Category: DX Commander

A deep-dive at what it really takes to run a Multi-2 contest station that might have to run for for 48 hours non-stop. We have two TS-990s, twin Acom amps, coax switching, filtering, bacon butties on the go – and the odd bit of coax madness thrown in for good measure.

In this short behind-the-scenes piece, we follow the team through Sunday at Holly Farm: Jonathan on 40 metres, Lee on 20, me juggling the 160 dipole, the 4-Square, and the frying pan!

You’ll see how we handled inter-station interference, tested the 4-Square’s front-to-back, and discovered what still needs improving before the next big one. There’s even a few drone shots of the towers and a cameo from my bacon burgers.

Gear Mentioned:
• Kenwood TS-990S x 2
• Acom 2000 & Acom 2020S
• Antenna Genius 8×2 Switches + OM Module
• 40 m 4-Square Comtek – DX Commander Signature 9 poles
• 160 m Dipole + Planned Vertical Upgrade

Huge thanks to Jonathan (G0MTN), Lee, and the team – and to DX Engineering for inspiration and support.

🎯 Next up: more filtering, phased Beverages, and a bigger 20 m Yagi.

🔔 Subscribe for antenna builds, contest prep, and the final tower upgrade series coming soon!

#hamradio #CQWW #M0XXT #DXCommander #contesting #amateuradio #SSB #CQWW2025 #BehindTheScenes

Continue Stress-Testing the multi-2 station. See how we get on 🙂

Stress Testing Both Stations

Stress Testing Both Stations

Stress testing the multi-2 station. See how we get on 🙂

Ever wonder why some stations just can’t seem to copy your call sign? If you’ve got a “9” in there — this one’s for you.

In this quick video, I explain why the word “nine” often disappears on SSB and why “niner” is the correct way to say it (according to the NATO phonetic alphabet). It’s not nit-picking — it’s about being heard through weak signals, narrow bandwidth, and QSB.

I’ll show you which numbers most often get lost in the noise (hint: 0, 4, and 9), and how one simple habit can help you make more successful DX contacts.

👉 Learn why “Mike NIN-ER Alpha Bravo Charlie” works better than “Mike Nine…” — and how to make sure you’re never the one repeating your call 10 times!

In this video, I walk you through everything you need to know — from finding contests, checking the rules, to setting up N1MM for logging your contacts.

I’ll show you how to:

Use calendar to find upcoming events
Understand CQ Zones, categories, and overlays
Configure N1MM for your rig
Create and manage logs for contests like CQ Worldwide DX
Improve your operating skills through contesting!

Even if you’re not into competition, you’ll see how contesting sharpens your accuracy, signal handling, and pile-up skills. Anyone can join in — and it’s great fun!

📺 Watch next: Installing N1MM (Full Setup Guide) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyqm7tab-wI

📡 My station: DX Commander – Multi-2 setup / 8 antennas
💬 Share your contest experience in the comments — what’s your favourite one?

#HamRadio #N1MM #Contest #CQWW #DXCommander

0:00 How to Enter a Contest
0:20 Anyone Can Join – Even Beginners
1:00 Why Submitting a Check Log Helps Everyone
1:45 Using N1MM for Contest Logging
2:15 Finding Contests at contestcal.com
2:50 Understanding CQ Zones and Exchange (59 + Zone)
3:30 Contest Categories and Power Levels
4:15 Opening N1MM for the First Time
5:00 Configuring Ports and Station Data
5:40 Setting Up a New Log for CQ Worldwide
6:40 Making Your First Contact in N1MM
7:30 Why Contesting Improves Your Skills
8:30 What Contesting Teaches You About Propagation
9:30 Multi-Op, Multi-2 and Station Testing
10:00 Two Contests at Once? It’s Possible!

Probably 80m and 40m. See how we get on 🙂

This is 2 x Scaffold poles and a lot of rope with a winch doing the lifting / lowering.

After weeks of planning and fabrication, I finally fitted a 12 V winch to my ham radio antenna mast — and it works beautifully.

This video shows the full process of building a self-lowering tower using a falling-derrick system. From drilling and painting the custom angle-iron bracket to wiring the remote-controlled Winchmax unit, every stage leads up to that magical moment when the 14 m mast lowers itself effortlessly.

🔹 Tower height: 14 metres
🔹 Winch: Winchmax 12 V (1200 kg)
🔹 System: Falling Derrick with shock-absorbing mooring rope

The end result? A tower that can be safely raised and lowered at the touch of a button — no sweat, no strain, just solid engineering.

Stick around for the drone footage — it’s one of the most satisfying builds I’ve ever filmed.

73,
Callum (M0MCX)

—
🎥 Next video: Taming the 4-Square!

0:00 The Plan – Building a Self-Lowering Mast
0:34 Preparing the Winch Mount
2:00 Drilling & Fitting the Angle Iron
4:10 My Vintage Pillar Drill (Ajax)
6:05 Cutting & Painting the Bracket
10:22 Stainless Bolts & Final Assembly
12:00 Wiring the Winch & Remote Control
16:38 Day Two – Setting Up the Falling Derrick
18:46 Checking Guy Ropes & Safety Lines
19:48 Mooring Rope Trick for Shock Absorption
22:27 The Big Moment – First Power-Down Test
25:30 Raising the Tower Again
26:46 Drone Footage – Smooth Lowering in Action
30:13 Fixing the Rotator & Camera Mount
30:55 The Big Lift
33:37 Lessons Learned & Improvements
35:11 Tired vs. Exhausted – A Quick Reflection
36:06 What’s Next – Taming the 4-Square

#hamradio #dxcommander #antennamast #engineering #winch #hamradiotower #diyproject #radioengineering