Master Ham Radio Guides & Tutorials

 This page brings together in‑depth Ham Radio guides, tutorials, and how‑to articles from DXR Electronics Bits—covering SDR, DRM, propagation, digital modes, receivers, and practical operating techniques, without any news or project‑build posts. SDR, DRM & Reception Tutorials Receive DRM with HDSDR and DREAM Decoder Using RTL‑SDR Build a complete DRM receive chain with an RTL‑SDR 

Master Ham Radio Guides & Tutorials:

GM4JMU Shortened Dipole Antenna: Compact Performance for HF Bands

GM4JMU Shortened Dipole Antenna: Compact Performance for HF Bands: Compact 40m Shortened Dipole antenna design using inductive loading coils for space-limited amateur radio installations, construction and performance details

Slim-Jim Antenna for FM Broadcast Band reception (88–108 MHz)

The FM Slim-Jim antenna is a proven and efficient vertical antenna design widely used in the VHF range. Originally derived from the J-Pole, this antenna offers excellent omnidirectional coverage, low angle radiation, and simple construction. The diagram shown here illustrates a Slim-Jim antenna optimized specifically for the FM broadcast band from 88 MHz to 108 MHz, making it suitable for FM transmitters, community radio stations, and high-quality FM reception. This particular design, credited to YY5RM, provides precise dimensional data that allows accurate tuning across the entire FM band.

Slim-Jim Antenna for FM Broadcast Band reception (88–108 MHz)

Hourglass Loop Antenna : A Stealthy Performer for VHF and UHF

If you’re hunting for a high-performance antenna that doesn’t look like a metallic porcupine, the Hourglass Loop (popularized by K4ERO) is a fantastic weekend project. It is essentially two delta loops stacked and fed in-phase, resulting in a bidirectional pattern with about 5 dB of gain over a standard dipole.

Unlike a typical 1-wavelength loop, the hourglass uses a 2-wavelength wire. The crossing point in the center acts as a phasing section, forcing currents in the top and bottom horizontal segments to be in phase. This creates a narrow vertical radiation pattern that puts your signal exactly where it needs to be: on the horizon.

Hourglass Loop Antenna : A Stealthy Performer for VHF and UHF