Antenna Types and Terminology: AD#30

This video explores amateur radio HF antennas, looking at various types of interest to those new to the hobby. It also provides a brief overview of gain antennas. Thank you to viewer Ty Williams for suggesting this video. Thank you for watching my videos! My channel, "Ham Radio Answers," is here to help you become an active, on-the-air amateur radio operator! I am unique in that I provide the only set of KZbin training videos that accompany the ARRL license manuals, section for section. I try hard to answer every Ask Dave question individually if I can.
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[@kk7aagradio631]

By far the best info on antennas I have ever seen! Saved this one. Superb easy to understand reference material for a new ham. Great Job!!!

[@gosman949]

I am nearly 70 years old. I got my General class when I was about 16. I have been inactive for 45 years but have kept my license up. When I was a boy, my dad helped me erect a beam antenna. It only cost a few hundred dollars back then! Now that I am wanting to get back into the hobby, I don't have the room for this nice beam but do have a small yard and home to play with. The antenna is the driving force that is preventing me from getting back into this. Thanks for the video.

[@goodfriend6428]

Thank you! Always well done. Love the pictures at the end. Beautiful country!

[@johnangeleri7336]

Really well done! I have been watching many videos on antennas. This one provides lots of info that is packaged in a very digestible format. Thank you!

[@LeopoldVDH]

Thanks Dave, as a novice I gained much knowledge from this video and found it very interesting. Thank you

[@adelarsen9776]

This video should be watched in concert with another of Dave's videos about antennae which describes more of the technical operation of antennae types like the vertical. Good video.

[@TheBigWWI]

Greatly appreciate your easy to follow vids for a newby starting in the HAM world.

[@why-chi3920]

Great explanations, Dave. Thank you! I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on end-fed long wire antennas, if you would please!

[@michaelhuntington7316]

Thanks for these videos Dave! You do an excellent job making complex ideas easy to understand. I find them to be a great resource. Keep it up. Mike ~ KI7SGI

[@mikeb6185]

Fantastic!!! Traps explained, which always confused me! Plus interactive drawing help me enormously!! Great delivery!! Look forward to your other videos!

[@davecasler]

Thank you

[@Timothy-NH]

Thank you! I’ll be watching this a couple more times.

[@scdave100]

Thanks for another great video David! Looking forward to the next!

[@anthonynogales6101]

Hey Dave, not sure if you are still going at it making videos: but I just found your channel, subscribed, and am sharing it with my Junior Sailors. These videos are awesome and will help us prep for exams

[@Motilal94854]

Very good lecture. Knowledgeable 🌹🌹

[@Zaku186]

This is a great vid. i really appreciated the clarity you used describing everything. even at the end where you were describing your channel. i DO have a lot of questions as im very new to HAM radio but ill do as you said and watch all of your videos first and ask them in the appropriate video.

[@davecasler]

Welcome to ham radio! The best way to learn is to get on the air! Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

[@Zaku186]

Thank you very much.

[@bilboXbartok]

Thanks for the video! I was a ham for some time, going up to Advanced class... then, due to various reasons Iwas unlicensed for about 10 years... then last june, after studying for several months, I took both the Tech test, and the Extra test! 85 questions in one test setting! I made it out alive, and with a Extra class ticket! :) So much for the background... Most of this material i know pretty well, but appreciate seeing it all from a different viewpoint... I would have like more info about Hex Beams... but with the time alloted, this is probably all you had time for that kind of antenna! - AI6XK

[@davecasler]

I haven't really done any videos on gain antennas because most new hams don't have access to them. Welcome back to ham radio! See you on the air.

[@tiredofyou495]

Thank you sir

[@PaoloBergamo]

This is fantastic! Thanks David!

[@peterrock2838]

I use an Alpha J-Pole Sr 6-160 inverted in my attack (only 25 ft high) in FL and it works great with my Yaesu 897D!

[@eknaap8800]

You use an antenna to attack on 25ft???

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Dave, Great video. Very informative for anyone starting out in the hobby. I've been around for awhile and have the classic trapped tri-band beam. It's 35+ years old and just brought it down for some much needed maintenance. It was on a Wilson TT-45 tubular crank-up that is also undergoing some repairs to make it last another 35 years. :-) Keep these videos coming. WB3BJU

[@raulgongora5288]

Twaskyou for your information

[@russellnotestine6436]

Clear as mud...

