differences is how culturally diverse it is in comparison to the hamfests and events that take place in the US. While major gatherings like Hamvention and HamCation have at least a little bit of international attendance, this is exponentially higher in Friedrichshafen due to the simplicity of travel between countries in Europe. It’s completely normal to stroll through the event and hear conversations in four or five different languages as you walk past, which is, for me, one of the coolest parts of the conference.

The youth hostel is also a big difference from the structure of hamfests in the US, but for good reasons. Like in 2024, I stayed in the youth hostel (“HamCamp”) that is offered at the fair. The event is held at a retired Zeppelin hangar, which makes the facility perfect in the sense that it has multiple halls for various parts of the event (e.g., forum halls, vendor halls, swap meet halls, and one dedicated specifically to hosting young attendees).

While the accommodations aren’t the most luxurious, they do make the trip much more affordable for young people who would like to attend. Even more importantly, this arrangement helps you meet lots of other young attendees and get to know them. I met numerous young hams who I’ve been friends with on Instagram for years or have talked to on the air but never met in person. This is always one of my favorite parts of the weekend.

To make the most out of the weekend, I arrived on the Thursday before the conference started.  After “moving in” to the hostel, I went out and grabbed dinner with some of the others who were staying in the HamCamp. After dinner, we went for a walk by Lake Constance and enjoyed ice cream as we caught up with old friends and made new ones.

Friday morning came with an early wakeup call so we could get ready for the day and be there before the halls opened to the public. We made it right on time and finished setting up the YOTA (Youngsters on the Air) booth before the fair opened. I made sure to say hello to all my acquaintances before fitting in the YOTA contest and camp announcement ceremonies. After the fair closed, we finished off the day with the YOTA dinner at a nearby restaurant and headed back to the hostel to chat with each other a bit more.

Saturday was just as exciting, with the official YOTA meeting taking place. Many new youngsters joined the hostel since they were done with school for the week. After a full day of enjoying the conference, most of us headed to the Bavarian Contest Club (BCC) dinner and then went out for a bit of sightseeing by the lake. On Sunday, we all got up early to enjoy the last few hours of the conference before heading our separate ways—at least until WRTC (World Radiosport Team Championship) the next week…or the YOTA camp in Austria!

While Ham Radio Friedrichshafen is very different from the conferences that I’ve attended in the US, there are always a few constants. The most important one (to me, at least) is the atmosphere of finally being together with friends from all over the world who share your interests and hobbies. After attending an event like Friedrichshafen, I always find myself looking forward to the next radio event and wanting to get on the air more, which I know is the case for many other young operators.

While it was definitely not necessary for me to enjoy the conference, my German language skills made this year especially fun. I’m already looking forward to attending (hopefully) in 2027!

The post Looking Back at Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2026 appeared first on OnAllBands.

That all changed this summer, thanks to a couple of surgeries—one planned, the other not so much. Suddenly, my portable operating adventures were put on hold, and I found myself spending a lot more time at home.

So, I decided it was time to flip the script and talk about transitioning from activating to hunting.

This won’t be an all-inclusive “how-to-do-it” type of article. Instead, I’ll be sharing thoughts on hunting from my perspective, along with some tips on setting up a home shack, finding the time to operate, and a few of the tools and utilities I’ve found useful along the way.

Of course, hunting from your perspective may be quite different. That’s one of the things I enjoy about amateur radio—there’s rarely only one way to do something. But perhaps you’ll pick up a tip or two that will help you.

The Home Shack

This section assumes that you may not already have a home station, so if you do, feel free to skip ahead.

The home shack is wherever you can set it up. One of my friends uses his kitchen table. It works very well for him, but I consider myself extremely blessed to have a dedicated room that serves as both my office and my ham shack.

Over the past 40-plus years, I’ve set up stations in basements and on above-ground floors of the house. I must say, though, that I much prefer having a window to the world. There’s just something about being able to see outside while I’m working or on the air.

At its most basic, all you really need for a ham shack is a place for the radio, a source of electricity, and a way to get your antenna wires outside. That last one can be a challenge, especially for apartment dwellers. Just ask another friend of mine about that!

Electricity is usually the easy part. You no longer need to have a dedicated electrical line run to your shack just to get on the air. Today’s radios are remarkably efficient, and a typical station can operate quite comfortably from a standard household circuit.

