Ask Dave Episode 1: Antenna Analyzers

New series! Ask your questions about ham radio. Designed especially for new hams. This week's episode explores antenna analyzers and things you can do with them, including measuring coax loss, distance to fault (coax length), velocity factor, and trimming a six-meter (52 MHz) dipole for lowest SWR. Ask your questions at www.ke0og.net/ask-dave.

[@Bxcowboy]

Dave you are an excellent teacher, Elmer and overall guru. You have a calmative inflection but what you have to say is so informative, I learn all the while. Thank you sir!

[@philipgreene2172]

Hi Dave hope all is well with you and your family question, I'm having all hell trying to get my antenna to match 50ohms sometimes it gets as high as 30 and that's it with a good swr it's a diy 4 element yagi on the 11 meter band any support will be greatly appreciated

[@stevenlsmith18738]

Mᕦ⁠⊙⁠෴⁠⊙⁠ᕤᕦ⁠༼⁠✩⁠ل͜⁠✩⁠༽⁠ᕤ

[@ganjajoe2566]

I feel tremendous joy when I watch your shows. Thanks for being a great teacher Dave!

[@120730amm]

Hi Dave. I hope you do not mind, but you have become one of my "Elmers" ! I left the British Royal Navy (Submarine Service) in 1991. Having been a Radio Op in the Navy I always wanted to get involved in Amateur Radio. Well the day arrived, a little delayed with life, but I am currently studying for my Foundation Lic., in the UK, and you, along with others, have become a shining light in furthering my education in Propogation, spectrum analysis, RFI, antennas and general very useful info on all else. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your presence out there for us all. Thank you so much. Keep it up and the best of health to you Mr Casler Sir. 73.

[@wesleykicker4996]

Thanks Dave! Every time I get discouraged I find myself right back on your home page or on on your Utube site. There’s always encouragement and positive answers from you. BTW Anyone who knows Train Lines are great at details. After a visit at Mayo Clinic and having a very very serious operation with my being heart removed from my chest for 10 hours, I left a high pressure job and took up model trains. What great history there is in the Railroads of America! And the World! 73’s. Wesley KC5FTT

[@terrycrissman7392]

I've ridden the train a few times and enjoy it as much as the first time, beautiful area. Renewing my knowledge base after a 10 year absence from radio, thanks for the helpful videos.

[@hypnosiscenternyc]

I love your videos. Very professional. First time I understood frequency and lengths. I finally found a good teacher.

[@gearhammer915]

Dave, as a very new operator, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your videos and how invaluable they have been to me! I am trying to consume as much info as possible and subscribing to your channel has been the top of my "education". If you ever get down here, would love to buy you a cup of coffee! Thank you and 73! ka0rsn (Pagosa Springs)

[@davecasler]

+Gear Hammer Thanks! I'm glad you found the videos useful!

[@paulhastings3109]

Dave thank you. I don't make comments all the time. I can't believe I your first ask Dave. Been wanting to put loop for 40mts. Been off the air for sometime. At my age you have to keep things to a point of I can do it 73 KQ4CD

[@jimguelde4068]

Hello Dave. I got my first HAM license 10 years ago and have been looking for a source of easy to understand information ever since. I joined a HAM club in hopes they would hold classes on topics of interest, but of course they didn’t. I like to use the analogy of asking someone what time it is, and they tell you how to build a Grandfather clock. Your videos are what HAM club meeting SHOULD be about.... sharing information instead of the smug “Go learn it like I did!” attitude of so many HAMS. Thanks Dave!

[@K1QS_Radio]

Nice video Dave, Been a ham for 40 years and learned a lot from that one. Keep 'em coming. 73.

[@tywilliams7780]

Thank you for the easy to follow instruction. I am a new Ham (no call sign yet) and appreciate the effort many experienced Hams put into videos like this. "73" North Central Idaho

[@davecasler]

+Ty Williams You're welcome!

