@ARRLHQ
— · 32 videos curated
Ham radio communications infrastructure and amateur radio equipment for emergency preparedness and off-grid connectivity.
32 videos in Comms
What is Step Size in Ham Radio VFO Mode?
32-second explainer on VFO step size in ham radios: what it is, how it affects tuning, and why 5 kHz is commonly preferred.
Essential Tips for Successful Field Operations
ARRL Lab expert shares practical tips for optimizing portable radio power, antenna performance, and field station reliability during outdoor amateur radio operations.
Why Your Antenna Tuner Doesn't Actually Tune Anything
Technical breakdown of how antenna tuners (transmatches) work: impedance matching between radio and feedline, SWR, and why the name is misleading.
What SWR Really Means for Your Antenna
42-second breakdown of Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) and why a low reading doesn't guarantee antenna efficiency or power transmission.
Ask Dave: Difficult Grounding—Alternative Techniques for Dry and Rocky Areas
Ham radio grounding solutions for operators in dry, rocky, or desert terrain where standard methods won't work.
Tour the ARRL Headquarters Antenna Farm
Tour of ARRL's Newington headquarters showing multiband HF beams, VHF/UHF Yagis for satellite tracking, repeater verticals, and emergency weather monitoring dishes.
How to Stop RF in the Shack: Common Mode Chokes Explained
36-second technical tip on diagnosing and fixing common mode current interference in ham radio stations using common mode chokes.
ARRL Lab-Tested Devices Comparison Tool: How to Use It for Radio Purchases
Tour of ARRL's interactive online tool for comparing lab-tested transceiver, receiver, and amplifier performance specs to inform ham radio equipment buying decisions.
Stop Wasting Repeaters! Use the REVERSE Button
How to use the reverse button on a handheld radio to check if you can communicate directly with another station, preserving repeater capacity for those who need it.
Tech Tip Tuesday: How to Access an FM Repeater
Three essential settings for connecting to an FM repeater: output frequency, input frequency, and PL tone (CTCSS) explained by an amateur radio operator.
Long-Range Mesh Networking with Meshtastic
Introduction to LoRa mesh networks and Meshtastic devices for long-range emergency communication without internet or cell service.
Easy Portable Antenna Setup: Using a Pneumatic Line Launcher
Forty-nine seconds on deploying wire antennas into tall trees using a pneumatic line launcher for portable ham radio operations and field deployments.
Microtelecom Perseus22 Four-Channel SDR Receiver Product Review
ARRL Lab Senior Engineer Rick Ciervo reviews the Microtelecom Perseus22 four-channel software-defined radio receiver for emergency communications and spectrum monitoring.
How to Shop a Hamfest Flea Market: 5 Essential Tips
Five practical tips for finding quality ham radio gear and making smart purchasing decisions at hamfest flea markets.
Hams and Hurricane Season
ARRL Emergency Coordinator discusses ham radio's role in Atlantic hurricane season response and preparedness.
3 Game-Changing Ham Radio Tools Under $100
Three budget-friendly test and measurement tools for ham radio experimenters: antenna tuning, signal analysis, and circuit work without expensive lab gear.
QST: Ask Dave, September 2026 — SWR vs Reflection Coefficient
Eighteen-minute technical explainer on standing-wave ratio and reflection coefficient in amateur radio transmission lines, with worked examples.
Making His First Ham Radio Contact at W1AW
A new ham radio operator makes his first QSO from ARRL headquarters, demonstrating the entry point into amateur radio for emergency communications.
Can You Use a $20 Scanner for Ham Radio?
ARRL Lab explains software-defined radios (SDRs) as affordable ham radio receivers and walks through testing spurious emissions with a low-pass filter.
ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 6th Edition (Now Available)
Overview of the ARRL Technician-class exam study guide: radio fundamentals, licensing regulations, equipment selection, and operating procedures for emergency communications.
A Passion for POTA: Parks on the Air Operating for Emergency Preparedness
Amateur radio operator Evan McPartland discusses Parks on the Air (POTA), a program for setting up temporary emergency radio stations in designated parks, and how to get started.
Which Ham Radio HT is Right For You?
Fifty-one-second overview of handheld transceiver options, from budget starter rigs to feature-rich digital models, for emergency communications.
Ask Dave, August 2026: More About AM
Technical walkthrough of AM carrier signals using oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer, for radio operators building emergency comms skills.
Why Amateur Radio Matters When Cell Service Fails
Discussion of ham radio's role in emergency communications when cellular infrastructure goes down, with political backing for amateur radio operators.
Introduction to Digital Modes
ARRL technical editor explains digital modes in amateur radio: what they are, why preppers should learn them, and how to get started.
Satellite Operating for Amateur Radio – New Book from ARRL
Introduction to ARRL's satellite communications guide: basics of ham radio satellites, station building, making contacts, and digital modes for emergency connectivity.
Why This Radio Is Illegal: Signal Purity and FCC Compliance
Fifty-four seconds on unwanted radio signals (spurs), FCC enforcement risk, and how a diplexer cleans up transmission—essential for legal off-grid communications.
Portable Antenna Forum: Live from Dayton Hamvention 2026
Live presentation on designing and deploying portable antennas for parks, summits, and remote locations; practical field radio techniques for POTA and SOTA operations.
QST: Ask Dave, July 2026, Band Plan Overview
22-minute walkthrough of amateur radio band allocations: what frequencies are available, which radio modes operate where, and how to navigate the official ARRL band chart.
Washington Governor Highlights Amateur Radio Volunteers Ahead of ARRL Field Day
Governor Ferguson endorses amateur radio's role in emergency communications, previewing ARRL Field Day 2026 and advocacy for residential antenna installation rights.
Inside the New ARRL QST Product Review Comparison Database
Walkthrough of the ARRL's new searchable database of lab-tested ham radio transceivers, receivers, and amplifiers—how to filter by performance metrics and find gear for your station.
Senator Ted Cruz Praises Amateur Radio Volunteers for Emergency Preparedness
Senator Cruz highlights ham radio operators' essential role in disaster communications when cellular networks fail, citing Hurricane Harvey and recent flood responses.