Build an Anderson Powerpole Polarity Test
A Powerpole polarity tester can immediately and safely tell you if the mating connector is wired incorrectly with a reversed dc polarity. This simple tester uses a bi-color LED that displays green for correct polarity and red for a reverse polarity condition. Learn how to build one in 15 simple steps.
Solder a PL259 Coaxial Cable Connector
This episode of the On the Air podcast, explains how to properly solder a PL259 coaxial cable connector.
Building Event Teaches Amateur Radio Skills
The University of Arizona Amateur Radio club’s, K7UAZ, 2-meter antenna building event was one of its most instructive and rewarding. Undergraduate and graduate students learned an amazing variety of skills, including soldering, student-to-student mentoring, hand tooling, designing assembly fixtures, and using an antenna analyzer.
Build a Workbench Tool Holder
Here’s an easy way to keep your small tools organized, visible, and always at hand. Best of all, it’s free! Use a block of Styrofoam, which is commonly used as packing for computer printers and many other products. Try to find a block that is about 2 or 3 inches thick, and cut it to a size that’s convenient for the spot you choose. Just stick your screwdrivers, pliers, wire strippers, cutting tools and miscellaneous tools directly into the Styrofoam. They’ll make their own holes and remain right where you place them.
— Thanks to Ron Pollack, K2RP, for this tip.
Build an End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna
Perfect for HF and portable operating, this four-band end-fed half-wave (EFHW) antenna kit works on 10, 15, 20, and 40 meters. Building the kit is easy; you’ll only need to drill, fasten, and solder. Notable advantages of an EFHW are its ease of construction, its versatility, and its performance with no need for a tuner. We created a 250-watt rated kit so you can comfortably transmit full output power from many off-the-shelf HF transceivers.
Hamspeak
Anderson Powerpole connectors — Trade name for a kind of high-current capable electrical plug-in connector designed for low power loss and ease of interconnection. They are often used for 13.8 V dc interconnections in amateur stations. By their design, they are “genderless,” that is, any connector can plug into any other. The 30 A size is very popular for dc circuits feeding amateur equipment.
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