20m Moxon Beam Antenna - Basic Build & Overview

This is an overview of my 20m portable Moxon antenna. You will see in the video this is not far away from completion. This should be a brilliant antenna with good gain and rear rejection.
I will weigh this for the next video but the total weight (minus mast) is around 2kg.
Cost so far in materials is around £100.

[@JayN4GO]

Fine job Colin. Yes we have that nasty line noise here in the states also. Moxons are only second to quads. :)

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

On positive on the noise is it appears to be coming from my parents house so hopefully I can track it down.

[@johngimble8420]

Great info my friend, I am building a moxon for channel 38 SSB and have tested it with a 1.1 swr. Thanks and 73!

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Excellent, im sure it will perform very well for you. Max Mountain World here on YT works the world on his.

[@yo3cwt737]

Great job Colin, CONGRATULATIONS!!! you inspire me to build one by myself Thanks for sharing. 73 Dani

[@ReedAB8AS]

I might try to build one in the spring. Thanks for sharing……73

[@aaduadok]

I have had moxons for 20, 17, 15, 12m. Worked 303 dxcc's with them. 73, ES1TU.

[@mikes6844]

Great vid mate, my version was a complete disaster and gave up as verticals are much easier to play with in my garden with plants, trees and fences to contend with. I was contemplating a 3 band hexbeam using the fibreglass tent poles for a winter project. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Mike. I'm already thinking about multibanding this for 15 and 10 too. See how things progress.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

It's good to follow you on this series and thanks for putting your hand up when things go wrong. There are too many perfect KZbin videos and as the saying goes, "you learn from your mistakes ". Best 73 G0ACE

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I don't think I've built any antnna without making a mistake or 2. My latest one no. difference. Made a right balls up of the L/C match and will document this in the upcoming video.

[@dxscotland5901]

Great job Colin you’ll get there I’m sure and it’ll be a dx machine 👍

[@aerofart]

Congratulations. Nice build.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks 👍

[@ON8EI]

I loved the video except for the dog barking. My homebrew 20m Moxon will be 18m high on my mast. Before going up I will do lots of testing. I will be using British Army D10, two lenghts of it. Thanks for all your videos. de ON8EI

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks, thats the neighbours dog! He's a very friendly Golden Retreiver but does bark a lot.

[@trig6712]

Excellent Colin, de Trig

[@gravestonemyth]

You could have worked that VK if you were on CW. Nice build, I’m planning my own for 17m. I appreciate that you owned your error. You could have cut that out.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Definitely. Hopefully showing my mistake will prevent others doing the same. None of us are perfect and shouldn't pretend to be.

[@davidw460]

Hi - I have a dipole for 20m and Mr Moxon is perhaps my next step so thanks for the insights, cheers M0YAX.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Hopefully I can make a build video with a bill of material. I believe its antenna most us could cobble together and performs great into the bargain

[@GREGGRCO]

Thanks very much for video !!

[@Tantalicdavid]

Put a 1:1 choke at the antenna feed point Colin then test again before cutting wires. Your feeder length maybe affecting tuning.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I actually had a GM3SEK choke with me, just forgot to add it. Will do next time it's up.

[@Tantalicdavid]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio Then you can eliminate the Feeder being part of the antenna, Affecting it's tuning.

[@Tantalicdavid]

It's looking good btw.

[@robduncan599]

I did enjoy it! FAB .

[@HamRadioLiveShow]

Collin, Great video mate. I love the fact of how you explained how you built it. Wonderful work. I’d like to use this on my KZbin channel that helps encourage people to come into ham radio as well as explain different things that they can learn how to do to become more effective at it. I’m doing a show about Moxon antennas… This is perfect. I’ll make sure and credit your channel and put a link to it in my description. All the best to you mate. Larry de K7HN

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Hi Larry, no problem at all, anything to benefit the ham radio community. Feel free to use any of my content. Still to optimise my Moxon. I have a new stronger lighter base plate built and will eventually hope to tri-band it. I will document it as I go on the channel. 73, Colin

[@patmlaftr959]

Best way is the hard way Colin Coz We keep going till we get perfection A would spend weeks getting yagis as close to the computer would say Sometimes better Can't beat the home brew ant that works great after the hard work Good job bud 👍👍❤

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Cheers Pat. It has been hard work but well worth it. Looking forward to getting it down by saltwater and letting it sing.

