The Humble Breadboard
StatusTested
A first practical look at solderless breadboards, including what I learned by checking the internal connections with a multimeter instead of assuming every board was wired the same way.
Ham radio, antennas, field systems, and bench work
Practical radio, antenna, and field-system notes.
Desert Radio Labs covers antenna work, radio projects, short lab notes, and a few useful tools. The goal is simple: explain what was tried, what was measured, and what still needs a closer look.
Built for
- Intermediate hams who want practical notes instead of recycled advice
- Serious beginners trying to make better equipment and antenna decisions
- Makers and tinkerers building field-ready support gear and test setups
Browse
Articles, projects, notes, and tools.
Articles
Writeups that explain what was tried, what worked, and what still needs checking.
Read articlesLab Notes
Short dated notes from radio, electronics, antenna, and field-power work.
Browse Lab NotesProjects
Longer-running builds and experiments with room for revisions, measurements, and hard lessons.
View projectsTools
Small calculators and utilities that solve one real problem without becoming a platform.
Open toolsStart Here
Start with what you are trying to do.
Understand a concept
Practical explanations of antennas, RF, tools, and test methods.
Read articlesFollow a build
Longer-running projects with revisions, mistakes, and measurements.
View projectsSolve a quick problem
Calculators, checklists, and practical references.
Open toolsRead field notes
Short notes from real tests, experiments, and operating sessions.
Browse Lab NotesLatest Lab Notes
Recent short notes
Short notes from radio, electronics, antenna, and field-power work.
Testing the UNI-T UTP3315TFL-II Bench Power Supply
StatusTested
Initial bench validation of a new UNI-T UTP3315TFL-II bench power supply before the return window closed, including voltage checks, simple load testing, and first observations.
Six Months Licensed: What I've Learned So Far
StatusSeed
Reflections after my first six months in amateur radio, including quiet repeaters, mic fright, digital modes, POTA, and the hobbies radio opened up.
Featured Article
What a 4:1 Unun Does in a Portable HF Antenna
A beginner-friendly explanation of what a 4:1 unun does, how it differs from a common-mode choke, and why it is useful in portable HF antennas like the Rybakov.
Featured Project
ESP32 Radio Control Head
An early experimental project page for a compact ESP32-based radio control interface, with confirmed limits and open questions kept visible.
In the notebook
Articles, projects, notes, and tools.
- Draft articles that clearly separate known details from missing measurements
- Project pages that keep experiments, limits, and next steps visible
- Short notes and tools that help make the next bench or field session more useful
Where to go next