Of course, as your ham radio addiction—and it is an addiction—progresses, you may start thinking about adding an amplifier. Whether you’re talking about an HF amplifier or something for VHF/UHF, that’s when it might be time to have a conversation with your electrician about whether your existing electrical service can handle the additional load.

As for the location, the usual rules apply. You’ll want a spot that’s somewhat removed from the noise and activity of the house, but not so far removed that the kids start asking who that person is when you wander out of the shack at dinnertime.

Normal heating and cooling are also a must. As a teenager, my first ham shack was an uninsulated attic. You couldn’t pay me to do that again!

Finding the Time

After spending so much time at home, you might think that you’d have nothing but time to operate. But isn’t it funny how quickly free time slips away as life happens?

I know what you’re thinking: Just take all the time you used to spend activating parks and hunt instead.

Yeah, I found out real quick that it doesn’t work that way.

When you’re an activator, you generally have a specific goal. You pack up the radio, drive to a park, set up your station, make your contacts, tear everything down, and head home. There’s a beginning and an end to the operation.

Hunting from home is different. The radio is always there, waiting for you. You can sit down for five minutes, or you can spend the entire afternoon. And, somehow, those five minutes can disappear without you realizing it.

Amateur radio is one of the greatest ways I know to spend time, but life has a way of sneaking in. There are always chores to be done, projects waiting for attention, and someone who needs you to do something right now.

I’m still trying to find the right balance between the things I need to do and the things I want to do. But I’m also discovering that hunting can fit into those small pieces of available time in a way that activating sometimes can’t.

And that’s probably one of the biggest advantages of having a home station.

Plug-ins & Utilities

There are plenty of tools available to help keep track of your POTA activities. For more information about some of the tools I’ve used over the years, take a look at my November 2025 article, “Ham Radio Portable Operating Insights: Plug-Ins and Utilities for Your Logs.”

The pages I use most often when hunting are pretty simple:

1) POTA Spotting Page

This is where I go to see who’s out there and what parks are currently being activated. I like to use the table view for this page, but that is a personal choice. You can enable/change views by clicking the hamburger icon (three stacked lines) at the top left of most POTA pages. Then look for the slider marked “Prefer Table View.” This will be in the left sidebar.

2) POTA My Stats Page

This is where I keep an eye on my progress and see how I’m doing as I add new parks and contacts to my hunting totals.

3) My QRZ Page

On my QRZ page, I’ve added a plug-in from WD4DAN that gives me a nice display of my current progress, both as a hunter and as an activator. You can learn more about this by going to Dan’s page here. As with any plug-in and app, clicking on the donate button helps ensure that the developer continues to support the app. In Dan’s app, there is a “Buy me a coffee” link on his page for this purpose.

Beyond those pages, there are a ton of websites and utilities popping up that can help you track your progress as a hunter. There are probably more than I can keep track of, and I’m sure that by the time you read this, there will be a few more.

To be honest, though, I tend to stick with the tried-and-true POTA account. It works, and if I ever have a problem, help is only an email to the POTA help desk away.

I’ve also used Excel spreadsheets to keep track of my progress. There’s nothing wrong with that approach, and some people really enjoy building elaborate spreadsheets to track every possible statistic.

Me? I’d much rather be operating than updating spreadsheets.

And perhaps that’s the biggest lesson I’m learning as I transition from activator to hunter: The tools are there to help you enjoy the hobby. Don’t let keeping track of the hobby become more work than actually enjoying it.

That’s where hunting is easier than activating. POTA only requires activators to upload their logs—not hunters. I’m not saying that uploading logs is difficult; it’s actually a piece of cake. But when you’re hunting, your contacts automatically appear as the activators upload their logs, making the whole process even simpler.

After this summer, have I become a super hunter, ready to sell my gear that I use for activating? Not quite. I’m counting down the days until I can get back out on the road as an activator. I find hunting a lot of fun, but I find activating more fun.

With that, I’ll end this article and wish you good DX—and Good Hunting!

73 DE WG8X

The post Ham Radio Portable Operating Insights: Transitioning from a POTA Activator to Hunter appeared first on OnAllBands.

Named after the Araucaria pine tree found in southern and southeastern Brazil, the group has roots that spread far and wide, with 300 members representing Brazilian states and five continents. Members today operate several high-profile multi-operator contest stations across South America.

