Simple Ham Radio Antennas

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbUQQm0UDQ0 VK5STU and his daughters Emma and Charlotte show us several ways to mount, secure, and protect the telescoping fiberglass poles many of us use to support our portable and home station antennas.  All of these helpful suggestions make our operating life a bit easier when we use fiberglass masts for field or emergency operations.  VK5STU urges us to protect the telescoping sections and their joints from weather and wind.  Those of us living in the tropics (including myself who calls Hawaii Island home) are familiar with just how much damage the sun, salt air, and volcanic fumes can do to support structures such as these fiberglass poles. I found the steps taken to prevent the thinnest part of the pole from collapsing into the interior section of the mast most helpful.  A simple cored loop will keep the tip of the mast from "getting lost.'

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYrvqI3-Nxs Now that we have joined Kevin Loughin (KB9RLW) in the process of preparing our home made backyard HF vertical antenna, it's time to install and test our product.  In the 3 previous segments, we learned how to design, plan, and assemble the various parts of this experimental antenna, and, now, we are ready to put the antenna on the air. In this video, Kevin reminds us that this installation is only experimental, subject to final testing and a thorough review of safety precautions before we turn on our HF transceivers. So, how does this antenna work?  According to Kevin, "It's finally up and working...And working very well!  I've made many contacts on it an had the best signal reports I've ever received, especially on 75-90 meters." If you have limited space and little cash, you may want to try this simple, efficient,

If you can't view the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kY2rz2jizs This video is part three of four segments showing how to build a backyard HF vertical antenna.  Kevin Loughin (KB9RLW) does an excellent job of taking us from antenna concept and design to actual construction and testing of this simple, efficient HF antenna.  In part 1, we get an overall plan for the antenna; in part 2, we begin building the 9:1 UnUn; and in part 3, we learn how to make a 1:1 common mode choke to keep stray RF off the feed line.  Part 4 will integrate all parts of the antenna into a final building project for the vertical 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 each Friday afternoon). https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAV9Wws-Bs0 This is part 2 of Kevin Loughin's (KB9RLW) backyard vertical antenna project.  In part 1, Kevin outlined the design and construction parameters for this simple, effective antenna. In part 2, Kevin shows us how to build the 9:1 UnUn for the antenna.  Kevin takes you step-by-step through the building process so you won't make a mistake in putting the UnUn together.  Kevin will integrate these parts into the full antenna in parts 3 and 4. 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 each Friday afternoon). https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.com. https://bigislandarrlnews.com. https://www.eham.net. http://www.southgatearc.org. Thanks for

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AjsRoajjO8 This well-made video tutorial from Kevin Loughin (KB9RLW) is part one of a four-part series on the design, construction, tuning, and use of a homemade HF vertical antenna.  Part one of this series discusses the design and plan of the HF vertical, while part two shows how to build the 9:1 UnUn and 1:1 current balun used for the antenna.  Kevin does an excellent job of taking us step-by-step through the entire design and planning process.  Subsequent videos will refine the design and show us how to get on the air with this simple, effective 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 each Friday afternoon). https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpress.