When I first got into amateur radio, I didn’t really had no idea how deep the rabbit hole went. What started as an interest from flying long-range drones slowly pulled me into the fascinating world of HF radio. Here, my good friend S21DW- Parvez played a very big role. Today, with my callsign S21FIA, I spend hours chasing/ calling DX, building antennas, and learning new things. It’s been a journey full of challenges, surprises, and plenty of fun.
Getting Started
I got my ham license in 2023, and like most new hams, I was eager to get on the air. So, like others, I as well managed to purchase a walki-talki from a local vendor and started talking using the local repeater. The HF bands felt mysterious—signals bouncing off the ionosphere and reaching thousands of kilometers away. The idea that I could sit in Dhaka and talk to someone across the ocean with just some wire and a radio seemed unbelievable at first.
But the magic of HF pulled. It is S21DW who first showed me his HF rig, he motivated me to stop calling CQ on the local repeater and start calling CQ on the short-wave. Then I met another very dedicated HAM S21ED-Tuhin. By this time I have already procured a QRP rig and S21ED showed me the way of making my DIY HF antenna. I had some previous experience with S21OD regarding making 70 cm Antennas.
DXing
One of the thrills of HF is DX. Some days, the bands are alive—you’ll hear stations from Europe, Japan, or even North America. Other days, it’s just static. It takes patience, but the reward of making that long-distance contact is worth it every time.
This is S21RC who has shown me the way has boost my interest in HF truely. "You don’t need massive towers or expensive gear to start. A little bit of patience and some experimenting can go a long way." -- Basically S21RC has shaped todays S21FIA.
The biggest highlight for me so far has been the S21DX AS-140 DXpedition in 2024. Our team set up on Dhal Char Island, and I got to experience the crazy excitement of handling pile-ups. Being on the rare DX side of things gave me a whole new perspective on operating.
Antenna Adventures
For me, antennas have been the heart of the hobby. Instead of buying ready-made ones, I decided to build my own. My main setup now is a home-brew multiband Moxon antenna for 20M, 15M, and 10M, plus an Inverted Vee for 30M & 40M.
The Moxon has been a real game-changer—simple, lightweight, and surprisingly powerful. I’ve had some of my best DX contacts with it. Of course, things don’t always go smoothly. My inverted Vee antenna broke recently, which reminded me that this hobby is as much about repairing and rebuilding as it is about operating.
But honestly, that’s part of the fun. Every antenna you build teaches you something new.
Why I Love HF
For me, HF radio isn’t just about making contacts. It’s about exploration, challenge, and community. Every time I set up my portable station on an outdoor or test a new antenna, I feel like an explorer chasing the unknown.
It also blends perfectly with my other hobbies—RC flying, motorcycling, and camping. Packing up my bike with a tent and a portable HF setup- My QMX, heading out to the countryside, and calling CQ from a quiet spot is one of the best feelings in the world.
Tips for New Hams
If you’re just getting into HF, here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Start simple—don’t wait for the perfect rig or antenna.
Listen more than you talk—you’ll learn a lot just by tuning around.
Be patient—sometimes conditions are great, sometimes not.
Try different modes—SSB, FT8, CW—they all have their own flavor.
Enjoy the process—half the fun is in the learning and experimenting, this is not your job, you need to enjoy it.
What’s Next
I still have a lot to learn. I want to get better at CW, do more portable operations, and hopefully take part in more DXpeditions. But that’s the beauty of this hobby—there’s always something new to try.
For me, HF is more than just a pastime. It’s a way to connect, to learn, and to explore. And as long as there are signals bouncing around the ionosphere, I’ll be out there chasing them.
73s,
S21FIA – MARUF