[@arnoldparkin8807]

.ca doug

[@arnoldparkin8807]

Ved oliser

[@arnoldparkin8807]

Vidoliser

[@tommywalls1167]

Hello Dave, I am KC4ZZE, this is what Ham radio is about, sharing experiences and knowledge to advance the art. Thank you for doing that. I would like to share an experience with you: I needed a way to rotate the hexbeam remotely 200 miles away from the shack using a RCA VH226E antenna rotator. I came up with a solution after giving it a lot of thought. I purchased a WIFI IR hub and manually programmed the hub training it with the VH226E’s RCA handheld remote control as an experiment. It worked! I can now rotate the hexbeam from my cell phone turning it North, East, West, and South controlling the VH226E Antenna Rotator from my android cell phone using the Tuya App. The IR hub is freely supported by the Tuya app. I watch from two remote cameras to see the inside rotator box and outside antenna rotator operate and turn as I use the Tuya app. The AC power to the inside RCA VH226E box is a manual switch on the side of the box. I set the switch to permanent on position and plugged into a Kasa AC outlet. Now I can rotate my antenna from any where in the world with WIFI connection.

[@FirstWizardZorander]

Thank you so much for this video. I really like that you brought up the drop in resistance due to non-optimal height, and this is an excellent video to put it in, since people who have just gotten their new, shiny antenna analyzers are going to be wondering why they can't achieve an 1:1 SWR no matter how much they adjust the length. On point, well paced, and informative, as always.

[@xlenau]

You are a natural born teacher, sir! Thank you. Murat from Turkey

[@davecasler]

+xlenau Thank you.

[@rodchisholm4790]

Dave. Your instructional technique is superb. I learn so much from you & I'm very grateful. And I have no questions, dumb or otherwise, at the end of your vids. Thanks.

[@dr07828]

Dave, I really liked this video. I have the same MFJ and it is about the most logical analyzer I have ever used. I love it. Excellent demonstration of it. And I must say, pretty good job of getting well inside the ball park on the first try.

[@bennyfernandez5714]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing. I go near your area sometimes as a truck driver. route I take is moab, Monticello, Cortez. Usually take it when Wyoming I80 closes. Be safe up there as I know you get some crazy snow. 73's.

[@ejdiii333]

Thanks Dave for your Videos, I just passed my Tech and General License test today. I watched your training videos many times, a big help on clarification on many topics, Just want to let you know you helped this new Ham get some positive insight in your introducing me to this vaste hobby! 73!

[@patrickslevin6424]

Dave, please ignore my question on extremely high db loss. I've chalked it up to the ignorance of a novice. I tried to measure coax loss with an antenna on the other end. Once I took the coax off the antenna my loss was .4 db. Am satisfied with that.

[@rvnmedic1968]

Hi Dave, excellent vid! I started the Ham process in Oct 2016, took the Tech exam on the 22nd and then the General on 8 Nov. I've been looking for solid Ham radio vids and am now a subscriber to yours. I'm getting the equipment over this winter and will be operational in early Spring 2017. Bought an IC-7300 and can't wait! PS: My wife and I rode the Durango and Silverton back in Aug 1999, and then drove to Chama, NM, for the Cumbres and Toltec RR. Both were fantastic. 73, Bob/ KD2MCH

[@davecasler]

Bob, welcome to the channel! 73

[@DucatiMTS1200]

Thanks for a very clear explanation and demonstration David. I’m not an r.f. expert but your videos sure help me get a feel for the practical aspects and the adjustment sensitivities at these frequencies. Your a fantastic teacher - keep up the great work and keep well.

[@theoldhobbit3640]

I'm a little late to the party with this one, but as a new qualified novice here in the UK, this video has taken away some of the confusion in terms of understanding simple antenna building. Thank you for your time....

[@davidobryan8041]

Dave, Thanks for your video! I am a new ham and I am building my first antenna and this gave me some useful information. Also on a side-note thanks for the picture of the Silverton train station. Brings back memories of riding that train as a kid. I Look forward to more of your videos on everything Ham

[@davecasler]

***** You're welcome!

[@EdGrasmann]

Hi Dave....I spent a few weeks out in your area....went to Pikes Peak...rode the Durango Silverton RR then drove from Colorado Springs to Bryce Canyon.......just totally amazing stopped at Ouray....we were able to get to stay inside the Bryce Canyon Park......the skies were incredible...I made this trip between my second and third years of law school as I knew I would seldom have the time or the money to do it again.

You're an excellent presenter addressing exactly what radio amateurs need to know. Thank you/73 de SA5QED

[@dcmsr5141]

Just subbed, I am taking my Technicians test in mid May during our Hamvention, watching all of your vids. Thank you for your time on YT

[@davecasler]

Good luck with your studies!

