Back in the day, (80's) I was quite active on CW Mobile as I had to travel down to So. Fla several times. I placed a Kenwood SW-200 SWR meter in the dash so I could monitor my status. I used the original "BUM" 40 Meter Hamstick. Later, I purchased a MFJ mobile Capacitor switch box that had about 5 values to switch in/out. On 40 CW I just operated from 7025-7035 mainly. It was dead flat. Great Antenna!
The Ham Stick antenna Z at the base is low and has to be raised with a parallel coil to the feed line for best results. Try using a coil of wire instead of the capacitor and you will love it. About 10 to 15 turns 1,5 to 2 inch in diameter. from hot to ground. Then spread it apart or push it together to tune for low swr. or use a MFJ air wound coil and tap it with a shorting wire till it matches. You will find that most of the guys that have good luck with this antenna use a air coil from hot lead to ground on a Hamstick....Similar to what you see on a screwdriver antenna shunt fed with a coil to ground. This brings the impedance back up to around 50 ohms instead of in the 12 to 25 ohm range. Also BTW the voltage node is at the top of the antenna and the current peak is at the bottom of the antenna. So a 500V silvermica works at the bottom. Also using an antenna tuner on this would only make your radio feel fuzzy matching at the antenna is the answer. Please read this web site below... 73 Jimmy, ARRL TS, WX9DX ccs.dogpile.com/ClickHandler.ashx?encp=ld%3d20170106%26app%3d1%26c%3dinfo.dogpl%26s%3dDogpile%26rc%3dinfo.dogpl%26dc%3d%26euip%3d97.106.100.90%26pvaid%3d3d1f499f9ca44a96b2f1f225d57c3c1e%26dt%3dDesktop%26sid%3d1830193568.1306658019865.1483671401%26vid%3d1830193568.1306658019865.1478137914.49%26fcoi%3d417%26fcop%3dtopnav%26fct.uid%3daa4be3a42dc34fc8acd25aaaeee45742%26fpid%3d2%26en%3d0WEFU%252fZhSoTF%252fFm%252bpLeuVl4UPZzISdzyg%252baGYj7N8ISb7M1aTnzzgA%253d%253d%26ru%3dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.k0bg.com%252fmatch.html%26coi%3d1494%26npp%3d3%26p%3d0%26pp%3d0%26mid%3d9%26ep%3d3%26du%3dwww.k0bg.com%252fmatch.html%26hash%3dFC33D363D7B1E2718637F79BB4FA4D75&ap=6&cop=main-title
Great info! I have read through and often refer to K0BG's site. I actually did try something like this (may not have been executed well) and it did work, but I ended up taking it down because it was too cumbersome and I didn't really trust it. I did make a video about it though. th-cam.com/video/0gYdQ4QvVgE/w-d-xo.html
WX9DX Base shunt, gives me best results. at 7:06 into video I hear Tony KF5ULS for Amrron net then Ruth for TAPRN net. look them up at amrron.com, really very nice folks.
Antennas that are capacitive need a coil and those that are inductive need a capacitor, however experimentation is always a good thing. Great video, show us more experiments please!
I found your excellent video while researching the same 40M hamstick issue in 2021! Your modification took that antenna from unusable to not bad. Bookmarked, liked, subbed.
You will get the same result using an inductor instead of a cap. Its not as convenient to implement but a side effect is that you will end up with a slightly shorter antenna to get resonance. I did it in a small van, with a through the body mount so it was possible to fit the inductor inside, it was about ten turns of 20swg wire with 10mm diameter, final adjustment ws made by stretching the coil slightly. I also used a cap on an earlier installation using a multiband/tapped antenna, I made the cap from a length of rg58 in parallel with the antenna feed point, I adjusted the capacitance by cutting bits off until I got it matched--it was possible to cut off a few inches at a time as it wasnt that critical, the final length was about two metres (if I remember correctly????). Once the final length was correct, I trimmed back about 1/4 inch of the outer sleeve and screen then sealed the end with amalgamating tape. I wrapped the finished cap around the roof bars--Different bands would need different capacitor values.--I had anotrher shorter one for 20metres, the higher HF bands were ok without as was 80m for some reason. I had banana plugs on the end and plugged them into the bottom of the jumper wire for the taps as required.
