Level 3 · Lesson 3.3

Building an HF station

Jimmy Bob, a friendly cartoon mountain man in a trucker cap and overalls

“My first HF station was a radio, a wire, and a car battery. It still works.”

You'll be able to

name the parts of an HF station and how they connect.

A typical HF station has a transceiver, a 13.8-volt DC power supply, coax, an to match the antenna to the radio, an SWR or power meter, and a station ground. Many hams start with 100 watts and a wire antenna. Keep cables short and neat, and bond all equipment to a single ground point.

Tap an underlined word for its meaning.

Try it

On-air activity

drag-and-drop station builder that tests your wiring.

This one happens on the air in The Shack, which opens in a later phase.

Quick check

Get 2 of 3 right to complete the lesson.

1. An antenna tuner…
2. A typical HF station power supply provides…
3. Bonding means…

Words from this lesson

Power supplyWattmeter