[@rationalraven8956]

Thanks, very informative video

[@kishor_VU2MZT]

GREAT INFO YOU DELIVERED ,, CAN YOU COMMENT ON WHICH TYPE OF WIRE WE CAN USE TO MAKE DIPOLE I MEAN TYPE OF METAL AND GAUZE OF WIRE , AND CAN WE USE INSULATED COPPER WIRE? OR IS IT MANDETORY TO USE NAKED ENAMELLED CUPPER WIRE ONE ,

[@TEN-TIMES-HARDER]

So if a dipole be it horizontal or vertical, bent, or even a 1/4 wave vert is half a dipole and uses the outer shield of coax as the other 1/4 wave if it don't have counterpoise radials.... is how its taught.... So it gets confusing where we run a 1/2 0r 5/8 wave vertical. the coil at the feed point matches the impedance and forces the 1/2 wave antenna to have 50 ohm in the center of antenna not at feed point causing it to radiate feed point to tip, like a center fed dipole. "They" antennas are best with the feed point half wave or a full wave off ground. So does this mean that I want the center of my 1/2 wave vertical a full wave off the ground or still the feed point should be 1/2 0r full???

[@ianwalker3922]

thanks Dave you explain very clearly and I am new this and I carnt have an Antenna on my renterd property sadly but I can Have one in the loft wich would be the best for the HF ALL BANDS ?

[@davecasler]

Yes, take a look at the ARRL book called "Small Antennas for Small Spaces." Attic antennas do work. Or look at a hamstick for your favorite band, or try a mag loop.

[@daver681]

I am new and thinking about persuing ham but I am trying to figure out what wire antenna will cover a large amount of the bands but everybody that puts information out about them insists that you need something totally different, (completely) Help.

[@arthursakelakos9479]

Hi Dave. My name is Arthur. KD2pxe. I currently am new to ham radio I have a technician license. I'm living in a top floor 3rd FL apartment and using a homebrew J pole on 2 meters. It hangs from a hook in the ceiling. I would like upgrade to HF but cannot put up an outdoor antenna and have no access to the attic. I was thinking of putting a wire around the perameter of the ceiling. I was thinking of an acordian style folded wire for 20 meters. Do you have any thoughts that could help with this.

[@1958Eagleeye]

Thank you Dave, the information contained in your video was quite healthful. I’m relatively new to amateur radio and had been struggling with the different components of which the intent is just one, so many choices. After researching I believe the Cushcraft R9 is my choice. 73 W1LRZ

[@swetagohil2194]

Hello sir we are using mc9190 Motorola RFID handheld as well as MC3330R device in our organisation. Where mc9190 works perfectly fine but mc3330r is misbehaving it scanned remote RFID tag rather then near one. Can you please help what went wrong ,I can share you specification of both device on email or it is available on net. Thank you.

[@tywilliams7780]

Thank you!

[@davecasler]

You're welcome! Thanks for suggesting the topic. 73, Dave

[@tywilliams7780]

occasionally, as a new Ham, I get the "vibe" from some that because I passed the test I am expected to just know some things. To a certain extent I guess that is true, but in college I didn't learn to be a social worker by passing required tests. I appreciate your KZbin channel and especially your openness to share the hobby....that is quickly becoming a lifestyle...lol

[@eddy2561]

Brilliant!!

[@skygod2019]

Dave, I’m getting a quad band Wouxun kg-uv980p. I will use it mobile and as a base. Could you please recommend antennas? Is it better to have multiple antennas or do quad band antennas work well???

[@ForensicPI]

David I really appreciate your videos. I’m new on HF, and am using an Icom 7300, but with only a beginner’s basic vertical, and it’s not far reaching. Now that your video is two years old, I have the following questions. I am considering either the Cushcraft R-9, or High Gain 860. The reviews on the Cushcraft R9 seem better. Is there a better vertical than these two, that I’m not yet aware of. I have a roof eve mount ready for them. Bill Rhetts - KM6ESG

[@davecasler]

I think you must mean the AV-680. The thing to note is that it covers only a tiny portion of the 80 meter band--you choose which portion. You might look at the less-expensive R8 and AV-640.

[@billvia3137]

I use a 3 band fan dipole in an inverted V configuration. All three bands are 2 to 1 for the frequentcies they are cut for. Can I use this self determination concept when attaching to the coil of the AV18VS or similar vertical? Thanks Bill Via K7VIA ham extra class.

[@davecasler]

Not sure. Maybe someone can comment?

[@ahmetozdemir7173]

Hello, thanks for video. can I ask something about antennas? Can a rod or telescopic antenna made of aluminum be used for electrical, magnetic and electromagnetic sensing? Why?