[@michaeledmonds3218]

Great timing! I bought the same MFJ antenna analyzer a while back off Ebay and need to check my new Myantennas EFHW 4010 location endfed. Your tutorial will help immensely along with the analyzer manual. Thanks again, Steve KZ5MSE

[@thenar]

Nice start, Dave. You are an outstanding presenter. I’m a Colorado boy now displaced to the Pacific N W.

[@patrickslevin6424]

Hi Dave, you've been great as far as answering questions I've asked so I thought I'd get back to you with a rather unconventional fix. I wrote a few days ago on how to remove "dirty" electricity from my rig....I'm using a Generac 800 watt generator. A friend gave me the phone number of an engineering outfit....I called the number and the guy I needed to talk to was on vacation but the fellow on the phone told me to wrap the generator in aluminum foil.....that's right, aluminum foil. Well, I was ready to try anything and ridiculous as it sounds it worked. It cleaned up the RFI and sounded better than power from the power company does. I'm not kidding about that...the sound is better than I can get from house current. Now I need to figure out a way to make this work and not burn the generator up in the process. Thanks for your help. -Pat KD9DST

[@CraigMullins1]

Hey Dave: So excited to see this column!  Another great topic and one I always have questions about. 1. When testing antenna wire length. I've heard that you can just crease the wire end and that will shorten the wire while testing before you cut it permanently. Is that the case and how much of a crease does it take? Say I want to build a dipole on 160 meters. My yard is way too small, can I do a series of 90 degree bends without that effecting the total length and performance of the antenna? 2. When designing an antenna. What determines if you need a balun, choke, etc. and what type 1:1, 4:1, etc. Why do they have those LC matching networks? How to choose the network type? Coils? Capacitance hats? Etc. (Might have answered my question with what I said below) Can't you just match the antenna by changing the length? Guess that would change the SWR? 3. In the video the analog ohms meter was showing 40 but the digital meter was showing R = 33. Are both those numbers the same, the analog part is just off? 3. Prob a dumb question, but does high SWR affect an antenna's ability to receive like it does on transmit? 4. A bit past the 15 min mark, in the video it's showing a 1.5 SWR and a R=32. You said the Impedance is a lil low because of the low antenna height. Is their a way to correct this so you have the 1.5 SWR and R=50. If so how would you correct it? How much does this effect performance by having the Impedance a bit low, but SWR spot on? 5. Is their a way to know how bad a 160 meter antenna would perform only 20 feet off the ground? What is the best way to design it to make up for the shortcomings of low mounting height or if I purchased a commercial dipole, how would I change its design? 6. Showing us how to design an antenna in EZNEC would be a fun video, using a simple off the shelf antenna for the inputs. That might help to understand/visualize how the software works better. 7. Say I design a ¼ wave 2 meter vertical antenna and have a off the shelf antenna. Something like a Diamond Antenna CP22E. Is their cheap/easy way to test the performance of each antenna? Like measuring it’s signal strength 100 feet away so I know what one performs better/goes further? 7. I have a Radiowavz EFH20 end fed half wave antenna. I mounted it to a steel pole. SWR was thru the roof. I put a piece of PVC around the steel pole and that seemed to fix it. I also have a 2 meter antenna on the same pole above it. How do I know if they are interacting with each other? SWR on both is good. But the 2 meter just doesn’t perform like it used to. If I take the end fed off it works great. FYI: You might want to change the video title a bit so it’s more descriptive. For example, “understanding antenna analyzers - ask Dave video 1”. That way when people search in Google the video will show up more often in search results. Thanks again for all your helpful videos! Craig Mullins - KK6FFZ

[@davecasler]

Craig Mullins Hi Craig, lots of good questions! I'll try to address these in forthcoming videos. Also, in response to your suggestion, I made the title more descriptive.

[@paulbillingham4594]

Thanks for for taking the time to make the video and posting it Dave. I am about to have a loan on an MFJ analyzer and will in time buy my own. The task for this weekend is to fit a 6m inverted vee dipole onto my loft, (attic) and enjoy some of the sporadic E were enjoying in Europe. Your video is invaluable. All the best & 73 2E0MIY (England)

[@worksmartpaul]

David your getting better and better,keep up the good work on your new platform!

