1600ft Homebrew wire antenna QRP SSB 5w - Iowa
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Hello all... This antenna is not too unusual, but I wanted to get it built before winter and it was a great outdoor learning adventure... I built it to experiment with a horizontal low long wire configuration. This wire antenna is 1600ft long and 10ft off the ground... I was curious about the performance difference between it and my normal 550ft long wire that is 70ft high.. The low wire in the field is just a temporary install and will be removed before the spring field work next year.. If you want to skip how it is built, the QSO signal reports start at the 8:24 mark.. Thanks for watching..
![[Live] ศึกมหึมันส์มวยไทยสังเวียนเดือด เวทีมวยชั่วคราวสวนสยาม | จันทร์ 30 กันยายน 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pM1k6f7JXUc/mqdefault.jpg)
That antenna on the silo was kicking butt and taking names. I really appreciate what you do with all the antennas you put up. Keep doing what you do with ham radio you make it very interesting. 👍 73 AE4OY WILLIAM PEACOCK EM-81UF Blackshear, Ga 😂
Too cool for school Kevin. Great getting you in the log today. Love the antenna.
Thanks Mike... Always enjoy your videos as well and its even more special when I can hear myself in them, LOL... I appreciate the hard work you do for POTA activations and listening for our QRP signals.. Hope to catch you again from the 80ft grain auger in a few weeks.. LOL Kevin ~ k0klb
Kevin, You have to answer to your XYL like I used to my Grandmother. I would have the timer turn on my Hammurland receiver for a 45-minute warmup when I got home from school, but often I would get home and the radio was still off as the milk cow was off into the nearby woods waiting for me to join them to bring her in! Darn cows, I would say. Then Grandma would say to get my talking in quick so I wouldn't bother grandpa's TV at night. Oh, the life of a teenage ham in 1979, LOL!!!
hahaha.. get your talking in quick so's not to bother the evening TV watching... Thank goodness for portable rigs now so we can leave and go outside.. Thanks for sharing.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
You can get a special flux to solder coper to aluminium. Search on youtube!
Imagine if you could get the height on that 1600 footer!
That was truly a field of dreams...love it.
Hello Barrydubestsky... Thanks for stopping by.. haha, I like your field of dreams comment.. that's classic.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
If you still have any, try using any insulated electric fence wire already up on the poles in the field with the G90 tuner. Awesome video.
Thanks for watching.. I've been putting the ole G90 tuner to the test lately and it hasn't disappointed.. I'll have to look at the fence wire in the spring.. Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Beautiful work. KE5MUG
Hello Michael.. Thanks for your comment and for watching the video.. I appreciate it very much.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Why the 4:1 balun? Why balun and why 4:1 neither of those parameters make sense to me. What am I missing? Thanks.
Hi Billy Bob.. The 4:1 balun is what I had on hand and didn't have anything else available at the time so I used it... Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
I love my 600 foot loop antenna. Great for QRP. 73 de KD8ZM
Hello porkyfedwell.. Thanks for stopping by.. Loops are nice.. I especially enjoyed mine connected to my short wave radio.. being only 10ft off the ground, it eliminated a lot of noise.. Thanks for your comment.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
With all the seemingly glowing comments about the 10 foot antenna, what am I missing?
Hi John.. Thanks for watching and commenting.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
The field antenna done alright but that silo antenna kick butt. I enjoyed the video very much. Keep up the great work.73 AE4OY William Peacock EM-81UF Blackshear,Ga
Hi WIlliam.. Good to hear from you again.. Thanks for watching and commenting on the video.. So far, the wire up to the silo has done a great job for me.. I'm working on a few new videos in between some other projects.. Weather is turning colder so I'll probably have to deploy the portable Clam Ham shack soon.. Thanks for stopping by.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Corn field sold separately lol. Beautiful work man. Thanks for showing us your experiment. 73 VE3WWJ
haha, yes sold separately, LOL.. Thanks Jeff.. I appreciate you stopping by, watching and commenting.. Glad you enjoyed it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
That is a nice nvis setup for 40m.
