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=D4P5DdvsLys. If you're tired of your usual HF antenna, why not try a popular variant of the "classic dipole", such as the Off Center Fed Dipole? In this well-constructed tutorial, Johnny (W5KV) does an excellent job of  explaining the general theory and construction of the OCF dipole as he shows us how he deploys a popular HF ham radio OCF antenna. As you would expect, erecting the OCF may be a bit more complicated than installing the traditional horizontal 1/2 wavelength dipole.  With a little time and perhaps some help from a fellow ham, the job can be done without major problems. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/ https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. https://bi

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiNQbWZFe-E. It's not a matter of "if" but one of "when" an EMP incident will sweep past our planet, potentially endangering your digital and solid state radio equipment.  Something akin to the 1859 Carrington Event could make life quite precarious for a world now overly dependent on digital devices. In this video from "Survival Lilly", we learn how a surplus military ammunition case case can offer EMP protection for your small communication devices such as HTs, small VHF.UHF/HF transceivers, and even your credit cards and IDs.  If you're ambitious, you can make larger Faraday Cages from large metal trash receptacles or old kitchen appliances such as decommissioned stoves and refrigerators. This video offers a variety of ways to protect your radio equipment from natural and human-caused EMP. For the latest Amateur/H

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRrDQPdmxtc. If you live in an area plagued by thunderstorms and lightning, you may find this video from KF7P ("Signal Search") helpful in designing a system to protect your amateur radio equipment. KF7P shows us what he did to increase the survivability of his ham radio station.  It's best to be over prepared than under protected. While my QTH doesn't experience the weather extremes experienced by KF7P, I do find a few thunderstorms often knock out our locally generated power when lightning strikes a utility pole in my neighborhood (Hawaii Island).  I've always made it a practice to detach and ground all antenna feed lines when I'm not on the air. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/ http://

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQWbWWvGapw. If you need a super-cheap, easy-to-make magnetic loop antenna, try this suggestion from Australian radio amateur Peter Parker (VK3YE). All you need is an old "Hula Hoop" from a neighborhood garage sale, some coaxial cable, wire, and a willingness to experiment.  According to Peter, this homemade magnetic loop antenna works well between 21 and 30 MHz. Put your recycling knowledge to good use and make this "bare-bones" HF antenna. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/ 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=7PR2ExR7mX0. In our last post, I briefly review an article on Extreme Solar Events which could impact your neighborhood, home, and amateur radio station.  If Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) are sufficiently powerful, massive parts of our communications infrastructure could be rendered unusable. One of the unfortunate results of a "Carrington Event" would be EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse),which could produce serious damage to your home, including your ham radio station or any other solid state device. In this video from Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) we get a good overall view of EMP, what it can do to our digital lives, and how we can mitigate some of the serious issues caused by EMP. One of the easy ways to protect your radio equipment would be to store your transceivers (HF/VHF/UHF), "tuners", and electronic tools in a "Faraday Cage."

Protecting communications from the next Carrington Event. Post 2021. Source:   https://www.universetoday.com/143677/power-grids-and-satellites-are-more-at-risk-from-extreme-solar-storms-than-we-thought/ Accessed on 14 October 2019, 0450 UTC, Post 2021. Please click the above link to read the full story. Summary: Most radio amateurs have heard about the devastating effects of the 1859 Carrington Event which destroyed much of the world's rudimentary telegraph systems of that time.  A renewed study of that solar event has painted a grim picture of what a similar event could do to our modern world, which is so dependent on sensitive digital devices.  Extreme solar storms and coronal mass ejections could  make many of our solid-state devices inoperable.  The threat to our health care and transportation infrastructure would be severe. Scientists and researchers studying the Carrington Event believe similar solar outbursts occuring in 1872, 1909, 1921, and 1989 were almost as

Here's an interesting idea from Ed (KH2I) and the AH2G Club Station in Hagatna, Guam.  Ed has made a simple vertical dipole antenna that covers all amateur radio bands from 80 meters through 10 meters.  The antenna is easily made with locally available materials. Here's the complete antenna description: AN ALL-BAND ANTENNA FOR SMALL SPACES Whether for portable, camping, or just for a small back yard, here is an antenna that is quick and easy to erect, and will get you on ALL bands from 80 through 10m.   THE VERTICAL DIPOLE What is so special about this antenna? Low cost to construct Single lightweight pole required Ground-Independent  (does NOT requires radials) Efficiency rivals a good vertical with 32 radials (except on 80m) With the right matchbox, it covers 80 through 10m If you want more information about this antenna, please contact Ed at: AH2G P.O. Box 445 Hagatna, GU, 96932-0445 Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de