Simple Ham Radio Antennas

20/40 Meter Short Coax Trap Dipole Antenna (http://www.dxzone.com/cgi/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=32301). Source:  http://www.dxzone. Accessed on 01 November 2016, 00:40 hrs, UTC. Please click link to read the full article. Comment: A properly designed and built trap dipole antenna will provide nearly full dipole performance for those living in restricted housing areas.  The total length of this dipole antenna, including the two traps, is only 43.5 feet/13.26 meters--small enough to fit in many urban backyards. This article is a well-organized tutorial that explains the theory, design, and construction of a 20/40 meter trap dipole antenna, including a list of materials and how to build the traps.  The report contains a simple coax trap design calculator and ample photographs and illustrations. If you're cramped for space and still want decent dipole performance, then this 20/40 meter trap dipole antenna is for you. ---------------------------------------------- For the latest Am

Comet CHA250B Review  (http://www.k3dav.com/cometcha250bhfvert.htm). Author: Dave (K3DAV). Accessed on 31 October 2016, 02:45 hrs, UTC. Please click title link or enter post url to read the full article. Comment: Although the Comet 250B Vertical antenna is a compromise, it has just enough presence and "punch" to allow those living in restricted housing to get on the air with a decent signal. Sometimes, the only way to go is up. Dave (K3DAV) has written a positive review of this restricted space antenna, which "is for  the space restricted ham who only uses 100 watts of power out of the back of the radio." Dave explains the theory, construction, and use of this antenna which performs adequately from 80 through 10 meters.  Although the antenna isn't designed to work on 160 meters, Dave has used the Comet 250B to make several contacts on the "gentlemen's band." The addition of ground radials, while not required, will improve overall performan

The All-Band HF Doublet (http://www.hamuniverse.com/hfdoublet.html). Accessed on 29 October 2016, 22:50 hrs, UTC. Author:  N4UJW. Please click title link or title URL to read the full article. Comment: If you need a simple, effective multiband HF antenna for your shack, you should consider building the "All-Band HF Doublet" antenna.  All you need are two vertical supports, some ladder line, tv twinlead, or homemade balanced feed line, some 12-14 gauge house wire, a center insulator, insulators, rope, and an antenna "tuner" with balanced line connectors.  If your "tuner" doesn't have balanced line connectors, you can run the feed into a 4:1 current balun and use a short length of 50 ohm coaxial cable to connect the "tuner" to your HF transceiver. N4UJW and the Ham University have done an excellent job of explaining the theory, design, construction, and use of this classic antenna. N4UJW gives you all of the basic formulas, wire lengt

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=043sAF4HuJs. This is post #935 in a continuing series of articles on simple ham radio antennas.  Here's another great video tutorial from Ray of the "Radio Workshop." Ray uses a simple, easily understood style to help us build an antenna tuning unit (ATU) for use with end fed antennas, including the popular inverted L antenna. Ray shows us how to assemble a L-match ATU which is simple and inexpensive to build and use.  This is a good, basic introduction to the design and use of "long wire" antennas. For the latest amateur radio news and information, please visit my two news sites: http://www.kh6jrm.info (for breaking news of interest to radio amateurs). http://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com (ARRL news and information for Hawaii Island radio amateurs). Be sure to check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are

If you're unable to view this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7tpMGigvfw.  The key to this high performing longwire receiving antenna is this homemade 9:1 balun. Similar baluns wound for 4:1 and even 1:1 can be used to improve reception of SW and medium wave signals.  The antenna can be modified for transmitting as well. Be sure to use a good ground radial or "counterpoise" system to improve efficiency of this antenna.  An excellent tutorial from Sergio Tech. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit my two news sites: http://www.kh6jrm.infor (breaking news of interest to the Amateur Radio Community). http://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com (ARRL news and events for Hawaii Island radio amateurs). Be sure to check the blog sidebars for additional antenna and propagation articles. Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).