Hi Walt, wondering why it’s always a vertical when there are other great antennas like a doublet for multi band or a simple 10 meter dipole or 11 meters for your CB?
Because 99% of the time I’m sitting on top of the world’s greatest ground plane. My main thing is portable by saltwater. A dipole by saltwater is a dipole, a vertical by saltwater gets a 10dB boost from the saltwater underneath it. I’m not sure if you followed my channel when I was in Poland but I built every horizontal, inverted V, sloper I could think of and had a lot of fun doing it but I’m “Coastal” Waves & Wires and that means more towards the vertical side of things. 73, Walt
I took your advice and made this 20m my first antenna build. It knocked it out of the park yesterday at my club's POTA event. I used it with four or five radials, didn't matter. We had tons of contacts all over the place from Alaska North Pole to Pittsburgh and all over the west from Washington to New Mexico. I'm in the Bay Area, California. I used it with a Crappie pole mast. Thanks much! You make it exciting!
True story: I took karate lessons as a young teenager at the Chuck Norris Karate Studio in Virginia Beach. It was a chain of schools and he would show up every few months and do a class with us. At 13 years old I foot swept Chuck Norris and put him on the floor 😂😂😂 of course he let me do it
Great video! I am a new ham and i setup my first 1/4 wave 20m vertical antenna with 24 x 25’ copper wire radials and threaded aluminum pipe with a 239 connector, lmr 400 coax and a CM choke. The setup was in a field in Northern Ontario and it worked great! I QSO’ed Kangaroo Island in Australia! 73 Walt … and my radio was an icom 7300 on a LiFePO4 battery
The 1:1 at the feed point stops the coax acting as part of the antenna spoiling the resonant length . Also stops the current coming down to the rig and causing problems. A resonant antenna is a special thing especially in good propagation conditions. 73 M7BLC
So cool! I’ve worked VK3EY two weeks ago from my Jeep on 10m using EFHW - just a speaker wire on a mast and 4:1 unun (inspired by you tbh). Keep up the good work Walt! Always waiting for your next video! 73
Love these antenna videos Walt ! Of note: the LDG 1:1 balun also provides the SO239 direct coax feed point vs the BNC ..makes it easy and quick. Thank you for being there.
A few years back I decided to make a simple dipole for 20M. I used the banana clip but I didn't have a place at home to extend the dipole. I used a 25ft fiberglass pole to put one leg vertical then just strung the other leg out as a counterpoise. SWR was not very good so the end of the counterpoise being close to my deck I raised it off the ground about 3 ft and got great SWR. I did a POTA activation with that antenna and it went in the antenna box. I later built a 40M version. Both were made from speaker wire and the banana clip. Fun to experiment with antennas.
Thanks, Walt. Your videos are always interesting and informative. I really appreciate the simple presentation and process to make these antennas. Stay Salty.
Hey Walt, this was indeed the first antenna I ever built and it already was with help from your videos (I think from Poland at that time). Nice to hear Rob VK3EY whom I worked a couple of times while in Brittany and we talked of you 🙂 Many thanks for the ever entertaining and informative videos, best 73s my friend.
Hi Walt, I think the main goal is its works. Swr is low, with a balun 1:1 or a other winding. Still is it works and you make great contacts. It works, that was the goal. Thanks again 👍
Sunday was rough. I got out to a park to activate on 10m and only started really making contacts after lunch time as the band recovered for a while. My first HF antenna after getting my license was a 10m dipole using the banana plug adapter. Still keep it in my POTA backpack for when I can toss it in a tree as an inverted-v. Have not tried it as a vertical since I have other vertical antennas.
Definitely going to try this. I have an old Penn 8” surf rod and a tall metal sand spike. Should be near correct for 10 meters as a HOA and traveling portable.
Took your advice and built a 1/4 wave 10m vertical antenna out of 24ga wire and a banana plug. Used 4 5m counterpoise wires and hooked it up to my yaesu ft8900. Didn't hear anything on 29.6 simplex but I did pick up a repeater on 29.62 in New Jersey. Time to get the ft857 fired up and try some other bands. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thats my weekend morning secret spot to make ZL and VK contacts. From the Warwick side of Greenwich Bay i'm looking across in the direction of Australia. It's a perfect setup. 73, Walt
Hi Walt! Thank you, as always very interesting. This is a simple and classic antenna that works well over long distances. I want to share my experience. If you leave only one counterweight and raise it a meter from the ground, the antenna will work even better, and the installation will be easier, and there will be less wire. I checked it in the fields. In general, you have a big advantage, you have a salty ocean nearby.
