Navigating the World of Ham Radio: Finding Reliable Sources of Advice

I share my experience as a Ham Radio operator and the lessons I've learned over the years. I'll be talking about my journey using social media to find answers and discuss the importance of trust when it comes to seeking advice from more experienced hams. I'll also be sharing some examples of mistakes I made as a new ham and the lessons I learned from them. Tune in now and join the conversation in the comments.
Callum.
Links mentioned in this video:
▶️ Megaloop: • The Mega-Loop: Explori...
▶️ Evolution: • Custom SkyLab StarDust...
More videos:
▶️ • Antenna Modelling Antenna Modelling
▶️ • Tips and Tricks Tips and Tricks
▶️ • Antennas Antennas
▶️ • Live Streams Live Streams
▶️ • Commander World My Stuff
▶️ • Foundation Training Ham Radio Training

[@timg5tm941]

Definition of the word tangent is when you post a SPECIFIC antenna question on one of the major forums and get back suggestions of which 99% are at best, about 5-20% relevant to your use case. Then another 6-7 posts or replies into the thread two guys who have hated each other’s guts for years on the same forum in a plethora of other threads, renew hostilities, calling into question each other’s credentials and knowledge. Meanwhile the OP has put the kettle on….

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OMG Tim...! How many times :)

[@4X4-RADIO]

It's a bit like a "Technical Equivalent" of "Whataboutery" The other aspect is: "Knowledge Is Power" ~ "The more one knows, the more one will be able to control events." (Francis Bacon)

[@YllaStar95970]

Great video last night Tim.👍

[@hallen4094]

Never understood the "knowledge shared = power halved" philosophy some folks have. Personally I think it's insecurity to the point of paranoia. Knowledge is there to be shared freely especially in this great hobby of ours. One thing I have noticed is people that are secure in their own understanding and experience freely share this knowledge with others..... Hence we can enjoy informative, entertaining and educational content such as this in KZbin. I have learned so much from content like this and Mike & Tim's channels. I was explaining to a friend "it's like "open university" for radio hams.... Only easier to watch. Thanks to all who selflessly share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of others. I value your 'gift' 73's

[@WECB640]

This may just be the BEST video on amateur radio I've seen in the past year! Callum is spot on. It all boils down to "TRUST BUT VERIFY".

[@AmRadPodcast]

Agreed!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Absolutely!

[@TheHeff76]

Consider this. I'm 47. I got licenced a few years ago up to my Extra here in the US. For a lot of us tech folks, even those who belong to a ham club, we learned to research on KZbin and google. Not so much reliance on our older HAM buds in our clubs. We take their experience and compare that with the research we do. I feel like that's how it's going to be for the younger crowd.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Jason, today - it's a lOT easier to gain info.. Agreed. SOmeof it is baloney - but hey, some books are too..

[@JulieanGalak]

My experience exactly, Jason. de KQ2Z

[@twohandsandaradio]

Just watch out taking advice from KZbin used car salesmen....you know the ones "this is the best widget ever and make sure to buy it from my affiliate link". Need to steer clear of that bunch. Callum, Dave Casler, W6LG, Ham Radio Crash Course are pretty legit for your info.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

OMG how I needed to see this video right now. Thank you Callum!

[@flipster7285]

I am involved with rae examinations and most of what I know I've learnt through research and experimentation. I am a big fan of QRP and field station/ portable work. That is why, whenever someone asks me a question, I will start the conversation with "From my experience with QRP and portable/field stations I've found that........" I always make it clear from which viewpoint my information comes, and I will always encourage further research AND experimentation. There is no "silver bullet", finding a solution and figuring out why the solution works is 90% of the fun.....and frustration.....

[@DonzLockz]

Great advice Callum. You are my most preferred Elmer for antenna's as you try everything and have an obsession with quality antennas and explain it all superbly.👍😉

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awe tnx!

[@oldfartonabmx2122]

You Callum ! And Tim G5TM. And Hayden. And Roly. And my local pro radio guy who's also a ham. and my 2 closest hams. Loving My Ham radio journey and grateful to get good advice from you guys. As you said, gotta take everything with a grain of salt. so many variables with various problems ! 73 de VK3LSR

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely comment!

