Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you can view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch/v=kykqimN7nvI. Here's another fascinating antenna design from Peter Parker (VK3YE).  In this post, Peter shows us his "SummerLoop 14-50 MHz pedestrian mobile magnetic loop antenna."  Construction seems fairly easy and will give you a good chance to experiment with magnetic loop antennas, be they mobile or not.  In this design, Peter says he has given a previous magnetic loop "a revamp with improved performance and coverage."  Peter uses a Yaesu FT-817 QRP rig to demonstrate the capabilities of this antenna. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://paper.li/kh6jrm/1430289353 (Amat

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser inbox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKNE25Ngu4. Here's another very good, simple antenna that costs little while delivering great performance on the band of your choice.  In this video, Peter Parker (VK3YE) shows us how to build a bi-square antenna for the 10 meter amateur radio band. Construction is easy--form a square with the ends at the top and bottom. Support the top with a telescoping fiberglass mast ("squid pole").  Connect the bi-square to a simple homebrewed L "tuner" and run a piece of coax to your rig--in this case a Yaesu-817 QRP transceiver.  Since the SWR could be high, you may want to used balanced feed line into the "tuner".  As you can see from the video, Peter did get some contacts.  This is a fun antenna that won't cost you much money. If you're ambitious, build one of these antennas for 40, 20, or 15 meters. For the latest Amateur Rad

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNXvuv83ZNc. Thanks to "Commsprepper" for this handy, useful chart of VHF/UHF frequencies for amateur radio, MURS, Marine, and GMRS services.  The chart contains specific lengths for antennas covering 136 mHz through 520 mHz.  Use the formulas on the chart to compute the exact length of a 1/2 wavelength dipole antenna. You can cut the measurements in half for a 1/4 wavelength vertical antenna.  I have a similar chart mounted on the wall of my ham shack for easy reference. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these sites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://paper.li/kh6jrm/1430289353 (Amateur Radio News & Information). Other sit

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser searchbox: https://youtu.be/HpJkY3-dJf4. For today's post, I'm diverting a bit from antenna experiments to bring you up to date on what's happening to communications in hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico and in other Caribbean islands impacted by Hurricane Maria. This video is taken from "Ham Radio Nation", program 320.  In this video, Dr. Bob Heil (K9EID) discusses hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico with ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher (NY2RF).  The ARRL has sent volunteer radio amateurs to the stricken island and to other nearby islands to help first responders with emergency communications and to assist public service agencies, such as police and fire departments, hospitals, The American Red Cross, and other community services repair and extend emergency communications to the entire island. You can view the entire program at this site: https://twit.tv/hn/320. For the lates

If you can't view this video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-fuQz0-xbc. A nicely done video from Kevin Loughin (KB9RLW) showing how a homebrewed qrp antenna "tuner" can be reworked to fit inside a small box. The L network tuner is ideal for QRP operations in the field and at your home station. The "tuner" is easily built with readily available materials. For the latest Amateur Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated each Friday afternoon). https://paper.li/kh6jrm/1430289353 (Amateur Radio News & Information). Other sites of interest: Hawaii Science Digest (https://paper.li/f-1476233615). Hawaii Intelligence Digest (https://hawaiiintelligencedigest.com). Hawaii Intelligence Dail