5/8th Wave 10m Vertical Antenna Build

[@marktyldesley7373]

Having built this antenna, have to say it’s definitely my favourite so far, spot on frequency after build, and the performance is excellent. Rx signals increased from s2 to s4/5, very good on dx, I’m using less output on 10 meters compared to my multiband antenna, and it tunes to 12 meterband again great results If your intreasted in 10 meters I would seriously give this antennae a go!

[@ianxfs]

Great Mark! Glad it’s doing the job well 👍🏻

[@R50_J0]

The "broadbanding" cap and exceptionally low SWR over a wide bandwidth suggests the antenna is designed to be lossy to control the SWR excursions away from resonance. Agree? I particularly found the feedline choke information valuable. Will grab a copy now for later reference.

[@ianxfs]

I’ve wondered about that Louis. You can always dispense with the capacitor and use it neat on the one band 😀

[@timmack2415]

I'd have to agree, this has low Q

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

I watched this after your March 22 update, both videos are very useful for building a very versatile antenna. Thanks Ian.

[@ianxfs]

Thanks!

[@highflyermw0lkx311]

Finally tried this build out in anger this weekend Ian 25/06/2022, (I made this last year when you first posted the video) works really well, definitely has better ears than my ground mounded vertical on 10m at my QTH at the bottom of a valley. Mounted it to a 10m fibreglass mast. Very broadbanded and so worked on 12m too. Thanks for the build.

[@ianxfs]

That’s great! Tree now in leaf on mine, but doesn’t seem to affect it. All good. Thanks for the feedback 👍🏻

[@ericdee6802]

Awesome video. Question: How is the ballanced antenna matched to UN-Ballanced coax feed??? Is the Ferrite the ballancing mechanism???

[@ianxfs]

@@ericdee6802 Hi Eric! You’re question was hidden under someone else’s comment (& KZbin doesn’t flag these up unfortunately). No, the ferrite merely stops the rf on the outer coax, so defines the actual end of the antenna via this choke. It’s the matching stub that helps with the mismatch and 200Ohms. Thanks.

[@garethevans1410]

Thanks for posting this, I've never been that happy with my 10m Slim Jim (although it does work) so was looking for something at least as good. I did the sums for using URM76/RG58 for the matching stub. 66/81 x 71 gave me 57.8cm. I found I needed to add 260mm to the top section for a good match across the band. I used 11 turns on a 56mm plastic pipe former for the choke (length of first section above left as per the design dimension). This gave me 1.1:1 between 28.35 and 28.850, under 1.4 from below 28.00 up to 29.8. Height above ground made a slight difference. I used a 9m roach pole, added another 2.5m on a windsurf mast, or a 7m roach pole on 3.5m of windsurf mast. I'll try it out /P soon when I can compare it with my helical 1/4 wave whip on the car roof.

[@ianxfs]

@@garethevans1410 Sounds good Gareth 👍🏻Mine is still in use and I made another for /P. Great antenna for 10m 😀

[@georgetsilojohn1667]

thank you very much for the video. Very explanatory and in basic details. I tried for a long time to make such an antenna by watching a video, but everything was at a standstill( hi SWR). In the end, what I didn't do because they didn't mention it was what you mention at 9:25. Thank you for finally making a great functional antenna, saving money and time and doing my hobby. I have subscribed and will watch your useful instructional videos. Honored by George from Greece

[@ianxfs]

Great George! I’ve been using it just this week to work South America. Great antenna to have 👍🏻

[@georgetsilojohn1667]

I built it because of you. I installed it today. Very good antenna.Thank you! Best 73

[@355k13]

Hi Ian, just worked you (as G6XX) on 80m, this is the video I was referring to HI...all the best for 2023 mate

[@ianxfs]

Brilliant! You just faded at the vital moments 🙄

[@julianvendre3418]

Very very well explained, thank you.

[@ianxfs]

@julianvendre3418 No problem 👍🏻

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ian! Weirdly I found this video off a google search on matching stubs. Great project!

[@ianxfs]

Wave as you pass 👋🏻 😁(follow-up videos to this too 👍🏻)

[@ATMPINDUSTRIESLLC]

I know this is an older post, but I would really like to see the full page of theory displayed at 0:07 seconds into the video, concerning the matching section calculations. I intend to build this design, but using 50 ohm RG8X(PE) low loss cable with a velocity factor of 82% for the sleeve, and 50 ohm RG8U(PE) with a velocity factor of 66% for the matching stub. The reason for the substitutions is, that these are the materials I have on hand.

