Building The PA0RDT MINI WHIP Antenna - Part Two ( Bias-T And Testing )

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Building the Bias-T of the mini whip antenna designed by PZ0RDT and making the first test on reception. So far it looks promising and I am looking forward to the final results.
Check the latest post here on the KZbin channel ( community tab ) for some extra info on the experiments and measurements I made after I finished making the video. We will end with a part three of the video towards the end of September when I will do a proper antenna installation on location. I am still searching for proper replacements of the transistors used in the original schematic ( watch the end of the video to understand why this is so important to me ).
Not to create confusion, ( thanks Andrei YO6TJJ for the correction ), I was saying that I was measuring the SWR or the antenna. What I mean was that I was actually checking the output impedance going out of the Bias-T to the receiver. So basically I wanted to check the impedance the receiver would see on that output.
If you enjoy the videos be sure to subscribe !
73, YO6DXE
PCB BOARD ( Mini Whip Antenna PCB ):
www.pcbway.com...
PCB BOARD ( Mini Whip Bias-T ):
www.pcbway.com...
VIEW ALL PCB PROJECTS:
www.pcbway.com...
WATCH PART ONE:
• Building The PA0RDT MI...
WATCH PART THREE:
• PA0RDT MINI WHIP Anten...
DOWNLOAD PROJECT FILES:
( coming soon )
DX EXPLORER:
Videos on homebrew amateur radio gear that will hopefully inspire you into crafting your own unique radio projects.
I am passionate about amateur radio since childhood. I got back into the hobby in 2016, while living aboard my sailboat. I received my license in 2022 as YO6DXE. I use mostly QRP equipment experimenting with all modes, but I prefer CW or SSB.
If you want to follow my sailing and outdoor adventures, come visit.
WEBSITE:
28-north.com
YOU TUBE:
/ @28northsailing
#amateurradio #hamradio #pa0rdt #miniwhip #pcbway

[@dxexplorer]

The PCB Boards design for the PA0RDT Mini Whip Antenna and the Bias-T are now ready and you can order here: - Mini Whip Antenna PCB: www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/PA0RDT_Mini_Whip_Antenna_341d333c.html - Mini Whip Bias-T: www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/PA0RDT_Mini_Whip_Bias_T_393e782b.html A little extra info: kzbin.infoUgkx43zjYF28gLguvJTgTkHtef-OJyV7bCkJ?si=el_HCyTw4rDgfuYJ

[@AdamSWL]

Love your project! Construction very nicely done! Hope you had a good Birthday!

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much Adam. Ohhh I can't wait to get home. The package with the PCB boards arrived while I am away so I can build the final and "fancy" version 😁😁.

[@AdamSWL]

@@dxexplorer Nice!! looking forward to seeing it and how it compares to your original version!

[@hendrikmetz3905]

Very nice enclosure!

[@dxexplorer]

Thanks Hendrik. I wanted to cut them in teo and make the smaller, but I was afraid that with the tools I have it may turn up into a big mess so I left them as they were 🤣🤣🤣. 73, YO6DXE.

[@NamasenITN]

Happy birthday. Thanks for your videos and content.

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏 and thank you as well for watching the videos too.

[@that_kai_person]

4X5KD here, love your videos! The hams around me aren't in the "Build and try" mindset so I don't have much help in stuff I wanna make. My dream is to make my own 10-40m CW/SSB transceiver, and I thought it'd be awesome if you did a series of videos where you go through the components of that build (VFO, Pre-Amp, Mixer, audio amp etc.) one by one explaining why and how they work, and bit by bit building that transceiver. That's something I always wanted to do but had no one to guide me through (Again because the hams in my area have a "Buy it and use it" mindset and reject different stuff).

[@dxexplorer]

I guess that makes two of us. I want to work on a CW / SSB transceiver that is fully analog and it can cover from 160m to 10m. I have a feeling that it won't be easy... but I am still learning a bit more until I can start it. If things calm down a bit for me with work... that is something I would love doing this winter. So chances are we will both work on it together in two diferent corners of the world. Of course the world is round and corners sound strange but you get the idea 🤣🤣. 73, YO6DXE and thank you so much for watching the videos.