Thats because you clipped that long piece of inductor called a WIRE in line with that capacitor. Why didn't you just mount the cap and set it with the set screws?
Norman Davis WB4BKO I concur about using the shunt coil between antenna and ground. Reall widens the bandwidth. On the rear of a Geo Metro below the plastic bumper I need all the help I can get!
You do need to technically make the antenna resinate. Not use the tuner as much as possible . More so in a mobile. The tuner as we know only exist for the radio. Not the antenna. Get you some small coated copper wire and wind it around seven turns at about one inch and a quarter in diameter . This is a much better alternative to adding a capacitor. This kind of shunt can be adjusted while on the antenna.
The mounting to the HVAC vents? I used a couple of cell phone car-vent holders. For example, on Amazon, look for something like "VizGiz 2 Pack Air Vent Phone Holder for Car Automotive Clamp."
Im sorry you have a high swr, but why is obvious for starters you need a silver mica capacitor & 2 that is because you are using that lip mount, you have no real ground for that antenna 3 Im familiar with that mount but why is there a nylon spacer in it? ditch it drill a hole through the body or trunk lid & use a 3/8x24 gum drop mount ground the trunk lid to the body & the body to the frame with heavy gauge strap or wire you are creating an image plane my antenna is 12.5' long and hits every tree etc because its 14' in the air maybe Ill work ya mobile to mobile one day, 73
Good video. I also have one for 40 mtrs and use it on a magmount on the cars roof, this gives me a low swr reading and plenty of qsos using qrp on cw. I would not drive around with the antenna in place but would park up instead beside the beach or use it on a camp site, 73 de paul ..
Did you do any other grounding with that antenna mount. I friend lowered his SWR by adding a length of ground wire in his trump to act as a counterpoise. I know I can get a 1:2 SWR using a HAMSTICK and a resonant length counterpoise.
Hi! I've added several grounding straps, from the Trunk to the body, body to exhaust, hood to body, Trunk lip mount to Trunk. With The tuner I can make it work fine, I've also added a capacitive matcher to help. Thanks for watching! I have several other videos on HAM radio as well, check them out if you haven't!
You are barking up the right tree, but you are using the wrong capacitor. You should be using a silver Mica capacitor. The best way to find out the exact size capacitor is to get a variable capacitor and hook it in line. A 500 pf air variable should allow you to tune it for a flat swr .. if it doesn't and you need more capacitance then you can add a fixed capacitor or 2 in parallel with the air capacitor until you can adjust the air capacitor to a flat swr... once you've done that don't move the air cap anymore , then all you have to do is measure the capacitance of all the caps together... once you do that then all you have to do is stick a silver mica of that value (or close) permanently... if you don't have any of that value you can just put some together in parallel until you do... If you don't have a capacitance meter you can get a cheap capacitor/inductor meter off Ebay for about 10 bucks the model is LC100-A... But you really can get that antenna Flat if you put a little time into it... you can change the caps for the other bands too... 80 meters you'll need about a 700 pf Silver mica... Happy Hamming
My issue is that my analyzer says I have below 2:1 swr across the 40 meter General voice portion, however when I try to transmit, my swr alert goes off on the radio and it reads very high with any sort of power. 20 meter ham stick works great
I will also note that the same thing occurs when I put my screwdriver antenna on the mag mount as well. I can tune it for 40 meters with the analyzer to what it reads as 1:1 with 50 ohms impedance, but when I try to transmit the swr is through the roof.. I have tried several different mounts and the tram 5 inch mag mount that I have landed on works the best, atleast down to 20 meters. I have tried everything short of drilling holes in the car..
