The New Digital Frontier: Meshtastic vs MeshCore for HAM radio

The New Digital Frontier: Meshtastic vs MeshCore for HAM radio: Deciding between Meshtastic and MeshCore for your off-grid LoRa setup? We compare these two powerhouses through lens of amateur radio. Meshtastic vs. MeshCore

Building a Quarter-Wavelength Coaxial Collinear Antenna for 2 Meters

For VHF enthusiasts, the Coaxial Collinear antenna remains one of the most practical, compact, and high-gain omnidirectional antennas. It is especially popular for the 2 Meter amateur band (144–148 MHz) because it combines ease of construction with impressive gain and low-angle radiation — ideal for local repeater work and FM simplex operation.

While most builders use half-wavelength sections of coax in traditional Coaxial Collinear antenna designs, the quarter-wavelength COCO offers an interesting alternative that simplifies matching and can be made more compact without compromising much performance. While less common in published literature for the COCO, using λ/4 sections connected with phase-reversing joins can still achieve the desired collinear phasing effect. This is often done by including an initial matching or phasing section that adjusts the impedance and phase relationship for the array.

Building a Quarter-Wavelength Coaxial Collinear Antenna for 2 Meters: 

 

Terminated Antennas for HF Ham Radio: A Technical Guide

Terminated  antennas represent a specialized class of HF antenna systems that incorporate resistive termination to achieve specific performance characteristics. Unlike conventional resonant antennas that rely on reactive cancellation at specific frequencies, terminated antennas use resistive loading to maintain consistent impedance and radiation patterns across wide frequency ranges. This approach makes them particularly valuable for HF amateur radio operators who require multi-band operation, stealth installations, or specific directional characteristics.

https://vu3dxr.in/terminated-antennas-for-hf-ham-radio-a-technical-guide/

 

Terminated Mini Loop Antenna : Small Space Ham Radio Antenna

Are you tired of large  antennas that dominate your backyard or balcony? The terminated mini loop antenna offers an elegant solution for ham radio operators with limited space. This relatively simple antenna provides wide multiband access from 160 to 6 meters without requiring a tuner.

https://vu3dxr.in/terminated-mini-loop-antenna/