20m Vertical DX Antenna - Simple To Build And Amazing Performance

I discovered this 20m vertical DX antenna quite some time ago and recommended it to all my friends. It's a simple to build antenna and it has amazing performance. I have to say thanks a lot to ‪@theradiorover‬ for sharing that video.
Thank you Frédéric - ON7WZ as well for the nice QSO.
73, YO6DXE
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• Simple 20m DX Antenna
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*** DX EXPLORER
DX Explorer is a channel with amateur radio related videos on: schematics, reviews, homebrewing and much more.
I am passionate about amateur radio since childhood. I got back into the hobby in 2016, while living aboard my sailboat. I received my license in 2022. I like QRP mostly, experimenting with all modes. But I am old school, so I prefer SSB or CW.
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[@F4LDT-Alain]

Nice simple and effective antenna built from easily available material. Like it, this is the way I build my own antennas. Poles and wire! Very clear explanation as well. You have a new subscriber.

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much Alain.

[@graememorgan6120]

A very nice antenna indeed, I’ve used this antenna on 40m before with brilliant results.

[@dxexplorer]

Very nice antenna indeed. Really happy with the results. 73, YO6DXE

[@RA-Arg]

Finally I see you are doing radio (that you love) again. Big hug from Argentina Ciprian!

[@dxexplorer]

Ohhg yes indeed jajaja... finally. And it will be more and more soon. Hoping for some more free time in a month from now. 73 my friend. Greetings from Transylvania.

[@christianknight2905]

Look like a beautiful place to live...and work satelittes from ;)

[@dxexplorer]

Haha indeed. I thought the same when I moved here. I had no time yet but it will happen soon 😁. 73, YO6DXE

[@jrhilton]

These are also known as an "upper and outer" or "up-and-outer" or "Vertical L" antennas, and work great! I've also seen versions which have links to connect or disconnect parts of the wire to allow operation on shorter wavelengths, as well as coils being used for lower bands. I find a ratio of around 55% (V) to 45% (H) for 20 m is a great starting point, with the radial aprox 1m off the ground, and running fairly parallel with the ground. So easy to build and deploy, just a vertical pole and single elevated radial. Its a pity that more folk don't seem to know about them - so thank you for taking the time to create and share this video. Another great option is a Flower Pot antenna if you want something quick to deploy that also works really well, just a single vertical pole needed (but hard to make for the lower bands given the height, 20m is easy though). 73s from 2E0JHJ.

[@dxexplorer]

I just found an article in an old magazine today about this sort of antenna... from 1970 😁. I also wonder why not so many people use it. And the results are fantastic, plus that I only have 5W to play with so a nice antenna helps a lot. 73, YO6DXE

[@ronsingh]

I had an impossible time trying to follow what you said...why? I was totally blown away by the view from your yard! Wow! How I yearn to to be in place like yours. Seems so serene.

[@dxexplorer]

Reading the first words made me think I may have a too strange accent hahaha. Ohhh yes is a nice lovely place... not sure for how long as I guess more houses will be build here in the future... so I enjoy it as much as I can now. 73, YO6DXE

[@petemillis4666]

I have great success with the same antenna. My build is a bit simpler though. I use one of the BNC to binding post adapters to connect coax to the antenna, which is sufficiently weather resistant to use even on the beach. And I do not use the PVC pipe. I just attach guy lines to fishing pole by tying a hitch around the pole. This also holds the bottom of the radiating element in place. And I do not have an attachment at top of pole. Instead I just put a simple slip knot in the end of the wire that tightens against the pole. And two turns of the wire around the pole stops it flapping around. I have some details on my youtube channel. 73, M3KXZ

[@dxexplorer]

Ohhh simpler is always better. I also simplified the antenna a lot as well meanwhile. Now I just put one stick into the ground and tie the antenna to it ( no more PVC pipe needed ). Or if there is a wooden fence i just tie it to that one. I am still working on the connector part, but I have an idea for that one too haha. 73, YO6DXE. Ohh I will stop by to watch.

[@bullthrush]

Looks good. For my noisy location I use a 2:1 rectangle loop hanging from a similar pole.