These 'Hamtenna' sticks are made more for mag mounts, not trunk lip mounts, and especially not bumper mounts. I get 1.2 or so, with 100 cycles on either side of the res freq of bandwidth before it hits 2.2. That's using a mfj mag mount in the middle of the roof...bit that's high for mobile...so you could try the middle of the. truck. They don't need any more ground with the mag mount, but need as much flat metal surface under them as possible for good swr. I'm sure that is why he is not able to get at least 1.5 on the initial install.
I decided to scrap the capacitors and induction coils and just rely on a good tune of the antenna, and an automatic antenna tuner. It's been a bit since I've used it, but I want to so the bandwidth is between ~50 KHz. I can't quite remember but that's close. Edit: I'll check tomorrow and update. Edit 2: I also use an MFJ-909 capacitive matcher along with the Tuner. The video: th-cam.com/video/QD1PMJl2icw/w-d-xo.html
+Al Alan The Hamsticks seem to work pretty well! The 20-meter needs no matching for SWR, and the 40 meter hamstick I use an MFJ-909 Capacitive matcher, in addition to an MFJ-929 Autotuner. Have made good contacts with both antennas. If I can hear the other station they generally can hear me. Thanks for watching!
+Al Alan Also, recently I set up 20 and 40 meter hamsticks in my backyard, on a little tripod, with 20 radials. So kind of a "portable" setup. Those seem to be working well with descent SWR (still would want to use a tuner, but not absolutely necessary). Here is the video: th-cam.com/video/7y3kzENZ5iM/w-d-xo.html
I use the full sized 40M hamstick with a clamp on my rear kayak bar passenger rear, up top and a massive braid right to the car roof snuck in under the window rubber so less than 4 inches bonded, and added two #77 Ferrites and excellent double shielded coax cable. Tuning best 1.4:1 with no matching, so that could be improved. It is scary high, I do use two big mono guys to the front kayak bar. But I ran all over New England and never hit anything. The LMR-240 coax is well choked and absolutely RF cold to movement. I do use a small tuner. The results on air are truly amazing on 40M. Lots of mobile to mobile contacts, and regularly get 10 over 9 reports out to 400 miles morning and afternoon condx.
I have the 40 20 and 15 meter ver and I have made contacts on all of them bands. Now I made a portble mount to stuck in my trunk and setup in the park works good. K2DGOE
dude, if you're relying on a Radio Shack SWR meter, you have bigger problems. Get rid of the cap, and put a shunt coil in. The inherent impedance at the antenna is low, you need to raise it up.
Thanks for the tip. This video was shot 3 years ago - since then I've properly installed an MFJ-908 inductive matcher at the feed point in the trunk. Your comment makes me think I need to to a mobile HF update video on changes I've made and challenges I've faced with this install over time. Thanks for watching!
Hi- strangely the SWR does seem to go up at 100W with all the hamsticks . What starts out as 1.1:1 goes to about 1.5-1.7:1 at 100 watts. It's no problem, but odd.
I'm glad it's not only me. It's not a big deal. Exception 1.0:1 isn't realistic, and if you were getting that, it probably indicates massive losses in your antenna system.
Change out your antenna it's not going to do anything that's going to help your signal or your receive it's only fooling your SWR get something that works besides that antenna is not made for mobile like that you go in the McDonald's or under bridge you'll break it right off if you're doing 35 45 miles an hour trust me
Back in the day, (80's) I was quite active on CW Mobile as I had to travel down to So. Fla several times. I placed a Kenwood SW-200 SWR meter in the dash so I could monitor my status. I used the original "BUM" 40 Meter Hamstick. Later, I purchased a MFJ mobile Capacitor switch box that had about 5 values to switch in/out. On 40 CW I just operated from 7025-7035 mainly. It was dead flat. Great Antenna!
The Ham Stick antenna Z at the base is low and has to be raised with a parallel coil to the feed line for best results.
Try using a coil of wire instead of the capacitor and you will love it. About 10 to 15 turns 1,5 to 2 inch in diameter. from hot to ground. Then spread it apart or push it together to tune for low swr. or use a MFJ air wound coil and tap it with a shorting wire till it matches. You will find that most of the guys that have good luck with this antenna use a air coil from hot lead to ground on a Hamstick....Similar to what you see on a screwdriver antenna shunt fed with a coil to ground. This brings the impedance back up to around 50 ohms instead of in the 12 to 25 ohm range. Also BTW the voltage node is at the top of the antenna and the current peak is at the bottom of the antenna. So a 500V silvermica works at the bottom.
