Best Ebay 9:1 end fed antenna deal, Nelson Antennas 9:1 End Fed Antenna!

[@loachoh6a]

I live in an HOA. I’ve found this antenna from Nelson to be the best choice and it gives me good camouflage because it is hard to see. There are no trees in this new development but lots of trampolines in yards next to me. I placed a 20’ flagpole, painted it bronze and placed a piece of rope onto an insulator and attached the random wire (61’) to the insulator and ran it to the end fed unit. I used 8 loops X 10” diameter for the choke. No problem with most bands. From your video I learned that you are using a much shorter length which I intended to try. Another thing is the 16’ of RG-8 coax. I’m using RG-58 coax now. I am going to go to the 16’ length going to my radio since I’m using about 36’ now. The other difference appears to be that I made sure that I bought the option for all the hardware that is included to be Stainless Steel to keep a rust free setup. It’s carried me through one winter so far and looks new. I really enjoyed your presentation and the laidback approach that you used. I’ve subscribed and hit the bell. Thanks so very much! Wesley Kicker KC5FTT

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Wesley that's great to hear. It has been a great portable antenna and I didn't get the stainless only because I don't leave the antenna up. Thanks for the nice comment and for subscribing. I just found out from a friend of some wire that is really small and a bit harder to see, it's called Poly Stealth sold by Davis RF. PS is steal wire copper coated pretty strong you might check it out for a home antenna that is left up all the time. 73

[@loachoh6a]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures thanks my friend. I will definitely look up the wire because the harder to see. Again thanks. 73.

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Chuck, your older videos are coming up more and more frequently in my searches. Great to see the channel and the amount of content you've posted growing!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks Joseph, I can't believe I have been able to put out this many Videos lol. Ape showed me the other day that one of my videos comes up #1 or 2 in the search I was surprised, lol i don't know much about how to help my channel, just keep plugging away. Thanks for the good info and the views!

[@TheSmokinApe]

I used this antenna for months with a 58’ element and a 17’ counterpoise, nice video 👍

[@tys3456]

Does the counterpoise need to be grounded or do you just float it above ground?

[@mmlanger55]

It works super with my 891/991A. Bought a second one for portable. The end fed wired is up only 20' and approximately 140' long. Use the 20' mast that supports it as a counterpoise and ground it at the base to a ground rod. Works all bands without apology.

[@earlbrown525]

Hi Chuck, I'm close by in Crockett. I'm in the process of putting up a random wire with a 9:1 I built. We should have an eyeball sometime over coffee.

[@N1IA-4]

Thanks for doing this video! I'm in the process of building an end-fed random wire using Nelson's 9:1 balun. Reading up on the differences between an EFHW and EFRW really helps. There are many myths out there, not the least of which is that a random wire always causes RFI , can't be tuned by the internal radio tuner, is inefficient, etc. Those are mostly half-truths. A properly designed EFRW will radiate just as well as a "resonant" antenna or EFHW antenna. The counterpoise is also important. Fun fact: antennas are ALWAYS in need of the missing half of the antenna if it's not a dipole. It will find it somewhere...in you, the radio, in the feedline...wherever. It can even be an intentional thing to have the coax be the counterpoise. It just all depends on many factors. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Thanks again!

[@walshgeo]

Chuck, another good video. I bought one of those match boxes and use it with a 36 ft. wire with my 26 ft. painters pole in the back yard. My first contact was in Europe ( Italy and Slovenia). Thanks 73 George KB3WAQ

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

That's awesome George Thanks for the info!