[@MirlitronOne]

Absolutely true. My first stop-gap HF aerial was 15m of horizontal wire connected to the centre wire of a short RG58 feeder and an AMU. Several wise members of my radio club said, "That can't work!". I replied, "I know, but it got me all round Europe and five times across the Atlantic last weekend!" I later discovered, quite by chance, that it was almost identical to a set-up described in a 1960s antenna book.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA!

[@thomasmaughan4798]

It seems to be an end-fed antenna with a transformer section of RG58. Evidently a bit of good fortune to get the lengths approximately correct.

[@dave6501]

Thank-you Callum Love your thought process and thank-you for taking to the time to share them with us. All the we Best. 73.

[@DaveSheeks]

Thank you for your honesty and candor.

[@thork0tjt515]

Best reasoning I’ve heard on the interwebs all day! Cheers & 🍻. 🤣

[@TheScottClifton]

Amen! The biggest issue we have with today's ham operators is that they don't know enough about the technology to experiment, or are lazy and want a plug-n-play solution. I keep seeing many videos and posts where folks can't get their antennas (long-wire/EFHW/vertical/Zepp... you name it) antennas to work, or are pooh-poohing how they work. They simply haven't yet grasped the difference between a balanced and unbalanced antenna, which for over a century, we''ve known these basic principles. That's why people should pay attention to what you do! MMANA is a great tool to understanding what changes can do to an antenna, and you have demonstrated many concepts on that program. From just playing with that software, people can learn without spending money. You have done a great job of demonstrating that not everything needs to be by the book to work, and especially to have fun with it! Watching your video the other day on the long-wire receive antenna has inspired me to install a 500' long-wire at my home. I am lucky to have the space to do that, though not permanently. Hopefully others who saw that video will come up with some creative ways to try that themselves, among other things you've touched on over the years.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Scott! Long time old friend.. I hope you subscribed to this new channel when the old one went "pop" ! :)

[@n3ljs399]

The popular KZbin channels are flooding the channel with BS. The reviewing of ham radio products is going crazy. The best of the best is coming out ever week. And the self proclaim experts needs some more time on the air instead of making videos. For example I heard of them say he forgot his HF to BNC connector. I only like to watch hams promoting their own products. My favorite channels are DX Commander, K4SWL, WG0AT, M0MSN and few more. Some of the ones I barely watch are HRCC, Ham 2.0. K8MRD, and the list grows everyday. Who do i get my advice from, me. I do my own research build my own stuff. Win and lose on my own. That is what makes ham radio exciting. TNX Cal keep the good ones coming!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Perfect answer!

[@2E0RME]

Thanks Cal. The best advice is @ 3:31 "Get on with it and do it yourself"

[@oasntet]

Hams, on the whole, are the biggest group of know-it-alls I've ever known, topped only by software engineers. I'm both, and am intimately aware of the urge to supply an answer instead of saying "I don't know." In my software career, my life and my relationship with co-workers got drastically better when I stopped guessing at answers and instead said "I don't know, but maybe I can find out." And then when I started mentoring junior software developers, I found the majority of my teaching was not answers, but how to find answers. Hams could learn a lesson here; show how to find an answer, maybe offer to loan the tools to do so, and stop answering questions with authority when you're just guessing.

[@labcat73]

Well said! I am always flabbergasted how people can have that ultimate confidence that they know-it-all and have the one and only true answer. When I am interested in a topic and start digging, the more i dig, the more i become aware that, with my available sparetime, i can just barely scratch the surface and never ever become an 'expert'. So when telling people about it, all i can do is: This is what I did, this is what I found, i might be woefully wrong, there is so much more to do and learn... 🤷‍♂️ (It's a pretty bad approach for your professional career as well btw. 😂)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

George.. well spotted!