Hi David.. Thanks for stopping by. It was an interesting experiment and found it most beneficial using it for Short Wave Radio listening.. It was amazingly quiet and was a lot of fun pulling in those distant stations. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it, 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Mine isnt ladder line or anywhere near as long but..I mounted my endfed balun under an upside doun bucket screwed to a stick. Mine is a 259 foot enfed. Yours is impressive. im envious. VE3SAK You win (cause I only have 134 acres).
Can I have that extra 6 feet of ladder line for a uhf/vhf antenna?
Hello ocucayen. Thanks for stopping by and watching.. You could have it if I could find it.. I'm afraid it's probably long gone by now, LOL.. Thanks for your comment.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
given you awesome real estate situation, you might as well make that 1600 ft. dipole into a 3200 ft. sky loop! Would probably work superbly at 10 ft off the ground. at 3200 ft, Fo is about 300 KHz at one wavelength..
As with any piece of wire of you will make contacts but one wonders if resources would be better spent on another design. Even a 160m full wave horizontal loop might be a good alternative when used as an all band antenna. I modeled your antenna and discovered that antenna has rather high gain and low angle of radiation on the higher frequency bands in the direction of the wires as is typical of long wire antennas. (e.g. N&S and E&W) . There is much less gain at a 45 deg angle to the wire axis. Placing one of the wires so that it faces to Europe could be useful but the other directions may not be so useful. Study an Azithmuthul map for your location. On 80m I think would rather have a vertical as this antenna is a cloud burner. The radiation patterns are certainly a bit weird. 73.
This video is very well thought out and detailed. It's great showing the details of the ladder line and how you split it. I love that you utilize the farm in the off-season for HAM!
...actually a "V" beam..check from your QTH where your 45* beam pattern is. This thing will work like a bomb on 160, 80 and 40. Interesting that an antenna that long, is actually a half wave dipole for 292khz! Listen for the longwave broadcast stations from Iceland, England etc. this winter. BBC has a big signal on 198kc!!
Great job!
Hi TIm.. Thanks for your comment and insight.. I will do as you suggested.. I also have Tecsun S2000 short wave radio that I can connect directly to the coax of the wire antenna.. Should be interesting and exciting to see what I can hear.. I'm also going to experiment with adding another 1600ft to enclose the "V" beam and create a 3200ft square loop.. I don't know what that will do to the whole thing, but I'll find out.. Do you have any fore thought on how that will react? (for better or worse) .. I'm just a rookie, playing around and experimenting, LOL... Thx again.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
So this experiment was to prove an antenna at 70 ft is much better than one at 10 ft?
Hi John.. Thanks for stopping by, watching and leaving a comment.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
One 3+ times longer at 10 ft.
Great video Kevin! Glad to catch you on the air, well work again some time. Enjoy the antenna looks like it's working just fine. 73s
Bill, KD2RZW
Hi Bill.. Thanks for watching and commenting.. Spinning my dial, it was nice finding you call CQ with that clear QRP signal from NY.. I couldn't grab the mic quick enough to hit the PTT.. LOL Will catch you again down the road.. 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
Woo hoo Kevin, always the imaginative HAM ... or as K8MRD Mikey would say, that's HAMgenuity! :) It was a delight working you from Silicon Valley K-3473 along with Jimmy KG6UO @ 9:44 ... thanks for integrating us HAMmer goofballs into ur video! Until the next one, 73 Buddy! KJ6ER, Silicon Valley
Hi Greg and Jimmy.. Thanks for watching and commenting.. You guys are so fun to listen to on the air.. You should probably have your own Silicone Valley morning show.. My XYL was laughing in the next room while you were “hamming it up”, lol.. She can be heard in the background.. It’s always a pleasure to make it through your pileups.. You always give “priority alert” to the QRP stations which is so awesome.. I’ll be looking for you on the air when I activate “Grain Augers On The Air” in a week or two.. Thanks for the entertainment and making ham radio fun.. 73. Kevin ~ k0klb
That is very cool, thanks for sharing your experiments, it gives ideas to try new things! 73
Thanks for your comment Frank... Curiosity gets to me a lot, lol.. Although it’s not a big performer, it does work, even with 5 watts.. I’ll play with it through the winter and pull it all out next spring.. 73.. Kevin ~ k0klb
Where do you live? I'm from Milford.