[@genoa1979]

❤

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Hey Nice build Collin! Ham Radio Dude and I are going to take My Moxon out tomorrow On a POTA/SOTA with his 705, we have had it up at 6' for a couple days and it has been working great. Moxon are great antennas, I am trying to figure a couple more bands on mine not sure it will work yet. Hey instead of cutting your spreaders try figuring out how much the next section needs to go inside and put a spacer inside or suspend the wire with some paracord to take up the distance. I hat to see you cut those nice Mast!! 73

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Chuck, your right. I've already decided against cutting. Got another idea to try. I believe you can multiband them for 20/15/10, it's just getting the feed sorted out. Good luck with the SOTA, 73.

[@ukm6yik69]

Smashing video colin really enjoyed it. Always wanted yo build my own moxon. U may have made me start mine now 😁

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thats what it's all about. I will likely do a more detailed build video sometime. I will also offer a free template in A3 for the base plate which makes it simple to make, you just need to buy the plate precut to size.

[@ukm6yik69]

That sounds good to me. Do you hsve a link to where to buy the base plate from mate.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

@@ukm6yik69 this is the stuff here plasticsheetsshop.co.uk/product/matt-white-aluminium-composite-panel-6mm/

[@andyM7XTT]

Great work Colin 👏 be great to see someone try and make a mini hexbeam or a hexbeam the same size as a cobwebb.theyd sell so well just don't see why noones bothered making one 🤔 73's till the next one

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks. The problem is the physics. It becomes very complicated as you then need to electrically shorten the elements. Sounds simple but more to it than meets the eye. I will keep it in mind though.

[@VE3DAL]

Awesome! thank you for sharing. 73 de VE3DAL.

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

Looks very nice. The laminate looks very interesting - I have been experimenting with a homebrew laminate of Correx sheet for centre plates but they lack rigidity at the edges which the aluminium would avoid.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I was pleasant surprised with it. Its not expensive either. I may use an additional top plate to make a sandwich which will be much stronger. Once I sort out the spreaders and tension the wire I will review. This could be a relatively quick antenna to set up at the side of the car which will perform well.

[@kevmscott]

So, is this laminate commercially available? Or is this home brew?

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

@@kevmscott it's a commercial product plasticsheetsshop.co.uk/product/matt-white-aluminium-composite-panel-6mm/

[@kevmscott]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio , thanks Colin. I’ve been looking for a way to use my Spider Beam mast with my Moxon. The metal plate I used, is to thick and heavy. This looks like the ticket. Appreciate your response.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

As long as you guy it close to the top it should be good I reckon. I don't want to go any higher than it is. Not ideal but it's still over a 1/4wave high. There is some aluminium mast options out there too. I thought I could scale it up for 40m but I don't think I could get the height.

[@colonelgigi]

👍👽👍

[@GREGGRCO]

And super on 5 watts....

[@edishergiorgadze4413]

Hello Colin! watched all (or most!) of your videos related to moxon antenna. Question: have you ever tried the multiband version of moxon? Is it actually doable? 73 from Georgia

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I did ones with common feed and it didnt work. It needs a coaxial feed. In my opinion its not worth the hasstle. Go with a hexbeam like I'm building or similar. You can get 6 bands on it. You can only triband a Moxon due to band interaction as I understand it.

[@edishergiorgadze4413]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio RGR! I've used the HEX in a past (5 band, very original by Mike Traffie), even used the smaller version of it (10 -15m band) during my P5 operation (long time ago 😉 ) and was very happy. Currently have one in my "stock" - 6 band version, from 20m 6m . My MOX question - was/is a result of pure curiosity. 😊 Best of luck. 73 de 4L4FN

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Wow, I'm talking to amatuer radio royalty. What an experience for you in P5. For a monoband, I would choose the Moxon every time.

[@edishergiorgadze4413]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio 🤣 "royalty" - probably too bold, special and unique experience - that's for sure! 73 !

[@TS950SDX]

add the full butt section do not clip the tip ends and then move the element clips to tension the antenna. GM0EEH

[@jeffdavis510]

Great video Colin! Thank you for sharing. I've been considering a 20m Moxon for the simplicity and front to back ratio. Jeff KF0BPN

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Yeah its definitely a winner. Its quite the brute though.

[@Daveyboygoeswild]

Great video, I am looking at making one and this is very good, relly like the base plate. If you dont mind me asking whats the material called and where did you get it. 73 M7FET

[@Daveyboygoeswild]

found it below, sorry - what size plate did you go for ?

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Sorry for late reply. 330mm x 177mm

[@kenwing6196]

I see a big difference in moxon calculator results.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I seen about 5% difference.

[@kenwing6196]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio which calculator seems to be most accurate?