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=oMchB-bML98. This is post #1172 in a continuing series about Ham Radio Antennas. Here's an experimental end-fed wire antenna that is simple, inexpensive, and stealthy--just right for radio amateurs living in deed-restricted homes and apartments.  Kevin Loughin (KB9RLW) began building this antenna as an experiment and ended up with an effective, multiband HF antenna (80-10 meters) that could be used as backup antenna for his regular antennas. In this video, Kevin takes us step-by-step through the design, construction, and placement of this end-fed wire antenna.  As explained in the video, you will need an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner"), a UNUN made from T-50-2 torroids, and a counterpoise/ground radial system to get the maximum efficiency out of this antenna.  All of the key components of the antenna can be confined to the perimeter of your

2-Element Single Mast Wire Beam with 4 Switchable Directions (http://www.eham.net/articles/39030). Accessed on 26 June 2017, 15:00 hrs, UTC. Authors:  Chavdar Levkov, Jr. (LZ1ABC) and Chavdar Levkov (LZ1AQ). Please click link to read the full article. Comment: If you can't erect a tower and a multi-element 20 meter beam on your property, you may want to use this idea from Chavdar Levkov, Jr. (LZ1ABC) and Chavdar Levkov (LZ1AQ).  This 2-element single mast wire beam for 20 meters offers high performance, directivity, and reasonable cost. The Levkov's present an easy-to-understand, thoroughly documented tutorial on the design, construction, and use of this wire antenna.  The Levkov's provide plenty of photos, diagrams, test results, and construction tips to make this project a success. The post is divided into several bite-sized discussions: Antenna description Switcher schematics RF transformers Feeders Control Cable Capacitors Relays Losses Erectio

If you can't watch this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SBGdPMnH-E. You can also insert the post title into your browser search box to bring up the video. If you spend much of your operating time contacting certain sections of the world, you may want to design and build a half square antenna for your favorite band.  I've used half square antennas for 20,15, and 10 meters with good results. At these frequencies, construction of this phased, bidirectional vertical antenna is fairly simple and can be aimed in the direction of your choice.  A theoretical gain of 3dB is possible, making the half square a worthwhile experiment. In this post, Don Johnson (N4DJ) takes the half square a step further by building and using an 80 meter version of this antenna.  In the 80 meter band, this antenna can be quite large, often necessitating extra help in building and aiming the antenna in the preferred direction.  If you&#

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3x_uOzIFJ4. Here's a simple, easy-to-build 40 through 10 meter HF Doublet Antenna made with commonly available parts.  In this video, Craig Sheppard uses 44-feet/13.414 meters of speaker wire, insulators made from milk bottle caps, a fiberglass crappie fishing pole, and a few hiking poles to make a lightweight portable HF antenna suitable for Field Days or any remote location. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these web sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (Amateur Radio News & Information). http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (this podcast is updated each Friday). Other sites of interest: http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and technology news for radio amateurs). https://hawaiiintelligencedi

If you can't view this video, please enter this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEDneotW3ko. Here's an interesting, if somewhat complicated antenna worth trying for Field Days or any portable operation dedicated to the 160 meter Amateur Radio Band. In this video from "HAMPREPPER.COM", we see how a few friends prepare a set of helium balloons to support a full 1/4 wavelength 160 meter antenna (around 135 feet/41.158 meters).  This project will take some coordination and excellent weather to make this antenna work.  With propagation favoring the 160, 80, and 40 meter bands this year, you may want to consider a balloon-supported antenna for Field Day, which happens on 24-25 June 2017. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these web sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com (becomes https://bigislandarrlnews.com on 25 June 2017