Also using an antenna tuner on this would only make your radio feel fuzzy matching at the antenna is the answer. Please read this web site below...
73
Jimmy, ARRL TS, WX9DX
ccs.dogpile.com/ClickHandler.ashx?encp=ld%3d20170106%26app%3d1%26c%3dinfo.dogpl%26s%3dDogpile%26rc%3dinfo.dogpl%26dc%3d%26euip%3d97.106.100.90%26pvaid%3d3d1f499f9ca44a96b2f1f225d57c3c1e%26dt%3dDesktop%26sid%3d1830193568.1306658019865.1483671401%26vid%3d1830193568.1306658019865.1478137914.49%26fcoi%3d417%26fcop%3dtopnav%26fct.uid%3daa4be3a42dc34fc8acd25aaaeee45742%26fpid%3d2%26en%3d0WEFU%252fZhSoTF%252fFm%252bpLeuVl4UPZzISdzyg%252baGYj7N8ISb7M1aTnzzgA%253d%253d%26ru%3dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.k0bg.com%252fmatch.html%26coi%3d1494%26npp%3d3%26p%3d0%26pp%3d0%26mid%3d9%26ep%3d3%26du%3dwww.k0bg.com%252fmatch.html%26hash%3dFC33D363D7B1E2718637F79BB4FA4D75&ap=6&cop=main-title
Great info! I have read through and often refer to K0BG's site. I actually did try something like this (may not have been executed well) and it did work, but I ended up taking it down because it was too cumbersome and I didn't really trust it. I did make a video about it though. th-cam.com/video/0gYdQ4QvVgE/w-d-xo.html
WX9DX
Base shunt, gives me best results.
at 7:06 into video I hear Tony KF5ULS for Amrron net then Ruth for TAPRN net.
look them up at amrron.com,
really very nice folks.
Antennas that are capacitive need a coil and those that are inductive need a capacitor, however experimentation is always a good thing. Great video, show us more experiments please!
I found your excellent video while researching the same 40M hamstick issue in 2021! Your modification took that antenna from unusable to not bad. Bookmarked, liked, subbed.
You will get the same result using an inductor instead of a cap. Its not as convenient to implement but a side effect is that you will end up with a slightly shorter antenna to get resonance. I did it in a small van, with a through the body mount so it was possible to fit the inductor inside, it was about ten turns of 20swg wire with 10mm diameter, final adjustment ws made by stretching the coil slightly.
I also used a cap on an earlier installation using a multiband/tapped antenna, I made the cap from a length of rg58 in parallel with the antenna feed point, I adjusted the capacitance by cutting bits off until I got it matched--it was possible to cut off a few inches at a time as it wasnt that critical, the final length was about two metres (if I remember correctly????). Once the final length was correct, I trimmed back about 1/4 inch of the outer sleeve and screen then sealed the end with amalgamating tape. I wrapped the finished cap around the roof bars--Different bands would need different capacitor values.--I had anotrher shorter one for 20metres, the higher HF bands were ok without as was 80m for some reason. I had banana plugs on the end and plugged them into the bottom of the jumper wire for the taps as required.
Crippled with a tecsun 330/660. Works well as a receiving antenna. As most of my ham/swl ing circles around 40/ 160-10 meter.
Thats because you clipped that long piece of inductor called a WIRE in line with that capacitor. Why didn't you just mount the cap and set it with the set screws?
Norman Davis WB4BKO I concur about using the shunt coil between antenna and ground. Reall widens the bandwidth. On the rear of a Geo Metro below the plastic bumper I need all the help I can get!
You do need to technically make the antenna resinate. Not use the tuner as much as possible . More so in a mobile. The tuner as we know only exist for the radio. Not the antenna. Get you some small coated copper wire and wind it around seven turns at about one inch and a quarter in diameter . This is a much better alternative to adding a capacitor. This kind of shunt can be adjusted while on the antenna.
where did you get that front panel mount for the IC-706 MK2G?
