Radio in general is a technologically advanced field, and those who have obtained their ham radio licenses
can tell you that learning some of that technology can be challenging. We've collected some links that can
help you understand both the basics behind radio and some of the in-depth engineering that goes into the
physics of radio, along with ways to improve your setup.
Hover over a word in
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Quick Links
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Just starting out
Antennas
[general,
VHF-UHF,
HF]
Grounding and bonding
Propagation
[general,
solar,
other]
Signal transmission
[tuners,
transmission lines,
reflection,
return loss]
Technology
Chokes, filters, baluns
Digital
Issues
[noise,
shack RF,
other]
Good to know
Tips
Solar
[general,
panels,
charge controllers,
batteries,
other]
Specialized
Electrical
[electricity,
batteries,
circuits,
electronics,
advanced,
other]
Presentations
Sane preparedness
Safety
[general,
medical,
other]
Other glossaries
Advanced topics
Antennas
PhD required
Physics
[general,
electrodynamics,
other]
Other
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Basic and technical topics
Just starting out
Antennas
Grounding and bonding
Propagation
General
Solar
Other
How weather affects radio propagation
(it can affect the conditions, but no set answer fits all)
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Essentially, rain , snow, and fog typically affect frequencies over 2 GHz
very heavily, while affecting frequencies under 30 MHz very little
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On the other hand, lightning is the single largest contributor to
atmospheric noise
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Furthermore, temperature inversions can result in tropospheric ducting,
which typically affect frequencies greater than 90 MHz
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How to decipher this banner
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Signal transmission
Tuners
Transmission lines
Reflection
The myth of reflected power
(excellent General-level article, including the math, by Davide Achilli, IZ2UUF)
The myth of high SWR causing feed line radiation
(excellent General-level article, including the math, by David Achilli, IZ2UUF)
Complete understanding of reflected power
(book Part III by Walter Maxwell, W2DU)
and a
link on my website to his book
Conjugate match myths
(Steve Stearns, K6OIK, 10-16-2011) [PDF]
How reflections damage your radio
(sloppily written by Steve Ward, WC7I)
Return loss
Technology
Chokes, filters, baluns
Digital
Issues
Good to know
Tips
Solar
General
Panels
Charge controllers
Batteries
Other
Specialized
Electrical
Electricity
Batteries
Circuits
Electronics
Advanced
Other
Presentations
Sane preparedness
Safety
Other glossaries
Joel Hallas articles in QST
Advanced topics
Antennas
PhD required
Physics
General
Electrodynamics
Other
Other
General atmospheric opacity chart
Questions? Ask
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