EFHW End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna Kit | Part Two: TEST & DEPLOY

In this PART TWO video, continue with ARRL member Rob Zielfelder, Jr., N1NUG, as he puts the EFHW antenna kit to the test and heads outside to deploy it for the first time! With a few tips, you'll be making contacts with your new antenna, too!
Check out PART ONE: • EFHW End-Fed Half-Wave...
For written, step-by-step directions, visit: www.arrl.org/en...
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To purchase an End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna Kit, visit: home.arrl.org/...
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Special thanks to Rob, N1NUG, for his help with this video! Check out his channel, SevenFortyOne: / sevenfortyone
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[@rogerrandolph7839]

Just recently took my Tech license test and decided to purchase this kit from the ARRL store. Everything needed was in the package except my labor and soldering gun. Now am waiting on a telescoping mast to get it up in the air in the back yard but while waiting I decided to deploy it from within my garage, out one of the windows to a 12 ft pole I set inside a fence post. maybe 5 ft off the ground at its lowest point. Hooked it up to my rig and checked the swr, 1.2 to 1. Once my call sign was issued I then started to get on the air on 10 meters but the conditions aren't to favorable in my area so no luck on voice contact. Yesterday I had time to set up for FT8 and once all the settings were dialed in I got my 1st QSO out of the country of Panama within 20 minutes. not bad for a multi band end fed just haphazardly deployed running out the window!

[@judd_s5643]

I have this antenna and tuned it while it was connected to the end of the feed line (in the shack). I used iPad and a iPhone connected via FaceTime. The iPhone was in the shack pointed at the analyzer and the iPad was with me while I trimmed the antenna wire. I use a VNA analyzer sweeping the range of interest. Worked great!

[@paulthompson1988]

Thanks for these two videos. A very good instruction and demonstration. Cheers Paul

[@lomgshorts3]

If you homebrew the "kit" from a 45 year collection of parts, the antenna costs about $29. So, if you have the parts needed, this antenna is affordable.

[@amham48]

Your test procedure was very helpful and proved out my build. Thanks for your efforts!

[@craigcherry4728]

In this video and also the part 3 POTA video there doesn't seem to be a counterpoise wire connected, or a common mode choke. It would probably be worth mentioning those points, in case anyone runs into problems with RF affecting their equipment. Other that that, very helpful and a nice series.

[@jarmstrong2843]

I followed these instructions to the "t" in both parts 1 & 2 and I kept getting screwy SWR readings using 2500 ohms of resistors. I thought the resistors were the problem, so I made a new string of 2500 ohm resistors. Still the screwy swr readings the were off the planet. I was using an MFJ 225 VNA during my bench test. I was going nuts trying to figure out what the problem was. I even had my resistors going over the top of the box just like what is shown in the video. Then through some experimentation, I moved the resistors 90 degrees to the side of the PVC box. The swr's were fantastic after some minor adjustments in position. I now wonder if the use of the MFJ 225 VNA may have been the problem by creating a stronger magnetic field with the toroid since in other videos showing the bench testing with a different brand of VNA did not experience the same problem. Anyway, the problem solved. Note to builders of this HFKIT antenna from the Netherlands. Do not use a knife to scrape away varnish as shown in the first video of this series. The knife will not clean the magnet wire well enough for good solder contact. Instead, use 150 or 240 grit sand paper to clean the varnish off the wire before soldering. The varnish on the magnet wire you get with the kit is very thick and it takes some work to properly remove. Proper removal of varnish will result in much better solder joints. Don't ask me how I know all of this. 🤣

[@johnbigbooty]

Thank you for this video. It inspired me to learn how to make my own transformers and experiment with EFHW antennas. I recently made (antenna number 3!) an EFHW 40-10 for a neighbor that has a very small property. We ended up adding (to the far end) a hand-wound 110uH coil to it and an additional 8.5 feet of wire. We trimmed the 8.5 feet section first, about 3 inches at a time. Then we trimmed the Unun end to touch up 40m-10m. It worked very well, and the only minor drawback is more narrow bandwidth on 80m. However, we got it centered at 3950 kHz, and we still have some bandwidth on either side of the phone band. For folks that can touch up with an Antenna Tuner, these antennas are even more fun. Thanks again!

[@M0JSX]

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve worked Janez! 😂

[@Uniblab9000]

Same. He's one of the most recognizable voices on the air these days.

[@paulkazjack]

Lol he tx's even on the toilet!

[@timbacchus]

I always fold the wire to make it shorter not cutting.

[@aroninsinga1521]

I believe that this requires the insulation be removed at the end and at the place where the end comes back to so they can be shorted together.

[@joeb3300]

Curiously.... that is what I tell my barber. "In case you make it too short, you can fix it." He just looks at me funny.

[@jeepien]

@@aroninsinga1521 While it's true that the insulated fold will add capacitance and will slightly change the effective length compared to cutting, if you're using a fold-and-try approach you don't care about this, and can just tune for best resonance.

[@nickbernstein]

I believe you are supposed to put a loop in the wire next to the box, and connect it to the strain relief point.

[@bduff5004]

Way cool. Just ordered this today as my first antenna build.

[@obiter-things]

Thanks for the info. A great follow up would be the grounding set up (static electricity, lighting) for a permanent installation.

[@AlvinMcManus]

Took me longer too because I missed soldering the two primary wires at the double wire! Man those are some mighty tiny screws.

[@cullendavidson1365]

What a great video!! Thank you for making it....I bought and built this kit offered on the ARRL website a few months ago...I wish this was available when I built my kit!

[@tpobrienjr]

Thanks for the demo. It does seem silly to call "CQ 20" on 20 meters, although I do it too sometimes.

