Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/w9xuw2h8D34.  If you need a compact HF antenna for emergency or portable operations, then the MP1 Super Antenna could be what you're looking for.  In this update of an earlier MP1 Antenna review, Tinker John (W5CYF) investigates the often critical tuning procedure used with this amazingly compact HF antenna.  In this post, Tinker John uses tuned radials and the frequency guide supplied by New Super Antennas.  John says the MP1 is "by no means a perfect antenna but its does a pretty good job for its size and weight."  You may want to put this antenna on your shopping list.  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 es73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/l2vhS8QWfbo.  In this video by "vener6", we see another way of designing and building a folded dipole wire antenna for the HF amateur radio bands.  This antenna was built to replace an old dipole antenna that was no longer serviceable.  The balun is made from19-20 turns of RG-8U coaxial cable wound on a 3-inch/7.62 cm pvc pipe.  Vener6 says this antenna does an excellent job on 80 meters.  Hopefully, this antenna will encourage you to build a folded dipole antenna for your ham station. 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).

40m Compact 4-Square Antenna (http://www.dxzone.com/dx32966/40m-compact-4-square). Accessed on 23 May 2016, 00:23 hrs, UTC. Author:  Les (EA5AVL). Here's an antenna design that could provide a good, consistent signal on the 40 meter Amateur Radio band.  Les (EA5AVL) wrote this intriguing article for http://www.dxzone.com.  According to Les "the antenna was designed to provide excellent communications on the 40m band, utilizing readily available components and be relatively easy to construct."  Les says the antenna performed well during the 2007-2011 time frame, when there was a sunspot minimum.  This antenna would make a good club project for the ARRL Field Day, which will be held 25-26 June 2016. 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).

h If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/PT1kSQjQIkM.  Nicely done video tutorial on how to design, make, and use a multi-band HF fan dipole antenna.  Alex (KD0YNH) and Cory (N0ECK) take us through a simple step-by-step process in building this antenna.  The antenna is designed to cover the 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter amateur radio bands without an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner"). With an antenna "tuner", this dipole should be able to cover additional HF bands.  A good antenna for those radio amateurs who don't have antenna "tuners" or would rather not use them.  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).

Random Wire Antenna Lengths (http://www.udel.edu/~mm/ham/randomWire/). Accessed on 21 May 2016, 06:33 hrs, UTC. Author:  The University of Delaware. Comment: A properly designed random wire antenna is a joy to use.  It's portable, inexpensive, and easy to store. However, there are a few design parameters that you must follow if you want to use random wire antennas.  This easily understood tutorial from The University of Delaware will give you the key design basics for this antenna. Among the topics discussed are:  The antenna lengths to avoid and the importance of using a ground radial or "counterpoise" system.  For best results, use at least a 1/4 wavelength antenna for each band you use.  An antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner") and a ground radial system will keep rfi out of your shack and improve the efficiency of the random wire.  If you want multiband capability from 80 meters through 10 meters, consider using the original design from W3EDP.  This

Antennas: How many do I need? (http://www.hamradioschool.com/antennas-how-many-do-i-need/). Accessed on 19 May 2016, 21:04 hrs, UTC. Author:  Bob Witte (K0NR). This well-written article was prompted by a question raised in a Technician License Class Bob was teaching.  The question is far from simple, because it involves the type of operating a new licensee wishes to pursue.  Of course, Bob is correct when he says, "You can never have too many antennas." But, for the newly licensed ham, that question boggles the mind.  Bob answers that question by focusing on a few basic antenna parameters: What bands do newly licensed hams want to explore?  If the answer is VHF/UHF, FM simplex, and FM repeaters, then there are a few good choices, including the Diamond X-50A, the Comet GP-3, and the Arrow Open Slot J-Pole. If the new license wants to add HF to the mix, he/she can chose from a wide selection of wire antennas, such as a multiband dipole, an end-fed wire with tuner a

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/yM6TGiFkdMM.  I ran into this interesting video from W4EDF while I was searching for Field Day antennas.  The ARRL Field Day will be held on 25 June to 26 June 2016 at thousands of remote and public areas across the United States and Canada.  Field Day is the largest amateur radio emergency exercise of the year.  Field Day also has become a popular contest for hams around the world.  In this excellent video tutorial, W4EDF shows us how to assemble and deploy a guy-supported painter pole fan dipole antenna.  This antenna was used at his 2014 Field Day site with good effect.  Materials, wires, knots, poles, and guying techniques are shown throughout the video.  Perhaps this simple multiband antenna will be your choice at your Field Day site.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.