POTA Field Report: Let's build a super simple speaker wire antenna on site and activate this park!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2021
- Click here to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com:
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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Nice job on the antenna construction and the contacts! That X5105 battery is great. Thank you for the video that I played in the background while working this morning. My ears perked up when I heard my callsign mentioned :)
This video inspired me to put together a portable HF rig with a random wire antenna and do my first POTA activation yesterday! The prospect of trying out POTA was one of the reasons I got my General license in the first place, but at first it seemed a bit of a ways off due to how expensive HF gear can get... Seeing how well you did with this made me realize though that I don't actually *need* to spend an arm and a leg to get on the air, so I decided to try it. Sure enough, my activation was a success and it was an absolute blast! Having never experienced a pile-up before, it really got my heart racing lol. Amazing what you can do with low power and a simple antenna with a bit of perseverance. Thanks so much for your content and 73!
WOW!!!! A first POTA activation with a pile-up? You, sir, are destined for QRP greatness! Well done!
I hate to tell you, but you're spot on: it's a blast. And terribly addictive! Very well done, Alex. I look forward to working you on the air someday soon! 73, Thomas
next time you look for speaker wire look were the automotive supplies are at they normally have speaker wire there @@ThomasK4SWL
THANK THOMAS‼️. I am glad you made this group of videos on the Ziegu X5105 73. KV5P
Good to see ya designing Thomas. I haven’t purchased a wire antenna in along time. Loop at home and efhw in the field. Yes sir I feel the humidity lol. Looking forward to a bit of rain this week. 73
Thanks for the podcast tip! 🙂
Great video! I used speaker wire for my first antenna (random length vertical, very little space in UK gardens), around 9m into a tuner for 20m operation at 5W. Works a treat, my furthest contact was 7000km away. When starting out on a tight budget and low power, speaker wire makes for a great antenna.
That's just brilliant and you're absolutely right: a little speaker wire can go a long way!
Thanks for moving the QRP Ranger. Don’t want to get flicker vertigo…. Really great video! Thanks!
A spider was trying to make a home out of the QRP Ranger. :)
I am buying some speaker wire today! This is a really good video.
Thank you, Bill! So, of course, many other types of wire will work but speaker wire can be awfully convenient!
Thanks again Thomas for another “how to” video. I didn’t know that an antenna could be this simple and cost so little. Even a G5RV is more expensive than I thought. I do know that I would need an antenna tuner so I’m saving for the LDG z-100
The Z-100 is a good tuner. With a tuner, you can truly do a lot of inexpensive experimentation with antennas.
I’ve used speaker wire antennas as my home dipole. If I put 4-5 coils with a couple of ferrites to keep them together, I can push 75 watts without a problem. They’re fun and easy to experiment with.
If it radiates it radiates and the same laws of physics, velocity factor, feed line calculations apply...Where unknown wire gets into trouble is not having been tested so no reference material is available.. Use an on line wire antenna calculator, cut it longer and prune up each side till it gets to desired SWR and impedance. Easier to do if you have an swr/impedance meter.
Nice topic Thomas. I’ve never purchased a commercial wire antenna. My father K7EIT gave me endless instruction on wire antenna building and mobile antenna theory. I still carry and use 20m and 40m coaxial Double Bazooka antennas we built 20yrs ago or more. They just work!
That's just brilliant! Thank you for sharing!
@@ThomasK4SWLunfortunately my father became a Silent Key the day after this comment on Wednesday June 30th. I will miss his wisdom dearly.
@@k8drtqrp I just read this. So sorry for your loss. He seemed to be a great dad teaching you things you can teach other people down the line. May he Rest In Peace.
An excellent demonstration for those who think that the antenna is difficult. Personally, I use a stranded
wire from an old network cable for such antennas, which costs nothing)
Brilliant! Yes, I even have some old wireless dog fence coated wire I'll be using for some antennas in the near future. Next to free as it came from a junk box at a local club! :)
Grest video. My uncle back in the '30s pounded the brass in LA, being a violinist it helped his vibrato. He could send and recieve at 60wpm. He had custom cabinets built for his tube set that used to put out the California kilowat.
