eBay calls it terms like "BNC to dual banana jack" or more precisely "BNC male to dual female banana jack." They're quite handy for creating the center connector for a dipole.
There’s a tunable counterpoise that’s matched specially to plug into the Wanderwand antenna. It’s only 4metres in length and has a tuning knob to electrically tune it for any frequency. It sells for under 60 quid, and eliminates the need for multiple length counterpoise wires. It can be used for any long wire antenna thats needs a counterpoise. Ive been using it for over a year with an 817ND and an Elecraft Kx2. Works great.
HI Mike, as an M6 I too really enjoy the challenge of QRP and am often seen out and about locally up a hill with my trusty 817ND and resonant dipoles. I have just recently been gifted one of these little antennas and the tunable counterpoise and although I have not as yet had a contact, it really does receive well. Once I get a chance to get it into the field, I hope to have some success with it. The tunable counterpoise confuses me lol, so I cannot help in that matter. Just subbed and look forward to viewing your other video's. Many Thanks M6KVK
Hey Mike, thanks for the review! I enjoyed it very much and may get it for my next addition to the shack. Does this antenna require counterpoise at all?
To be honest, you don't need one with it as I've used it without a counterpoise and had similar results but best practice is to use one. It's a cracking little antenna setup 👍🏻
I've just getting an xiegu x6100 and this looks a great antenna for what I need with the x6100 for all modes. don't see many of them about these days but will keep an eye out for one.
@@OntheMicwithMike yeah i see your point but for me i like to only use the tuner as backup, I've got the spx100 which I'm trying to mess about with but tuning it is hard to do. When i go to the inlaws i can't put any antennas up so something that can get me on air for all modes and i can sit by the window etc is great hence the spx100 if i can get it to work ha, will get a wonderwand someday to save some hassle as it's ideal for what i need.
Have you tried making a loop antenna? I like the idea of having a vertical antenna and a loop antenna with one tuner. I know you can get dedicated loop tuners but this would be more versatile.
It can be, especially if there’s very little activity on the band. Some days at home when I’ve used an indoor aerial I’ve heard absolutely nothing, then some days when conditions are good, I’ve heard almost all of Europe calling.
love the video clear adn nicely explained new question - 1 10m element + 5m counterpoise does that only work on 20m or other bands as well ? (sorry if it is a silly question)
No question is silly :) A 10m element will work as a full wave on 10m band, and will work on other bands for example a quarter wave on 40m and half wave on 20m. With an ATU it will tune up on most bands in between. I’d generally use a longer counterpoise though but it seems 5m works with the wonderwand tuner.
Hope you figured this out but just in case you thought the guy above was being sarcastic, he wasn't. Giving a solid constant whistle into a radio TXing on SSB will give you something to tune by in a pinch. Listening to band noise (loudest) will also get you close.
@@OntheMicwithMike I have the Wonder Wand Wonderloop and it does a pretty good job for what it is and I've seen this one. Just trying to make an informed decision on buying this. It costs over $200.00 US here. Thank You again for this information
@@walteredwards544 wow, yes I can see why you would be looking to get some feedback first. Well, I was initially going to go with the Wonderloop but the reason I went with the Widebander was purely for the much better range of frequencies it covers & the other side was, it gives me a few options to use antenna wise. That's what sold it to me. 73' and happy dx'ing :)
@@karlng2691 I enjoy using it, especially for a quick set up but it doesn't hear as well as EFHW that's my primary antenna or have the Omni directional capability of my Wolf River Coils 1/4 wave vertical so you have to rotate the radio around but it's not far off in performance and I can set it up and get on the air at a fraction of the time it takes to set up.tbe other two. I'm thinking the Widebander will bridge a gap between the quick set-up of my loop and the Omni directional ability of my vertical, plus it will cover all bands, yet remain compact. As a side note, from my QTH in Georgia, I've reached stations as far away as Maine and Minnesota with my loop and they were surprised that I came in so clear. I'm still going to experiment more with it because I may purchase a larger loop but I have time. Thank you for your reply and the great information and 73's Walter
I've used the small telescopic whip many times at home and out portable. You tune it up the same way as you would with a wire antenna. Fully extend it and tune up as per video.
Those connectors are called terminal posts or binding posts but I suspect most places would happily understand banana plug socket ;)
73.
You are a legend. Thank you 👍🏻
@@OntheMicwithMike haha, I'm no legend, but happy to help :)
eBay calls it terms like "BNC to dual banana jack" or more precisely "BNC male to dual female banana jack." They're quite handy for creating the center connector for a dipole.
There’s a tunable counterpoise that’s matched specially to plug into the Wanderwand antenna. It’s only 4metres in length and has a tuning knob to electrically tune it for any frequency. It sells for under 60 quid, and eliminates the need for multiple length counterpoise wires. It can be used for any long wire antenna thats needs a counterpoise. Ive been using it for over a year with an 817ND and an Elecraft Kx2. Works great.
I have one of those, works a treat. I even managed to get an ATAS that wouldnt tune to tune with the tuneable counterpoise attached.
HI Mike, as an M6 I too really enjoy the challenge of QRP and am often seen out and about locally up a hill with my trusty 817ND and resonant dipoles. I have just recently been gifted one of these little antennas and the tunable counterpoise and although I have not as yet had a contact, it really does receive well. Once I get a chance to get it into the field, I hope to have some success with it. The tunable counterpoise confuses me lol, so I cannot help in that matter. Just subbed and look forward to viewing your other video's. Many Thanks M6KVK
Much prefer the black telescopic antenna. Mine was just the usual silver version
Was in radio for 30 years. We called them banana connector. Banana plug is the Male side.
More likely a 'banana socket' but for banana plugs, a view from the other angle would have been helpful👍
Hey Mike, thanks for the review! I enjoyed it very much and may get it for my next addition to the shack. Does this antenna require counterpoise at all?