Watch DX Engineering CEO Tim Duffy, K3LR, celebrate the Araucaria DX Group’s 50^th anniversary in this video:

Based out of Curitiba in Paraná, Brazil, the group was established in 1976 by prominent Brazilian and international amateurs, including Atilano de Oms, PY5EG; Peter Sprengel, PY5CC; Donald Murden, PY5ZBU; Jim Hoffman, N5FA; Vani Emanuel, PY5VM; and Nelson Otavio Maia, PY5CA. In 1994, PY5EG, representing GADX, was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame.

The GADX’s main objectives, as stated on their website, include improving the quality of amateur radio in Brazil, encouraging young people to take up amateur radio, promoting and improving the image of amateur radio across all segments of society, and creating a center of excellence for amateur radio.

The group established the GADX Hall of Fame to recognize those who had made major contributions to the ham radio community.

In addition to supporting major DXpeditions like KP5/NP3VI Desecheo Island, the GADX has run several landmark operations of its own, including St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks (PT0S) in November 2012 and Fernando de Noronha (ZX0F) in October 1999.

The GADX also created and sponsors the 24-hour CW/SSB/RTTY World Wide Iron Ham Contest (last full weekend of December), as well as sponsoring awards for the DX Marathon and other competitions.

On behalf of the entire amateur radio community, here’s to another 50 exceptional years on the air!

73!

The post Happy 50th Anniversary to the Araucaria DX Group! appeared first on OnAllBands.

The proposed federal legislation prevents HOAs from enacting restrictive antenna rules. Use the link in the article to send your letters of support. It’s quick, easy, and will make a difference.

Also, we’ve included a link at the bottom so non-hams can send letters as well.

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If you haven’t done so already, now’s an important time to let your representatives in Washington, D.C. know how homeowner’s association (HOA) antenna limitations negatively impact the vitality of amateur radio and could have serious consequences when emergency communication is needed during a disaster.

In September 2025, the ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® launched a nationwide letter-writing campaign to support the passage of the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, which was reintroduced in February 2025 by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D- Conn., and Representatives August Pfluger, R-Tex., and Joe Courtney, D-Conn. 

As of June 2026, more than 156,000 letters had been sent. John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, ARRL West Gulf Division Director, talks about the importance of continuing this letter-writing effort in this video.

The bipartisan House and Senate bills would prevent restrictive HOA rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when these antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles, per the ARRL. The passage of the legislation would grant amateur radio operators the same rights to install antennas on their property as those enjoyed by users of TV antennas, wireless internet, and flagpoles.

Click on these links to read the bills:

• H.R.1094 in the House
• S.459 in the Senate

From the ARRL, passage of the bill would:

• Prohibit HOAs from outright banning amateur radio antennas
• Establish an approval process for installation
• Create a federal right of action for hams in disputed cases

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The ARRL is encouraging every radio amateur in the U.S. to send letters to Washington via this form.

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You do not have to be an ARRL member to use the form. Just enter your call sign, name, address, and email address, and click “Send My Letters” to add your voice to this important issue. The letters will automatically be sent to your elected officials, encouraging them to support the bills.

***

New! Share this blog post with non-hams so they can support the legislation as well!

The ARRL has now made it simple to let your non-licensed friends and family lend their support.

They can send letters to lawmakers using the form for non-hams here.

***

The post Tell Your Lawmakers to Back the Amateur Radio Preparedness Act (Now, Non-Hams Can Also Easily Lend Their Support Too!) appeared first on OnAllBands.

The hobby has taught me countless lessons and has led me to become much more independent than I ever imagined I would have been at this point in my life.

The learning process of amateur radio begins with the exam. I got my license before I had taken so much as a formal algebra class—and long before I had exams that mattered for very much. My amateur radio license exams taught me how to study, which is a skill I have used almost every day since. Passing your licensing exam is something that you work for and earn, and the process helps instill a sense of independence in you. This continues even after getting your license. After you’re allowed to get on the air, it’s time to start assembling your station. While you may get some help from other hams, this is really your own project. Quite a bit of initiative is needed to be successful.

As you get more involved in the hobby, you must figure out what parts of amateur radio you want to pursue more deeply. This encourages—and almost forces—a sense of independence because you’re making decisions for yourself about what you want to pursue and how you want to do it. You have to take ownership of your learning and time, which helps build independence.