That was interesting Kevin. I have messed with delta loops in the past. I wonder how it would work it you added 800' attaching to ends of your V together. That would be a monster though! Would be quiet, but interesting to try. Just a thought. I just Subscribed to your channel today. Interesting to see your next experiment. Btw I have a 160 meter HWEF sloper from 40' on the tower up to a 70' tree. And I used the dji Phantom 4 Pro. Drones make wire antennas easy to hang! 73 from KC0FGX
Hello Ferrell.. Thanks for stopping and leaving a comment.. I did like the "V" configuration.. I really liked it when I hooked up my Tecsun S2000 Short Wave Radio to it.. It was so quiet and I think it was pulling in stations broadcasting on Mars, LOL.. it was a great listener.. not so much transmit but that's to be expected I think.. We did add another 1,600ft and squared it off.. It created a big lobe to the east, but not much radiation to the south, or west directions.. That video is at this link: th-cam.com/video/CBVbYH8iM7c/w-d-xo.html .. I use to have a DJI Phantom 2 Prof but it broke and I now operate a Mavic Mini (249grams).. Thanks for subscribing and watching.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Thanks again for replying Kevin! 73
I love my QRP rig, I just cant figure out why it trips a double pole 60A breaker when I get long winded! When I bought the setup it had a QRP sticker on it.🤣 ~73s...
haha Needle Bender.. You might have to stop for a moment to take a breath (or two) and give the radio a break, LOL.. Thanks for stopping by and commenting... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb I always enjoy the content.!!! Trying to always learn something new. ~73s
That would be an L not a V.
You sir, have the makings of a very fine Beverage array. -73- N7NKN
Hello Richard.. Thank you for your comment.. LOL, you are in the beverage antenna "Pile Up".. haha.. I've been told that by several operators.. I'll probably end up trying that before I pull it all out next spring.. it will be fun experimenting with a beverage and see what happens. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Should get the electric co-op to save you a couple of 50 Ft poles and run them to the silo.... wow cool you tube channel.
Hello W.. Thanks for your comment.. I was actually thinking the same thing regarding the REC just the other day.. I need to call them.. Thanks for watching... 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
Great stuff ! I’m learning so much from your channel ! Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m almost overwhelmed by all the information that is available to fellow new comers like me. 😀
Hi John.. Thanks for your comment.. I'm glad you are enjoying the channel.. That's the beauty of Ham radio operators, we are always learning from new experiences.. There is so much to learn and I've only scratched the surface.. I'm just a rookie with a lot of curiosity, LOL.. Thanks for watching, 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
Interesting. Did you plot the pattern with EZNEC? I did a quick plot. First thought is a little height would make a big difference. Second thought is legs may be too long. Plots with 2 and 4 wavelength legs on 20 meters gives pretty good patterns with an angle between the wires of like 50 degrees. Looks like you were using about 11 waves per leg. A 90 degree angle does not let the lobes from each wire combine very well. I always model my antennas with EZNEC and use a standard 1/2 wave dipole as my standard. A half wave dipole 1/2 wave above ground has pretty good gain (about 8dBi). With only 120 foot legs, a 20 meter V beam at 55 ft has gain of almost 12dBi on a line bisecting the angle. When at 10 ft the gain drops to only 3 dBi. However at only 25 feet the gain is back up to over 10 dBi. Also the peak elevation or takeoff angle rises as the antenna gets lower ( true for all horizontal antennas). Wish I had your space to play with! 73 de N4DJ
