Top 10 Wire Antennas for HF Ham Radio

The Top 10 easy to build wire antennas for HF ham radio. #hamradio #hamradioantenna #amateurradio
Link to my original antenna building video mentioned:
kzbin.info/www/bejne/rna8oWx_fdaXf68si=muVmXWvbzl331g0w
Link to Tim N9SAB’s Etsy store:
www.etsy.com/shop/HamRadioAntennas
Link to Tim’s eBay store:
www.ebay.com/str/n9sab?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=TIbkpe2XS0m&sssrc=3418065&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@xzkt]

Interesting choices. I like to build antennas also. My favorite is my 80 meter loop. The loop is mounted horizontally about 20ft off the ground. I use it on all bands with 20-100 watts. On 10 meters I also use a 1/4 wave vertical with radials or a delta loop hung from a tree branch. Most of my home made antennas start on 10 meters because they are smaller and cheaper to play with. The more successful antennas get tried on lower frequency bands. Thanks for taking the time to share some of your knowledge of antennas. Phil

[@scottpohlenz142]

I liked this video before I even started watching 😂. Thanks for all you do Walt! Loving the channel.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much!!!!!

[@johnnorth9355]

Wire is the greatest gift to HF QRP portable there is for those who hate spending big bucks on antennas (ME !).

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes it is!!!

[@tangobayus]

I like my end fed half wave for 40 meters (65-66 foot antenna side, 17 foot ground side). It's full wave for 20m. 9:1 unun connecting the antenna to the ground. 1:1 balun near radio. It's basically NVIS, but I've reached as far as Hawaii from San Francisco.

[@K6SUD]

Great antenna roundup Walt! You are spot on with Tim and his antennas. I have several of his antennas and they always perform!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73 my friend!

[@F4LDT-Alain]

Fantastic video! by far the most useful I've watched about home-made HF wire antennas. Really appreciate the drawings. Thanks a lot! This video will definitely be my #1 reference when I start messing with poles, wires, insulators and baluns/ununs next spring/summer.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! have fun building those antennas!

[@azemsham]

Just wanted to let you know I really appreciate your videos. Just getting back into the hobby after a 7-8 year break and have watched a couple of your videos - good video quality, nice audio, solid content and honest opinions of what has and has not worked for you. Thank you. Looking forward to watching more.

[@tommydean2955]

Thank you for sharing your info with the ham community.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much for watching and commenting!

[@jeff-73]

Great breakdown on antenna strategies. I'm jealous of your locations.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! I’m blessed to live here. 73, Walt

[@marshred]

An OCFD 80-6m, inverted V is my main antenna at the station. So versatile and works great! Western Australia to Asiatic Russia from the Louisiana Gulf Coast, it talks great!

[@timmotel5804]

Excellent. It's nice to know that "Large Money" doesn't have to be spent to achieve great performance. Best Regards.

[@RadiantFreeEnergyResearch]

This is an absolutely great video! so much helpful information about antennas!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much!

[@martinsalt1839]

Fantastic video Walt. Thanks for all the information.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching! 73, Walt

[@Mil1806]

Wow so many information condensed is this video! Thanks!! I like your videos about wire antennas! 73!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much! 73, Walt

[@RandallRash]

Thanks Walt. Very inspiring!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@thebigboy2877]

Great Vid as always and i have been doing all my home QSO's on random wire 35.5' with a home brew 9:1 unun slooper out the window like you had shown in one of your past vids in Poland after getting my g90 and my general in aug of this year able to get out to Spain, brazil from WV all on 20W . Just bought 200" of 16g speaker wire from Woot when they out them on sale for $5 per 100' can't wait to make some more wire antennas from your channel this winter Thanks for all the great content

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Have fun making those antennas!

[@Wretchedone69]

You introduced me to the Rybakov and I love it as well.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

It's such a great antenna!

