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=pcnWkbiD79c. Operating on 160 meters can be a difficult challenge for radio amateurs living in deed-restricted apartments and homes (HOAs/CC&Rs).  However, if you're willing to accept a few compromises in terms of height and orientation, you can still make contacts on the "Gentlemen's Band".  "Ham Prepper" has done just that with a meandering, stealth wire antenna attached to the back of his home and anchored to his property's privacy fence.  With the aid of a MFJ-989c antenna "tuner" and a simple ground radial system, this radio amateur was to make successful contacts on 160 meters.  This antenna is basically a NVIS (near vertical incident skywave) arrangement, which provides good local and regional coverage.  With the MFJ "tuner" and the 300 ohm feed line, this antenna has multiband HF capability. Fo...

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnWkbiD79c. Designing, building, and using a 160 meter antenna for a small urban lot is quite a challenge, especially if you live in a deed-restricted area.  "HamPrepper" made this "junk bin" special to see if he could get on 160 with a decent signal with just some material he had around his ham shack.  The antenna works, aided by the use of 300-ohm feed line and a sturdy MFJ-989c "tuner."  The privacy fence does a lot to hide the antenna from prying eyes.  If you use this type of antenna, be sure to place as many ground radial as you can to reduce RFI and SWR, as well as increase antenna efficiency.  The old tale is true:  a compromised antenna is better than no antenna. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https:/...

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnWkbiD79c. Operating on 160 meters from a deed-restricted home, apartment, or condominium unit can be a difficult challenge.  You can still pursue contacts in "The Gentlemen's Band" if you use some creativity and willingness to experiment with the materials you have on hand. In this video from "Ham Prepper", we see how a "junk bin special" can get you on 160 meters without nosey neighbors reporting you to the "housing police." In this case, "Ham Prepper" used some 300 ohm television twin lead, a MFJ-989c antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner"), and a quarter wave length of wire for 160 meters to get on the air.  Although this antenna could be improved considerably with a better ground radial or counterpoise system, it does work.  You do what you can with what you have around you.  This video s...

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnWkbiD79c. As the sun nears solar minimum, the lower HF bands (160, 80, and 40 meters) are showing their DX potential.  Perhaps it's time to build, erect, and use an antenna dedicated to 160 Meters--the "gentlemen's band."  If you live in a deed-restricted property governed by CC&Rs or HOAs, putting up an outside antenna for any ham radio band can be a challenge, especially if you want to experiment with the 160 Meter Band.  In this video, "Ham Prepper" uses his imagination to erect what he calls a "super expedient stealth 160 Meter Antenna." Thanks to 300 ohm twin lead and a MFJ-989C antenna "tuner", he can work any Amateur Radio HF band from 160 to 10 meters.  Granted, he may only have a NVIS (near vertical incident skywave) antenna, but he'll be able to contact fellow hams up to 300 miles/486 km fr...