I had previously ordered a banana plug connector, and it showed up today, so i decided to build one of these. Alas, i didnt have enough wire, so i built a 10m quarterwave, with 3 counterpoise wires. I had no luck picking anything up on the 10m band, but it worked great as an eighth wave 20m antenna, i was able to clearly receive stations in Puerto Rico, Florida, Netherlands, Italy, and somewhere in eastern Europe. my 5w USDX+ lacked the power to get out unfortunatly
Great job Walt ! Simple but good antenna . Some kind of choke at base of antenna is a good thing. a 1:1 or ferrite chokes on coax or even coax wrap threw a toroide . all does the same job. Blocks RF from coming back on the outside of shield of coax. This can cause RF getting into the mic and or effect the far field pattern of antenna. You want the counterpoise to work . If you want coax as counterpoise then you choke at radio side either the ATU or radio . Some times the length of wire changes. Velocity factor of wire. and type of metal. Just trim to low SWR . Do not over think it. SWR of 1.5 can talk great ! . I talked all over DX with 1.7 SWR . Just threw a antenna together 5/8 wave into 4:1 . measure cut put up I got 1.7 SWR on 20 meters called CQ POTA and got pile up. and was at 50 watts from 7300 ICOM. on 20 AH battery ! 73
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Appx 43 ft for 5/8 wave at 20 meters. 20.5 Ft and 25 FT also work with 4:1 . I had to slope instead of vertical . need longer pole . Callum had one. saving up
I mentioned this just a couple of days ago. Every new ham (and long time hams) should build a simple resonant full 1/4 wave vertical and a half wave dipole. This gives the best introduction to hassle free and effective antennas. 73 M3KXZ
Awesome video Walt. You are making me want to make Quarterwave vertical antennas as it looks pretty easy. I live in South Central PA so I don't have the ocean to boost my db gain but I am high up as I am on one of the highest points on York County.
Hi Walt. Indeed a cheap antenna to start HF experiments as a new ham. A telescopic 17 ft whip is also a nice way to go. They been sold with markings for band lenghts from 20 up to 10 meters. Cheers Phil ON4VP
Links to supplies used for your antennas would be nice (banana clip, pole, mount, UnUn, wire). Affiliate linked or not; I don't think Hams mind either way. I think new and even some old Hams, especially in rural areas, just want reassurance they are ordering the right stuff. Cuts down on a bit of trial and error and reorder time. Just something to think about in the future. Love the content! -N5RWM
As always a good video. I am old but an uncured Ham and love playing with wire antennas. This was the first antenna I put up and made a QSO as an Amateur back in May. I don’t put up tall antennas,
Thanks for another great video. I don't live near salt water but near plenty of fresh water lakes. Not as good as salt water, I know, but would it be better than land?
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thanks for your reply Walt. I have a similar opinion. One advantage would be that lakes often have a clear take off without trees and buildings getting in the way. Best 73.
😃 thanks for 17ft! Really nice...as an idea, maybe a video on options to replace a 1:1 with the roll of RG58, it doesn't do anything for SWR but does for feedline radiation and you can do QRO! I think your notebook could also feature a section on each of the components, base, pole, etc....really good stuff yiu are doing BTW 11m is how I git in too and great wou are showing it. de WO8USA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Sure wish I knew you were going to be at Oakland Beach...I live about 2 miles from there...would of bought you lunch! Never thought about using the bay for a counterpoise...guess what I will be trying very shortly?!
Excellent Salty Walt, I think I may give that antenna a try. What would you say is the max power you can use? Thank you for sharing Salty Walt. Look forward to the next chapter.
