ON4UN's Low Band DXing: A Complete Guide to Antennas, Equipment, and Techniques for Long-Distance Contacts on 160, 80, and 40 Meters - Free Online Download
ON4UN's Low Band DXing: A Comprehensive Guide for Amateur Radio Enthusiasts
If you are a ham radio operator who loves to explore the world of radio waves, you might have heard of low band DXing. Low band DXing is the art and science of making long-distance contacts on frequencies below 10 MHz, such as 160 meters, 80 meters, 60 meters, 40 meters, and 30 meters. These bands offer unique challenges and rewards for radio amateurs who want to test their skills, equipment, and propagation knowledge.
ON4UNsLowBandDXingfreedownload
But how can you learn more about low band DXing and improve your performance on these bands? One of the best resources available is ON4UN's Low Band DXing, a book and CD-ROM package written by John Devoldere ON4UN, a world-renowned expert and pioneer in low band DXing. In this article, we will give you an overview of ON4UN's book and CD-ROM, and show you how to get them for free online. We will also give you some tips on how to use them effectively to enhance your low band DXing skills and enjoyment.
What is low band DXing and why is it important?
Low band DXing is a term used to describe amateur radio activity on frequencies below 10 MHz, which are also known as the low frequency (LF) or medium frequency (MF) bands. These bands include 160 meters (1.8-2 MHz), 80 meters (3.5-4 MHz), 60 meters (5 MHz), 40 meters (7-7.3 MHz), and 30 meters (10.1-10.15 MHz). Some of these bands are allocated exclusively or partially to amateur radio service, while others are shared with other services such as broadcasting, maritime, military, or aviation.
Low band DXing is important for several reasons. First, it offers a unique challenge for radio amateurs who want to overcome the difficulties of working on these bands, such as high noise levels, low antenna efficiency, limited space, complex propagation, and interference from other stations. Second, it offers a unique reward for radio amateurs who want to experience the thrill of making long-distance contacts on these bands, especially during periods of low solar activity when the higher frequency bands are less reliable. Third, it offers a unique opportunity for radio amateurs who want to contribute to the scientific understanding of the ionosphere and the earth's magnetic field, which affect the propagation of radio waves on these bands.
Some of the goals and achievements of low band DXers include working all continents (WAC), working all zones (WAZ), working all countries (DXCC), working all states (WAS), working 1000 miles per watt (QRP), working rare or exotic entities, participating in contests or awards programs, and experimenting with new modes or technologies.
Overview of ON4UN's book and CD-ROM: What are the main features and benefits?
ON4UN's Low Band DXing is a book and CD-ROM package that was first published in 1994 by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio in the United States. The book and CD-ROM have been updated and revised several times since then, with the latest edition being the fifth edition published in 2010. The book and CD-ROM are widely regarded as the definitive reference and guide for low band DXing, covering all aspects of the subject in depth and detail.
The author of the book and CD-ROM is John Devoldere ON4UN, a Belgian radio amateur who has been active on the low bands since 1958. He is one of the most respected and accomplished low band DXers in the world, having worked over 300 countries on 160 meters, over 350 countries on 80 meters, and over 300 countries on 40 meters. He has also set several world records and won numerous awards and contests on these bands. He is also a prolific writer and speaker on low band DXing, having published several articles and books on the topic, and given many presentations and lectures at ham radio conventions and events around the world.
The book's content and structure are as follows:
Chapter 1: Introduction to Low Band DXing: This chapter gives an overview of low band DXing, its history, its challenges, its rewards, and its goals.
Chapter 2: Propagation on the Low Bands: This chapter explains the theory and practice of propagation on the low bands, including the effects of the sun, the ionosphere, the earth's magnetic field, the seasons, the time of day, and the location.
Chapter 3: Low Band Antennas: This chapter describes the design and construction of various types of antennas for low band DXing, such as verticals, dipoles, loops, yagis, quads, arrays, beverages, flags, pennants, EWEs, K9AY loops, terminated loops, phased arrays, four squares, eight circles, rhombics, long wires, inverted Ls, inverted Vs, slopers, and more.
