Category: DX Commander

Today we’re commissioning the COMTEK / DX Engineering 40m 4-Square Antenna system here at DX Commander HQ. This is one of the most powerful setups for the 40m band — insane signal strength and front-to-back ratio. In this video I’ll take you through the build, wiring, tuning, fault-finding, and finally the moment of truth… including working Japan at +20dB over S9!

If you’re interested in serious DXing or contesting on 40m, the 4-Square is a game-changer.

Thanks to:

Tim Duffy K3LR and the DX Engineering team for the Comtek
Stefano at Messi & Paoloni for the 75 ohm coax
Martin and Mike for radial work and installation help

👉 Subscribe for more antenna builds, on-air tests, and DX Commander behind-the-scenes!

0:00 – Introduction & overview
0:20 – What is a 4-Square?
1:00 – Direction switching explained
1:45 – The COMTEK / DX Engineering controller box
3:00 – Wiring up & dummy load
4:45 – Software control with OM module
6:30 – Clickity-click relay tests
9:20 – Thank you DX Engineering
10:30 – Dummy load install
12:00 – Coax routing challenges
14:00 – Phasing line connections
16:30 – Trimming & tuning elements
19:00 – Resonance checks & adjustments
23:00 – Chat with Tim Duffy K3LR
24:30 – First tests & fault-finding
27:30 – T-piece troubleshooting
30:00 – Fixing a duff PL259
32:20 – Retesting antenna
33:15 – LIVE QSO with Japan (+20dB over S9!)
35:10 – Final thoughts: cost, complexity, and performance

#dxengineering
#dxcommander

Logging with my Captain’s Log Net Control Software – should be a fun demo – assuming it works!

See https://youtu.be/PV5GdAZ1nfo

This is my biggest antenna build yet! A full 160m / 80m fan dipole — from scratch, all the way through to WSPR testing.

In this video you’ll see:
✅ Preparing and painting the poles
✅ Building the dipole centre and elements
✅ Coax, balun and choke setup
✅ Raising the mast (the epic lift 🙂
✅ Tuning and first SWR tests

It’s rare to see a compact 160m solution paired with a full-sized 80m dipole, so I wanted to document the entire process in detail.

If you’re into low-band antennas, DIY builds, or just enjoy big projects coming to life, you’ll love this one.

📡 Subscribe for more antenna builds, ham radio experiments, and contest action.

💬 Drop a comment if you’ve ever tried 160m — I’d love to hear what worked (or didn’t!) for you.

0:00 – Teaser – The big lift (hook)
0:12 – Preparing the Poles – Painting, fitting, grinding, ramming sections together
6:31 – Planning the Dipole – Measurements, wire lengths, horseshoe layout
9:38 – Cutting & Prepping Wire – Kevlar cord, foldbacks, dipole centre
15:33 – Coax & Balun Setup – Patch leads, choke discussion, memories of Barry
21:00 – Coax Assembly – Measuring, cutting, connectors, testing continuity
31:20 – Adding 80m Legs – Fan dipole build begins
34:00 – Matching & Impedance Talk – 75Ω quarter-wave match explanation
36:05 – Mounting & Bolting Mast – Drilling, washers, test-fit
42:50 – Securing Mast – Bolts, levelling, wide shot
48:40 – Next Day Setup – Tensioning, knots, wind test
51:00 – 160m & 80m Alignment – Galvanised fixings, lifting elements
56:13 – 80m Wire Install – Cleats, pilot holes, tensioning
1:00:00 – Coax & Final Tension – Routing, connectors, self-amalg tape
1:03:30 – Testing & SWR – Adjustments, bandwidth discussion
1:05:30 – Wrap Up – Sign-off and next project
1:06:27 – Easter Egg – Intentional error / correction

Logging with my Captain’s Log Net Control Software – should be a fun demo – assuming it works!

Today’s job: holes, concrete, steel, and planning for two towers!

I unpack a new 12V winch, sort out the scaffold-pole mount at 45°, and dig in proper foundations with concrete and a dead-man anchor. This winch will let me safely lower the big tower and salvage one of the alloy poles.