I’m just curious, have you tried it without the 1:1? I don’t own one but I usually use coax with RF beads on it. Which I think is basically the same thing. Does the wire actually have to be in the salt water or can it be close? On another note….. I call BS in length doesn’t matter and more shorter are better than less longer while lying on the ground. I’ve done a lot of experimenting with this very subject in several different locations over several different kinds of ground. I’m using the WRC Sporty Forty and the Chameleon 17’SS whip on a tripod or stainless steel tent stake w/ a stainless steel jaw mount. It didn’t matter whether or not I used either. With the tripod I was trying to isolate the ground side from actually being “grounded”. I laid out 12 16.5 radials and the SWR was over 4:1, then removed 4 and it dropped to 3:1, removed 4 more and it dropped to 2.5:1, folded the last 4 in half and it dropped to 1.2:1. So now that’s 4 radials @ 8.25’ or 33’ of total radials. I also took 2 sets of my 16.5 radials & made them 33’ long so now I have 4 1/4 wavelength radials lying on the ground. Sliced a little bit off the end of each one and got a 1.3:1 or less across the entire voice portion of 40m. Then I removed the coil and tried 20m, and now I have 4 1/2 wavelength radials lying on the ground for 20m. This got me about a 1.6:1 across the whole voice portion of 20m which isn’t bad. I have no idea why it happened this way, but it did. I’m option to theories as to why.
Yes, the video in this with the 5 counterpoise on the ground are with a clip instead of a balun. I’ve actually done a couple other videos on 1/4wave verticals done that way. The counterpoise just needs to at least be over the wet sand from my experience.
Thanks for another great video Walt! I travel every week as well and just got my license (extra!). I have a question on the radials. If I want to have a resonant 10 and 20 meters can I cut the radials for 20 and use them for both?
Hi Walt, I love your videos. As a new Ham myself, I find them very helpful. One question, is there any reason I couldn't use aluminum as the pole for one of your vertical antennas? I got a smokin deal on some heavy duty conduit at a scrap yard. Thanks!
@@glennluther7532 thanks! You can use the aluminum as the driven element itself and it would work. As for attaching wire to it, that wouldn’t work as the wire will couple with the metal pole.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Even if I used insulated wire? If not, could the pole be used to hold a whip or as part of an inverted V or sloped wire? Pretty ignorant here. Thanks!
People always make a big deal about radials for verticals. Not half an hour ago I was out using 17-ft whip and a coil for 80 m cuz why not?. Use the same radials i always use. Two bundles of five wires each approximately 10 ft long, scattered somewhat haphazardly around the antenna. It worked just fine. Psk reporter showed me in the midwest as being heard in Maine, Nevada and really big in the Southeast No choke, no balun. Just coax and 5 watts.
Can I use the pole if its made from EMT as the antenna instead of wire? make the base out of PVC to insulate from the groumd? If so, then I can adjust the sticks length by sliding them and tighten the thumbscrews?
My personal experience is that I don't find any difference between counterpoise in and out of water. The main problem here on the beaches I operate from is that there is a big difference between low and high tide which would mean moving up and down the beach with the antenna! 73 M3KXZ
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES same here. Even on the shingle and chalk we have here, it's all still wet wet salt water at depth when the tide is out. Can't wait to get out again now. Beautiful weather here, but I'm working from home! By the way, speaking of seafood (even though you didn't mention food in this video), are Arbroath smokies available where you are? They're from Scotland. If you ever see them where the are, or are ever here in the UK, you're in for a treat. Gorgeous heated in the oven with a slathering of butter! 73 M3KXZ
Great video Walt! I am a new ham, Technician license operator and I'm looking to make a simple vertical wire antenna and this video helps. I'm limited to 10m right now until I get the chance to take my General test. Just to confirm, by looking at your chart, for a 10m I cut the wire about 8.24 ft and my counter poise can be 17 ft?? Appreciate any feedback. 73 my friend KO6FWW
Great Video and Great Antenna Walt. I've been building every antenna you've put up (and videos I've seen). Yeah, the bands are up and down but it's like surfing: Sometimes you have to sit out in the water and wait for the right set. I'll take spotty band conditions if it means I get great DX contacts when the band is open. I too believe the 1:1 Balun adds to the overall antenna regardless of what all the amateur rocket scientists might say. If it works, don't complain about it! Thanks again Walt. My HF experience has been wonderful since following your channel...73...Hugh...KN6KNB
Excellent advice and video! I gave built many a quarter wave vertical over the years. Radials or specifically the number and length are overrated! Once you have enough to bring the SWR down to maybe 1.5 to 1, I have never been able to detect any improvement in signal strength. Sometimes its only one short radial, sometimes it takes more. All depends on composition of the ground. Even some of my best 160 contest scores have been with one or two radials. Also the length is not very critical. I always cut for CW band and the SWR is usually good enough across the band ( except 160 and 80 meters).