[@J1mbo888]

Every Day is a Skool day. You never stop learning 🙂

[@nathanw851]

Aktually, I no everyfing. I stoped lerning wen I was fiten. Am aktualy that clever, so half som respekt.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nathan! Nutter :)

[@garryhammond3117]

Yes.. ...This was one of your best and most common-sensable videos to date. I will say that "MY" open wire fed 102 foot doublet at ~35 ft is tremendously efficient, and allows me to bust pile-ups - running only 100W. That's with "MY" tower and tree, "MY" ground conditions, and "MY" house with metal gutters, and "MY" home-brew 2-3/4" spaced 14 AWG open wire feed line. As you say - EVERY situation is unique. - I'm putting up a random-height and shape 600+ foot loop using DX-50 and trees only in the spring - again feed with balanced open wire transmission line.

[@PaulC-2M0YZT]

Spot on and great advice. Do your research develop your own view and get out and try it it, is after all a hobby about learning and experimenting.

[@peterlowrie1216]

Another spot on video. It's all very well reading the books, but understanding them makes the difference.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Totally agree!

[@libertyson76]

This is the honesty and truth that, I feel, many in the Ham community need to hear. I began to see this in my home QTH shortly after getting my tech ticket. It seemed like if you asked 5 hams a question, you some how ended up with 8 different answers and more confused than before the questions were even brought up and asked. The point made in this video is also very prevalent in the CNC machining and tool/die industry. A lot of people believe their way is the only and right way to do something, especially programming. When actually the best thing to do, like mentioned in the video, is to get out there and try things for yourself. And that's the thing about radio that makes it so intriguing and satisfying... the experimenting. I feel the message in this video is something that has needed to be said for a long time. Thanks for posting.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Very good observation.. You have a pojnt there!

[@Factory400]

I trust anyone on the Internet. Everything on the Internet is definitely true. Trust me.

[@jamess1787]

I especially like the shock websites 👀

[@michaelg1tzz293]

Great words of wisdom. Keep up the great work 73

[@akcharlie1960]

3:31 in......"Get on with it and do it yourself" works for me.

[@REKlaus]

Great advice. Happy Lunar New Year.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Happy new year!

[@mikebzl1mjb293]

Very well put. Cal.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx Mike!

[@gmoodeed3573]

Best line I heard long time ago still hear it today! Best antenna is the one you have up connected to a radio.

[@Fozz84]

I love the fact the subtitles are translating "Coax". as "Cow Eggs". from now on I will be plugging my radio into "cow eggs"!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, I notice that too sometimes.. Cows Eggs!!

[@davidportch8837]

Especially loved this one Callum...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx!

[@penrox0]

Blimey, Callum. I have never laughed so much for ages and how right you are. A cracking video - well done. 😂😂😂😂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@erpece]

This video pretty much sums up why I love being a radio amateur... It's good to tap into the knowledge of elmers and it is even better to try and reason for yourself. I love the surprises (the good more than the bad, if I'm honest 😁) that come with our hobby!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Surprises! Love them!

[@Martin-kq9qt]

Trust no one - question everything.. Cracking Video Cal. (but have to admit, I do ask more on your discord than I question hahaha)

[@thormusique]

Thanks for this, Callum, great video! It's happened to me before that for a while I've done absolutely nothing simply because I was confused by all the contradictory advice I was getting from those who 'know'. Plenty of theory jockeys out there, all of whom seem to have a horse (who's called Personal Bias) in the bloody race. And maybe they've only ever built one antenna (if that). Especially nowadays with all the off-the-shelf options available to buy, many amateurs seem to have forgotten that a big part of the hobby is in experimentation. It doesn't take much time stringing wire to realise that even the most detailed antenna theory only serves as a rough guide because it can't factor in all the real-world conditions in which we and our contacts operate. Cheers!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

SOme of them have read a LOT of books. They commit to memory and say only that answer.. As you say, plenty of theory jockeys

[@patrickwall8517]

This is great advice for both new hams and Elmer's.

[@av-ji9qy]

Excellent advice thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No worries!

[@mjrtude]

Great rant! Right on brother! Many people want to give their view because they can't hold back... I never understood this need to spout out whatever "they" think.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Spouting...! LOL

[@foxonem7dfh257]

Thanks Cal

[@richc47us]

Ha ha That was fun!...There's nothing like a bit of curiosity and creativeness that follows.

[@Dreamlgider]

Yet another fine video. 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks again!

