This guy knows what he is talking about and doesn't blow wind for 2 hours to present 15 minutes of useful information like all the other videos and podcasts that I zone out during the first 5 minutes. This guy is cool and doesn't make us hams look like dorky idiots like everyone else...
Excellent video Dave! Where theory meets reality ... the place where most of us live! I am in a mobile home park and settled for an off center fed 20' vertical that allows me to get on 6 - 80 meters and does not have the need for radials. It looks like a flagpole. Thanks again for giving targeted material without rambling. 73, KF6IF
ZS5MK Martin lives in a high building complex 13 levels up, he uses a fishing pole out the window with a compromised antenna, and he works long path USA every afternoon when the bigger USA stations are on, he works what he can (amazing). Fun to listen to him get excited as he works a new one! hf is fun.
An extremely well planned, executed and produced video. Great background of the material for newbies and excellent explanations. One can only guess how much time goes into putting all of this information together. Especially interviews with other operators at other locations.
I like the way this guy presents his videos. He obviously knows the biz, however, he makes his presentations in terms easy for a beginner to understand. I'm thankful to have come upon his videos and have subscribed. I'm new to ham and have recently installed my HF system. I bought and put up a multi-band OCF dipole but have not made any contacts yet. Therefore, I am digging in to learn what I can about antennas so I can determine what my problem(s) are, and if in fact, I do have a problem. It may very well turn out propagation conditions just aren't right. In any case, I shall allow Dave to instruct me and guide me through this process so that I can get on the waves. Thanks, Dave.
Thanks for this video Dave. My wife and I are both new HAM's I Canada. We are in the process of putting up our first true 2 meter / 70cm antenna as well as an HF antenna. I purchased an end fed random wire antenna which claims to tune on bands from 10 to 80 meters. In addition I purchased a SOTA end fed for 20 and 40 meters. My purpose in buying these specific antennas is to have both base station functionality and the potential to be used in the field for mobile/portable operations. To that end we also have 2 HF radios, both of which will operate as base or portable rigs. The first is an older Kenwood TS-50s and the second is a MCHF 918s. The Kenwood will do 100 watts on full power but can also do 50 and 10 watts. The 918s will do 15 watts max on transmit. Your information about rigging various antenna configurations is especially useful for us as we struggle with the best way to set up our home base station. That's for all you do to help folks like us solve the many issues related to putting up antennas and operating a station.
Thanks Dave for this & all your videos. I'm getting back into the hobby after a 25-year hiatus, and your videos make the task a good deal less daunting. 73s de KA1RSA
Hi Dave, I continue to be blessed with your excellent videos. As a new Technician Class operator, I have a lot to learn and your explanations are clear and concise. Great help! Thanks! - Jack in Durango
Hi Dave. The good old conundrum of antennas. Where do I fit them in ?. Well your video here just about covered that one. The Hams in the Housing Org areas certainly found ways to get some wire up without it showing . The house that I am living in now. I would have all on to put up a 20 meter full wave loop but I just might give it a try all around the front and rear garden and over the roof and back down to a nice tree in the rear garden. We shall just have to work on it. Wish I was still serving in the army. If we needed an antenna up it went up and as long as it was not going in the way of any choppers, it went as high as we could get it Thank you for another interesting video. 73 de John - G0WXU.
Great video. I enjoyed hearing your Montrose neighbors speak. My aunt and uncle have lived in Montrose for 60 years on Spruce Street. Dave N7NRE- Prescott Valley, Az.
Thank you....got some time on my hands hi hi...will be making a home brew antenna ...dipole between two tall trees. Will let you know how it turns out.
Dave, If you have time for a question - Which is a better choice and how does the house impact the antenna. 1) Place antenna at 15-20 feet between trees. Kinda normal or 2) Place the antenna on the roof line of my house (40 feet). Say 6 inches above the roof a. How does the roof impact the antenna? b. Does this count as a height of 6 inches from the roof or is it 40 feet in the air? and is (or how much is) the signal degraded? Thanks!
I got my start in single sideband CB radios back in the mid 70's. I used to modify SSB radios to go above channel 40 and below channel 1 by reprogramming the PLL chip with +5 volts (high) and 0 volts (low) and unlock the clarifier with 8 volts on one side of the pot and the other side to ground. Now the only Ham radio I have is the Yaesu FT-4VR, a mono band, 2 meter radio I got for passing my Technician exam. I'd like to hook up an Astatic D-104 mic to my HT but cannot find a schematic on it since it isn't made anymore. While waiting on my call sign I constructed a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna I made out of a piece of romex house wire I cut apart. Only way to check my SWR is to use my old CB radio SWR meter which I found out could be used on VHF if you hook it up right. First you set the meter in the forward position and then unhook it and hook it up backwards leaving it in the forward position. Then key the transmitter and it will give a very close SWR reading for the VHF band. Don't think it will work the same for UHF. I got the ground plane up in the air about 20 feet by using my old CB radio antenna mast pole. Using the old RG-58U CB radio coax on my 2 meter HT and the cable in the front door. So far wife's been tolerating the cable coming in through a crack in the door but we'll see when it starts getting colder.
Dave: I've just discovered you on TH-cam and am really learning/enjoying your instructional videos. I am a huge fan of Vertical Antennas and thought I would throw this out to you. I own a Gap Challenger multiband Antenna. I mention this because, the Gap only uses three 25 foot long radials, and according to the folks at Gap, these radials are only required for use on the 40 meter Band. I live in an HOA environment and needed a stealthy antenna. My 32 foot tall Challenger is sandwiched between two large ficus trees and only about 5 feet away from a block wall. My antenna works 10 through 80 with the exception of one of the WARC Bands. I have worked on 100 watts, the south Pole from my Tampa QTH and Japan from my Phoenix, AZ qth, not to mention many European countries. I would love for you to mention the Gap Challenger or the Gap Titian in future Videos as a possible one size fits all multiband HF antenna. My justification for this is: These antennas are trapless, require no tuning, they work right out of the box! I can verify this as a proud Challenger owner, and my particular antenna was one of the prototype antennas, meaning one of the first 100 ever made and I paid only five dollars for it at a garage sale in Brandon, Fl; the find of the century! One other thing I should mention, the Gap Titian makes use of a raised counterpoise, however, you can eliminate this raised counterpoise by adding only two radials. If my memory serves right, one is around ten to twelve feet and the other is around 41 feet. This information was garnered directly from Gap Technical support. Yes, the antennas start in price @ $399, but they will last you 20 or more years. My antenna was perhaps around 20 years old when I had to replace the coax harness which lives inside the antenna, but spending $110 to overhaul my antenna to new performance was a small price to pay. Now that I live in Arizona, I suspect my coax harness will last much longer due to low humidity, my original harness had started to corrode. The Gap Challenger is a Vertical Dipole true multiband antenna which if assembled properly, will perform as advertised right out of the box. My SWR's on most bands are 1.3 to 1 or lower and this is across the entire portion of each band except 80 meters of course. Like any other 80 meter Vertical, you will see around 100 to 150 kc's of acceptable bandwidth. With Gap, you chose which portion of the 80 meter band you want to operate on by selecting the value of a capacitor which is inserted into the coax harness. By the way . . . the exact explanation of just how this antenna works is a carefully guarded secret, perhaps Dave you can elaborate ;) These antennas have something like 35 to 45 feet of folded coax living inside them, so I believe this coax is used as a portion of the vertical dipole on some or perhaps all the bands. Again, the folks at Gap tell me that on the Challenger model, the three radials are only used on the 40 meter band. So again, I just thought I would throw this out there Dave, I have no vested interest in Gap Antennas, but am a satisfied customer and user for over 15 years, you would be hard-pressed to find a better multiband solution for those who are HOA bound. Many thanks for all you are doing to promote our wonderful hobby and 73, de KM2U Michael ;)
I had a similar issue with a dipole element being too close to other metal. One hunting trip I was staying in a school bus and had one leg hanging slack running along-side the windows. I got it tuned and went outside to make the legs taut. After that my tune was way off. I slackened the legs back up and my tune came back. Turned out when I tightened the legs one of them ran right next to the metal body of the bus. When it hung slack next to the windows it had enough distance from the body that it didnt effect my tune. Fun lesson to learn!
I know this is one of your older videos, but I just came across it today. A lot of us Ham's have had to be creative in order to get on the air, and I really wish I'd have kept a journal of all the things I've tried and the one that worked! Likely the simplest one I've used was a mono band mobile antenna. Specifically a Hamstick mounted on the metal deck rail of my third floor apartment in Fargo North Dakota. I bonded the three sides of the deck railing together with short braided cable, and I ran a piece of wire close to a quarter wave long down to the 2 x 6 deck floor. I wove that wire between the boards zig zagging it back and forth to create even more of a ground plane. I ran the PICO Net on my morning for a year and a half and only once in a while needed a relay. Not the biggest fish in the pond, but I was in the pond.
This is great. I'm a new ham and this has been invaluable. Fortunately my wife and I bought a house that's not in an HOA but my lot is pretty compact and space is limited. I could eventually do a chimney-mounted mast but am also considering loops and the Buddipole which are portable just to get started.
Very important topic which was not covered in this video: "RFI" (Radio Frequency Interference) that your transmitter is causing to surrounding neighbors. If your antennas are visible, fussy neighbors will always point at you as the culprit to any little problems that their electronic devices have, whether the problems are real or imaginary. If your antennas are not visible, any RFI you cause to neighbors will remain a mystery as to their source, as long as you do not let those neighbors know you are a Ham radio operator. Standard response from Hams in the old days (when neighbors had a sense of respect for radio and community) was for the Ham to help the neighbor eliminate his RFI problem by installing chokes and other filters for him on his electrical devices. In today's world of selfish entitled narcissists, it's probably better to never divulge your identity as a Ham radio operator. If there is talk in the neighborhood about strange electronic noises and interference to their TVs, stereos, computers and devices. it's best to agree with them and say that you too have the problem, and " you've heard that the city recently installed some new cell towers or communications link aimed through your neighborhood." I sound cynical, but I have gone through years of complaints from neighbors in many locations, and fought with homeowners' boards, and even been taken to court. I even resorted to raising my antennas only in darkness and operating at night, then taking down all the antennas before the sun came up. It still didn't help the RFI complaint problem. By the way, I won in court, however I lost the war with ignorant neighbors and the HOA who decided not only were my antennas violating the HOA rules, , but that I was ruining their TV, stereo and computer reception, and worst of all that I was beaming " harmful radiation" through their homes, that was endangering the health the very lives of their children. This all sounds ridiculous, to anyone reading this for the first time, but mine is only one of thousands of horror stories that Hams across the globe have had to deal with from angry, upset and self-righteous ignorant neighbors. We Hams envy those amateurs who have the luxury of owning several acres in the middle of nowhere, where they can erect towers and run full legal power. Unfortunately in today's digital age of I-Phones and social media, Hams are considered by many people to be " something akin to relics of a bygone era". Modern people have no antennas on their roofs, and are fed everything via cable. They use little radio gadgets like I-Phones, and laptops, and they are perfectly fine living in a landscape of unsightly cell phone towers, because those towers feed their compulsive lifestyle of cell phone addiction. But once the power goes out, and there is a natural disaster, and an emergency situation in the neighborhood, with no communications available for any of the neighbors or the general public....all of a sudden, those ugly antennas that they hated so much on the roof of that Ham radio operator living down the street, become not so ugly after all, knowing that he will volunteer to communicate with people during the emergency to help his neighbors. It's best to keep your ham radio involvement known to Hams, friends and family, but discretely hidden from your neighbors if you live in crowded situations or have to deal with an HOA. '73
Agree, your point is so valid. Nobody likes anyone enjoying life or a hobby these days. Couch potatoes are especially envious. I am particularly worried about my very large retirement apartment that I plan to move to in several years. Esp the radiation affecting health bit. Dont know if I will have to end up buying a very expensive commercial vertical or maybe I could try a cobweb !
I just moved from a non-restrictive neighborhood, to an active adult community with HOA restrictions. They are forced to accept flagpoles and I know you can hide a vertical in one, but that's more work and expense than I want to deal with at the moment. My 20ft vertical was atop a 50 ft tower before, and while SWR was GREAT on ALL bands, it's effectiveness at receiving wasn't near as good as a long wire I had winding around in trees. I am thinking an (several) attic antenna would be my best option for now. I can put in a dipole ok I am sure. I have 10 foot ceilings and the vertical is 20 feet. The bedroom where my Ham Shack is located, is closer to the edge of the house than the roof peak. Is it possible to put the vertical at an angle from the closet floor on up into the attic peak and run it "less than vertical" at an angle? Issues? Also, I loved my G5RV I had a few years back, and since you can let wires dangle at the end, is there a limit on how much can dangle?
What a great help you've given to folks mentioning Mastrant rope. It is significantly cheaper than Phillystran and much easier to work with. I am not affiliated with the company but I consider it a superior product. Mastrant is mostly polyester. -Don KW4UP
Great video again, Dave! For home use, I've got an Inverted-V that is 20' up at the apex and is anchored to my privacy fence on both sides of my yard at a height of 6'. I used 4 army surplus aluminum camo net poles and have a wireless weather station at the top. Away from home I use a 6 - 40m end-fed that I can raise 28' into the aid by means of a telescoping fiberglass windsock pole or also with a painter's pole. With the two of these I've worked contacts as far west (from Fort Worth) as Japan, as far east as Rostov, Russia and south to Chile. Necessity is certainly the mother of invention! 73 from KF5RHI
Modelling software is good for ballpark calcs but nearby objects etc will have an effect. Also depends on how well the software works? Nothing will be better than actually doing a field strength plot. The G5RV must be good as it is still around and loved immensely!!! Twas my first antenna ….. and I want to build another!!! Great videos….. cheers VK2AOE
Dave, thanks for the great video and excellent briefing. Due to very bad HOA restrictions, I use a Ciro Mazzoni Stealth antenna in my attic. Not a cheap option, but covers from 6.6 - 29.8 MHz and works quite well, especially considering the poor propagation we are all having to endure these days. I am looking forward to our next and final move when hopefully I can move this or another HF antenna outside.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to make this video. Got my Tech.-level lic. 2012, but had to put things into storage until recently, so I am basically starting over with the learning process...to the point: I want to put a 40-meter Dipole and a 20-Meter Dipole over my house, in sort of an X-configuration, so that I may run the two feed lines down through a vent on the roof that leads directly into radio room (vent just runs straight down from roof to ceiling in that room, and has no fan or anything in it, just flap at each end)-- but I would also like to build and place a ten-meter Yagi on a mast on the edge of the roof. The two dipoles will be supported by four of the fence top-rails described in the video, one mounted to each corner of the house, and the dipoles supported in the center where they cross by another small mount near the access vent , and adjusted to keep them as horizontal/flat as possible. I will run a cpl. guys from each top-rail pole down into the yard. The Yagi will hopefully be approx. 8-feet higher than the wire antennas and approx 15-feet away (mast attached to one side of house, with small electric rotator below the antenna). Will having the two dipoles in proximity to one another cause issues? What would be the minimum separation of the two dipoles I can get away with where they cross and have adjacent feel-lines...if one were 10-12 inches above the other would that cause problems? The feed-points will then be one above the other and both pieces of coax will then feed down and into the vent approx. 12-18 inches away. The feed-line and rotator control wire from the Yagi-antenna will also be going through this same vent. I'd also considered making a 2-meter antenna, to put on the same mast as the ten-meter Yagi, so the rotator could control both and I would not have to put up an different mast elsewhere...if I were to do that is there a minimum distance I would have to put between the two...since the 2-meter antenna would be smaller I presumed it should go above the ten-meter antenna...but how far above on the mast would the 2-meter have to be, and would the two interfere with one another (would only be using one at a time)? Thank you for your time and assistance, and thank you again for the time and effort you put into sharing your knowledge with others. Raymond - WF7BSR
Antennas are weird. The only way to know if the work is to give it a try. You can actually attach the 40 m and 20 m dipoles to the same coax, although you'll have a real balancing job getting it tuned on both bands. I did not recommend purchasing equipment or putting up antennas until you pass your general exam. I've seen too many people do it and then for whatever reason not pass the exam. Good luck with your studying!
Thanks for the info. I’m interested in ham radio. I do not have a radio and not licensed yet but I’m studying antenna options for my end unit townhouse here in Louisiana. This has given me a few ideas for my challenges.
Dave, I used a G5-RV Antenna up about 20’ at our old residence and I found that I could operate Everything EXCEPT 160meters. I’m going to run some 14g wire (From or friends at DX Engineering) to run from a Palm Tree up around 200’, running to a tree in my Backyard! IF everything goes to “Plan” I HOPE to be able to run ALL of the Amateur Bands! I’ll let you know how things work out, hopefully sometime Very Soon! Thanks for ALL of your presentations! I only Wish “Someone” would have done what You’re doing 25 years ago, when I got my Ticket! -73- Bill N6FFC
Dave, thank-you for your very informative video on antennas. I am recently getting back into amateur radio after a 25 year hiatus. Looking forward to seeing more of your work. 73 - VO1VC
I will be taking the test for my General license the middle of next month -- Oct. 19, 2020. Am saving for a 15 foot piece of 1 inch PVC pipe to get the antenna in the air a little higher. Thinking of trying some 75 ohm TV coax for the 4 element yagi as I have a lot of 75 ohm coax. For HF I guess I'll be sticking to the 11 meter (CB) band since I've got several CB single sideband radios and will be using one (with a reprogrammed PLL chip) for 10 meters.
What are you thoughts on using what is called a ridge vent for an antenna? These are starting to be use in place of the traditional roof vents in house where practical. I live in a split-level rectangle with a simple roof which uses one of these ridge vents to ventilate my attic. I am considering this over a gutter antenna.
Dave, I use a vertical of 7 meters (21 feet) with a Kenwood KAT-1 tuner and it works very well 3 meters (10 feet) off the ground. You get some brilliant tuners in the market.
Due to HOA and XYL restrictions, all my HF antennas (4) are in the attic...a rectangular, tuned wire loop for 80m (8ft H x 23ft L, #14 THHN wire- I use a Z-match network to tune/match that one), a linear-loaded 40m dipole (45ft. long- no loading inductors), a tuned "magnetic" loop for 20 - 15m, and an 8ft. tall, 20m vertical dipole that's center-fed and end-loaded with 16 ft. horizontal wires at top and bottom. All of the antenna are homebrewed and they work very well for me. I've worked DX all over W. and E. Europe, W. Asia, S. Pacific, Australia, and more. All the feedlines are RG58/U that come to a mechanical coax switch (an old B&W) mounted upside down on a bracket, immediately above a hall closet. The extended shaft from the switch comes down through a hall closet ceiling to a knob, just behind the wall above the door. The closet door is about 7 feet from the shack. The common feedline from the switch comes down inside of the closet front corner and through the floor, and then up through the floor in the shack. Common mode chokes are installed at each antenna feedpoint and are made from Fair-Rite brand #31 and #43 mix ferrite cores (Mouser Electronics). I wouldn't dream of buying a commercial HF antenna for my attic location.
Excellent video for new Hams or those challenged with HOA restrictions such as I am. Thanks for covering these various antenna options. I can only dream of ever having a 1/2 wave 80m dipole antenna so, I make due with a garage attic mounted 37ft. OCF Dipole for 6m-40m configured in a sideways "L" shape. I also use a 7ft., 40m or 80m MFJ Ham-tenna, mag mounted on my van roof in my driveway. None of these antennas are extremely effective, but at least I am on the air with mostly stealth antennas and therefore no HOA violations. Working POTA is my best opportunity to string up a long end-fed for better results. As mentioned, "Don't give up!" Experiment until you find something that works!