[@dxexplorer]

I like this place as it seems to be a nice quiet location. 73, YO6DXE

[@joelaut12]

Great idea, simple and easy to setup! Thanks.

[@dxexplorer]

I am making it even more simple now. I love it and it doesn't need much space... compared to my EFHW antenna. 73, YO6DXE

[@W1RMD]

Very good station and antenna. Wow! Romania is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this contact with us. 73. from Maine- W1RMD

[@dxexplorer]

Thanks so much for watching as well. Greetings from Transylvania. P.S. one day I will come to Maine, by sailboat... I promised to my friends there 😁. 73, YO6DXE

[@W1RMD]

@@dxexplorer Ha ha! I love to sail too! I live about 2 hours from the ocean, but I do have an excellent lake nearby and my grandfather's old 14 foot sailboat from 1966! I need to get out on the lake, but the garden keeps me busy. Take care.

[@dxexplorer]

@@W1RMD Same here... the garden and the new house ... but next year I hope I can return back on water. I miss the sailboat like crazy. Happy weekend. 73

[@KD9ZHF]

Ciprian - great video, you have great English, too! 73, KD9ZHF

[@dxexplorer]

Haha... thanks so much Jason. Ohhh is not as good as it used to be. I left US in 2018 so I kinda "forget" how to speak now and then. Hard to find the right words I guess 😅. 73, YO6DXE

[@KD9ZHF]

@@dxexplorer Bah… nonsense. I understand you. That’s what is important. Truly. Keep doing your thing! I like your excitement in what you are showing us!

[@dxexplorer]

@jstoltenburg Hehe... thanks so much for everything. Ohhh the excitement comes probably because I feel like a 10 years old kids when playing with these. Always takes me back into my childhood when I was just dreaming at what I do today... and now I am pretty much living my childhood dreams. Good feeling and I am lucky to be able to do this.

[@Chems7308]

Very nice build and fun 🎉❤

[@dxexplorer]

Fun indeed. I love this antenna. So simple and still so effective. 73, YO6DXE

[@johnrees44..G4EIJ]

Great antenna and video..Was Frederik a little off frequency? 73 John. G4EIJ

[@dxexplorer]

Not sure if he was... or maybe my truSDX is not exactly as it should be as sometimes I have this feeling. I need to get a proper transceiver ... still QRP but I am searching for something old school. Still saving for an FT818 from Yaesu... love it. 73, YO6DXE

[@EC5ABG]

Buen trabajo!!, 73👍👌

[@dxexplorer]

Muchas gracias amigo. 73, YO6DXE

[@ve2zdx]

Very nice build. Do you know those umbrella mount that is a coil with a spike? I use one of those with a 10 meters long fishing pole. Works like a charm. You should try it to make things simple. You can also build a retractable version with 2 pvc pipes and a long screw

[@dxexplorer]

I think the PVC pipe would be great as a permanent install. Great idea indeed. The spikes... I know them but here in Romania I haven't found any like that. 73, YO6DXE

[@geromechavanas]

Nice idea of antenna 👍. Your transceiver is always only (tr)Usdx ? Cordially. 73

[@dxexplorer]

I like this antenna a lot. I also have an EFHW 4010 not installed, but I like the vertical better for DX. The transceiver yes ... I had to invest a lot in photography equipment this year so... no budget for radio gear 😅. 73, YOYDXE

[@geromechavanas]

@@dxexplorer I can understanding that. It's same for me, money is not in the tree 😂. Do you use a amplifier ? PA50+ for exemple... Or you une only the 5watts of the (tr)Usdx ? Cordially from F4LCF ( Sorry for my english, i'm french 😂)

[@dxexplorer]

@geromechavanas Don't worry about the English. Sorry I forgot French.. in the 8th grade I was speaking it better than Romanian 😅😅. Teacher tricked me telling me if I speak well she takes me to France 😅😅. No... for now I just use the 5W of the truSDX. I thought about an amplifier... but to be honest I kinda like being QRP all the time. Is like fly fishing... trying to master it before catching the big fish 😅. 73 my friend, YO6DXE

[@alejandrovidal1607]

nice antenna, y love verticals for portable operation T3 de lu2asv!!

