Clearing Up Some Confusion About End-Fed Wire Antennas.

[@jeff-73]

Every 5 seconds of this video you cleared something up that was confusing me and no one else could explain it for my grey matter to digest. You are an amazing teacher and your presentation and instructional aids were amazing. Thank you so so much for this.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you :-)

[@cw2gtc]

Agreed. Very professional, yet personable to listen to. (😉disclaimer… My mom was a US military wife, originally from Luxembourg. So, the dialect is most pleasing to my ear).

[@AllFouRoux]

This should be mandatory viewing for Hams; so much great information packed in this video.

[@Justin-bd2dg]

I built a 3 core version 64:1 and then I tapped the coils at the 49:1 point and ran a seperate wing nut. So now I have 2 transformers in one, a 64:1 and and 49:1, it works great! Thanks for the video!

[@RadioPrepper]

Good idea!

[@larrybarnette4795]

You can also tap a 9:1 midpoint at the junction, and have a 4:1 ratio, which may be a closers match on some bands....almost free.

[@davidwilcox9110]

The last half of this video is the most important and a very good explanation. I have been a ham for 62 years and this is the best explanation I have seen. Dave K8WPE

[@adriansalt4521]

I just had to say thank you so so much for what I've found to be the best explanation to End Feds, Random Wires and Dipoles on the internet. You have allowed me to understand such fundamental principles of resonance in a wire, why feedlines don't radiate EM energy and allowed me such a fantastic and solid grasp on the basics of EM radiation in a wire. I also have to thank you for your superb explanation on UNUNs and why and in what cases they would be needed. I really cannot thank you enough. Just had to tell you! Adrian, M0AAG.

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it helped :-)

[@gibbyrockerhunter]

Holy moly this video is gold. Thanks mate! There is a gap of knowledge in the radio side of youtube. I feel like we have the option of watching people who have been doing it for 50 years and dont remember the little things beginners need to learn. Or you find the goon who knows nothing and is just regurgitating what he has heard. Thanks again. I look forward to the rest of your videos.

[@JulietNovember9]

I scoured youtube and google to understand transformers and this is THE best explanation ever. Very clearly done. Thank you!

[@dougtaylor7724]

Something about the presentation helped me to finally understand 1/2 waves and their transformers. Many thanks, enjoyed your video.

[@TheHarpanOnly]

Yep, I feel same.

[@metalfabman5477]

This is the best video I have ever seen that really explains in layman's terms the whole end fed, half wave antenna thing using ununs or baluns. You have finally explained all of this so that even an old retired welder like myself who just enjoys making antennas and trying different things to get on the air can understand how it all works, even without an electrical engineering degree!! Thanks so much for taking the time to make this wonderful video!😃

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AdamosDad]

I hate contesting, its so rude for a guy that wants to rag chew to get pushed out by the "all important contest" Great informative how to video, thanks Gill 🎙73's kd9oam

[@Pelnied]

I hate rag chewers, it's so rude for a guy that wants to contest to have a frequency taken up because it's the rag chewer's special frequency that he uses every day to listen to himself talk for hours on end. He's already talked enough, let someone else talk! Share the band and don't hog frequencies, whatever you are doing!

[@georgebodley8068]

@@brad1367 try giving other operators some room on the bands instead of hogging the whole band width be like the RSGB contesters operate within a certain band width which gives other users the opportunity to use the bands don't be selfish.

[@georgebodley8068]

@@Pelnied you might hate rag chewers but dont be selfish and hog the whole bandwidth make room for all users Remember Amateur Radio is a broad church .

[@99jcarter]

​@@Pelnied9o

[@noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024]

Im no rag chewer but i like to have a chat for up to t minutes before moving on. Shouting numbers is boring. I often end up pushed on the warc bands when propagation is poor over 20m. All bands should have a warc section where contests are invalid for points. And we dont need 4 channels for ft8 warbles.

[@jay-rus4437]

Agree with you on contesting. Glad that there are so many options and variations of amateur radio. However, we are taught as a general rule to show curtesy to others, but this seems to be put aside during contesting. There should honestly be some band plans put together for temporary areas to be used for contesting. 73 K5JRX

[@G6HOQ]

Whenever I see any hams asking about end fed antennas and how to go about making one I always point them to this video, so easy to understand, and even if licenced 30+ years you can always learn something new.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great thanks!

[@dancingbear6239]

Thank you! Your explanation of current flow in a HW was excellent. I now understand why radials are not needed for a HW but are needed for 1/4 wave. Non technical but spot on.

[@G4KDXlive]

Agree with your comments on contests. I've heard them say " everybody enjoys contests " - inability to see the hobby from anyone else's perspective.

[@theunconventionaldeal3879]

Contests are a big spam challenge, what's worse is they will spam right on top of you after asking "is any station on this freq" instead of waiting for a response they crap all over your qso.

[@jamesk0ua]

Contest's are a great way to work DX entities that you need and If working for WAS, I can think of no better way to quickly work many states.

[@ReverendBow]

Couldn't agree more... contests are a waste of frequency spectrum... I love it when you hear someone have to repeat his callsulign 5 times, then the get a "5-9" report...

[@StreakyP]

three simple rules to add to all contests to make them more acceptable to all (whilst not detracting from the contest);- a) only use "even 10's of freq" for the contest... ie 0-10 yes, 10-20 no, 20-30 yes, 30-40 no... 200-210 yes etc etc. b) if you have "big boots" you cannot monopolise a single freq and just "claim it" to the detriment of all others (including other contesters)... implemented by you cannot be on any one frequency for more than 10 minutes... you must move after that time and find a free space yourself. If your log times show excessive single freq use then points after 10 mins will not count. If you repeatedly stomp on smaller stations to make your space you will be deducted points. c) With the easy availability of waterfall displays these days, Splattering "wide boy" contestants will simply be disqualified.

[@KjartanAndersen]

Totally agree. I do not like contests. I like experimenting with antennas and get feedback on different setups on air. Contests are only hello-goodbye-next. Never understood the appeal of it my self. Leave some of the bands off limit for contests.

[@frastephen]

This is the best explanation of the theory behind an EFHW antenna that I have seen ... Well done! And, very helpful!

[@simonbates8735]

I go to the 30M band. Regarding end-fed antenna I use a W3EDP (25.6M) which seems effective across all amateur bands. Love your regular KZbin videos. Thank you.

[@thirtycrows]

Brilliant. Can't tell you how often I've watched this video. Built one for 30m yesterday and it worked extremely well.

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it helped 😀

[@rjinnh3933]

Very good compitition of Half vs Random length antennae. Thanks. And 30+ minutes is not too long on a technical subject like this. Keep up your good work. We appreciate what you do......

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you!

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

Gil, what a brilliant explanation of wire antennas and UnUn's. You've cleared up a lot of confusion for me on this subject. Thank you.

[@spudmurf9323]

For me also A1!

[@Coyotehello]

What an excellent video, very well presented. You go into just enough details for us to understand the purpose without going down the rabbit hole! 7:1 ratio, 7 square... Just enough to clear the mystery. I am hoping that goes further into all of this so we can geak-out even more! I like the view from your balcony and the top of that mountain! Merci!

[@binder098]

Thank you, when I watch enough of these videos and especially with concise hands on experienced operators like yourself, it all slowly sinks in. Actually, I feel your misfortune with the contest turned out to be quite fortunate for this viewer and like a cat, you anded on your feet with this content substitution.

[@eddy2561]

Absolutely the best explanation 49:1 vs 9:1 out there! Merci beaucoup. ~ k6sdw

[@Wyowanderer]

GREAT video, Gil. There's more information in this ONE video than I've been able to glean in the last couple years. Thanks again, friend.