Thank you Dave. Your video inspired me to try an antenna in a very difficult location. I am in an apartment on the 9th floor. (one minor plus). Our building manager had a very bad experience with a CB'er who's antenna fell off his balcony and damaged the superintendents vehicle. Hence a very negative view of hams or CB'ers. We can't even put up an external UHF antenna. But your video inspired me to try some in door solutions. As it happens my window in the spare room is just big enough that I can put a Diamond x-50 in on about a 45 degree angle. Being on the 9th floor it preforms very well. But I wanted to get on HF. So I strung a wire antenna with white hook up were long the top of the ceiling. I cut it as suggested for a wire antenna strung between two polls, but found that inside attached to the wall the antenna need to be cut shorter.In fact I removed about 15" from each end. This make my antenna quite small and with the white on white almost, invisible. I have used a program called psk reported to see how well it is preforming. To my surprise I have being heard quite well. I have only to track down and eliminate a very strong noise source (turned out to be a power brick for my laptop.) Now evey wne the band is not so good I can work stations using JT-65 HF. You are right , were there's a will there's a way. Best RegardsDave - VE3HTB
+Dave Borland Thanks for sharing your experience. As you have discovered, the most important ingredient in a good antenna is persistence. 73, Dave, KEØOG
Thanks for your terrific video. Your large loop antenna fits my needs exactly. One mast will be mounted on my roof and three tall redwood trees will support the other corners. The mast is a 10 foot sch80 PVC conduit. The loop is secured directly to the PVC and a ladder line will drop down the center of the PVC into the shack. My questions are: 1. What is the polarization of the antenna when fed from a corner as I assume yours is? 2. Will the balun built into the antenna tuner be sufficient for the balanced line? If you see a problem with this design please let me know.
Mark, the polarization is horizontal. If you feed the antenna with balanced line, which is the best way to do it, your wide-range antenna tuner should be sufficient. Be sure to guy that PVC conduit, as there is significant horizontal pull on the top as you draw the antenna tight.
Hey my xyl says I can put up a mast when we have our new garage built, because of the distance from the shack it means I can put up up to 135 ft end fed. A dipole won't fit. I can also produce a good ground.
Thanks for great 👍 interviews of other ham solutions. Question #1 on your 80 meter loop. Given earlier comments on connection at a side versus a corner for different polarization, (horizontal versus vertical), does one versus the other improve your coverage or does your height limit either to similar NVIS Mileage range distance? Q2. Would you recommend one connection over the other for a loop antenna or is it really just what is convenient? Q3 I have an OCF for multi band. Woukd you rate as equal to, more, or less desirable than a loop for 10-40 meters, given similar height? Thanks for your work and sharing. Steve
I took down the 80m loop a couple years ago. I fed it at a corner. A horizontal loop can have strange radiation patterns, especially on higher frequencies. Connect wherever's convenient, usually at a corner. If you can get that OCFD well up into the air, it'll perform on par with the loop.
Dave thanks so much this was extremely helpful. I am a newly minted Tech, KC3PZX but hope to go after my General soon. For the moment I am working strictly handheld on VHF/UHF so the antenna is not an issue but with a general I want to get into HF. I have two questions, I had been contemplating and attic antenna, but realized I may have a problem, we have solar on our roof, I am assuming the metal casing of the panels is going to negatively impact that. Since it is producing fairly high voltage DC I also wonder if that might also generate QRN, I have no idea how well shielded the cables are. Your second guest, Dick Schultz KD0ESN, was what I had been wondering about and that was a Dipole along the north side above the gutters or perhaps a V shaped making the turn at the corner if I try to go for a longer antenna. I have considered going with an automatic antenna tuner mounted essentially at the connection point to reduce the line loss. between the antenna and the shack. I do face a unique challenge as I am the HOA President so am mindful of those restrictions as I am often called to enforce them. Again thanks this has made me feel better about the chances of getting a good signal out and in.
Howdy Dave, I am a Newly Licensed (Technician Class) Ham Operator. I live just a few miles East of Houston, Texas. I am Hoping to Pass my General Class Test June 10th. I am watching your Videos and I Thank You for All of them, They are Quite Helpful for those of us New to the Ham Radio Hobby. My Interest is to soon construct My Shack at Home and Install a Base Station with a Respectable Antenna, most likely on the 20 & 40 Meter Bands as it appears they are so common. I also want to Support our Local Emergency Management Organizations as well and I am not sure yet exactly the frequencies they Operate on but will make sure I am able to accommodate those Bands/Frequencies as well. I am seeing many Videos including yours that talk about Home Owner Association Restrictions and of Course I live in a Sub-Division with the Dreaded Home Owners Association. I ran across some Videos on TH-cam that Addressed this Issue and to My Surprise....The Homeowner (A Licensed Ham Operator) WON the Battle. I watch Several of these Videos and they All said the same thing...That a Licensed Ham Operator (Federally Licensed) was EXEMPT from Home-Owners Associations, Local and State Antenna Restrictions. As I understand these Videos, A Federally Licensed Ham Operator has the "Right" to Erect their Antennas since Antennas are a Requirement to Operate their Stations, and I Whole-heartedly Agree. I am Including the URL's to these TH-cam Videos so you can Watch them and See if You Agree that we are Exempt as Ham Operators from Antenna Restrictions in Sub-Divisions where HOA's have Control. I don't want to Start any Trouble nor Mislead anyone but if this is Correct, I believe All Ham Operators deserve to Know and allow them to Construct the Antenna of their Choice within Federal Regulations. Please let me know if these Videos are Correct, most are from TV Stations. th-cam.com/video/aC_EeWSKJII/w-d-xo.html Thanks Again for Sharing your Knowledge with us.
There are movements afoot in Congress to give hams more rights vis a vis homeowners associations. The big national association of homeowners associations has negotiated a solution with the ARRL. It needs congressional blessing and it has broad bipartisan support. But it hasn't passed yet. So keep your relations with the HOA really good!
Very good video. I had a problem when I lived in a mobile home park no antenna were permitted. So I mounted 3 vertical wires 10m 20m 40m against a tree 8 radials about 25 ft one tied in to the frame of mobile home and it work very well. I live in Delaware first station was Australia long path on 40m. It's still a compromise antenna but it works
+David Casler, oh yes it sure did. next going to build a quad loop either 40m or 30m feed with open feed line. Will and LDG auto tuner work with this set up with a 1:1 or 1:2 balun
Hi Dave, Have watched your videos for a few years , and they have helped me to study & pass the Big Exam with Honors, thanks so much for that help. Would it be possible for you to help us with metal roof structures with advice on setting up Dipole antennas? I am trying to make an antenna layout plan, and have got some ideas for NVIS 80 meters separately from a 20/40 meter in the yard ,of course the shed & the house have metal roofs & that poses some challenge. Some advice on avoiding coupling would be really appreciated. The situations that a lot of folks have overcome are with shingled or tar roofs, They have great ideas, what is some ways to get above the problem same as they but with metal roofs. Any advice please, would be appreciated. & many thanks for your videos, which were most instrumental in helping me to understand the concepts to get an Honors pass, haven't got a grade like that in over 40 years or more. Good thing there was no exam Q on metal roofs Thanks, Mike 73 VE9MWB
Hey there. Good videos you do. I've learned a lot. I only have an AM CB but I am starting to tinker with getting a Ham license and a 10 meter radio. My question is about power lines. I have power lines in the ally behind my house. There are 2 lines coming to my house and garage. Both above ground. How much interference (static ect.) can I expect? I also live in Co. Old Aurora/Stapleton. Greetings, thanks.
BTW Your videos are the best I have seen ,by far. Studying for Extra and hope to test this spring. Many Thanks for all the time you spend doing the videos. 73 Rich N2KPR
Hi, one suggestion is a end fed antenna on a telescoping fiberglass mast, it ca be brought down so the HOA does not see it during the day...or the nosy neighbors LOL.
Search for space restricted HF antenna, found inverted v, 1/4 wave verticals, full wave loops, moxons, etc, etc for "small" houses with yard. My version of restricted space: balcony made of well grounded steel/aluminum with 1.5m tall / 4m wide opening
Dave - I have watched many of your videos. You do a really great job of explaining things and have clear answers to questions. I just passed my Technician and General license exams. I am interested DX and maybe MARS but my problem is that I live in a neighborhood where restrictions prevent my from putting up an antenna.My attic is small because of the slope of my ceilings which attic antennas difficult. Any suggestions regarding my antenna conundrum and radios?
Your situation is shared by many. Persevere. Take a look at the HF digital modes such as FT8 that can be done successfully even with severely compromised antennas.
Dave ... am a new guy. Technician and General passed in 4 weeks. Have an ICOM IC-7100, an LDG Electronics IT-100 tuner, and a MFJ-226 graphic antenna analyzer. Live on in a rural place with room. Could easily go out one end of my house at about 15 feet with a dipole in a V shape. 60+ feet for each side would not be a problem. Question: how to use such an antenna for 40, 20, and 10 meter as well as 80 meter? In addition, how about lightning suppression? Can I use a MFJ-272 Lightning Surge Protector to good effect. If not, please recommend a good one! Thank you! Mike KE8GIR
Take a look at off-center-fed dipoles, available from several manufacturers or you can make it yourself. They're popular right now and with a wide-range tuner can cover all bands. Good luck with your on-the-air experience! 73
Dear Dave, I just passed my technician test this morning, if you remember I am the guy that commented, ( so you need a couple of skyscrapers to mount 80 meters) a couple of weeks ago, well tell you what I have in mind, I have a hf rig, and yes I already have my study guide for general class, a lot of land and a 80 meter dipole antenna from mfj, the tower I have is 30 feet, there are no trees it's Arizona, was thinking about 20 feet of your fence rail guyed off at eather end for a inverted vee diepole 30 feet in the middle and 20 foot on the ends, what do you think?
Dave thank you for all of your videos. I'm using them while studying for extra class. You stated that in the past you had a 14avq vertical on a mast. How did you construct the radial for this set up? I was given a the same antenna and wish to get it up in the air. Thank you and 73.
pkevin79 OCF and Windom antennas have been around for about as long as radio, so they work fine. But in spite of what's said that they can work without a tuner, I think if you use one you should plan on having a wide-range tuner, such as those sold by MFJ and many others.
(Most ham radios have some band limitations. ) My question is ¨which bands are ¨best¨ for an operator who is interested in preparing for disaster situation. I will soon get my general license, so I want to focus first on which band(s) on which to practice and then figure out which transceiver would be the best to purchase.
What's your impression of say a 24" flag poll antenna. They seem quite pricey and require no radials. Would be perfect where I live in an HOA environment...KQ1K
I think Dick Schultz - KD0ESZ @ 19:24 who has a dipole 8 inches from his rain gutter has reinvented the NVIS antenna which works just swell on 200 mile or so paths.
I have built a Mast-mounted single band vertical antenna with just one radial the same length as the vertical element. This unit does rest on a substantial metal platform. I seem to be getting acceptable performance. What limitations can I expect?
