Category: DX Commander

For years, people have asked me where the DX Commander concept actually came from. Did I invent it… or discover it? That’s what this video is about.

Because the truth is – none of us invent physics. Physics already exists. What we do as engineers and radio amateurs is discover arrangements that work… then try to package those discoveries into something practical, repeatable and reliable.

This video takes you through 24 years of my obsession with wire antennas:
• hundreds of experiments
• failures and dead ends
• strange prototypes
• Cornwall in 2013
• the very first multi-band vertical attempts
• and how the DX Commander gradually evolved from all of that experimentation.

Along the way, I explain:
• why creativity often comes from obsession
• why experimentation matters more than theory sometimes
• the difference between discovering physics and inventing a product
• and why most engineering is really about solving practical problems.

I’ve still got photographs of almost every antenna experiment I ever built — including some truly awful ones! Hopefully this inspires some of you to go and experiment with antennas yourselves.

Enjoy the video.

73,
Callum M0MCX
DX Commander

PL259 or N-Type? It’s a debate that has been going on in amateur radio for decades. Many operators assume N-Type connectors are dramatically better than PL259s, particularly when it comes to loss, performance and weatherproofing.

But are we worrying about the wrong thing?

In this video I look at measurements made by the late Jim W6LG, who compared twenty PL259 connections against twenty N-Type connections and measured the actual difference.

The result might surprise you.

Perhaps instead of obsessing over connector types, we should be focusing on better coax, better antennas, improved grounding and station improvements that genuinely move the needle.

73,

Callum M0MCX
DX Commander

#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #PL259 #NType #DXCommander

Today I’m replacing the top section of Mast #2 due to the bend at the very end of the pole. What should have been a quick job turned into a pleasant afternoon in the antenna field – birds singing, aircraft overhead, tools clanking and a bit of problem-solving along the way. Sometimes it’s nice just to get outside and get things done.

I also share a few thoughts on the GoPro I’ve been using while my DJI Pocket 3 is away for repair. Let’s just say we’re not getting on particularly well…

Tomorrow I’ll be turning my attention back to the 15m Yagi and getting that project moving again.

Enjoy your radio!

73,
Callum M0MCX
DX Commander

#hamradio #amateurradio #dxcommander #antenna

Today I received a very kind surprise from John Bait G7OAE – a Rode Procaster microphone to try on our radio setup. I currently use an Electro-Voice RE27ND on Station #1 and an RE20 at home, so I’m fascinated to see how the Procaster compares for ham radio particularly on SSB.

Some broadcast-style dynamic microphones can sound fantastic on radio, but they often need quite a lot of gain. The RE20, for example, is famously “quiet” compared to hotter microphones like the RE27ND.

So the question is: Will a Rode Procaster actually work well on amateur radio?

If you use one, let me know your thoughts below.

73,
Callum M0MCX
DX Commander

Today’s video is a bit different. My DJI Pocket 3 has gone back to Amazon for repair, so I dusted off my trusty Canon 80D, stuck an old stereo Rode microphone on top and thought I’d just sit down and have a chat. This is completely unscripted.

I wanted to talk through all the projects currently on the go here at the station, what still needs finishing, what’s worrying me, what’s exciting me, and what videos are likely coming up over the next few months.

Topics include:

• Mast #2 and the 15m Yagi
• Rotator Genius control issues
• Remote station development
• 160m antenna experiments
• PTT lockout protection
• Relay protection and amplifier switching
• Ethernet infrastructure around the field
• Future communications shed plans
• Lightning and surge protection
• IOTA Contest plans
• DX Fest / Open Day preparations
• Diversity reception vs stereo receive
• Future video ideas

So grab a coffee, pull up a chair and join me in the shack for a while.

Related Videos:

► The Truth About Ham Radio Coax

► Setting Up SSB Audio Properly

► 15m Yagi Build Project

► Two VFOs, Two Antennas, One Radio

► Inside My Shack – How It ALL Works

► My Entire Antenna Field

► Why I Didn’t Buy a Tower

73,
Callum M0XXT
DX Commander

#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #DXCommander #ShackChat #HamRadioStation #RadioShack #AntennaProjects

Today I want to show you a hidden trick with 2-VFO radios that completely changed how I listen and manage to pile-ups on HF. Most amateurs use dual VFOs for split operation – listening to the DX on one VFO and the callers on the other. But I accidentally discovered another use entirely.