At the same time, I’m sketching out a second, lightweight tower project — two poles, simple guying, base rotator, and even a budget bearing solution using UHMW washers and split bearings. The aim is to show how you can build a low-cost demonstrator mast that anyone could replicate.

Along the way:

Unboxing and testing the winch (Kevlar rope + remote)

Digging, cutting, concreting, and anchoring

The “dead-man” anchor trick explained

Planning the mini-tower with simple bearings and rotator setup

Updates on the ACOM 2020S amplifier and station progress

This is a proper “hands-on” day in the field — concrete dust, angle-iron, scaffold poles, and all!

👉 Have you ever pushed up your own mini-mast on three guys? Drop your stories in the comments — I’d love to hear how you tackled it.

Enjoy your radio, see you next time. 73,
Callum, M0XXT

0:00 – Winch unboxing & first look
0:28 – Scaffold pole mount idea (45°)
1:26 – Plan to recover alloy pole & use CB/10m Yagi
2:44 – Positioning the winch & anchor point
3:21 – Call to steel stockholder (angle iron sorted)
4:00 – Thinking ahead: lightweight tower plan
6:10 – Measuring guy triangle layout
6:43 – Digging the first foundation hole
7:28 – Cutting scaffold pole & mixing concrete
8:50 – Setting the winch mount pole
10:25 – Concrete mix going in
11:00 – Load calculations & safety margin
12:00 – Dead-man anchor explanation
13:05 – Laying out tower two with guy points
14:20 – Side quest: lawn mower service (spider included!)
14:25 – ACOM 2020S update
16:22 – Using scaffold elbow for base hinge
17:14 – Cheap & cheerful mini-tower design philosophy
18:00 – Rotator bearing plan with UHMW washers
19:30 – Bargain split-shaft bearings (£9 for two)
20:06 – Second hole and concrete base for mini-mast
22:50 – Checking alignment & straightness
24:09 – Cabinet and battery mount thoughts
25:30 – Big tower plans (20m Yagi coming soon)
26:30 – Spray painting poles (yellow → black & white)
27:26 – Wrap up & call for viewer experiences

In this video, I walk through all the tricks, traps, and tools we use to get multiband performance from our wire antennas – whether you’re working from a tiny backyard or a large site.

We’ll talk:

– How traps really work (and their downsides)
– Fan dipoles and verticals (and why they’re so effective)
– Foldback techniques for 40/15m matching
– Why loops are naturally multiband
– And whether smart tuners are magic or just a box of trigs!

Whether you’re building a homebrew fan dipole, eyeing up a Delta Loop, or wondering if a DX Commander is just "visual physics" in disguise — this one’s for you.

🔗 Mentioned builds:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLGtz5Px6g0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4WzIgCvAbQ

Let me know in the comments what *your* multiband setup looks like – commercial or DIY. 73!

00:00 Intro
00:29 Dipoles
01:49 End Effect
03:05 The 40m/15m Trick
03:40 Traps
05:13 Fan Dipoles
06:36 What is a Fan Vertical
08:00 How does it work?
09:27 Easy to understand antennas
11:01 Full wave multiband loops
13:02 Automatic Feedpoint ATU system
14:28 Doublets and Manual ATUs

#hamradio #multibandantenna #dxcommander

Beaming 240 degrees from UK to VK

Today I’m prepping my compact 160m dipole project. I start by spray-painting a few fibreglass poles, then discuss some ideas for making low-band antennas smaller – from dipoles, linear loading, horseshoe shapes and even loops.

Along the way I fire up the modelling software to see some quick far-field plots and test how these designs might actually work in practice.

If you’re curious about compact solutions for 160m (or just enjoy a bit of antenna waffle), this one’s for you!

Tower Project (Discussed): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7yRBNMcXCPeOvxLR305kQpx

I’ve been experimenting with guying on my 18m fibreglass mast – and I’ve added 3 x 1m lengths of 12mm (1/2 inch) heavy shock-cord to the top guys. The result? Instead of the mast top shuddering in the wind, it’s now smooth and controlled.

In this video, I show you how I did it, why it works, and what I’m planning next for the station. If you’ve ever wondered whether shock-cord can tame verticals, this is for you!