[@davecasler]

Yes. There are signal strength sensors out there, but a lab grade signal strength meter would be very expensive. I've never seen one in ham use.

[@BreedBearWolf]

My Lady and I is getting ready to purchase a house, so now I have the location to put up some antennas. I just purchased a 80m Tak Tenna. Do you have any vids on them, if not there you a "Ask Dave" episode.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the topic suggestion

[@l3royj3nkinz9]

could you make a video discussing radiation patterns inside and out of antennas as well as the effects of swr

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the topic suggestion.

[@NullaNulla]

Nice video though I'd have made note that trapped verticals (the Cushcraft etc) are usually RATHER pricey :(. Each time I look they seem to sit around $1k AUD which I just cannot justify as much as I'd love one. If anything I need a good wind down/fall over tower of at least 40-60ft first (I know someone locally with 80ft but the mob that has it won't part with it until it falls down).

[@georgeknapp4909]

It is the new Stryker antenna mobile but like the fast answer

[@jrlepage]

When viewed from above, do the two legs of the dipole have to form a straight line? If not, how acute can the angle be? In other words, can you do an inverted V configuration when viewed from the side that appears like an L (or even a V) when viewed from directly above?

[@davecasler]

No, but keep at least the center part kind of straight.

[@alanhughes1262]

Yaggi 4 element beam 27mhz can this antenna be used on other frequency with a atu. Great channel thanks.

[@davecasler]

Not so much. The Yagi itself is a resonant antenna, and off-resonant frequencies will be attenuated. One thing you can do as a ham is to shorten the elements to create a ten meter antenna.

[@iamsemjaza]

Is it effective to replace the radials on the ground with a large hunk of metal?

[@davecasler]

No. The radials are not counterpoises. They actually form part of the antenna.

[@iamsemjaza]

@@davecasler Thanks :)

[@kd1s]

Is window line the same as what we used to call ladder line?

[@davecasler]

Close, but not exactly. True "ladder line" has spacers every so often to keep the wires apart. Window line is just oversize twin lead, 450 ohms rather than the usual twin lead 300 ohms. To save on plastic, manufacturers cut lots of holes in the plastic, giving the appearance of cutting "windows" into the line. Very often window line is erroneously referred to as ladder line, so often the term has stuck.

[@AG8000]

👍👍👍

[@georgeknapp4909]

Can I run a sr-a10 mobile antenna on a table top on my porch with or without a ground plane?

[@davecasler]

Sorry, not familiar with that antenna.

[@georgeknapp4909]

Is picking up a lot of ground noise good or bad. yes I have fiberglass screening. Always seem to hear up the eastern states but just can't get anyone to hear me. And finally is aluminum framework for the screen impeding and grounded? And does adding additional ground radials help?km4ypd. George

[@georgeknapp4909]

Is adding a base linear amplifier of 350-500w a good thing on my porch and will it get out farther?km4ypd

[@davecasler]

In theory adding a linear will help you get out better. But be sure to check the RF safety guidelines to be sure that you and others aren't receiving too much RF. My antenna is about a hundred feet from my station, so even at higher power, I'm well in the safety zone. 73

[@ComputerTech95]

Im geting a 30$ dual band antenna 37 inch tall 50 ohms is that good

[@davecasler]

Depends on the antenna. If you're happy with it, it's worth it!

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

If you fall from a tower you will need undertaking kg6mn

[@noodleskc2jli397]

End feds w/9:1 unun s

[@ahmednor5806]

🙏💐💐💐

[@G1ZQCArtwork]

For a start its an Aerial, not Antenna, an Antenna is what you will find on insects like the Butterfly ETC. Correct terminology is key.

[@davecasler]

Whatever rings your chime. In the United States, the term is "antenna."

[@daverolleman2104]

Look at this antenna. What do you think. 43.067392° 92.802498° in china. some think it's an airport. I think it's a very low frequency antenna. use google earth

[@davecasler]

I've never seen anything like it!

[@daverolleman2104]

what freq and other info can you guess it is

[@norbertstepien9185]

Please Dave, put hands in pocket...otherwise, very informative

[@swetagohil2194]

Hello sir we are using mc9190 Motorola RFID handheld as well as MC3330R device in our organisation. Where mc9190 works perfectly fine but mc3330r is misbehaving it scanned remote RFID tag rather then near one. Can you please help what went wrong ,I can share you specification of both device on email or it is available on net. Thank you.