Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please enter this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sczo4fmP4yw. This is post #983 in a continuing series of simple ham radio antennas . If you need an emergency antenna for the 2 meter amateur radio band, look no further than the old television you have stored in you garage or radio room. Many older television came with a detachable "rabbit ears" antenna that can be modified to receive and transmit on the 2 meter band .  In this video, KB3PML shows how to adjust the telescoping antenna elements of an old rabbit ears tv antenna to get on the air the air during emergency or portable operations.  You can adjust the length of the two elements with a MFJ SWR analyzer.  I have a similar antenna in my shack to monitor amateur radio and public service bands .  It works very well.  If you search around your neighborhood, you may find one of these rabbit ears antennas for free or at a moder

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqsfQnkpmM. Now that winter has arrived and shorter days are upon us, you may want to try some contacts on the 160 meter amateur radio band , which is just above the standard AM broadcast band in the United States .  Noise tends to be a bit lower during the shorter hours of daylight and signals will be enhanced if you use "grey line" propagation.  The only drawback to 160 meter operations is the rather large antennas required, especially in terms of height.  You may want to consider the solution described and demonstrated by Steven Desmarais, who has designed and built a simple inverted L antenna for the "Gentlemen's Band."  Inverted L antennas are also suitable for 80 and 40 meters where vertical heights can be limiting factor .  Along with a good ground radial or counterpoise system, the inverted L makes an excellent

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser searchbox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYhhm2cIHiM. Here's little device that will make your HF long wire or sloper antenna work much better, while saving the finals in your rig from excessively high SWR.  In this short, concise, well-made video, Victory Ivanoff demonstrates how one of his 9:1 Ununs can help you maximize the performance of a long wire or sloper antenna. You'll also need an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner") and a good radial or counterpoise system to keep efficiency high and protect your rig from damaging rf currents in the shack. ------------------------------------------------------- For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news for the radio amateur) For the late

s If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG1YUSZicxQ. This is post #980 in a continuing series on Simple Ham Radio Antennas. An interesting facet of HF operations is pedestrian mobile--something that is constrained by antenna size and weight. I never liked the idea of walking on a public beach or through a public park dragging a ground radial system with me. In this video, Peter Parker (VK3YE) adopts an idea from the commercially available "Mini Whip" Antenna and makes it work successfully for pedestrian mobile operations--perfect for fun, portable operations, and emergency work. This antenna probably would be useful for radio amateurs living in housing controlled by HOAs and CC&Rs. ----------------------------------------- For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites : http://www.HawaiiARRL.info https://oahuarrlnews.wor

Working 160M from a small lot (http://audiosystemsgroup.com/160MPacificon.pdf) (http://www.dxzone.com/dx30412/working-160m-from-a-small-lot.html) Author:  Jim Brown (K9YC). Accessed on 12 December 2016, 07:05 hrs, UTC. Please click the title link or insert the title URL into your browser search box to read the full report. Comment: If you ever wondered what it would take to operate the "Top Band" or "Gentlemen's Band" (160 Meters) from a small lot, then turn to this extensive 109-page treatise from Jim Brown (K9YC).  The study is presented in the pdf format and must be downloaded to your PC, Mac, Laptop, or Tablet. This well-written and thoroughly fascinating study will answer most questions about operating on the frequencies just above the medium wave AM Broadcast Band.  As you can imagine, designing, building, and using antennas for this band can be challenging. Don't let restricted space stop you from enjoying one of the legacy bands in Amat

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJYCfPLoZ0.   RF chokes are used to prevent unwanted RF from entering your ham shack via the feedline.  In this video, N7JFP does an excellent job of explaining how to design and build a RF choke for VHF and UHF applications.  If you want a RF choke for HF purposes, just take some of the coax feed line near the antenna elements and wind about 5-8 turns into a 4 to 5 inch/10.16 cm to 12.70 cm diameter coil. Secure the coil with 3 to 4 plastic ties and attach it to the mast or supporting structure. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info ( breaking news for radio amateurs ). http://kh6jrm.blogspot.com (Simple Ham Radio Antennas). For the latest science and technology n

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9KSDvjycyw. This is post #977 in a continuing series on Simple Ham Radio Antennas. Experimenting with antennas is one of the fun things to do with Amateur Radio .  One never knows how a project will turn out until the creation is tested on the air. Such is the case with this 1-foot/.304 meters miniloop transmitting antenna designed by Kevin Laughin (KB9RLW).  Despite the antenna's small size, it works fairly well. Not bad for an experimental concept.  This antenna would be ideal for deed-restricted housing controlled by HOAs and CC&Rs.  Kevin's miniloop transmitting antenna is not efficient, but it works! Why not build one for your shack? For more Amateur Radio news and information, please check out these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. http:/

Zip Cord Antennas--Do They Work? (http://www.w1npp.org/events/2010/2010~F~1/ANTENNAS/WIRE/790303~1.PDF) ( Jerry Hall , K1TD, QST , March 1979, pp-31-32). Author:  Jerry Hall (K1TD).  Republished by W1NPP. Please click title link to read the full article.   ARRL members can locate the article in the "QST" archives. Comment: Amateur radio operators have been using lamp or "zip" cord for decades to make emergency antennas and feed lines.  Zip cord is usually 18 gauge AWG stranded copper wire, although other thicknesses are available.  Zip cord is lightweight, easy to work with, and fairly cheap. There are really two answers to the question posed by Jerry Hall (K1TD). First, as elements for HF wire antennas, such as dipoles, inverted vees, slopers, and verticals, zip cord does an excellent job. The plastic insulation provides some weather protection, and the cord can be "zipped" apart to form two antenna elements with one piece of parallel wire.