To be honest, you don't need one with it as I've used it without a counterpoise and had similar results but best practice is to use one.
It's a cracking little antenna setup 👍🏻
I've just getting an xiegu x6100 and this looks a great antenna for what I need with the x6100 for all modes. don't see many of them about these days but will keep an eye out for one.
You don’t really need this to be honest, I have the Xiegu X6100 myself and with the built in tuner it kind of makes the wonder wand tuner redundant.
@@OntheMicwithMike yeah i see your point but for me i like to only use the tuner as backup, I've got the spx100 which I'm trying to mess about with but tuning it is hard to do. When i go to the inlaws i can't put any antennas up so something that can get me on air for all modes and i can sit by the window etc is great hence the spx100 if i can get it to work ha, will get a wonderwand someday to save some hassle as it's ideal for what i need.
Thanks, tipped me off the fence, I’m going to get one.
Cheers Mike very helpful video. Best wishes..
Have you tried making a loop antenna? I like the idea of having a vertical antenna and a loop antenna with one tuner. I know you can get dedicated loop tuners but this would be more versatile.
You can do that with this tuner and I’ve had some success with it in fairness.
Is it possible to not hear ANYTHING on hf with an indoor antenna?
Thanks for the demo.
It can be, especially if there’s very little activity on the band. Some days at home when I’ve used an indoor aerial I’ve heard absolutely nothing, then some days when conditions are good, I’ve heard almost all of Europe calling.
love the video clear adn nicely explained
new question -
1 10m element + 5m counterpoise
does that only work on 20m
or other bands as well ?
(sorry if it is a silly question)
No question is silly :)
A 10m element will work as a full wave on 10m band, and will work on other bands for example a quarter wave on 40m and half wave on 20m. With an ATU it will tune up on most bands in between. I’d generally use a longer counterpoise though but it seems 5m works with the wonderwand tuner.
@@OntheMicwithMike many thanks Mike
I will make the
10m element +
5m counterpoise and try them out on other Bands as well
Excellent video very helpful
Appreciate it, thanks Alan.
What are you supposed to do when you have no am are fm.just ssb
This works on all modes.
Tune by loudest noise usually works too
Whistling works
Hope you figured this out but just in case you thought the guy above was being sarcastic, he wasn't. Giving a solid constant whistle into a radio TXing on SSB will give you something to tune by in a pinch.
Listening to band noise (loudest) will also get you close.
Yes a really great gadget just a shame max power is only 10w
Hi, thanks for the Video. Why do you choose FM for tuning the SWR?
Because you need a continuous carrier. You can also use data modes to tune up as well.
@@OntheMicwithMike Thank you for the answer. That makes sense.
hi there
quick question
reagrding antenna and counterpoises
10m polyweave is element length - how long is counterpoise?
many thanks
Hiya,
I use 5m with mine and seems to work fine.
Cheers and 73'.
@@OntheMicwithMike many thanks
duz it work indoors?
The original name is the banana plug. The inventor actually uses the term "banana" in the original patents.
Thank You. I've been seriously considering buying one. My question is, have you made any contacts in 80m and 160m's?
I've had a few contacts on 80m but I don't really use 160m at all.
It's a great bit of kit to have of you are into your portable qrp ops.
@@OntheMicwithMike I have the Wonder Wand Wonderloop and it does a pretty good job for what it is and I've seen this one. Just trying to make an informed decision on buying this. It costs over $200.00 US here. Thank You again for this information
Walter Edwards How’s the wonderloop? I’ve been quite hesitant to buy it. What do you think of it on 40m also?
@@walteredwards544 wow, yes I can see why you would be looking to get some feedback first. Well, I was initially going to go with the Wonderloop but the reason I went with the Widebander was purely for the much better range of frequencies it covers & the other side was, it gives me a few options to use antenna wise. That's what sold it to me. 73' and happy dx'ing :)
@@karlng2691 I enjoy using it, especially for a quick set up but it doesn't hear as well as EFHW that's my primary antenna or have the Omni directional capability of my Wolf River Coils 1/4 wave vertical so you have to rotate the radio around but it's not far off in performance and I can set it up and get on the air at a fraction of the time it takes to set up.tbe other two. I'm thinking the Widebander will bridge a gap between the quick set-up of my loop and the Omni directional ability of my vertical, plus it will cover all bands, yet remain compact. As a side note, from my QTH in Georgia, I've reached stations as far away as Maine and Minnesota with my loop and they were surprised that I came in so clear. I'm still going to experiment more with it because I may purchase a larger loop but I have time. Thank you for your reply and the great information and 73's Walter
how do you get the whip to work indoors transmitting?
I've used the small telescopic whip many times at home and out portable. You tune it up the same way as you would with a wire antenna. Fully extend it and tune up as per video.
what is the bnc connector on the front for
To connect a portable antenna. You can pretty much carry it as a portapak.
@@OntheMicwithMike i know that, but why is there something connected to the front in the vid and why
@@malcwallace4119 It's pretty much a dust cap. Keeps dirt and muck from getting into the socket.
Did you fit a ground wire.
No need with it. It's very forgiving.
Everyone has heard John :)
do u use a counterpoise with the whip?
No, doesn’t seem to be a need.
i think it does help with a counterpoise off the radio
Does this tuner need a counterpoise
It always helps and is good practice but I’ve used it without one and worked fine.
Have you got a price / link for this?
I noted the price on the video. Link here:
www.radioworld.co.uk/wonder_wand/wonder-wand-widebander-mkii-version
do u use a counterpoise?
Yes, connected to the ground on the wonderwand.
thanks for fantastic tips good job 73 from kb2uew
the plug is a banana plug