[@davecasler]

worksmartpaul Thank you!

[@timforrestcet35]

Good stuff Dave...! Down to Earth...Easy to understand. Thank you Dave!

[@lesnorton4151]

excellent video and simply put for all to understand, well done

[@aleneskikalashnikova4570]

Nice tutorial. Even if you don't have an antenna analyzer but you have a radio and swr meter, it works too. You can use the analyzer if you don't have a radio to test the antenna.

[@gregorgman]

Hi Dave, thanks for the photo at the end. I didn't know where you are. My wife and I are going to take a vacation/road trip and have that railroad on our plans. This will be in 2020. 73 's. Great video, I am new to this game:)

[@adelarsen9776]

Excellent presentation. Good clarity and content. I learned something new about analysers. Thanks, cheers :-)

[@utkf16]

Thank you and one more subscriber. New to the hobby and studying for the UK foundation licence. Lockdown means no local clubs are open so books and YT are the main options open. Your channel will be playing a big role in my progress, thanks again

[@walterwinnipeg7350]

Thanks for an excellent video! One of the best explanations I've seen on setting up and tuning an antenna. Not just what you are doing, but WHY you are doing each step. Great narration and camera work, too. Looking forward to viewing all of your other productions! 73 from Winnipeg, Canada

[@clems6989]

There are many new analyzers out there now. You used to have only a couple of choices. Now there are all kinds of choices out there. Including these nano-vna units. The MFJ does several other handy functions though. Including using it as a sugnal generator, frequency counter, measuring inductance and capacitance at different frequencies. Etc..

[@561ENTERPRISE]

just found your channel and looks to be answers to my questions. Thanks Dave.

[@AlexCausey]

If you change the horizontal dipole into an inverted V you can change the impermanence closer to 50 ohms by playing with the angle of the elements.

[@Usacoax]

Dave, Ray N1MPD here from MPD Digital. Love your vids. One issue here though is your exposed coax. I know this was a temporary video but the only thing we don't warranty cable for is Water Infiltration. Leaving the end exposed to the elements OR depending on any PL-259 to keep water out of your feed lines is a recipe for disaster. Cable assemblies should last 15-20 years or more, but we get a lot of business from folks who have to replace theirs after only a couple of years because they didn't seal the end connecting to the antenna.

[@davecasler]

Absolutely true!

[@davemitchell116]

Dave, an easy way to eliminate guess work and determine how much to add or cut from a dipole is to divide the frequency where it is initially found to be resonate into 468 and then subtract or add it from/to the DESIRED frequency divided into 468. For example, if the initial measurement indicates resonance at 53.598 and the desired frequency is 50.125, divide 468 by 53.595. Result is 8.732 feet (which may or may not be the ACTUAL physical length). Then divide 468 by 50.125 which equals 9.337 feet. Subtract 8.732 from 9.337 equals .605 feet or 7.26 (7 1/4) inches. So add 3 5/8 inches (half of 7 1/4) each end and measure again. It should now be resonate at 50.125 MHz (National 6 meter calling frequency).. Just a hint you may already know.

[@davecasler]

Yes, but I'd still leave a little extra length. I once cut a dipole in the manner you mentioned, and it ended up a little too short. So leave a little extra play with after the cut.

[@davemitchell116]

@@davecasler Interesting you should say that. It's always worked for me. However, I don't actually "cut" the wire. I wrap it back on itself in case I did have to lengthen it. But in over 40 years, I've never had to.

[@patriot9455]

I noticed you used the same kind of notepaper I do when I am in a hurry, lol. Building the antenna the way you did is very enlightening.

[@philippedecamp7558]

Thanks Dave !! That's great video . God bless you for your initiative to help people.

[@infoaffiliatemagic]

I've been watching several of your well presented videos for sometime now. I like what I've seen and continually look for any new video presentation. The series you've created for new Ham radio operators is an ideal starting place to learn much of the in's and out's of Ham radio. I will continue to recommend your videos to anyone asking for a place to find great Ham radio operating instruction. I've been using the latest digital mode since it was released by Joe Taylor in July of 2017. I would like to see a video you create giving an overview of the FT8 digital mode latest version 1.9. Thanks so much for all you have done - Keep up the good work. K4KSW.

