Ape Answers 010: Antenna Kit Builds

[@BigJohnsHamShack]

Hello Ape. I enjoy your content very much. This type of antenna construction frequently calls for the use of a counterpoise or collection of counterpoises. What is the ideal counterpoise number and length? If you bond all the counterpoises together, will their performance improve? If a copper rod is inserted into the ground and connected to a counterpoise, will this result in an improved ground coupling?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey John. Here is a video where I covered most of this: Ape Answers 007: Ground Plane Radials kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJLYYoeDjsiIhMk so a counterpoise or of them (radial plane) acts like a big capacitor with energy flowing in and out. The Earth is actually resistive and will only absorb energy.

[@mcgrath16511]

When I got into Ham radio,, I found out that the "build your own antennas and stuff" is probably the most fun part! Really helps you to understand what is going on! As usual, another great video!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Daniel, glad you liked it 👍

[@emielv7872]

Very happy with my HFkits antennas. They are local to me so its nice to personally pick up the goods from their workshop and talk radio for a while. Sure the other kits from your video work just as well.

[@TheSmokinApe]

The HFKITS look great and they have so many options 👍

[@n0vty873]

Been into radio all my life, longer than I like to admit. These kits were not available in my play days. All was done by studying and trial and error. Having it all laid out makes it much easier, I am surprised more people are not interested in it than there is.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Agreed, kits are great. I just did a CW trainer kit from Sparkgap Labs

[@pnowikow]

I'm KZbin famous 😄. Thanks for the details brother.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Pete, thanks for watching 👍

[@MikeN2MAK]

Kits have given me the confidence to experiment--taking what I know and what I have and trying something new or different.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Totally agree, same here. Thanks for watching Mike 👍

[@bassangler73]

Cool vid Ape..I didn't know you guys sold Antenna Kits..I will check it out brother!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks BA 👍

[@janiceemery2008]

Excellent video Ape. I do want to build an antenna kit but not too confident in being able to wind the toroid.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Janice, the first time is the hardest but it does get easier after that 👍

[@ramonbennett8416]

Awesome 🇺🇸🫡

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Ramon 👍

[@bduff5004]

Great video Ape. Thanks for

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks BD 👍

[@daveengstrom9250]

Do you have (or can you make) a video on building a 160 meter magnetic loop antenna?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I don’t but have been wanting to make one for 40m. I’ll look into 160 but that might be a tough one to do 👍

[@KO4VNX]

Kits are what made me want to understand the math so that I could make my own antennas. It's true, kits are the gateway drug of the antenna-building world!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey DeWayne, totally agree 👍

[@temporarilyoffline]

Well... I had questions.

[@TheSmokinApe]

You want the kits from the end of the video 👍

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@TheSmokinApe yeah. They looked the best!

[@hamradioexperience]

Awesome video Ape! I'm currently running an HFKits EFHW. For anyone doing portable VHF/UHF, I sell an antenna kit with instructions that walk you through not just how to make, but how it works, and why! 73,

[@TheSmokinApe]

That have a pretty good selection of antennas too 👍

[@geoffpriestley7310]

You tube just follow their instructions. I've built ununs and balums thats the hardest bit . If you have to wind a coil its all there

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Geoff, thanks for watching 👍

[@geoffpriestley7310]

@@TheSmokinApe on holiday touring Scotland just staying the night at john Paul Jones House where he was born( well in the garden in a motorhome) just built 20FT vertical with a 4 to 1 unun strapped th to back of the van heard w2 in the states but worked Russia and Cyprus

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@geoffpriestley7310 Awesome!

[@WECB640]

Why is it every time I click on an Ape video, I see an ad from Bernie Sanders begging for money? Something we don't know about? LOL We do need to bring back more kits to the hobby! Many of us learned and honed our skills this way. I'm glad CaHR sells antenna kits. 73 OM

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol @ Bernie and yes @ kits

[@TrevHolland]

You keep saying "we answer your questions" and "we were asked" but I only see one ape. Are there more apes? Who is "we"?

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@TrevHolland I have a large product staff here at the studio made up of my multiple personalities 👍

[@TrevHolland]

@@TheSmokinApe This ape contains multitudes!