[@michael-------7058]

Aside from having an Elmer that I pass questions by, here in Kansas City we have a weekly 'Elmer Net' where we can take our questions and the entire attending group of ham's can hear the question and offer answers. Most answers involve a bit of discussion about variances and such, and sometimes the answers contain "your mileage may vary". One of the strongest things that it has is that everyone can hear both sides of the conversation so we aren't restricted to just one person's experiences and knowledge - we can hear from everyone that has experience.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

Your mileage may vary: Indeed it can, does and will. One of the big variations is the exact nature of the ground itself; conductivity (water content) things like that.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Michael, I like that idea.. Although, the most extreme, loudest person can sometimes win... (experience.. I attended one once!)

[@TRIPPLEJAY00]

While watching your video Callum, I was just repeating to myself, I want his t shirt, I need a DX Commander t shirt. 😆 Great videos, as always. Thank you, Lord Callum.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I promise, as soon as I have cleared the decks with a TON of sh*t, we'll looks at Merch..

[@waynepallister1511]

Hi Callum, I’ve had a mega loop up for 25 yrs, Fed with open wire, so far have worked 81 countries on voice, on most HF bands since upgrading to full call in 2019. Wayne VK2DWP Wagga Wagga

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely!

[@bassangler73]

I trust your advice bro!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I appreciate that!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Good and sensible advice. One should always cross-reference advice because other factors come in to play like, being outdated, forgetting part of the facts, misunderstanding the problem and personal ego to name a few. On the plus side, I've found the ham radio community, in general, a lot more willing to help than areas like amateur photography where ego and one upmanship abounds.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great point!

[@demizer1968]

This is why I love radio. It doesn’t really matter what the book says about all the theories. You just have to get a wire deployed and start figuring it out. Great video

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, it's good fun re-inventing stuff, lost by others..!

[@davidc5027]

This is why I watch your channel; I trust most of what you say. However, it's always in the back of my mind that you sell antenna's, so take some of it with a pinch of salt. What i really like is that you are genuinely out there trying to help hams out, and at the same time helping yourself a little, and there's nothing wrong with that. Cheers. *Edit* As for my Elmer.. He has 2 commercial antenna license not including Extra license, and over 30 years experience.. Ah yeah, I'm going to listen to what he says. Does he know it all? No, this guy has forgotten more about antenna's than I have learned. Lastly, he doesn't like ground mounted vertical antenna's :) and the 2 of us have built a few on his property, not including all the vertical's he's built over the decades, so it's not a matter of "have you don't it". Cheers again. Oh yeah, he doesn't like you Calum. Says you babble too much.. lol

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Interesting.. I am aware that I MIGHT have a bias, which is why I actually go to extreme lengths to remove the boas from the drill.. Well spotted though.

[@pieterdutoit9642]

Hi Culum, that is very true nobody want to tell the truth they sacred you have better signal that them so play and look see and learn !!, Pieter

[@Rick-se5qm]

How true Cal. I'm a continuously licensed ham since 1965. My Elmer sk was a retired chief engineer of a local broadcast station. His first station was a spark transmitter, no SSB back then. When I asked his opinion about my latest antenna project his standard reply...that will never work, but he would not explain why. So I did it anyway and guess what...it didn't work, as intended. Here we are 58 years later and I'm trying to squeeze the maximum 80M performance, from a crappy QTH, with rocky uneven ground, crowded with large diameter trees. I keep hearing his voice...that will never work, but it won't prevent me from trying. hihi

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awe! Poor you!! LOL :)

[@johnpawlicki1184]

Even in engineering people rarely say "I don't know". When I am not farily sure (have not actually done what is asked about) I would always say, "I don't know but perhaps we could look at ..." That way you give a direction for the newbie. In my career I have learned more than most about a great many things. I don't know way more that I know. Great video. 73

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice idea John. Yep.

[@m3hnl]

thanks cal before i watched this vid it struck me that you have to trust in yourself its your equipment its your antenna its your radio 73 m3hnl i always enjoy your vids who let the dogs out cheers

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Trust yourself.. And why not. Trust yourself to acknowledge what works and what doesn't after demonstrating it.. Agreed.

[@yowsa52]

The fun of the hobby is asking about and working through the issues. I put my DXC in the backyard of my new QTH. The garden home didn't work very well for the vertical. Ended up putting a EFHW. The garden was just too tight for the DXC and so didn't work. I am not being critical except my garden was too tight, really really tight. I'll put it back up once I get some room.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good luck!

[@dandypoint]

Excellent!

[@dandypoint]

I am a retired Electronics Engineer who did a lot of radio, antennas etc. Lots of experts out there. I always like to go back to the basics and also apply common sense to try and get a good answer. I hear a lot of the old misinformation ( some from 60 years ago) repeated by new guys who obviously are not reading the right text books and applying common sense. Keep up the good work and please know any comments I make are only to try and help.

[@ww3ok]

Amen, Cal. Most advice isn’t worth the price even if it is free.

[@HamRadio200]

I've literally worked the whole world on a 40m full wave loop that was no more than 15-16ft above ground level. I even worked multiple bands including 80m. Cloud warmer, maybe, but it certainly worked. And I worked it mainly on 100 watts or less.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I did the same! My 40m loop was about 4m off the deck. Maybe 16-18 feet..

[@andrewwhittaker6622]

Hi Cal It doesn't only happen in Radio It Happens in everything I had the same issues experimenting with off grid solar But down the track did my own maths and tests and a lot of what people said I couldn't run Was rubbish As you said 2nd hand info but never ever tested it out to find the facts Cheers

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yep!

[@spytromics]

You are spot on. Finding true help is rare. And folks will not admit that they don't know. The only quibble that I have is your assumption that Elmers read books or reference articles. In my experience, it's mostly just unsupported opinion.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

And that! Good point!

[@arthurgumbus3969]

So So Right Cal! I have recently been toying with the idea of replacing my 130 foot LMR400 coax run to my big Horizontal Loop with 450 Ohm Window Line to see if what the effect will be on both transmit and receive with that transmission line. When I asked around, there were plenty of opinions but NO "boots on the ground" experiences and data regarding that type of switch. Of course fears of water/ice/dew on window with SWR was stated. So, this experiment will be fun for me to conduct. And I plan on using some of your newly arrived antenna wire to eventually build about a 600 Ohm Ladder Line feed as a second experiment. So when all of that experimentation is done, I will be able to say.... "In MY EXPERIENCE HAVING DONE THAT.... ". And I will have the data.... I plan on having all three feed line types up to do WSPR experiments as data points and also Reverse Beacon Network (RBN). Art W1SWL

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fabulous Art!!

[@m0aze611]

Interesting vid Callum, “the one eyed man is king in the valley of the blind”. As an instructor and once my students had passed their exams the need for practical knowledge kicks in because they want to work the world and for some HF aerials are very different to the ones they are used to. I teach them the tools required to make antennas and how to fault find with dummy load and test with antenna analysers. Some get it some don’t. I have to stress what works in one place may not work in another due to many factors. Experiment, experiment BUT a lot of new hams want that instant success only to find conditions are flat and it’s not their aerial - I see a lot of money wasted and frustrated newbies that don’t take the hobby any further. Cheap sets with a good antenna will outperform an expensive set with a poor antenna so I stress to get that element right which depends on their space, environment and circumstances. Patience and experimentation. It’s hard to get that point over when waterfalls and colour displays beckon and the world hasn’t returned their call. All the best and thanks for posting. Every day is a learning day even for this oldie. 73 de M0AZE Mike.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Mike.. I've not read or heard that one before.. "the one eyed man is king in the valley of the blind". Nice proverb!

[@dougdaniels]

I was very lucky with my Elmer. Whenever I'd say that I'd heard/read something, the first thing he'd say was "let's try it" or "let's build it".

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Beautiful.

[@cfsyoutube5799]

Excellent advice - but, Callum, the subtitles at 5:09 had me laughing to myself sat on the sofa... Wife thought I'd gone mad 🙂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh heck! I think I'll leave them as it is.. That's AI for you!! :)

[@cfsyoutube5799]

So "high quality cow eggs" it is, wonder if you can get them from Waitrose?

[@mrx7956]

Very good video Calum, and in the end it's a science hobby, try things out... and see what works and what not... it's not the race to the moon.

