Category: DX Commander

40m Band. 1kW, 4-Square and hunting and grinding! Join in, chat or just listen. All good fun!

Let’s see if we can find Bouvet Island today – but of course, we can do plenty of search-and-pounce and of course, calling CQ too. Join in, chat or just watch. Just for fun.

In this short tutorial we model a ground mounted vertical antenna using the free MMANA-GAL antenna modelling software. This is Part 3 of the Model Your Own Antennas series where we learn how antenna modelling works in simple practical steps.

In this episode we:

• Create a 20m ground mounted vertical
• Define the antenna using X, Y and Z coordinates
• Run the far-field calculation
• Compare the elevation pattern to the inverted-V from the previous episode

Vertical antennas produce a low take-off angle, which is why they are often used for DX communication.
Model files used in this series

All MMANA-GAL antenna models used in these tutorials can be downloaded here:

📁 https://mega.nz/folder/EnoXlTQL#Iuq-TqnW7ZglzkJMEIk59w

This folder will be updated as new videos in the series are released.

Full video playlist

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7zl-6HKJ5ihuSH3-22IX6kq

If you want to follow the whole modelling series, subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

In this episode we take the flat-top dipole from Part 1 and convert it into an inverted-V antenna using the drawing tools in MMANA-GAL. This short practical tutorial shows how to modify antenna geometry and understand how shape affects radiation patterns.

In this video we:

• Use the wire drawing editor
• Split a dipole into two wires
• Convert a flat dipole into an inverted-V
• Adjust antenna height above ground
• Check SWR and resonance
• Use the Wire Scale function to retune the antenna
• Compare the far-field radiation pattern

You’ll also see why modelling sometimes shows odd impedance values when elements are very close to ground, and why that doesn’t necessarily mean the antenna won’t work in practice.

Model files used in this series

All MMANA-GAL antenna models used in these tutorials can be downloaded here:

📁 https://mega.nz/folder/EnoXlTQL#Iuq-TqnW7ZglzkJMEIk59w

This folder will be updated as new videos in the series are released.

Full video playlist

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7zl-6HKJ5ihuSH3-22IX6kq

If you want to follow the whole modelling series, subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

Over the last couple of years I’ve been quietly building up the antenna field here at Holly Farm – towers (well… masts), verticals, phased arrays, four-squares and various receive antennas. This spring I could do with a bit of help finishing a few practical jobs, so I’m organising a couple of Sunday work parties. Nothing complicated, just some good old-fashioned radio engineering in the field.

Jobs planned:

• Laying two Beverage-on-Ground receive antennas (VK/Japan & North America)
• Burying LDF4-50 Heliax runs from the shack across the field
• Tidying the tree line and trimming overhanging branches

If you’re within driving distance and fancy helping out for a few hours, fill out the interest form below so I can coordinate dates and numbers.

👉 Volunteer Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckcAraHP2dhzpa7uFJXKcs3QTwCvDZjgUs1MpCjNqUnAvdKA/viewform?usp=dialog

Typical plan will be 10am – 2/3pm on a Sunday.

Bring gloves, boots, and if you have one, a spade or shovel. It should be a relaxed day – a bit of digging, a bit of antenna chat, and probably a lot of radio talk.

I’ll also be filming parts of the work for future videos.

Later this year I’m hoping to start a monthly Shack Night at Holly Farm as well – more on that in another video.

Enjoy your radio.

In this short practical series I’ll show you how to model your own antennas using the free MMANA-GAL antenna modelling software.

We start with a simple dipole and build up through inverted-V antennas, verticals, loops, loading coils, end-fed wires, phased arrays and more.

Each video in this series is under five minutes. No heavy maths – just practical modelling so you can understand what happens when you change antenna height, length and geometry.

In this first episode we:

• Download and run MMANA-GAL
• Set the program language to English
• Learn the X, Y and Z coordinate system used to draw antennas
• Model a simple 20m dipole
• Run the first far-field plot

This series follows my earlier deep dive video:

Why IS DX Hard? https://youtu.be/XL1ZbXjGA_s

because understanding take-off angle and radiation patterns is interestiunig before *and* after modelling antennas!

Later episodes will cover:

• Inverted-V dipoles
• Ground mounted verticals
• Elevated radial verticals
• Loops
• Loading coils
• Phased vertical arrays
• Yagi modelling

All example model files will be shared shortly.

Software used: MMANA-GAL (Basic version) Free download:
http://gal-ana.de/basicmm/en/

If you want to follow the full series as it’s released, subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss the next parts.

Next episode: Turning this dipole into an inverted-V.

Feel free to listen, chat or just cruise. It’s just for fun.

What happens when you put a wire in the air and feed it energy? You can talk across countries. Across oceans. Around the world. This is amateur radio – a hobby built on physics, antennas and understanding. No internet. No mobile network. Just radio waves bouncing off the sky.

Most people think radio is old technology. It isn’t. It’s hands-on science, experimentation, engineering and human connection – still evolving more than a century later.

In the UK, amateur radio begins with the Foundation Licence. Training is widely available through local clubs and online courses.

If you’re curious, that’s how it starts.

* If you run a club, school or public event, feel free to use this video as a looping display.

Callum McCormick M0MCX
DX Commander

Free shipping on the DX Commander Expedition – here’s how it works.

For a short time, we’re offering free worldwide shipping on the DX Commander Expedition. The kit price remains the same – the saving comes from us covering the shipping cost.

If you’re in the USA, that saving typically offsets import tariffs.
If you’re in the EU, it takes much of the sting out of the 20% VAT.

Buy: https://dxcommander.com/product/free-shipping-expedition-portable-ham-radio-antenna-80m-6m-kit/

Please note: any local tariffs, duty, or VAT are collected by your courier at the point of delivery, in line with your country’s import rules. This is normal and something customers do every day — it’s straightforward and handled directly by UPS.

This free-shipping offer applies to the first 100 Expedition Kits only. Once those are gone, the promotion will automatically end.

If you’re watching this later and the free-shipping offer has ended, the DX Commander Expedition is still available to purchase at the normal shipping rate. You’ll find a link to the regular Expedition kit on the product page.

Same antenna.
Same quality.
Just without the free-shipping promotion.

https://youtu.be/xJnN5nAIFG8

100 Expedition Kits ready to be shipped.

For a short time, we’re offering free worldwide shipping on the DX Commander Expedition. The kit price remains the same – the saving comes from us covering the shipping cost.

Buy: https://dxcommander.com/product/free-shipping-expedition-portable-ham-radio-antenna-80m-6m-kit/

If you’re in the USA, that saving typically offsets import tariffs.
If you’re in the EU, it takes much of the sting out of the 20% VAT.

Please note: any local tariffs, duty, or VAT are collected by your courier at the point of delivery, in line with your country’s import rules. This is normal and something customers do every day – it’s straightforward and handled directly by UPS.

Once the first 100 Expedition Kits are gone, the free-shipping promotion will automatically end. The Expedition will still be available to purchase at the normal shipping rate.

https://youtu.be/UW1Xv-xvsZ0 – BUILD VIDEO
https://youtu.be/qS1OxcvYQCg – INVERTED L BUILD
https://youtu.be/xJnN5nAIFG8 – TOM’S PORTABLE EFFORT