WOW! Your uncle sounds like a legend! :)
@@ThomasK4SWL As a matter of fact, when America came into the war, my uncle got a visit from J Edgar plus two other suits to look at his highly sophistcated Ham equipment. It was only afterward did he realize that it was the man himself. At any event the US lacked radio equipment on the West Coast, so my uncle donated it to the Govt. for the war effort. He later was involved in decrypting one of the Japanses codes while still being involved in the music business. He was the first violinist for Ray Noble when he recorded that little song, "The very thought of you." He ended up as first violinist for John Scott Trotter.
This was an awesome video. Not sure if I posted a response, I stopped at Walmart and bought the speaker wire on our way to the Outer Banks. I watched the video and measured it the 28.5 feet, splitting the two wires. The radiator wire was connected to a 20 foot extendable flag pole. The other wire was laid on the ground. I used a FT-817ND with the FT-817ND Tuner. Once connected, I could immediately hear the different stations on 15 to 80 meters. I was able to only make one solid connect, but that contact showed me it works. Thanks again and 73s. KD8VSP
That's just brilliant, Steve! Thank you for sharing that. Trust me: you'll be able to get way more contacts with that antenna! 73, Thomas
Just awesome. I watched this and decided to give it a go. Cut the speaker wire to 28 ft 6 in, tossed it 25+ feet into a tree in the back yard. Connected the radiator to a BNC / binding post adapter connected to an LDG 100 plus tuner and a 16 foot or so counterpoise on the other binding post and strung on the ground.. Tuned up 40m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m with SWR typically 1.5. I tried 80m and it tuned the upper phone portion with SWR 3, but no contacts made. Simplest setup I've seen. Simple wire. No coax. 100 watts.. No RF into the radio. Slick!
How would this work if your rig isn’t a BNC?
Tom You can run this as a center fed dipole, the center fed zip cord speaker wire antenna has been around a long time You split the speaker cable in 2 and separate it and make the dipole length to the lowest band you wish to work tie a knot so the wire won't split anymore raise it then move the dipole ends out The antenna is now balanced and much more efficient to use as long as you can put the dipole up in a tree or tossed over a pic nic shelter and run your ends out and tie them off. away in the clear as possible. , The speaker wire acting as the feedline to the dipole is actually in the vicinity of 75 ohms so you can make a pretty well matched mono band dipole if cut to normal length, A good tuner is required for multi band use but you will be amazed how well it works I worked a Field Day 10 years ago with the antenna using a Kenwood TS-850S and made over 300 contacts, Speaker wire as the feedline is not as good as coax but gets the job done, Keep up the good videos love them. 73 J
You know, I actually did this once before and gave that antenna to another ham. I need to build another. You're right: it's an effective simple antenna.
For a long time, the only portable antenna i had was a 20 meter speaker wire dipole. I split the wire for my legs, then tied an electricians knot, then ran a length down for a balanced feed line, then used a crimp on 259 to go into the radio
That's similar to my next speaker wire antenna! :)
Surely it can work! Just the problem is the zip-cord transmission line is pretty lossy. Some guys who made measurements said it's abt 50% of the TX energy would go into heat in this feeder line , despite the good tuning :( . So it could be usable as an antenna in the emergency or something, but any piece of wire could provided kind of counterpoise and unun +tuner , at much lower losses. GL, 73! Linas LY2H
Thank you I just purchased the xegui x5150 and downloaded and printed the latest manual to study while waiting for the radio to arrive. Then going to upload the latest firmware to update before I even play with the radio
Excellent. Just a warning, though: the manual leaves much to be desired. :) I've found it only to be mildly helpful as it seems to reference V1 of the firmware which had a different menu structure.
Well maybe I’ll wait on the firmware then
It you cut the wire to the correct frequency instead of 28.5 feet you wouldn't really need to tune it right but would only work for the band it was cut for.
True and, frankly, for any frequency below 20 meters, it'll equate to a very long wire which might be more challenging to deploy in the field. The great thing about these random wires is how easily they can be deplyed in almost any situation.
@@ThomasK4SWLThanks for the response. I'm a youth operator and don't have a ton of money so ended up buying one of the trusdx kits for my first hf rig(Im horrible at soldering but getting through it) and wanted to make a cheap antenna.