[@HamRadioWithKE0MAD]

The 41' random vertical absolutely rocks and it does work just fine on the Spiderbeams 12 meter mast you just have to rotate the mast as you raise it.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Good stuff, I'm looking into getting that mast. Thanks, Walt

[@surfnutt]

I have watched a lot of youtube videos about antennas and yours is by far the best for me, the simple plain explanation of your antennas is a god send, I have ADHD so when KZbinrs start on about formulas and charts I lose interest real quick, your format is really good I look forward to many more videos from you, regards, Ian

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you Ian! I think the KZbinrs that role out the charts and formulas are just trying to impress themselves lol. All the best and 73!

[@t.j.speakman7723]

Thanks Walt, All the greats.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching! 73, Walt

[@jasonash9121]

Great video, Walt! I threw together an inverted V for ten meters a couple of months ago. I just cut up some speaker wire and hung it from a makeshift pole made of PVC. I hooked it up and my first contact was Sarajevo from central KS! The only downside to the V is that it is HIGHLY directional. I found myself hearing the same few operators over and over and would only hear new DX when I went out in the yard and moved the ends around. Now I'm working on a 10m Moxon, but this is a much more difficult build. Thanks for the great videos! 73 W2ASH Jason

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! That Moxon should kick butt. Seems every contact I have with somebody using one their signal is great. Thanks for watching! 73, Walt

[@tonym7cvk430]

Good morning Walt had some fantastic results with my inverted V bell wire antenna along with my home built transformers, but my 10m wire delta loop has been the most rewarding regarding to use. Normally deployed on a 10m squid pole, image on my QRZ page. I used 75ohm coax to drop the feed point impedance swr is around 1.2.1 across the 10m band. Been a pleasure watching your videos have a great Christmas and look forward to 2024, 73 M7CVK Tony

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much Tony, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friend! 73, Walt

[@davejack3054]

As someone who just recently purchased an SDR dongle and wants to improve their Rx ability within the HF spectrum I find these videos very helpful even though this is aimed at a very different audience. Thanks for putting the time into the videos.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much. I also do a lot of listening with SDR dongles as well. I use my ham antennas for SWL.

[@MirlitronOne]

Excellent video again, Walt. My main home aerial is the off-centre-fed dipole 20m long, while I tend to use EFHW verticals for portable / QRP work, usually with a simple radial set to convert to a quarter wave. I also built your 10m delta loop earlier this year and got good results from it. 73 de M1GWZ.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks so much! I want to get out and experiment with some more Delta Loops. 73 my friend!

[@Goingtothedogpark]

Thank you for the video!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you for watching!

[@ehayes5217]

Great summary, thanks!😀🇺🇸

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! 73, Walt 🇺🇸

[@Superfandangoo]

Nice one Walt, thank you my friend 👍

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much! 73

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Good stuff Walt. Glad you mentioned delta loops. An A-shape loop may be an easier option when fed at centre or end of the bottom wire and held up with just a single mast.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Roger that, I need to go deeper down the Delta Loop trail for sure.

[@dr5674]

Excellent video! Thank you. I am going to try the 17-Five. I'm not near the ocean but I bet it will still perform.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@blugoose86]

Hey Walt, I'm sitting here with a pile of parts trying to decide what to build. Great, Great video. Gave me so many ideas. First build will be the 4:1. My 7.2 m pole is on the way. I might even build two. If I come up with something new and improved, I'll send it to you to try. Well 4:1, here I come. Thanks again for the ideas.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! have fun building those antennas my friend!!!

[@certinstructorron4050]

Thanks for posting! Work with a QRP radio. Tru Dx I believe off hand. My focus is Emergency Communications.

[@jonmcadams5401]

Walt, great video! I work all HF bands including WARC bands with a stealth 71' non resonant end fed sloper, 9:1 unun, 50' low loss coax, common mode choke on jumper 3' from transceiver. Antenna tuner is needed on 160 - 40 meters (not on other bands) for SWR of 1.5 or less on all HF bands.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! WOW that sounds like an awesome antenna!

[@robpinter5431]

Many thanks from Australia, just getting back to HF 10 meters, and building my own antennas, it is amazing how inexpensive a good antenna can be made from a few lengths of wire and an insulator, the most expensive part is a telescopic pole.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching! Roger that!

