Simple Ham Radio Antennas

Major Antenna Manufacturer Ends its Production (https://www.eham.net/articles/40320). Accessed on 02 November 2017, 0115 UTC, Post #1299. Author:  Jim Linton (VK3PC) Please click link or enter title URL into your browser search box to read the formal press release from the Wireless Institute of Australia. Comment: It's always a sad story when a major manufacturer of amateur radio equipment closes its doors.  In this case, the company involved is Australian antenna manufacturer Polar Electronic Industries of Australia, a brand known for its rugged and dependable line of Polar Antennas. Wireless Institute of Australia's spokesman Jim Linton (VK3PC) issued this press release about the closure: Major antenna manufacturer ends its production Date : 01 / 11 / 2017 Author :  Jim Linton - VK3PC Known worldwide Polar Electronic Industries of Australia, the designers and manufacturer of quality communication antennas for 41 years, has closed leaving a gap for the radio a

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCf3vfZEqYI. This outstanding video tutorial on field expedient antennas comes from a radio class taught to U.S. Marines (B09 Field Expedient Antennas).  Although the well-paced presentation is a bit short on theory, the practical applications of tested antenna construction and use in the field are outstanding. The speaker is excellent and paints a mental picture of methods and factors that can add or detract from field operations.  This video would be an excellent resource for those mentoring ("elmering") newly licensed radio amateurs. For the latest Amateur Radio News and Information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://paper.li/

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLqCtzqeQzI. If you want to get a bit more performance out of your 2 meter rig or handheld, try using a J-Pole antenna made from locally available parts.  In this video, Matt Heere used an online J-Pole calculator and some "upcycled" copper plumbing pipe to make this sturdy, effective 2 meter antenna. According to Matt, this omni-directional VHF antenna delivers a small amount of gain--around 2dBi--which may be enough to get full quieting on your favorite repeater.  Matt says he's able to contact a repeater almost 50 miles/81 km from his shack. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https

Random Wire Antenna Lengths (https://udel.edu/~mm/ham/radio/randomWire/ Author:  University of Delaware. Accessed on 30 October 2017, 2055 UTC, Post #1296. Comment: When you're on the trail, at the annual Field Day, or wherever a good antenna is unavailable, a random wire antenna "can save the day" if  you know its limitations.  This article does an excellent job of describing the theory, construction, and use of random wire antennas and the wire lengths you should avoid if you want an efficient, effective operation without excessive SWR. Of particular note is the series of graphs showing various wire lengths to avoid for different sets of amateur radio bands. The basic guidance is clear:  "The fewer bands, the fewer high impedance regions to avoid." According to the article, you want the wire antenna to be at least 1/4 wavelength long for each band you want to use.  For example, to work the 40 meter amateur radio band (7 mHz), make sure the antenna

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRedmR9urE4. If you use end- fed or random length wire antennas, an antenna transmatch or "tuner" is necessary to gain maximum efficiency of the antenna while protecting your HF transceiver from excessive SWR.  In this video from Gil, the "Radio Prepper", we learn how to assemble the MEF-1 Half-Wave End-Fed Antenna Tuner kit from EA3GCY.  The tuner can be configured for any amateur radio band between 40 meter and 10 meters.  This tuner is strictly QRP, with the power limit set at 10 watts. 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.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://paper.li/kh6jrm/1430289353 (Amateur Radio New