I have found Raddiotty's customer service to be top of the line. Every time I have sent them an email they have responded quickly. I just ordered the X6100.
I've been a ham for 45 years and have never built a wire antenna or purchased one which I didn't need to trim. Your specifications were right on the money. Almost perfect SWR on 20 and 40 meters (1.2/1). Thanks Thomas! Rudy, W5HRH
So glad it helped! I bet you can get WAS with that wire with a little time! :) Cheers, Thomas K4SWL
As usual, great video. Very creative using speaker wire and making the antenna on the fly. I wish you would have shown how the antenna was placed as well as you actually erecting the antenna.
Barry, KU3X/QRP
Thank you, Barry. I didn't make a video of putting the wire in the tree because it was so similar to a previous deployment at that very picnic site: qrper.com/2021/05/discovery-tx-500-attempting-a-speedy-pota-activation-with-a-new-rig-and-new-antenna/
That and frankly I was trying to keep the video size small so that I could upload it during a family visit. :)
Cheers,
Thomas
Your videos are easy targets for the like button
You are very kind, sir! :)
If that X6100 can improve on the 5105 they just might have a winner!
Yeah, Chuck, I hope it has the same internal battery on the X6100. I need to follow up and make sure I get the first one here in the states next month.The next thing I need to do is study CW, which I haven’t needed to use since I was 11 years old to get my first two licenses back in 1973.
Hey thomas i’ve just found another 15 QRP rigs 🤣🤣🤣 enjoyed that one…
Ha ha ha! QRP rigs can become a bit of an addiction. At least that's what I've heard. Of course *I* wouldn't know. I don't have a problem, of course. :)
Ham radio workbench. Cool, i'll look it up
Aloha Thomas, again. I went to eBay and bought the BNC Binding Post kit, which has the connections in male and female with the banana clips for each, I had a few eBay bucks left to spend anyway. I was going to tell you that here in Honolulu, we have hardware stores called City Mill. I shop through all the different spools of wire to pick what I want and then buy it by the foot or by rolls off the shelf like you did. The only thing they don’t have is the black/red zip-wire, which I wish they would carry in 10 & 12 AWG.
Great video! I love my Xeigu G90 and just got my Mag Loop antenna last week. They work great together. 73’
Aloha, Todd! That's excellent regarding by-the-foot wire at City Mall. I imagine they also have pre-cut coils customers have purchased and returned--Lowes and Home Depot often have these and you can get some excellent deals by grabbing these odd lengths. Glad you're enjoying the G90! It'll serve you well! 73!
@@ThomasK4SWL Question, because it’s not in the video? The wire connected to the red post is the one going up into the air, right? What is being done with the wire connected to the black post? TH-camrs just assume we all know the same thing that you do. I watched this video to actually see you cut and set up this antenna but you jumped ahead of the viewers and went straight to the POTA. Can you make a follow up video about the antenna process we all came to see?
Aloha Thomas,
Well my two sets of BNC Binding Posts arrived today and I put it into my Xeigu G90 carrying case so that I wouldn’t lose it.
Next, I need to get some wire to drop and hang out the window of my highrise condo and have it work more like an end feed. I think I have spool somewhere here of 18ga speaker wire that I can make due for 10 meters. I still need to find the length I need to cut for 10 meters. Where did you find how long you needed to cut for 40 meters? Thanks!
Hi Thomas…
The adage: ‘Stick with what works!’ draws me back. In my Elecraft KX2 kit, this doublet has earned its place. Shame on me, to ever doubt my doublet! Cheap, easy to make and repair/modify, and tunes to perfection! Efficient, Effective & Elegant! I attach the apex on the end of a telescopic fiberglass mast, extend it, raise it, and lean it into a convenient tree limb, no throw line… Yahtze! Five ‘sixes’. Thanks for the video. de W7UDT (dit dit)
Very nice.Where did you learn of this antenna? I would like to see more home made antennas. A suggestion is the 20m half square. Red Summit RF did a couple of videos on it. Do that, make a couple more radials for today's antenna, and you'll still have wire left.