[@ianxfs]

Hi, I checked and the original article is no longer on that link. The author did mention trial and error before arriving at the measurements used. I would suggest substituting RG-58 and Westflex 103 specs with your own coax and ratioing up/down the coax lengths accordingly. Good luck! 👍🏻

[@timdbl7804]

Thanks for a very good treatise. I had always assumed that the series capacitor was to series-resonate with the inductance of the upper radiator (wire), but perhaps your information is from a learned source?

[@ianxfs]

@@timdbl7804 Thanks! You’ve got me thinking now 🤔

[@timdbl7804]

@@ianxfs Thanks Ian! I have the commercial Sirio Gainmaster, which I wish to tweak to 28.5 MHz, so your measurements could be very helpful 😀

[@vincenzofidanza2539]

The Westflex-103 could be substituted with the LMR-400, 50 ohm, which velocity factor is 0.85 same a the Westflex cable.

[@ianxfs]

Thanks.

[@vierkleursalwapper9592]

I only have RG58 and RG213. Would it be possible to use the RG213 instead of the westflex-103?

[@timg5tm941]

Thoughtfully explained and clearly presented Ian. Great job.

[@ianxfs]

Thanks Tim! Lots of videos released today, so lots to catch up on! 📺👀

[@adamap2796]

Great informative video Ian, thank you.

[@ianxfs]

Thanks Adam!

[@AnthonyWallis-g8c]

Ref the matching stub and Westflex,I used 50cm of RG8 and found this to give me a 1.1 swr over most of the 10m band.

[@ianxfs]

@@AnthonyWallis-g8c That’s great info for others. Thanks Anthony 👍🏻

[@BoB4jjjjs]

Bit clearer explained, it is easy to forget that the person on the other end does not always automatically know the bits others have left out that they think they will know. If you see what I mean. Confucius say!!! Oh Master! What you say Grasshopper? I think Mike did the CB version didn't he?

[@ianxfs]

Hi Bob and thanks! Yes, Mike did the CB one in a different style 👍🏻

[@pixotica]

Have made 3 of these so far, just about the best antenna IMO. I will try one shortly without the cap. just to see how narrow it gets for fun, I use rg8mini, for the stub, no problems with 100 watts at all. I use the 16 turn choke, no common mode that I know of, but will try and measure this at some point as well , need to make some kind of rf current meter to do this. Great video, great antenna, look forward to any experiments / improvements on this design.

[@ianxfs]

Thanks Mike! Yes, I don’t think I need the capacitor, so it will be interesting if you try without. Keep me posted 👍🏻

[@pixotica]

@@ianxfs will do, I never felt a cap in line would make a better element, wider bandwidth yes, but look forward to testing without it. If I could get 1 mhz without it, that would do the trick. I have a gut feeling it would receive better without the cap???

[@TheRiddleNL]

@@pixotica Have you testet it??

[@pixotica]

@@TheRiddleNL not exactly, I did do a 5/8 wire, with one vertical ground plane matched with a ferrite transformer, It worked quite well. Ie it was a dipole 5/8 wire up, with a 9 foot wire down.

[@TheRiddleNL]

@@pixotica Ah okay. I have spiderbeam pole and consider making this rollup 5/8 for 10M. Verticale dipole isn't that practical. Deleting the coax C makes the antenne More rigged.

[@Aleziss]

2:30 that 5/8 design where you say to terminate the lower part to stop common current, could have you simply build a 4:1 balun ? those are really simple to build with the exact same ferrite FT240-43. That type of balun give close to -30dB of common mode attenuation at 28MHz. A single core can handle 800W PEP. Wound two pair of 18AWG PTFE cable for 12 turns. A pair of PTFE cable is 100ohms, when in parallel it gives a 1:1 balun and when the secondary is in series, it gives a 4:1 balun. That could have complete your antenna right there if I understand what you are saying.

[@ianxfs]

Yes agreed, although those using an air-choke would still need the matching stub method. Thanks.

[@boxingday11]

Fantastic, thanks 👍🇬🇧

[@ianxfs]

Thanks!

[@ChannelofRichPierik]

Very well done. Thanks for the fine presentation.

[@ianxfs]

Thanks Richard! There are two follow-up videos to this one if you’ve not seen them already 😀

[@M0RSF]

You definitely enjoy messing with antennas Ian. That's an interesting build and seems very broad banded. Keep us the good work. 73 Chris M0RSF

[@ianxfs]

Ha ha, yes Chris. Keen to try it out in anger, but 10 quiet at the mo 🙄 Catch you on the air 👍🏻

[@cesarastiz9691]

Hi Ian. Very nice video. Is it possible to feed the 5/8 vertical at the center and use a 4:1 balun?