Hi Don.. Thanks for your comment.. I did not plot anything when I built it.. I just ran a wire from the house east to the fence and it happened to be 800ft, so I ran the north leg 800ft as well.. I had no idea it was in a "V" beam style configuration until someone mentioned it in the comments.. I literally just threw the wires out there to see how it would perform.. Like you say, the legs are too far apart as I study more about Vbeams.. I will say though, it is nice a quiet, LOL... like a sloppy Vbeam / beverage combination, LOL When I connect my Tecsun S2000 short wave radio to it and listen to DX stations, the audio is amazingly crystal clear and sound like local FM radio stations.. The whole thing will be removed in the next month in preparation for spring planting, but I think for next fall after harvest, I'm going to look at getting more height and make a better effort at a real Vbeam or a possible delta loop.. I have all summer to think about it.. Thanks for all your detailed info.. I will refer back to it as I plan for next fall.. I'll see if my brother wants to plant and harvest around a couple 40ft poles out there, LOL.. Thanks for watching Don.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb 40 foot poles would be nice! There is a guy I used to work on 15 meters out in the Northwest who used V beams. Narrow beam width but pinpoint gain. I have the 19 edition of ARRL handbook and it’s got good info. I also have a old 73 magazine wire antenna book. I have an electronic copy I think I could email you if you would like. I have been collecting and doing antenna work for a long time.
Thanks for sharing this. This is great. Quick question, why did you choose a 4:1 balun? Is that recommended for a long wire? For the 550' wire on top of the silo, was it fed with ladder line too? And what configuration was it? Like a dipole? Did you have a balun on the 550' one too? Do you have a video of the 550' antenna?
Hello Gene.. Thanks for stopping by and watching the video.. I don't remember if there was a specific reason for the 4:1 other than, It's all I had" at the time, LOL... Yes, the 550ft wire is fed with 450ohm ladder line.. the wire if off center fed (way off center) with 65ft on one leg and 485ft on the other leg.. Yes, 4:1 balun on the 550ft wire.. You can find a hand drawn picture of it on my QRZ page.. I never did produce a video on the 550' wire.. Thanks again for leaving a comment and supporting the channel.. BTW, this antenna and the 3200ft square loop made great antenna's for Short Wave Listening.. If nothing else I had fun using it for SWL and low noise.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Excellent thanks for the response! I'll look for your QRZ page. @@hamradioqrp-k0klb
Great video! 73 de KC1DBR
Thanks again for your comment Kevin.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
To make that feed line to antenna connection more certain you might check out the specialized aluminum-to-copper connectors used in electrical power circuits.
Hi Michael.. Thanks for the comment.. I didn't know anything existed like that.. Thanks for the tip ! ! I did load up the connection with No-Ox grease and taped it up.. Hopefully that will keep any corrosion from developing over winter.. I'll google the Alum to copper connector for future use.. Thanks again... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
A simple style of those connectors is called a split-bolt connector. Pull off the electrical tape for two inches and slip the bolt over your twisted wires and tighten the special nut . Then, reapply the electrical tape over the bolt connector. Wa0tuc
I didnt know you had a channel! Excellent. 73 de N0AJS
Hey Andrew.. Ya.. I thought I'd give it a try and share some of my wacky ideas and QRP adventures, LOL... What good is having all this fun alone, right?... LOL.. Good to hear from you.. I still need Iowa for my QRP SSB 1 watt WAS someday... I think I've got 5 states to go ... talk soon.. 73 !
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb soon. Lol. Ive been working and going back to school full time so the radio hasn’t seen much love lately. Ive been working on getting 2m SSB running at the shack so that would be a perfect QRP experiment. The yagi’s ive built has been covering around 60 miles at 5 watts FM.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing this video and hope to get you in the log sometime soon! Cheers and 73!