[@larrywieberdink8379]

This is the Best!! explanation I have ever heard comparing 1/2 wave and random length antennas and the need for size appropriate transformers. Excellent job!!

[@JDS11ify]

Very clear explanation of ununs and the cause and effect of the windings. Will listen in more!!

[@darrinpearce9780]

I've always run 0.05WL and never had RF coming back at me. Great antenna for portable/QRP. Thanks for the excellent information and explanation. Toroid material is always a mystery ;) 73's and fair winds.

[@cthoadmin7458]

Excellent info! Thanks Gil. Tried the 0.05 wavelength, as you said it had no effect. Stacked 3 ft240 -43 together for a high power efhw and it handles 400w with no problem. Steve Ellington’s channel is good for this.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great, thanks for reporting :-)

[@noelbulls8628]

To calculate the 1/8th wavelength do this example: 468/frequency =1/2 wavelength x2 then multiply it by 0.05 this will give you the length of counterpoise. Cheers

[@thormusique]

Excellent, Gil, thanks! I heartily agree that the contesters shouldn't completely take over the bands. It's kind of ridiculous. Supposedly no radio amateur has priority over anyone else. However, that seems to go out the window during a contest. Anyway, very interesting information about end-fed antennas. I learned quite a bit!

[@SuperCanuck777]

A lot of contesters are a damn nuisance-a law unto themselves even swamping all the QRP HF freqencies!! this worlds gone mad

[@adammoss5284]

There are the so called “contest preferred” band segments which are an attempt to give everyone a bit of breathing space. However it is up to the contest organisers to make these segments an important part of the rules. 73

[@kelpfl]

Nice video! Thanks for covering this stuff. I can't tell you how many concepts you covered in this video that I have heard people discuss and never understood.

[@nathanhouck2403]

I genrally agree with your comments about contests, but without seeing if anyone else has mentioned it, we do have 30m (at least stateside) as a playground during contests. Thank you for info on end fed antennas. Good info.

[@Dennis35793]

Great job at explaining everything on end-fed, random wire, and un un, I got a lot out of this thanks Gil.

[@DennisMathias]

This was quite entertaining! I agree. Contests are agrivating.

[@nochems]

Great video. Easy to understand information for someone beginning to learn about HF antenna building.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Thanks so much for this. I'm returning to amateur radio after a 31 year break. The information you give here and in your other videos is really useful. Thank-you.

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it helps :-)

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

I imagine you are well rested... 🙄😂 😎👍☘🍺

[@trev8932]

Great video. Regarding the 100pf capacitor on the RF Transformer there isn't 3kv on the RF input, if there was your radio's final world be toast. Yes there will be 3kv on the high impedance output to the wire antenna. I only use a capacitor rated at 400v with no issues.

[@gettingpast4391]

Best video ive ever seen regarding end fed wires and impedance match transformers... built a 49:1 for QRP immediately after watching this video and realizing i had some small type 43 cores in my box. works great.

[@RadioPrepper]

Awesome!

[@Aussat]

Great video, I have been wanting to make my own for some time now but was confusing, your presentation has made it crystal clear. Thank you very much. 73 Glenn ZL1MY

[@markcarleton6647]

Thanks for the fantastic explanation of the difference between 1/2 wave and “random” wire antennas!

[@joselima9398]

thanks for the great explanation, probably the most clear explantion i've come across and i defintely learned so much about how end fed antennas work.

[@usernamemykel]

WOW! What a fantastic teacher! Just one little thing - "Impedance" is pronounced "Im-PEE-dance". Many thanks for such a clear and informative explanation.

[@RadioPrepper]

Noted thanks!

[@Angrath]

Contests are awful. If you only have time to play radio on weekends like I do it really puts a dampener on the hobby. I get pretty sick of it. This was a super helpful video and clearly explained the diffrerences between randoms and half waves. I'll watch it again I imagine! Thanks.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you :-)

[@trbowlin]

Great video. I learned more in this video than in the last 5 or 6 I've watched. Thanks!

[@briantheminer]

I’ve learnt more from this video than any other antenna learning method!!! Great 👌

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheDgdimick]

You're explaining the exact way the American Field Days is each year, don't want to not "play", then suck it up and come back later. I feel your pain.

[@mhinnebraska]

Thank you for the clear details. This helped me to understand concepts that were very murky before.

[@Inkling777]

You make a good point. Sometimes the WARC bands, 30, 17, and 12 meter bands, are not open. Contest organizers could set aside 50 KHz of the CW and voice bands they use and make them off-limits to contest activity. That would leave a little space for everyone else.

[@chrislewis954]

I agree with others here that you do a very clear and helpful description of the basics. A valuable resource - Thanks Gill

[@clivedavies3]

I am a swl and I know what you are saying the power output from some stations obliterate a wide bandwidth and only they ask for certain contacts which defeats the object of collecting contact from anywhere and dx and ruins the ham radio for new licenced hams.

[@dangruner5926]

I like this guy. Feels exactly the same way about "contests" as I do! ;)

[@Roger_Stenning]

Well said, indeed :D 73 de G1LIW

[@RadioPrepper]

That's because they only know how to sent five numbers: 599 73.

[@TXLorenzo]

Contests are another form of radio jamming. They are my que to play on FT8.

[@LarryAnnen]

I can’t thank you enough for your detailed explanation on how to make an un un.

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it helped :-)

[@nottjohn9418]

Thanks for explaining. I have a 42 metre wire and a 9:1 unun. I have had no surprises yet but perhaps I should add (some) radials or an earth spike.

[@RadioPrepper]

Hard to predict with a 9:1...

[@nottjohn9418]

What's hard to predict?

[@RadioPrepper]

SWR and common mode current issues given different counterpoise and ground configurations using a 9:1 with a non-resonant wire...

[@alexeizhiltsov6797]

Gil, this is an amazing and very helpful video. Thank you so much. And it does not matter whether your explanations are correct from the point of view of high physics, with all those formulas and reactivities, as some people tend to say in the comments: the important thing is your advice works in practice and helps those who do not have time to read specialized books on how to engineer Space Shuttle antennas - we want something simply in our backyards. To me the simplicity of your explanation is the primary advantage - it is easy to remember what to do and how to do, and results are effective in real life. Also thanks for the links to those antenna shops - I never knew they even existed, being limited to MFJ, Diamond and similar huge companies. Do make more of your wonderful films if you can - this is very helpful for the HAM Radio community. They inspire to experiment, to fo to the fields and develop the hobby skills, thus developing the whole hobby. Everyone can go and pick those professional books on antennas - I have dozens of them, but get lost after 10 minutes. So, I prefer your films than professional books, mostly meant for professionals in celular and commercial communications. 73 de R2ARM!

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you. My goal was primarily to make it understandable...

[@W-733_KWX]

Excellente explication Gil sur le sujet. Some explanations in English now for the non French speaking amateurs to understand: Cap is supposed to help on higher bands and raise resonance frequency as far as I remember well :) Also as far as I remember well, material #52 is good for the lower bands and higher power (ex. 3 stacked 240-52 for 1/2 kW with still good efficiency ratio) and 43 will go up to 10m but with the cap to have a more centered resonance frequency. Also, on 6m, I would advise either use a 2 meter 5/8 antenna which happens to be electrically 1/4 wave on 6m or a telescopic antenna with some counterpoise, so depending on the available supports.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks. I do have the same video in English..

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

Contests are a pain & your point about them taking up the whole band is exactly right... 🙄

[@Chungustav]

I hear ya. I'm into emcomm, nets and talking about radio, not contests.

[@ziyayergok6090]

one of the best explenation ı have ever seen...perfect....super...thank you Gil...

[@KC6CNN]

I agree about the contest freq range.

[@LiborTomsik]

I thing that CW is allowed on the whole band. So in the time of contest one can morse CQ SOTA at SSB part of the band.

