Simple Ham Radio Antennas

A Simple 40 Meter Vertical for Field Day (http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=32463). Accessed on 21 January 2017, 23:45 hrs, UTC . Please click link to read the full article. Author:  Gary C. Sutcliffe (W9XT). Comment: The ARRL Summer Field Day is fast approaching (last full weekend in June) and now's the time to build that portable antenna for your "Field Day" experience. In this article from Gary C. Sutcliffe (W9XT), we learn how to design, build, and use a simple 40 meter vertical antenna for your remote operation.  The antenna is simplicity itself, with a fiberglass mast, a tapped coil, 32.8 ft/10 meters of household wire, a ground stake, and two elevated counterpoise wires about 4-ft/1.21 meters above ground comprising the entire system.  The feed line is a convenient length of 50-ohm coaxial cable , with any excess cable being wound around a plastic coffee "can" to serve as an rf choke.  A great and effective design that will get

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxE8vuRgeEQ.  This is post #1018 in a continuing series on "Simple Ham Radio Antennas." The Buddipole Antenna kit is a versatile portable antenna that can be configured in several ways, depending on band conditions and the location of your portable station. In this video, K2EFG takes us step-by-step through the unpacking, assembly, and use of this portable antenna.  This video tutorial shows us how to build a Buddipole Antenna for use on 20 meters.  The explanation is simple, direct, and uncomplicated.  The Buddipole Antenna system can be stored in your shack or in your vehicle for portable or emergency operations. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news fo

40m portable End Fed Half Wave Tuner http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=29273. Author:  VK5ZVS. Accessed on 20 January 2017, 05:55 hrs, UTC . Please click title link or insert title URL to read the article. Comment: One of the most popular HF antennas for portable or emergency use is the EFHW (end fed half wave).  The antenna is cheap, easy to make, and can be stored easily in your home or vehicle.  However, one of the drawbacks to the EFHW is the rather large SWR presented to our amateur radio transceivers which usually have a nominal impedance of 50 ohms. The impedance issue can be mitigated with a simple antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner").  In this post, VK5ZVS shows us how to make an inexpensive "tuner" from commonly available parts.  The heart of the device is a tapped coil (31 turns) wrapped around a T200-6 core and a 56pF capacitor.  VK5ZVS provides helpful photographs and a simple schematic diagram of his "tuner."  This

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2k8VIZ9X8. An interesting video from Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) about an excellent, but lesser known VHF/UHF antenna.  The Biconical Antenna derives from the more popular discone antenna used to monitor public service radio bands .  The antenna is broad banded, easy to make, and offers better performance that a vertical antenna.  If you want to experiment with a truly fascinating antenna, try the biconical antenna.  You won't be disappointed. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news for radio amateurs). http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and technology news for radio amateurs). Be sure to check the blog sidebars for more antenna and propagation arti

An introduction to HF propagation (http://www.dxzone.com/qsy32036-an-introduction-to-hf-propagation). Author:  Sean D. Gilbert (G4UCJ). Accessed on 18 January 2017, 04:10 hrs, UTC . Please click link to read the full 13-page document.  Sean gives a link to download the entire report. Comment: Everything you need to know about propagation in an easily understood and clearly explained tutorial from Sean D. Gilbert (G4UCJ). Sean provides helpful maps, graphs, and photos to explain key concepts involved in propagation--the way our radio signals travel through the atmosphere and reach our target areas. The report has several sections, including: What is propagation What are the layers of the atmosphere What is MUF and the angle of radiation What are NVIS , groundwave, and skywave The IARU Beacon System Multihop signals Short and Long path propagation Grey Line propagation Sunspots and the solar cycle Sporatic E and Backscatter A & K Indices Flares, geomagnetic