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 th...

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 i...

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 j...

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 Desig...

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 tappin...

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). R...

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 u...