Category: DX Commander

HF all the way, any band. I don’t care. If you can hear me, let’s shoot!

In this video I build my latest homebrew 15m Yagi using fibreglass poles and insulated wire, install it at around 13 metres, measure the SWR and impedance, then put it straight on the air.

The surprise? It came out at around 45Ω, needing nothing more than a choke at the feedpoint.

Finally, it’s time for the real test… can a lightweight homebrew Yagi work DX? Amazing 🙂

If you’d like to build one yourself, the dimensions are shown at the end of the video.

73,
Callum M0XXT

A few people commented on my recent 2-VFO Stereo Monitoring video and said, "That’s diversity reception!" Not quite… But nearly…

In this video I explain the difference between deliberately listening to two antennas separately (what I’m now calling **Stereo Monitoring**) and true **Diversity Reception**, where two or more independent signal paths are combined to reduce fading and improve readability.

We’ll look at:

• Why diversity reception was developed
• Who first used it (marine, military and commercial HF operators)
• Why antennas are often spaced well apart
• Why fading occurs in the first place
• How diversity receivers work
• Why I intentionally *don’t* combine the signals in my own setup

If you’ve ever wondered why one antenna fades while another doesn’t, or why some high-end radios support diversity reception, hopefully this video will make it a little clearer.

PS – No AI was used to make the thumbnail!

73,
Callum M0XXT

#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #DiversityReception #HF #DXCommander #Shortwave

Today I’m out in the antenna field tackling a handful of maintenance jobs that have been on the list for a while. We look at why my planned 160m vertical can’t be installed quite yet, why coax and radial wires seem to disappear into the grass, a simple way to label coax so you never end up plugging the wrong antenna into the wrong radio, and my thoughts after running a Luba robot mower around a field full of antennas.

Nothing revolutionary… just a wander around the field, a few practical tips, and a chance to catch up.

Hope you enjoy it!

73,
Callum M0XXT

James M0YOM has spent the last couple of years building something rather special.

QSO Director is a brand-new amateur radio logging and station control package, written completely from the ground up. During this first look, James walks me through the software while I install it, connect it to my TS-990S and see what it can do.

We cover:

• Installation and first-time setup
• Rig control and the "buttery smooth" spectrum display
• Flexible layouts and multiple band maps
• DX Cluster integration
• QRZ lookup and logging
• Importing your existing ADIF log
• Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux & macOS)
• Cloud synchronisation and the future roadmap

This isn’t a paid promotion or sponsored video. James is a friend and fellow amateur radio operator, and I wanted to show you what he’s been working on and let you make up your own mind.

▶ 14-day free trial: https://qso-director.com

If you’ve tried QSO Director, let us know what you think in the comments. James will be reading them.

73,
Callum M0XXT

We’ve all seen them… Big bold text. Bright colours. Dramatic lighting. AI-generated images. Shocked faces. Red arrows! So… are YouTube thumbnails getting worse, or are creators simply adapting to an increasingly competitive platform?

In this video I have a relaxed discussion about modern thumbnails, AI as a creative tool, and the constant battle every creator faces for your attention.

I also show how I use ChatGPT – not to create my videos, but as a creative assistant to help refine titles, descriptions and thumbnail ideas. Ultimately, the ideas, the filming and the editing are still mine.

For me, there’s one simple rule:

**A thumbnail should earn the click… but the video has to deserve it.**

I’d genuinely like to know what you think.

Which thumbnail would YOU click? Don’t answer!

Callum.

Whether you’re running a Special Event Station, activating a lighthouse, a castle, a hill, or you simply find yourself with a wall of callers – everything changes!

This isn’t a video about working stations faster – it’s about looking after the people waiting to work you.

We’ll cover:

The Rule of Three
The Rule of Two
Why callers are participants, not spectators
How to manage a queue without losing the fun of amateur radio

After all… A pile-up isn’t a reward. It’s a responsibility.

73,
Callum M0MCX

Today I decided to try something a little different – AM on the UK 60 metre band.

A few of us had been chatting on 40m during the week and it got me wondering how AM would sound on 5 MHz. The result surprised me!

In this video I show:

• How I set up AM on the Kenwood TS-990S
• Why carrier power matters
• Why I turn the speech processor OFF
• How to achieve approximately 100% modulation
• A real off-air recording from the Hack Green SDR

My AM Setup Checklist:

✓ AM mode selected
✓ Speech Processor OFF
✓ Compression OFF
✓ TX Bandwidth = 100 Hz – 4 kHz (or widest available)
✓ Carrier adjusted so ALC is at or near ZERO
✓ Mic Gain adjusted for voice peaks approximately 4× carrier power
✓ Monitor audio sounds clean and natural

Example:

Carrier = 25W
Voice Peaks ≈ 100W

This gives approximately 100% modulation.

If you’re active on AM, let me know your favourite setup, microphone and operating frequency in the comments below.

Note: On AM, the audio appears on both sides of the carrier. So a 4 kHz audio bandwidth results in an RF signal approximately 8 kHz wide. If that seems a bit generous, try 100 Hz – 3 kHz instead. It’ll still sound great and occupy roughly 6 kHz of bandwidth.

73,

Callum M0MCX
DX Commander

Testing out the 3-element Yagi

A few people asked about the 3-element vertical array I mentioned recently – so I fired up MMANA-GAL and had a play.

In this video I model a simple vertical, then add a reflector, a director, and finally look at a four-element/bayed version that starts looking rather silly at low angles.

This is fixed-direction, monoband, and not for everyone – but for seaside operation, contesting, or a dedicated DX direction, it could be an absolute flamethrower.

Enjoy your radio.