Chapter 4: Low Band Transmitting: This chapter discusses the technical aspects of transmitting on the low bands, such as power output, modulation modes, keying methods, splatter reduction techniques, and more.
Chapter 5: Low Band Receiving: This chapter covers the technical aspects of receiving on the low bands, such as receiver performance, noise reduction techniques, filtering options, preamps, attenuators, and more.
Chapter 6: Low Band Operating: This chapter provides practical advice on how to operate effectively on the low bands, such as band planning, frequency selection, call signs, QSL cards, DX clusters, DX bulletins, DX nets, DXpeditions, contests, awards, and more.
Chapter 7: Low Band DX Stories: This chapter shares some of the author's personal experiences and anecdotes from his long and successful career as a low band DXer.
Appendices: The book also includes several appendices that contain useful information and resources for low band DXers, such as propagation charts, antenna tables, country lists, zone maps, prefix lists, award rules, contest rules, software programs, and more.
The CD-ROM's content and functionality are as follows:
The CD-ROM contains a digital copy of the book in PDF format that can be viewed on any computer with Adobe Acrobat Reader installed.
The CD-ROM also contains several software tools and resources that can help low band DXers with their antenna design and analysis such as EZNEC
NEC-2, NEC-4, MININEC, AO, YO, ELNEC, TLW, and more.
The CD-ROM also contains several software tools and resources that can help low band DXers with their propagation prediction and analysis, such as VOACAP, ICEPAC, IONCAP, Proppy, W6ELProp, DX Atlas, GeoClock, and more.
The CD-ROM also contains several software tools and resources that can help low band DXers with their operating and logging activities, such as DX4WIN, DXBase, DXKeeper, DXLab Suite, Logger32, N1MM Logger+, Win-Test, WriteLog, and more.
The CD-ROM also contains several software tools and resources that can help low band DXers with their learning and entertainment needs, such as Ham Radio Deluxe, Morse Runner, RufzXP, CW Skimmer, Echolink, HamSphere, and more.
How to get ON4UN's book and CD-ROM for free: Where to download and how to install?
If you are interested in getting ON4UN's book and CD-ROM for free online, you have several options available. However, you should be aware that some of these options may not be legal or ethical, as they may violate the author's or publisher's copyrights or terms of service. Therefore, we do not endorse or recommend any of these options, and we advise you to use them at your own risk and discretion.
One option is to download the book and CD-ROM from the Internet Archive, a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, music, software, and more. The Internet Archive has a copy of the fourth edition of ON4UN's Low Band DXing from 2005, which you can access at this link. You can either read the book online or download it as a PDF file. You can also download the CD-ROM as a ZIP file that contains all the software tools and resources mentioned above.
To download the book or CD-ROM from the Internet Archive, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the link and click on the \"View All\" button under the \"Download Options\" section on the right side of the page.
Select the format you want to download (PDF for the book or ZIP for the CD-ROM) and click on it.
Wait for the download to start automatically or click on the \"Download\" button if prompted.
Save the file to your computer and unzip it if necessary.
To install the software tools and resources from the CD-ROM, you need to follow these steps:
Open the folder where you saved and unzipped the CD-ROM file.
Find the \"autorun.exe\" file and double-click on it to launch the CD-ROM menu.
Select the software tool or resource you want to install or run from the menu.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation or execution process.
Another option is to download the book and CD-ROM from various websites that offer free downloads of books and software. Some of these websites are Software Informer, Google Drive, Documents and E-books, and others. However, these websites may not have the latest edition of ON4UN's Low Band DXing, and they may also contain malware or viruses that can harm your computer. Therefore, you should be very careful when using these websites and scan any files you download with an antivirus program before opening them.
To download the book or CD-ROM from these websites, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the website that has a copy of ON4UN's Low Band DXing and find the download link or button.