[@janwansink]

Great explanation Dave! My son (15 and learning for his HAM exam) understands what you are saying. Excellent job, (only the conversion of feet to meters makes him fuzzy) 73 Jan, the Netherlands

[@RevGunn-jq3cq]

Dave you are a great instructor!

[@davecasler]

Thank you! 73

[@AussieMark909]

Excellent video tutorial. I'm borrowing an analyzer soon to use getting a new dipole tuned and in the air. This information will help a lot with that project. Down the track I plan to buy an analyzer, probably the current version of the very one you used here. Thanks David, and best wishes.

[@larrybleigh8295]

Dave, Great idea...You did great explaining the "J" Pole antenna...

[@920colt]

Love your videos! Have learned more from you in watching 4-5 videos then anywhere else. THANK YOU

[@VNeshyba]

Well done! I appreciate the brief overview followed by the hands on "how to do it". I look forward to each future episode.

[@CharlieTechie]

Very well done and informative video. Nothing like watching an expert do it as they explaining in simple terms along the way. Thanks, KE8FNA

[@mihaifelseghi]

Your videos are pure gold.

[@loft306]

Awesome video, it answered a lot of my questions about antennas. Yes I have one of MFJ’s SWR meters and I’m learning to use it, that just gave me more knowledge as I am going to be building my own antennas

[@rogerwilliams1597]

Just got an old MFJ 269 and your video was very easy to understand. M0RMW

[@jack002tuber]

Excellent video. I searched on antenna analyzer and this was first

[@w5kub]

Hi Dave. de w5kub. great video as all the others are. I love wire antennas, You can learn so much. Found one little blooper in this video. you called it an antenna tuner when you were hooking up the coax to test the dipole. lol. I do that all the time too. Looking forward to getting you back on Amateur Radio Roundtable when you have the time.

[@davecasler]

Hi Tom, good catch!

[@68cristian]

an excellent resource. thank you for taking the time.

[@jimaanders7527]

The new NanoVNA make the MFJ equipment look like junk. The NanoVNA is priced far below any of the previous analyzers and it is very good, according to reviews I've seen (for example in QST as well as on YT). The new integrated circuits have created a revolution in the antenna analyzer market. A good analyzer can be very educational to show you exactly how your antenna looks to your transmitter and you can evaluate other components too, like coils, capacitors, dummy loads & matching networks. For the ham who wants to go a little beyond rag chewing, a good antenna analyzer is a lot of fun. .

[@schoocg]

Thank you and thank you. You do a great job helping newbies really understand.

[@joshuakatumba6644]

excellent teacher. i have got an insight of antennas. you have almost answered most of my questions

[@rickyn420]

hello Dave . wondering does my dipole need to be 32ft .

[@mikerey02]

Excellent. Loved this first one. Will keep watching the rest of these videos on 'Ask Dave'. I learned a bit from these. Thanks.

[@radman999]

Great video, David. Looking forward to more in the series!

[@junkman2758]

I have been there very cool. Also Have found the geocache there.

[@WauliPaulnuts]

Dave just developed a dipole exactly the way I've been doing for decades; more recently I've been using the mfj259.

[@davidbyrd5065]

Best dipole video I have seen! David Byrd KN4BHS

[@1974longhair]

Dave, I like the new series. You told us that we didn't need an antenna analyzer but didn't show us how to adjust an antenna without one. I'm a new ham and don't want to throw a couple hundred bucks at one just yet but would like to get on some hf bands.

[@davecasler]

1974longhair I mentioned it very briefly, but I'll give a more complete method in an upcoming video. Thanks for your question!

[@JLSoftware]

1974longhair There are formulas that you use, given the frequency, that tells you the length of antenna. He did that in the video.

[@davecasler]

1974longhair See "About Dave Episode 5," which directly addresses your question. 73, Dave

[@JosephLorentzen]

I got one of those cheap Chinese antenna analysiser. I was unhappy with the instructions. I got hold of the MFJ instructions. I was happily surprised that by using those instructions I could do everything the MFJ Instructions covered. I guess the old gird dip meter can reside inside to measure coils. thanks for the video. KD5KZL 73

[@6700rra]

Are automatic antenna tuners worth the money?

[@johnpatterson6205]

I find your videos to be very informative and easy to understand. Thank you.

[@cam-man7350]

Many thanks Dave for your very helpful tutorial. Trent Saunders ZS5TC

[@davecasler]

You're welcome! I'm glad you find the videos helpful. 73, Dave

[@antonybradbury6613]

Dear Dave. I make the dipole length, using your VF of 0.8 to be 3ft 9"3/8' or 45.3/8 per leg.... viz. 299792458 / 52 x 0.8 / 4 (convert metres to inches) = 45 3/8 inches per leg You can use 300Kmps or 468. However, to be exact, and it's no big deal to use 299792458 rather than the above 300 or 468, but you do get the exact length for your dipole,and, when cutting your coax length (using the coax VF) you get the exact phase match to the radio. No matching devices, no trimming of antenna or coax, just an efficient feeder and antenna system. I was not being rude, big headed, more trying to explain a more efficient way to cut your antenna and feeder. I have been teaching my students (new to ham radio) what I was taught using the metric system. However, I was brought up with the imperial (feet & inches) system, but when in 1966 I was forced to change (was an apprentice electrician) to use the metric system. I was no licensed until 1982, but had been an SWL and builder since about 1960.

[@davecasler]

Antony Bradbury Hi Antony. I fear Imperial units are here to stay in the US. I agree the metric system is far better and easier to understand. It's been my experience that the dipole's height above ground and especially its proximity to other metal objects will affect the resonant frequency somewhat. On a band as broad as 6 meters, the dipole can range from approximately 9.36 feet at 50 MHz to 8.67 feet at 54 MHz, with the same variations in feedline length if you want a feedline that is a multiple of lambda/2--it will be an integer multiple only on a single frequency. If you're only going to operate on a single frequency, or on a very small segment of the band, then by all means trim the dipole carefully in advance, though in practice further adjustment will very often be required. Wire antennas aren't very broadband anyway. I used a six meter antenna in the video because it's compact enough for demonstration; I must confess I don't actually use 6 meters because I don't have a suitable transceiver. My primary HF antenna is a horizontal full-wavelength 80m loop cut slightly larger than need be, used with a tuner on all bands. The purists scream (and there are purists in my local ham club!) but the antenna sure does work well. You can see it in About Dave 7, which I hope to release today.

[@iainmeteorscan1555]

Hi Antony. I believe you have mixed up David’s MFI-measured 0.8 coax velocity factor and the accepted 0.95 velocity factor that is applied to the length of antenna wire. For determining the half wavelength of an antenna, the imperial (feet and inches) formula is to divide 468 by the frequency in MHz. For metric, the formula is 142.5 divided by frequency. Both these figures (468 and 142.5) have a velocity factor of 0.95 built into those formula figures, 0.95 being the approximate velocity factor of typical wire used for antennas. Using the imperial formula, David’s calculation for a half wavelength is correct: 468 / 52 = 9 ft. each dipole leg being half of that = 4.5 ft. (54 inches). So, your calculation should have read as follows: 299.792458 / 52 x 0.95 / 4 = 1.153 metres (convert metres to inches = 53.89 inches per leg) in line with David’s 54 inches (4.5 ft.). For those who want to know why the numbers 468 (imperial) and 142.5 (metric) are used in the formulae for antenna construction, see my explanation on: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3_KpmykmZyZo6M 73.

[@robertbluni9373]

David: Thank you for your series of videos. I'm new to HAM and your videos have been very informative.

[@peterjones3245]

Excellent, clear exposition. Could have made the point that the length measurments relate to half a wavelength (half wave dipole).

[@thenar]

Nice start Dave. Great series.

[@1BigOldBear]

I LIKE the way you did this video . GREAT Question: You and others, including "Crash Course" all show how to PROGRAM an HT, especially the Baofeng HT's, BUT, nobody explains or show how to ACTUALLY USE one. HOW to get or grab a signal and ACTUALLY USE the radio. All programmed, all charged, have license, now - HOW DO I "USE" it - PLEASE Please do a video on "HOW TO USE" a baofeng, once programmed and ready. - PLEASE.!!!

[@gort400]

Great Instructor. I am about to take my Tech exam. This is the first time I have heard about placing the antenna 1/2 wave length above the ground. Where is the best place to find out more about this? Thank you for your dedication to Ham Radio!