That is correct, a vertical for the 10 meter band is half as long as a vertical for the 20 meter band, a vertical for the 40 meter band is twice as long as a vertical for the 20 meter band.
Time of day definitely, the saltwater also give the antenna 6 to 10dB gain which helps the low power 20 watts. The antenna is still very effective, here is the same antenna I built well inland in Poland using the same radio at 20 watts: th-cam.com/video/iDEUfPgx44M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oc3Y1t0Xk8qGPDeQ
Hi Walt, wondering why it’s always a vertical when there are other great antennas like a doublet for multi band or a simple 10 meter dipole or 11 meters for your CB?
Because 99% of the time I’m sitting on top of the world’s greatest ground plane. My main thing is portable by saltwater. A dipole by saltwater is a dipole, a vertical by saltwater gets a 10dB boost from the saltwater underneath it. I’m not sure if you followed my channel when I was in Poland but I built every horizontal, inverted V, sloper I could think of and had a lot of fun doing it but I’m “Coastal” Waves & Wires and that means more towards the vertical side of things. 73, Walt
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES yep
Poland has salt water also
I tend to run verticals due to limited space for anything else.
I took your advice and made this 20m my first antenna build. It knocked it out of the park yesterday at my club's POTA event. I used it with four or five radials, didn't matter. We had tons of contacts all over the place from Alaska North Pole to Pittsburgh and all over the west from Washington to New Mexico. I'm in the Bay Area, California. I used it with a Crappie pole mast. Thanks much! You make it exciting!
Hey Walt, fantastic QSO. Your service to the Ham Radio community is greatly appreciated. 73 Rob VK3EY
Thank you so much Rob for taking the time to make contacts with me mate! I greatly appreciate you being there my friend! 73, Walt
Walt is like Chuck Norris of HAM radio. He gets DX contacts when propagation absolutely sucks.
Well done
M7LDK
True story: I took karate lessons as a young teenager at the Chuck Norris Karate Studio in Virginia Beach. It was a chain of schools and he would show up every few months and do a class with us. At 13 years old I foot swept Chuck Norris and put him on the floor 😂😂😂 of course he let me do it
Great video! I am a new ham and i setup my first 1/4 wave 20m vertical antenna with 24 x 25’ copper wire radials and threaded aluminum pipe with a 239 connector, lmr 400 coax and a CM choke. The setup was in a field in Northern Ontario and it worked great! I QSO’ed Kangaroo Island in Australia! 73 Walt … and my radio was an icom 7300 on a LiFePO4 battery
Thanks! that's so awesome, thanks for sharing! 73, Walt
The 1:1 at the feed point stops the coax acting as part of the antenna spoiling the resonant length . Also stops the current coming down to the rig and causing problems. A resonant antenna is a special thing especially in good propagation conditions. 73 M7BLC
Yes it is! 73 my friend
So cool! I’ve worked VK3EY two weeks ago from my Jeep on 10m using EFHW - just a speaker wire on a mast and 4:1 unun (inspired by you tbh). Keep up the good work Walt! Always waiting for your next video! 73
Thank you! Rob is a great operator, I hope to catch him on 10 meters as well someday. 73, Walt
Amazing success in not-so-amazing band conditions! I'm hearing more and more of these Captains of Admiral Salty Walt's Coast Guard!!! GLORIOUS!!!
hahaha Ahoy! 73 my friend!
Love these antenna videos Walt ! Of note: the LDG 1:1 balun also provides the SO239 direct coax feed point vs the BNC ..makes it easy and quick. Thank you for being there.
Thanks! and roger that on the 1:1
A few years back I decided to make a simple dipole for 20M. I used the banana clip but I didn't have a place at home to extend the dipole. I used a 25ft fiberglass pole to put one leg vertical then just strung the other leg out as a counterpoise. SWR was not very good so the end of the counterpoise being close to my deck I raised it off the ground about 3 ft and got great SWR. I did a POTA activation with that antenna and it went in the antenna box. I later built a 40M version. Both were made from speaker wire and the banana clip. Fun to experiment with antennas.
Thanks, Walt. Your videos are always interesting and informative. I really appreciate the simple presentation and process to make these antennas. Stay Salty.
Thank you my friend! Stay Salty!!!
Very well done ! Wish more hams would try making antennas,,, it's so satisfying to make contacts on a homebrew antenna!! 73
Thanks! I really enjoy experimenting with antennas. 73, Walt
Great trip into Victoria!! Antenna is awesome!! Nice work Walt!!
