Top Amateur Radio Websites – Issue 2626

This week, we’re looking at some practical considerations for getting signals out and hearing them clearly. We’ve got a piece on building a multi-band wire antenna, something that comes up often for those needing flexibility without a lot of real estate. Then there’s a deep dive into ground systems for verticals, which is always worth revisiting, especially for portable or mobile setups where a good ground can make all the difference. For those dealing with local QRM, we’ve included a look at a specific noise blanker, and for the digital mode enthusiasts, there’s a resource on Olivia, a robust mode for challenging HF conditions. Finally, we touch on auto-tuners with portable HF antennas, comparing performance with different vertical lengths, a common dilemma for field operators. And for the satellite crowd, some tracking software to keep those passes productive.

The 2-Band Tri-pole Antenna

This resource details the construction of a two-band Tri-pole antenna. It covers the underlying principles, tuning procedures, expected gain, and radiation patterns, providing practical instructions for builders.

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Antenna Noise Blanker NR-1

The NR-1 is an RF interference removal device designed to mitigate impulse noise. It operates across the HF spectrum from 1.6 MHz to over 70 MHz, benefiting operators experiencing local QRM.

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Ground Truth: Demystifying Radials and Counterpoises

Steve Nichols, G0KYA, explains ground systems for vertical antennas, drawing on N6LF's research. The article clarifies the roles of radials and counterpoises, offering theoretical and practical insights for antenna builders.

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Ground Station Satellite Tracking Software

Ground Station is a software solution for real-time satellite tracking and radio communication. It integrates TLE data and SDR capabilities, assisting amateur radio operators with satellite operations.

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Notes On Auto Tuners and Portable HF Antennas

This analysis compares the performance of MFJ927 and SGC239 autotuners with portable HF verticals. It examines their effectiveness with 31 ft versus 43 ft antennas across 80-10m at 100W CW, providing insights for portable operators.

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Olivia Digital Mode on HF – Community and Technical Information

This resource focuses on the Olivia digital mode for HF operation. It details the MFSK protocol, optimal ALC settings, and provides community links, serving as a hub for operators interested in this robust mode.

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That wraps up this week’s selection of resources. We hope you find these useful for your next project or operating session. Be sure to follow us for next week’s picks, and feel free to share your thoughts or comments on our social channels.