I love your videos. I am restricted by an HOA. Could I use a quad loop antenna that is affixed to the eaves of my house ? That would put the loop approximately 25 feet off the ground.
David, What is your opinion of random length long wire antennas? I have a small lot, trees, but they are too thick to hang a dipole, and a good multi-band vertical is kinda pricey. I was considering the long wire and a tuner since I could put the wire anywhere and tune it.
I've never had much luck with long wire antennas. By definition, they are greater in length than a wavelength, or preferably even longer. Most tuners that have a way to feed balanced line can also feed a long wire.
Hi OG, LOVE your videos... Thanks for all the info! Is 125 feet of RG-8X too long to feed a 20M Dipole? I'm guessing 25% line loss... Any other suggestions for feed line? Thank you!
RG-8X has 1.4 dB loss per 100 feet at 14.2 MHz. At 125 feet that's 1.75 dB. Running the math, that's a loss of 34%. You're losing one third of your output power to heat. All things considered, that's acceptable. If you went to RG-213 cable, you could cut that loss in half. But that's extra expense for only 17% more power. Personally, I'd stick with the RG-8X, but it's up to you. Good luck!
Thank you. I think I will stick with RG-8X for now. Trying to get this up and running before field day. I am a new General and have yet to make it on HF Thank you for all the videos. By studying and watching your channel I was able to pass Tech and General with ease. Thinking about Extra after I get on HF.
Hey, Dave, thanks for the great videos. I don't suppose you've ever done, or plan to do a video on antennas for the LF / MF range for WSPR? I'm intrigued and interested to try these frequencies, but I've heard / read that setting up an antenna for 0.136 and 0.472 can be really challenging.
I live on the bottom floor of an apartment building, and my lease simply does not allow me to erect an antenna _at all._ If I wanted to get on the air on HF, I would have to do it in the field.
@@davecasler That's sort of what I'm angling toward now, although I'm not sure if the city I live in would allow such ad hoc installations in its municipal parks, although I would be very careful not to leave a trace after taking everything down at the end of my operation. 73 VE7NDE
Scubasky There are lots and lots of antenna possibilities. I didn't cover Yagis or any multi-band antennas. Magnetic loops can make great antennas but I think they're a more advanced topic. Some are available commercially. They're usually very high Q and rather finicky to tune. In general, they're quite a bit smaller than wire antennas.
Thanks you are doing a great job. I live in an HOA. My house is 3 stories but I have a metal roof. Could I use a rope and insulator to install a sloper into the back yard. I just don't know how far I need to be away from the house. I run HF mobile with great success. But I would like to set up a station at the house.
Hi Dave good morning. My lot is very small. I live in a mobile home. Am using an end fed dipole, 9:1 balun. As a sloppier dipole. When I run the insulator end up to a tree, ( can only go up about 20 feet). Will height make a difference? I’m not getting in any strong stations.
Respect Dave - thank you for your previously replies- I have been searching on google My question (( google do not understand my question )) What is the inductance for a resonant antenna on the 4 metre band respect how do one work for this same inductance for any antenna >>> thank you Dave
The nominal target antenna feedpoint impedance on any band is 50 ohms. Setting up an antenna to do that can sometimes be complex. The inductive (and capacitive) reactance on a resonant antenna is by definition zero. However, that does not automatically mean 50 ohms resistive.
I’m in a even tougher situation then most small lot power lines it’s a mess . I have narrowed my search to two different antennas and would love your opinion First is a cobra ultralight jr (73 foot ) or the dxtreme by ultimax 53 ft version the cobra is more of a ladder line fed dipole and the dxtreme is an end fed Any way any help would be greatly appreciated 73
I'm using a TRAM 1185 magnetically attached to a stainless steel plate. It is surrounded by a thin plastic pot and is disguised as an Ivy plant. It is located on my 2nd floor bedroom outside window sill. I'm hitting a repeater 25 miles away with my Yaesu FT7900R and 21 miles with a Baofeng 8W (both dual bands), but I'd like to hit further repeaters. HOA covenants necessitate stealth, so I'm considering an antenna inside a PVC pipe - Ed Fong's come to mind - what do you suggest, please?
+usernamemykel I can't recommend a particular antenna because there are so many of them. Ask members of your local ham club what works best for them--they may have some good ideas that you can research. Also, QST has many advertisements for antennas, as well as articles about them and reviews.
Hi Dave! What could I do if I want to install a HF antena but recently notice that my neighbour put also a HF antena? Is there anything that I can do to protect my radio from their transmitions?
Dave hi again.This is George on the in porch in Florida!Iwould like to know if the copper braids would help my set up,to get better grounding and performance.I seem to have a lot of noise but as soon as I touch the radio or the mike it seems to reduce everything! This is an old trick from the past I read about.Still messing around about buying another antenna!
If you're getting that sort of reaction, it sounds like you should reexamine your grounding approach. Put a ground rod near the porch you use. Ground everything in the station to a single point and then ground that to the ground rod. Should help. Also, given you're in Florida, be sure to think about lightning protection (also covered in a recent video). 73
are the end feed antennas any good to try and how well can they be tuned with a antenna tuner, also do you have a video on antenna tuners and how they work . thanks and 73
+John Spencer Yes, end-fed antennas work, although they can be difficult to feed. Many antenna tuners can tune "long wire" (end fed) antennas, usually defined as more than one wavelength long. There are a couple videos in the Ask Dave series on antenna tuners. Check out the playlist at th-cam.com/play/PL0R9jy9LZw_2Je-1Td9Xb2S8-Vl_bFTGG.html
Hi Dave, Good video, but if and when you decide to upgrade this video, what you should definitely include are magnetic loop antennas (MLA's) which are small, and which work like gang busters without any radials, and only a few feet off the ground ! They can be purchased commercially, e.g. the MFJ 1786 which covers 10-30 MHz, is only 3 ft in diameter and works great only 3 ft off the ground. As to constructing a 3 ft diameter MLA for 10-30 MHz, or a 6ft diameter MLA for 80 and 40 meters, look at the website of Rich, K8NDS, and also his You Tube Videos. In sum, since I now reside in a community with CC&R's - I no longer have a 55 ft Triex tower with a 4 el Yagi, but now use MLA's and they work great and take up very little space. BTW : An excellent paper on MLA's can be found at : nonstopsystems.com/radio/pdf-ant article-antenna -mag-loop-2.pdf All the Best, 73, Jim (N6MV)
+Jim La Frieda Hi Jim, thanks for the info. I don't know that I would recommend a mag loop antenna as a first antenna. They're very narrow-band and take some patience to tune. I agree that once set up they're great antennas, but you will have to retune if you QSY even a few kHz. See the July, 2013, QST, page 51, or a rather interesting website at hlmagneticloopantennas.com/. Mag loop antennas have very large circulating currents, requiring special care if constructed from scratch.
+David Casler , Hi Dave, Yes they are narrow-band dependent on the band, i.e. the antenna Q is high and the BW is very small on 160 and 80 meters, but using one of the several Mag Loop Calculators, you will observe that the BW increases as one operates on the higher bands. Tuning a loop is not difficult and can be done via several ways, viz. max receiver noise, dropping XMTR drive and tuning for lowest SWR, and also using an MFJ 212 matchmaker, and even building an automatic controller that automatically tunes as one changes one's transceiver freq. And, yes, they have high circulating current and also very high voltage at the capacitor, which requires one to make sure that they use conductors and capacitor spacing of the appropriate size, but that's also no big deal. What's great about them is that they are very small in size, i.e a 3 ft diameter loop covers 10-30 MHz, they need no radials, and they work very effectively - in a vertical position- only a few feet off the ground. In Europe they are very popular because many are lucky if they have a small balcony. Here in the States, they have recently - in the past few years- become a lot more popular - because of CC&R's - and are now widely used- as can be seen from the two Yahoo Mag Loop Groups that now exists. In sum, they are excellent antennas for one who has very small real estate w/o CC&R's or a large lot with CC&R's. 73, Jim (N6MV)
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This guy knows what he is talking about and doesn't blow wind for 2 hours to present 15 minutes of useful information like all the other videos and podcasts that I zone out during the first 5 minutes. This guy is cool and doesn't make us hams look like dorky idiots like everyone else...
The best TH-cam Ham channel. To the point and no beating around the Bush or personal inflection. I really enjoy the technical bit.
Incredibly informative. What a wonderful teacher. Thanks so much, Dave.
Excellent video Dave! Where theory meets reality ... the place where most of us live! I am in a mobile home park and settled for an off center fed 20' vertical that allows me to get on 6 - 80 meters and does not have the need for radials. It looks like a flagpole.
Thanks again for giving targeted material without rambling.
73, KF6IF
This video has done so much to encourage the continuing search for antenna solutions on my own somewhat small townhouse property. Thanks DE N2NLQ
ZS5MK Martin lives in a high building complex 13 levels up, he uses a fishing pole out the window with a compromised antenna, and he works long path USA every afternoon when the bigger USA stations are on, he works what he can (amazing). Fun to listen to him get excited as he works a new one! hf is fun.
An extremely well planned, executed and produced video. Great background of the material for newbies and excellent explanations. One can only guess how much time goes into putting all of this information together. Especially interviews with other operators at other locations.
Spot on for my needs (_today's_ needs), Dave. That's a great presentation.
I like the way this guy presents his videos. He obviously knows the biz, however, he makes his presentations in terms easy for a beginner to understand. I'm thankful to have come upon his videos and have subscribed. I'm new to ham and have recently installed my HF system. I bought and put up a multi-band OCF dipole but have not made any contacts yet. Therefore, I am digging in to learn what I can about antennas so I can determine what my problem(s) are, and if in fact, I do have a problem. It may very well turn out propagation conditions just aren't right. In any case, I shall allow Dave to instruct me and guide me through this process so that I can get on the waves. Thanks, Dave.
