Simple Ham Radio Antennas

The "Bobtail Curtain Antenna" is one of those "classic" amateur radio antennas that is seldom seen these days, owing to the fairly large space and construction complexity involved in deploying this antenna. However, if you have an experimental frame of mind, you may want to build one of these antennas for your next ARRL Field Day adventure. The only time I used one of these antennas, was a few years ago when the "Coconut Island DX Association" erected a 10 meter version of Kurt Sterba's bidirectional, monoband, broadside HF array.  The performance of this antenna was excellent, even running powers of less than 50 watts. In this video, Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) explores the theoretical and practical aspects of this "classic" antenna. If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dU2b0AHD1M. Here are a few comments from Stan (W1GV): A bidirectional, monoband, broadside w...

Here's another ARRL Field Day antenna that could boost your signal on the band of your choice. In this video from Stan Gibilisco (W1GV), we learn how to design, build, and use the "classic" Bobtail Curtain Antenna. This antenna is a bidirectional, monoband, broadside array for HF--a perfect addition for 20 or 40 meter operations. If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dU2b0AHD1M. For more antenna projects, please go to http://www.sciencewriter.net. 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=6dU2b0AHD1M. Here's a great antenna for the ARRL Field Day.  Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) does a good job of explaining the theory, construction, and use of this bidirectional, monoband broadside array for the Amateur/Ham Radio HF bands. This antenna is by no means a simple affair--you may need help in erecting this array.  You'll find the effort expended in making this antenna well worth your time.  I remember using a 10 meter Sterba Curtain several years ago at a local DX-pedition and found the performance excellent.  With HF propagation now favoring the lower HF bands (160-80-40 meters), you may find the classic "Sterba Curtain" a welcome addition to your antenna "farm." ----------------------- 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=6dU2b0AHD1M. If you want a single band, high gain HF antenna, please consider the "classic" Bobtail Curtain Antenna.  According to Stan Gibilisco (W1GV), the Bobtail Curtain is a "monoband, broadside wire arry" that delivers significant gain with easily obtained materials. Unlike the simple dipole or inverted V antennas, the Bobtail Curtain Antenna requires careful attention to detail and may require adjustment before its full potential can be realized. I've used Bobtail Curtain Antennas at several ARRL Field Day events, and can attest to their performance.  The time invested in designing and building this antenna pays off in excellent performance. 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://o...

If you can't view the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dU2b0AHD1M. A Bobtail Curtain Antenna is something you should try at least once in your Amateur/Ham Radio "career."  I've used "curtain antennas" during ARRL Field Day events, and can attest to their high directivity and gain.  Simply stated, a Bobtail Curtain Antenna is a bidirectional, monoband wire array that can really add "punch" to your signal.  Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) does a good job of explaining the theory, construction, and use of these high-gain antennas.  If you have a spare weekend and a friend or two to help you, please build and test your own Bobtail Curtain Antenna. You may be surprised just how well this array performs. 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 podcas...

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dU2b0AHD1M. If you have some time, the help of a few friends, and some backyard space, you may want to build a Bobtail Curtain Antenna for your favorite band.  In this video, Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) explains the theory behind this broadband, monoband wire array for HF.  The antenna is bidirectional and offers some gain over a dipole antenna. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.kh6jrm.info (breaking news for radio amateurs). http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast updated each Friday). Other sites of interest: http://hawaiisciencedigest.com (science and technology news for radio amateurs). https://hawaiiintelligencedigest.com (trends in geopolitical intelligen...

If you can't view the video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dU2b0AHD1M. This is post #994 in a continuing series on Simple Ham Radio Antennas. The Bobtail Curtain Antenna is one of those projects that will take some time and effort to do correctly.  You may want to ask some of your ham radio friends to help you design, build, and erect this effective bidirectional, monoband, broadsided wire antenna for the HF Amateur Radio bands. Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) does a good job of explaining the theory, design, and use of this unusual antenna.  I used one of these antennas a few years ago during an ARRL Field Day event on Hawaii Island .  The 20 meter version of this antenna did an excellent job in capturing elusive Pacific Island contacts. In years gone by, many international shortwave stations used curtain arrays to direct their signals around the world.  If you want a different kind of antenna project...