Sunday, February 8, 2026

W3DZZ Multi-Band Antenna 80m-10m Trapped Dipole

The W3DZZ Multi-Band Antenna has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable multiband wire antennas in amateur radio. Designed to cover five HF bands from a single feed point, it offers a simple alternative to fan dipoles or complicated matching networks. With only two tuned traps and ordinary wire, the antenna provides effective operation on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters.

What makes the design so successful is the way the traps divide the antenna electrically. On 40 meters and higher, the traps act as high-impedance barriers so that only the inner sections radiate. On 80 meters the traps behave as loading inductors, allowing the full length of the antenna to function as a shortened dipole. This clever approach gives multiband coverage without switching or tuners in most installations.


W3DZZ Multi-Band Antenna 80m-10m Trapped Dipole

Friday, February 6, 2026

Simple Speech Processor for Homebrew SSB Transceivers

Good speech processing can make a dramatic difference to how a low-power SSB signal sounds on air. In homebrew and QRP SSB transceivers,  transmitter audio is often clean but lacks average power, making signals sound weak during normal conversation. The compact Simple Speech Processor circuit shown here addresses that exact problem by increasing average talk power while preserving intelligibility and keeping distortion under control.

This design, originally shared and discussed on the Small Wonder QRP blog, has become popular among home constructors because it is simple, effective, and well suited for integration into BITX-style and other minimalist SSB rigs.

Simple Speech Processor for Homebrew SSB Transceivers

Shortened G5RV Antenna – DX Power in a Smaller Package

Shortened G5RV Antenna – DX Power in a Smaller Package: A compact, multi-band wire antenna based on the legendary G5RV design —specifically, a shortened version of G5RV antenna optimized for the 14-50 MHz range.

Building End Fed Half Wave antenna (EFHW) for 40M – 10M

 The End Fed Half Wave Antenna (EFHW) 40m – 10m antenna is one of the most popular and versatile multi-band antennas for amateur radio. It requires only a single support, is quick to deploy, and offers excellent performance across the 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m bands. This design is perfect for operations like POTA (Parks on the Air) or SOTA (Summits on the Air), or simply for hams with limited space.