Thanks for this video Dave. My wife and I are both new HAM's I Canada. We are in the process of putting up our first true 2 meter / 70cm antenna as well as an HF antenna. I purchased an end fed random wire antenna which claims to tune on bands from 10 to 80 meters. In addition I purchased a SOTA end fed for 20 and 40 meters. My purpose in buying these specific antennas is to have both base station functionality and the potential to be used in the field for mobile/portable operations. To that end we also have 2 HF radios, both of which will operate as base or portable rigs. The first is an older Kenwood TS-50s and the second is a MCHF 918s. The Kenwood will do 100 watts on full power but can also do 50 and 10 watts. The 918s will do 15 watts max on transmit. Your information about rigging various antenna configurations is especially useful for us as we struggle with the best way to set up our home base station. That's for all you do to help folks like us solve the many issues related to putting up antennas and operating a station.
Best of luck setting up your station! Check out some local clubs. You can get great ideas from other members.
Thanks Dave for this & all your videos. I'm getting back into the hobby after a 25-year hiatus, and your videos make the task a good deal less daunting. 73s de KA1RSA
Hi Dave, I continue to be blessed with your excellent videos. As a new Technician Class operator, I have a lot to learn and your explanations are clear and concise. Great help! Thanks! - Jack in Durango
Hi Dave. The good old conundrum of antennas. Where do I fit them in ?. Well your video here just about covered that one. The Hams in the Housing Org areas certainly found ways to get some wire up without it showing . The house that I am living in now. I would have all on to put up a 20 meter full wave loop but I just might give it a try all around the front and rear garden and over the roof and back down to a nice tree in the rear garden. We shall just have to work on it. Wish I was still serving in the army. If we needed an antenna up it went up and as long as it was not going in the way of any choppers, it went as high as we could get it Thank you for another interesting video. 73 de John - G0WXU.
One of the best Ham TH-cam videos ever
Great video. I enjoyed hearing your Montrose neighbors speak. My aunt and uncle have lived in Montrose for 60 years on Spruce Street.
Dave N7NRE- Prescott Valley, Az.
Thanks Dave....I'm getting back into ham after being off the air for 20 years. Your advice and your friends advice is priceless. 73's VY2RF Reg
Welcome back!
Thank you....got some time on my hands hi hi...will be making a home brew antenna ...dipole between two tall trees. Will let you know how it turns out.
Dave, If you have time for a question - Which is a better choice and how does the house impact the antenna.
1) Place antenna at 15-20 feet between trees.
Kinda normal
or
2) Place the antenna on the roof line of my house (40 feet). Say 6 inches above the roof
a. How does the roof impact the antenna?
b. Does this count as a height of 6 inches from the roof or is it 40 feet in the air?
and is (or how much is) the signal degraded?
Thanks!
I got my start in single sideband CB radios back in the mid 70's. I used to modify SSB radios to go above channel 40 and below channel 1 by reprogramming the PLL chip with +5 volts (high) and 0 volts (low) and unlock the clarifier with 8 volts on one side of the pot and the other side to ground. Now the only Ham radio I have is the Yaesu FT-4VR, a mono band, 2 meter radio I got for passing my Technician exam. I'd like to hook up an Astatic D-104 mic to my HT but cannot find a schematic on it since it isn't made anymore. While waiting on my call sign I constructed a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna I made out of a piece of romex house wire I cut apart. Only way to check my SWR is to use my old CB radio SWR meter which I found out could be used on VHF if you hook it up right. First you set the meter in the forward position and then unhook it and hook it up backwards leaving it in the forward position. Then key the transmitter and it will give a very close SWR reading for the VHF band. Don't think it will work the same for UHF. I got the ground plane up in the air about 20 feet by using my old CB radio antenna mast pole. Using the old RG-58U CB radio coax on my 2 meter HT and the cable in the front door. So far wife's been tolerating the cable coming in through a crack in the door but we'll see when it starts getting colder.
Dave: I've just discovered you on TH-cam and am really learning/enjoying your instructional videos. I am a huge fan of Vertical Antennas and thought I would throw this out to you. I own a Gap Challenger multiband Antenna. I mention this because, the Gap only uses three 25 foot long radials, and according to the folks at Gap, these radials are only required for use on the 40 meter Band. I live in an HOA environment and needed a stealthy antenna. My 32 foot tall Challenger is sandwiched between two large ficus trees and only about 5 feet away from a block wall. My antenna works 10 through 80 with the exception of one of the WARC Bands. I have worked on 100 watts, the south Pole from my Tampa QTH and Japan from my Phoenix, AZ qth, not to mention many European countries. I would love for you to mention the Gap Challenger or the Gap Titian in future Videos as a possible one size fits all multiband HF antenna. My justification for this is: These antennas are trapless, require no tuning, they work right out of the box! I can verify this as a proud Challenger owner, and my particular antenna was one of the prototype antennas, meaning one of the first 100 ever made and I paid only five dollars for it at a garage sale in Brandon, Fl; the find of the century! One other thing I should mention, the Gap Titian makes use of a raised counterpoise, however, you can eliminate this raised counterpoise by adding only two radials. If my memory serves right, one is around ten to twelve feet and the other is around 41 feet. This information was garnered directly from Gap Technical support. Yes, the antennas start in price @ $399, but they will last you 20 or more years. My antenna was perhaps around 20 years old when I had to replace the coax harness which lives inside the antenna, but spending $110 to overhaul my antenna to new performance was a small price to pay. Now that I live in Arizona, I suspect my coax harness will last much longer due to low humidity, my original harness had started to corrode. The Gap Challenger is a Vertical Dipole true multiband antenna which if assembled properly, will perform as advertised right out of the box. My SWR's on most bands are 1.3 to 1 or lower and this is across the entire portion of each band except 80 meters of course. Like any other 80 meter Vertical, you will see around 100 to 150 kc's of acceptable bandwidth. With Gap, you chose which portion of the 80 meter band you want to operate on by selecting the value of a capacitor which is inserted into the coax harness. By the way . . . the exact explanation of just how this antenna works is a carefully guarded secret, perhaps Dave you can elaborate ;) These antennas have something like 35 to 45 feet of folded coax living inside them, so I believe this coax is used as a portion of the vertical dipole on some or perhaps all the bands. Again, the folks at Gap tell me that on the Challenger model, the three radials are only used on the 40 meter band. So again, I just thought I would throw this out there Dave, I have no vested interest in Gap Antennas, but am a satisfied customer and user for over 15 years, you would be hard-pressed to find a better multiband solution for those who are HOA bound. Many thanks for all you are doing to promote our wonderful hobby and 73, de KM2U Michael ;)
Hi
I had a similar issue with a dipole element being too close to other metal. One hunting trip I was staying in a school bus and had one leg hanging slack running along-side the windows. I got it tuned and went outside to make the legs taut. After that my tune was way off. I slackened the legs back up and my tune came back. Turned out when I tightened the legs one of them ran right next to the metal body of the bus. When it hung slack next to the windows it had enough distance from the body that it didnt effect my tune. Fun lesson to learn!
I know this is one of your older videos, but I just came across it today. A lot of us Ham's have had to be creative in order to get on the air, and I really wish I'd have kept a journal of all the things I've tried and the one that worked! Likely the simplest one I've used was a mono band mobile antenna. Specifically a Hamstick mounted on the metal deck rail of my third floor apartment in Fargo North Dakota. I bonded the three sides of the deck railing together with short braided cable, and I ran a piece of wire close to a quarter wave long down to the 2 x 6 deck floor. I wove that wire between the boards zig zagging it back and forth to create even more of a ground plane. I ran the PICO Net on my morning for a year and a half and only once in a while needed a relay. Not the biggest fish in the pond, but I was in the pond.
A great example of persistance!
This is great. I'm a new ham and this has been invaluable. Fortunately my wife and I bought a house that's not in an HOA but my lot is pretty compact and space is limited. I could eventually do a chimney-mounted mast but am also considering loops and the Buddipole which are portable just to get started.
Very important topic which was not covered in this video: "RFI" (Radio Frequency Interference) that your transmitter is causing to surrounding neighbors. If your antennas are visible, fussy neighbors will always point at you as the culprit to any little problems that their electronic devices have, whether the problems are real or imaginary. If your antennas are not visible, any RFI you cause to neighbors will remain a mystery as to their source, as long as you do not let those neighbors know you are a Ham radio operator. Standard response
from Hams in the old days (when neighbors had a sense of respect for radio and community) was for the Ham to help the neighbor eliminate his RFI problem by installing chokes and other filters for him on his electrical devices.
In today's world of selfish entitled narcissists, it's probably better to never divulge your identity as a Ham radio operator. If there is talk in the neighborhood about strange electronic noises and interference to their TVs, stereos, computers and devices. it's best to agree with them and say that you too have the problem, and " you've heard that the city recently installed some new cell towers or communications link aimed through your neighborhood."
I sound cynical, but I have gone through years of complaints from neighbors in many locations, and fought with homeowners' boards, and even been taken to court. I even resorted to raising my antennas only in darkness and operating at night, then taking down all the antennas before the sun came up. It still didn't help the RFI complaint problem.
By the way, I won in court, however I lost the war with ignorant neighbors and the HOA who decided not only were my antennas violating the HOA rules, , but that I was ruining their TV, stereo and computer reception, and worst of all that I was beaming " harmful radiation" through their homes, that was endangering the health the very lives of their children.
This all sounds ridiculous, to anyone reading this for the first time, but mine is only one of thousands of horror stories that Hams across the globe have had to deal with from angry, upset and self-righteous ignorant neighbors. We Hams envy those amateurs who have the luxury of owning several acres in the middle of nowhere, where they can erect towers and run full legal power.
Unfortunately in today's digital age of I-Phones and social media, Hams are considered by many people to be " something akin to relics of a bygone era". Modern people have no antennas on their roofs, and are fed everything via cable. They use little radio gadgets like I-Phones, and laptops, and they are perfectly fine living in a landscape of unsightly cell phone towers, because those towers feed their compulsive lifestyle of cell phone addiction.
But once the power goes out, and there is a natural disaster, and an emergency situation in the neighborhood, with no communications available for any of the neighbors or the general public....all of a sudden, those ugly antennas that they hated so much on the roof of that Ham radio operator living down the street, become not so ugly after all, knowing that he will volunteer to communicate with people during the emergency to help his neighbors. It's best to keep your ham radio involvement known to Hams, friends and family, but discretely hidden from your neighbors if you live in crowded situations or have to deal with an HOA. '73
Agree, your point is so valid. Nobody likes anyone enjoying life or a hobby these days. Couch potatoes are especially envious. I am particularly worried about my very large retirement apartment that I plan to move to in several years. Esp the radiation affecting health bit. Dont know if I will have to end up buying a very expensive commercial vertical or maybe I could try a cobweb !
