Ham Radio Blog | HF Vertical Antennas & HOA Flagpole Antennas, 160-6M

A G2 geomagnetic storm rolled through Friday night into Saturday. East Coast operators had a ball before it hit. West Coast is just now getting its turn. Here's what happened, why, and what to watch for this week.

Greyline Founder Jon KL2A was interviewed by Q5 Ham Radio Magazine (YouTube) and shares the excitement of the biggest CW contest of the year, reveals the secret weapon for many of you (the DX Flagpoles!), and gives a special challenge for Newbies and Veterans alike. Get on the air this weekend!

Solar Cycle 25 blew past every prediction — SSN hit nearly double the forecast. We're now on the descending slope, but the high bands aren't finished. Frank W3LPL saw it coming in 2023. Here's the current picture, what CT1BOH's live dashboard shows you, and why spring 2026 is still a DX window worth working.

Jeff N0CPO set an arbitrary goal: 100 DXCC countries in his first year on a new antenna. 100 watts, SSB only, suburban Pennsylvania HOA. He hit the number in under 9 months on a 20-foot Greyline DX Flagpole. The station, the physics, the story in his own words.

On 60 meters it felt like the old days, running JA’s from Chicago in the CQWW CW with a 4-1000 to a Quad at 80." and "Since I added the Greyline DX Flagpole vertical antenna, I have added over 1,200 to my DXCC Challenge account." Bill describes his exact station and antenna layout and recounts his VU and KH6 FT8 Q's on 80M. You can too!

Stuck in an HOA? See how one Greyline Flagpole Antenna owner, operating from an elevation of 2437 feet in Las Vegas, broke through the QRM with his 24' antenna, an Icom 7300, and just 80 watts on FT8. The resulting screenshot speaks for itself.

Greyline Performance Flagpole's are working into 3Y0J , plus fresh tips by Radio Guru W3LPL on how to "Increase your chances of working 3Y0J." Have fun...

(Video) Worked Afghanistan T6AA with 100W and my portable, go-kit, Greyline 24’ Flagpole Antenna, aka HF Vertical Antenna from the north Idaho lake cabin. Ham Radio is so fun again! 

KO4IOE has no trouble with the neighbors in his fussy Florida HOA and he works the other side of the world with his 20' Greyline Flagpole and only 100 Watts! 

"I have been making many contacts and yesterday on 17 meters @ 8,632 miles,  India from South Florida." 2 S-units louder than his dipole.

See his DX Flagpole Antenna picture here.