After decades of abstinence, I decided in 2017 to finally get my license. Starting with a YAESU FT-857D (my beloved, comfortless workhorse), I gradually acquired more modern equipment. Since I tend towards perfectionism, this was followed by a whole zoo of microphones, antennas, measuring devices, and whatever else you think you need. The results remained unsatisfactory, because physics cannot be outsmarted (a late realization!).

So I sat down and thought about where my real problems lay

1. The antenna
2. The antenna
3. The antenna
4. QRM mitigation
5. Modulation
6. Getting and understanding real propagation values
7. End.... there's really not much more to it

My old YAESU can effortlessly reach New Zealand when all 6 of these problems are brought under control - in mobile operation.

Problems 1 - 3 can be managed with a few little tricks. For 4 - 6, I was able to achieve so much through technical skill, research, and ingenuity that market-ready products emerged from it. The name DXScout was born, along with the product line that always ends with "Magic". The reason is simple - they are magic.

Have fun reading the articles.