Thank you, Karen! Yes, I will start making more antennas and using them in videos. I've actually got a plan for most of the rest of the speaker wire, but I've got tons of wire at home that I can use this way. Thanks for the Red Summit RF tip!
Awesome, thanks again for this video! Would you mind sharing briefly as to why you chose those specific lengths for radiator and CP (maybe I missed it)? All the best, Leo
Hi, Leo, So my buddy, WD8RIF, has used a 28.5' radiator with four 17' counterpoises for many of his activations. I knew the radiator length was a non-resonant length. There's actually a list of non-resonant lengths that should be used for any random wire antenna for the best matches--it doesn't necessarily include 28.5' but it's a good guideline. Here's some more info: www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html
Thank you, much appreciated!
Would it be fair to say that the same lenghts would apply when using a 9:1 unun for example? I believe the only difference is that the tuner doesn't have to work that hard to find a match right?
Always a pleasure to listen and watch you operate. 73's 2E0FWE
Thank you so much!
Thanks for doing these videos. Being able to listen to someone else send CW is quite helpful
I have two questions
1)Why do you always end a contact with (I think) EE? I haven't seen anyone explain that.
2)How do you get an international callsign?
Hi, Robert! I'm glad you enjoy the videos. To answer your questions:
1)Why do you always end a contact with (I think) EE? I haven't seen anyone explain that.
--So this is "dit dit" and is a common courtesy and bit of tradition in CW. It was quite popular in the past when you finish a QSO with someone in CW, the first station would send "dit dit-dit dit dit" and the other station would reply with "dit dit." This is the "Shave and a Haircut" call and response: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shave_and_a_Haircut
These days, it's shortened to "dit dit" on both sides, although you will hear me occasionally end it in the longer form with friends. :)
2)How do you get an international callsign?
It really depends. Some countries allow non-citizens and residents to obtain a call sign if certain conditions are met (they have a reciprocal license elsewhere, they take and pas that country's exam, or they have a domestic address, etc.) I hold the callsign K4SWL for here in the States, but also have a UK call (M0CYI) because I used to live there. Since their callsigns are for life, I can use it anytime in the UK.
In the end, though, it all depends on the country and their requirements.
I've almost been tempted to buy a slingshot to launch the throwline.
Potato cannon would work as well.
What kind of power, realistically, could that binding post handle? Would it handle 100 watts on SSB? I plan to use the appropriate wire gauge, just want to make sure the binding post can handle it. Thanks!
Good question and I'm not sure how to answer it. It's quite possible there's a spec out there somewhere, but I can't locate it. Surely they are rated for a certain amount of RF.
Thank you for this video. I also have x5105. I would like to know how you have the CW filter set up. And other settings for CW? Thanks.
You know, I think I have the CW filter set to about 500 Hz? Truth is, I often use wider filter settings than necessary because I like to hear what's around me and people who might be a bit off frequency.
Your driveway makes me jealous...
Check the automotive section at Wally World for speaker wire. Cheaper than the monster stuff.
Even though usia bnc binding post could you still attach it to coax so that you can put this random wire antenna up higher in a tree or other ways to hang it?
Absolutely! In fact, I've been thinking about using one as the center of a dipole! :) Future activation idea! Thank you!
Was enjoying learning how you were making the Speaker Wire Antenna, then you cut directly to the POTA section. Wish you could have finished the instruction by finishing the section on the Antenna. Many would benefit from your style and knowledge.
Sorry about that--what was the piece missing? Maybe I can fill in the blanks?
@@ThomasK4SWL Hi, from beginning to end, on the exact process to make and fully finish the home made speaker wire antenna, and the frequencies it can be used on. Everything, the correct measurements, and length of the counterpoise, and importantly how its correctly deployed. Every minute detail, for those of us new to POTA. Really Like your channel, but was real disappointed when after explaining how to make part of it you cut to the X5105 and transmitting.
@@jamesr1897 it sounds like you haven't read the accompanying post that I link to in the description. Keep in mind that each one of my videos has a full written report on QRPer.com. This should help: qrper.com/2021/06/field-report-lets-build-a-super-simple-antenna-on-site-and-activate-this-park/
@@ThomasK4SWL Grateful. Really like your channel and thanks.
