Master the DIY Moxon Rectangle Beam antenna. Detailed guide on dimensions, design, and calculations for 14MHz, 21MHz, and 28MHz ham radio bands.
DIY
“DIY” on DXR Electronics Bits is where practical ham radio projects come to life. Here you’ll find buildable circuits, antennas, receivers, preamps, audio tools, and experimental rigs designed for real‑world shack and field use. From compact HF antennas for small spaces to regenerative receivers, QRP transmitters, and uBITX add‑ons, each article focuses on parts you can actually source and solder on the bench.
Mighty Mite 5W Crystal Controlled QRP CW Transmitter
The Mighty Mite 40 Meter QRP CW Transmitter is a legendary low-power Morse code transmitter widely built by amateur radio operators for portable, minimalist, and educational operation.
Building Sovina 40M Class E CW Transmitter with BS170 MOSFETs
Build the Sovina 40 m Class-E CW transmitter using BS170 MOSFETs and 74HC02 logic for efficient 7 MHz QRP operation. High-efficiency switching PA delivers 4–7 W output with clean RF and simple crystal-controlled design for homebrew HF rigs.
Tree Mounted Quarter-Wave Vertical Antenna
Field-expedient quarter-wave vertical antenna suspended from a tree using only two sloping radials. Compact HF design provides low-angle radiation, near-50 Ω match, and portable deployment for emergency and outdoor ham radio operation.
Hotel Antenna for 2 Meter and 70 Centimeter Amateur Bands
The Hotel Antenna is a clever space-saving vertical antenna design popular among VHF and UHF amateur radio operators. It is especially useful for radio amateurs living in apartments, hostels, or temporary locations where installing large outdoor antennas is not practical.
Building a Double Bazooka Antenna for HF and VHF Ham Bands
The double bazooka antenna, often described as a coaxial dipole, is a time-tested antenna design widely used by amateur radio operators. Its popularity comes from a combination of simple construction, predictable impedance behavior, and noticeably lower received noise compared to thin wire dipoles.
Hourglass Loop Antenna : A Stealthy Performer for VHF and UHF
If you’re hunting for a high-performance antenna that doesn’t look like a metallic porcupine, the Hourglass Loop (popularized by KE4ERO) is a fantastic weekend project. It is essentially two delta loops stacked and fed in-phase, resulting in a bidirectional pattern with about 5 dB of gain over a standard dipole.
Microphone Pre-Compressor Circuit for SSB Transceivers
Clean, punchy audio is critical for effective SSB communication, especially when operating QRP or low-power HF transceivers. A microphone pre-compressor placed ahead of the transmitter’s audio input can significantly improve average modulation levels without introducing harsh distortion. The attached Microphone Pre-Compressor circuit is a practical, discrete-component design well suited for homebrew and experimental SSB rigs.
Simple Speech Processor for Homebrew SSB Transceivers
Simple speech processor for homebrew and QRP SSB transceivers that boosts average talk power while preserving natural audio. BF245 mic preamp, dynamic compression stage, and TL071 output amplifier improve readability and on-air presence.
Microphone Preamplifier with Diode Clipper for SSB Transceivers
Simple microphone preamplifier with diode clipper to boost and limit SSB audio for amateur radio transceivers. Prevents over-modulation, improves speech clarity, and delivers clean transmit audio in DIY HF radio setup