[@ianxfs]

I don’t see why not Cesar.

[@stevenmcc6052]

Very clear n slick. Shame didnt get to see usage results. Whats the man made noise pick up on it like?

[@ianxfs]

Hi Steven, thanks! I used it in anger at the weekend 😀 Part 2 released tonight 👍🏻

[@stevenmcc6052]

I made a halo type, square, folded dipole, from speaker wire. Air coax choke. I put this on ground and could rx most station that were s4 and above - with the bonus that qrm was not moving the needle!

[@ianxfs]

@@stevenmcc6052 Great! I’ve got a loop on the ground for the lower bands 👍🏻

[@stevenmcc6052]

I have a new to me pneumatic 9m mast . When serviced and usable, can u recommend a decent directional - not a full yagi - too big.

[@ianxfs]

@@stevenmcc6052 What band Steven?

[@KWHaraburda]

Excellent presentation. I am definitely going to make one. How much power will it take?

[@ianxfs]

Thanks Ken. I think it’s ok for the UK 400w limit. Higher, maybe use RG213 instead of RG58 and adjust the length for the different velocity factor. 😀

[@ArturBańbur]

Hi friends. would like to make this antenna soon. The westflex 103 cable is rather difficult to obtain in Poland. Please let me know how critical this cable is in this project. Is replacing it with the popular RG213 cable a good idea? Maybe you need to recalculate its length?

[@ianxfs]

Hello! If you look through the comments there’s a few about different coax types. Also, if you reply to someone who sounds like they’re trying different coax, then they may reply and explain how they got on. Good luck! 👍🏻

[@bommel88]

Excellent video, thanks! I think I'm gonna give it a try too.

[@ianxfs]

Great Philipp 👍🏻

[@godovermoney1124]

Just curious how you can have 200 ohms of resistance at the centre if the ends aren't touching? Wouldn't it be OPEN and resistance read Infinity?

[@ianxfs]

Hi. This is RF and not DC. Different properties altogether 👍🏻

[@vincenzofidanza2539]

Please describe what kind of rg58 did you use and velocity factor of this cable. Thanks.

[@ianxfs]

Hi, I think it was Webro and vf of 66%. All RG58 will be very similar.

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

Excellent video - Thank you

[@ianxfs]

Thanks.

[@WaynesWorld69]

What alternatives can be used instead of the Westflex? Looks like a perfect antenna for me but I can't find Westflex here in Australia.

[@ianxfs]

Hi Wayne, you’d need to match the capacitance and velocity specs or adjust accordingly (and/or experiment). Not sure what your supplies are in ZL…hope you get sorted 👍🏻

[@WaynesWorld69]

@@ianxfs thanks Ian. I've just watched Mike's video and one of the comments on it recommended rg213 at 73 or 78cm (can't remember exactly). 213 is something I do have so I'm keen to build this antenna. Thanks so much for responding and posting the tutorial. 73

[@ianxfs]

@@WaynesWorld69 Good luck Wayne 😀

[@spirittravels.]

great video. what camera did you film this on please. Great quality.

[@ianxfs]

Hi thanks. It’s just my iPhone 8. All the videos on the channel are from the same phone.

[@spirittravels.]

@@ianxfs Thanks. Looking good.

[@michaelmchale1979]

Out performs the ribbon cable J pole..much better useable bandwidth.😊

[@ianxfs]

Great Michael 👍🏻

[@sciencegadgetry]

I'd like to try building this, but the 71cm Westflex 103 is hard to find in the US. Can you give me any specs on the cable... is it 1/4 wave, what capacitance, etc, as I would like to simply use RG-58 or RG-8. Thanks.

[@ianxfs]

Here you go, this link has all the info you need. Good luck! www.whwestlake.co.uk/westlake-pdf/WF103.pdf

[@sciencegadgetry]

@@ianxfs thanks, but I was in still in the dark regarding the correct calculations. Unfortunately, the original CB antenna article you linked to is gone, but fortunately can still be found in the Wayback archives. After finding it today, I now have the confidence to have a go at building this. Only thing I need to get is the ferrite core. I have some T240-31's, but not ideal for this frequency. I'll be anxious to try this out for the 10 meter contest coming up next month.