I just moved from a non-restrictive neighborhood, to an active adult community with HOA restrictions. They are forced to accept flagpoles and I know you can hide a vertical in one, but that's more work and expense than I want to deal with at the moment. My 20ft vertical was atop a 50 ft tower before, and while SWR was GREAT on ALL bands, it's effectiveness at receiving wasn't near as good as a long wire I had winding around in trees. I am thinking an (several) attic antenna would be my best option for now. I can put in a dipole ok I am sure. I have 10 foot ceilings and the vertical is 20 feet. The bedroom where my Ham Shack is located, is closer to the edge of the house than the roof peak. Is it possible to put the vertical at an angle from the closet floor on up into the attic peak and run it "less than vertical" at an angle? Issues? Also, I loved my G5RV I had a few years back, and since you can let wires dangle at the end, is there a limit on how much can dangle?
What a great help you've given to folks mentioning Mastrant rope. It is significantly cheaper than Phillystran and much easier to work with. I am not affiliated with the company but I consider it a superior product. Mastrant is mostly polyester. -Don KW4UP
Excellent video about antennas and HF Bands!!!
Great video again, Dave! For home use, I've got an Inverted-V that is 20' up at the apex and is anchored to my privacy fence on both sides of my yard at a height of 6'. I used 4 army surplus aluminum camo net poles and have a wireless weather station at the top. Away from home I use a 6 - 40m end-fed that I can raise 28' into the aid by means of a telescoping fiberglass windsock pole or also with a painter's pole. With the two of these I've worked contacts as far west (from Fort Worth) as Japan, as far east as Rostov, Russia and south to Chile. Necessity is certainly the mother of invention!
73 from KF5RHI
Richard Slusher Hi Richard, thanks for sharing the details of your antenna. Sounds like you have a winner! 73, Dave, KEØOG
Modelling software is good for ballpark calcs but nearby objects etc will have an effect. Also depends on how well the software works? Nothing will be better than actually doing a field strength plot. The G5RV must be good as it is still around and loved immensely!!! Twas my first antenna ….. and I want to build another!!! Great videos….. cheers VK2AOE
Dave, thanks for the great video and excellent briefing. Due to very bad HOA restrictions, I use a Ciro Mazzoni Stealth antenna in my attic. Not a cheap option, but covers from 6.6 - 29.8 MHz and works quite well, especially considering the poor propagation we are all having to endure these days. I am looking forward to our next and final move when hopefully I can move this or another HF antenna outside.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to make this video. Got my Tech.-level lic. 2012, but had to put things into storage until recently, so I am basically starting over with the learning process...to the point: I want to put a 40-meter Dipole and a 20-Meter Dipole over my house, in sort of an X-configuration, so that I may run the two feed lines down through a vent on the roof that leads directly into radio room (vent just runs straight down from roof to ceiling in that room, and has no fan or anything in it, just flap at each end)-- but I would also like to build and place a ten-meter Yagi on a mast on the edge of the roof.
The two dipoles will be supported by four of the fence top-rails described in the video, one mounted to each corner of the house, and the dipoles supported in the center where they cross by another small mount near the access vent , and adjusted to keep them as horizontal/flat as possible. I will run a cpl. guys from each top-rail pole down into the yard.
The Yagi will hopefully be approx. 8-feet higher than the wire antennas and approx 15-feet away (mast attached to one side of house, with small electric rotator below the antenna). Will having the two dipoles in proximity to one another cause issues? What would be the minimum separation of the two dipoles I can get away with where they cross and have adjacent feel-lines...if one were 10-12 inches above the other would that cause problems? The feed-points will then be one above the other and both pieces of coax will then feed down and into the vent approx. 12-18 inches away. The feed-line and rotator control wire from the Yagi-antenna will also be going through this same vent.
I'd also considered making a 2-meter antenna, to put on the same mast as the ten-meter Yagi, so the rotator could control both and I would not have to put up an different mast elsewhere...if I were to do that is there a minimum distance I would have to put between the two...since the 2-meter antenna would be smaller I presumed it should go above the ten-meter antenna...but how far above on the mast would the 2-meter have to be, and would the two interfere with one another (would only be using one at a time)?
Thank you for your time and assistance, and thank you again for the time and effort you put into sharing your knowledge with others.
Raymond - WF7BSR
Antennas are weird. The only way to know if the work is to give it a try. You can actually attach the 40 m and 20 m dipoles to the same coax, although you'll have a real balancing job getting it tuned on both bands. I did not recommend purchasing equipment or putting up antennas until you pass your general exam. I've seen too many people do it and then for whatever reason not pass the exam. Good luck with your studying!
Thank you.
information like this is invaluable when you are first starting out.
THANK YOU
Thanks for the info. I’m interested in ham radio. I do not have a radio and not licensed yet but I’m studying antenna options for my end unit townhouse here in Louisiana. This has given me a few ideas for my challenges.
This is why I'm into magnetic loops so much. :-)
I have a Magnetic Loop on the wall next to me. 15 to 40 @ 40 watts KG7IRJ Ohio Extra.
Nice video Dave - picked up where the other antenna video left off. Thankyou.
Dave,
I used a G5-RV Antenna up about 20’ at our old residence and I found that I could operate Everything EXCEPT 160meters.
I’m going to run some 14g wire (From or friends at DX Engineering) to run from a Palm Tree up around 200’, running to a tree in my Backyard!
IF everything goes to “Plan” I HOPE to be able to run ALL of the Amateur Bands!
I’ll let you know how things work out, hopefully sometime Very Soon!
Thanks for ALL of your presentations! I only Wish “Someone” would have done what You’re doing 25 years ago, when I got my Ticket!
-73-
Bill
N6FFC
THANKS DAVE
,Thanks to you i held on to my vintage MFJ wire tuner 160-10-ST BOB AF2DX
Dave, thank-you for your very informative video on antennas. I am recently getting back into amateur radio after a 25 year hiatus. Looking forward to seeing more of your work. 73 - VO1VC
I will be taking the test for my General license the middle of next month -- Oct. 19, 2020. Am saving for a 15 foot piece of 1 inch PVC pipe to get the antenna in the air a little higher. Thinking of trying some 75 ohm TV coax for the 4 element yagi as I have a lot of 75 ohm coax. For HF I guess I'll be sticking to the 11 meter (CB) band since I've got several CB single sideband radios and will be using one (with a reprogrammed PLL chip) for 10 meters.
What are you thoughts on using what is called a ridge vent for an antenna? These are starting to be use in place of the traditional roof vents in house where practical. I live in a split-level rectangle with a simple roof which uses one of these ridge vents to ventilate my attic. I am considering this over a gutter antenna.
I love Molas and the Durango Silverton area. Plan to move there sooner than later. At least for summers.
Dave, I use a vertical of 7 meters (21 feet) with a Kenwood KAT-1 tuner and it works very well 3 meters (10 feet) off the ground. You get some brilliant tuners in the market.
Due to HOA and XYL restrictions, all my HF antennas (4) are in the attic...a rectangular, tuned wire loop for 80m (8ft H x 23ft L, #14 THHN wire- I use a Z-match network to tune/match that one), a linear-loaded 40m dipole (45ft. long- no loading inductors), a tuned "magnetic" loop for 20 - 15m, and an 8ft. tall, 20m vertical dipole that's center-fed and end-loaded with 16 ft. horizontal wires at top and bottom. All of the antenna are homebrewed and they work very well for me. I've worked DX all over W. and E. Europe, W. Asia, S. Pacific, Australia, and more. All the feedlines are RG58/U that come to a mechanical coax switch (an old B&W) mounted upside down on a bracket, immediately above a hall closet. The extended shaft from the switch comes down through a hall closet ceiling to a knob, just behind the wall above the door. The closet door is about 7 feet from the shack. The common feedline from the switch comes down inside of the closet front corner and through the floor, and then up through the floor in the shack. Common mode chokes are installed at each antenna feedpoint and are made from Fair-Rite brand #31 and #43 mix ferrite cores (Mouser Electronics). I wouldn't dream of buying a commercial HF antenna for my attic location.
You've got a great setup there!
Excellent video for new Hams or those challenged with HOA restrictions such as I am. Thanks for covering these various antenna options. I can only dream of ever having a 1/2 wave 80m dipole antenna so, I make due with a garage attic mounted 37ft. OCF Dipole for 6m-40m configured in a sideways "L" shape. I also use a 7ft., 40m or 80m MFJ Ham-tenna, mag mounted on my van roof in my driveway. None of these antennas are extremely effective, but at least I am on the air with mostly stealth antennas and therefore no HOA violations. Working POTA is my best opportunity to string up a long end-fed for better results. As mentioned, "Don't give up!" Experiment until you find something that works!
Thank you Dave. Your video inspired me to try an antenna in a very difficult location. I am in an apartment on the 9th floor. (one minor plus). Our building manager had a very bad experience with a CB'er who's antenna fell off his balcony and damaged the superintendents vehicle. Hence a very negative view of hams or CB'ers. We can't even put up an external UHF antenna. But your video inspired me to try some in door solutions. As it happens my window in the spare room is just big enough that I can put a Diamond x-50 in on about a 45 degree angle. Being on the 9th floor it preforms very well. But I wanted to get on HF. So I strung a wire antenna with white hook up were long the top of the ceiling. I cut it as suggested for a wire antenna strung between two polls, but found that inside attached to the wall the antenna need to be cut shorter.In fact I removed about 15" from each end. This make my antenna quite small and with the white on white almost, invisible. I have used a program called psk reported to see how well it is preforming. To my surprise I have being heard quite well. I have only to track down and eliminate a very strong noise source (turned out to be a power brick for my laptop.) Now evey wne the band is not so good I can work stations using JT-65 HF. You are right , were there's a will there's a way. Best RegardsDave - VE3HTB
+Dave Borland Thanks for sharing your experience. As you have discovered, the most important ingredient in a good antenna is persistence. 73, Dave, KEØOG
This is very helpful, thank you! You've answered a number of questions I've had for a while.
