Simple Ham Radio Antennas

HF Antennas 101 (http://www.sgcworld.com/Publications/Downloads/antennas.pdf. Accessed on 23 February 2016, 03:07 hrs, UTC. Author:  Van Field (W2OQI). Special thanks to Dean (KH6B) for running off a copy of this outstanding article. Please click title link or URL address to read the full article. I'm always searching for interesting antenna articles to add to my reference library.  Sometimes, the greatest antenna articles can be found in the " QST " archives.  Such is the case here. "HF Antennas 101" by Van Field (W2OQI) appeared in the September 2004 issue of "QST" published by the ARRL. Van's concise, accurate article lists "10 tips and truisms that every ham should know." Here's the list for easy reference: An antenna doesn't have to be resonant to work.  According to Van, a non-resonant dipole fed with television twin lead, 450-ohm ladder line, or homemade open-wire and an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner&

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/leriedzr1Es.  Here's an easily made and versatile portable HF amateur radio antenna that covers the 20 meter, 12 meter, 10 meter, and 11 meter (CB) bands.  This antenna is based on a design by Frank W. King (KM4IE). Most of the antenna materials can be found at a hardware store or building supply outlet.  Initial SWR data indicate that tuning this antenna shouldn't be major issue:  20 meters (14.300 mHz--1.11:1); 12 meters (24.95 mHz--1.23:1); 11 meters (28.4 mHz--1.01:1); and 10 meters (28.4 mHz--1.0:1). Results are pending for 15 meters and 17 meters.  If you use this antenna, be sure to attach a counterpoise wire or a ground radial system. You can get detailed plans for this portable HF Antenna by visiting this website: http://www.arrl.org/files/Technology/tis/info/pdf/00043033.pdf.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out th

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/X6FYQc0vyVw.  Here's another great antenna using common materials found at the nearest hardware store or building supply outlet.  In this video, Cody Kaecker assembles a simple, inexpensive, and portable 2 meter antenna out of PVC pipe and steel measuring tapes.  Like the HF dipole antenna described in Post #693, steel measuring tapes are used for the antenna elements and PVC pipe is repurposed for antenna support.  This antenna is useful for transmitter hunts ("fox hunts"), portable use, and emergency operations.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  Thanks for joining us today. You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

/ If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/WMPk45MVFpY.  In this video, Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) shows us how to design, build, and use one of the simplist, most efficient, and easy-to-make HF antennas for radio amateurs.  With the use of open-wire, ladder line, or television twin lead and a balanced antenna transmatch ("tuner"), you can use any amateur radio band between 80 meters and 10 meters without cumbersome traps, add-ons, or difficult tuning procedures.  If you don't have a balanced tuner, you can run the ladder line into a 4:1 balun, and connect the junction to your antenna transmatch with a short length of 50 ohm coaxial cable.  To cover 80 through 10 meters, each segment of the open-wire dipole antenna should be approximately 20 meters/65.6 feet long.  This antenna is often called a "doublet".  Get this antenna as high as possible for the best DX coverage.  If you don

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/PiU6x9aZT7A.  Here's another interesting way to build a simple, effective HF dipole antenna covering 6 meters to 40 meters.  The antenna elements are steel measuring tapes, which can be varied in length to control the resonant frequency of the antenna.  KI4PMI and NC4TB do an excellent job of designing and building this antenna.  Most of the materials can be purchased from the nearest hardware store or building supply outlet. For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars. These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

Of Hyperbands and Hams (http://www.radiomagazine.com/deep-dig/0005/of-hyperbands-and-hams-37408). Accessed on 17 February 2016, 22:45 hrs, UTC. Author: "The Wandering Engineer." Please click link or insert address into you browser search box. Comment: As a former broadcast news director and part-time broadcast engineer , I still remain fascinated by the communications wonder known as AM radio.  This article by the anonymous "Wandering Engineer"  struck a familiar chord and reinforced a wonderful memory.  According to this experienced radio engineer, not enough of us in the Amateur Radio Community talk about the "hyperband" and its standard medium wave broadcast cousin or the role ham radio plays in our profession. The author believes it was the "romance" of AM radio many years ago that spurred our interest in becoming amateur radio operators and, eventually, broadcast engineers.  You can get a feel for what the standard broadcast band

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/rTMMG0AeKMg.  Great video from Alex (PA1FOX) on how to install the popular ZS6BKW antenna on an ordinary city lot. This antenna is an improved and more efficient variant of the G5RV HF antenna.  Alex's instructions are simple, direct, and nearly fool-proof.  Just be careful if your antenna installation will be attached to a steep-sloping roof such as Alex's. For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars. These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).