[@jimself1954]

Hey, Dave. My 8010 efhw came with recommendations to put it up 20 feet in the middle and 6 ft up on the ends. 80 meters had a high SWR. So I then put the middle up around 57 feet...ends at about 5 ft, grounded just below box. Works great but power was off. I am barefooting. All bands. All below 2:1. So two counterpoises seemed to improve everything some, including the SWRs and power out. I live on near the East coast near Charleston. Have reaced Chechnia, Italy, Croatia., Arizona, Nebrasca with good reports so far. So, while barefooting, I guess that will do. I ordered a Signalink USB and am looking forward to doing some RTTY and digital stuff. Not a CW guy yet but working on that, too. Thanks for what you do! Gonna copy this to Kevin, too. 73

[@richardkitchen4430]

Dave. I was told by someone on a forum that if I have a coil with a tap for 40 meters and a tap for 20 meters and have them both connected at the same time that it would still work.

[@TelstarElectronics]

Good video... but I think you could mention that even with that antenna setup... the user doesn't need to stay at the 32-Ohm antenna to coax mismatch power loss. That 32-Ohms can be easily modified to the needed 50-Ohm impedance with a small transformer.

[@DEVES4]

New to HAM ....thanks, I look forward to seeing many more of your videos.

[@MarkRose1337]

So I have a few questions! I don't yet have a ham license, so I think that qualifies me as a beginner :) 1. How do hams find each other? With so many frequencies available, how does it work? 2. I live in an apartment with no roof or ground access, but I do have a fairly large balcony, about 5 m long. My view faces ENE over a populated area, with at least a mile before the first building blocking line of site. What useful options are available to me? 3. Long distance 802.11 interests me. I've seen some incredible long distance shots done. What are the rules when using ham privileges to transmit at higher watts in the lower channels where ham radio is a secondary user? Does transmitting at ham-permissible watts prohibit the use of WPA2 or even using HTTPS on an open connection?

[@davecasler]

Mark Rose Hi Mark, good questions. I'll try to address these in an upcoming video. Re #3, yes, you can use those lower channels. However, on ham radio, we can't encrypt things because everything needs to be in the open. This may preclude https. This is an area I don't know much about - I'll have to ask around. 73!

[@CraigMullins1]

Mark Rose I live in Pleasanton and we are working on setting up a city wide mesh network. ARRL back issues have quite a few articles on the subject. Some people say HTTPS & WPA2 is fine, some don't. I'd love the FCC to give us clarification. Still trying to find some good antennas to hook to my Bullet M2

[@davemitchell116]

Dave, you are correct. An analyzer is not ABSOLUTELY necessary. Most hams use them only a few times in a ham career. Therefore, the best idea (and MFJ wouldn't like this) is for a club to purchase one and pass it around to members as needed. What do you think?

[@davecasler]

Our club has one for exactly that reason. I put off purchasing one for many years until I could finally afford it. Now I wonder however lived without it.

[@iainmeteorscan1555]

The trouble is Hams are brainwashed into owning an ATU instead of an antenna analyser, and therefore never learn how to build an efficient antenna. As David, I could never live without my analyser - I use it all the time - and every Ham I’ve known who cares about antenna efficiency owns one! 73.

[@billrobie5134]

Nicely done instructional video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@nontimebomala2267]

Masterfully well done video, Dave. BTW MFJ bought a copy of the QCX case. I expect we will see them offer one from China soon enough.

[@vaccarioou22]

Very useful - thanks Dave

[@MrM2hb]

Good video. Always learning.

[@davidmauldin6615]

Great video about Antenna Analyzers and the height of dipoles does matter. Keep up the good work Dave Casler KE0OG. 73, WA6TWJ Dave Mauldin USA

[@MrMikeljay]

Thank you for the information. As a new "ham", I enjoy learning new things. Keep up the good work! 73! KM4QFN Mike

[@itsjimmyo]

great video Dave

[@laverneclark8191]

Thanks Dave. I live in an apartment and it is a challenge with adapting a counterpoise wire length to use with an antenna analyzer measurement. WA2HZE

[@davecasler]

Laverne Clark I've never tried it, but something you could look at is MFJ's artificial ground, which is basically a tuned counterpoise: www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-931.