[@AlvinMcManus]

In the finest tradition of hams everywhere I modded the Unun box to add another eye bolt so I can hang the box from that bolt and use the bolt by the antenna connection along with a dog bone wire clamp (not in the kit) to make a loop around that eye bolt so I am not pulling on the ring connector which will cause it to slip if it weren't soldered (and it wasn't, just crimped).

[@denniswofford]

Well done series on construction and deployment. I'm really thinking of getting that kit and making the antenna for some POTA work. Right now I activate from my truck using the mobile HF rig and antenna. I would think this would be an improvement over the screwdriver vertical.

[@ralph9987]

Pro tip: fold the end onto itself. Once it matches, then cut. Add choke beads to Coax and try adding various number and lengths. These can also help with directivity?

[@1crazynordlander]

Nice antenna Rob.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks Kevin!

[@bassangler73]

I got about the same setup...it's amazing what a piece of wire will do!! I'm a newer Ham so I couldn't believe that an antenna could be so simple yet work so well...good video series KI5USS 73's

[@danielmorgan7702]

Great video. I am going to buy this kit. Thanks.

[@n5pa]

Rob: I am enjoying your videos on the ARRL EFHW Antenna. I have 2 kits that I need to put together. It looks like it would be a much quicker implementation than my current portable antenna. Looking forward to the 3rd video out in the field!

[@SevenFortyOne]

It's very easy to put up and works well even close to the ground

[@n5pa]

@@SevenFortyOne Rob: I can run it across my backyard and my pond and over a Pine tree. The low end will be about 10’ off the ground on the eave of my house and at 50’ at the Pine tree. What kind of directivity do you get?

[@SevenFortyOne]

@@n5pa I haven't really paid close attention but directivity seems similar to a dipole

[@geirha75]

Thanks for excellent information. I love the kit. I am thinking of using it with a 40m QRP CW tranceiver 5W. But the MFJ swr meter is too expensive for my budget. I believe a NanoVNA will probably help me out.

[@daveengstrom9250]

I would like to see a DSOTA (doughnut shop on the air) activation! 😄

[@JamesMarcumStockton]

I see that there is a spot for counterpoise, but you do not use one. I will be operating on mostly 20m and 40m, my rig will be about 7 feet from the box, with 10-12 feet of coax connecting it. How do I know if I need a counterpoise, and how do I calculate best length? Can I drape the counterpoise down my wall, or should it run as close to horizontal as possible?

[@weshawkins7165]

I’ve got the same antenna. I’m a technician, KB6NOJ, studying for my General license. I have the box end about 30 ft up a tree and the end connected to a post about ten feet off above the ground. I haven’t tried listening with it yet because we got hammered with the worst winter snow storms in forty years and I wasn’t able to finish the installation. Hopefully this week. I wondering if it will work with the box at the higher point.

[@jameskeough4620]

Nice job. Thanks.

[@cw2gtc]

What if you are stretched, and can’t afford all the test machinery? Can the ATU on my Xiegu G90 do the trick?? Thanks - 73 - PS: Great little instructional trio.

[@jordanclarke2996]

I looks like the radio reads a higher SWR than the meter. I have noticed my FT-891 seems to show higher on the SWR than other radios.

[@AlvinMcManus]

Great Video. I have a question; did you have the antenna wire pull out of the ring connector or did I pull the wire too tightly. I was trying to get the sag out of the wire. I think I'll loop it thru the "strain relief" ring and use a dog bone clamp on the wire.

[@AlvinMcManus]

See the comment I just left.

[@keithstone8135]

I think that meter must be set to REF to measure SWR.

[@CarNRadio1]

you found Janez on the band. :)

[@RogerDickeyJr]

Always there it seems.

[@CarNRadio1]

@@RogerDickeyJr yes it seems. Now there will be only Janez, his brother had passed.

[@mykolatsarynny]

Need counterpose 5.2 meters 4 ea will be big diff

[@mowgly131072]

I m a beginner.. I resume : we can use one lenght of antenna wire on many frequenties.. And without tuner.. Is it well ?

[@jeff-73]

Question: Would a metal wire terminator thing not muck up your transmissions as that's the business end of your antenna? Thanks for the vid.

[@eddy4011]

Greetings could you tell me what gain have the EFHW antenna. Excellent your video W4EDY

[@stephaniestephanie1290]

He calls it a balun but the Box sticker calls it an unun. Anyone know whether he is building a 49:1 balun or 49:1 unun?

[@charlesascanio1]

qual o comprimento do fio que devo usar para a banda de 160 metros ? qual a relação desse balum ?

[@nickbernstein]

la fórmula por el largo es: 300 millones meteres / la largo de onda. no sé para la ballun. Soy un novicio con Espanol - lo siento si es terrible.

[@marksafford1395]

Link for this kit ? Anyone?

[@ARRLHQ]

home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/133267

[@mikefromflorida8357]

Kilohm is pronounced kilohm not kil-a-ohm.

[@k8byp]

Buy a radio. Cheap poor performing antenna. Trivial exercise. This is CB RADIO NOT AMATEUR.

[@nickbernstein]

There is nothing wrong with this video. Everyone has to start somewhere. If you can make a better video then do so; no one is stopping you.

[@judd_s5643]

@@nickbernstein he won’t ! Miserable people like this didn’t take to the social manners their mom’s tried to teach them.

[@joeb3300]

@@judd_s5643 Don't be too critical. It could be a neurological problem. Those social-skills related neurons may just be missing.🧠

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

I have never heard of a CB'er constructing their own antenna in the last 40 years. They mostly just buy manufactured product. And being that you're only mentioning CB to use as an insult, I'm guessing you're one of those sad hams that still complain that newbies don't have to learn code, while you had to walk barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways just to test for Novice...