Amateur radio opens doors for those who are independent and motivated. There are seemingly endless opportunities for young people in the hobby, but one needs to be independent to take advantage of them. Nobody will work to get you where you want to be in the hobby other than yourself. Even though this can be challenging, it is a process full of lessons to be learned.

For me, the most valuable lessons in independence that amateur radio has taught concern traveling and my relationships with others. I was around twelve years old when I first began to travel for amateur radio. My parents took me on trips to various hamfests on the condition that I planned all of them. I was responsible for finding a hotel and rental car, if we needed one; figuring out the logistics of how long transportation would take; calculating how much the trip would cost and how much we could save; and creating our itinerary.

This was quite a challenge for the first trip or two, but it became significantly easier. I ended up enjoying planning the trips and traveling so much that it eventually led me to go on a study abroad program. Since then, I’ve traveled quite a bit independently, although never really “solo” thanks to the wonderful and supportive community of amateur radio operators around the world.

Regarding the amateur radio community mentioned above, one of the most important lessons in independence is how to form and maintain all sorts of relationships with people, especially in situations where it’s not simple to do. Many of my friends are now people I’ve met through amateur radio, which means most of them do not live anywhere near me. This has taught me how to manage relationships that are not fueled by the convenience of seeing each other every day.

Perhaps even more importantly, amateur radio has taught me how to make connections and form/maintain professional relationships with others. Most teenagers don’t have a good (or any!) chance to start networking before they are a few years into college, but those who are involved with amateur radio have the perfect opportunity to do so. Networking and forming relationships with mentors are aspects of amateur radio that nobody can do for you—you need to be independent about it.

Amateur radio itself won’t automatically make young people independent, but it gives them opportunities to develop that trait themselves. The environment to develop and practice independence is one that is not common for youth these days, and it’s incredibly important to help young people develop real skills in today’s world.

The post Ways Amateur Radio Fosters Independence in Young Hams appeared first on OnAllBands.

DX Engineering is the exclusive North American distributor of Hamplus amateur radio gear. Find the full lineup of Hamplus desktop and remote antenna switches, HF beam antenna stacking switch combos, antenna control system components, band data interface cables, and more at DXEngineering.com.

Let’s Take a Look at the Hamplus AS-603WL Black Automatic Remote HF + VHF 6 x 3 Antenna Switch 

This intelligent, three-transceiver interfaceable dual-relay smart control communicates wirelesslywith a six-port remote antenna relay via the coaxial cable.

The upgraded AS-603WL Smart Control Console, with a new black finish, controls the AS-61WL weatherproof outdoor relay box with no control cable required (the WL stands for “wireless”). Select any one of three radios to connect or bypass the single amplifier I/O in the shack.

The AS-603WL supports one antenna connected to one radio at a time. Manual or automatic selections of antenna and radio are confirmed with illuminated pushbuttons. Transceivers interfaced with optional cables provide frequency data for memorized automatic antenna selections. Interface cables are available for Elecraft, Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu transceivers which support frequency data for specific antenna selections by band segment. It also features an RS-232 serial port for PC-controlled remote operation.

The AS-603WL system operates from 1.8 to 150 MHz and handles up to 3,000 watts PEP under 1.5:1 SWR. The back panel of the console includes SO-239/UHF Female connectors for all three radios; an In/Out pair to use one linear amplifier, wattmeter, or both; and the telemetry and RF combined output to the AS-61WL. See the instruction manual in the Documentation section at DXEngineering.com to learn more about this remote antenna switch.

More features of the Hamplus AS-603WL Black:

• No multi-conductor control cables required. Commands go over the RF cable.
• Connect one of six antennas to one of three transceivers and one amplifier with bypass.
• Any of the six antennas can be designated as a “receive only” antenna that can be selected separately and toggled away from during TX with Split function.
• LED indicators for DC Power, Send PTT, Amp PTT, and Split operation.
• Illuminated pushbuttons indicate Antenna (1-6) and Radio (1-3) selections, and menu selections of transceiver type, baud rate, band segments, split ops, and amp.
• Manual pushbutton selection of any antenna for any radio, interfaced or not interfaced.
• Automatic intelligent frequency specific antenna selection decoder with “Last Selected Band Segment” antenna memory for each radio.
• Automation supported by interface capabilities with Icom (CI-V); Kenwood (COM RS-232) and Flex (RS-232, USB adapter required); Elecraft (RS-232 and BCD); Yaesu (RS-232 and BCD to CI-V); and other transceivers that use one of these communication protocols. See Recommended Parts for applicable Hamplus Interface Cables.
• “Last Selected Band Antenna” supports LAN remote transceiver operation without the need for a LAN or PC antenna switch interface.
• PC interface is not necessary for automatic antenna selection. RS-232 serial port for remote operation with download from Hamplus RC for Windows.
• RF Power (max.):3,000 watts HF SSB PEP with SWR less than 1.5:1
• Port to Port Isolation:72 dB at 30 MHz; 58 dB at 50 MHz
• Insertion Loss:Less than 0.1 dB at 30 MHz
• Unselected Relays: All antennas and radios are switched to ground when not in use.
• Short circuit protection:On RF cable