@@jamesr1897 my pleasure!
So the radiator is 28.5 feet and the radial (counterpoise) is 17 feet. Nice. What are the paddles? Not sure I want to take my bencher paddles (pretty heavy) to a park environment. Thanks for the video. Bill WA3SCW
So I always include a link tot he paddles and all of the gear used in my field report on QRPer.com. You'll find a link in each video's description. Here's the link for this one: qrper.com/2021/06/field-report-lets-build-a-super-simple-antenna-on-site-and-activate-this-park/
Thank you!
for the banana plugs, bend the wire into a "U" and then screw it down. it will stay tight
That is actually what I did in this case. Eventually, though, I just dispensed with the banana plugs because I decided to permanently keep the binding post connected to this antenna.
@@ThomasK4SWL Great videos btw. I have been binge watching 😉
I forgot I had the speed of the video slowed down to .75 so I thought you were smoking something. :) great video though
😂
So does the 28’ radiator work on all bands ? And the other is the counter poise I would think that at least 2 more would be better?
The 28.5' radiator works down to the 60M band with the X5105 ATU. And, yes, the more counterpoises, the better in general. I should think that would certainly help on 40M and up!
Nice set of QSOs! So sad that there isn't POTA program in Russia.
I'm sure they'll eventually add Russia! I would very much look forward to that.
Question: Why did you choose exactly 28.5 feet for the antenna wire? Thanks! Al
It was recommended by Elecraft in the KX1 manual. :) Also, it's a known length that isn't resonant on any one band where I would operate--that's key for a random wire. There are some great guides to random wire length on the web--many other lengths can be used.
Thanks for this. What is the max watts you can put through the 16 gauge speaker wire? Thanks again. Great video.
I would imagine quite a lot of power. The wire could handle more than 100W I imagine. Of course the parts that might heat up are the adapter and I'm not sure if you'd get a bit of RF having the feedpoint so close to the operating position at high power. That would be for an antenna guru to comment on. :) At QRP levels, it's very forgiving.
@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks Thomas. 👍🏻
Can you put more than one ground wire on this antenna with that post you are using? Or will one be sufficient?
One works, but you could easily add three more ground radials. It would only improve performance on 40M and up.
@Thomas (K4SWL) How did you arrive at 28.5' measurement for the radiator? also, confused as to the length of the counterpoise, one time you said 28.5 and the other 17
So the counterpoise can be as short as 17', but I've just left mine at 28.5 feet (since this antenna was make with twin conductor speaker cord). If you needed to save space, you could use 17' for the counterpoise.
I first saw the measurements published in an Elecraft manual for the KX1 (or KX3?). But it's basically a length that is *not* resonant on any ham band. 28.5' is one of the magic numbers.
@@ThomasK4SWL Got it, thanks, the magic numbers seem to differ based on who you ask. Come to think of it 28.5' is actually pretty close to 29' I saw minus the velocity factor of the wire, so makes sense
Thanks for the inspiration video. I'm a new ham with a focus on SOTA. Two questions if you don't mind Thomas: 1) Was the radiator vertical? 2) Does the orientation of the counterpoise effect directionality of the antenna 3) Why 28.5' and 17'? I see that 28.5' equates to 8.2 mhz for a 1/4 wave. I bought an Emetch EM-2 and am interested in trying this antenna with it. Thanks Thomas
Yes, the radiator is near vertical and the counterpoise position will have an effect on the directionality to some degree (I rarely worry about this in the field, though). The 28.5' length is one that is not resonant on any one of the ham band frequencies I plan to operate. This is pretty much a requirement for any random wire antenna if you hope to get a good match: www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html
@@ThomasK4SWL Hi Thomas. I finally got around to trying this setup with my KX2. I was seeing raw SWR as high as 20 on 40 and 20m, which
, incredibly, the KX2 matched. What kind of raw SWR readings did you have? Thanks.
Woulk you have needed to do anything differently if you used a feed line from teh bannana connector/BNC to the radio?