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you. Ohhh I also love them now. I thought an EFHW is easy to install... but this one is piece of cake. 73 my friend, YO6DXE

[@hendrikmetz3905]

🎉🎉🎉 nice shack 😊

[@dxexplorer]

Hahaha.. is a mess now. I have too much stuff and not much space. It will be better in a month or so. 73 Hendrik 😁

[@carlosroig5315]

You can also install the antenna as an inverted V.

[@dxexplorer]

That I didn't thought about. But I was curious and wanted to install my 4010 EFHW as inverted V. Never tried an antenna this way. 73, YO6DXE

[@4L1LAT]

It's a good idea to use a fishing pole as an antenna holder. I like the antenna I think I will make it. Let's make a contact at least once, what do you say? 😄 😁. Good luck 4L1LAT.

[@dxexplorer]

Ohhh yes we can try. Hopefully we are lucky for good propagation too. These days I wasn't so lucky and when I had to work... propagation worked like a charm. When I finished work... all gone 😅😅. 73 my friend.

[@4L1LAT]

@@dxexplorer I bought new transceiver (yaesu ft-891) and I am waiting for it's arrival. we can plan one day with good propagation and make a contact 😁

[@dxexplorer]

@@4L1LAT ohhhh nice. I want that one too but for now it seems my bank account does not agree with me so I have to wait a little 😅😅. Looking forward for the QSO.

[@4L1LAT]

@@dxexplorer I put all my savings into it 🤣. okay good luck and 73 😄

[@dxexplorer]

@4L1LAT I know the feeling. I do the same now with photography equipment... money eater 😅. Hard having two hobbies that eat money... I have three 😅😅😅

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

Hey. How is the code coming along ??? You’ll get a lot more _furthers_ with a key then you will with a microphone :-) Slow CW night here in Aus. Every Tuesday 07:00Z on 40m

[@dxexplorer]

Code is a mess... working on building the new house from 8am to 10pm... when I am done I am dead in bed every day 😅😅. One or two months more then things calm down. Still by my birthday in Sept I want to finish with it and learn it so I can do my first CW QSO. 73 mate and have fun there on 40m.

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

@@dxexplorer I was practicing head copy from the Morse Ninja while I spent last month patching and painting our lounge room in the 1900s built corner shop. Old school horse hair patterned plaster ceiling and lime plaster hardwall. That took me over a month to do. Over two weeks peeling and patching the ceiling. Looks great now. The Minister for Finance, Entertainment and Shoes is happy she has one room finished. Got my late father’s old stereo repaired and set up, new needle on the turn table, so we can listen to our old records. I might see how I go getting on the air tonight. If you’re bored, tune in on one of the Australian Kiwi SDRs. You might hear some action, maybe… So you’re building a house ?? Wow. From scratch ?? Or did you buy a kit ??

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

@@dxexplorer last night I poured a glass of wine, picked up a guitar and sat in the lounge room noodling That’s my problem. Straight key, guitar, glass of wine…. ….but only two hands

[@dxexplorer]

@MidlifeRenaissanceMan I hear you haha. Same problem here... )).

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

@@dxexplorer have you joined SKCC yet ? Straight Key Century Club Free to join. Tell Randy VK2NAP sent you and he’ll give you 50% off for life !!!

[@bullterriertransylvania]

Great antenna! I hade at some point something similar but with a 9:1 balun. Instead of wood sticks you can find metal stick from Decathlon for tents ;) There is a set of 5 metal pins from aluminium :D Hope to cetch you on the freq in this summer! YO5ZL

[@dxexplorer]

Ohhh musai sa incercam in 40m. Am mai facut ceva teste in 20m cu YO5BDL dar nu prea am avut noroc. Decatlon scrie pe mine atunci. Multam mult pentru tip 😁. Sper sa ne auzim curand. 73, YO6DXE

[@frankfoduw-ci8rr]

73 de FØDUW / SWL F14368 Frank

[@dxexplorer]

73 Frank ... thanks for stopping by, YO6DXE