Mylar just changed Ham Radio forever.

 


If you have a spare mylar space blanket in your garage, you may want to try this antenna experiment from Simon (VA7BIX).

In this video, Simon tests the RF reflectivity capabilities of this common survival blanket.

Back in the early 1960s, mylar-coated balloons such as the ECHO-1 tested the ability of reflecting radio signals off the balloons.  These experiments later led the way to orbiting Earth satellites using similar properties.

According to Simon, a mylar blanket with a metal coating can act as a primitive reflector or an emergency replacement for a vertical antenna's ground radial system.

You may want to test Simon's hypothesis in your own backyard.

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1sDYBe5wY0.

Thanks for joining us today.

Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

Here are some comments from Simon (VA7BIX):

🚨 MYLAR - Just Changed Ham Radio Forever! 🚨 If it's good enough for NASA, it's good enough for me. In this wild experiment, we test the RF reflectivity of the classic space blanket—but that's just the beginning... This video isn't just about signal bounce—it's about minimizing the need for bulky metal tape radials while still achieving clean, efficient, portable performance. The goal? To preserve the life-saving emergency use of the Mylar blanket while unlocking its RF potential for ham radio. Whether you're a field operator, survivalist, or just love wild antenna hacks—this one’s for you. 🛰️ Reflects RF like a beast 🛠️ Minimal tape, maximum gain 🎒 Emergency-ready, packable design 👉 Watch to the end for a shocking twist in the build! #hamradio #antenna #emergencycomms #portablepower #mylar MYLAR SPACE BLANKET YOU NEED: https://amzn.to/4lG4g5L METAL TAPE YOU NEED: https://amzn.to/3Gqb8UU WATTCYCLE - Proud Sponsors of this channel - GET YOURS TODAY! https://www.wattcycle.com/ Discount Code: BRC6 (6% Discount) HamJazz Amazon Affiliates Link Store: One Stop Shop for All Antenna Needs! Https://amazon.com/shop/hamjazz FUN Antenna Videos to Watch: *Best Ground Radials For Your Antenna    • The Best Grounded Radials For Your An...   *Tape Measure Video    • This Tape Measure Hack Will Blow Your...   *Ham Radio: 40 Meters Radials Showdown    • Ham Radio: 40 Meters Radials Showdown...   *Linked Dipole Radials Quick Build    • The PREDator - Linked Dipole Radials ...   *Tarp Antenna Video    • TarpTenna - Changing Portable Ham Rad...  
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HamJazz

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Thank you for visiting my Amateur Radio Blog. I value your comments and suggestions. For Amateur Radio Antenna Topics and Discussions, stay here. For Amateur Radio News and Trends, please visit my news site at https://bigislandarrlnews.com.
Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

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