VERY NICE KEVIN
Thank you Kishor... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
While you may not technically be able to solder the wires together, you can braze them. They make ALCOP aluminum copper brazing rods so you can braze them together with a simple torch.
Hello Lunaeros.. Thank you for the comment.. That's great information.. thanks for sharing that.. I'll look that up and have some on hand for next time... Thanks for watching, 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
Just found your channel! An old Iowa City, West Liberty boy. Great setup and awesome video! Thanks for sharing. 73. L+S
Hi Steve.. Thanks for finding and commenting on the video.. Nice to hear from an ole Iowa boy.. I see you are in the NW now.. I've seen your call sign before on the POTA spots, but we have never worked.. I have worked KS4RAH once back on the weekend of the Hawaii QSO party... You guys are hard to reach out there, but I will keep trying... I enjoyed your field day video.. Looks like a great time out camping... thanks for sharing your weekend experience... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Antennas can be a funny thing. I have a speaker wire antenna cut for 20m in a vee pattern in the backyard (HOA, bah). The kicker is the feed point is just below the top of a 6ft fence and the legs go out horizontally to nearby trees. The vee I guess you could say is facing SE. I've been chasing parks for the last couple of months and I get anywhere between 5/5 and 5/9 reports. The rig is set for 100 watts but I'm going through a tuner so not sure exactly how much power going to the feed point. Definitely look for a better solution but it works for now.
Hi Roy... Thanks for your comment... Speaker wires work well as an antenna.. I've used them too.. It is amazing what we can work with just a tuner and a wire.. Hope you find a solution you're looking for but sounds like the wire is working well for now... Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
This is good stuff! Amazing on 5 watts. I am practicing for my tech, and would to make something like this just to scan on my HT until I go test out. Great video 73
Hello William.. Thanks for watching.. Great to hear your working on your Tech.. It's a lot of fun playing radio and there are many modes to choose from and enjoy.. I wish you the best and good luck.. Thanks for stopping by, 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
If you want to try directivity towards the center of the V's direction electrically ground at the ends of your wire runs like a V beam arrangement. Around 900 ohms is typically what you would desire.
Hello NightWaves... Thank you for your comment.. Cool, I'll remember that.. Currently we expanded to a square loop.. If I decide to pull that out this winter and leave the "V" antenna, I'll install the resistors and give it a try.. Thanks for the suggestion... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Just watched for the first time this morning, as the big antenna was definitely interesting to me. Boy was I surprised when my callsign and a link to my POTA activation showed up. Great luck at being in just the right place at the right time to get you in my logs as I activated from the Salem Maritime Historic Site in Salem, MA during Halloween weekend. -KC1GSL
Hi Marcus... Thanks for watching and commenting.. I bet you were a little surprised to see that, LOL.. I emailed everyone that I QSO'd in the video to let them know they were part of an experiment and could listen to their audio.. When I looked up your call sign in QRZ. com, your email was not available so I could not contact you.. What a coincidence that you happened upon it anyway and heard yourself.. That's Great !... I'm glad you did.. Thanks for the QSO and hearing my QRP signal.. Nice Job... Hope to catch you again for the next video.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
I enev you! Your floor noise is so low. I wish I had that kind of recv. Have fun brother making those contacts.
Hello Martin.. thank you for your comment.. It is nice and quiet and I do enjoy that, lol .. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
That's awesome for your next trick you should turn that into a 3200 ft loop feed with twin lead. I think it would be very interesting to see the difference. Thanks for the video.
Hi Jeff.. Thanks for your comment.. Heck Ya ! !.. Now, that's what I'm talkin about.. That idea gives new meaning to the "Go Big or Go Home" attitude.. That is doable now if I get the posts in the ground before it freezes.. I'll work on that this week and I'll need to buy a few more PVC sections.. So, what is your suggestion on how I should connect the wires around the loop.. Would everything be connected all the way around? or open ended at the far corner... Let me know how you want it designed.. thx, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb it should be one continuous wire with one end connected to one lead and the other end connected to the other lead of the twin lead. I use this as a delta loop cut for 30 meters and it tunes from 40-6 meters it works great. Yours will be many times longer. I bet it will be awesome.
