New DX Engineering Gear for QRP Portable Ops: Antenna Feedpoint Kit, Baluns, UNUN & Filters

Plus, Four Days in May is on the way!

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Here’s great news for you QRP fans out there! DX Engineering has a nice selection of new gear designed for amateur operators who prefer the challenge of doing more with less power during their POTA, SOTA, and other outdoor activations.

The DX Engineering team is looking forward to once again participating at Vendor Night during the 2026 edition of Four Days in May (May 14-17)—the annual gathering of QRP Amateur Radio Club International in Fairborn, Ohio. This will be the 30th anniversary of the event, which is always pulsing with high energy from the low-power enthusiasts who come from around the world to enjoy a full slate of activities and plenty of good fellowship.

More Ways to Go Low-Power Portable from DX Engineering

Here’s some of the new POTA- and SOTA-friendly QRP gear DX Engineering will have on display at Four Days in May. Want to order today? Check the links below for product availability.

TWIG End-Fed Half-Wave QRP Antenna Feedpoint Kit

This compact feedpoint kit is an essential component for building a QRP end-fed half-wave antenna system. Perfect for portable operations and outdoor activities, it simplifies setup while delivering reliable performance. The TWIG EFHW QRP Antenna Feedpoint Kit is rated for 25W SSB, 10W CW, and 5W digital, delivering an SWR of less than 2:1 without an antenna tuner.

The kit features a 49:1 transformer that matches the impedance of the user-supplied half-wave element wire to 50 ohms, ensuring compatibility with most QRP transceivers. The BNC female connector pairs easily with recommended coax cables. When the element wire is properly tuned, no external tuner is required, reducing the amount of gear you need to carry.

The kit includes a built-in quick connector designed for 24/26 AWG antenna wire. Two end insulators and clips are also provided, ensuring reliable strain relief and easy deployment in the field. No additional counterpoise wire is necessary; the coax cable serves that function when installed correctly. DX Engineering offers these recommended RG-174 orange coaxial cable assemblies with BNC connectors:

• DXE-174VDB025: 25 feet (between TWIG and optional low-power choke)
• DXE-174VDB035: 35 feet (between TWIG and optional low-power choke)
• DXE-174VDB003: 3 feet (between optional choke and QRP transceiver)

For best results, use optional 24/26 AWG wire such as Consolidated Wire CEW-VIZ24-YEL100, a high-visibility, PVC-insulated stranded copper wire.

A typical setup uses a sloper configuration, with the feedpoint about 6-7 feet above ground and the wire sloping upward to 25-30 feet. Adding an optional DX Engineering DXE-LPFC-BNC Feedline Choke at the transceiver end is suggested. While the antenna supports multiple configurations, wire length will vary based on installation.

DX Engineering TWIG QRP 1:1 Choke Balun

This QRP choke balun was engineered as the key component for building a low-power dipole antenna. It incorporates a 1:1 transformer to keep the feedline impedance of the half-wave element wire down to 50 ohms. The connector is a BNC female and matches up with the recommended coax and most QRP transceivers. When properly installed and the element wire is accurately tuned, the system can achieve an SWR below 2:1 without the need for an external antenna tuner. It’s rated for 25W SSB, 10W CW, and 5W digital. Kit comes with the TWIG QRP 1:1 Choke Balun, two insulators, and three clips.

DX Engineering TWIG QRP 9:1 UNUN

This UNUN matches a high-impedance, non-resonant end-fed/random wire antenna (33 to 84 feet long) to the 50-ohm unbalanced load required by amateur radio transceivers. The DXE TWIG-9-1 covers 1.8-30 MHz and is ideal for portable QRP or HOA-restricted antennas. Its BNC female connector mates with the recommended 35 to 50 feet of coax cable, which is used as the counterpoise. In some cases, an external wide range tuner may be needed. This UNUN may not provide a perfect 1:1 SWR on all bands without an additional tuner and may experience heating at higher power due to impedance mismatches.

Typically, 9:1 UNUNs are used for random wire, end-fed long wire, and inverted-L or sloper antennas.

DX Engineering TWIG QRP 4:1 Current Balun

This is designed to be used as the feedpoint of a very low-power off-center-fed dipole (OCF) antenna. The TWIG-4-1C incorporates a 4:1 transformer to convert the OCF antenna impedance of 200 ohms to the desired 50 ohms to match the coaxial cable feedline. It also has a 1:1 feedline choke to prevent current imbalance, detuning, and the addition of unwanted noise.

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