Barry VE3ISX
The mounting to the HVAC vents? I used a couple of cell phone car-vent holders. For example, on Amazon, look for something like "VizGiz 2 Pack Air Vent Phone Holder for Car Automotive Clamp."
Im sorry you have a high swr, but why is obvious
for starters you need a silver mica capacitor
& 2 that is because you are using that lip mount, you have no real ground for that antenna
3 Im familiar with that mount but why is there a nylon spacer in it?
ditch it drill a hole through the body or trunk lid & use a 3/8x24 gum drop mount
ground the trunk lid to the body & the body to the frame with heavy gauge strap or wire
you are creating an image plane
my antenna is 12.5' long and hits every tree etc because its 14' in the air
maybe Ill work ya mobile to mobile one day, 73
Good video. I also have one for 40 mtrs and use it on a magmount on the cars roof, this gives me a low swr reading and plenty of qsos using qrp on cw. I would not drive around with the antenna in place but would park up instead beside the beach or use it on a camp site, 73 de paul ..
+Paul Fallon I set one up on a little tripod with 20 radials in my backyard and it's working well with a low SWR. Lower than on my car.
Did you do any other grounding with that antenna mount. I friend lowered his SWR by adding a length of ground wire in his trump to act as a counterpoise. I know I can get a 1:2 SWR using a HAMSTICK and a resonant length counterpoise.
Hi! I've added several grounding straps, from the Trunk to the body, body to exhaust, hood to body, Trunk lip mount to Trunk. With The tuner I can make it work fine, I've also added a capacitive matcher to help. Thanks for watching! I have several other videos on HAM radio as well, check them out if you haven't!
I know this is late but I am considering this antenna and my question is, How much electrical bonding did you do? Thanks
Hi! I go into the mobile setup and bonding in depth in another video: th-cam.com/video/6LJkmcgIf-0/w-d-xo.html
You are barking up the right tree, but you are using the wrong capacitor. You should be using a silver Mica capacitor. The best way to find out the exact size capacitor is to get a variable capacitor and hook it in line. A 500 pf air variable should allow you to tune it for a flat swr .. if it doesn't and you need more capacitance then you can add a fixed capacitor or 2 in parallel with the air capacitor until you can adjust the air capacitor to a flat swr... once you've done that don't move the air cap anymore , then all you have to do is measure the capacitance of all the caps together... once you do that then all you have to do is stick a silver mica of that value (or close) permanently... if you don't have any of that value you can just put some together in parallel until you do...
If you don't have a capacitance meter you can get a cheap capacitor/inductor meter off Ebay for about 10 bucks the model is LC100-A...
But you really can get that antenna Flat if you put a little time into it... you can change the caps for the other bands too... 80 meters you'll need about a 700 pf Silver mica...
Happy Hamming
My issue is that my analyzer says I have below 2:1 swr across the 40 meter General voice portion, however when I try to transmit, my swr alert goes off on the radio and it reads very high with any sort of power. 20 meter ham stick works great
I will also note that the same thing occurs when I put my screwdriver antenna on the mag mount as well. I can tune it for 40 meters with the analyzer to what it reads as 1:1 with 50 ohms impedance, but when I try to transmit the swr is through the roof.. I have tried several different mounts and the tram 5 inch mag mount that I have landed on works the best, atleast down to 20 meters. I have tried everything short of drilling holes in the car..
Excellent Video.73's.KC9QVE Kokomo,Indiana
+Tony Ridlen Thanks for watching!
These 'Hamtenna' sticks are made more for mag mounts, not trunk lip mounts, and especially not bumper mounts. I get 1.2 or so, with 100 cycles on either side of the res freq of bandwidth before it hits 2.2. That's using a mfj mag mount in the middle of the roof...bit that's high for mobile...so you could try the middle of the. truck. They don't need any more ground with the mag mount, but need as much flat metal surface under them as possible for good swr. I'm sure that is why he is not able to get at least 1.5 on the initial install.