[@timbacchus]

This is also a great review for an old ham like me 1965. WB7ORB

[@ausm6294]

Hi Dave, been watching your content for some time, and it is always informative and presented in a manner that most of us newbie hams can understand...."great job". I do have a some questions for you that I hope you can shed some light on, as to date I have not been able to get a clear answer on them. I am currently setting up my shack in a very large tin shed, six bay to be precise, and it has a gable roof, which is around 18' elevation at its peak. The shed is on a large concrete slab and the whole structure is common ground, by that I mean it has ground stakes at each corner of the structure and the walls and roof are all conected together to each goround rod point via short lengths of 1" copper braid. the floor also has reo bar installed, and it to is part of that common ground. Now here is where things get tricky and I have battled to find the right answers for some time as no one I have asked so far can be 100% sure on what will actuually happen. I would like to mount several types of antenna's on to the roof of the shed, A ground plain verticle antenna for the Cb 27MgHz band, a four element delta loop beam antenna for 7 and 14 MgHz/Gamma matched. and at a later stage a couple of inveted V dipoles for various frequencies. Now to the matter at hand that has been bugging me for some time....... Will all my antennas recognize the roof of the shed as common ground or ground potential, never too sure on the correct terminology to use, and if by doing so technically speaking, would that mean that my antenna's are only as good as the height distance they are from the roof line, OR will they recognize the overall ground that the building has been electrically connected to and earthed via the ground rods and natural conductivity. If this is the case will my antenna's be able to utilise the height of the shed from the actual ground level of the whole structure. This might be relevent to what type of antenna is being used I expect, as I can see that there may be more than one answer here, but if you could at least shed some light on this conundrum, i would be most appreciative. Regards Dale Morgan. East Gippsland Victoria, Australia.

[@davecasler]

Dale, the building will act as a counterpoise to all those antennas, or in other words act as radials if you are vertically polarized. The antennas will see the building as a counterpoise, and will operate as though at their actual height above ground. Note if you put a horizontally polarized antenna up across the roof, the roof will act as a virtual ground and detune the antenna. You need to get a horizontally polarized antenna about a quarter to half wavelength above the roof to get a good pattern. Regarding the 40m loop. If a vertical loop, be sure to feed it so it is vertically polarized. If a horizontal loop, you really should mount it elsewhere. Good luck with your project!

[@ausm6294]

Thanks Dave!....I had my suspicions that was the case, but had a lot of conflicting information that made me wan't to question some of the answer's I was getting......looks very much like hight is might, as I have found in previous installations, and not surprisingly, again it becomes the biggest influence on just how well many antenna's radiate. It's a shame as the shack I have in the shed is just perfect in relation to running minimal lengths of coax to my hf/vhf and uhf antenna's, but if I have learned anything about this hobby, it is that in nearly all cases you need to make compromises in one way or another to get an optimal result! Keep up the good work, I look forward to your future episodes, where no doubt, I'll learn something new again that I can put to good use. Regards, Dale M

[@neogeo8267]

Great Video - Good production quality, well spoken and excellent info. 73 from North Idaho

[@aviatortrucker6198]

Great video Dave! Would like to see same video for a monopole antenna in the 27 MHz band.

[@DradePhotography]

Thanks Dave for your lectures they are very informative , great clarity and very informative , Keep doing the great work . Thanks Ivan K9dxc,Vu2dxc

[@brianbrown4965]

Hi very good video . thanks . looks a very nice place where you live , must have flown over there so many time didnt know it was there , next time will give you a wave . keep the info vids coming . 73 thanks

[@danryant4587]

Absolutely great video Dave. I have a question for you though. Can you PLEASE explain impedance and how it applies to antennas? I understand that 50ohms is ideal but don't understand why that is or how it is achieved. Thanks in advance and thanks for the informative videos!

[@MattHeere]

50 ohms is just convention. We had to pick some impedance to be the "standard" so that the folks designing amplifiers, antennas, cables, and connectors could all work to the same value. We could just as easily have picked another value (TV systems use 75 ohms for instance), but a lot of stuff hangs around 50 ohms naturally. Having a common impedance value is important because when you connect two things with different impedance values together, power starts to bounce around in the circuit is ways you didn't intend. Check out Dave's video on SWR to see some examples of what happens when you have a mis-matched impedance.

[@yaroslavmuradian5959]

Thanks a lot Dave.