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A **mobile HF multiband antenna** project details the construction of a center and top-loaded design, optimized for 10 through 80 meters. This antenna incorporates a capacity hat positioned high on the whip for enhanced efficiency, differing from commercial bugcatcher designs. The coil construction prioritizes high Q and minimal loss through an air core, open spacing, and heavy gauge wire, contributing to its lightweight nature and suitability for portable operation with a proper counterpoise. Band switching is achieved by manually moving a jumper plug to various tap points on the coil, allowing for operation across multiple bands, with 17m being resonant when the coil is bypassed. The design, a result of nine months of experimentation by N1LO, includes detailed instructions for modifying a Hamstick antenna base, creating a jumper wire, and assembling the capacity hat using stainless steel wire and silver-bearing solder for robust connections. The loading coil utilizes nylon grommet strips around a PVC pipe for an air-core winding, ensuring high efficiency. Tap sockets are fashioned from silver-plated 5-way binding posts, providing low-resistance RF joints for band selection. Guidance on tap point determination emphasizes using an antenna analyzer like the MFJ 259B or 269 to achieve resonance, especially on 40m and 80m where feedpoint resistance can be low. The document also covers the installation of monofilament stays to maintain antenna uprightness at highway speeds, with specific attachment points for stability.

The MFJ-971 portable antenna tuner, as stock, lacks a bypass switch and sufficient inductance for efficient 1.8 MHz operation. This modification addresses these limitations by integrating a DPDT switch for direct signal bypass, enhancing operational flexibility. Furthermore, the guide details the addition of a T130-2 iron powder toroid, wound with **29 turns** of enamelled copper wire, to augment the tuner's internal inductance. This increases the maximum inductance from approximately 17µH to around **27µH**, enabling effective impedance matching on the _160-meter band_. The modification involves cutting the wire after the 'L' tap on the original inductor and inserting the additional toroid, ensuring the entire original coil plus the new inductance is engaged when 'L' is selected. This preserves the functionality of other inductance settings while extending low-band performance. The article also highlights a potential RF burn hazard from the variable capacitor nuts on the MFJ-971, even at QRP power levels.

Demonstrates an **Arduino-based** solution for the Icom IC-7300 transceiver, specifically addressing the operational inconvenience of switching between a CW paddle and a straight key. The project leverages the IC-7300's **CI-V bus** (Computer Interface 5) to provide instant keyer type selection and two preset power levels, bypassing the rig's menu system which otherwise requires eight button presses. This implementation utilizes the 3.5mm CI-V connector, leaving the USB port free for CAT control and the internal soundcard, a critical design choice for integrated station setups. The system's utility is particularly evident for CW operators who frequently alternate between keying methods during contesting or general operating. The article details the hardware setup, including an Arduino Nano, a 3.5mm jack for CI-V, and pushbuttons for control. An update in 2023 expanded the project to incorporate an 8-button Nintendo controller, enhancing user interface flexibility and demonstrating the adaptability of the initial design for further customization and feature integration.