[@ianxfs]

@@sciencegadgetry You could always wrap an air choke if you can't find a type 43 or better core for the time-being? You could try RG213 instead of the Westflex and create a longer stub which you can then trim back based upon your tests. What I'm not sure about is the positioning of the stub along the main length of the antenna, but guessing that this isn't super-critical, so leave as-is? Other than your time, the parts are cheap so worth the experimentation....

[@johnbuckley683]

Great vid. Ian. I'll be putting one together in the next couple of weeks. The original article doesn't seem to be there any more!!. John - 2E1JBC

[@ianxfs]

Ah right John, I hadn’t realised. Good luck and have fun with yours! 😀

[@johnbuckley683]

@@ianxfs I made a T2LT for 10M. as per one of your fellow KZbinrs Tim G5TM and it works really well. I'm keen to see (hear) the improvement that this design will bring. Subscribed. John - 2E1JBC

[@vincenzofidanza2539]

Thanks a lot for your info

[@ianxfs]

No problem. Thanks!

[@TomG2NV]

Nice job, very clear and concise! Oh and I enjoyed the ragchew on 40m earlier too, thanks for the new band. next time we'll make it 20m? lol! 73, Tom G2NV/M

[@ianxfs]

Hey Tom! Thanks and yes good To catch up 😀

[@manclubandorra]

Greetings friends, I need your advice. I have a station Alinco DX-10 and an antenna Santiago 1200, I have it at home, and since I do not have a chance to make a large assembly I bought a small metal stand and a magnetic base, the metal bracket attach it near the window with some Plastic flanges so that it is well suited. My problem is that it is impossible to calibrate the antenna and make it go down Roe .. Just lower the Roe when I hold the magnetic base with your hand. So I think there should be a mass problem, any idea? Thank you and greetings from Andorra (Translated with SR Google)

[@ianxfs]

Hi Manel! Yes, assuming your coax and connections are ok, it sounds like you need more ground plane…more metallic surface area for the antenna to work against. This is the what the coax braid connects to. Also, make sure as best you can that the antenna is not near any objects which may interfere. Hopefully this translates ok for you 😀 Good luck 👍🏻

[@manclubandorra]

@@ianxfs Thank you very much for your comment. He has also told me a colleague that I can connect a negative cable from the power supply to the base of the antenna ...

[@ianxfs]

@@manclubandorra I wouldn’t recommend that Manel.

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Thanks for posting video.

[@ianxfs]

No probs Steve 😀

[@kayakbassfishing473]

I need one of these for 11 meters .. can you tell me how to achieve this I live in a HOA and I am pinned in to being secretively creating a solution .. help ..

[@ianxfs]

Hi. You’ll find these measurements can easily cater for 11m as well as 10m. If you watch the two follow-up videos it will explain more. There’s a chance your initial trim lands close to 11m anyway and the wide-bandwidth helps. Good luck 👍🏻

[@fm71450]

If there exists a 4:1 impedance match, would a 4:1 balun not work? If this is too simplistic a question - please forgive a fairly new ham who loves making wire antennas. Thank you.KQ4IXD

[@ianxfs]

@@fm71450 Yes, you’re right. A 4:1 balun can be used 👍🏻

[@Hero1395]

Why 5/8? Where did this fraction come from? Why not 3/4 etc?

[@ianxfs]

Hi. 5/8ths gives a lower angle of radiation, so should be a better DX antenna.

[@dannyclayton7651]

I'd like to scale this up to 17m band and others. what would those dimensions be ?

[@ianxfs]

Hi Danny. I think you can proportion the main lengths up based on the percentage difference in wavelength (be sure to calculate the real wavelength from frequency). The capacitor dimensions should be the same, but I’m not sure about the matching stub 🤔 Perhaps cut this long to start and then trim to suit….Good luck if you give it a try 👍🏻

[@lb6ciradiostuff490]

Hmm could I use a 4:1 Unun instead, since its roughly 200ohms?

[@ianxfs]

It probably depends upon the spec of the unun. See interesting G8JNJ article on the effects of different types.

[@giovanniilari7494]

Why West flex 103? No rg58?

[@ianxfs]

Hi Giovanni. It’s not my design, but it will be for the correct capacitance and inductance required.

[@pioter997]

Chck velocity factor. You can replace rg58 by CNT-400 or RF-7

[@rms8698]

You could use RG58, but it will not withstand above 300w continuous RF power (like FM or AM). Antenna Stub heats up and slowly damages itself with time. Once it gets damaged, antenna will have sudden high SWR destroying your radio or amplifier.