[@Inkling777]

I recently checked out how well the Nelson 9:1 balun worked tuning non-resonant, end-fed antennas on 40 meters. I was impressed. While my ZM-2 ATU would tune 29- and 41-foot wires to 40 meters, the tuning was touchy. With that 9:1 balun installed, tuning became smooth and easy as seen on a NanoVNA. With the left knob on the ZM-2 I could adjust the resonant frequency onto 40 meters. With the right knob I could change its depth. I was particularly happy to see that I could get on 40 with a 29-foot wire strung to a nearby tree. If I'd gone half-wave it'd need to be 65-feet long. I use a QCX-mini, which doesn't have an ATU, but I suspect that those using transceivers with a limited-range, built-in ATU might find that this 9:1 balun lets them match antennas without the bother of an external ATU.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

That's great Michael ! I used a choke at the antenna and thesmokinape says he will use at both ends and it seems to help even more. It's a great little antenna.

[@keithsafford3056]

Love my Nelson Antenna. Have the top at 20' sloping down to around 5' and works great on FT-891 as that is my base unit. Liked it so much I bought another one for my POTA/SOTA/??? Xiegu G90 for "out and about".

[@9999plato]

Palomar engineering has a great video on dipoles and end fed antennas where they detail when you need chokes and WHERE to place them and how long your coax needs to be to match your antenna length. Its well worth the time. I get FAR more from watching his video than anything I hear from the clubs old timers. "Errr, get a dipole". Sometimes a dipole does not suit the space. Palomar knows what they are talking about. You can buy cheaper but I don't know if you can buy better. Just to clear the air for the uninitiated, there is a difference between an end fed antenna and an end fed half wave antenna. One is not resonant the other is. One needs a tuner, the other one shouldn't. Watch the video.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

FlyBaby thanks for the info , Palomar makes great stuff!

[@kurtzFPV]

Love those Goture carp/tenkara rods. I got an 11 meter one that they have off and on on Amazon and use it with an umbrella spike for portable. Super stout and collapses down to less than 3 feet. And I use the smaller, lighter ones for tenkara fishing. Lots cheaper than an actual tenkara rod, but still good quality and action and light since they are all carbon fiber. Enjoyed the video and just subscribed. Thanks for making it.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Yea Brian I think the quality of the Goture Rods are great quality and I too bought a small one and hope to use it for fishing soon!

[@donizzo8884]

Watching Chuck’s videos you will always learn at least one thing - pay attention and it will be many - W1FYG

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Don you didn't learn 3 tonight lol? Thanks for watching!

[@revbikerbigd8664]

Good video! Just got mine off eBay and will be using it with 20ft fishing pole, 1 or. 2 slinky's this weekend. Also bought 250 ft of 22ga silicone high temperature wire to try some other lengths ! AA2BD 73s

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

That silicone wire is great!

[@rookthepagan]

I know the guy you talked to for the Arizona W6T Route 66 on the Air. That's Ron, KG7OH. Looks like a good portable antenna

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thats awsome Scott! Ron is a great operator and handles a pile up well, you might let him know about the video if you talk with him its always nice to be able to hear how you and your radio sound on the air. Thanks for the comment and for watching!

[@billplatypus866]

End fed half wave with 49:1 unun is the way to go. Will not need to tuner or ground or counterpoise. Half wave at 40 m not much longer than 58' and will work well on 40, 20, 15 and 10M with no tuner.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Yea Bill I also prefer the EFHW, I should have a video out Monday Oct. 12th using a QRP guys EFHW in the Nevada desert. Thank you for watching and the comment.

[@brian.7966]

Hi, yes I use the 40 meter end-fed, great results I am getting to, it fits into my small garden very well. (just about)

[@brentjohnson6654]

Another good video. A couple of years old but am trying to learn about the end fed antennas for POTA.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Check my newest video on the CAHRtenna easy build to learn on. Available soon, thanks for watching!

[@brentjohnson6654]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures thanks I will look that up.

[@buckeye5704]

I just ordered his EFHW 40-10. Hoping this will get me OTA in my temp winter digs.