[@that_kai_person]

@@dxexplorer Where do you learn this stuff? I wanna become an RF Engineer in the future and I can't seem to find an accessible yet thorough source on the subject. I'd also love to keep contact somehow in case I can contribute and help with that goal :D (Also since I have Romanian roots I'm planning on moving there in the future so maybe we won't be in such different corners of the world)

[@dxexplorer]

@that_kai_person I search for information on this subject, basically I search everywhere I can online either blogs or KZbin. You can't always find the perfect and accurate info... but at least it points you in the right direction and you slowly start to understand the logic behind a circuit. Me for example I am not so much on the engineering side... more like doing things for the fun of it. Sometimes they work sometimes not so much. But I always learn something new from both experiences good or bad. If you are into making a career from this, try to contact my friends at roWaves... I know for sure they are looking for passionate people to work for them. You never know... especially if you plan on moving in Romania 😁😁. We keep in touch anyway.

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

I have the same problem you do soeme hams find o5 to easy to buy instead of build​@@that_kai_person

[@4L1LAT]

its compromise antenna but still works great. when you hang it up higher its gonna work better. by the way this summer i learned morse. also i finished my exams and now i am student😁😁.

[@dxexplorer]

It is and is not 😂😂. It seems to work fantastic in receiving DX stations. Not so good on receiving close by stations though... at least I didn't heard any for the past two days since I am making the tests. But I guess I must use it for a while to form a proper opinion about it. It doesn't seem to receiver the same as the EFHW... but still it receives a lot of stations and considering that it is so wide band... I think it could be excellent for a SWL, especially if you don't want to bother building and raising up complicated antennas. CONGRATS BUDDY both on the exams and also on the Morse code. Weak chances for me to become a student... but I hope at least I get to learn the Morse code this fall 🤣. 73, YO6DXE.

[@4L1LAT]

@@dxexplorer at least you have antenna that can receive dx stations😃🤣. I learned Morse in 3 weeks I was going to my teacher every second day there is a very easy tactic to learn it very very good

[@dxexplorer]

@4L1LAT I have to start learning the Morse code as well. I have no more patience to do QSO's in CW. About the antenna... I am happy is wideband. This way its easy to test all sorts of receivers on one single antenna and I don't have to keep swapping connectors every time I try to change a band because is really annoying 🤣🤣.

[@4youian]

Nice one Chip and happy birthday! 73, Ian, VK7IAN

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you Ian. I can't wait to install it in the final location and see how it performs. But last night after finishing the video I placed it inside the camper and to my surprise... inside my "aluminum home" it was still receiving. I didn't expected that 🤣🤣. 73, YO6DXE.

[@dxexplorer]

P.S. Ian I have the digital transceiver on the table for months now. Hopefully this coming month I will finally have the chance to build it. So... I will take it as birthday present 😁😁🤗🤗

[@F4LDT-Alain]

I was eagerly waiting for this second part. These first tests are quite encouraging indeed. Grounding seems to make a lot of difference, if you have a chance to bring the antenna up high above a metal surface, as per the pages describing the setup of their web SDR at University of Twente, NL. They really have terrific reception there using such an antenna. Looking forward to the next episodes! Good luck to you!

[@dxexplorer]

Last night I made a few surprising tests and this evening I plan on placing it about a meter or two above the roof of my camper since it's all aluminum. I wonder how the results will be this way.

[@Chems7308]

Nice setup with the encloser ,looks very professional afterwards, Greetings for Birthday 🎉

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much buddy 🙏🙏🙏

[@KD9ZHF]

Belated Happy Birthday!

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much 🙏🙏. 73, YO6DXE

[@Hiram8866]

I enjoyed your video. This is a project I'd like to have a go at.

[@dxexplorer]

I just place the Mini Whip in an enclosure and having fun with it as we speak 😁😁. A little more adjustments to be made but I think it will turn out to be a great RX antenna. So far really haply with the results. 73, YO6DXE

[@robertvandersanden]

Thanks for the interesting videos about the mini whip. I made one myself a couple of years ago, with slightly different parts but with the same basic circuit diagram. Works well although there is too much noise inside the house. My two cents about grounding: this antenna is an electric field probe which senses a voltage against the ground of the circuit board. Ideally you would like your ground to be a very large metal sheet directly connected to your circuit ground. But the electric field is higher further away from this metal sheet, it would be nice if the board was mounted on top of a metal pipe sticking out at least a few meters above this metal sheet. That is - in theory, looking at how electric fields behave. The reality is a little different. The circuit senses a voltage between the copper pad and the ground. This ground however is at the end of a length of coax. The outer shield of the coax acts as a (random length) wire antenna and the circuit senses the voltage between the end of this “wire antenna” and some capacitance (the copper pad) towards it’s surroundings. This means that how you have your coax to your mini whip and how else you connect your mini whip to any kind of metal structure has a great effect on it’s performance.

[@dxexplorer]

Ohhhh thank you so much. Now I understand even better. I was close but now I am closer 😁😅. I just wonder as I see diferent opinions online... some say its better to ground the ground of the mini whip it self right there on the spot... others to ground the coax before going inside the house ( camper in my case )... and others to actually ground the coax right before it goes into the Bias-T. At the moment for my convenience I grounded the entire Bias-T box since is all aluminum and it was easier. The antenna is about 5-6 meters high at this point as as ground I use the entire camper since is all covered in aluminum... and I also have a bit of copper sheet underground with a wire connected to the aluminum sheet that covers the camper. So it should have decend grounding as it is ? Still it doesn't seem so sensitive as I expected it to be. Maybe something is not yet quite right. Trying to figure that out haha. Thanks so much one more time. 73, YO6DXE

[@robertvandersanden]

@@dxexplorer Thanks for your kind words. If you mount the whip a few meters above your camper like you wrote with the camper being all metal that sounds like a good setup. The sensitivity of this antenna isn’t super good. I think the goal for this antenna design was a good compromise between sensitivity, signal to noise ratio and not being overloaded by nearby broadcast stations. I did see in your video that the gap between the copper pad and the ground plans in your PCB is rather narrow. I have it a little wider. The stray capacitance between the pad and the ground plane shorts the signal to ground and limits the sensitivity. Best to keep this stray capacitance as low as possible. All in all this is a nice antenna for a lot of experimentation and for sure everybody’s mileage will vary! Have fun with your build, looking forward to part 3. With regards to where to best ground the mini whip - with the outer shield of the coax being part of the antenna system - the further away from the mini whip PCB you ground the coax, the bigger the influence of the coax becomes as part of the antenna. I can’t tell upfront if this is good or bad. I used mine in the yard on top of 2.5mtr of PVC pipe on a tripod with the coax partially laying on the ground. I took no other grounding measures. Far enough away from the house the noise was low and although a little weaker the ham radio signals were clearly audible.

[@dxexplorer]

@robertvandersanden Ohhhhh I thought about the gap between the pad and the rest of the stuff. Ohhhh one more thank you then 😁😁. Yes indeed it looks like a compromise antenna... but I like it even just as it is. Is nice that it can cover so much and I don't have to keep switing antennas when testing all sort of receiver projects hahaha. Thank you so much one more time. And yes I will do the final install here on top of the camper when the PCB boards for the Mini Whip arrive and I do the final version. 73, YO6DXE

[@ozarktreasures8044]

Another great video with an interesting project! Will you be trying this antenna on the Sputnik, or is this an SDR only antenna?

[@dxexplorer]

At this point I am listening on the tr(u)SDX because I have no clue where everything else is 😁. After I moved most or the stuff ended up in boxes and I am still searching for things. I did listened on the Yaesu FRG-7 and so far I am really happy. I have no SDR at all actually. 😁

[@paulperano9236]

You might want to look in to general RF Grounding. Some lengths of copper rod or pipe driven as deep as you can and keep them and the ground wire as clear from other wiring to avoid it picking up noise.

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much.. That I have... I just can't seem to figure out where to connect it. Some people say up straight at the Mini Whip... others say on the coax right when it goes in the house ( camper in my case ). I did some experiments last night just for fun and connected the base of the camper to the ground of the coax that goes into the Bias-T. And from the noise at S4 it went down to S2. 73, YO6DXE

[@Clancydaenlightened]

Dig a 10 foot hole or about 5 meters shove a copper or stainless steel pipe, fill with some water and fill the hole with mud and salt Fence post drill or diggers would work for this

[@Clancydaenlightened]

Also can be use for lighting rod protection

[@dxexplorer]

@Clancydaenlightened I have to find a final spot for the camper as I am about to move it and since is the radio room... then I can also do some proper grounding for this. But on the other hand when I take the antenna on the Scouts Camp... there I ordered some proper grounding to install there. To make sure it actually works well too 😁😁.

[@Clancydaenlightened]

20:50 well even at 160-20meters Even 1/4λ 1/2λ or 5/8λ Whip or dipole will take Alot of space J-pole might be better But unlike vhf and uhf, take off Angle doesn't need to hug the horizon since hf and below can bend around the horizon This effectively a capacitance hat to make it smaller but look like a full antenna to the radio, seems it uses earth as the ground plane if you need it above the tree level Probably some λ of wavelength above the ground will improve it ..

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much. 🙏🙏🙏 73 YO6DXE

[@bharatshetty9560]

Thanks for sharing all these details, I do realise you have worked hard for this presentation, kudos. Well, I got my 2N5109 marked KO (for Made in Korea I guess), these did have the same hfe as the original Motorola, I ordered 20 pieces and appox cost me about $0.65/piece including shipping from AliExpress, and same with J310 they cost far less for 20 pieces.

[@dxexplorer]

I just received the PCB boards and now I must also order the transistors so I can build the final version. Curious and excited at the same time 😅😅. 73, YO6DXE

[@bharatshetty9560]

​@@dxexplorerI guess all the resistors should be Carbon (CFRs) to keep the noise level at a minimum. Good luck with your new build, and can't wait for your results. Good luck!

[@dxexplorer]

@bharatshetty9560 Yes but I honestly use whatever I have in my junk box 😅. Thank you so much.

[@TheDzejpiem]

Hi, where can I buy these cool adhesive soldering pads?

[@dxexplorer]

The only place I know so far: www.kanga-products.co.uk/ourshop/prod_7633806-Manhattan-Style-Solder-Pads-sheet-of-150-Double-Sided-Pads.html

[@migalito1955]

Hi there, I was about to order your Sputnik Receiver from PCBWay tonight. I ran into some issues. First, for a first time user the site is a bit overwhelming but I found the receiver & thought I was on the way to ordering it. I decided to go assembly too since I am scratch building one right now. I was at the page where the ordered items were displayed with an option to add more as well as price indicated but it had on this page "Under Review" and despite hunting all over the page I could not get the page to make the button for the next step be usable by clicking on it. Too add to frustration the entire site or set of opened windows just vanished off my monitor. By any chance is there a tutorial video that guides us new users thru the process. If so please pass it on. Thanks.....

[@dxexplorer]

Thanks so much for this. I do not have one but sometime at the end of the month I will make an order with the Mini Whip PCB boards for me... and I could film the step by step process. I will let @PCBWay know about this issue as well as I don't think there is much I can do regarding their website when it comes to issues. 73, YO6DXE and thank you for letting me know.

[@migalito1955]

@@dxexplorer fabulous....

[@dxexplorer]

I came back with a quick thing. I don't know exactly when you wanted to order the board, but I remember now that if I make any changes to the project there on the PCBWay Projects page... it will have an "In Review" status for a little while. I guess until some one checks it to make sure it's ok. Maybe when you try some other time I would be thankful if you could let me know if you still have that issue. To be easier to find the projects... you can simply go on the blog and all the projects that have PCB Board designs into the articles... will also have a buton that will take you right at the page where you can order the boards. I hope it helps. 73, YO6DXE

[@uli_6830]

Hello, I have simply rebuilt the MiniWhip. I used the J310 and the 2N5109 transistors. So the thing works. Unfortunately I can only operate it indoors (under a roof at a height of approx. 11m). As receiver I use a RSP1A with the SDR Console V3. I have been using a cheap China MiniWhip for some time now and will now compare which one performs better. According to your description I will switch to the 120nF and the 1µF capacitors. I have reinstalled the 10µH coil because I think it gives better and cleaner reception. You just have to try a bit. What I have noticed is that the antenna plays more strongly in the lower frequency range (up to 6 Mhz). The higher frequencies are not so strong so far (why?). I use the bias T from my MLA-30+, but it also works with the bias T from my RSP1A (5V), albeit with slightly less power. I have now ordered the original board from PCBWay. For being a beginner in the field of electronics tinkering, I managed it quite well (thanks to your instructions). I'm really proud of it. So far I've only made my own antennas (MagneticLoop). They are very suitable for indoors. Now I will continue testing. Let's see what else I can “get out”. Incidentally, I am currently decoding RTTY on 146Khz with the Whip under poor conditions - but it works!

[@dxexplorer]

I am also really happy about the way it works. Not as sensitive as the end fed half wave but they seem to work differently. The mini whip seems really good on picking up DX stations. I am also still experimenting with it but considering that the original design was experimented on by the creator for sure... I kind of trying to stick to the original design. I will also try to order the original transistors as I am sure that it will perform a lot better. Tomorrow I hope to make the part three of the video on this one as I am curious how it performs here in the mountains in the scouts camp I am currently in. 73, YO6DXE

[@uli_6830]

@@dxexplorer Thank you! I have just replaced the capacitors mentioned. The reception seems better to me. Especially on the upper bands. Let's see what happens next. Have fun trying it out!

