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=MeumSDLXBKM If you can't go to your radio club's field day site, why not set up a "Field Day" mini-expedition in your backyard?  I've faced this issue several times in the past where work precluded any trip to my nearest Field Day site. In this video, Tracy of "Outdoors on the Air" shows us a simple way to join the Field Day adventure right in the backyard of your own home or apartment.  Home-base stations compete in their own category (1-D for use of commercial power and 1-E for emergency power).  Armed with a simple dipole antenna, an antenna transmatch (i.e. "antenna tuner"), a spare HF transceiver, a laptop computer for logging purposes, and a deep-cycle marine battery with solar panels, you're ready to go. Tracy does an excellent job of making the Field Day experience simple and fun.  Why not involve the n

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whbccNdqAtA. Here's another simple, quickly made satellite antenna suitable for use at the upcoming ARRL Field Day or at your home station. In this video, the "Amateur Radio Guy" uses a surplus microphone stand, some stiff copper wire, and his UV5r 2 m/ 70 cm hand-held transceiver.  He calls this homebrew project "really cheap and really simple..."  Why not make one of these antennas for the ARRL Field Day?  This is an easy way to get points and experience the thrill of working Amateur/Ham Radio Satellites. 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://bigislandarrlnews.com. https://oahuarrlnews.wordpress.com. https://hamradiohawaii.wordpre

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0niy7Sy96Q An interesting way to collect some extra points and experience for the upcoming ARRL Field Day is to contact the wide variety of amateur/ham radio satellites available for this event. If you don't have an antenna to do the job, then this simple, inexpensive portable amateur radio satellite antenna may be the answer.  The antenna covers both the 2 meter and 70 cm amateur radio bands, and can be used with your HT or dedicated VHF/UHF transceiver. Dave Tadlock (KG0ZZ) takes you step-by-step through the design, construction, tuning, and on-air tests needed to make a fully functional satellite antenna. An article by Sean Kutzko (KX9X) entitled "Get on the Satellites for ARRL Field Day" is available here:  https://www.amsat.org/get-on-the-satellites-for-field-day.  Sean's article originally appeared in the June 2018 edition of

AMSAT Field Day on the satellites-AMSAT Source:  https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ Author:  Bruce Paige (KK5DO), AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards. Accessed on 03 June 2019, 0050 UTC. Summary: The annual ARRL Field Day is set for 22-23 June 2019--an event that attracts up to 40,000 U.S. and Canadian radio amateurs at they "take to the field" to test their emergency communications skills. Operating concurrently with the ARRL, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own version of Field Day concentrating on field operations using amateur/ham radio satellites.  The event is open to all Amateur Radio operators and follows the same rules applicable to the regular Field Day operation.  AMSAT encourages the use of all amateur satellites, both digital and analog. Bruce Paige (KK5DO), the AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards has assembled a basic information package for radio amateurs desiring to use satellite contacts as part of their Field Day ex

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbXmAcf9MmI&app=desktop. If you're a bit disappointed in the performance of your G5RV HF antenna, try this modification of Louis Varney's (G5RV--SK) classic antenna. Marck (AE4J) and his friends have adopted a design by ZS6BKW which offers a few improvements over Varney's pioneering antenna.  The most conspicuous departures from the G5RV are the length of the antenna elements and the matching section. According to Marck, the each horizontal element is 46 ft, 10 in / 14.274 m long, with the 450 ohm matching section (ladder line) measuring 39 ft, 1.5 in /11.926 m long.  With the exception of the 450 ohm ladder line, most of the antenna materials can be found at your local hardware store or building supply outlet.  The only major drawback to this antenna is the use of two supporting structures such as trees or masts.  An inverted Vee configu