Put a tuning capacitor in the place of the ceramic and pls tell me how tunable this is swr-wise?
I decided to scrap the capacitors and induction coils and just rely on a good tune of the antenna, and an automatic antenna tuner. It's been a bit since I've used it, but I want to so the bandwidth is between ~50 KHz. I can't quite remember but that's close. Edit: I'll check tomorrow and update. Edit 2: I also use an MFJ-909 capacitive matcher along with the Tuner. The video: th-cam.com/video/QD1PMJl2icw/w-d-xo.html
Oh i see, the atu solves it all! Checking your link!
you need to close your side doors when checking swr
True normally, but if the SWR goes up when you close the doors, wouldn't that also suggest that the ground plane area is too small?
I think you did well again great info? n1sca
Thanks! I've uploaded quite a few videos related to my endeavors in ham radio.
like that analizer
Good videos! How did the 20 and 40 meter Hamstics perform in actual operation? Have you also tried setting them up for portable operation?
+Al Alan The Hamsticks seem to work pretty well! The 20-meter needs no matching for SWR, and the 40 meter hamstick I use an MFJ-909 Capacitive matcher, in addition to an MFJ-929 Autotuner. Have made good contacts with both antennas. If I can hear the other station they generally can hear me. Thanks for watching!
+Al Alan Also, recently I set up 20 and 40 meter hamsticks in my backyard, on a little tripod, with 20 radials. So kind of a "portable" setup. Those seem to be working well with descent SWR (still would want to use a tuner, but not absolutely necessary). Here is the video: th-cam.com/video/7y3kzENZ5iM/w-d-xo.html
I use the full sized 40M hamstick with a clamp on my rear kayak bar passenger rear, up top and a massive braid right to the car roof snuck in under the window rubber so less than 4 inches bonded, and added two #77 Ferrites and excellent double shielded coax cable. Tuning best 1.4:1 with no matching, so that could be improved. It is scary high, I do use two big mono guys to the front kayak bar. But I ran all over New England and never hit anything. The LMR-240 coax is well choked and absolutely RF cold to movement. I do use a small tuner. The results on air are truly amazing on 40M. Lots of mobile to mobile contacts, and regularly get 10 over 9 reports out to 400 miles morning and afternoon condx.
Nice! I'll have to try that! ;)@@MIKROWAVE1
I have the 40 20 and 15 meter ver and I have made contacts on all of them bands.
Now I made a portble mount to stuck in my trunk and setup in the park works good.
K2DGOE
good info
Greetings. that analyzer seems to be not good. At least it helps a little.
👍👍👍👍👍👍💎
dude, if you're relying on a Radio Shack SWR meter, you have bigger problems. Get rid of the cap, and put a shunt coil in. The inherent impedance at the antenna is low, you need to raise it up.
Thanks for the tip. This video was shot 3 years ago - since then I've properly installed an MFJ-908 inductive matcher at the feed point in the trunk. Your comment makes me think I need to to a mobile HF update video on changes I've made and challenges I've faced with this install over time. Thanks for watching!
did the swr go up on 100 watts
Hi- strangely the SWR does seem to go up at 100W with all the hamsticks . What starts out as 1.1:1 goes to about 1.5-1.7:1 at 100 watts. It's no problem, but odd.
Yeah I see that when I tune up my station, and I'm just using wire antennas.
I'm glad it's not only me. It's not a big deal. Exception 1.0:1 isn't realistic, and if you were getting that, it probably indicates massive losses in your antenna system.
yes I agree with you, dummy loads don't resonate too far.
I just understood what you meant by this "dummy loads" haha. I think you're right.
Change out your antenna it's not going to do anything that's going to help your signal or your receive it's only fooling your SWR get something that works besides that antenna is not made for mobile like that you go in the McDonald's or under bridge you'll break it right off if you're doing 35 45 miles an hour trust me
When you spend a lot of time doing this in your car at night don't the neighbours think your wife has chucked you out?
make a $ match, like wx9dx describes.