Thank you! that was a fun morning of radio! 73 my friend
Another great video Walt. I've got so many antennas on my list to build from watching I'm losing track. Lol. Keep the great videos coming. Thanks.
Thank you so much my friend! 73, Walt
fooling around with wire is part of what got me into the hobby. 20 hasnt been great but I made Madeira is Portugal couple nites ago from NY at 0030z.
That's awesome!
Hey Walt, this was indeed the first antenna I ever built and it already was with help from your videos (I think from Poland at that time).
Nice to hear Rob VK3EY whom I worked a couple of times while in Brittany and we talked of you 🙂
Many thanks for the ever entertaining and informative videos, best 73s my friend.
73 my friend!!!
Hi Walt,
I think the main goal is its works.
Swr is low, with a balun 1:1 or a other winding.
Still is it works and you make great contacts.
It works, that was the goal.
Thanks again 👍
Roger that, it works!!! 73 my friend
Great video Walt. Amazing how those band conditions changed in a short amount of time. 73, Jim
Yes, usually in the mornings as the grayline is crossing band conditions are interesting to experience. 73, Walt
Sunday was rough. I got out to a park to activate on 10m and only started really making contacts after lunch time as the band recovered for a while. My first HF antenna after getting my license was a 10m dipole using the banana plug adapter. Still keep it in my POTA backpack for when I can toss it in a tree as an inverted-v. Have not tried it as a vertical since I have other vertical antennas.
I'm going to get out with a traditional dipole soon. 73 my friend
Definitely going to try this. I have an old Penn 8” surf rod and a tall metal sand spike. Should be near correct for 10 meters as a HOA and traveling portable.
I've always had great success using verticals, even here in central VA with this red clay soil.
Yeah I think that’s where a good counterpoise setup matters more. Regardless, verticals are great antennas
Took your advice and built a 1/4 wave 10m vertical antenna out of 24ga wire and a banana plug. Used 4 5m counterpoise wires and hooked it up to my yaesu ft8900. Didn't hear anything on 29.6 simplex but I did pick up a repeater on 29.62 in New Jersey. Time to get the ft857 fired up and try some other bands. Thanks for the inspiration!
Awesome! 73, Walt
Being from East Greenwich, I recognize that stretch of beach. Awesome you made a contact to the other side of the planet (twice!), Walt. 73
Thats my weekend morning secret spot to make ZL and VK contacts. From the Warwick side of Greenwich Bay i'm looking across in the direction of Australia. It's a perfect setup. 73, Walt
Great narration and explanatiuon on all your videos and projects. Kudos!
Thank you very much! 73, Walt
Hi Walt! Thank you, as always very interesting. This is a simple and classic antenna that works well over long distances. I want to share my experience. If you leave only one counterweight and raise it a meter from the ground, the antenna will work even better, and the installation will be easier, and there will be less wire. I checked it in the fields. In general, you have a big advantage, you have a salty ocean nearby.
Yes, that will work great. As I mentioned in the video here, I'm just trying to show a lassic simple vertical groundplane antenna. 73, Walt
I had previously ordered a banana plug connector, and it showed up today, so i decided to build one of these. Alas, i didnt have enough wire, so i built a 10m quarterwave, with 3 counterpoise wires. I had no luck picking anything up on the 10m band, but it worked great as an eighth wave 20m antenna, i was able to clearly receive stations in Puerto Rico, Florida, Netherlands, Italy, and somewhere in eastern Europe. my 5w USDX+ lacked the power to get out unfortunatly
Great job Walt ! Simple but good antenna . Some kind of choke at base of antenna is a good thing. a 1:1 or ferrite chokes on coax or even coax wrap threw a toroide . all does the same job. Blocks RF from coming back on the outside of shield of coax. This can cause RF getting into the mic and or effect the far field pattern of antenna. You want the counterpoise to work . If you want coax as counterpoise then you choke at radio side either the ATU or radio . Some times the length of wire changes. Velocity factor of wire. and type of metal. Just trim to low SWR . Do not over think it. SWR of 1.5 can talk great ! . I talked all over DX with 1.7 SWR . Just threw a antenna together 5/8 wave into 4:1 . measure cut put up I got 1.7 SWR on 20 meters called CQ POTA and got pile up. and was at 50 watts from 7300 ICOM. on 20 AH battery ! 73
Thanks! Wow that's cool on the 5/8. I need to do more on that antenna. 73, Walt
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Appx 43 ft for 5/8 wave at 20 meters. 20.5 Ft and 25 FT also work with 4:1 . I had to slope instead of vertical . need longer pole . Callum had one. saving up
I mentioned this just a couple of days ago. Every new ham (and long time hams) should build a simple resonant full 1/4 wave vertical and a half wave dipole. This gives the best introduction to hassle free and effective antennas.
73 M3KXZ
@@petemillis4666 I 100% agree, I think I’ll go out and build a traditional dipole soon. It’s been a while. 73 Walt
Enjoyed your video Walt!
Awesome video Walt. You are making me want to make Quarterwave vertical antennas as it looks pretty easy. I live in South Central PA so I don't have the ocean to boost my db gain but I am high up as I am on one of the highest points on York County.
You have a great advantage there as well. Give it a try!
Another great video Walt!
Thanks!!!
Nice Walt! Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching!
That Sea, so calm :) Good information as always Walt, 73
Thanks! yes it was almost eerie how calm it was
You do an excellent job with your instructional videos on antenna building. I've sure learned a lot from you. 73, KI5UWK
Thank you so much my friend! 73, Walt
Hi Walt. Indeed a cheap antenna to start HF experiments as a new ham. A telescopic 17 ft whip is also a nice way to go. They been sold with markings for band lenghts from 20 up to 10 meters. Cheers Phil ON4VP
Roger that, I have 3 of them. They are great
Links to supplies used for your antennas would be nice (banana clip, pole, mount, UnUn, wire). Affiliate linked or not; I don't think Hams mind either way. I think new and even some old Hams, especially in rural areas, just want reassurance they are ordering the right stuff. Cuts down on a bit of trial and error and reorder time. Just something to think about in the future. Love the content! -N5RWM
Thanks, I typically put links to some products. Probably not a bad idea here. 73, Walt
Blimy walt another video great going mate take care keep safe both x
As always a good video. I am old but an uncured Ham and love playing with wire antennas. This was the first antenna I put up and made a QSO as an Amateur back in May. I don’t put up tall antennas,
Thank you so much! Godspeed my friend
Inspirational Walt!
Thanks Tim! I had to do a traditional antenna video after ripping a hole in the ham universe working DX on the beach with an 11 meter rig 😂
Thanks for another great video. I don't live near salt water but near plenty of fresh water lakes. Not as good as salt water, I know, but would it be better than land?
@@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE I think it might give you a little advantage over regular land. Not the magic of saltwater but give it a try! 73, Walt
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thanks for your reply Walt. I have a similar opinion. One advantage would be that lakes often have a clear take off without trees and buildings getting in the way. Best 73.
😃 thanks for 17ft! Really nice...as an idea, maybe a video on options to replace a 1:1 with the roll of RG58, it doesn't do anything for SWR but does for feedline radiation and you can do QRO! I think your notebook could also feature a section on each of the components, base, pole, etc....really good stuff yiu are doing BTW 11m is how I git in too and great wou are showing it. de WO8USA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Sure wish I knew you were going to be at Oakland Beach...I live about 2 miles from there...would of bought you lunch! Never thought about using the bay for a counterpoise...guess what I will be trying very shortly?!
Excellent Salty Walt, I think I may give that antenna a try. What would you say is the max power you can use? Thank you for sharing Salty Walt. Look forward to the next chapter.
With 16 gauge speaker wire I’ve put 100 watts through it, calculated out it will take much more than that.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Salty Walt, I would have never thought 100 watts. Thank You
Great stuff.. thanks
Thank you!
thanks! this is useful!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video Walt! 73
Thanks for watching my friend! 73
Another encouraging video sir. But may I ask, with this wire antennas, what is the maximum power can it be transmitted with it?
With 16 gauge wire I have used 100 watts. You can transmit with as much power as you want, you just have to gauge the wires used.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Roger that sir. All the best to you and your family.
Do you have a video on how you interpret the vast amount of information that is out there about band conditions?
yes I do, several:
th-cam.com/video/r0PB---UvP8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Va_inOWxwHKa2ik2
th-cam.com/video/MQM7AABCp2c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qpqwtM4MyeA-k3oa
th-cam.com/video/CVY3y42jd1U/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RhkGvrQzwmNIDo_-
th-cam.com/video/D18eSKYC3D4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CHSxoqkAvIVzEo_N
th-cam.com/video/epesF76DSUI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=6oLJTof7jqcTSr0G
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thank You!! Looks like I have some homework! 😃
I’m just curious, have you tried it without the 1:1? I don’t own one but I usually use coax with RF beads on it. Which I think is basically the same thing. Does the wire actually have to be in the salt water or can it be close?
On another note…..
I call BS in length doesn’t matter and more shorter are better than less longer while lying on the ground. I’ve done a lot of experimenting with this very subject in several different locations over several different kinds of ground.
I’m using the WRC Sporty Forty and the Chameleon 17’SS whip on a tripod or stainless steel tent stake w/ a stainless steel jaw mount. It didn’t matter whether or not I used either. With the tripod I was trying to isolate the ground side from actually being “grounded”. I laid out 12 16.5 radials and the SWR was over 4:1, then removed 4 and it dropped to 3:1, removed 4 more and it dropped to 2.5:1, folded the last 4 in half and it dropped to 1.2:1. So now that’s 4 radials @ 8.25’ or 33’ of total radials. I also took 2 sets of my 16.5 radials & made them 33’ long so now I have 4 1/4 wavelength radials lying on the ground. Sliced a little bit off the end of each one and got a 1.3:1 or less across the entire voice portion of 40m. Then I removed the coil and tried 20m, and now I have 4 1/2 wavelength radials lying on the ground for 20m. This got me about a 1.6:1 across the whole voice portion of 20m which isn’t bad. I have no idea why it happened this way, but it did. I’m option to theories as to why.
Yes, the video in this with the 5 counterpoise on the ground are with a clip instead of a balun. I’ve actually done a couple other videos on 1/4wave verticals done that way. The counterpoise just needs to at least be over the wet sand from my experience.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES thanks Walt. Another great video!
Thanks for another great video Walt! I travel every week as well and just got my license (extra!). I have a question on the radials. If I want to have a resonant 10 and 20 meters can I cut the radials for 20 and use them for both?
Yes absolutely, use them on both. When radials are on the ground length is not an issue. 73, Walt
Hi Walt, I love your videos. As a new Ham myself, I find them very helpful. One question, is there any reason I couldn't use aluminum as the pole for one of your vertical antennas? I got a smokin deal on some heavy duty conduit at a scrap yard. Thanks!
@@glennluther7532 thanks! You can use the aluminum as the driven element itself and it would work. As for attaching wire to it, that wouldn’t work as the wire will couple with the metal pole.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Even if I used insulated wire? If not, could the pole be used to hold a whip or as part of an inverted V or sloped wire? Pretty ignorant here. Thanks!
Another great video. Thanks Walt de K4CKR
Thank you! 73, Walt
People always make a big deal about radials for verticals.
Not half an hour ago I was out using 17-ft whip and a coil for 80 m cuz why not?.
Use the same radials i always use. Two bundles of five wires each approximately 10 ft long, scattered somewhat haphazardly around the antenna.
It worked just fine.
Psk reporter showed me in the midwest as being heard in Maine, Nevada and really big in the Southeast
No choke, no balun. Just coax and 5 watts.
Yep, just get some wires on the ground. 73
Can I use the pole if its made from EMT as the antenna instead of wire? make the base out of PVC to insulate from the groumd? If so, then I can adjust the sticks length by sliding them and tighten the thumbscrews?
Yes that would work
Would love to see difference with CP in and out of the saltwater in same location to see big of a difference it makes👍
This should answer your question, same antenna as I built it in Europe:
th-cam.com/video/iDEUfPgx44M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oc3Y1t0Xk8qGPDeQ
My personal experience is that I don't find any difference between counterpoise in and out of water. The main problem here on the beaches I operate from is that there is a big difference between low and high tide which would mean moving up and down the beach with the antenna!
73 M3KXZ
@petemillis4666 my experience has been as long as the wire is over the wet sand near the water I’m good.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES same here. Even on the shingle and chalk we have here, it's all still wet wet salt water at depth when the tide is out. Can't wait to get out again now. Beautiful weather here, but I'm working from home!
By the way, speaking of seafood (even though you didn't mention food in this video), are Arbroath smokies available where you are? They're from Scotland. If you ever see them where the are, or are ever here in the UK, you're in for a treat. Gorgeous heated in the oven with a slathering of butter!