[@gregmihran8616]

Great intro music Chuck! Love the shredding guitar - rock on. I am a huge fan of the EFHW antenna. Never heard of the Nelson 9:1 ... I use a MyAntennas MEF-130-2K-Plus 49:1 transformer with a 63 ft, 14 gauge black wire configured as a sloper: 14 ft at my roof line to 36 ft on a dark green MFJ fiberglass pole bolted to the back fence. Works the entire world very easily on 40-10M without a tuner. With a tuner, I can also easily get the WARC bands. I use the same MyAntennas Common Mode Choke as you have at the transceiver. Interesting, I found that if I also mount a DX Engineering DXE-MC20-FC Feedline Choke at the antenna feedpoint, I can tune up on 160-80M. I'm sure it's not efficient but I have dozens of QSLs confirmed on those bands so I'm very pleased. Great video Chuck, keep them coming. 73 KJ6ER, Silicon Valley

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Greg, that's awesome , I have a MEF-130-2k setting here that a friend gave me i will have to try it and I have used their 1080 with great results. Thanks for the comment I purchased the Nelson for taking camping and portable use. 73 Chuck

[@gregmihran8616]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures Yes Chuck, that is an amazing new high-power transformer from MyAntennas. The insertion loss averages 0.5 dB and its build quality is excellent. I'm sure you will be impressed! I would love to run an 130 ft wire for 80M but these Silicon Valley postage stamp yards don't allow it so I cut a wire for 40M and harmonics on 20M, 15M and 10M. Please do a video on that transformer when you install it. 73 KJ6ER

[@compassman54]

Thanks for the video. I’m also using the Nelson 9:1 unun into 60 end fed with 50’ft of coax to shack. My 991a is able to tune 10 to 40 easily and even 80 meter. My antenna slopes 35 feet ( feed point) to abt 20 feet. I’m most interested in the choke.. I’m getting some shack rfi ( upstairs kitchen oven controls- beeping intermittently.. reduced to 85 watts and seems to be eliminated) was looking at your cmc 330 ??? As a solution.. your thoughts would be appreciated. 73 Ka3gmz

[@DalePalmer]

Ha! I saw that dry grass on the rolling hill behind your backyard and figured you must be local. Thanks for the video. My home is on a small lot and I've been looking at end feds as a possible HF antenna solution. Going to check this option out. KM6ETD

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Yea your just up the road a bit. Dale the nice thing on the 9:1 endfeds is you can use shorter wires , not sure if i linked the wire lengths that work if not google endfed antenna wire lengths

[@DalePalmer]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures I'll keep an ear out for your call sign!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

@@DalePalmer I'm in Pinole , and do 146.520 while driving your way

[@DalePalmer]

@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures here's a blast from my past... I used to work at the Radio Shack which was located in the Appian Way shopping center. I always monitor .520 but after years of long commutes into silicon valley, my new commute is just 4 miles. That doesn't lend much air time while traveling. But I will listen. I usually get to work 30+ minutes early and get on the Foothills Amateur Radio Club's Coffee Break Net and do a little 20 or 40 meter at the same time. There was amazing propagation on 20m the other day. I had a QSO with a gent in North Carolina from my mobile!

[@swenner64]

Thanks, Chuck! I had bought a Nelson Antenna and was just trying it out but my noise level is way too high at my house so I am going to try a noise suppressor. I am a new ham and just learning the Ropes KD9PBR

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Hi Steven, End fed antennas can be noisey sometimes. If you can try putting it up at 90 degrees and see if that helps also sometimes the noise suppressors will help also. Thanks for watching!

[@9999plato]

Make sure that you have a choke placed at the proper place on your coax. Watch Palomar Engineering's video on dipoles and half waves and they talk about all of this stuff in detail. a $10 choke properly placed might be exactly what you need. You might also need a noise suppressor or some toroid's placed in your shack to help. You might need to check your home for sources of suspect RFI. I know my kitchen fluorescent fixture is terrible on UHF.

[@Greg-zr4wm]

Great video ill be looking at that antenna

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks Greg, he sells a EFHW also . Go to Ebay put Nelson Antennas then go to his store. Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@alvarogaitan2529]

thanks my friend nicejob 73 from kb2uew

[@ncphotos]

Great video de W2CSI

[@rickgrimes9241]

Good stuff sir - are you going to do any more antenna builds in the future?

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Oh yea I have a couple I'm thinking about! Thanks for watching Rick.

[@dnssigns]

I use one of his newest high power end feds that can take up to legal power. It's 136'. I have it going from the bottom of the shack to the top of an oak tree way out in the yard on a slope. My SWR has been below 1.3-1 across 10, 20, 40, and 80 except for when I run FT8 on 10 meters. It's just above 1-2.2 but will tune to 1 to 1 no problem. I have talked to all of South America plus most of the USA and into Canada on 10 meters. Best antenna I have to date. I don't use a counterpoise other than the coax runs along the rope on the feed end for about 15 feet then down to the shack.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Hey thanks for the info , sounds like you got it setup perfect. Thanks for the comment.

[@firewaterforgeofarizona4304]

I have one for a efhw 40m permanently mounted. When out doing the SOTA, what length do you use for 20/40?

[@kleinbiker1]

Looking into these Nelson antennas, thanks for the video. Question though. Why @5:32 did you tune right on top of those guys talking?

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Nice antenna 73 from kb2uew

[@user-vm2ke3yk9n]

i cant put up a mass could i run the wire hidden up under my eves of my hse wanted to use it for 10m i have a tuner if that way would work how long would i have to make the wire

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Jau , You probably already know mounting under your eves won't be best but you have to do what you have to do I understand. Try the longest of these lengths that you can fit and give it a try. 29' 35.5' 41' 58' or 71' thanks for watching 73! this is some good reading for random length wires. hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html

[@user-vm2ke3yk9n]

ok thank you

[@keithsafford3056]

What are you using to put the pole into the ground and keep it standing up?

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I use a stake that fits tight into the mast. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ6Yh3uhmN2mjqM

[@tubbysailor]

Chuck, I'm looking for my first portable antenna to use for POTA and other uses. This is a good suggestion. Thanks. Bob KA6REL

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Bob ,, make sure and check the wire lengths that suggested and go for the longest you think will work best.

[@daniell8387]

Silly question, with a 9:1 do you think if you had a shorter length, like 16" or 24" it would work effectively on 2m FM, or is the toroid ineffective at those frequencies?

[@user-vm2ke3yk9n]

I got one of these how long should I make the wire for 10 m I have a president Lincoln with antenna tuner

[@danielmartin8644]

I have a MyAntennas EFHW 8010 antenna running only in a horizontal fashion, 20 feet above the ground, in sort of a broken back L shape due to the size of my lot. I've been doing pretty well on 20 and 40 meters, but its much harder on 75 meters. I'm interested in seeing experimentation with an antenna like mine. Inverted V, sloper, and horizontal bent shapes like mine to see how it propogates in different configurations. Thanks.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I have that antenna it's great!

[@markbruechert9967]

I'm putting up one of Nelson Antennas End Fed Dipoles, here at my location in Southern VK3. Limited backyard space (The Modern Scourge!) means I'm restricted to a 71 foot radiating wire, fed from about 7 metres off the ground and sloping down to a 6 metre pole in the diagonal backyard corner. What length counterpoise should I be using for this configuration? Thanks from sunny Australia. Mark VK3PDG.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I always start with a 17' counterpoise and tune from there if needed, here is a video I did that might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2jZkouZlsqJna8

[@9999plato]

If you are using 71 foot of wire you should have at least a 21.5 foot coax and place your choke at that point. This antenna is essentially an off center fed dipole but the coax acts as the other half on a non resonant end fed antenna. This is why the choke must be placed at that point. Its a 70-30 relationship between the antenna wire and the coax and the choke determines how long the other end of the antenna is because the coax radiates rf energy. The coax is necessary for good performance of this type of antenna. a 15 foot counterpoise or two is a place to start. The ebay website says 16 foot. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap3dnY2urbqtg5I

[@DonHavjuan]

These baluns are about $10 on ebay.