$5 DIY: Build a 5-Band Ham Radio Antenna with an Ethernet Cable (No Tuner Needed!)

[@aaronhope8366]

I honestly love the scrap-tenna builds. I destroys the barrier to entry that a lot of us are feeling these days. Now if only we could turn scrap into an ICOM we'd be set.

[@thehamjazz]

Hahaha no kidding. That would be the best - 'scrap metal Icom'. I learnt so much from my buddy Mike at Burnaby Radio, explaining to me the importance of resonant antennas and basically 'if you can run electricity through it, you can make it into an antenna'. In my early Ham Days I spent way too much on antennas. Not any more! Love to build them. woohooo. Cheers Aaron and thanks for swinging by buddy.

[@mrtechie6810]

I don't understand exactly. Do you have a good diagram showing the lengths and the connections?

[@Stewart-HA5RV]

Ethernet cables are pretty thin so not sure if I'd use for more than 20W but great for QRP. On the other hand it's only the vertical part that needs to be a bit thicker so you could for cents just change that for a bit of 1-2mm house wire and do 100W easy. This is basically a ghetto DX Commander! 😉

[@thehamjazz]

G'day Stewart, thanks for your comment mate. The antenna works great, and I have some 'plans' and will shoot another video on options to change out the radiating element. I just love the fact that there is SOOOO much wire there in the one cord. '8 wires for the price of one!". wooohooo cheers mate

[@Stewart-HA5RV]

@@thehamjazz I don't doubt the performance I've made similar antennas and have a couple DX Commanders - they have multi[le verticals - otherwise exactly the same. They work fantastic. Like I said just put a bit of zip cord for the vertical or I've even used solid copper wire house wire and you can run loads of power too!

[@thehamjazz]

@@Stewart-HA5RV Fantastic Stewart. I'm working on an 'another option' for the vertical element. Need to head to the hardware store wooohooo! Cheers mate. Fun stuff building antennas - it's the greatest!

[@redrota]

This cable with swr 1.2 will be work fine even with 500w, without troubles. Haven't warm like high swr loses

[@darrellbeard2799]

I LOVE THIS. I'm going to cut a bunch of radials and try them on the Performer vertical. You just might be on to something. Thank you for you time and effort. 73's buddy see ya on the air soon.

[@kirkgoins7214]

So are you just folding over the wire to shorten its length or ?

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there - that’s exactly right. I’m just folding the wire over on itself - cheers! Stay tuned for part 2 video coming soon 👍

[@gibtsnocheinenfreien]

That was my question, too. But really? Just fold it back and let it hang down or coil it up? 🧐

[@rkaag99]

Good video! I love scrap box antennas! My understanding is that radials on the ground aren't too sensitive to length vs. freq. The length plays more of a role if the radials are elevated, so this design seems like it could be quite forgiving!!!

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there mate, thanks for your comment. These radials @8' 9" work a treat elevated as well buddy. I am able to easily tune from 2 meters all the way up to 40 meters! It's an incredible radial system. Happy building mate! Cheers

[@brianclimbs1509]

I've been using magnet wire for an antenna, but it has been terrible for transmit. I think I may be dissipating energy in the thin wire due to skin effect, so the SWR looks good, but the energy isn't getting out. Reception is great. Let us know if you get a different result.

[@Mike_K7CAN]

What’s the thoughts on 100w going thru that small of wire ?

[@thehamjazz]

Hey buddy, 100 watts won't be a problem, provided it is resonant. Weather permitting, I'll use this bad boy tonight for the Grey Line. My trip to Oz last year, I used 100W exclusively with this radial system. Cheers and beers mate

[@downtownPatna]

17m should be 18MHz, not 17MHz 😊

[@thecarys563]

What are you using to connect the different lengths for the 5 band radiator wires or is it a single wire you're shorting at the required lengths?

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there mate - thanks for dropping by. The total length of the cut ethernet cable is 17ft 6 inches. I left one wire uncut, which is the radiating element and the remaining wires, which there are 14 in total, are cut in half - so they come out at the exact same length which is 8ft 9inches. I removed the shield of every radial wire and connected them all together as 'one' if that makes sense. I then screwed them into this Terminal Block (link in separate comment) - If you put this into Amazon in your country you should see them listed there.... So once I connected them all into one of the terminal block ports, I tested every radial to make sure there was continuity of current. I hope this answers your question mate. So in short, all of the radials are exactly the same length. Cheers mate

[@thehamjazz]

TERMINAL BLOCK - AMAZON.... Keszoox 10 Sets 5.08mm Pitch Male & Female No Soldering Green Phoenix Type Connector 4 Pin PCB Screw Terminal Block

[@jeffmay1024]

How many watts will the antenna handle?

[@thehamjazz]

G'day Jeff, it will handle 100W, provided it is resonant. As I mentioned to Mike above, I used this similar radial system in Australia for all of my activations at 100W. Just gotta be careful not to kink the wire, so wind 'er up on a spool or as a 'figure 8'. Cheers mate, and thanks for your comment

[@DavidLopez-bz4rj]

I buillt an 80 meter loop using twisted pairs and radials fot a vertical.. there are 2 types of cable, solid and stranded, i used solid but it is the worst as it tends to break if bent agressively...

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there David, I have both the solid and stranded.... this particular Cat 5E wire is very flexible and stranded. I do have a solid as well mate, and couldn't agree with ya more.... you have to be extra careful to not kink them. Cheers buddy! Thanks for your comment

[@DavidLopez-bz4rj]

@@thehamjazz You are welcome. I have spare cable and I use it even for hanging antennas on trees, could be used for building verticals, I mean using the entire cable without stripping. I heard it could be best if soldering all cables every certain length, I think because of the twist of the pairs or the dissimilar length. Have fun!