I'm not quite sure what you mean. To add a feedline? Basically, the binding post adapter simple makes the connection easy to do in the field. You could just as easily solder the radiator to the center conductor of a BNC, then solder the counterpoise to the shield.
@Thomas - I notice you give everyone 5NN even if their signal sounds kind of weak - is this just courtesy? wouldn't it be good to know how strong your signal is with the given distance to the station on the other end? Thanks for your patience with the n00b questions
Hi, Andrew, So I actually try to give accurate signal reports based on how the signal sounds on my end. I don't watch the S meter on the radio. If you heard me hand out a 5NN to a weak station, that was simply a mistake on my part. Most of the time, I try to be accurate about that. Great question!
Did you run the radiating wire straight vertical? KE8PAG
Yes I did!
Do you have the counterpose on Black and the antenna line on Red?
Good question--the counterpoise is always on black and the radiator on red.
That said, some of these BNC binding posts are assembled in the reverse (especially random ones purchased on eBay, Amazon, etc. It's best to use a multimeter to confirm continuity between the center pin of the BNC male plug and the red post.
So both the elements are 28.5 feet? Thanks again. 73
Yes, exactly!
Thomas mate, quick question on the "Pocket Paddle" with or without magnets???? Still thinking I will knuckle down and learn it.
Definitely learn it! The magnet one basically is all about magnets on the bottom of the paddle that will allow you to attach it to a metal plate. I keep meaning to find a piece of metal to mount to my clipboard for this very purpose. You've got this CW thing!
I just got one of these paddles. Love em. Price is right. Quality is great. I can send good cw with them. I got both a single and double lever because I always wanted to try a single lever.
Took me a while reading the description to realize the magnets were for mounting not spring substitute. In the field I only hold the key so no magnet needed for me.
Do you have a link to the BNC cont. you used ?
I might have picked that one up at a hamfest, but they're quite inexpensive online. Here's Amazon, for example: amzn.to/2TDx8DD
Is this only for QRP, or could you use this for QRO?
I think you could use this for QRO as long as your ATU could match it effectively. You might need to do some RF calculations, too just to make sure you're good with 100W feeding directly into something like that. Not for folks with pacemakers for sure. :) At QRP levels, it's no worries.
Great homebrew antenna. What calculation did you use to get the 28.5 ft length?
This is the length suggested in the original Elecraft KX1 manual. Basically, it's one of the "magic" lengths that's not resonant on any one band I use. 31' is another length I'll often use with random wires.
What would happen if you did it with 50’ length of speaker wire would it works better on 80mtr and maybe 160mtr bands?
Possibly. Much would have to do if it's a non-resonant length and capable of being matched by the ATU. It would certainly be more efficient on the lower bands. Check out this guide: www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html
Furthering my earlier comment, I’m curious why you chose a 28.5 feet (10.5m) length instead of (+-) 35 feet length (about 12.5m). My calculations show the longer length especially if you’re down at the bottom of the 40m band.
So I chose one of the known lengths that are *not* resonant on any one band where I might operate. This is actually a length recommended by Elecraft for use with their ATUs. 28.5' and 31' are my favorite random wire lengths. The counterpoise, when coupled with the ground, is a little less critical in terms of length. I use 28.5' but also 17'.
The 28.5' wire will easy work down to 40M with the right ATU. Being so short, it's not super efficient, but it gets the job done!
What logging software are you using?
N3FJP's ACLog. I'm planning to switch to HAMRS soon, though, for the field work.
1:03:52 Maybe the reason he asked for the county is because he is a county hunter.
Yeah, I'm sure that's the case. Often when I get a QSL from a POTA contact they'll ask me to note the county for their records.
I wonder if the ATU of my IC-703 will tune that?
I bet it might. I may check someday with my 703 Plus.
Thanks for the video, I have a question if you or anyone knows please. I understand to hang the white striped wire in the tree. What do you do with the other wire? And are both wires 28 ft? Thank you.
Great question. So the white striped wire (in this case) is the radiator and the other wire is the counterpoise. I simply lay the counterpoise on the ground, usually in a line pointing away from the operating position. It couples with the ground, so placement isn't terribly important. It could also be elevated, but that would change all of the matching dynamics for the ATU.