Read more about the Hamplus AS-603WL Black and order it for your station here.

The post New Product Spotlight: Hamplus AS-603WL Black Automatic Remote HF + VHF 6 x 3 Antenna Switch appeared first on OnAllBands.

Because of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s worldwide ranking on 160M (23^rd) and 80M (32^nd), the team of international operators will be paying particular attention to the low bands during the operation.

Watch a video preview of 9T0MD below:

DX Engineering has joined other sponsors of 9T0MD, including FlexRadio and Aziloop, by providing the DXpedition with two RigExpert Shackmaster Power 600 Compact Desktop Power Supplies.

Among other equipment, 9T0MD will be using a DX Commander Signature 12.4 HF Multiband Vertical Antenna. DX Engineering is the exclusive North American distributor of DX Commander antennas and accessories.

About the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Formerly known as Zaire, the central African nation—also known as Congo-Kinshasa—is the 11^th largest country in the world and the second largest in Africa based on size (905,567 square miles). Algeria holds the top spot at 919, 595 square miles.

It is the fourth largest African country based on population (102.2 million) and the most populous French-speaking country in the world. Approximately half of the country’s inhabitants speak French, and its capital, Kinshasa, is one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world. Bordering the DRC to the northwest is the Republic of the Congo, which is significantly smaller (132,000 square miles), less populated (5.6 million), and often confused with its neighbor—and vice versa. View QSL cards from both countries here.

The Congo River is the world’s deepest river, the ninth longest, the second longest in Africa behind the Nile, and the third ranked in terms of discharge (1.46 million cubic feet of water per second).

In comparison, the Amazon River discharges a remarkable 7.4-7.9 million cubic feet of water per second, making it by far the leader in this category. The Congo River flows in a counterclockwise arc through Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, draining in the Atlantic Ocean. At 2,900 miles in length, the Congo River—if stretched out—would reach completely across the contiguous United States.

Stay Tuned

For up-to-date information on 9T0MD and to support the DXpedition as an individual, company, club or association, visit their official website here.

The post DX Engineering Supports the September/October 2026 9T0MD DXpedition from the Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared first on OnAllBands.

Editor’s Note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in the National Contest Journal from 2008-2011 and updated with current information, offer valuable insights for both contesters new and old.

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One aspect of contesting that took a while for me to figure out is what I now call the “art of the possible.” After several years of operating, sometimes in frustration at why “the East Coast always won,” I started to gain some perspective on the contesting game in general.

I grew to understand the impact of specific limitations upon my scores. Some limitations I could work toward overcoming, like my CW copying ability. Other limitations, such as the geographic location of my station, were fixed. Wishing to operate my own station and not interested in moving to a different part of the country, I chose to work within my geographic limitations. I later discovered that even top operators could not win a major DX contest in the Single Op All Band High Power category from multi-tower stations in east Tennessee. So, what was the point if the game was stacked against us?

One of the unique aspects of radiosport competitions is that the beginners are competing in the same game as the seasoned professionals. Featherweight stations compete on the same bands at the same times as the heavyweight powerhouses. Folks operating from the “Black Hole” of the U.S. Midwest operate alongside stations within spitting distance of the Atlantic Ocean. Guys with a tri-bander at 50 feet are in the pileups against stations with monoband stacks up 200 feet and higher.

I’ve heard from newcomers who got turned off from contesting by the seemingly impossible un-level playing field. Let’s face it—operating a major DX contest from an area with poor propagation using low power and a low wire antenna is like trying to drive a go-kart in the middle of a NASCAR race.