[@RadioPrepper]

Maybe they could put the contest there..

[@TXLorenzo]

I understand your frustration about the contests. Here in Europe lately it seems like there is a contest almost every weekend. 73s IU3JNT

[@w4mkh]

Well said sir. I have nothing against the idea of contests but I hate how the contesters just take over all the frequencies with no thought to sharing the spectrum with other hams.

[@davidvelen9835]

Agreed, contesting is waste of time in my opinion.

[@tonypoloney8721]

Wow! what a great presentation. I will have to watch several times for this very interesting information to sink in. Really enjoy your videos. Thank you so much.

[@FragFragify]

Very clear explanations. Thank you. Curious about your sketch diagram with inverted V antenna.

[@SNAFU_73]

I agree on the contesting...that's why I prefer to stick to 17 meters when the contests are going on

[@danielsteele7544]

Excellent teaching Thankyou

[@DucatiMTS1200]

Thank you for explaining the workings so clearly. Now I understand a lot more. You are an excellent teacher.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks, glad it helped!

[@hobbiehobbs]

I always learn more when I view your videos. Thank you.

[@michaelclutton8446]

Have just subscribed, agree with you totally about contests after 50 years in the hobby still think it’s just an ego trip for a lot of people

[@TheArtofEngineering]

End fed QRP antennas are fun to build. Buy them if you have the $$$$ but building and experimenting with them is A LOT OF FUN!!!!! The comps are keeping CW alive and making the bands busy.....but I do concur on better organising of the bands as "the bands are there to share!" :)

[@kengerace]

I just happened to stumble on your video through a suggestion from you tube. Well done sir. Very well presented. Thank you. I’m going to checkout more of your work.

[@henbentoify]

Thank you for your time. Best presentation I’ve ever seen on aerial transformers. 73

[@dennisbauer3315]

This bloke and TRX Bench are top blokes, I love the way they pronounce balun, love it. and yes contest, what is it that makes them the Lords of Amateur Radio, is it a power trip, some times I think so.

[@SwissAdventureRider]

There is one thing I don't quite agree with in your 1st schematic. At the end of the antenna by definition the current should be zero, the missing current should be graphed at the other end (near the feed input).

[@joecraft4409]

Explained so well even this boy from Texas USA can understand. Fantastic job Gil!

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it helped!

[@daveryan2148]

Great video! Wish this straight forward information was around when I was first learning this... I had to descramble wives tales from old guys and experiment.

[@NullaNulla]

I'd love to know how/why each of the turns do what they do, what the cap does and how etc. I've built a few successful to plan baluns for different antennas that have tuned well but I still don't get the science behind it. My next project for my next house (this one is a lost cause as there is a MASSIVE noise issue 15m and south all the way) will be a multiwire instead of just an OCF dipole.

[@vjdav6872]

I agree 100% with you my friend. I was a QRP for years in India and then in US about 40 years ago. Well, NOW i am back after other life things! And very surprised - shockingly to what you said is so true. Oh well I still plan to get back in 4-5 months.. 73 ...ex vu2du/w3

[@PatFortino]

Thanks for the detailed explanation of 1/2 wave wires and end feed antennas.

[@techiefan1986]

I believe the capacitor is to cancel out stray inductance for better matching on the high bands.

[@MoTown44240]

Thanks Gil. I watched this several times and got more from each viewing. :)

[@robertlundstrom8061]

I also have a K1 that I built. This video is terrific! One of the very best antenna instructional videos. I can't wait to build my 64:1 unun! Thanks for the info. - W9PZ

[@RadioPrepper]

Let me know how it works for you!

[@vk4foo]

Very well explained, cheers and thanks - FOO HAS HERE :)

[@ernestb.2377]

Well Sir you did a very good job explaining some important basic working principles. Very glad I have watched it. Thank you!

[@AcidHawk9]

Thanks Gil. Great video, really helpful. I'd love to see a followup of how you trim the 1/2 wave length wire to the correct length...or do you simply work out the length using a formula?

[@RadioPrepper]

Read the video description ;-)

[@AcidHawk9]

@@RadioPrepper Thanks Gil. I feel like an idiot now.. :) . I have just found that I still need to fiddle (read make small adjuatmenrs) with length when I put my wire and 49:1 transformer onto an analyser. I did originally calculate the length from the formula. Was just interested if you had to do something similar or if the calculated length just worked for you. Thanks again for your tireless efforts in making great videos for us.

[@peterdekeles.]

Thank you. I now understand unun and 49:1 vs 9:1. great information

[@RadioPrepper]

Super!

[@dogtowndrums]

Thanks for this video. This is the first time that I feel that I've actually understood this subject. 73

[@rl4795]

THIS WAS....BY FAR.... the best visual explanation of this topic. THANK YOU so much, Sir. KF4UTF/HZ1 - Robert

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks!

[@jameskelley1552]

Awesome

[@Mil1806]

So well explained! EFHW seems so easy but they have their peculiarities. I have a core ready for making one for my qth, this video will help me a lot! Thanks for your videos!

[@AndrewBryantPianoTuner]

Please keep making these videos you are an excellent teacher my friend and people love you..

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks, will do :-)

[@videog7747]

New ham here. Thank you for this. You are really great at explaining things!

[@Quincy8Boy]

Great. Been looking for an explanation for this for days on the internet, concerning baluns. Trying to plan an end-fed antenna on a fence with a ground plane.

[@RadioPrepper]

The fence itself might make a good ground-plane, if it's metal..

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

I hv an 80-10 efhw with a 49/1, 130 feet long. My antennas brand. Very good on all bands. Adding a counterpoise off of the ground rod, I am able to work 160 decently! If I put up a 173 or 202 foot 9-1, wld it gv me better results on the bands, especially 80 n 160?? Ps…I am running an Mfj 998 tuner. Thanku. William

[@RadioPrepper]

I have that antenna. When you use a counterpoise, you create an off-center-fed dipole..

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

@ Thanks!! Didn’t know Any input to the question of a 9/1 with longer wire?

[@gilgsn]

@@WILLIAMPERRELLI you can use a very long wire with a 9:1, as long as it isn't a half-wave or a multiple of a half-wave...

[@DEplinker]

Big fan of you and the work that you do... your videos are excellent. You are to amateur radio what Milton Friedman was to economics... having a solid foundation of knowledge, you're able to communicate that knowledge in a very easy to understand method.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you!

[@sircompo]

I'm just starting out and this video has been more enlightening than anything else I've found so far. Thanks Gil 👍

[@RadioPrepper]

Glad it helped!

[@ocean101bob4]

I see you have a bit more space between the wire and the core. As a rule of thumb, I wind mine so i can't fit the wire being used under any turn. I also use the red core but I also install the tuning cap and the tiny LED. End fed is the most efficient antenna that fits in your pocket. Excellent video and will be looking for more 73 BOB AF2DX

[@dovetomarc]

Great explanation. Thank you. Quick question if you have time. What constitutes the primary winding and he secondary? For example, is the primary always the input? Is the secondary always the output or ground? Thanks again for all the great work you do to help Hams. 73

[@raulponce6276]

Great video!! Thank you! Explained a lot about the subject. But, a question... the size of the core only influences the power, right? In QRP with 1W for 40m, I could use a small core like T94-6 or other and the number of turns could be the same, typically 2:16 right?

[@RadioPrepper]

Well, a bigger core is also more efficient, even using less power. That said, in practice I haven't noticed much of a difference.

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

You cleared up some confusion for me - thanks!

[@AzPauly]

best antenna lecture I have ever seen, thank you.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you 😊

[@2000alexgrim]

Gil, thank you very much for this clear and didactic video. PY1AHD ALEX - Alexandre Grimberg