Author: Michael | OE8YML
Amateur Radio You Can Touch: Two Activity Days at HTL Villach
Good ideas deserve repeating. Christian OE8AGV, a teacher at HTL Villach, has once again brought amateur radio into school as part of the activity days and shown students what our hobby is really all about. The…
FunkParcours: Radio Games for Everyone – Even with PMR, Tested at HTL Villach
Hello everyone, Ferdl here again. Today with something that genuinely delights me, because it brings together two things that rarely sit at the same table: real radio operation and a bit of fun and games .…
VOACAP Online: Understanding and Using HF Propagation Predictions
Anyone who operates on HF knows that propagation conditions determine whether a QSO succeeds or not. But must we leave it to chance? No — VOACAP Online lets you predict, plan, and optimise HF radio contacts.…
Aurora Propagation on 2m: When Northern Lights Enable VHF DX
When the aurora reaches down to Central Europe, one of the most spectacular propagation modes of all opens up for VHF operators: aurora. Suddenly, contacts of 1,000 km and more become possible on 2 m –…
Amateur Radio Days at HTL Villach – Get On Air With the Newcomers
A big thank-you to Christian Singerl, OE8AGV : thanks to his initiative, we get the chance to bring amateur radio directly to the students of HTL Villach. It is exactly these door-openers that make getting young…
Choosing Coaxial Cable: RG-58, RG-213, LMR-400 and More
The antenna gets all the attention – yet the unremarkable piece in between often decides between success and frustration: the coaxial cable. The wrong cable quietly burns off much of your transmit power and weakens every…
VHF/UHF Repeaters in Austria: Network, Technology, and Operation
Repeaters are the backbone of VHF/UHF communication in amateur radio. Thanks to their elevated locations on mountains and buildings, they enable radio contacts far beyond the direct line of sight. Austria has a dense network of…
kv4p HT: Turning an Old Smartphone Into a 2-Metre Radio
A hands-on report by Michael, OE8YML My old Samsung Galaxy S9+ spent years in a drawer. Now it is, among other things, a 2-metre radio — and it gets used for other amateur radio and radio…
DMR for Beginners: Talkgroups, Codeplugs and Digital Networks
For many operators, DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) is the most convenient way into digital voice: affordable radios, clear audio and — via networked repeaters — the whole world within reach. This article walks you step by…
Alpine Propagation: How Mountains Affect VHF/UHF Propagation
Knife-Edge Diffraction Mountain ridges act as edges where VHF/UHF signals diffract. Enables QSOs over mountains. 2m/70cm benefit most. Mountain Reflection Smooth slopes reflect signals — dual-path effect causes fading. Optimal Locations High-elevation sites (alpine meadows, summits)…
Towers and Masts: Planning and Installing Antenna Supports
In amateur radio there is a simple, almost uncomfortable truth: height beats power . If you put your antenna a few metres higher and more in the clear, you often get more out of the band…
Cross-Border Radio Operation: OE-DL-I-S5 in the Alps
Austria is a landlocked country with eight neighbours – and for radio amateurs that is a gift. If you live in the west, south or north, the border is often within sight. With a valid OE…
