Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/3-JqK7w_1d8. If you're disappointed in the performance of the stock antenna that came with your HT, then this video is for you. Most "rubber duckie" antennas that come with HTs offer only marginal performance.  A way to boost the efficiency and range of that stock antenna is to attach a "Rat Tail"/"Tiger Tail" counterpoise to your HT's antenna connection. The "Rat Tail" becomes a "virtual ground plane" which enhances performance and could extend your HTs range by 30 to 40 percent. This video shows you how to make a VHF counterpoise for your HT out of common materials that can be found in your "junk box" or at the nearest hardware store.  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 wit...

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please enter the title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/qbje13U6hC4.  In this video, Claude Jollet (VE2DPE) shows us how to make a simple, six meter folded dipole antenna, which is suitable for portable or emergency use.  Claude made this six meter folded dipole antenna out of ladder line, fed with ladder line, and matched with a step down 4:1 coaxial balun at the bottom of the transmission line.  The antenna is cut to resonate at 50.4 MHz.  According to Claude, the SWR is below 1.3 t 1 between 50.0 MHz and 51.0 MHz.  This antenna is small enough to keep in your vehicle or backpack. 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).

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/i1Ne7bwBZr4.  This 5-element circular loop-yagi would make an excellent club project for Field Day or portable use. According to KG5APR and AE5UN, you can find all the pieces of this antenna at the nearest hardware store or building supply outlet. If you build this antenna with care, you can realize a theoretical gain of 14dB.  The video shows you how to build the antenna, provides a parts list, and gives you analyzer stats fro frequency and SWR.  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).

KD4SAI's Antenna Calculator (http://www.qsl.net/kd4sai/ antenna .html). Accessed on 11 February 2016, 03:46 hrs, UTC . Author:  Roland Bousquet (KD4SAI). Thanks to Roland Bousquet (KD4SAI for this handy, easy-to-use Antenna Calculator.  This calculator can figure out the frequency and proper length of any antenna suitable for radio amateurs .  This simple, fill-in-the-blanks form can calculate the proper length of both half- wavelength and quarter-wavelength antenna elements.  This site also contains a link for an easy-to-use calculator for Cubical Quad Antennas.  Very useful program.  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 Essex radio ham still on-air at 100 Long-Time ...

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/iNLPQfVLqtM.  In this video, N7JFP shows us how to design, build, and use a simple 6 meter portable dipole antenna. N7JFP uses two small collapsible antennas for the dipole and various lengths of PVC pipe for the supporting structure.  He uses a MFJ-269 to do SWR tests.  According to N7JFP, a length of 51 to 52 inches/129.54 to 132.08 cm per side "will enable a usable SWR over the entire 6 meter band."  This antenna is small, compact, and easily assembled.  A list of materials is supplied at the end of this excellent video.  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).

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/mgEibY3INHo.  Here's an interesting antenna that is suitable for small city lots and for portable operations.  Dave (K4WDG) does an excellent job of explaining the theory, design, and use of this dipole variant.  Dave has two ham shacks and owns two commercial radio stations, so he is familiar with most of the antenna theory that supports this antenna.  This antenna is simple, inexpensive, and offers some directivity in the direction of the slope.  You can change the direction of your signal by tying off the sloped dipole to various stakes placed in your yard.  The upper end of Dave's sloped dipole is approximately 35 to 40 feet/10.67 to 12.19 meters above ground. I've built a few sloped dipole antennas and they work very well.  If you feed a 40 meter sloped dipole with 300 ohm television twin lead or 450 ohm ladder line and atta...

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/nFaRZKNeSFU. A good, basic introduction on how to use the Spectrum Analyzer from Arash Kamanigir. In this easily understood video, Mr. Kamanigir uses an Analog Arts Spectrum Analyzer (http://analogarts.com) to show how to capture a signal, measure a signal's peak and strength, analyze frequency bands, adjust resolution bandwidth, and make other signal measurements at your amateur radio station.  A nice reference video. 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).