[@larrypicard5969]

Callum, there is a lot more to your presentation than meets the eye. Much of what you say extends to life in general. I have two key points. People by nature confuse what they BELIEVE with what they KNOW. Secondly, they often prefer to profess false wisdom rather than admit ignorance. While many accomplished scientists are hams, we are mainly a group of AMATEURS pursuing a HOBBY.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes.. someone just left another comment earlier - and I loved it! It goes; "The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him...Leo Tolstoy, 1897"

[@larrypicard5969]

@@DXCommanderHQ Thanks Callum. I like the way Tolstoy put it.

[@boblaporte7500]

Callum, Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and theories. I wish that there could be more like you able to share this physic, Have you thought about writing a book or having a collection of your videos ?. Whatever the topics you choose, the contents are very good. Keep up the fabulous work ! 73, VA2BIK , bob

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, a book is in the pipeline. Just looking for an illustrator (that won't charge a fortune) that I can work with..

[@troy3456789]

Great video, terrific content! I have been noticing the exact same thing in no matter what it is you're asking about. Half the time someone responds "What do you want do that for anyway?" and "Why don't you just do xyz?"... It is rare when someone just says "I don't know for certain based upon what I see here, can I ask you a few more details?'.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh tell me about it! LOL :)

[@chichimus]

Sure do some research and ask questions but find an antenna you fancy, build it, put it up, check some parameters and get on the air. I've had a squarish horizontal 80m wire loop up around the house. Lowest corner maybe 3m high, highest about 10m. Told it was a cloud warmer but on 80 regularily made contacts 1500 -2500km. On the other hand was told early on that a G5RV was a perfect antenna. Put one up and would have had better luck standing on the back porch yelling. Listening to this I had the subtitles running and when you said coax it was shown as Cow Eggs. Going to use that now. "Got a length of lmr400 cow eggs hooked up" :P

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well, 1. Yeah, I love cow eggs! and 2 Some old boys always teling us that these loops are cloud warmers. You are right, there are lobes of gain all over the place higher up..!

[@gamlemann53]

Agree Calum The best from LB1NH

[@loughkb]

Yep, well said. Question everything. 🙂 Research, but then take time to think about it. (A lot of people miss that step, they just grab onto the first bit of info and go with it.) Ponder, then build it, measure it. Gather data. Experimentation is a great way to learn. But don't trust me, I'm no expert. Ha! All I can do is share what I've learned. BTW Cal, I just finished a project I think you'll get a kick out of. Watch for the vid this coming week.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh! I will watch for it!! :)

[@JayN4GO]

Best advise. Learn from contest stations and go at it alone. Makes the hobby much more fun.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, the contest stations have tried it all...

[@baslev]

Great video Callum. Keywords: Research & Experiment. I like it. 73, Bas PE4BAS

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Got it!

[@IrishHamRadio]

It’s an interesting topic… I would always say to people it’s important to speak to experienced ops when you’re staring out, however the plurality of that is the important part… get multiple opinions and rationalise them to what type/combination of op you think you’ll be (base, mobile, portable)… And all of this before you go spending any big money! 😅

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Multiple opinions... Yes.

[@yowsa52]

This is an important video. I say stuff or reiterate things I find out aren't true, wished I could take it back.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

We all have done.. Don't worry..!

[@ke8qll400]

Objective proof is a must. I burned the ARRL antenna handbook!

[@davidbridge3542]

Hi Cal. Good rant...excellent 👍. You quoted an impedance on a dipole at just over 100 ohms, is this a reading off your antenna software, or how did you measure it? Knowing how to measure would make antenna matching easier.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Not my reading.. In the books! :) (ducks!)

[@davem0udb]

This prompted me to build a rybakov antenna, 8m of wire slung up a dx commander rapide a 4:1 balun and 4 3m radials, I know there was a contest on but I’ve made contacts on all bands 10 - 80 and my tuner matches it on 160m. All a bit of fun, but it works

[@DXCommanderHQ]

There you go! Lovely.

