Non-Commercial Amateur Radio Technical Websites (MLA)

Accessed date used for citations: 27 December 2025.

Scope: educational, nonprofit, personal, and open-source-project websites with a technical/engineering focus relevant to amateur radio. (Listings intentionally exclude retailer- or advertising-driven sites as a primary purpose.)

Works Cited

  1. AC6LA. “AC6LA Software.” AC6LA Software, https://www.ac6la.com/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Practical, calculation-oriented utilities and reference notes focused on transmission-line parameters, impedance transformation, and related modeling tools (e.g., TLDetails, Zplots, AutoEZ).

  2. Harriman, Ward (AE6TY). “AE6TY.” AE6TY, https://www.ae6ty.com/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Smith chart and matching-network learning resources plus downloadable tools (e.g., Smith chart / SimNEC ecosystem) and presentations.

  3. AMSAT. “AMSAT.” AMSAT, https://www.amsat.org/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Nonprofit amateur-satellite organization with engineering-focused documentation, operations guidance, and mission/project information.

  4. Frank, Steve (N6LF). “Antennas by N6LF.” Antennas by N6LF, https://antennasbyn6lf.com/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Technical articles and measurements around HF antennas and common-mode current behavior, written from an experimenter’s perspective.

  5. Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC). “ARDC.” ARDC, https://www.ardc.net/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Private foundation supporting amateur-radio experimentation and digital communication science/technology via grants and 44Net stewardship; useful for technical project discovery and funding context.

  6. Brown, Jim (K9YC). “RFI-Ham.” K9YC.com, https://k9yc.com/RFI-Ham.pdf. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Widely cited tutorial-level technical PDFs on RFI mechanisms, ferrites, common-mode currents, and mitigation techniques for ham stations and audio interconnects.

  7. Cebik, L. B. “Transmission-Line and Tuner Calculation Aids.” Cebik Archive, https://antenna2.github.io/cebik/content/trans/tlnw.html. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    An archive of L. B. Cebik’s technical writing—especially valuable for antenna and feedline modeling concepts and worked examples.

  8. DanPlanet. “CHIRP.” CHIRP, https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Open-source programming tool documentation for many common handheld/mobile radios—useful for reproducible configuration and channel-plan management.

  9. Osborne, John (WB2OSZ). “direwolf.” GitHub, https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Open-source software soundcard TNC/APRS implementation with extensive documentation and developer notes.

  10. Westerman, Rick (DJ0IP). “DJ0IP.” DJ0IP, https://www.dj0ip.com/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Technical write-ups on antennas, common-mode issues, and practical station engineering topics (primarily article-style reference content).

  11. FreeDV. “FreeDV.” FreeDV, https://freedv.org/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Open-source HF digital voice project; includes specifications, getting-started guidance, and ongoing technical development notes.

  12. Knight, David (G3YNH). “ZDocs Index.” G3YNH.info, https://www.g3ynh.info/zdocs/index.html. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Dense technical references and calculators across RF components, measurement bridges, magnetics, and matching networks; frequently cited in antenna and feedline discussions.

  13. Hamlib. “Ham Radio Control Library.” Hamlib, https://hamlib.github.io/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Shared library/API for controlling rigs, rotators, and other station hardware; useful for developers and automation workflows.

  14. HamSCI. “Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation.” HamSCI, https://hamsci.org/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Scientifically oriented ham projects (ionospheric/propagation research, distributed sensing) with a strong technical/engineering angle.

  15. Applegate, Alan (K0BG). “A Web Site For Mobile Amateur Radio Operators.” K0BG, https://www.k0bg.com/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Deep, practical guidance on HF/VHF mobile installation: wiring, bonding, RFI reduction, and antenna mounting considerations.

  16. Anderson, Jeff (K6JCA). “Notes on Antenna Tuners: the T-Network.” K6JCA, https://k6jca.blogspot.com/2015/04/notes-on-antenna-tuners-t-network-part-1.html. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Clear, equation- and simulation-informed explorations of tuner topologies, matching behavior, and loss mechanisms (with practical conclusions).

  17. Turner, Clint (KA7OEI). “Clint’s Page (KA7OEI).” KA7OEI, https://www.ka7oei.com/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Experimenter-grade technical documentation (microwave, station engineering, interference investigations, modifications) with detailed measurement notes.

  18. G3TXQ. “Common-mode chokes.” Karinya, https://www.karinya.net/g3txq/chokes/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Measurement-driven reference pages on common-mode chokes, baluns, and related RF engineering topics.

  19. Benko, Larry (W0QE). “SimSmith.” W0QE, https://www.w0qe.com/SimSmith.html. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Notes and context for the SimSmith tool ecosystem, with pointers back into AE6TY’s Smith-chart software resources.

  20. SvxLink Project. “SvxLink.” SvxLink, https://www.svxlink.org/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Open-source repeater controller and EchoLink software stack for Linux; strong documentation and a codebase oriented toward advanced node/repeater deployments.

  21. Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR). “TAPR.” TAPR, https://tapr.org/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Nonprofit organization focused on digital communications and technical experimentation (packet radio heritage, networking, and modern digital projects).

  22. Freese, David (W1HKJ). “W1HKJ Software.” W1HKJ, https://www.w1hkj.org/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Authoritative project pages and documentation for the fldigi/FL* software suite (digital modes, ARQ/file transfer, and rig control tooling).

  23. Rauch, Tom (W8JI). “W8JI.com.” W8JI, https://www.w8ji.com/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Broad technical reference site with high-quality antenna/system engineering articles and measurements; strong “why it works” explanations.

  24. Taylor, Joe (K1JT), et al. “WSJT Home Page.” WSJT, https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

    Home of the open-source WSJT/WSJT-X weak-signal digital mode suite; includes core documentation and download links.