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

Remote ATU at the antenna, or desktop tuner in the shack? About half our buyers run shack-side, including RF engineers who've done the math. Both work. Here's the physics, the tradeoffs, and the decision tree -- so you can make the call with confidence. Ham Radio is fun again. Pass it on.

Bob KC4OS sent in this photo of his 12' Flagpole Antenna with a Solar Light on top and Remote ATU installed on the desk siding. Stealth ham radio at its finest.

The signal chain, the floating balanced output, and where the 1:1 current choke goes. Two accepted configurations — shack-side desktop ATU or remote tuner at the base — and the physics behind why both work. The system theory that pairs with the Feedline Kit install. Technical Note No. 2.2.1.

A model home install at AF1RO who works the Entire Planet with just 50W. That's Real DX. See Install Pics, his logbook, and a graphic Map of the World he's working into.

We get lots of email asking for more examples of RV and camping ham radio adventures. Here's a short story with video and pictures of a campground portable ham radio operation with a Greyline Performance HF Vertical Antenna and 40 Watts in the Sawtooth Wilderness near Sun Valley, Idaho. It was so quiet, if we could here it, we could work it. We were on a high ridge with a giant mountain reflecting the signals (or so it seemed!). Click to read the story. Ham Radio is fun again. Pass it on.

16' DX Flagpole with 2:1 SWR on 160M. Roy uses the SGC-237 remote tuner. What a work horse. See his beautiful QTH and HOA Flagpole Antenna install, here. Nice car too, Roy!