When you’re hiking through remote terrain or preparing for emergency communications, having a reliable yet compact antenna like the ladder line j-pole can make all the difference. I’ve experimented with numerous antenna designs over the years, but few match the versatility and performance of a homemade 450 ohm ladder line Slim Jim for the … Read more
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen new hams struggle with poor reception, only to discover they’re using that stock “rubber duck” antenna that came with their radio because they have no idea what the different types of ham radio antennas are. Want to know a simple secret? Swapping that stubby little thing … Read more
Learning how to tune an antenna is important because a poorly tuned antenna can reflect nearly 50% of your radio’s power back into your equipment. This knowledge proves crucial for anyone who uses radio equipment – amateur radio operators, CB communicators, or professionals. Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) measures your antenna’s efficiency. The measurement shows how … Read more
There are quite a few reasons you might want to camouflage or hide your antenna installation. Perhaps you rent and do not have permission to mount an antenna on the property, maybe there is a property owner’s association that doesn’t like antennas, or maybe you just like to keep your home from looking like a … Read more
Finding the best dual-band HT antenna can be a tough job. It seems every time a person gets their license, one of the first questions is what kind of antenna can they upgrade to so their HT radio will work better. Unfortunately, this is not as easy as it may sound. For the purposes of … Read more