Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you can't view this video, please enter post title or title URL (https://youtu.be/iBogIqzF_-k) into your browser search box. Thanks to Hawaii Island radio amateur Lloyd Cabral (KH6LC) for this video from Pavel Korobko showing 9-year-old Sergey (R4WBF) operating in the recent CQ WPX CW 2017 Contest.  This young man is a real pro and puts me to shame.  I hope Sergey continues his life-long adventure into Amateur Radio.  If you contact this new ham, be sure to send him a QSL confirmation. 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 amateurs). http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/audio-news (updated every Friday). Other sites of interest: http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and technology news for radio amateurs). https://hawaiiintelligencedigest.com (trends in geopolitic

If you can't view this video, please enter this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOOCWG7xDHo. Here's part 2 of Earl Andrew's (VE3AB) video tutorial on building an inverted L antenna for 160 meters on a small city lot.  An excellent example of what can be done in a small space with locally available materials.  If you haven't tried 160 meters because of space issues, try this idea from Earl. 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 amateurs). http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/audio-news (published each Friday). Other sites of interest: http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and technology news for radio amateurs). https://hawaiiintelligencedigest.com (trends in geopolitical intelligence and cybersecurity). Be sure t

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jfqgfEmrP4. With propagation favoring the lower HF bands (160, 80, and 40 meters), here's a simple inverted L antenna that will allow you access to these bands at a modest price, depending on locally available materials. In part 1 of this 2-part series, Earl Andrews (VE3AB) shows us how to protect the base and feed point of the antenna from bad weather.  Earl uses a compost container at the base of the antenna to keep snow away from the automatic antenna tuner (ATU) and feed point of the inverted L.  He uses a homemade loading coil (around 100 uf) to help "tune" the antenna. In part 2, we will see some of the construction and wiring details of this antenna. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsesesN79e8. Here's an ambitious antenna project that you and your fellow radio amateurs can design, build, and use on site during the upcoming ARRL Field Day emergency communications exercise.  This video follows several hams as they actually build, erect, and use this antenna for the KC9OLF Field Day station back in June, 2013.  Please note the use of 450 ohm ladder line for the antenna feeder, which, with a wide range antenna "tuner", will give this station multiband HF capability.  Also note the system for launching the antenna into a nest of trees approximately 72-fee/21.195 meter above ground.  This antenna performed very well and was worth the effort to build it.  This antenna would make an excellent club project. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these sites: https://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuar

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCf3vfZEqYI. Here is some useful antenna knowledge, courtesy of the U.S. Army.  This video tutorial covers the theory, design, construction, and use of field expedient antennas.  While much of the video applies to Army mission requirements, it contains many suggestions for making portable and emergency antennas. You may be able to use this information for the upcoming ARRL Field Day emergency communications exercise during the last weekend of June. 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 amateurs). http://www.arrl.org. Be sure to check the blog sidebars for more antenna and propagation articles. Opinions expressed in this blog are mine unless otherwise st

If you can't view this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsrgGy_JhpY. Here's another simple multiband HF portable antenna using common materials found at your nearest hardware store or home improvement outlet.  The antenna support is a common telescoping painter's pole.  Just add a dipole for each band of interest, separate each antenna by a few inches, hook up a convenient length of 50 ohm coaxial cable, add a choke balun and an antenna "tuner" if desired, and you're ready to go.  An excellent emergency and portable antenna for field operations. 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 amateurs). http://www.arrl.org. Other sites of interest: http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and tec

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-cUNs274rU. Here's a little item from W4EDF that could make erecting that portable or Field Day antenna a bit easier--a sturdy, easy to use center support for your dipole.  In this video, Ed (W4EDF) takes you step-by-step through the design and construction phases of the original Field Expedient dipole antenna platform introduced by KF7ETX.  A very nice addition to your portable station equipment. 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 amateurs). http://www.arrl.org. Other sites of interest: http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and technology news for radio amateurs). https://hawaiiintelligencedigest.com (trends in geopolitical intelligence and