[@0150r]

Another thing to consider when asking for help: are you asking the right questions? Are you providing enough information about your situation so that the answers you receive actually answer the right question? I see people say things like " I am having trouble with antenna ABC and want to get a new antenna, what works well for you?" Well, what works well for someone on the east coast of the US that enjoys local nets might not be a good antenna for me in Hawaii trying to talk to VKs and ZLs.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good point Eric.

[@thelandrethfarm4782]

I agree Cal, you just have to experiment. My antenna system is not what I was told! Resident for each bands is the deal! Forget about tuners…. (Inverted V fan dipole all bands tuned perfect). But you should experiment!!!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yep. Nice comment!

[@petertate3436]

Oh this is GOLD.... Well put.... Know what you want to achieve and then cherry pick the advise you need. I've made a decent living out of the low power AM services here. 400w and everything is on zero budget. Just about every customer has a story about this local ham guy that said...... or and old AM tech that said you need this or forget it. The key is... take from here add to that... keep xxx in mind... equals a fair result for the budget.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well put.

[@garyclark4930]

I encourage people to try any idea they come up with. It may or may not work, but you will learn something from it. Look at some of the strange looking antennas out there. Example the Isotron antennas. There will never be perfect antenna. Get the best feedline you can afford and go from there. I like your thoughts on the subject Callum. Gary KF6EWO 73's

[@YourThermalWorld]

What really gripes me are “antenna tuners”. Those items sold as such, including the internal ones, are NOT antenna tuners. They are impedance matchers. The only way to tune an antenna is to use a tape measure and a wire cutter. The antenna is going to do it’s own thing with the RF supplied to it. My Elmer was 1ABY. He had his callsign be for they issued the US W prefix. He became W1ABY and taught me more about antennas than anyone. I remember being a new Novice and terrified to call CQ. He pushed me and I have boxes of QSL’s from those two years as a Novice. I wholeheartedly agree: find an Elmer to help but experiment on your own.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, I fully understand the gripe you have but it's terminology only.. You are correct, almost all the time, we are just doing some matching - with a high SWR on the coax..!

[@itsonlyme9938]

I currently use a delta loop with open wire line and homebrew tuner becomes if its set up correctly it will become broad banded. Using open wire line has a advantage for me it can be used on other bands and my garden is small, having one antenna for all bands is very useful, G4LMZ.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely..

[@timdbl7804]

Hi Cullum, good discussion! Amateur Radio is a great hobby, but we need to remember it is "amateur"! (Although there are some professionals doing the hobby as well, of course). For example, one of the myths which seems to be prominent in on-line videos is about antenna efficiency: I have seen several "elmers" saying that a lossy radiator, e.g. a lossy half-wave dipole, becomes much more efficient if you feed it well away from the middle! :-O I can follow their logic, but sadly their logic is based on a wrong assumption. (I believe that the answer, to this conundrum, is that radiation resistance must always be reckoned at a current anti-node, not just anywhere on the (standing-wave) radiator). I happen to be a professional RF engineer, but hey, I have had little or no formal training in antenna theory.... so I might be wrong too! 😲

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha.. Brilliant. I like these two words "wrong assumption"

[@Chris_In_Texas]

Ok Elmer Cal, Each time I watch your videos, and the drum set in the background someone needs to record and intro and outro to his videos! That would be cool.... 👍🤠

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Noted!

[@williambarrett70]

Dave Casler has a saying about antennas: Everything affects everything

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh heck! I said that the other day! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJy7fX1jl9ifpNU

[@bills1613]

Amen

[@robertbatchelor908]

When it comes to antennas the best antenna is the one that works for you. Your antenna may not work for someone else. My 12 meter, 17 meter, 30 meter dipole that uses a 4:1 balun would be a good example of this. To the best of my knowledge no one else uses one like it.

[@suprsniper]

Most of the time you back up your claims with data. That’s why I trust you.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Erik.. Yes, I like to do that..

[@9999plato]

The translator is funny. You can buy Cow Eggs instead of Coax. Good video.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That *IS* funny!!

