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Simple Ham Radio Antennas--Building Ladder Line by N4LQ. Post #915.

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If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzFJ=KGB6qkXs. Making your own ladder line to feed your antennas is easy if you follow Steve Ellington's (N4LQ) step-by-step video.  Most of the wire and ties can be bought at your neighborhood hardware store or building supply outlet. You can use your home made ladder line and a balanced antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner") to turn your dipole into a multi-band antenna.  You can also use a 4:1 current balun to connect your ladder line to your regular "tuner".  Be sure to spray all connections with a UV-resistant paint. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit my news site at http://www.kh6jrm.info. Hawaii hams are also invited to check into my Hawaii ARRL News site at http://bigislandarrlnews.wordpress.com. Opinions expressed in this blog are mine unless otherwise stated. Be sure to check out

Simple Ham Radio Antennas--A Simple Wire Tuner. Post #914.

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If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QwBiz_LB9M. Here's a simple, basic, but effective antenna transmatch or "tuner" for feeding random wires, especially half-wave end-fed antennas. Stan Gibilisco (W1GV) does an excellent job of explaining the theory, design, construction, and use of this simple device that will match the impedance of a long or random wire antenna to the impedance of your HF transceiver.  Be sure to use a good ground radial system with this type of antenna. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit my news website at http://www.kh6jrm.info. Be sure to check out the blog sidebars for more antenna and propagation information. Opinions expressed in this blog are mine unless otherwise stated. Thanks for joining us today! Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).

Simple Ham Radio Antennas--Rat Tails and Counterpoise adapters for VHF Rubber Duck Antennas

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If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-JqK7w_1d8.  This is post #913 in a continuing series of simple ham radio antennas.  Improving the performance of your VHF/UHF HT may be as simple as attaching a "rat tail" quarter wave length wire to the base of your HT's "Rubber Duck" antenna.  The extra wire supplies the missing half of the HT's antenna.  The slightly modified antenna now becomes a VHF/UHF dipole antenna with significant gain over the highly compromised "Rubber Duck" antenna.  This video clearly explains the process of making a "Rat Tail" antenna extension for your HT.  The "Rat Tail" is simple, inexpensive, and efficient. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit my news site at http://www.kh6jrm.info. Be sure to check out the blog sidebars for more antenna articles and reference sources.

Simple Ham Radio Antennas--Dual Magnetic Loop antenna 80m to 17m continuous

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If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuaTCZG2EBs. Here's another interesting magnetic loop antenna that is a bit more complicated than other magnetic loop antenna videos online.  According to Rob (dx2hunt), this dual magnetic loop antennas covers amateur radio frequencies between 80m and 17m continuously.  The 3/4-inch (19 mm) copper loops are arranged in a parallel fashion and are separated by 2.5 to 3 diameters of the copper tubes.  The most expensive part of the antenna is the vacuum variable capacitor which has a range of 25 to 1,000 pF with a 7,500 volt rating.  Rob says he has made some good contacts between Australia and New Zealand with this dual loop magnetic antenna.  If you've got the time, you may want to build one of these intriguing antennas. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit my news site at: http://www.kh6jrm.info. Radio amat

Simple Ham Radio Antennas--40 Meter Inverted V Antenna - Build, Tune & Test! Post #911

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If you're having trouble viewing this video, please insert this title link into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7za6gPWcNng.  The basic inverted V antenna is an incredibly easy to make and use antenna that will give your hours of radio pleasure.  In this video, Dave Tadlock (KG0ZZ) provides a detailed explanation and demonstration of how to design, build, erect, and use a 40 meter inverted v antenna.  His explanation is clear, concise, and detailed. Follow Dave's instructions, and you'll have little difficulty in building this versatile HF antenna.  Multiband use can be obtained if you feed the antenna with 300 ohm television twin lead, 450 ohm ladder line, or homemade balanced line.  To use these feed lines, you'll need a balanced antenna transmatch (i.e. "tuner") or a 4:1 current balun attached to your regular "tuner."  You can use any good quality 50 ohm coaxial cable to feed the 40 meter version of this antenna. You can