Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZmyvtMvEGY. Here's another great video tutorial from Ray of "The Radio Workshop."  In this video, Ray makes strong case for the use of balanced feed lines for multiband HF doublet antennas.  Ray says "the best thing I did for my HF operation was to ditch coax and not worry about the SWR."  With a suitable length of 300 ohm television twin lead or 450 ohm ladder line, an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner") and a current balun (usually a 4:1 configuration), you can cover all HF Amateur Radio bands with one antenna.  Just design the doublet for the lowest band of interest and you can use that band and any other HF band above your design frequency for multiband operations.  Ray's instructions are clear and easy to follow. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.Hawa

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TuD5b3btDw. If you're overwhelmed by the QRM, obnoxious operators, and rogue repeaters on the 2 meter (146 MHz) amateur radio band, why not try the much underused 220 MHz band?  In this well-constructed and conversational video, "HamRadioConcepts takes us through the basic theory, operations, equipment, and antennas necessary to use this VHF amateur radio band.  Radio amateurs in the United States nearly lost most of the band a few years ago when UPS successfully lobbied for use of 220-222 MHz for a GPS system which never was developed and marketed.  The old saying "use it or lose it"certainly holds true in the case of the 1.25 meter band.  Despite the loss of this chunk of frequencies, radio amateurs still find this band immensely helpful as 2 meters and 70 cm fill with more repeaters and increased QRM.  The video does a good job of sh

Fractal Antennae http://www.instructables.com/id/Fractal-Antennae. Accessed on 10 March 2018, 0256 UTC, Post #1426. Author:  AMasonAHammond. Please click link or insert the title URL into your browser search box to read the full article, view the photos, and see the fascinating video. Comment: Fractal antennas are one of the most interesting aspects of antenna experimentation.  Fractal antennas can be used for HDTV reception, the reception of FM broadcasts, and even for VHF/UHF operations by license radio amateurs.  Because of Fractal Design,  many antennas can be shrunk to smaller size and weigh less than their expanded antenna cousins.  Fractal Antennas may be of interest for radio amateurs forced to use compromise antennas because deed-restricted housing (HOAs and CC&Rs). Although this article describes the HDTV applications of Fractal Antennas, similar design and construction procedures can be followed for amateur radio applications.  The article describes four

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8hQRjI3BPk. If you need a quick, easy to make, and cheap antenna for the Six Meter (50 MHz) amateur radio band, then this "coaxial sleeved dipole" from 2E0VOV may be what you need.  This "homebrew" vertical half wave antenna is perfect for the 2 meter and 70 cm bands.  You can also apply the same construction procedures to the upper HF amateur radio bands, such as 15, 12, and 10 meters. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these web sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news. https://hamradiohawaii.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://amateurradionewsinformation.com (Amateur Radio News & Information). Be sure to check the blog sidebars for more antenna and propagation articles. Views expressed in this video are those of the reporters and co

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRkbdTadmUU. Antenna "tuners" are valuable additions to your Amateur/Ham Radio equipment, especially if you can have only one multiband antenna to cover several ham radio bands.  There are many choices available, from commercial automatic "tuners" to manually adjusted "tuners"-- both commercially made and built by yourself. In this well-paced video from Dave Casler (KE0OG) we learn how to adjust manual antenna "tuners", whcih are less expensive that automatic ones, and are perfectly alright for your Amateur/Ham Radio station.  Dave shows us how to "tune" a manual antenna both with an external SWR meter and with the SWR meter built into your HF transceiver. A good, solid tutorial that belongs in your reference collection. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: