Category: DX Commander

The power might get cut – depends if we get by lightning or not…

I recently met author Tom Bridge, whose first novel One Last Chance is being published by Pegasus today (at time of launching this video). As I’m also in the process of writing my own first novel, it seemed far too good an opportunity not to sit down and compare notes.

This turned into a completely unscripted conversation about what actually happens when you write fiction: inventing characters, building believable backstories, fixing plot “logic bombs”, researching real places and history, choosing titles, approaching publishers – and that slightly strange moment when your characters begin to feel like real people.

Tom talks about the process behind One Last Chance, his experience finding a publisher and what happens between finishing a manuscript and seeing an actual book appear. I also talk about my own experience writing a novel – including becoming rather more emotionally involved with my imaginary people than I ever expected!

Neither of us claims to be an expert. We’re simply two first-time authors comparing experiences – and discovering that quite a few of them were remarkably similar.

If you’ve ever had a story rattling around in your head and wondered whether you could actually turn it into a book, you may enjoy this.

Tom Bridge – One Last Chance
Publication date: 27 August 2026

Order:
https://pegasuspublishers.com/book/one-last-chance
and
https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Last-Chance-T-L-Bridge/dp/1836715706

DXFest 2026 was our annual Open Day here at DX Commander HQ – and this year I handed the camera to Emily M6ELM!

This is her look behind the scenes at the day: meeting some of the people who travelled to see us, wandering around the antennas and stations, visiting the shack, satellite demonstrations, RSGB, QSO Director, plenty of ham radio chat – and, of course, the café!

We also put the big tower through its rather spectacular lowering routine, with an audience watching, before finishing the afternoon with our DXFest raffle – assisted by young Miles, who did an excellent job of picking the winning tickets.

A wonderfully relaxed afternoon of amateur radio, antennas, friends, food and plenty of laughs.

A huge thank you to everyone who travelled to DXFest 2026, everyone who helped make the day happen, and especially Emily for filming it.

See you next time!

73,
Callum M0XXT

I found this from an old live-stream last year. I thought it was interesting. 4-Square Antennas work best for very low angle DX. 73 Callum.

DX Fest

Can’t make it to DXFest? We haven’t forgotten our friends in the USA, Australia, New Zealand—and everywhere else around the world!

For a limited time, use coupon code dxfest at the DX Commander checkout to receive 10% off your order worldwide.

Whether you fancy some DX10 antenna wire, a Classic pole, the guyless Signature 9 – or even the mighty Signature 12.4 – have a browse and see what takes your fancy.

For customers in Europe, ordering through ML&S will normally remain the better option because they handle the VAT and associated import arrangements.

I’ll also try to livestream parts of DXFest, including activity from Stations 1, 2 and possibly our dedicated 10m Station 3. Keep an eye on

Station 3 is alive! I’ve built a dedicated 700-watt 10m ham radio station for DXFest, our DX Commander Open Day – complete with the SY3 beam, rotator control and QSO Director logging.

For the first time, we’ll have three stations available simultaneously: Tim operating on 20m (Station 1), and Station 3 running the club call M0XXT on 10 metres – and on Station 2, we’ll have GB1NHS (probably 40m)

It’s all coming together – despite the 35°C heat and some extremely questionable purple lighting!

DXFest / DX Commander Open Day: Saturday 15 August, 12:00-16:00 at Holly Farm.

In my previous Stereo Monitoring video I stated that the FT-1000MP (and variants) could perform the type of stereo monitoring I enjoy, with Receiver A on one antenna and Receiver B on another while tracking together.

After going back through the FT-1000MP manual, I realised that isn’t actually the case. So here’s a quick correction.

In this short video I explain the mistake and list a number of radios that do support this style of operation, including:

• Kenwood TS-990S
• Yaesu FTDX5000
• Yaesu FTDX9000
• Yaesu FTDX101MP
• Icom IC-7610
• Icom IC-7760
• Icom IC-7851
• Elecraft K3 (dual receiver)
• Elecraft K4D
• Ten-Tec Orion II
• Flex / variants

Stereo monitoring has become one of my favourite operating techniques, especially for DX pile-ups, as it helps separate signals across the stereo image and makes weak stations much easier to pick out.

If you’re aware of any other radios that support true dual-receiver stereo tracking with separate antennas, let us know in the comments.

Cheers, Callum.

Just cruising – nothing serious

I packed a DX Commander Expedition and an entire high-power portable HF station into two large Peli cases and took it to Telford Amateur Radio Club for an evening in the field.

The station comprised my Kenwood TS-590SG, Tokyo Hy-Power HL-700B amplifier, lithium batteries, laptop, iPad second monitor and a DX Commander Expedition with 32 x 7-ft / 2m radials mounted in a water-filled patio umbrella base.

Once the club members had helped (watched!) me assemble everything, we were on the air within 20-minutes. What began as a demonstration quickly became a proper pile-up, with contacts across 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m – and we were even spotted on 6m.

Despite quite a high local noise level, around 100 stations went into the log during approximately 90 minutes of operating. Great signals, lovely evening light and tremendous fun.

Many thanks to everyone at Telford Amateur Radio Club for the welcome, help, coffee and excellent buffet – and thanks to everyone who called me, including the following who made it into the video:

G3HRO, PD9PWR, G4IRN, PA3MIR, F4LQP, M0JSX, OH2GBA, HB9HWS, PD1AR, PD3RL, LA6AY, M7HCV, SP2NW, G1IBS – and many more!

Apologies if I have copied any callsign incorrectly from the recording!

73, Callum M0XXT