[@IU0TXNClaudio]

Hi, does the C4 capacitor have to be 470 or 220?

[@dxexplorer]

In the original schematic it was 460 yes.

[@uli_6830]

Hello, I ordered the board for the MiniWhip from PCBWay. Everything arrived safely. The order of the individual components on the board does not correspond to the order you have specified in the circuit diagram. How should I proceed? I had rebuilt the Whip (with a self-made board) as you showed it in the video and it works. Now I want to put it together on the finished design and I'm at a bit of a loss. Maybe you can help me. I would be delighted

[@dxexplorer]

The schematic in the video was the original one I downloaded. I made a new one that is on the same page where you found the PCB board you ordered somewhere on the bottom of the page. That one should correspond to the PCB board. Let me know if its all good.

[@uli_6830]

​@@dxexplorer Thank you! I've found it. Now I can tinker. I'll let you know how it works!

[@dxexplorer]

@uli_6830 Always a pleasure. Excellent then... let me know how it works. I am up in the mountains now but I was told my package has arrived so I will also build a final version when I get home. Meanwhile I will try to also find the original transistors. I just installed the one I made in the older videos here in the scouts camp. Seems to work like a charm so far. I will upload a video later on this evening if internet helps me 😅😅. 73, YO6DXE

[@uli_6830]

​@@dxexplorerHello, I have now completed 2 units with the original circuit board. Both work very well. I am currently testing them against my MLA-30+. I have set up one Whip approx. 1.5m above the roof and one under the roof hatch. I have attached a counterweight to the outer conductor so that there is at least some earthing. The house has a total height of approx. 13 m. So there is not much difference between the Mini Whip installed above the roof and the one under the roof. The Whip is superior to the MLA-30+, especially in the LW and MW range. On shortwave, the MLA-30+ is slightly better, especially as the directional effect allows you to block out interference. I use the bias T from the MLA-30+ for the Whip. This supplies 12V. However, I have ordered a separate bias T from Ali. But maybe I'll build one according to your instructions. I have to praise PCBWay. Impeccable quality and fast delivery at a very good price. I can also recommend a Youloop or a Magnetic Loop (I have made a few myself) as receiving antennas, especially for difficult reception conditions or indoor operation. I use both with a preamplifier (50Khz - 6Ghz). Greetings!

[@NamasenITN]

Why did you measure SWR, being a receiving antenna? Being an active antenna, aren't you concerned that the amplifier on the antenna might alter the readings? Forgive me if it's a stupid question.

[@dxexplorer]

No no is no stupid question at all. As I wrote in the video description, I explained a bit wrong by saying SWR. What I was actually measuring was how good the NPN transistor and the value of the capacitors will influence the output impedance, basically what the receiver will see. Since the antenna was design to work with either 50 Ohm or 75 Ohm coax cables, then the output impedance should be as close as possible to that. So far I am happy with how it performs. Maybe with a better NPN ( a bit faster one ) I may get even better results. Also since we speak about it... I made some tests with the pad as 3cm x 4.5cm and another one with a pad that was 4cm x 10cm. The results with the bigger one were much better and the antenna was nearly as good as my EFHW. When I minimize the pad again as in the original design.. the sensitivity goes down as well. 73, YO6DXE

[@ingussilins6330]

I maded "miniwhip antenna" from single 2N7000 mosfet transistor and 4,5V power supply. I think BS170 works better. In indoors best antenna is a "miracle whip" - ferrite tunning variable inductor - transformer and 1m whip.

[@dxexplorer]

I think I found a similar schematic i wanted to try at some point.

[@ingussilins6330]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGLPdXaBjpafebMsi=DttnChI9hDQIzSwF Circuit diagram. 2N7000 works on 80m and don't work on 27MHz. I think BS170 is better. ( regenerative receiver with this transistor work up to 30MHz )

[@uli_6830]

Hello, I have rebuilt the antenna (with the PCB from PCBway) and replaced the 560nF capacitor with a 1µF capacitor. It works. However, I have only seen 100nF capacitors in all the circuits I could find on the Internet. What would be the difference to your circuit with the 560nF capacitors? By the way, I have also rebuilt the Bias-T. It also works very well. Best regards and 73 Ulrich

[@dxexplorer]

Ohhh sounds great. Glad it works. I am also building the final version as well. I have to order the 1uF capacitors as I do not have any left. The difference is that if you use 100nF capacitors... it would not work so well on lower frequencies like medium waves, long waves or even VLF. With the 1uF capacitors it performs better on lower frequencies. Of course the NPN transistor is important as well on this part. If you read original articles it will explain there a lot more. I think people used 100nF capacitors simply because they were more interested in the amateur radio bands and not so much into receiving broadcast bands or VLF. 73, YO6DXE

[@uli_6830]

​@@dxexplorer OK, thanks! I have several boards and will build another one with 100nF capacitors, as I am interested in both as an SWL. 73, Ulrich

[@dxexplorer]

@uli_6830 no need to build both... if you used 1uF capacitors you should be all set for both.

