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/sUcO6LrPtmM. Here's another great idea for a nice, inexpensive, and easily-assembled multiband HF antenna.  In this video, Tony (KD8RTT) shows us how 100-feet/30.48 meters of 24-gauge speaker wire can be used to make a simple, effective HF antenna covering several amateur radio HF bands.  Tony uses a LDG Z-100 antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner") to match his transceiver to the antenna.  A 4:1 current balun could be used with a coaxial cable feed line or a 1:1 current balun with ladder line to keep losses low and to protect your transceiver  from damage.  A great antenna for portable or emergency operations. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

VK0EK Heard Island video on the web (http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/june/vk0ek-heard-island-video-on-the-web.htm). Accessed on 22 June 2016, 20:35 hrs, UTC. Authors:  Vadym (UT6UD) and Ken (K3EL). Please click title link to view the video. Comment: An excellent video documentary on the recent DX-pedition to Heard Island. Check out the antennas and accommodations.  I'm thankful that I live in a warm climate. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ )KH6JRM).

VP8STI South Sandwich Island video on web (https://vimeo.com/intrepiddxgroup). Accessed on 21 June 2016, 19:45 hrs, UTC. Reporter:  http://www.southgatearc.org. Please click link to view the video. Comment: A well-produced video from the Intrepid DX Group documenting the successful DX-pedition to South Sandwich Island (VP8STI) earlier this year.  Considering the awful weather, high winds, and the unforgiving land mass which served to anchor the DX-pedition, the trip to this near Antarctic island group was quite a success. I just got the shivers from watching this video--that place is very cold and wet even in the Southern Hemisphere's "summer" season.  Although I was unable to contact the VP8 crew, I followed some of the QSOs and was glad the island crew did their best to keep QRM to a minimum. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily. Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73

A Two Element HF Cubex Quad up at Mx (http://www.eham.net/articles/36339). Accessed on 21 June 2016, 00:53 hrs, UTC. Author:  Rob Norman (VK5SW). Please click link to read the full article. Comment: Although this is not a "simple antenna", you may want to build a HF Quad just to see how well your station signal improves.  In this post, Rob Norman (VK5SW) shows you step by step how to design, build, and erect a 2-element 20 meter quad. His excellent photographs make construction easy and efficient. This is not a project for a lone operator. You'll need help to build and erect this antenna. Rob was able to mount his 2-element quad on top of a 33-foot/10.06 meter homebrew mast with the help of two friends.  His results have been excellent.  This antenna would make an excellent weekend project.  You could either build it yourself from locally available materials or order direct from Cubex. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please check out the blog

Real Time Band Conditions Website (http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/june/realtime-band-conditions-website). Accessed on 20 June 2016, 03:43 hrs, UTC. Source:  http://www.southgatearc.org. Comment: Most radio amateurs that pursue DX, contests, and special events have a variety of propagation tools to help them find the best bands and operating times. Here is another propagation tool that is simple to understand and easy to use...no complicated mathematical analysis or predictive tools are needed to get the status of propagation in your area. According to the website, "The information is not based on any software predictions or any kind of satellite based readings."  The tool uses an ionospheric sounding method called "HF Ionospheric Interferometry", which is similar to  the PolSAR system used by NASA. You can reach the website by going directly to:  http://www.bandconditions.com. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please check out

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/b3hUpQvO38k. This is post #810 in a continuing series on simple ham radio antennas.  Tuning the narrow-banded magnetic loop antenna can be frustrating and time consuming.  Apparently, Ricardo Caratti (PU2CLR) has solved that problem with a magnetic loop antenna controlled by an arduino/infrared control box similar to a television remote. A very nice project which will help you enjoy your magnetic loop antenna without all of the trouble inherent in tuning this antenna. 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 title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/Cv_RnLpZ9gw. Another great video tutorial from Peter Parker (VK3YE).  In this program, Peter describes and demonstrates a 100 watt 7 MHz magnetic loop antenna suitable for apartment, portable, and emergency use.  Peter says "there are no hard to get parts or complex workshop skills needed to build this antenna."  Rather than use expensive air variable capacitors to bring the antenna into resonance, Peter uses a length of RG-213 coaxial cable for the task (1.85 meters/6.06 feet). The sliding capacitors measure approximately 6 cm x 8 cm (2.3 inches x 3.14 inches). 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).