Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you can't view the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th9bPEm9i9k. Propagation seems to favor the lower HF bands (80 meters/160 meters) these days.  A major problem in using these bands is the sheer size of the antennas involved.  If you live on a small urban lot, building and erecting an efficient antenna for 80 meters and 160 meters can be a real challenge. In this video, Callum McCormick (M0MCX) explores several small HF antennas that can be used to work 80 meter and 160 meter contacts.  One of his suggestions is to design and build a linear-loaded inverted L antenna.  While this antenna has limited bandwidth and impedance matching problems, it can get you on the air if you design the antenna carefully.  Callum does a good job of visualizing the linear-loaded inverted L for those of us not blessed with sufficient space for a classic 1/2 wave dipole for these bands. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news

A Cheap Indoor Diple for 80m-15m. Post #1668. https://appalachianow.wordpress.com/2012/03/15-a-cheap-dipole-for-80m-15m. Author:  Josh Benson (NC4JB). Accessed on 05 November 2018, 0052 UTC, Post #1668. Please click link to read the full article by Josh. Comment: If you live in deed-restricted housing, you will recognize Josh's dilema.  Josh says he was compelled to consider an indoor dipole because he has "a townhouse with no attic, no basement, and a postage stamp yard, and putting antennas outside is entirely out of the question."  Does this sound familiar?  I faced this situation a few times during my amateur radio "career". Josh overcame the problem with an antenna that was out of sight, out of mind--namely an indoor dipole that fit the contours of his home and still produced acceptable results. In this post, Josh describes how he solved the antenna problem without violating the HOA/CC&R provisions of his home ownership.  Josh says the

If you can't view the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atRUzlvmPPc. Here's another exceptional video tutorial from Randy Hall (K7AGE).  In this video, Randy show us how to use the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) to check the performance of your antenna.  The original WSPR program was developed by Joe Taylor (K1JT) and is now enjoying worldwide popularity. According to Randy, the WSPR program gives you real time data about your antenna.  WSPR sends your call sign, power level, and grid square during a short transmission period (usually less than 2 minutes). Receiving stations decode your transmission and post the results online. You can use a website to view a map of the stations you've heard and  the ones that have heard you.  An easy-to-use tool for measuring the effectiveness of your antenna. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.H

Ham Radio HF/VHF Antenna Lengths. Post #1666 . http://www.hamuniverse.com/hamantennalengths.html. Author:  N4UJW (Hamuniverse.com). Accessed on 03 November 2018, 0400 UTC, Post #1666. Please click link or scroll down to read the complete artice. Comment:  Here's a handy antenna length chart from N4UJW and the staff at Hamuniverse.com.  I copied the chart and placed it above my rig to facilitate HF/VHF antenna design and construction.  The chart covers 1/4 wave verticals, 1/2 wave dipoles, and full-wave loops.  I trust you will find the chart useful as you build new antennas for your station. Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Here's the chart: Ham Radio HF/VHF Antenna Lengths Chart in Feet Ham Band (Meters) Frequency (Mhz) 1/4 wave (Feet) 1/2 wave Dipole (Feet ) 1 wave Loop (Feet) 160 1.800 130' 0'' 260' 0'' 558' 4'' 1.850 126' 6'' 253' 0'' 543' 3'' 1.900 1

If you can't view the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Uax53rrOM. If you haven't tried the 17 meter amateur radio band (18.068 MHz to 18.168 MHz) yet, you may be surprised just how popular this band is when solar conditions permit.  Antennas for this chunk of the rf spectrum tend to be modest and fairly cheap, especially if you design and build your own antenna from locally available materials. In this well-constructed video from "Marty Drifts", (Jim--WB2FOU), we learn just how easy it is to make a rotatable dipole antenna for 17 meters.  Each step of the construction process is fully explained and reviewed to ensure your understanding of this simple, useful antenna. For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please visit these websites: http://www.HawaiiARRL.info. http://www.arrl.org. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news (a weekly podcast which is updated on Friday afternoons