[@uli_6830]

@@dxexplorer Thanks! and 73.

[@dxexplorer]

@uli_6830 Always a pleasure my friend. 73

[@olivierconet7995]

Very interesting to try this antenna far from the cities. Living in dense town, I found mine quickly saturated by FM and PMR transmitters. At night it was also saturated by chinese high power SW transmissions. As it is a wideband antenna, do you have a SDR receiver to see many bands ? Comparison with the EFHW will be great (as soon as you got some propagation) One question : where did you connect the VNA exactly ? (input is high impedance, output is to be loaded by 50ohms) Lastly : Happy birthday Ciprian !

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much Olivier. The NanoVNA I had it connected on the output of the Bias-T where I should connect the receiver as I wanted to see what the receiver would. When it comes to the antenna being overloaded... apparently they 10uH inductor between the gate of the JFET and the antenna pad should help to prevent those issues. So far I didn't had those problems but I will place it back in case I do and see if there is any difference. 73, YO6DXE P.S. no I do not have any SDR at the moment, maybe I will buy myself one for Christmas 😁.

[@olivierconet7995]

@@dxexplorer I would suggest SDRPlay receivers. I personnaly use a RSP1A on many bands. A very good performance/price ratio. 73, F1SOC

[@dxexplorer]

@@olivierconet7995 Thank you. I put a note here to know what to search for. 😁😁😁🙏

[@TheCrisatube]

Bel video! ma Sei di origine Italiana?

[@dxexplorer]

Grazie mille. Ohh no, sono Rumeno. Sono stato a Motta Visconti vicino a Pavia per qualche anno nel 2012. Sono venuto a trovare mia sorella per Natale e sono partito due anni dopo hahaha... poi lo stesso nel 2018, sono stato in Italia per un altro anno. Il mio italiano è davvero pessimo, quindi la maggior parte delle volte chiedo un piccolo aiuto al mio amico Google translate. Tuttavia, capisco più di quanto riesca a scrivere o parlare 😅. 73, YO6DXE.

[@sincerelyyours7538]

Interesting series. I built a Mini Whip antenna from a kit about 5 years ago. It worked OK at my old QTH but it also picked up a lot of QRM from the power lines and various other RF emitters outside my house. It was so bad that whole bands were completely saturated with QRM. I now live in a neighborhood with more houses and solar panels but fewer power lines and less QRM to deal with. I've since heard that some people use a balun in line with their antenna, not sure if it is a 1:1 CMC or a 1:9 impedance matching balun, but they say they get improved gain with it. Maybe that could help you, too? 73 JS2OLO Japan

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much. Yes it should be a 1:1 common mode choke. But it only becomes effective is the pole of where the antenna is installed is metalic and grounded and the ground of the antenna connected to the pole. Mine is on a plastic tube so a 1:1 choke is ineffective. At least in the tests I made I see no difference. But on the other side, I am lucky because I am in the middle of corn fields with my camper and I do not have interferences. The noise level on the transceiver is down to S2... compared to the S4 I get if I use the EFHW antenna. The only problem I have is that the Mini Whip doesn't seem so sensitive even if at the moment is up 5m in the air. I know it becomes more and more sensitive the higher is installed, but I was expecting it would still work great even if its a little lower 😁. We will see now when I will also do the final install in the kids camp to see if I get better results. My grounding here is not exactly perfect either and I do not use the original transistors so maybe that may be one other reason. Still in testing mode now. I just finished designing the PCB board. I must offer a set to test it and see how that works too. 73, YO6DXE.

[@Ralph-tHein]

Hello dear Friend.Thank you very much for your interesting homebrew projects. Wish you happy Birthday and all the best for you.Have a good luck in your life. Best 73 de Ralph DB9FQ C31KM

[@dxexplorer]

Thank you so much as well Ralph and thank you as well for watching the videos. It means a lot to me. 73, YO6DXE.