In recent years, one of the most dynamically evolving areas of the amateur radio community has been digital modes—with FT8 becoming exceptionally popular. Originally not designed for contesting, FT8 contesting has now become widespread worldwide. In this article, we’ll explore what FT8 is, how it works, how to participate in FT8 contests, the necessary equipment,…

“With a good antenna tuner, you can even tune your rain gutter.”This popular saying in amateur radio circles raises an intriguing question: is it really possible to use your house’s aluminum or steel gutter as an antenna? Let’s explore how and under what conditions this could work. The Gutter as a Potential Antenna Gutters are…