[@jeffdyer2393]

For the w103 stub can I just use regular rg8?

[@ianxfs]

I haven’t got the specs to hand Jeff. You’d need to compare the two and adjust accordingly…

[@jeffdyer2393]

@@ianxfs ok thanks.

[@johnbigbooty]

@@jeffdyer2393 Jeff, I used the same RG-58/U to make my stub and it worked perfectly. I compensated for the velocity factor of the RG-58/U versus the WestFlex 103.

[@ArturBańbur]

can you explain how you compense/calculate for other kind of coax, witf different velocity ?@@johnbigbooty

[@johnbigbooty]

@@ArturBańbur percentages. Let's say one coax is 0.66 and another is 0.80. So, if I'm using the 0.66 VF, I'll divide 0.66/0.8 and multiply that by the theoretical length. The opposite if you are working with 0.8. it would be 0.8/0.6 multiplied by the theoretical length. I hope this makes some sense, and good luck.

[@iantorry3090]

Got any for sale please

[@ianxfs]

Hi Ian. Sorry, no. Worth a try building though. Good luck if you do 👍🏻

[@ironhead320]

Web site don't work

[@ianxfs]

Thanks. I wonder if it’s been taken down. Will check…

[@ironhead320]

@@ianxfs I would like to download that sheet to make one

[@ianxfs]

@@ironhead320 You can use the diagram I put in the video. All the measurements are there 👍🏻

[@JxH]

Traditionally, a "5/8 wave" antenna is a 5/8-wave element replacing the quarter-wave element, *not* two 5/16th elements. So a 5/8 antenna might be (for example) a 5/8-wave element over a ground plane. I'm not sure what the unique and correct name would be for two 5/16-wave elements, but the term "5/8 wave" was already in use.

[@ianxfs]

Thanks.

[@Fluxtime9399]

It looks like Hawkins stopped building them , someone should jump in , I only see T2LT without the stub ..

[@ianxfs]

Thanks.

[@МихаилМ-н5у]

Super

[@ianxfs]

Thanks!

[@spirittravels.]

btw, isnt it possible to make a 1/2 wave dipole like this, without the matching stub, and just choke at bottom? I see T2LT does this. Never seen this matching stub before.kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5yVqGmanraqbaM

[@ianxfs]

Yes, I would imagine so, and adjust for any frequency.

[@spirittravels.]

@@ianxfs thanks for the response I just spoke to somebody testing a gain master vs L2T2 dipole, and he said the gain master perform the best, so if I was going to make a gain master for 27mhz I might just omit the capacitor and just tune the correct 5/8 wavelength.

[@dexta1969]

Very good video. I have a similar homebrew antenna for (*cough) 29 MHz, it's called a T2LT and works very well on 11 meters (yes, I do sometimes 'slum it' with the CB guys, it's where I started after all)

[@ianxfs]

Ha ha brilliant Stephen! All good fun 👍🏻

[@BoB4jjjjs]

At least you don't have to be so formal on CB, lots of fun, or at least there used to be!

[@ianxfs]

@@BoB4jjjjs early 80’s for me Bob 😀

[@BoB4jjjjs]

@@ianxfs Late 70s for me, I was naughty. Then came FM :-((

[@sprint955st]

It's all radio, all that's different is what you say and how you say it. The time for snobbery is long gone.

[@tangoalpha8381]

👍🇧🇷👍🇧🇷

[@ianxfs]

Thanks!

[@BusDriverRFI]

This is a total mind blower to me. 1. Why would anyone want to pay for a 358 cm of coax for the choke balun or a ferrite toroid with added coax when they could use 263 cm of cheaper wire for the radiating sleeve? 2. CB antenna designers are not the sharpest engineers. I don't understand why we need to emulate their misguided attempts at antenna design. There are easier and cheaper designs with more gain.

[@ianxfs]

Sorry, I don’t understand your reference…

[@BusDriverRFI]

​@@ianxfsyou use a choke to choke the RF from floating back down the coax. That's 358cm of coax you wouldn't have to use if you instead used wire with a coil to cancel the capacitive reactance. You can get more low TOA radiation as well. I'm trying to figure out the advantages of paying more for less performance.

[@trondyne3513]

Parts of this are very hard to follow... Instead of time compressing the assembly you might have just filmed it ...

[@ianxfs]

Ok thanks for the suggestion. Perhaps pause the video as you build and/or make some rough notes to help? Good luck with your build 👍🏻

[@justawfulgamer7738]

I agree, I'm very confused