Thanks for your terrific video. Your large loop antenna fits my needs exactly. One mast will be mounted on my roof and three tall redwood trees will support the other corners. The mast is a 10 foot sch80 PVC conduit. The loop is secured directly to the PVC and a ladder line will drop down the center of the PVC into the shack. My questions are:
1. What is the polarization of the antenna when fed from a corner as I assume yours is?
2. Will the balun built into the antenna tuner be sufficient for the balanced line?
If you see a problem with this design please let me know.
Mark, the polarization is horizontal. If you feed the antenna with balanced line, which is the best way to do it, your wide-range antenna tuner should be sufficient. Be sure to guy that PVC conduit, as there is significant horizontal pull on the top as you draw the antenna tight.
Hey my xyl says I can put up a mast when we have our new garage built, because of the distance from the shack it means I can put up up to 135 ft end fed. A dipole won't fit. I can also produce a good ground.
Thanks for great 👍 interviews of other ham solutions. Question #1 on your 80 meter loop. Given earlier comments on connection at a side versus a corner for different polarization, (horizontal versus vertical), does one versus the other improve your coverage or does your height limit either to similar NVIS Mileage range distance? Q2. Would you recommend one connection over the other for a loop antenna or is it really just what is convenient? Q3 I have an OCF for multi band. Woukd you rate as equal to, more, or less desirable than a loop for 10-40 meters, given similar height? Thanks for your work and sharing. Steve
I took down the 80m loop a couple years ago. I fed it at a corner. A horizontal loop can have strange radiation patterns, especially on higher frequencies. Connect wherever's convenient, usually at a corner. If you can get that OCFD well up into the air, it'll perform on par with the loop.
Dave thanks so much this was extremely helpful. I am a newly minted Tech, KC3PZX but hope to go after my General soon. For the moment I am working strictly handheld on VHF/UHF so the antenna is not an issue but with a general I want to get into HF. I have two questions, I had been contemplating and attic antenna, but realized I may have a problem, we have solar on our roof, I am assuming the metal casing of the panels is going to negatively impact that. Since it is producing fairly high voltage DC I also wonder if that might also generate QRN, I have no idea how well shielded the cables are. Your second guest, Dick Schultz KD0ESN, was what I had been wondering about and that was a Dipole along the north side above the gutters or perhaps a V shaped making the turn at the corner if I try to go for a longer antenna. I have considered going with an automatic antenna tuner mounted essentially at the connection point to reduce the line loss. between the antenna and the shack. I do face a unique challenge as I am the HOA President so am mindful of those restrictions as I am often called to enforce them. Again thanks this has made me feel better about the chances of getting a good signal out and in.
Great video. What would you suggest for someone who can't have any permanent antenna setup?
Howdy Dave,
I am a Newly Licensed (Technician Class) Ham Operator. I live just a few miles East of Houston, Texas. I am Hoping to Pass my General Class Test June 10th. I am watching your Videos and I Thank You for All of them, They are Quite Helpful for those of us New to the Ham Radio Hobby. My Interest is to soon construct My Shack at Home and Install a Base Station with a Respectable Antenna, most likely on the 20 & 40 Meter Bands as it appears they are so common. I also want to Support our Local Emergency Management Organizations as well and I am not sure yet exactly the frequencies they Operate on but will make sure I am able to accommodate those Bands/Frequencies as well. I am seeing many Videos including yours that talk about Home Owner Association Restrictions and of Course I live in a Sub-Division with the Dreaded Home Owners Association. I ran across some Videos on TH-cam that Addressed this Issue and to My Surprise....The Homeowner (A Licensed Ham Operator) WON the Battle. I watch Several of these Videos and they All said the same thing...That a Licensed Ham Operator (Federally Licensed) was EXEMPT from Home-Owners Associations, Local and State Antenna Restrictions. As I understand these Videos, A Federally Licensed Ham Operator has the "Right" to Erect their Antennas since Antennas are a Requirement to Operate their Stations, and I Whole-heartedly Agree. I am Including the URL's to these TH-cam Videos so you can Watch them and See if You Agree that we are Exempt as Ham Operators from Antenna Restrictions in Sub-Divisions where HOA's have Control. I don't want to Start any Trouble nor Mislead anyone but if this is Correct, I believe All Ham Operators deserve to Know and allow them to Construct the Antenna of their Choice within Federal Regulations. Please let me know if these Videos are Correct, most are from TV Stations.
th-cam.com/video/aC_EeWSKJII/w-d-xo.html
Thanks Again for Sharing your Knowledge with us.
There are movements afoot in Congress to give hams more rights vis a vis homeowners associations. The big national association of homeowners associations has negotiated a solution with the ARRL. It needs congressional blessing and it has broad bipartisan support. But it hasn't passed yet. So keep your relations with the HOA really good!
David Casler Thank You.
Very good video. I had a problem when I lived in a mobile home park no antenna were permitted. So I mounted 3 vertical wires 10m 20m 40m against a tree 8 radials about 25 ft one tied in to the frame of mobile home and it work very well. I live in Delaware first station was Australia long path on 40m. It's still a compromise antenna but it works
+Shawn Rullens Sounds like it's worked very well for you! So-called "compromise" antennas do work!
+David Casler, oh yes it sure did.
next going to build a quad loop either 40m or 30m feed with open feed line.
Will and LDG auto tuner work with this set up with a 1:1 or 1:2 balun
+David Casler forgot to mention the feed line rg-8 10ft long....
I think antennas are one of the most fascinating parts of ham radio!
Thanks Dave. Love the positivity..
Hi Dave,
Have watched your videos for a few years , and they have helped me to study & pass the Big Exam with Honors, thanks so much for that help. Would it be possible for you to help us with metal roof structures with advice on setting up Dipole antennas? I am trying to make an antenna layout plan, and have got some ideas for NVIS 80 meters separately from a 20/40 meter in the yard ,of course the shed & the house have metal roofs & that poses some challenge.
Some advice on avoiding coupling would be really appreciated. The situations that a lot of folks have overcome are with shingled or tar roofs, They have great ideas, what is some ways to get above the problem same as they but with metal roofs. Any advice please, would be appreciated.
& many thanks for your videos,
which were most instrumental in helping me to understand the concepts to get an Honors pass, haven't got a grade like that in over 40 years or more.
Good thing there was no exam Q on metal roofs
Thanks, Mike 73 VE9MWB
Wow. This is a great video. Extremely helpful. Thanks.
Fixed my dads long wire wind took it down, 87 he was well chuffed. Had lot over the years, there's alway an antenna for any space big or small.
Hey there. Good videos you do. I've learned a lot. I only have an AM CB but I am starting to tinker with getting a Ham license and a 10 meter radio. My question is about power lines. I have power lines in the ally behind my house. There are 2 lines coming to my house and garage. Both above ground. How much interference (static ect.) can I expect? I also live in Co. Old Aurora/Stapleton. Greetings, thanks.
BTW Your videos are the best I have seen ,by far. Studying for Extra and hope to test this spring. Many Thanks for all the time you spend doing the videos. 73 Rich N2KPR
+Richard Girou You're welcome! As far as I know, I have the only videos that follow the ARRL license manuals, section for section.
You are as far as I know.
Hi, one suggestion is a end fed antenna on a telescoping fiberglass mast, it ca be brought down so the HOA does not see it during the day...or the nosy neighbors LOL.
Search for space restricted HF antenna, found inverted v, 1/4 wave verticals, full wave loops, moxons, etc, etc for "small" houses with yard.
My version of restricted space: balcony made of well grounded steel/aluminum with 1.5m tall / 4m wide opening
Dave - I have watched many of your videos. You do a really great job of explaining things and have clear answers to questions. I just passed my Technician and General license exams. I am interested DX and maybe MARS but my problem is that I live in a neighborhood where restrictions prevent my from putting up an antenna.My attic is small because of the slope of my ceilings which attic antennas difficult. Any suggestions regarding my antenna conundrum and radios?
Your situation is shared by many. Persevere. Take a look at the HF digital modes such as FT8 that can be done successfully even with severely compromised antennas.
Great video, thank you David, I really enjoyed the case studies.
Dave ... am a new guy. Technician and General passed in 4 weeks. Have an ICOM IC-7100, an LDG Electronics IT-100 tuner, and a MFJ-226 graphic antenna analyzer. Live on in a rural place with room. Could easily go out one end of my house at about 15 feet with a dipole in a V shape. 60+ feet for each side would not be a problem. Question: how to use such an antenna for 40, 20, and 10 meter as well as 80 meter? In addition, how about lightning suppression? Can I use a MFJ-272 Lightning Surge Protector to good effect. If not, please recommend a good one! Thank you! Mike KE8GIR
Take a look at off-center-fed dipoles, available from several manufacturers or you can make it yourself. They're popular right now and with a wide-range tuner can cover all bands. Good luck with your on-the-air experience! 73
Dear Dave, I just passed my technician test this morning, if you remember I am the guy that commented, ( so you need a couple of skyscrapers to mount 80 meters) a couple of weeks ago, well tell you what I have in mind, I have a hf rig, and yes I already have my study guide for general class, a lot of land and a 80 meter dipole antenna from mfj, the tower I have is 30 feet, there are no trees it's Arizona, was thinking about 20 feet of your fence rail guyed off at eather end for a inverted vee diepole 30 feet in the middle and 20 foot on the ends, what do you think?
My experience is that two pieces of aluminum top rail is about as much as will go together. Three is pretty wobbly.
Dave thank you for all of your videos. I'm using them while studying for extra class. You stated that in the past you had a 14avq vertical on a mast. How did you construct the radial for this set up? I was given a the same antenna and wish to get it up in the air. Thank you and 73.
My radial system was elementary: Two elevated radials for 40 and two for ten.
Great video. All that is holding me back here on setting up an HF antenna is time and money. What are your thoughts on OCF/Windom antennas?
pkevin79 OCF and Windom antennas have been around for about as long as radio, so they work fine. But in spite of what's said that they can work without a tuner, I think if you use one you should plan on having a wide-range tuner, such as those sold by MFJ and many others.
(Most ham radios have some band limitations. )
My question is ¨which bands are ¨best¨ for an operator who is interested in preparing for disaster situation.
I will soon get my general license, so I want to focus first on which band(s) on which to practice and then figure out which transceiver would
be the best to purchase.
Find your local ARES group (the ARRL can help) and get involved. They have disaster plans that will answer your question.
