Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you have trouble viewing this video, please insert this URL into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/XgyH6JQ3XHo.  This short video by Jerry H. Kolins shows you how to make a quick and easy emergency antenna in about 5 minutes.  The outer shield of the coaxial cable becomes the "missing half" of a 1/2 wave dipole antenna.  In effect, you're making a vertical "sleeve" dipole. Due to the lengths involved, you may want to confine such antennas to the 20 meters to 10 meters amateur radio bands.  These antennas also work well for 2 meters.  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!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you have difficulty viewing this video, please enter the following URL into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/KbEyvp-0eQY.  Here's an unusual way of getting some decent directivity and gain from a vertical antenna system.  In this homemade video from Bob (W04O), club members used a three-element vertical "half yagi beam antenna " to contact Japan from Kansas City .  Last year I made a three-element vertical yagi on my houselot in the Puna District of Hawaii Island .  The missing half of the yagi is supplied by a ground radio or counterpoise system. In this video, club members are using three S9 Antenna masts to support the vertical elements.  These mast are flexible and can be telescoped down to a fairly short length--perfect for portable and emergency operations.  On my "antenna farm", I used three 16-foot/4.87 meters lengths of schedule 40 PVC pipe to support elements for 15 meters.  The radial system was attached to the shield of the RG-8X

. If you have trouble viewing this video, please insert this URL into your blog search box: https://youtu.be/ebAjdBpU5RA.  Good tutorial from "the Casual Citizen" on how to build a "go box" for emergency or portable use.  The convenience of having all of your radio equipment stored safely and easily transportable "just makes sense."  Couple the "go box" with a solar powered 12 volt battery, a portable antenna (such as a BuddyPole),  an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner"), and a portable rig (VHF/UHF, HF) and you have a complete ham radio station that can be taken with you.  This would make an excellent weekend project. 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!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this URL into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/QHM2tzHiagU. Whether you are studying for the Foundation License or working on your Technician Class Amateur License in the United States, this helpful tutorial on the 40 meter Amateur Radio Band from VK3YE will describe the equipment, antennas, propagation variables, and activities to be found in this popular ham band.  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 e-mail 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 URL into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/6cIdrtJINcw. A good, basic tutorial from Tom Stockman (N2RCT) on how to ground your antenna radio tower.  The basic idea is to prevent lightning damage to your equipment by connecting all elements to a single low impedance point.  In addition to grounding your tower, you should also disconnect your amateur radio equipment and all feed lines when you're away from home.  Your antenna feed line should be terminated in a ground stake away from your shack.  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 e-mail subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

HF Multiband vertical antenna selection Please click on this link to read the full article and to get a supplementary data sheet in the pdf. format:  http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/82/hf-multiband-vertical-anenna-selection?utm_campaign=sharaholic. Excellent article that compares five popular commercial HF vertical antennas found in amateur radio stations .  The antennas include: The Cushcraft 128; The HyGain AV-640; The Butternut HF6V; The GAP Titan DX; and the Eco 7+.  You can get an expanded view of the data for each antenna at this URL :  http://www.iw5edi.com/wp-content/upload/2010/03/VerticalAntennaComparison.pdf. The data come from Simone Mannini, IW5EDI, who lives in Firenze, Italy .  He is an active antenna experimenter and has several intriguing antenna designs on his attractive web site. Although these antennas represent some of the best commercial HF verticals around, there are several lower priced vertical antennas by Newtronics/Hustler that will still a good

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this URL into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/VY0IkEL0FS0.  Here's an interesting antenna idea from Australia.  In this well done video from "hfradioaustralia", we see a demonstration of the AA125 Broadband HF Folded Dipole Antenna System.  The antenna was first marketed by Bushcom Australia about three years ago and has gained a loyal following. The antenna covers a frequency range of 3 MHz to 17 MHz without the need for an antenna transmatch (i.e. tuner).  If you have some space and a few moderately sized trees, this antenna would be worth trying. I've built a few "homebrewed" folded dipoles for 20 meters and have found them to be good antennas.  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 e-mail subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for join