@@jeffdyer2393 Roger Roger.. Will work on it this week.. So, it will be a 3,200ft square loop, 10ft off the ground (wishing I could get it 50ft high on poles, LOL)... Ok, I'm on it.. going to turn colder this week in the 40's so will do my best and keep you posted.. k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb looking fwd to hearing how it turns out. I would be surprised if it's not incredible.
Hey Jeff.... Here ya go... Thanks for the suggestion... th-cam.com/video/CBVbYH8iM7c/w-d-xo.html
Really good video. What part Iowa are you in? I was born there and my brother lives in Fort Doge.
Hi Jonathan.. I live in Northern Iowa, about 1hr 20min drive east and north of Ft. Dodge (I'm north of Ia Falls).. As you know from past experience, it's about to get cold and white around here.. but this year, I'm prepared for some winter outdoor adventures as I just bought a Clam (Nanook XL Thermal) pullover portable fishing hut so I can go HamPortable in the snow... I never thought I'd be saying this, but.. I CAN"T WAIT FOR IT TO SNOW ! ! !.. LOL ... I hope you check back to this channel again for some future videos this winter... Thanks for commenting and watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
I wonder how good it would be for 630m or 160m. Thanks for the video fun to watch.
Hi SkinnyFlea... Thank you for your comment.. I am able to pick up stations on the 160m.. It's very quiet and I have to turn on my preamp on my ic7300 to hear good audio, but the noise is virtually non existent and the audio sounds good... I don't work those bands so I have not made any contacts there to give you any input.. Sorry I couldn't be much help.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Vee Beam. Normally 3/4 wave length on each leg if I remember correctly. Has gain off the open end of the V.
Thank you for your comment.. That's good to know about the gain off the open end of the V.. I wasn't sure what to expect.. I did make a few contacts so I'm happy with it.. Next we are working on Phase II.. completing it into a square loop, LOL... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Before I even got to the end of this video I knew that this is going to be great antenna, problem is that very few of us have room to deploy this antenna .
I said many times in my QSOs I need ten acres to get 10 more db from my antenna system
Great job thank you for this video.
Hi George.. Thanks for your comment... I actually is turning out to be a nice antenna.. nice and quiet while actually working well on the transmit as well.. I've been using it QRP 5w and working POTA activations coast to coast today.. Last weekend, we added an additional 1,600ft to enclose it into a 3200ft square loop just to see what would happen.. It created BIG lobes to the East and North.. but many notches South and West.. so, I went back to the V beam configuration today and am able to get back west again.. Funny how all that works.. Thanks for watching... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
ROFL - what great contacts !!! awesome antenna - congrats on the QRP setup that really is a fantastic setup
Hi Alze... Thank you for watching and for your comment.. It worked pretty well considering it is only 10ft above the ground, but am also curious if making it a complete 3,200ft square loop will increase it's performance.. I'm hoping to complete that project in the next week or two.. 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
Awesome job Kevin de John in Texas KD5INM
Hi John... Thanks for your comment.. I appreciate it.. It's fun entertainment for me and keeps me out of the XYL's hair.. LOL 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
nice video it would be good to see how they both go on the low bands ie 80m and 160m 73
Hello Meggala.. Thanks for your comment.. I've been listening on 80 and 160 a few nights.. The noise is basically none existent and the signals are clear and strong... However, I have tried to break into a few of them and am not being heard... Granted, I'm only using 10 watts, but a few times I tried at 40 and 80w and still no one would answer me.. These stations were 200-300 miles away in neighboring states (Minnesota and Wisconsin).. I think its a great RX antenna.. but because it is only 10ft off the ground the TX is, well.. Not So Much on 80 and 160.. I'll keep trying a few more times.. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
It's a NVIS/Cloud Warmer should work great on 160/80M/60M/40M for short/medium distance.