With that much wire, you could do 160/80m. How accurate is the CW decode? G7VFY
CW decode is okay. Better than I originally thought it would be. With that said, it doesn't do well if the signal is slightly off frequency or if someone isn't using an electronic keyer. And I've a number of other antenna ideas and plenty of scrap wire at home! :)
Thomas, I’ve had challenges getting my antenna into trees. Do you ever use telescopic poles?
When you use trees, how do you propel your antenna around a willing limb?
Thank you Thomas. 73. Jay. Ve3jlo
Hi, Jay,
With wire antennas, I exclusively use an arborist throw line: qrper.com/2020/09/a-field-antennas-best-friend-the-amazing-arborist-throw-line/
It's the Bee's Knees! :) And I do use the Chameleon CHA MPAS Lite which is a telescoping whip antenna--also the Wolf River Coils TIA vertical. I recently purchased a SOTAbeams Tactical Mini pole that I also plan to use with my QRPguys Tri-Bander antenna.
Cheers,
Thomas
@@ThomasK4SWL Thank you so much. You have me inspired to work contacts in the outdoors. Ive used my ft897 in the past and struggled with antenna positioning. I am watching your qrp radio reviews. I had no idea of these products. Thanks for your contribution to our hobby. 73 Jay
No need for a insulator at the end of the wire?
Good question: the answer is No in my case. My arborist throw line is made of a dielectric material, so it acts as an insulator.
28.5 feet you are coperture in 40 to 10 Meter? Tnx
Yes, it covers 40-10 or possibly even 6 meters.
With no coax what is the radio seeing in ohms ??? I would think a high impedance... ????
Yes, but the internal ATU sorts out the impedance match. There is some efficiency in the fact that there's no feedline to match.
@@ThomasK4SWL My IC-705 doesn't have an ATU, how else to turn the antenna? I have a Comet HFJ-350M that I still can't get to work with the 705.
@@axi6ne8us Doub;e check the owner's manual (I don't have this antenna), butI'm sure you should be able to find a match if you try adjusting the length of the telescoping whip and (importantly) the counterpoise wire.
Thanks for another park, good video! Mat - K4OCY
My pleasure and thank you! Cheers, Thomas K4SWL
ill stick to my ft 818 lol
Can I use gold banana plugs?
Sure thing! Even better!
With 200 feet of wire why not go ahead and make a resonant antenna without using antenna tuner? Just saying since other radios have no antenna tuner.
I use an endfed with 67ft of wire with no counterpoise. Ive made five 49-1 transformers which I have in a plastic box a little bit bigger than my QCX mini. I put each one in a separate go box. I grab the radio go box and it has everything I need except the coax. The transformer can handle 100 watts easy.
Even though i have an antenna analyzer, I would carry my G90 to verify resonance. But Ive put that antenna up so much, I feel completely comfortable that i have resonance without checking if I did not have a means to check. It is 1-1.0 for 40 and 20 band and less than 3 on several others. Even if i use a radio with an ATU, I don’t use on 40 or 20 bands
Great ideas! So I have other plans for the rest of my speaker wire already. :) Watch for that in upcoming videos!
@@ThomasK4SWL i will be watching. One day I hope to catch you on the air.
How would this work with a non BNC rig?
You could build an adapter for any antenna port. Of course, it's most important that the internal tuner of the radio has enough impedance matching range.
@@ThomasK4SWL Yaesu FT-891
@@K4dsx right. So it doesn't have an internal ATU (unless I'm mistaken) so this sort of antenna couldn't be paired directly to the FT-891. You could, however, pair it to an external ATU.
@@ThomasK4SWL TY kindly and great video/info!
Surprised we haven't crossed paths yet. 73 from KQ4LBA in Black Mountain.
No kidding! Very surprised! Perhaps we can someday.
You never showed your deployed antenna.
Sorry about that!
I will buy you a cup of coffee if you will answer three questions. N4KBM
Ha ha! I'll answer them without the cup of coffee even (although, not before 9:00 AM my time!). Shoot!
Bruh. Please, no eating or sucking on cough lollies whilst recording. 😏 Great video otherwise. Cheers!
My god. Wire is cheap in your location.