A failed DXpedition on two wheels
Just when you think you’re going to have the on-air experience of your life, something goes wrong.l
Read MoreTen shack safety best practices
Safety in an amateur radio shack should never be an afterthought. By adhering to these top ten safety aspects—electrical safety, grounding and bonding, ventilation, fire safety, ergonomics, cable management, RF exposure, PPE, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance—you can create a safe and enjoyable environment for your radio operations. Always prioritize safety and stay informed about best practices to protect yourself and your equipment.
Read MoreElecraft K4 Transceiver; just how good?
The Elecraft K4 transceiver represents a significant advancement in amateur radio technology. Its combination of advanced SDR capabilities, a user-friendly interface, and robust build quality make it a top
Read MoreThe K-Index and Amateur Radio: Understanding its Impact on HF Propagation
The K-index is a crucial indicator of geomagnetic activity that directly impacts HF radio propagation. Rising K-index values can disrupt long-distance communications, causing signal fading, absorption, and even complete blackouts on certain bands. Amateur radio operators must adapt by monitoring real-time space weather data and adjusting frequencies accordingly. In emergency scenarios, understanding geomagnetic conditions can be the difference between a successful transmission and a failed call for help. Staying informed ensures reliable operations, even during solar disturbances.
Read MoreThe Silent Load: Ice, Wind, and the Aluminum Breaking Point
As we batten down the hatches for the system bearing down on us tonight — 2026-01-24 — what meteorologists are already flagging as a significant nationwide event, it is a prudent moment to review the physics of winter survival for our antenna farms. We often talk about RF safety and grounding, but the mechanical survivability of our arrays under ice and wind loading is a topic that usually only gets attention after the damage is done. With the forecast for tonight looking grim across the U.S. and Canada, we need to look at the specific failure modes we are about to risk.
Read MorePolar Modulation Comes to Production HF: The FlexRadio Aurora
FlexRadio’s Aurora series folds a full software-defined transceiver, a 500-watt amplifier, an automatic tuner, and a power supply into one compact chassis. Its real novelty is the transmitter: instead of a linear amplifier, Aurora uses polar modulation, a technique dating to the 1950s but only now reaching production HF hardware from a major manufacturer. The claimed efficiency of up to 80 percent promises far less heat and weight. Early owners report the radio stays cool even at full power, though independent lab measurements are still pending and skeptics question the price. A known principle, commercialized at genuinely meaningful power.
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