antennas

Ever wondered if crafting your own antenna could put you on a pedestal in the ham radio community, or is shelling out for a store-bought model the way to go? Strap in as we, your hosts Eric N1JUR, Paul KF4TPY, and Todd W1STJ, debate the merits of build vs. buy and bring you a treasure trove of tales from antenna adventures to Park Activations. We're not just talking theory here; we dive into real-life stories of go-box transformations, the quest for the elusive Hawaiian contact, and the unmatched thrill of snagging that rare call sign.

Discover the secrets behind setting up the best antennas for on-the-go comms, from the Buddy Pole Pro's fine-tuning finesse to End Fed wonders like the Reliance antenna sweeping the ham radio scene. We're not shy about our missteps and triumphs, whether it's Paul's budget fan dipole or my high school antenna that opened up the airwaves. We even toss the idea of an antenna assembly competition for kicks and camaraderie; who says radio can't be a spectator sport?

We wrap things up by emphasizing the joy found in experimenting and growing within the hobby, whether you're piecing together your first homebrew antenna or unboxing the latest commercial marvel. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution for antennas, and there's a wealth of knowledge to be gained from every POTA activation, every rare contact, and every story shared. So, join us as we celebrate the spirit of ham radio – where learning, laughing, and the occasional 'lost mouse' hunt are all part of the journey to becoming a savvier operator.

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Todd (W1STJ) - https://w1stj.com

Ryan (W1SNH) - https://w1snh.com

Eric (N1JUR) - https://n1jur.com

Paul(KF4TPY) - https://www.qrz.com/db/KF4TPY

As wireless service providers deploy more frequency bands on towers, the incidence for interference increases dramatically.

While we refer to interference from radios at other cell sites as active interference, signals reflected from RF transmissions within a tower site create harmonics that are equally of concern. This type of RF interference is referred to as passive intermodulation interference or simply, PIM. PIM can originate from poor or worn cable connectors at radios or antennas.

We are finding now that PIM also can be produced from what we call “non-RF sources” such as mechanical or structural elements on or around the tower.

Chris Stockman, Product Line Manager, CommScope discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor the various sources of non-RF PIM and how to mitigate this type of interference problem.