Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser's search box: https://youtu.be/GxRIBUVO9aE or simply insert the post title in your search box. The Hustler 4BTV four-band vertical antenna is a popular choice for those radio amateurs who want a reliable, effective vertical antenna at a reasonable cost.  In this video, WE5I shows us how to assemble the 4BTV vertical antenna, step-by-step in real time.  This antenna is easy to assemble and offers excellent performance when you connect the antenna to a "comprehensive" ground radial system.  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).

If you're having difficulty viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/zV4Li_G4Vo.  This is part 2 of a tutorial on the use of ground radials in a vertical antenna system.  "Hamradiocrazy" continues his explanation by emphasizing the importance of a ground radial system in maintaining the efficiency and increasing the performance of a ground mounted vertical antenna--in this case, a Hustler 4BTV HF vertical antenna. The video shows how to make a solid connection to the DX Engineering ground plate and how to pin the ground radial wires in place. This video shows six, 45-feet/13.1 meter radial wires connected to the ground plate at the bottom of the vertical. In the case of ground-mounted verticals, the more radials the better, although conventional wisdom suggests that 32 radials cut to a .2 wavelength is the point of diminishing returns.  The video is clear, easy to understand, and covers most of the practical issues i

If you're having difficulty  viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/1qEnBtWV-6c.  One of the important things to remember about installing a ground-mounted HF vertical antenna is to provide for a good ground radial system.  The ground radial system supplies "the missing half" of your vertical monopole.  A good DC ground system may not be a good RF ground system.  In part 1 of this 2-part series, "hamradiocrazy" shows us how he installed a support base for his Hustler 4BTV HF vertical, how he planned his radial field incorporating the DX Engineering ground radial plate, and how he laid out his wire for the radial system.  Excellent tutorial.  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 R

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/QJI3S9x6K_I. Exceptionally well-done video from Hiram Vasquez on how to build a Delta Loop Antenna for 20 meters. Hiram uses a simple Q-Match to make the antenna resonant at approximately 50 ohms--perfect for any 50-ohm coaxial cable you may have around the shack.  Most of the materials can be bought at the nearest hardware store or home improvement center.  The object in back of Hiram is the rope he uses to raise and lower the 20 meter Delta Loop.  The antenna is simple, elegant, and easy to build.  If you want coverage between 20 and 10 meters, replace the 50-ohm coax feedline with 300 ohm television twin lead or 450 ohm ladder line in conjunction with a 4:1 balun and a short length of 50 ohm coaxial cable, which plugs into your antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner").  This Delta Loop is bi-directional and exhibits some gain.  For the latest Amateur Radio

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/aAshymGZ8Ww.  An excellent, concise video that shows you how to assemble the AS-2259/GR NVIS antenna.  This antenna was designed for military use and provided excellent NVIS (Near Vertical Incident Skywave) coverage on the lower HF frequences (below10 MHz). These antenna kits can be found on eBay or on other auction sites.  Those of us who served with the U.S. military may remember several rigs that were used with this antenna;  PRC-74, PRC-104, and AN/PRC-25.  These antennas were used as late as 1990 in Operation Desert Storm.  If you can buy one of these NVIS antennas, please do so.  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).  This is post #674.