Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you can't see this video, please enter this URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYUrAntsc5A. Here's another great video from Peter Parker (VK3YE).  This time, Peter explores resistance, capacitance, inductance, and reactance and how they change with "applied frequency" in an antenna system.  The video also discusses complex impedances, low pass filters, and other factors that influence antenna performance.  An excellent guide to an often confusing and misunderstood topic. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday). http://amateurradionewsinformation.com (Amateur Radio News & Information). Be sure to check the blog sidebars and links for more antenna and propagation articles. View...

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4C77GHNCQQ. Although this video is aimed at cell phone users and RV (recreational vehicle) enthusiasts, the presentation does provide some suggestions for anyone who uses mobile antennas on current vehicles.  Many cars and trucks these days have very little metal on which to attach an antenna and an antenna ground.  This video offers one way of dealing with that issue.  The video shows you how to use  an adhesive disc to mount a magnet antenna on your aluminum truck or car.  The adhesive discs are non-marring and will not damage your vehicle if they are installed and removed properly. The video lists a telephone number where you can ask for more information. For the latest Amateur 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 podc...

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbEAwG1KMA. A trap dipole antenna is a good choice if you only want to operate on two or three amateur radio bands and don't want to readjust an antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner"/"coupler").  In this video, Peter Parker (VK3YE) shows us how to make a simple, inexpensive trap dipole for the 40 meter (7 MHz) and 20 meter (14 MHz) amateur radio bands.  The principles described in this video can be applied to other antenna combinations, such as 30/40 meters, 80/160 meters, and 15/20 meters.  Peter's explanation of how to build the 20 meter trap is especially well done and easy to understand. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekl...

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YswnVmAKSP0. Peter Parker (VK3YE) has produced some excellent articles on pedestrian mobile antennas.  This video is one of Peter's earlier efforts where he designs and tests several magnetic loop antennas for mobile and emergency use.  Although Peter contends that "most HF pedestrian mobile activity seems to be on 14-28 MHz, where it's easier to build an efficient portable (antenna)...due to its activity and propagation, 7 MHz is also an excellent mobile band."  In this video, Peter compares copper and aluminum magnetic loops for both 80 and 40 meters, and makes a few interesting contacts in an afternoon of pedestrian mobile operations.  For more details on Peter's magnetic loop antennas, please visit vk3ye.com For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.ar...

If you can't see this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy_XwvMmIro. You don't need expensive antennas or state-of-the-art transceivers to work FM Amateur Radio satellites such as SO-50.  Just follow the suggestions in this fascinating video from Dave Tadlock (KG0ZZ) and you'll be "working the birds" in a matter of hours.  You can make modifications necessary for your particular situation and substitute parts that may give you more flexibility.  You could mount this simple antenna on a camera tripod or make the support boom from PVC pipe, which would also serve as a storage space for the antenna elements.  This project would be perfect for portable, emergency, or even home use. For the latest Amateur 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 podcast which is updated each Friday). h...

If you can't see this video, please enter this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U6itfpSkN8. A most informative and helpful video tutorial from GUERRILLACOMM on how to make an easy, field-deployable HF dipole antenna.  Most of the components for this project can be found at your neighborhood hardware, farm supply outlet, or home improvement store.  Just follow these suggestions, and you'll have an inexpensive, durable, lightweight, and efficient HF antenna.  You can get multi-band HF performance if you use balanced feed line into your antenna transmatch (i.e. tuner). For the latest Amateur 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 podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). http://amateurradionewsinformation.com (Amateur Radio News & Information). https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. https://bigislanda...

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www/youtube.com/watch?v=dsCt5iT2GOs. Here's another great video from Peter Parker (VK3YE).  In this video, Peter goes pedestrian mobile on a sunset beach near Melbourne, Australia.  Even with 5 watts output from his Yaesu-817 and a homebrew magnetic loop antenna, Peter was able to make some impressive contacts. Of course, walking alone a beach with the ocean only a short distance away, probably helped launch a decent signal.  Peter has several interesting pedestrian mobile and stealth antennas you may find interesting. Just go to vk3ye.com to see what Peter is doing. Speaking of mobile antennas, please check out this article by Paul Signorelli (W0RW):  "Pedestrian Mobile Whip".  You can find this fascinating post at https://www.eham.net/articles/40538. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info....