On higher bands it's going to have some really sharp lobes..
You would be better installing WSJTX and running WSPR on all bands for a period of time
That will give you a much better idea of coverage / distance / directionality
I can only dream of that space... I'm in the UK with a 5M X 8M back yard :( :(
I have an indoor mini mag loop on 17M, 117DXCC & 46 States with my IC-705
Hi Dave.. Thanks for your comment and suggestion.. I've often seen folks use the WSPR, but I have never tried it.. But that makes good sense.. I'm sure I can find many videos to show me how to use it... I look forward to putting it to use to have a better view of what the coverage actually us.. Thanks again.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Waay too cool Kevin.. looks like it's going to be a fun winter on the farm...HAM RADIO, a thing of invention and experimentation.
Hi Roy... Thanks.. It does give me another antenna to play with when it’s too cold to do anything else.. It was suggested that I finish what I started and create a 3200ft square loop and see if that performs any better.. so, we’re going to make that happen in the next week or two... I’ll keep you posted on results with a video.. It could be interesting.. lol.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Yes Kevin.. winter here soon on as well.. amazing QRP.. a couple feet of wire and a little hight. Looking forward to your winter projects on the farm.
Well done, great experience, so what's best long wire or dipole?
Hi Robbie.. Thank you for your comment... For sure, the off center 550ft long wire that is tied 70ft high on the silo is the clear winner.. There is much more gain with the height, as would be expected.. A few days ago, I recorded another video converting this V beam antenna into a 3200ft Square Loop.. You can find that video on this channel... Adding the additional length added a 12db gain (two S levels on the meter).. It is fun to experiment with antennas.. I always learn a few things along the way.. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Really enjoyed the video! Nice work!
Hi Stan... Thank you for watching and commenting on the video.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Chapeau! That's a very awsome construction work you did there. I could not do this any better myself than you did. Happy wednesday from the German Frontier & 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter
Thanks stopping by and watching the video Guenter... I appreciate your comment, thank you... One of these days I'll catch you on the air.. I might have to QRO to 10 watts, (lol) but we will make is someday... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb You welcome Kevin. And I be happy as a mike foxtrott to say hello to you via airwaves. If the Time is right and the Band is open with no man made noise or QR-Norway your signal will make the Trip across the Pond. Happy thursday de Your Friend Uncle Guenter, DK5ONV
You got enough ladder line to make a 2 meter slim jim.
Hi JB.. Thanks for your comment.. I had to google the "2m slim jim" as I didn't know what that was.. very interesting.. Looks like copper plumbers pipe.. I never operate at 2 meters but maybe I should give it a go sometime.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
I can only imagine the improvement to this antenna if you could get it up higher. I live on a 57 acre lot in rural NE Florida so I have the room to try something like this. I am planning on running a super long end fed wire antenna at a height of about fifty feet from the numerous antenna supports that grow on the property (pine trees). I especially like your use of aluminum electric fence wire as it's dirt cheap and readily available. All the very best, Dave, N2SN
Hi David.. Thanks for your comment... Higher would be an improvement for sure.. In addition, the aluminum wire is very light weight.. I have 200ft between the PVC poles and virtually no sag.. Good luck with your wire experiment and have fun... Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Do it! I have a 600 foot delta up about 40 feet in Ohio. Excellent for 1 watt or less CW work, which I love doing. 73 de KD8ZM
glad to see someone put QRP to extreme
Hi Mike.. Thanks for your comment... Like many, I do enjoy the challenges and rewards of SSB QRP.. When it comes to home brew antennas, I just throw things out there and see what sticks.. It's always interesting to see what works and what doesn't... Even though an antenna book (if I actually read one, LOL) might have told me it wont work, I still enjoy proving things for myself, LOL... *heart* QRP... Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
You will want to put a 1 meg ohm resister at the far end of each leg of that antenna to ground. The bleeder resisters will protect your radio from static buildup. Or add a knife switch with leads to ground. The static generated by the wind and solar can damage your rig if not bled off.
Hello Jeffrey... Thanks for your comment.. Maybe I should install resistors as a secondary precaution?.. I have installed the DX Engineering Ladder Line Surge Protector into the feedline before entering the house.. It claims to withstand minor surges and shunts them to ground.. I was hoping that would take care of it.. I'll look into it further.. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@hamradioqrp-k0klb hi, very interesting project in deed.
The 1 Meg ohm resistors connected to ground at the far ends of the wires would be constantly discharging the static energy by a direct galvanic connection.The surge protectors you have installed at the shack end of the antenna are nothing but Gas Discharge Tubes; a sharp point metal electrode close to (but not connected) the main conductor in a hermetically sealed glass container with vacuum. The static energy has to build up on the wire to certain voltage so that it gets discharged to the ground. The voltage rating would be decided by the magnitude of the gap and air pressure inside the GDT. Again it all depends on how intact is the ground connection at both ends.
De VU2RZA
Now that is an antenna! Very cool! And a well made video, a pleasure to watch. 73
Hello Ferry.. Thank you for commenting.. I appreciate it.. I looked at your QRZ page and you have a very impressive station.. Very cool... Hope to work you DX some day... Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Thank you Kevin! I sure hope we do QSO at some point. 73
It sounded like the 550 ft long wire was much better on the 20m band.
Hi Jerry.. Thanks for your comment.. Yes, the 550ft wire was better by around 4 S levels, or 24db better.. The 550 wire peaks at 70ft high, while the 1600 low wire thats 10ft off the ground.. It was to be expected.. I'm still happy the 1600ft wire performed as well as it did with just 5 watts. 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
Sorry.. I meant 24 dB better.. lol
Height means everything when you are talking about horizontal hf. 70 feet is pretty high.
Awesome!
Hi Bill.. Thank you for watching and commenting.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
Nice antenna build!
Hi Jeff.. thanks for your comment.. I watched your last video POTA activation.. Looks like it was a good one with nice weather.. Hope to catch you on your next activation... 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb it was nice. Lots of people at the park. It’s just starting to stay cooler here in Delaware. Nights will be a lot colder this coming week.
Hopefully get you in my log again soon! 73
Gene, K9UOK How did it do on 75 and 160 mtrs?
Hi Gene.. Thanks for your comment... I'm sorry, but I'm probably going to disappoint you with my answer.. I really don't spend much time on 75 and 160m to say if there was an improvement or not.. I haven't joined any nets or ragchews on those bands, but I did spend a little time just listening to a few QSO's and the noise was low and signals were good.. I had to turn on the Preamp to levels 1 and 2 on my ic7300 to find the audio of stations.. Once I did that, they were clear and and the noise was minimal.. I know that's not a very scientific answer but it's all I have, LOL... Thanks for watching... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Thanks for your reply. I was more interested in how the SWR and impedance was without a tuner. Gene, K9UOK
@@TheGeno1966 Ahhh... Ok, I see.. well, I did video the 160m and 75m bands but I didn't include them in the video and have since deleted them off my phone.. I don't remember what they actually were... I have since expanded the "V" antenna into a square loop, otherwise I'd measure it again and record in a video so you could see how it did... Sorry about that.. Next time I'll make sure to include them... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb
@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Thank you for your reply. Best wishes on your antenna. Gene, K9UOK
Ladder line is cool, old school.
Hi Joe... Thanks for you comment.. I do like to use Ladder line feedline when I can.. it is very efficient and strong.. 73 Kevin ~ k0klb
Ladder line is pretty much required with non-resonant antennas with a tuner. High SWR is a signal killer with coax.
KJ6ER. woohooo.
Wooo Hoooo ! ! !.. Coast to prairie... lol