By using two completely different antennas at the same time – for example a vertical on one VFO and a low dipole or delta loop on the other – you can create a kind of stereo image in your headphones. Longer-distance, low-angle DX may appear strongly in one ear, while more local stations arrive more strongly in the other.

On 40m and below this becomes fascinating.

In this video I demonstrate:

How I configure left/right audio
Why different antennas hear signals differently
How arrival angle affects reception
Why this helps untangle pile-ups
Why 2-VFO radios are far more useful than most people realise

Headphones recommended for this one!

73,
Callum M0MCX

Today we continue work on Tower #2 and the 15m Yagi project… but halfway through the fiberglass falling derrick experiment, I realised I didn’t fully trust it.

Originally, the idea was simple: replace the heavy aluminium derrick with fiberglass to reduce weight and make the whole tower system easier to manage.

The problem? Fiberglass bends. A lot.

And after already having one tower-related mishap recently, I decided I really didn’t fancy another disaster involving a mast and several metres of expensive antenna hardware!

So this video became a real-world engineering rethink:

drilling and fitting lifting eyes
hot-swapping mast sections
balancing weight versus rigidity
guy tension adjustments
dealing with stretchy rope
British weather interruptions ☔
and eventually redesigning the derrick into a hybrid steel/fiberglass system

This is very much “field engineering” rather than textbook engineering. We experiment, rethink things, salvage what we can and gradually evolve the station one step at a time.

Next job:
Get the 15m Yagi properly mounted right at the top of the mast, wire up the elements and finally get the station fully operational across all bands again.

As always, thanks for watching and supporting this tiny little niche hobby of ours.

73,
Callum – DX Commander

There is no such thing as the “perfect” coax. Everything depends on the application.

In this video I go through the coax I use for:
– patch leads
– portable operation
– permanent HF installations
– direct-bury runs
– low-loss feeder
– hardline

We also discuss:
– coax loss in the real world
– why 3 dB isn’t always a disaster
– reading coax spec sheets
– bend radius and durability
– branded vs unbranded coax
– connector losses
– HF vs VHF/UHF considerations

Featuring discussion on:
– Messi & Paoloni
– Ultraflex 7
– Hyperflex / ExtraFlex Bury
– Ecoflex 15
– LDF4-50 hardline
– RG58
– RG213

The goal here is practical engineering – not internet mythology.

73,
Callum M0MCX

Setting up SSB audio on a modern HF transceiver is actually much easier than many people think… once you understand the balancing act between:

– Mic Gain
– ALC
– Compression / Processing
– Output Power

In this video I show you the exact process I personally use whenever I set up a new radio.

We look at:

– What ALC actually does
– Why overdriving sounds terrible
– Why no ALC is important for digital modes
– How compression stabilises your signal
– Why your power meter jumps around on SSB
– Mic technique and distance
– Common mistakes new operators make
– Why “more mic gain” is often the WRONG answer

This isn’t a laboratory-grade engineering lecture – it’s simply the practical real-world method I use in the shack every day.

Whether you’re brand new to HF or you’ve been operating for years, hopefully this helps you get cleaner, stronger and more consistent audio on the air.

73,
Callum – DX Commander

Well… I made a mistake.

The DX Commander Open Day is NOT on Sunday 16th August.

It’s on Saturday 15th August 2026.

In this video I explain the correction, chat about what happens on the day, why I’ve never really been a fan of traditional rallies, and why I think amateur radio works best when people have time to stop, talk, have a coffee and enjoy themselves.

We’ll have:

• DX Commander shop open with 20% off everything
• B-grade poles available while stocks last
• Food available throughout the afternoon
• Plenty of antennas to look at
• Lots of radio chat
• A few familiar YouTube faces
• The usual collection of radio amateurs wandering around with coffee in hand

The gates open at 12:00 and we finish at 16:00.

A registration link will be published in a future video. There’s no obligation – it just helps us estimate numbers.

If you’re thinking of coming, leave a comment below and let me know.

73,

Callum
M0XXT
DX Commander