Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/AmNjvHxJWgw.  Interesting demo produced by WW2DX.  He and Gary (K3FGO) built a 720-ft/219.31 meters Beverage Receive Antenna on Gary's property in Massachusetts. The wire was elevated above ground by approximately 9-10-ft/2.74-3.04 meters. The feedline was 1,000-ft/304.87 meters of RG-6 coaxial cable.  If you have the space, a very large spool of weather resistant wire, a good stock of RG-6 coax, a friend to help you, and the patience to proceed carefully, then you'll have an extremely effective receive antenna for 160 meters or even the standard AM broadcast band. During this demonstration, the antenna was aimed 55 degrees towards Europe.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars. These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS f

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https//youtu.be/ GVn9rLvQF_4.  For many of us in the amateur radio community, a move to a new home or apartment will compel us to think about how our new ham shack will look.  When I moved most of my amateur radio equipment to my new home (still under construction) on Hawaii Island, I organized the transition fairly well, so I thought.  I'm still trying to find a good place for the "radio room".  Most of my operating is being done with a temporary inverted V antenna hooked to my standby Yaesu FT-7 QRP rig in the garage.  Most of the other rooms are still full of kitchen goods, clothing, and other items left over from the initial move.  If I were better organized, I would have thought out things a bit better.  So, while I prepared new plans for the ham shack, I ran across Randy Hall's (K7AGE) video on how he is building a ham shack in his new home in Gold, Oreg

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please enter this address into your browser search box: https//youtu.be/BrVgcxVqwng. In this well-produced and easy to follow video tutorial, Dave Tadlock (KG0ZZ) discusses the theory, design, building, and the use of cubical quad antennas for both HF and VHF amateur radio bands .  Cubical quads provide a substantial amount of gain and directivity , important considerations for DX chasers.  Cubical quads are fairly easy to make for VHF and UHF frequencies.  Most of us can probably handle a quad for 10 meters as well.  Cubical quads for 20 meters can present some construction issues, so extra care must be used to build these antennas for durability and strength.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Ru

If you're having difficulty viewing this video please enter this address in your browser search box: https://youtu.be/UABXDyu_hsE.  Here's a simple, easily constructed antenna that will give you some gain over a vertical monopole antenna for the 2 Meter Amateur Radio band .  Most of the materials for this J Pole antenna can be found at your neighborhood hardware store or home improvement center. You can make this antenna out of a variety of materials, including aluminum rods, copper tubing, #12 AWG wire, 300 ohm television twin lead, or 450 ohm ladder line .  This is a fun, educational project.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars. These news feeds are updated daily. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Related articles Building a Simple Multiband Antenna That Works Letter Re: Building a Simple Multiband Antenna That Works, by The Consultant Solar panels light up villages Design and Optimizati

If you're having difficulty in viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4CQ3WDcfYBU&feature=youtu.be.  Here's another stealth antenna idea for those radio amateurs living in deed-restricted areas (HOAs and CC&Rs ). Rich Rogers is using a 55-foot/16.15 meters Ultimax DXtreme Antenna to get on the air.  When I lived in a CC&R apartment (bottom floor, thankfully), I used a telescoping fiberglass mast to support a vertical antenna with as many radials as I could fit into my small backyard.  I usually operated CW at night and nested the antenna to ground level during the day.  I was indeed lucky not to have been caught.  Rich's idea is certainly better than my apartment idea.  Try to get your antenna outside if you can.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check the blog sidebars. You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS fe

If you're having difficulty viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/RpE0Oghqpfk.  A short, basic tutorial from Dan Vanevenhoven on where to mount your mobile HF antenna for best operation.  Good, general information that will help you avoid common mistakes.  Before you begin your mobile HF antenna installation, be sure there's enough metal to establish a ground connection . Many modern vehicles have roofs made from composite plastics and other materials, which will make roof-mounted HF antennas poor performers.  Each location, be it roof, bumpers, or side panels has drawbacks.  So, plan accordingly.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Related articles HF versus VHF/UHF

472 kHz Antenna (http://www.george-smart.co.uk/wiki/472_kHz_Antenna). Accessed on 07 December 2015, 21:30 hrs, UTC . Author:   George Smart (M1GEO). In this post, George Smart (M1GEO) continues his work in the 630 meters section of the RF spectrum (472 kHz to 479 kHz).  In post #619, George described a simple, low-powered transmitter for 472 kHz.  In this article, George designs, builds, and tests a 472 kHz antenna that can be squeezed into your backyard.  George provides a basic design, calculation formulas, and graphs of antenna performance for his location.  Build this antenna and its low-powered transmitter, so you'll be ready when the FCC releases 472 kHz-479 kHz for radio amateurs in the United States . For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars. These news feeds are updated daily. You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 7

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browse search box: https://youtu.be/yrduVaP05u4.  While the ARRL is urging the FCC to release rules and regulations for the newly authorized 630 meter amateur radio band (472-479 kHz ), you can use this time to make a simple WSPR transmitter for this new ham band. This well-produced tutorial from M1GEO shows us how to design, build, and use a simple WSPR transmitter for the 630 meter band . Antennas for this band tend to be large, so some compromises must be made. Despite antenna size limitations and power restrictions, some radio amateurs have completed successful contacts on this new band.  The first step in becoming a member of the 630 meter community is to build this simple transmitter. Good luck!  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tap

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/MxZMTja0Hn0.  In this video, Marshall Diaz (W0OTM) shows us how to make a simple, portable, and effective vertical antenna out of a telescoping Cabela 16.5-foot/5.03 meters fiberglass crappie fish pole and some 1/4 inch wide/0.635 cm wide copper tape.  Although Marshall doesn't specify the band of choice for this quickly- made antenna, based on its telescoped length, I believe the vertical would work for 20 meters. This antenna resembles the commercially available Solarcon A-99 antenna using copper tape instead of of copper wire for the radiating element.  Coupled with a suitable radial or counterpoise system, this antenna will give you many hours of DX chasing.  Fed with 300 ohm television twin lead or 450 ohm ladder line into a balanced tuner, this 20 meter vertical antenna could be used successfully between 20 and 10 meters. Related articles

If you're having difficulty viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/7PR2ExR7mX0.  Good basic tutorial from Stan Gilibisco (W1GV) on how Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) affects Amateur Radio communications. Stan explains the origins of EMP, why it can disable communications (especially digital equipment), and how to protect your amateur radio equipment from EMP.  You may want to build a Faraday Cage for your rigs and other sensitive equipment.  It's always a good idea to disconnect your antenna after use. Unplug all power supplies and auxilary equipment from your rig after you sign off.  Be sure you have a good electrical and rf ground.  These simple steps will also offer some protection from lightning.  As a hedge against another Carrington Event (1859--wiped out many telegraph stations), you may want to buy a tube transceiver in case a super solar flare destroys the finals in your modern, solid state rig.  Hopefully, the sat

If you're having difficulty viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/jS-reVGR_2s. Here's another idea for erecting your antennas in deed restricted areas (HOAs and CC&Rs).  In this case, "Kugellagers Noodle" designs a simple tilt-over mast to accommodate his VHF/UHF antennas.  He says the chimney of his house "screens" the antenna and mast from both the front and back of his home.  When the antenna isn't being used, it's lowered out of sight.  The mast parts came from local hardware stores.  The bracket is a "repurposed" joint bracket from Home Depot, costing between $6 and $7.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily. You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Related articles ICQ