Ham Radio Help Desk

Here are some details regarding the next, and probably last, phase of my 43 Foot DX Engineering vertical installation.

This post is very late. The actual date of the events within it are just before March 2009 in preparation for the Virginia QSO Party.

In the many posts within this site, it is no secret my examination of various vertical antenna solutions with comparison between BigIR and the 43 Foot products a big part of this. Check out all the 43 Foot posts on HHD here…
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Earlier this year I purchased the Navigator from US Interface. It has done a very nice job mopping up various connections between my computer and the Icom IC-746 transceiver.

I used this fine interface with great success, however, last week it blew its fuse.
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It seems the hexagonal beam has come of age as multiple manufacturers square off in an attempt to claim market share of the growing market for this style of antenna.

Ever since the 2009 QST article many folks, myself included, became aware of the simple elegance of the Hexagonal Beam (also known as Hexbeam generally and Hex-Beam® by Traffie Technology).
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Tom, ke6ynh, asks…

“Why don’t hams like vertical dipole antennas.
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Virginia hikers and hams supported the White Rock Cliffs (Station #6) of the first Annual Golden Packet Event.

Summarized, we were trying to set up APRS relay stations up and down the east coast to cover and service all points along the Appalachian Trail and surrounding areas. Some RF link analysis was performed and is available for viewing at http://www.packetradio.net/events/AT_Golden_Packet_Event/ using the remarkable Radio Mobile program and A LOT of SRTM elevation data.

Of the fourteen stations planned several points were accessible only by foot. The White Rock Cliffs station was no exception.
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You all might be wondering if Blogger John, that’s me, has finally tip toed off the deep end with this review of the new LED lamps as a replacement for incandescent lamps.

Yes, yes I know it is a bit of a reach. However, this is somewhat of a technology web site and ham radio does have tech savvy folks.

The topic of ham shack lighting is certainly important for good operating ergonomics. Can the amateur radio operator benefit from the latest advances in home lighting products?
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