[@9999plato]

@@DXCommanderHQ Ah, you do read the comments! I'm honored sir! Regardless of a recent comment I made on this video about others that hawk various products constantly you ARE very much a trusted source. Only a fool would cheat or lie when demonstrating his own product. A surefire way to erode confidence in your excellent high quality products. You are no fool sir, you are the real deal, no pretense. no phony persona. An honest businessman who creates products that improve the hobby.. BTW while I have yet to fully install my 60foot antenna kit i need help now due to recent health issues, a common story in our aging demographic) it has everything you need and more and is top notch quality, the continuing development that comes later on is just an added bonus. Best wishes for future success, from one Musician and music lover to another... Cheers. KO4PRX North Carolina 73

[@EvansBoatwork]

I think the standard response to a ham related question should be “…it depends…” 😀 obvs there are facts to base an initial project on but then, there are so many variables to a given setup that it becomes trial and error in my experience.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It depends is the start of a good answer. AGreed :)

[@FindLiberty]

No transmission line required: When tuning tom toms, how do you get it all set to a perfect resonant pitch, top then bottom, clockwise or anti-clockwise, repeat, electronic tuner? Does air temperature or altitude (density=impedance) change resonance inside the drum, top to bottom? May require a scope!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I sling the skin on the tom and tighten it so that it doesn't show wrinkles when I push down on it.. I stop right then.. All this baloney of turning keys and then tuning each thread - I think is a waste of time.. Yes, I did that when I played Timpani (I was in an orchestra as a boy) but no more.. On and play. That quick :) Humidity? Yeah, would need a scope! LOL

[@genoa1979]

💪🏻

[@problemwithauthority]

At my age. I prefer to share those views over a pint. If I'm wrong, it was the beer talking.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA

[@robertabbott7770]

The fun of radio is to try what works for you , there are so many variables . What works for your Elmer may not work for you ! The local noise may be worse for you , or better . Your height above sea level , higher or lower . The ground might be hard , and rocky or nice soft soil . Go experiment , and learn ! And just for good measure i am a relatively new ham , at nearly 65 years old . 2E0GQL

[@davidw460]

By necessity we have often been self taught and sometimes that can lead to less than best practice :)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

And it's great fun too.. AGreed.

[@FishingFan2]

No one, not even the videos on youtube except Giles from Radio Preppers.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, he's a fine man.

[@g4lmn-ron401]

Go on that 80 metre net and ask them, always good for a bit of fun.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA

[@marklowe7431]

Almost the 'watch first' for anyone new to radio.

[@W9HJBill]

Exactly. I was looking into a Terminated Endfed Inverted Vee antenna, like those sold by Barker & Williamson, and have been in use by the military for 70 years, and other hams just said that putting a 450-500 ohm non-inductive resistor on it and using a 9:1 Balun would be worthless because 50% of your power would be wasted and it would only be useful for under 1000 miles. Well, I made one and I've worked stations in Australia 18,000+ KM away. So much for these so called "old timers who know everything".

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hmmm. I shall add that to the list Bill..!

[@kenluning909]

I find it interesting that some of my HAM friends don't experiment enough with antenna theory and design on their own to get a good working knowledge of their specific location and conditions but rely heavily on others who most of the time do not have a clue about the actual conditions that they are dealing with.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ken, yep!

[@DaveW6OOD]

HAHA, the CC made "COAX" into 'COW EGGS". Hilarious !! Thanks Cal. PS. is a female Elmer an Elma ??

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Cow Eggs.. Oh heck, I missed that!! LOL - OMG, that's so funny! :)

[@jiml40]

Our knowledge is based on our personal experiences

[@timbeaumontm0urx79]

Oh yes 100%.... When i was first licensed I was reading a book on propagation and it clearly stated that backscatter wasn't possible on HF. I was aghast WHAT? I asked many high profile hams and they all agreed with the book, well flabbergasted i had done many tests and YES backscatter signals on HF are quite normal Especially noticeable during high SFI on HF, just look around at all the stations you can hear beaming East or West that you can't hear beaming direct. These signals reflect off the ionosphere as backscatter. Wish i could remember what book it was.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tim.. I remember that debate.. A number of amateur authors (that we know!) discounted you.. Yet on Friday lunchtime- we hear it regularly on the stream.. Thanks for reminding me Tim. Oh shit, I forgot to export the log!!