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=MMjmccZ8VLg. An exceptionally well-produced video from Serhat Sertakan (TA1O).  Even though the video is presented in Turkish, you don't have to know the language to figure out how to build this HF antenna covering the 14-18-21-28 MHz Amateur/Ham Radio bands.  The antenna appears sturdy, portable, and easy to erect and take down. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these web sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. https://www.eham.net. http://www.southgatearc.org. Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR8ap-h1GY4. In this exceptionally well-made video tutorial, Julien (OH8STN) takes us step-by-step through the design, construction, testing, and use of a one or three element quad antenna for UHF (70cm).  The construction is straightforward and should not present any problems as you complete this useful antenna for your shack or portable use. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://www.eham.net. http://www.southgatearc.org. Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_2WMbDjoAw. Antennas for the 630 meter amateur radio band (472 kHz-479 kHz) can be large and difficult to fit into an urban lot.  Would you be willing to use this band if a "reasonably small antenna" could be designed and built for this band? Roger (G3XBM) has been doing experiments with "earth electrodes" at his QTH--his results have been impressive for the small amount of power he's using (around 10mW).  According to Roger, his antenna system consists of 2 ground rods placed 20 meters/65.6 feet apart, with the ground connected to the PA by a wire running about 1.5 meters/4.92 feet above ground along a fence.  Despite the constraints and limited size of this "earth electrode" antenna, the system seems to work, even at low power levels.  A fascinating idea worth trying. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and informati

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF8-UrXqUVA. Carl Oliver has done an excellent job of explaining what a coil is and how it's used to reduce the physical length of a resonant antenna. Carl's explanation is simple, accurate, hands on, and to the point.  This video belongs in your amateur radio reference library. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. https://www.eham.net. http://www.southgatearc.org. Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofmUK8o7Jxg. Here's a simple, inexpensive, and totally portable HF vertical antenna suitable for field and emergency use.  AC2TJ has done an excellent job of creating a "vertical helix" antenna capable of covering 80 through 10 meters with an antenna "tuner".  A tripod, a flexible 20-foot/6.09 meters telescoping fiberglass mast, some antenna wire, and a simple ground radial or counterpoise system wraps up the portable package.  I've used similar spirally-wrapped antennas for several years with excellent results.  The key is to wrap about a 1/2 wavelength of wire for your chosen frequency along the full length of the fiberglass mast.  The wrapped 1/2 wavelength wire behaves like a 1/4 wavelength vertical.  Be sure to add a few 1/4 wavelength ground radials for your lowest chosen frequency to improve the efficiency of the antenna. 

If you can't view the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAYbkVhsSBY. I've always enjoyed "classic" antennas for their simplicity, efficiency, and low cost.  One of my favorites is the HF Doublet, which can be designed to cover all amateur radio frequencies between 3.500 MHz (80 meters) and 29.000 MHz (10 meters).  In this enjoyable and detailed presentation, Adrian documents his construction of a doublet HF antenna from start to finish.  By using an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner"), a 1:4 current balun, and twin feeders (ladder line, tv window line, or homebrewed 600 ohm feed line), you can use Adrian's creation to cover several amateur HF radio bands--all this with one antenna.  Give this "old timer" antenna a try--you won't be disappointed. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www

If you can't view the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogxp3yjAzCs&index=110&list=PLKKNqDVcbnzV-vN-gtGhODMTAkmnUDBX0&t=0s. Randy Hall (K7AGE) does an excellent job of describing how to "tune" a 10 meter dipole antenna. Although the video will prove most useful for newly licensed radio amateurs, the information will serve as a general review for all hams who wish to design, build, and use simple dipole antennas.  The length of this dipole is 468/frequency in MHz.  The antenna is cut for 28.3 MHz and measures 16.5 feet/5.03 meters long.  Randy shows us how to use a MFJ Antenna Analyzer to trim the antenna to resonance.  The procedure outlined by Randy can be used for any HF band from 160 meters to 10 meters. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these web sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly p