Mastering the Art of End Fed Vertical Antennas

[@kurtwolter3984]

I’m new to HF and your drive to experiment has really inspired me to do the same. I’ve built 2-3 of the ones in your vid’s and I’ve had some pretty good success so far. Also, I love the “right to the point” and short vids. Not knocking some of the others, but the 2 hour livestreams with the chat window displayed are over the top. Thanks again for the great content. ‘73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much for the channel support and the kind words! I actually have a hard time watching a lot of the other hamtubers myself. There are some good ones out there and there are some that offer me a great example of what I don’t want to be. All the best and 73

[@N5OLA]

You're right, it's about experimenting and having fun. I saw your video and the next day I put a 16.5' wire up on a telescopic window washing pole, with two 16.5' radials on either side, elevated at 12'. Great results. I told my online group that I wanted to try it with a half wave 33' wire and got shot down for not knowing I'd need a transformer on the end. So I'll try it with an unun. Thanks for the vid.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Build it with an unun, you will enjoy a vertical half wave. 73, Walt

[@SteveWaterhouse]

I just built the 35.5 on my new Spiderbeam. If my HOA would allow it, I would keep it up forever! Amazing match and performance. Thanks for your video.

[@Blaculo]

My current setup is a 50 foot Nelson antennas random wire antenna with a 6' piece of RG8X right into the G90. It's been great, making 6,000 mile contacts to both Japan and Spain. Now I wonder how much better it would be with a 1:1 choke at the radio end. This is my favorite KZbin ham radio channel. Thanks for all you do.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Great setup! a 1:1 might help but it looks like you are doing great. Thanks for the comment and the kind words! 73, Walt

[@perkunast9680]

I have a similar setup my coax is my counterpoise. The antenna instructions say to use at least 50 feet coax on the ground. I'm now running 125' it went from an SWR of over 4 down to nothing.

[@otrdriver6767]

That was great. Thank you. Folks made fun of me for using a crazy long wire for my ssb short wave antenna. I was listening to the whole world. Thank you again. Thumb up.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much! long wires for shortwave are excellent!

[@haxwithaxe]

I'm currently (as in soldering minutes before watching this) making a rubber duck random wire antenna. I'm basing it of a regular random wire antenna that I made that performs well. Hopefully it will work as well as it's older sibling. "Try it and see" has served me well.

[@tommycheshire5508]

Another education. Can’t be beat. Thank you for your time and effort. Always appreciated, always valued.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much Tom!

[@alvarogaitan2529]

another terrific video wow fantastic information my master teacher Gracias Sr 73 from kb2uew

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much!!! 73

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

Just remember this little story,there was a time that the "EXPERTS" were convinced you could not receive on a small antenna. Some guy did not know it. He had a battery powered radio, put a radio in his car. took off the big antenna and put a single wire on it. He listened to his favorite music. in a few weeks, he drew up his "impossible" antenna and sold the rights for it to a major company with a demonstration ride where he took the head of sales ( not a radio engineer) on a ride and played his radio in THE CAR. His name was William Lear. He forgot a few things, but he said "WHY NOT" and went to do it. He designed and built the line of Lear jets in Wichita KS. He and several other innovation minded people said "What Box" and tried what worked for them.

[@29Megs]

As the saying goes; “fish or cut bait”. I love to experiment, thanks Walt for always encouraging!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes indeed! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@kennethblackwell1137]

Wow....this is a compact set of information....thanks a bunch....

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching!!

[@woodybollox]

Loving the videos. I made a efhw vertical the other day with a homebrew 49:1 with a 1:1 choke on a ft240 about a 1m from unun. Mounted about 1.5m above ground with no counterpoise and got Lebanon beruit 9+ from uk on 10m with 50watts. Low swr on most bands. Loving the tinkering.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! great setup and awesome contacts! 73, Walt

[@WECB640]

Great video Walt. BUILD BUILD BUILD. The book is theory, not always the "real world". 73 OM

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Absolutely Hollywood!!!!

[@daveorca]

Although I have learnt so much from guys who show MMANA plots, I find that a pragmatic approach to antenna building, like yours and YL Raisa's, far more useful. Looking forward to more videos. BTW I've just cut wires for the coastal 20 to try with my cheap 9:1 Chinese unun.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks so much! Good luck with the antenna!

[@adyg6ad73]

I was told by a manufacturer of 49:1 transformers NOT to use a choke at all, instead have at least a half wave length of coax feed line. It seams to work well for me.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

If it works, it works! 73 and great to hear from you Ady!

[@binder098]

I always appreciate your enthusiasm to simply “Gitter done.“ Having A sense about what you’re doing is far superior to the following formulaic diagrams. Frank in New Orleans KK7HI

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much Frank! WHO DAT

[@davidjohnson497]

Thanks for this really interesting video, lots of ideas and RESULTS! I have been using "random" sloper with transformer for portable, also dipole and also EFHW but you have given me new ideas, for example 10m vertical Half Wave. I like anyone who encourages me and gives me some idea to try, especially as you share REAL results. THANKS! Keep trying things and keep sharing. 73 from Dave WA4NID

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for the kind words Dave!!!

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

Walt, the SpiderBeam 40’ fiberglass mast is a great mast. It’s my favorite mast.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

It may be my next purchase, thanks!

[@AmateurRadioUK]

I second that. It's a bit big & heavy for my portable operating (I wouldn't want to carry it up a mountain onto a SOTA summit) but it's fantastic if you are out in the motorhome/caravan camping somewhere or even for semi-permanent installs at home.

[@blugoose86]

Experimenting is the foundational definition of Amateur Radio. Without the innovational minds of Amateurs, technological leaps into the spectrum would have been severely compromised. We only bind ourselves with lack of knowledge gained, and laziness. Thanks Walt, for another great post.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for the great comment!

[@jmount1200]

Two years ago from my QTH in Tucson, I made a contact into Australia with a G90 and K6ARK DIY 9:1, 41' Sloper with a 17' counterpoise fed at the radio without coax or a choke. It was a week contact and my only into Australia but I made it. In two weeks I am off to Tampa to try working whatever I can on the beach or something like that. I am going to try the salt water set up. What do you recommend for use with a KX3 SSB?

[@kevinverville8608]

Walt, if a ham has a piece of wire, where should they put it? IN THE AIR!!! You are the BOSS!!!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much!!!

[@ehayes5217]

*EXPERIMENT"... that's it, that's it, exactly!!! 🤓🇺🇸

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Exactly!!!

[@christophermarshall5765]

Great video!! I often wondered what would happen if there was an antenna made from a "slinky spring"!! Problem is can't find metal slinky springs here.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I've actually done that a few times, he is one of the videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJbNq6Cmn82Hrbcsi=DhXF9sn_A78C4YIu

[@GSWEAR66]

Always love seeing the notification that you have posted a new video!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@KE2BXZ]

Thanks for the no nonsense approach to this antenna concept. All too often antenna discussions go off into the weeds with theory etc. Thanks for the great content! 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@morecambeanglersandtrawler1074]

Half wave with 49/1 can become multi and can’t it ? With 17ft counter poise

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

49:1 EFHW are pretty much multi but many things can effect the SWR and the counterpoise is one of those things. It’s pretty much try it and see for yourself surroundings and environment

[@paulsengupta971]

An EFHW will be resonant on harmonics. So if you build one for 7MHz, it'll also be resonant on 14MHz, 21MHz, 28MHz, give or take some end effect. The counterpoise means that it's effectively a very off centre fed dipole....almost at the end, but not quite.

[@josephgomes8543]

You're a fine cheerleader, Walt. Great encouragement to even an old fart like me. Keep up the great work as you DO seem to be having fun. 73, Joe KC1MTM

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for the encouraging words Joe! 73, Walt

[@turkeyslayer63]

Walt, I'm of the opinion of get some wire in the area and start transmitting my G90 will tune anything and it always ends up sending RF somewhere I definitely don't worry about using EFHW 1/4 wave, Full wave . I prefer End Fed Random myself works everytime.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Me too! Put a wire in the air and go!

[@alexdiamantopoulos6614]

Your amazing wiry your unnuns and poles. I’m using two unnus 9:1 one with 100 watts amd a second one with 500 watts. I’ll have to say I get from 10to 40 on HF around the world especially a 54 in Japan

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That's awesome!

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

TRY for perfection sad ham

[@KU9L]

Great post Walt, I had to watch it several times! My 29' Packtenna 9:1 is my favorite vertical/sloper, etc. Sometimes I use a 17' counterpoise on it, sometimes just 35' of RG-316 coax, often now I throw down my 48" x 96" Faraday cloth I put grommets in to stake down if I can't find a couple of easy rocks. The Faraday cloth works just as well as a single counterpoise where a Park Ranger once freaked out when he thought I was stealing power for using an electric pedestal to elevate my radial for best VSWR. I had a SAD Ham once tell me I had to have 64 radials just to get a signal out, but we all know for POTA we aren't going to do that. Does a Faraday cloth work as a counterpoise as well as 64 radials? Of course not, but when I can use my 350mw xtal controlled Tuna Tin 2 CW transmitter to get a POTA Park activated in an hour using the Faraday cloth counterpoise, I'd say it isn't too bad of a configuration overall if it is getting me out, getting me contacts, & keeping me in good graces with the Park Ranger, lol. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration & getting me back into Ham Radio after a 30 year absence due to career & grandbaby considerations. Cheers, Davey --KU9L & Sheila --KB9YYI

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for the great comment! I've got to try the Faraday cloth his summer on the beach. All the best and 73 you guys!

[@KU9L]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES without buying a Faraday cloth first, try an old aluminum screen alligator clipped to the ground of the vertical or 9:1 gnd, etc. it works better on the higher bands, but made contacts on 40M with very good VSWR results. Good VSWR does not mean super efficient, but doing a POTA activation for me was proof enough, lol.

[@JohnnyUrkle]

What gauge speaker wire should I use if I wanted to transmit at 100 watts? I know you enjoy QRP and use 16 gauge, right?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

16 gauge will work for 100 watts, no problems

[@bryantwalley]

10:30 try tapping into that hand rail to use for the counterpoise and see how it works. I mounted one to a metal post on a chicken wire fence and talked.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Good idea! Thanks 73, Walt

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

I am told Mr, Lear sold the idea to RCA, who was working on Movieola. Their sales team started a division of RVA Victor for radio, called it Motorola, the name stuck.

[@ve2zdx]

I’m a keyboard warrior. I build my antennas according to the arrl book, they are perfect (by the book). I also use 100 times the power you use. Even though I get 1/10 of the qsos you’re getting , I can tell you’re doing it wrong. Idk why these people exist but they do exist. 😂 73!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Hahahaha I know, it unbelievable! 73 my friend!!!

[@MirlitronOne]

Don't forget to install that perfect ground!

[@ckeelor]

Hi Walt, im a new general and your vert efhw videos have inspired me to go the same route for POTA with my kid. I wanted to ask you a silly question about using a 10m mast with a 10.02m wire. How does it work, as i assume part of the length of the mast is lost in the anchorage and maybe the balun. it would seem youd need a 10.5m mast. thanks! -chris, struct engr

[@laszlokovacs8827]

Another great video. So what kind of wire do you like? I've tried a few but wanted to get your opinion. Silicon, hookup, speaker? Brands you like?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I really like Monster Speaker Wire. It’s copper, 16 gauge and really inexpensive in the USA at Walmart ($15 for 100 feet which equals 200 feet)

[@DK5ONV]

No goof around! Always informative. I strongly suggest more HAMs to subscribe to this Channel. Tnx for doing what you do Uncle Walter. Happy Humpday & 73 de YFUG from southwest Germany 💯🎸🎙🎵🎧 👌

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much Uncle G!!! 73 my friend!

[@snarfusmaximus]

Spent years living in rental houses where I couldn't put a mast up until boredom struck and I velcroed a squid pole to a drain pipe and stuck 22m of wire up it and across the yard. I connected it directly to my KX3 via a binding post adapter along with a short counterpoise and hit the tune button. Got a 1:1 SWR and made a contact. After watching your videos, I've abandoned trying to find ways to get my old G5RV in the air and am gonna keep things simple with an endfed for my big rig once my unun and choke arrives. I wish I knew all this sooner.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Have fun with that antenna when you get it up! 73, Walt

[@fernandoares9032]

Great video as always Walt about vertical antennas. You inspired me to use the 29 foot vertical wire with a 9-1 unum and a 17 feet counterpoise and it works great at POTA activations. Ignore the haters! ke9le

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Oh I have learned to let the haters just hate haha 73 my friend!

[@CriticalThinker-42]

I consider it an End Fed Antenna when its fed at the High Voltage Point (IOW The Hard Way) whether or not you use a Wire, Radials, Screen, Vehicle Body... as a Counterpoise. Yes it can also be considered A Form of Off Center Fed antenna, BUT your still doing it the Hard Way for the main Radiator. Or call it a Bottom Fed Half Wave Vertical... One Term Doesn't Cancel Out The Other(s), Their All Correct. Your Doctor doesn't argue if you call a Suture a Stitch, the message was delivered. Were Amateurs, not Pros, But we Should aspire to Act Like Pros. 73 -mike 🍺🍻

[@johnrees44..G4EIJ]

Very interesting, especially as you have a lot of personal experience to assess how well the various antennas work. Thank you…and keep them coming, please..73..John..G4EIJ

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting John! 73, Walt K4OGO

[@adam-g7crq]

Totally agree Walt, I've been doing exactly the same as you for years now and it's been the best way to learn.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Absolutely! 73 my friend!

[@JohnnyUrkle]

I built a 20m vertical EFHW based on your design with the, 49:1, one meter counterpoise, and 1:1 choke. With 20 watts on the G90 I made a QSO with Slovenia from Pensacola, Florida! I was 3 miles inland but look forward to using that “saltwater gain” in the future. Thank you for the inspiration and knowledge.

[@Centar1964]

Any thing will be a good antenna as long as it resonates and couples to the ether. So the longer the better within resonance.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that

[@thomaswhisenhunt3484]

WB6JSB Hi, I like your attitude about building antennas. Have fun! I have a suggestion about using a 41 foot vertical wire on your 10 meter pole - try linear loading using 450 or 300 ohm ladder line. I build my antennas with 300 ohm linear load towards the bottom for the initial tuning and then tape the linear load towards the top when finished. Can't tell the difference from the full length wire. Keep doing your videos and hope to catch you on the air. 73's

[@MirlitronOne]

Sound advice as always, Walt. You can try a LOT of experimental aerials for the cost of one commercial aerial! de M1GWZ

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Absolutely, wire and a pole and you can build just about any vertical. 73, Walt

[@UABFWSS]

Our antenna building and testing paths seem highly similar. My neighbor probably wonders what in the world is he doing now. Started with only a QRP rig for months and built/tested dozens of different antenna types, trying to find the "best" for whichever band/etc. It helped me truly discover which were most efficient, effective and which truly performed "best" in the real world (for me and my locations etc). I'd recommend any new hams start that way, just my 2 cents. My go-to's in the backyard, as of late, for the 7300, are a random wire vertical 31ft wire with a nelson 1:9 at the bottom end (been experimenting with two aimed raised radials vs my usual ground plane radials), a random wire 84ft mild sloper with the same (w/1 radial) and a eleveated (coil 5ft off the ground) coax vertical flower-pot for 10m (that's been getting me some amzing "booming" 59++" reports across the pond and further lately with a hundred watts, just coax on ground as the radial or whatever). It's just fun experimenting and that has become exciting for me (and because i'm poor and can't afford a fancy tower or nice hex beam etc lol). Same with my truck/mobile,, I toodle around with the 705 (sometimes with the ah705 tuner) in the front seat and make mobile/QRP contacts when I get a chance, sometimes it amazes me how far it works. I have tried the random wire vert 41ft for 40m you mentioned. For my location, regardless of length, 40m always seems to do better on horizontal wires or wire slopers, even when they're not all that high off the ground. Not sure if that's the norm or not. I strung up a "ridgeline" 50 feet up between two tall trees that looks like some circus trapeze attratcion, easily raised and lowered, for hosting all the antenna experiments. Good stuff, keep up the nice videos.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Awesome! Thanks for the great input! 73 my kindred spirit

[@boyddawncecil7559]

Great advice.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you!

[@tangle70]

If you have a metal roof and put the vertical antenna on top of it, will the roof be a good ground plain?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes, I actually do that at my home QTH.

[@peterfrend5360]

Brilliant video, Walt. Lots of great information. Thankyou. 73 de Pete GI0FZT.

[@t.j.speakman7723]

Thanks Walt, I love playing with antennas. I do have one commercial antenna but have never put it up. Your videos keep me going on my projects.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks so much for watching and the kind words! 73, Walt

[@edwinklaver]

I know how to use the math, but the only thing that matters to me is? Does it work? lol

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

exactly!

[@johnmine5609]

I have 4 major issues #1 shallow pockets #2 rent #3 less then 24 inches below grass is bedrock 3+ feet thick.#4 buildings are metal sided and roofed 54x14 m.h. and 84x56 polebarn. so roof mounted and guyed towers.masts are not possible. any trees are 50+ feet from buildings due to high winds and twisters one missed by half a mile. so these limit options opinion on 25 foot vertical A base loaded and tapped loading coil 40-10 meter from Pvc and solid 10 gauge wire?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

You’ve gotta go with what you can put up. That actually sounds like a good setup.

[@kylefreemason]

How is the swr on 17m your 20m efhw Walt before you use a tuner? I am a qrp guy looking for a short wire antenna that works well on 20/17m. I like the efhw idea as it is more efficient for qrp than a efrw.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

SWR on those bands was somewhere around 3:1, very easily tuned.

[@kylefreemason]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Not bad and is short and resonant on the other bands. Just received my fx4cr and am looking for a short wire antenna. This may be it.

[@N0SSC]

aww man the high end technical mumbo jumbo science is my favorite part. But honestly, at work (RF/antenna engineer) more than half the time the "stakeholders" don't care about the backing theory, and just want an antenna built. So be it!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

As a structural design engineer that does a lot of on-site work I understand and feel your pain. Sorry for the jab, I'm actually talking to the wannabe RF guys that read the ARRL manual and think they know everything. 73 my friend.

[@tommycheshire5508]

We need more specifications for the vertical antennas.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

They are all in my other videos my friend.

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

Love Amateur Radio. Word Amateur means to me the ability to experiment etc. I don't get things right all the time. I mainly use homebrew verticals with bottom loading coils and several wires laying on ground. Into Russia on 5w usb 20metres from the UK. Was a real achievement. Was a while ago before trouble. Cheers from old George in the UK. 😅

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Awesome! Thanks for commenting! Cheers, Walt

[@lostinkansasonasunnyday305]

I learn so much from your videos. thank you so much!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for watching and for commenting! 73, Walt

[@DJCee1973]

Hi Walt! Im new to Amateur Radio just got my Basic with Honours up here in Canada. I have found your videos incredibly insightful a d helpful! I have a question and long non resonant end fed antennas, I have a 26 foot piece of 20ga speaker wire, will this work as a multi band antenna or would it be resonant on other frequencies? Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks, Chris VA3COJ

[@jamesloder7241]

Your videos have inspired me to tinker which has been fun! Thank you. Quick question. Choke for 20M is at feed point and for 10M is at radio. Is there a reason for this. Thx!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes I only choke it at the feed point if I'm using a counterpoise on 20, otherwise choke it at the radio. As for 10, I have found the coax itself works better as a counterpoise for that shorter antenna and I put the choke at the radio. 73, Walt

[@donhenry7879]

I wish to make a vertical 5/8 wave for 20 meters thats about 41 feet. My pole is only 20 ft. Can i spiral wrap the wire around the pole. Will i need more wire then 41ft or less.thanks ve6vac

[@MikeN2MAK]

Buy all the LDG Infinity Stones and build all the antennas. It's fun, it's easy to just cut some wire, and it's a great way to learn.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Absolutely! Love my LDG bricks, wish I could get a hold of one of the 49:1s they built to complete the collection.

[@antenaseinterfacescb]

Amazing Info. Tks. 3 years ago I built a 9:1, vertical antenna with great results. 4,40 meters of wire, try to put more, but the SWR is high, so 4,40 meters works better than other wires. Without antenna tuner from 20 till 10 meters, and with low SWR. 7351 great info. Paulo 31JS20. CB enthusiastic.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching Paulo! 73, Walt

[@woo1517]

At 5 minutes in. Where did you get that chart on lengths and unun to use. I’m looking into when a 9:1 is needed vs when’s 4:1 is needed

[@WHNorthcote]

Told you Rybakov antennas are good for small spaces hihi

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes you did! hi hi

[@robincross4625]

FANTASTIC ADVICE!!!!!!! I built a J-POLE for 20M, That's TWENTY METERS. ZERO radials excellent low angle radiation. It is only 50ft [17M] tall.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! That J-Pole is a great setup!

[@mcarroll5885]

Walt, I applaud you for encouraging hams to get out and experiment with antennas. That's some of the best homebrewing ("DIY"), cheap fun remaining in ham radio. But, a little knowledge of some of the most basic antenna concepts can help folks to avoid spending a lot of unnecessary time that ends in frustration and defeat. Then, they might be resigned to spending $400-$500 or more for something with a cool name, sold using slick website ads that avoid the actual and simple details behind the product that is, really, nothing much different from what you presented at the beginning of this video- a vertical wire fed at the base via an unun (easy and cheap to make!) with a coax common-mode current (CMC) choke (also easy and cheap to make), and a piece of wire as a counterpoise (or single radial). Also, you mentioned random wire antennas and antenna tuners. On a so-called random wire antenna that is not ridiculously short for the band(s) it will be used on, once the antenna tuning unit has done its job efficiently (automatic or manual ATU, properly adjusted), the radio will look into a pure, resistive, 50-ohm load (a true 1:1 SWR) and the system will be quite efficient because it will be resonant- all capacitive or inductive reactance cancelled out. That's resonance. Folks are way too caught up in the EFHW idea. -W4AEE

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for the great comment. I agree, people are caught up in the EFHW idea for sure. 73, Walt

[@quadcam24v]

Get the 12M Spiderbeam pole Walt, it's a fantastic bit of kit. Can squeeze a quarter wave vertical for 40m on it and can do wacko stuff like a full wave 40m vertical loop. I will be getting the 18m variant once I pass my Advanced exam. Cheers VK5BRU.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That one is on my wish list. Wow a full wave loop for 40, that's so cool!

[@n0vty873]

Just got my Dx Commander 12m pole. Pricey but very well made. Last one I got was the 10m pole, also well made. I threw A wire up it and hooked up a 49:1 at the bottom, with an equal counterpoise. Cut to tune once and got a 1:1 swr at the bottom of the band and a 1.2 at the top. I put the pole up and leaned it into a tree and off we went. Last time I did a 20m efhw I just threw a wire up into one of my trees, it worked very well but was temporary. With the pole I dont have to mess with throwing a weight up int the tree. I can also use the pole to hook pulleys onto one of my towers so I dont have to climb them to get a doublet strung up between the towers. why climb if you dont have to? By the way the wire I am playing antennas with is electric fence poly rope. Low cost for lots of wire and stainless, but not insulated. And there is a slight adjustment for tuning compared to copper wire. Slightly shorter. Lets play antennas!! The vertical efhw was great on 10m band too! 1.2 to 1.5 swr on entire band! And great gain!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Awesome, the 12m pole is on my wishlist!

[@dandypoint]

Another good one! One thing I have said for years is there is really no end fed antenna, it just looks that way sometimes! Everything is technically off center fed. Just how off center is the question. I call most things radials but the word counterpoise is pretty much synonymous. My first experience with a counterpoise was to solve a problem with RF on the chassis of my transmitter. The end of the counterpoise wire became hot to the touch instead of my transmitter! Radials can be tuned and act as half an antenna by themselves (as in elevated radials) or they can be used as a “device” to couple to the earth to form the other half of the antenna. Not a simple topic to say the least. The key is what you said put a wire up as best you can. Then try and match it to the coax while minimizing losses. It should work, then maybe the next step is improve it. In general the best radiator is a length of straight conductor with the most current. It’s called meter-amperes. Geometrically it’s like looking at a sinusoidal current waveform over a section of the antenna and the radiation is proportional to the area under the curve. A full size 1/4 wave vertical with peak current of 1 amp will simply radiate more than a shorter antenna with 1 amp peak current. The bottom half of a quarter wave vertical carries the most current so it radiates the most. The center third of a half-wave wire has the most current over it so it radiates more than the ends. There are a number of simple laws and rules that can be used to improve antennas.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you and thanks for the great comment! Great info!

[@stevecairney78]

My rule is if it works for someone else, it'll work for you. I've had great success recently on 10m with a half wave T2LT I made by cutting and stripping some coax. Sure, I can't use the atlantic ocean as a ground like Walt does, but I've successfully contacted FL from the UK using it

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That’s a great rule and thanks for sharing! 73, Walt

[@mikedodds7547]

You can get a lot more done having your attitude! The worst performing antennas I have ever experienced were the ones I never built :) Quoting Robert A. Heinlein: "Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do." 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for the great comment! 73

[@gaptastic]

Great video Walt! Like always!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much!

[@morecambeanglersandtrawler1074]

I also like the 10m loop vertices with direction

[@tlebryk]

I hope to try this weekend to build a non-resonant 29.5 foot vertical w/9:1 unun made from a long aluminum pool skimmer pole with an MFJ1971 fitted at the top, plus an aluminum ground screen w/extra wire counterpoise around it. Oh, and I like to choke both ends of the coax, too. 😂

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Awesome! Have fun and good DX!

[@GregMckenzie-j6m]

Would a tuner at the feed point work better than a 9.1 unun?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes it would, it would simply be the matchbox.

[@GregMckenzie-j6m]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES thanks Walt And I noticed in your videos you never coil the wire up around the squid poles is there a reason why cheers greg VK2GMC

[@jamesmoore6424]

I have always loved playing with antennas, I have also worked in the community industry purely based on my interest I radio electronics. My whole thing with HF and a reasonably OK tuner is that if you can get a signal out and hear a reply, it is a successful experiment. Hand rails on decks at air bnbs are great but they should publish their resonance though 😅

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Same here, haha resonating handrails, I need to give that a try next time I’m at a hotel with a balcony

[@m7trsradio]

Fantastic advice Walt. Like you say just get the wire in the air. Work with what you have that the whole fun of the hobby. I would love the DX commander expedition for when i managed to get out and do sota. Oh it blowing hooley here at the moment. Motters 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks Motters! Stay safe and dry my friend!

[@morecambeanglersandtrawler1074]

My fav is the half square for 20

[@paulgroundwatermm0phg842]

I think the half square has got to be one of my favourites too. They are so easy to put together : they don't mind if the measurements are off a bit, they are light and portable, can be fed in the corner or end fed and, best of all, they give GAIN!

[@morecambeanglersandtrawler1074]

@@paulgroundwatermm0phg842 Yes I’ve worked all over the world on 20

[@johnnorth9355]

I use a ground spike as a counterpoise/ground . Seems to work for me . Decent coax is a must as is a choke. M7BLC

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes they are. All the best and 73, Walt

[@k2wo1]

Great video Walt! Keep up the great job and keep the enthusiasm for Ham Radio growing! Your experiments are the best. 73, George K2WO

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much George!

[@KQ4JGS]

Experimenting with antennas is what ham radio is all about! Thanks for another great video! 73.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes it is! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!

[@KQ4JGS]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES This Sunday I am headed to St Augustine Fla, for one week! Its about a 4 hour drive north for us. Going to do some beach ops! I will be on 10 meters, hope to catch you on 10m. 73.

[@chipweather]

I run a quaterwave vertical upside hanging out of a window. Works great.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That's awesome!

[@PawelFrankowskisailing]

Hi Walt you made another excellent vid and you don't know how much I learned from you as reasonably new operator I to doing almost exclusively only portable operation as in London noise is unbearable Keep on going Many thanks

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much Pawel! I love London, hope to get back there soon. 73 my friend

[@rossbassette7518]

Thank you for explaining the relationship between a counterpoise and a feed point choke!!!!!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching!

[@davemattlin1576]

Thank you for all of your great content. I've been more intimidated than inspired by much of the content out there. You have helped a ton with sorting questions and making it fun. This hobby needs more people like you!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Have fun and don't be intimidated, just try things until you figure it out. this is such a great hobby.

[@richardchadwick7152]

Good post Walt .. I agree trial and error is the way to learn .. to me Ham Radio is learn , learn . and never stop learning . Aerials and propagation is a fascinating part of this never ending hobby

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks and I completely agree with you!

[@ArturSentsov]

Which pole are you using? Is that a 10m or 7m pole?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I have both and I believe they’re both in the video.

[@daveengstrom9250]

WHat is a good vertical antenna for 10 and 12 meters?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I’ve worked 12 and 10 with a 5 foot long FireStik antenna and had great results. You have to tune the tip though when you switch bands.

[@Swamp-Fox]

"Get a wire in the air and see if it works! Get out there and have fun. A wire in the air is better that nothing" That says it all!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes indeed!

[@tmccusk1]

Hey Walt! Great video. Thanks. What’s the big difference between the EFHV and a stainless steel whip the same length. When I use the whip I use 3 radials without an unun. Should I use an unun with the whip?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

No, the whip is basically tunable to a 1/4 wave from 20 to 10 meters as it is 17 feet long. You get into using an unun and creating a multi-band antenna at lengths longer than what the whip is.

[@tmccusk1]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thank you

[@EA8CVZ]

Gracias por el vídeo. Muy interesante. Saludos y un like para tu canal...73 dx.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you!! 73, Walt

[@craigpeneguy2839]

I'm on the 11 meter band. I'm also in an apartment.Tried a dipole, i couldn't get the SWR below 3:1. I guess I need a balun for that to work. So my mext step is a five foot firestik mobile antenna. I have made my own arials out of stranded and stiff 10 AWG wire from Lowe's. I cut 4 wires to 111 inches, and i found by moving the wires around i can get a 1:1 SWR on either end of the 40 channel band and about a 1:1.2 SWR on the other end. I know a mobile antenna isn't ideal for a base station antenna, but you said it yourself, just get a wire in the air and do what I can do.

[@KC3UVF]

I've been playing around with a 1/10th wavelength counterpoise on my 40m efhw set up. Seems to work fairly well. Buggers the swr on 10 a little for some reason but the other bands are happy enough. It also does seem to be radiating a little better than without... but that could just be variable conditions or confirmation bias :) At the end of the day, if it's made of metal, it will radiate. Hang a piece of coax on it and get to it. Saw a video of a gentleman working VK4 from VA5 with a lawn chair hung in a tree for an antenna. You can't let the perfect be the enemy.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I agree, what a great quote "you can't let the perfect be the enemy" I like that!

[@KC3UVF]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES I can't take credit for it, and I'm paraphrasing a bit... but it's always seemed like good advice to me. I want to know what the theoretically perfect set up is, but I am far more interested in what CAN be done because the gray area in between is where most of us operate.

[@cWatts-zv3oo]

Greatly appreciated! Lots of terrific info, thanks.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@fredwatkins8177]

I'll tell you this Walt, that 29 foot "random wire" antenna taped onto a 10 Meter DX Commander vertical mast gets me from my front yard to Moscow, Argentina, Spain and the Carribean. Of course, not having the Atlantic Ocean for a ground plane I do put about 5 radials under it. Sometimes when I'm having trouble being heard on my FT DX 3000 at 100 watts hooked to an Imax 2000 or the G5RV, I know if I just go out to the portable shack in my front yard and hook my Xiegu G90 to the wire on my DX Commander I know I'll be heard. LOL

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That's so awesome! Thanks for sharing my friend.

[@ON3STG]

Walter you have the spirit. As always pragmatic and inspiring. Theory is good but practice is better. 73 de ON3STG

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you Gert! 73, Walt K4OGO

[@ON3STG]

It's nice to see you stick to the experimenting and educational goal of your channel. Not jumping on every newly announced gear or gadget.😉

[@theramblingsoflarry9290]

I just built a 49:1 balun I hope to be testing this weekend

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Good luck and good DX!!!