What's your impression of say a 24" flag poll antenna. They seem quite pricey and require no radials. Would be perfect where I live in an HOA environment...KQ1K
I think Dick Schultz - KD0ESZ @ 19:24 who has a dipole 8 inches from his rain gutter has reinvented the NVIS antenna which works just swell on 200 mile or so paths.
I have built a Mast-mounted single band vertical antenna with just one radial the same length as the vertical element. This unit does rest on a substantial metal platform. I seem to be getting acceptable performance. What limitations can I expect?
I love your videos. I am restricted by an HOA. Could I use a quad loop antenna that is affixed to the eaves of my house ? That would put the loop approximately 25 feet off the ground.
I know a ham who does just that. You'll need a wide-range tuner.
@@davecasler Thank you.
Spousal objections and HOA covenants hahaha I died
David, What is your opinion of random length long wire antennas? I have a small lot, trees, but they are too thick to hang a dipole, and a good multi-band vertical is kinda pricey. I was considering the long wire and a tuner since I could put the wire anywhere and tune it.
I've never had much luck with long wire antennas. By definition, they are greater in length than a wavelength, or preferably even longer. Most tuners that have a way to feed balanced line can also feed a long wire.
Hi OG,
LOVE your videos... Thanks for all the info!
Is 125 feet of RG-8X too long to feed a 20M Dipole? I'm guessing 25% line loss... Any other suggestions for feed line? Thank you!
RG-8X has 1.4 dB loss per 100 feet at 14.2 MHz. At 125 feet that's 1.75 dB. Running the math, that's a loss of 34%. You're losing one third of your output power to heat. All things considered, that's acceptable. If you went to RG-213 cable, you could cut that loss in half. But that's extra expense for only 17% more power. Personally, I'd stick with the RG-8X, but it's up to you. Good luck!
Thank you. I think I will stick with RG-8X for now. Trying to get this up and running before field day. I am a new General and have yet to make it on HF
Thank you for all the videos. By studying and watching your channel I was able to pass Tech and General with ease. Thinking about Extra after I get on HF.
absolutely awesome video, hams on youtube are the coolest.
Hey, Dave, thanks for the great videos. I don't suppose you've ever done, or plan to do a video on antennas for the LF / MF range for WSPR? I'm intrigued and interested to try these frequencies, but I've heard / read that setting up an antenna for 0.136 and 0.472 can be really challenging.
I have heard the same. There have been some articles in QST and on the Internet.
I live on the bottom floor of an apartment building, and my lease simply does not allow me to erect an antenna _at all._ If I wanted to get on the air on HF, I would have to do it in the field.
An additional thought is that sometimes folks in your situation will put an HF mobile station in their vehicle, and then operate from a local park.
@@davecasler That's sort of what I'm angling toward now, although I'm not sure if the city I live in would allow such ad hoc installations in its municipal parks, although I would be very careful not to leave a trace after taking everything down at the end of my operation.
73 VE7NDE
hallo dave je uitleg is fantastisch,ben fan geworden.greatings from holland europa
Great video, the only thing you could have said was a few things about magnetic loops.
Scubasky There are lots and lots of antenna possibilities. I didn't cover Yagis or any multi-band antennas. Magnetic loops can make great antennas but I think they're a more advanced topic. Some are available commercially. They're usually very high Q and rather finicky to tune. In general, they're quite a bit smaller than wire antennas.
These videos are great info. Thank you KE0OG.
Thanks you are doing a great job. I live in an HOA. My house is 3 stories but I have a metal roof. Could I use a rope and insulator to install a sloper into the back yard. I just don't know how far I need to be away from the house. I run HF mobile with great success. But I would like to set up a station at the house.
Give it a try. Keep it as far from the metal roof as you can. Good luck!
Hi Dave good morning. My lot is very small. I live in a mobile home. Am using an end fed dipole, 9:1 balun. As a sloppier dipole. When I run the insulator end up to a tree, ( can only go up about 20 feet). Will height make a difference? I’m not getting in any strong stations.
Respect Dave - thank you for your previously replies- I have been searching on google My question (( google do not understand my question )) What is the inductance for a resonant antenna on the 4 metre band respect how do one work for this same inductance for any antenna >>> thank you Dave
The nominal target antenna feedpoint impedance on any band is 50 ohms. Setting up an antenna to do that can sometimes be complex. The inductive (and capacitive) reactance on a resonant antenna is by definition zero. However, that does not automatically mean 50 ohms resistive.
Dave, you are absolutely spectacular, Sir! Thanks for all you do and share! kc - K9SPY
+kc koellein Thank you!
I’m in a even tougher situation then most small lot power lines it’s a mess . I have narrowed my search to two different antennas and would love your opinion First is a cobra ultralight jr (73 foot ) or the dxtreme by ultimax 53 ft version the cobra is more of a ladder line fed dipole and the dxtreme is an end fed Any way any help would be greatly appreciated 73
How many watts of power are being used on these types of compromised antennas?
i would need a video of how to install a flag pole antenna step by step if possible what material is best steel /aluminum/ or pvc pipe?
Excellent video Dave. Appreciate you and 73.
Joe Lalumia W1XWX
You've made some great videos, and this is one of them.
Who manufactures flagpole antennas to accomodate vhf/uhf transceivers?
Thanks!
+usernamemykel VHF and UHF antennas are so short relative to a flagpole that often another method of hiding works.
I'm using a TRAM 1185 magnetically attached to a stainless steel plate. It is surrounded by a thin plastic pot and is disguised as an Ivy plant. It is located on my 2nd floor bedroom outside window sill. I'm hitting a repeater 25 miles away with my Yaesu FT7900R and 21 miles with a Baofeng 8W (both dual bands), but I'd like to hit further repeaters. HOA covenants necessitate stealth, so I'm considering an antenna inside a PVC pipe - Ed Fong's come to mind - what do you suggest, please?
+usernamemykel I can't recommend a particular antenna because there are so many of them. Ask members of your local ham club what works best for them--they may have some good ideas that you can research. Also, QST has many advertisements for antennas, as well as articles about them and reviews.
So what's the best all band indoor antenna .just string up copper wire or indoor dipole or loop? Recieve only not transmitting
Any ideas. Thanks
Hi Dave! What could I do if I want to install a HF antena but recently notice that my neighbour put also a HF antena? Is there anything that I can do to protect my radio from their transmitions?
As a new ham trying to understand basic antenna design of all types, this was helpful. Thank you! -KI5LYX in Texas.
Dave hi again.This is George on the in porch in Florida!Iwould like to know if the copper braids would help my set up,to get better grounding and performance.I seem to have a lot of noise but as soon as I touch the radio or the mike it seems to reduce everything! This is an old trick from the past I read about.Still messing around about buying another antenna!
If you're getting that sort of reaction, it sounds like you should reexamine your grounding approach. Put a ground rod near the porch you use. Ground everything in the station to a single point and then ground that to the ground rod. Should help. Also, given you're in Florida, be sure to think about lightning protection (also covered in a recent video). 73
Dave have you checked out the mfj1622 yet? Just blew up my Stryker and power supply!Any suggested power supply?
are the end feed antennas any good to try and how well can they be tuned with a antenna tuner, also do you have a video on antenna tuners and how they work . thanks and 73
+John Spencer Yes, end-fed antennas work, although they can be difficult to feed. Many antenna tuners can tune "long wire" (end fed) antennas, usually defined as more than one wavelength long. There are a couple videos in the Ask Dave series on antenna tuners. Check out the playlist at th-cam.com/play/PL0R9jy9LZw_2Je-1Td9Xb2S8-Vl_bFTGG.html
thanks I will check them out
Thanks Dave. Good ideas !
Dave: Please:- in all the antenna Formulaes but where is the formulae forn getting the correct antenna height ????
are there any good performing vertical polarization antennas local cb] , with low angle radiation for a hoa situation
Very informative. I think I'll try an inverted dipole next.
Hi Dave,
Good video, but if and when you decide to upgrade this video, what you should definitely include are magnetic loop antennas (MLA's) which are small, and which work like gang busters without any radials, and only a few feet off the ground ! They can be purchased commercially, e.g. the MFJ 1786 which covers 10-30 MHz, is only 3 ft in diameter and works great only 3 ft off the ground. As to constructing a 3 ft diameter MLA for 10-30 MHz, or a 6ft diameter MLA for 80 and 40 meters, look at the website of Rich, K8NDS, and also his You Tube Videos. In sum, since I now reside in a community with CC&R's - I no longer have a 55 ft Triex tower with a 4 el Yagi, but now use MLA's and they work great and take up very little space.
BTW : An excellent paper on MLA's can be found at :
nonstopsystems.com/radio/pdf-ant article-antenna -mag-loop-2.pdf
All the Best,
73, Jim (N6MV)
+Jim La Frieda Hi Jim, thanks for the info. I don't know that I would recommend a mag loop antenna as a first antenna. They're very narrow-band and take some patience to tune. I agree that once set up they're great antennas, but you will have to retune if you QSY even a few kHz. See the July, 2013, QST, page 51, or a rather interesting website at hlmagneticloopantennas.com/. Mag loop antennas have very large circulating currents, requiring special care if constructed from scratch.
+David Casler ,
Hi Dave, Yes they are narrow-band dependent on the band, i.e. the antenna Q is high and the BW is very small on 160 and 80 meters, but using one of the several Mag Loop Calculators, you will observe that the BW increases as one operates on the higher bands. Tuning a loop is not difficult and can be done via several ways, viz. max receiver noise, dropping XMTR drive and tuning for lowest SWR, and also using an MFJ 212 matchmaker, and even building an automatic controller that automatically tunes as one changes one's transceiver freq. And, yes, they have high circulating current and also very high voltage at the capacitor, which requires one to make sure that they use conductors and capacitor spacing of the appropriate size, but that's also no big deal. What's great about them is that they are very small in size, i.e a 3 ft diameter loop covers 10-30 MHz, they need no radials, and they work very effectively - in a vertical position- only a few feet off the ground. In Europe they are very popular because many are lucky if they have a small balcony. Here in the States, they have recently - in the past few years- become a lot more popular - because of CC&R's - and are now widely used- as can be seen from the two Yahoo Mag Loop Groups that now exists. In sum, they are excellent antennas for one who has very small real estate w/o CC&R's or a large lot with CC&R's.
73, Jim (N6MV)