by Michael Martens | May 12, 2013 | Antennas
Last fall, my good friend and great amateur radio operator Dennis, W9PBB passed away. In his will he donated all his amateur radio and electronic gear to the local amateur radio club. We helped the family clean out his house last fall, but had to leave the tower until...
by Michael Martens | Apr 18, 2013 | Amateur Radio, Antennas
The most common use of my J-Pole and Slim Jim antennas is for FM operation on the VHF and UHF amateur radio bands. Typically FM simplex and repeaters use antennas that are vertically polarized. J-Poles, being vertically oriented are also vertically polarized, which...
by Michael Martens | Mar 29, 2013 | Amateur Radio, Antennas, Marine, weather
I originally wrote this article on March of 2012, but over the past year this topic has been one of the most searched blog posts on my site. Lightning safety is an important topic, so I revisited the information, updated it and present it again at the top of my blog....
by Michael Martens | Mar 24, 2013 | Antennas
At one time there weren’t restrictions or rules on antennas. If you wanted to get on the air, you went outside and strung up a bunch of wire. Maybe you were lucky enough to install a tower in your backyard for a vertical or beam. Before the days of cable...
by Michael Martens | Mar 8, 2013 | Antennas
Here in the northern climes, the days are getting warmer and the snow is rapidly disappearing. But as warmer weather returns across the country, hams are getting ready to do their annual spring check and maintenance of their antenna systems. Winter can be hard on...
by Michael Martens | Feb 24, 2013 | Antennas, Scanner, weather
Severe weather can strike at any time, day or night. You may not be listening to broadcast radio or watching television when a weather alert is issued. But you can keep informed of changing weather conditions by keeping a NOAA all hazards weather radio in your house....
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