Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/QvgwLoc-w.  Here's a simple way to make your vertical antenna gain more performance and directivity.  Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) explains the theory, design, and performance of phased 1/4 vertical antennas.  In this system, there are two 1/4 wavelength verticals, 1/2 wavelength apart.  Stan explains a basic phasing network that will give your verticals some gain (around 3dB over a monopole) and directivity broadside to the array.  A phased 20, 15, or 10 meter vertical array is easy to make and will give you a better chance to snag that elusive DX.  For more information, visit http://www.sciencewriter.net.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily. You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today!  May you

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxwO14cqyww.  This excellent video from the Radio Society of Great Britain and TX Factor was uploaded by KB8UUZ.  The intent of this video is to introduce Amateur Radio to young people.  The video does a good job of explaining what Amateur Radio is, its mission in society, and how it can further a person's educational and vocational goals.  Very well done.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy_XwvMnIro.  In this excellently produced video, Dave Tadlock (KG0ZZ) shows us an easily-made yagi antenna covering the amateur radio 2 m/70 cm bands.  You can use this antenna with your dual band HT to work the SO-50 and other FM amateur radio satellites.  Most of the materials can be found at the nearest hardware or building supply outlet. The antenna elements can be made from metal clothes hangers, steel rods, or even sections of steel measuring tape.  A wooden dowel or even lightweight PVC pipe can be used to support the antenna elements.  Your feed line can be 50 ohm coaxial cable such as RG-58/RG-8X.  Seventy-five (75) ohm coax such as RG-6 can be used as well. Good luck.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email

10 Ultra Stealth Antenna Designs for HOAs (http://www.forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/10-ultra-stealth-antenna-designs-for-hams-260566/). Accessed on 28 December 2015, 23:46 hrs, UTC . Author:  KC8VWM. I ran across this article while I was searching for stealth antenna ideas.  This list of super hidden antennas may be useful for those radio amateurs operating in deed-restricted homes or apartments (HOAs/CC&Rs). Here's the list: Weather instrument antenna. Solar-powered light pole antenna. Satellite TV dish antenna . Disguised Portable AM/FM radio dipole. Purple Martin birdhouse antenna. Fishing rod prop antenna. The tire swing vertical antenna. The badminton net antenna. The bicycle prop antenna. The patio umbrella antenna . Perhaps one of these antennas can help you get on the air.  Good luck! For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars. These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow o

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/AVJS_-6k7CQ.  This video from Charlie (KD8EFQ) should appeal to radio amateurs living in deed-restricted apartments or houses (HOAs/CC&Rs).  Charlie has assembled a working amateur radio station capable of covering amateur radio  HF and VHF bands with only a minimal outlay for cost and materials.  He uses mag mount mobile antennas for his VHF work and antenna parts found on eBay for the HF antenna.  Hopefully, Charlie's efforts will inspire other apartment-bound amateur radio operators to experiment and get on the air.  Afterall, a compromise antenna is better than no antenna.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM)

If you're having difficulty viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/53bHi4_GJFk.  In this video, "Indianacaver" reviews the RADS 9-11/A1 rapid deployment antenna system. The antenna system covers amateur radio frequencies in the HF , VHF , and UHF bands.  Although this system is no longer made, it will give you ideas for making your own portable or emergency antenna kit. For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Related articles Sorry, I've Been On 2m FM Again Ham radio at IMaRC Conference New at DX Engineering: Larsen Antennas for Portable/Mobile Amateur Radio Systems Robin posted a blog post Minimalist microwave magic Norwich pupils are inspired by British ast

If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this addess into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/qRpMZnUnAUc.  This is part 2 of Randy Hall 's (K7AGE) new ham shack project.  Randy recently moved to the Oregon coast and has been busy rebuilding his radio room.  In part 1, Randy described how he rebuilt his shelves, positioned his equipment, and took care of the electrical and grounding issues in his new shack. In this video, Randy completes his radio room and erects a Par End-Fed Quad Band antenna to finish the process. He used a MFJ -269 antenna analyzer to check out the performance of his new antenna.  A very nice video that can give you some ideas about rearranging your own ham shack.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed . Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73

A Ham Radio Operator's Night Before Christmas : A Ham Radio Operator's Night Before Christmas from Gary Pearce, KN4AQ on December 24, 2015 View comments about this article! A Ham Radio Operator's Night Before Christmas T'was the night before Christmas, And all through two-meters, Not a signal was keying up Any repeaters. The antennas reached up From the tower, quite high, To catch the weak signals That bounced from the sky. The children, Tech-Pluses, Took their HTs to bed, And dreamed of the day They'd be Extras, instead. Mom put on her headphones, I plugged in the key, And we tuned 40 meters For that rare ZK3. When the meter was pegged by a signal with power. It smoked a small diode, and, I swear, shook the tower. Mom yanked off her phones, And with all she could muster Logged a spot of the signal On the DX Packet Cluster, While I ran to the window And peered up at the sky, To see what could generate RF that high. It was wa

If you're have trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/2bMNm57YUbA. Like many radio amateurs living in deed-restricted apartments and homes (HOAs/CC&Rs), Daniel Devine faced serious issues getting a 2 meter antenna erected in his apartment. In this video, Daniel created this somewhat unusual design for his 2 meter activity.  Daniel says any kind of outdoor antenna was prohibited in his apartment complex, so he came up with this unconventional design.  Daniel says this homebrew antenna works and he is able to once again enjoy 2 meter contacts with local radio amateurs.  Perhaps, you can improve Daniel's design and, thereby, find a way to get back on the air.  Even a compromise antenna is better than no antenna.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping int

This is Post # 635. If you're having difficulty viewing this video, please put this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/bNOuzdH2btk. Here's another simple antenna for radio amateurs living in deed-restricted homes and apartments (HOAs and CC&Rs).  In this excellent, well-paced tutorial, Richard Fusinski (K8NDS) shows us how to design, build, and use a helically loaded magnetic loop antenna. Richard shows us two of his designs:  one built for the 20-10 meter amateur radio bands and another for the 80-20 meter amateur radio bands.  These antennas are ideal for antenna-restricted areas or for portable/emergency use.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily.  You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed.  Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

This is Post # 634. If you are having trouble viewing this video, please insert this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/uJR4HrfArNQ. Here is another way to get on the air from a deed-restricted (HOA/CC&R) property.  "Videosbymike" takes us through the process of erecting an Alpha EZ Military Antenna so as to conform with the HOA/CC&Rs of his home.  This antenna may not apply to your situation, but it should give you some ideas.  Even if this antenna doesn't fit your specific requirements, it will serve as an excellent portable or emergency antenna.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars. These news feeds are updated daily. You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription.  Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

If you're experiencing difficulty in viewing this video, please enter this address into your browser search box: https://youtu.be/Il_eju4D_TM.  Exceptionally well-produced tutorial from W2AEW on how to use a scope and function generator to measure the length of coaxial transmission line as well as estimate its impedance.  The procedure uses a "poor man's TDR " type of measurement "by launching a pulse into the coax and measuring how long it takes to return after being reflected by the open circuit end."  W2AEW briefly discusses transmission line and reflection theory.  The video is well-paced and easy to follow.  For the latest Amateur Radio news and events, please check out the blog sidebars.  These news feeds are updated daily. You can follow our blog community with a free email subscription or by tapping into the blog RSS feed. Thanks for joining us today!  Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Related articles Actiontec WCB6200Q Wireless Network Exten