Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQVTnKQuKaM. This is post #1066 in a continuing series of "Simple Ham Radio Antennas." The heart of this all band HF end fed halfwave antenna (160 meters to 6 meters) is the 9:1 unun transformer used to match the high impedance of the wire antenna to the low impedance of the HF transceiver.  The 9:1 unun is made from 20 gauge wire wound on a torroidal coil. You can order the full unun through eBay under "nelson_antennas."  The antenna can be configured as a vertical, sloper, or inverted vee. Adding a counterpoise system will improve efficiency and reduce ground losses. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news for radio amateurs). Other sites of interes

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leriedzr1Es. Here's a simple, inexpensive HF Portable Antenna that covers  20 meters (14.300 MHz), 12 meters (24.95 MHz), 11 meters (27.205 MHz), and 10 meters (28.400 MHz)...all with a SWR lower than 1.2 to 1.  The antenna is based on a design from Frank W. King (KM4IE).  Although there is no voice description of the antenna project, the photos, parts list, and operational details are clear enough. This antenna can be used in portable/emergency situations, as well as in areas where antennas are restricted. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news for radio amateurs). Other sites of interest: http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and technology news for radio amateu

If you can't view the video, please enter this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrpdmEFQwBA. The Arrow OSJ144/440 J-Pole antenna is perfect as a portable/emergency antenna or as a VHF/UHF antenna for those living in deed-restricted homes and apartments.  In this video, we learn how to set up this sturdy, dependable antenna to get the maximum performance out of its design.  Although the antenna is shown near ground level for ease of adjustment and clarity of explanation, you would get improved performance if you mounted the antenna around 25-30 feet/7.81-9.14 meters above ground.  You may also want to provide lightning protection for the antenna. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news for radio amatuers). Other sites of interest: http://hawaiiscien

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzWfeQVdtzY. In this video, Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) offers a brief tutorial on two HF antennas which have been with Amateur Radio since the dawn of the technology.  Stan calls these antennas "goofy" because they appear to work when common wisdom says they won't. The first antenna is the familiar dipole antenna, which consists of two 1/4 wave length horizontal elements fed in the middle with unbalanced coaxial cable.  The theoretical impedance of the horizontal 1/2 wavelength dipole is around 73 ohms (this will vary depending how close the dipole is above ground level). Even though there is a small mismatch between the impedance of the dipole and the 50 ohm coaxial cable feedline (around 1:4 to 1), the antenna will perform well on its designed band of operation.  To get multiband use from this antenna, just connect balanced feedline (450 ohm lad

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM4Qjp3RFFQ. This is post #1062 in a continuing series of "Simple Ham radio Antennas." Radio amateurs have used just about everything as antennas, including rain gutters, balconies, fences, and even light bulbs as shown in this video.  An ARRL antenna book published several years ago had described such an antenna as a fun experiment to see just how effective this extremely compromised antenna was. As described in this video, as long as an object (i.e. a light bulb) could radiate and not shut down the transceiver with a large SWR, contacts were possible.  A few contacts were made with this "antenna" using a Yaesu Ft-857D, a LDG FT-meter, a MFJ-945E mobile antenna tuner, and a MFJ-911H 4:1 current balun. The light bulb antenna was configured as an end-fed antenna.  The light bulb arrangement probably wouldn't be your first choice as a

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into you browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnPVniHS_EQ. In this video from Stan Gibilisco (W1GV), we learn how to build a simple, inexpensive coaxial antenna suitable for use on the 20 meter (14 MHz) Amateur Radio band.  The vertical element is 16 feet/4.87 meters long, with four sloping radials measuring 16 feet/4.87 meters long.  Stan places 16 feet/ 4.87 meters of the 50 ohm coaxial cable feed line inside a metal tube or conduit.  I've built a few of these easily made ground plane antennas, and they work very well, especially if you get the base of the antenna approximately 1/2 wave length above ground level.  Although this simple vertical antenna won't outperform a 3-element yagi, it will give you a decent amount of DX contacts because of its low angle of radiation. For the latest in Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahu

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rusIhx0ptNg. This is post #1060 in a continuing series of "Simple Ham Radio Antennas." Intriguing video from "wow sly" (M6CTP) on how to build a dual band (2m/70cm) antenna from a few simple, locally available materials. Support for the antenna elements come from several pieces of UK electrical conduit, approximately 25mm thick. M6CTP's design is cheap, easy to make, and portable. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please check this websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news for radio amateurs). Be sure to check the blog sidebars for more antenna and propagation articles. Opinions expressed in this blog are mine unless otherwise stated. Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM)