Hi Andrew. Another excellent video. Difference in Rx and Tx is remarkable. The Collins KWM-2A is a beautiful looking radio ... Rx audio is perfect. I visiting an old elmers shack in 1974 and dreaming of owning one. I still want one :-) Thanks for sharing. Take care and 73. Mike VE3XLF
You could get the audio better with a Bob Heil external filter and speaker. There's also an external digital noise reducer available from Martyn lynch and sons, it looks like it's not needed in this video because the noise floor was quite low compared to what I'm used to.
Peter sounded scottish !.A local ham to me is selling a hex beam but i dont think my neighbors would approve .Vey popular antenna and for a reason they perfom very well .
Hi, Could we do that test on 20 meters? I would love to record that for a TH-cam video. I would need to do some kind of configuration of my equipment to faciliate the recording. I need to give that some thought. I am not a proponent of using an EFHW which in many cases is really an off center fed dipole. Let me know if you want to do that test when the band is open between VK2 and W6. Thanks! 73, Jim W6LG
Hi Jim, more than happy to. 11:00z onwards would be a good time to start trying as the band should be fully open by then. But we can try other times if it doesn't allow. Look me up on QRZ and shoot me an email. I can then add you on Signal or Whats app is that's easier. And yes, they basically behave the same as an OCFD, only fed at the end instead. 73 VK2XXL
I said that about end feds, and got told no. But when you add a counter poise it's just an off centre dipole. If both take a 9:1 then they are basically the same thing. A 49:1 or 64:1 are just offset closer to the end but still use counterpoise just it's smaller, even if you don't use a counter poise it'll use the little bit of coax before the choke, still making it offset and not a true end fed.
We get a lot of freezing rain, snow and sometimes an ice storm where I live each winter. I don't think the wires on the hex beam would last very long with some ice on them. If not for that I would love to have one.
Yes, ice unfortunately is what let's them down. Fortunately in most parts of Australia we don't have that issue. But if I ever were to set up in a place like the Snowy Mountains I'd install the extreme weather braces which I happen to have and should be fine there. That kit is a big help, but I wouldn't trust it the coldest parts of America, Europe or Canada.
For 40m you can buy 4 10m fiberglass poles from haverfords. Then get a phase box from Phased arrays. Make 4 L matches and throw out some radials. You get 4 directions with about 2 to 3 DB gain over a 1/4 wave vertical. But front to back is like -15db not hex beam front to back but enough. The poles are like $80aud on special, the wire is wire, the L matches are cheap and the phase box is about $650usd. The verticals need to be about 8.5m apart. This is the cheapest directional 40m antenna you can build with about a 20m radius foot print if you have the space.
Enjoyed the video just put my hex beam up about 3 months ago and love it. 73 from N0TLC hope to catch you on the air someday.
Hi Andrew. Another excellent video. Difference in Rx and Tx is remarkable. The Collins KWM-2A is a beautiful looking radio ... Rx audio is perfect. I visiting an old elmers shack in 1974 and dreaming of owning one. I still want one :-) Thanks for sharing. Take care and 73. Mike VE3XLF
Thanks Mike! They do come up from time to time. Keep your eyes open. You never know. Thanks for watching 👍
You could get the audio better with a Bob Heil external filter and speaker.
There's also an external digital noise reducer available from Martyn lynch and sons, it looks like it's not needed in this video because the noise floor was quite low compared to what I'm used to.
Yes great Antenna G3TXQ hexbeam ' I made the same change about 4 years ago ' still too add my 40m kit ' hope too hear you over the air Mw6hnn 73
Thanks mate! I'll keep an ear out for you :)
Peter sounded scottish !.A local ham to me is selling a hex beam but i dont think my neighbors would approve .Vey popular antenna and for a reason they perfom very well .
If the entire antenna stays in your yard, don't worry about the neighbors mate. Tell em to mind their own business and enjoy your hobby :)
Hi, Could we do that test on 20 meters? I would love to record that for a TH-cam video. I would need to do some kind of configuration of my equipment to faciliate the recording. I need to give that some thought. I am not a proponent of using an EFHW which in many cases is really an off center fed dipole. Let me know if you want to do that test when the band is open between VK2 and W6. Thanks! 73, Jim W6LG
Hi Jim, more than happy to. 11:00z onwards would be a good time to start trying as the band should be fully open by then. But we can try other times if it doesn't allow. Look me up on QRZ and shoot me an email. I can then add you on Signal or Whats app is that's easier. And yes, they basically behave the same as an OCFD, only fed at the end instead. 73 VK2XXL
I said that about end feds, and got told no.
But when you add a counter poise it's just an off centre dipole.
If both take a 9:1 then they are basically the same thing.
A 49:1 or 64:1 are just offset closer to the end but still use counterpoise just it's smaller, even if you don't use a counter poise it'll use the little bit of coax before the choke, still making it offset and not a true end fed.
We get a lot of freezing rain, snow and sometimes an ice storm where I live each winter. I don't think the wires on the hex beam would last very long with some ice on them. If not for that I would love to have one.
Yes, ice unfortunately is what let's them down. Fortunately in most parts of Australia we don't have that issue. But if I ever were to set up in a place like the Snowy Mountains I'd install the extreme weather braces which I happen to have and should be fine there. That kit is a big help, but I wouldn't trust it the coldest parts of America, Europe or Canada.
Great video! de W2CSI, I have a G3TXQ hex also! Love it!!!
Nice commentary. Sounds like I'm listening to a test cricket match 🥰
Thanks mate :)
For 40m you can buy 4 10m fiberglass poles from haverfords.
Then get a phase box from Phased arrays.
Make 4 L matches and throw out some radials.
You get 4 directions with about 2 to 3 DB gain over a 1/4 wave vertical. But front to back is like -15db not hex beam front to back but enough.
The poles are like $80aud on special, the wire is wire, the L matches are cheap and the phase box is about $650usd.
The verticals need to be about 8.5m apart.
This is the cheapest directional 40m antenna you can build with about a 20m radius foot print if you have the space.
Thanks mate, yeah I've done phased verticals on 40m before with a home brew switch box. The front to back really helps big time.
Hex beam, $1,226.92 at Dx Engineering. EFHW, 49:1 unun $50. 12ga stranded wire, $69.99. Total $119.99. Hmmmmm
You're absolutely right! You get what you pay for.
Great video. How high is your hexbeam?
Hi there about 7 metres here.