Click on the download link or button and wait for the download to start automatically or enter a captcha code if required.
Save the file to your computer and unzip it if necessary.
To install the software tools and resources from these websites, you need to follow these steps:
Open the folder where you saved and unzipped the file.
Find the installation file or executable file for the software tool or resource you want to install or run.
Double-click on the file and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation or execution process.
Conclusion: How to use ON4UN's book and CD-ROM to improve your low band DXing skills and enjoyment
In this article, we have given you an overview of ON4UN's book and CD-ROM, and shown you how to get them for free online. We have also given you some tips on how to use them effectively to enhance your low band DXing skills and enjoyment.
ON4UN's book and CD-ROM are valuable resources for anyone who is interested in low band DXing, whether you are a beginner or an expert, a casual or a serious operator, a technical or a practical learner. They contain a wealth of information and tools that can help you understand the theory and practice of low band DXing, design and build effective antennas, optimize your transmitting and receiving performance, operate efficiently and ethically on the low bands, achieve your goals and awards, and have fun along the way.
However, ON4UN's book and CD-ROM are not meant to be read or used once and then forgotten. They are meant to be consulted and applied regularly as you progress in your low band DXing journey. They are also meant to be supplemented by other sources of information and learning, such as other books, magazines, websites, forums, blogs, podcasts, videos, webinars, courses, mentors, clubs, groups, events, and more. Low band DXing is a dynamic and evolving hobby that requires constant updating and adapting of your knowledge and skills.
Therefore, we recommend that you use ON4UN's book and CD-ROM as follows:
Read the book from cover to cover at least once to get a comprehensive overview of low band DXing. Then read it again selectively to focus on the topics and chapters that interest you or challenge you the most.
Use the CD-ROM to install and run the software tools and resources that suit your needs and preferences. Experiment with different settings and options to see how they affect your results. Compare and contrast different tools and resources to find the ones that work best for you.
Refer to the book and CD-ROM whenever you encounter a problem or a question in your low band DXing activities. Use them as a reference guide or a troubleshooting manual to find solutions or answers.
Review the book and CD-ROM periodically to refresh your memory or learn something new. Use them as a source of inspiration or motivation to try new things or improve your existing ones.
By using ON4UN's book and CD-ROM in this way, you will be able to make the most out of them and get the most out of low band DXing. You will be able to master the low bands and enjoy them for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about ON4UN's book and CD-ROM:
Where can I buy ON4UN's book and CD-ROM?
You can buy ON4UN's book and CD-ROM from the ARRL website or from other online retailers such as Amazon or eBay. The price may vary depending on the edition and availability.
What is the difference between the editions of ON4UN's book and CD-ROM?
The main difference between the editions of ON4UN's book and CD-ROM is the date of publication and the content updates. The latest edition is the fifth edition published in 2010, which contains new and revised text, diagrams, charts, and illustrations, as well as new and updated propagation maps and software tools and resources. The previous editions were published in 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2005, respectively, and may contain outdated or inaccurate information or software.
What are some of the alternatives to ON4UN's book and CD-ROM?
Some of the alternatives to ON4UN's book and CD-ROM are other books, magazines, websites, forums, blogs, podcasts, videos, webinars, courses, mentors, clubs, groups, events, and more that cover low band DXing or related topics. Some examples are:
The Low Band Monitor, a monthly magazine that features articles and news on low band DXing.
The Top Band Reflector, an email list that provides a forum for discussion and information exchange on 160 meters.
The Low Band Monitor website, a monthly magazine that features articles and news on low band DXing.
The DX Engineering website, a online retailer that offers products and services for low band DXing, such as antennas, amplifiers, filters, tuners, baluns, and more.
The Reverse Beacon Network website, a network of stations that monitor the low bands and report the callsigns and signal strengths of stations heard.
The Club Log website, a web-based tool that provides online logging, analysis, and reporting for low band DXers.
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