[@eliezercohen2205]

Could you not have installed all the radiating elements around the pole like the dx commander?

[@ON3STG]

What a enthusiasm and results. Very nice video and an inspiration to try it myself. I have about 100m of UTP Cat 5 laying around. 73 de ON3STG

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there Gert, thanks for dropping by. That's awesome mate you have so much of this stuff lying around!! You could make a full sized loop for any band with that amount hahahaha. The beauty of this is you say you have 100m of UTP Cat 5 laying around.... so in reality mate, you have 800meters ALMOST a Kilometre of wire there waiting for some sort of antenna design hahaha. Keep me posted on your build - I'm excited to see what you come up with. Cheers mate and thanks again!

[@Bairam_1AT865]

Hey dude, have u tryed to keep all the verticals wires together and see if it works??

[@thehamjazz]

Hey mate, ya I have tried it and the problem I ran into was capacitance coupling - meaning they all sort of act as one, so it's like having one wire out there instead of 14. Thanks for your comment mate, and happy building. Cheers

[@Tommy_Boy.]

That is so awesome Simon!! 👍📻⚡So, ... for less than the price of a bad cup of coffee, you can get on 5 bands! This is so cool!! Nice work 🦘POTA Master of two Victorias! 🍺🍺

[@thehamjazz]

Wooohooo thanks Tommy Boy for dropping by. The best thing is the radials have such a small footprint.. Happy building buddy. I've got some ideas that I'm working on today for another video with this antenna hahaha.

[@m7trsradio]

Wooohooo great work nice and simple but if it works then great. Keep the videos rolling. Motters 73

[@thehamjazz]

Wooohooo thanks Motters! This is a crazy antenna, and there is a Part 2 coming out in a day or two buddy. I'm working on making it even better - this antenna stuff is soooo much fun! Happy SOTA buddy! Thanks for your comment.

[@z3r0c00l2]

The thing is, what about efficiency? How long can it get ?

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there Jimmy, thanks for your comment. I have no clue in 'theory' but I am going to be putting this guy to the test comparing it to other antennas in a real time POTA activation. I will say this.... when I was in Australia last year, this radial formation/ pattern and a 17ft whip worked wonders for long path DX. When you say "how long can it get" are you referring to DX contacts? or are you referring to wavelengths and tunability?

[@SteampunkSammy]

making it a video? 73s from GM

[@thehamjazz]

@@SteampunkSammy Hey buddy - I definitely will. Cheers!

[@jasonash9121]

Great video, Simon! Just to be clear, the center of the coax is connected to the radiating element and the shield is connected to the radials? Thanks! 73s W2ASH.

[@thehamjazz]

Hey Jason buddy, you got it mate! Centre Coax to the 'hot side' 'radiating element' and the shield side connected to the radials. Stay tuned buddy for a sequel to this. I've been working on it all day and it's kinda blowing my mind hahahaha. Just have to build it. Video coming soon my friend. wooohoooo

[@jasonash9121]

@@thehamjazz Awesome, Simon! I can’t wait!

[@o2bnov0307]

Great work!! So much fun!! I’ll be out on Saturday with JOTA, and Sunday with POTA.

[@mrtechie6810]

$5 antenna, $100 mast

[@robk3005]

What a great way to repurpose an ethernet cable which has broken ends.

[@thehamjazz]

Thanks Robert, you betcha mate! And it's cheap!! I bet if you went to a construction site for a building they are 'demoing' you could probably get the old CAT 5 stuff by the mile hahaha. It is also dirt cheap at Home Depot, if you actually look at the fact you're getting 8 wires for the 'price of 1' haha. Cheers mate! Thanks for your comment

[@graphicventures]

Awesome, downunder! 73s from U.A.E.

[@RichardOSBORNE-z8p]

Have you made this antenna with 40 meters added?

[@kurtwolter3984]

Great fun experiment. Cheers from Chicago. 😊

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there Kurt, thanks for dropping by mate. I am working on PART 2 to this video, hahaha. This has been the most incredible experiment, and can't wait to share it with ya! Thanks again for your comment mate. Cheers! Simon

[@aschlack8889]

Legend !

[@KM4ACK]

great video 🙂

[@KG6NLW]

Very nice Simon!

[@thehamjazz]

Thanks buddy! Hope to see ya on the livestream / air tonight.

[@HenryPhelan-h9r]

Awesome stuff ❤

[@thehamjazz]

Wooohoooo Henry! My fabulous nephew! Love you buddy. Miss you all! Get the fam into Ham buddy. 🤟

[@Redbelly357]

Most hams i know can't seem to understand cheap antennas. They would find the need to add a balun , rg213 coax, a couple of chokes, a 50 foot tower and a $1500 tuner. 😂😂😂

[@DK5ONV]

"SIMON R O C K S" 💯🎸🎙🎧🍻🤘

[@thehamjazz]

Uncle Guenter! You Rock buddy! Stay tuned for Part 2 of this buddy. This is a crazy fun project. Hope you're doing great buddy. wooohoooo

[@jameshall5314]

I didn’t see you make any contacts

[@RandallRash]

Beauty, eh?

[@thehamjazz]

Hey buddy, it works REALLY well. More tests to come. woohooo cheers buddy

[@davidverville2021]

You gave no details on the vertical connections or distribution, not enough info to duplicate this.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Canadian call but OZZY OZZY OZZY OI OI OI!!! 😂 73 de VK2AOE.

[@thehamjazz]

hahahah g'day mate! To quote Peter Allen - "I Still Call Australia Home" wooohoooo! Cheers buddy and thanks for dropping by