Understanding the Competition

What is the beginning contester to do? I found it helpful to take a moment and realize what I was up against. For starters, most of the guys beating me had many years (if not many decades) of experience which I did not have. They spent hundreds (more likely thousands) of hours honing their operating skills, and I was not going to catch up overnight. They also had spent years (often decades) building, improving, and investing in their stations. They knew how to get the most out of every piece of gear. In short, I had to develop some respect for just how tough the competition was, especially at the top of the game.

Overnight wonders were rare, and the same operators and stations were found at the top of the score lists, year after year. I realized that if I wanted to rise up in the score standings, it was going to take a lot of effort and practice before I was even worthy.

Capitalize on Your Strengths

Once again, the path toward improvement begins with operating a lot of contests—DX, domestic, state QSO parties and, of course, the NCJ contests. Operate the big ones and the small ones. The more contests that you operate, the more you will learn about the capabilities and the limitations of your station. You may discover that you do better in certain kinds of contests. Try to figure out why. Talking to other local contesters in your area can give you some insight, but there is no substitute for on-the-air experience.

Find out for yourself when the bands open and close by being on the air during the contests and paying attention to patterns that you discover. You may discover some weaknesses that can be addressed within your time and budget limitations. You will also ultimately find limitations that cannot be overcome without starting over again at the realtor’s office, perhaps in another state or country. For example, I discovered that I could place higher in the standings in domestic contests than the DX contests, in part because of my favorable geographic location for domestic contests. I also discovered that having the largest station was not quite as important in the domestic contests. The DX contests seem to require more hardware for success, especially on the lower frequencies.

The hardware “arms race” is constantly escalating, and I was limited in real estate and resources. I found that I could place higher in the low-power competitions. Some of that was due to the fact that the top-tier operators at the super-stations tend to compete in the high-power categories, leaving a “smaller pond” of competition in the other categories. State QSO parties provide a great competitive environment. A super-station is typically not required to achieve top honors in a state QSO party, just great operating skills and perseverance. Regional write-ups have been a helpful motivator to measure scores among closer peers in the DX contests.

Constant Improvement

The main thing to strive for is constant improvement. The real joy is in the operating and the learning, not simply in winning. I realize that it sounds cliché, but it’s true. I still operate the big DX contests, even though my chances of winning SOAB are next to nil. Every contest has something to offer and something to learn from. Also, sometimes miracles DO happen, but you have to be present to win. Sometimes it takes decades for a win to happen, but wins do happen to the dedicated contester. Operate whenever you can. Make your own advantages wherever possible. A great station without a great operator is very unlikely to win, but a great operator at a capable station will always be a serious competitive threat. Technology is necessary and can make a lot of difference, but it’s the operator who really matters in the end.

Guest Operating

All of my guest operating has been done in multi-ops, but there are several top competitors who regularly operate in the Single Operator category from stations built and maintained by other hams. It is not uncommon these days to find much of the Top Ten box filled with champion guest operators who traveled to competitive stations in order to maximize their chances of winning the contest. The “arms race” can be quite intense at the top, and the new SOHP scenario has been described by OH2BH as “Formula 1” style, where an entire team supports the efforts of a single operator. The point is, if you are planning to compete at the highest levels of competition and cannot build a super-station of your own, you had better start developing relationships with station owners who can help you toward your goal. Most importantly, you must develop your skills to the point where you will be considered worthy of a seat at a super-station.

Everyone Is Not Cheating

Another thing to keep in mind is that the vast majority of contesters DO play by the rules. While there are some cheaters out there, chances are very high that the person who beat you in the last contest was NOT cheating. More likely, they just out-operated you, and that’s that. While cheating is something that should be taken very seriously when it is encountered, the newcomer should realize that huge scores are possible without breaking the rules. Some folks have the technical skills to build very efficient antenna systems and conserve every dB. Their 100 watts may sound like a kW to you under certain conditions, but it’s very likely not. To put it quite bluntly, competitive contesting is not about complaining. While there may be plenty of things to complain about at any given moment, the whiners rarely improve as much as the folks who concentrate on becoming better operators. Work on improving your own scores and let the contest adjudicators worry about how to handle the bad apples. That’s all for this installment. See you on the bands, and don’t forget to submit your log to the sponsor, no matter how many QSOs you made. It helps you, helps the sponsor, and helps the sport of contesting.

The post Contesting 101: The Art of the Possible—Gaining Perspective appeared first on OnAllBands.