73 M3KXZ
Great video Walt! I am a new ham, Technician license operator and I'm looking to make a simple vertical wire antenna and this video helps. I'm limited to 10m right now until I get the chance to take my General test. Just to confirm, by looking at your chart, for a 10m I cut the wire about 8.24 ft and my counter poise can be 17 ft??
Appreciate any feedback. 73 my friend KO6FWW
Great Video and Great Antenna Walt. I've been building every antenna you've put up (and videos I've seen). Yeah, the bands are up and down but it's like surfing: Sometimes you have to sit out in the water and wait for the right set. I'll take spotty band conditions if it means I get great DX contacts when the band is open. I too believe the 1:1 Balun adds to the overall antenna regardless of what all the amateur rocket scientists might say. If it works, don't complain about it! Thanks again Walt. My HF experience has been wonderful since following your channel...73...Hugh...KN6KNB
Thanks! right on, it's all about waiting for that big wave!
Well done Walt. 73 OM
Thanks Hollywood! 73 OM
Excellent advice and video! I gave built many a quarter wave vertical over the years. Radials or specifically the number and length are overrated! Once you have enough to bring the SWR down to maybe 1.5 to 1, I have never been able to detect any improvement in signal strength. Sometimes its only one short radial, sometimes it takes more. All depends on composition of the ground. Even some of my best 160 contest scores have been with one or two radials. Also the length is not very critical. I always cut for CW band and the SWR is usually good enough across the band ( except 160 and 80 meters).
Thanks and roger that my friend!
Have you tried building an nvis antenna with a banana clip? I’m interested in reaching guys in connecting states. I am going to try this one, thanks
Would a 1/4 wave vertical dipole for 10m be useful? I've made 1/2 wave vertical dipoles for 70cm and 2m that work well.
"You have to do this and that...". What really matters is, does it work? If the answer is yes, then you did the right thing.
So to change bands do you just lengthen or shorten the vertical?
That is correct, a vertical for the 10 meter band is half as long as a vertical for the 20 meter band, a vertical for the 40 meter band is twice as long as a vertical for the 20 meter band.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES can't wait for the book to get published.
Can you multiband with this type of vertical antenna? If so, how long do you make it?
what type of coax are you using? I have some rg6 and some rg58 - thanks
In this video I’m using a 50 long RG58 coax. 73, Walt
In video where you calcolate antenna is software or website? Is wrbsite you can give me url tnk
www.mapleleafcom.com/calculator_vertical.shtml
Salty Sandy from Scotland here..maybe a daft question ?
Can i fake salt water ground by using a bowl of salty water with sand or earth ?
No unfortunately that won’t work, it’s the big flat reflective surface of the saltwater surrounding the antenna that does the magic. 73, Walt
ever the optimist keep up the great videos very helpfull for us numpties 2:01 t@COASTALWAVESWIRES
VK contact because you're on the beach? Or is it more time of day? Or combination of both?
Both.
Time of day definitely, the saltwater also give the antenna 6 to 10dB gain which helps the low power 20 watts. The antenna is still very effective, here is the same antenna I built well inland in Poland using the same radio at 20 watts: th-cam.com/video/iDEUfPgx44M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oc3Y1t0Xk8qGPDeQ
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES your poland yard is kinda similar to mine so I'll def check it out! 73!
I love it! Thank you. 73 N8VSB
If only people would give honest signal reports. 55 & from VK was honest, but 59 from Scotland was optimistic 😂
I grew up 5 minutes from there. Grab some Iggys for me!
SO239 Coax Connector
Yep
What the hay I'm hungry why didn't ya take us to breakfast !? :)
No breakfast clams?
hahaha not this morning
Ack! NO 30 meters on the cheat sheet! How dare you ! ! ! ;)
King of verticals strikes again ;D I hope the saltwater will carry your signals beyond imagination ! 73 !
Thank you so much my friend!
73 w3rrm
73 my friend
Sadly new HAMs can't use 20 meters. Aren't we limited to just 10 meters?
New Technicians can't use SSB on 20 but can on 10 meters. This can be built for 10 meters as well. All the more incentive to get that General!
Nice one Walt it's good to show just what a simple antenna can do with 20 watts. Don't need more than that.
73.
PAUL. De HS0ZLQ, G0MIH
Thanks and roger that my friend! 73, Walt