[@johngriswold]

I have an LDG unun reserved for the Rybakov. Good stuff, Walt. Thanks.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! you will love that antenna!

[@ea4hwt]

In my current setup, where I have only a window and a tree in front of me, I used an EFRW 41 foot antenna combined with a 9:1 unun to cover the 40-10 meter bands using just 5 watts, for portable my fav it’s Delta loop antenna’s, thx 4 ur vid Walt 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That's a great setup, trees are a ham's best friend. All the best and 73 my friend!

[@thork0tjt515]

Great list Walt! 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks!! 73, Walt

[@pastorlarry7470]

thanks great video

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much!

[@smithadmin]

The first antenna I built is an H-Pole antenna. It's a vertical antenna that (when completed) is about 30 feet long and I built it from scrap I had around the house. When I tested it I was able to get from SE Massachusetts to the Canary Islands, and that was sloped from 30-foot to six foot, before a wind storm took down the pole I was using. Now I have a new QTH and I'm looking forward to getting it up in the air for better testing.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That’s awesome! Good luck getting it back up and running.

[@robertmeyer4744]

That was great. my favorite's antenna is the dipole wire antenna. love trying different ones. love that DX commander pole . have same one and the 7 meter one. I am using the DX commander wire as well. the one I had fun with is a full wave loop on ground antenna. this great for NVIS and low noise. takes a 4:1 . when close to ground or on ground the tune length will be a tad shorter . I did a 160 meter one. done in NY winter. got out great ! great 1.5 or less threw the whole band. the outher antenna I like is the fanned dipole. can be done vert and great tune on many bands. easy set up. What the DX commander expedition is. once bult and tuned easy to setup take down. some tune 6 and 2 meters. I made 3/4 wave wire for 6 and 10/11/12 meters for mono band. I did a fold over for the 10 meter element great tune and tunes 12,11,10 meters . great RX with 3/.4 wave bur brings up the noise floor a bit in spots. depends what park I use. the 6 meter 3/4 wave coved the whole band with out a tuner. I have IC 7300 has 3:1 tuner bult in. only the 9:1 on some bands I have to E tune at 50% power. I have put a KW into a DX commander. works great and SWR stays down. 73's

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks and thanks for the great comment. That's so cool! 73, Walt

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Inspiring stuff Walt and a good starting place for people to try these set-ups. Do you ever guy your DX Commander Classic? Has it developed any cracks? Have you compared it with a Spiderbeam? I ask as I'm considering buying a DX Commander. Thanks for the great video.👍

[@DonzLockz]

Great info Walt. For a permanent install, I'm thinking of a fan dipole or an OCF antenna. I have a few squid poles for a vertical end fed or trying portable. I also want to make a slim Jim and a 2m Yagi to reach my repeater or 2 or 3 as I'm in a valley. Inspiring video buddy, you already have alot of energy in your video's.💪🍻🤠🇦🇺

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much my friend, The OCF is awesome, give that a try.

[@GordonHudson]

I'm using an inverted V fan dipole in the attic cut for 12m 17m and 20m, but the 20m is end loaded and only two feet longer than a 10m dipole. The 12m dipole is also under 2:1 at the bottom end of 10m. Its under 3:1 on 15m. I use it on 30m too with a tuner. On its main bands it doesn't need a tuner so its pretty efficient.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Interesting, I’ve always been intrigued by attic antennas. I had a dipole in my attic for shortwave listening when I was a kid. Sounds like you have yours dialed in. Thanks for sharing. 73, Walt

[@walterbeaton5056]

Great video, Walt I'd have to agree with you on your #1 😊 73, Walt NE4TN

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks Walt! That unun I use is amazing, you should look into them hahaha

[@davidjohnson497]

There is some great advice here, thanks and wishing you well. Good antennas can be made with simple wire and supports and sometimes with balun or unun. Great to see you sharing this timeless wisdom. I have fun with dipole (or vee), or random wire 29 feet with 9:1 unun, or many other arrangements, so fun to experiment! Put the "fire to the wire" and have fun! Dave WA4NID

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that, thank you so much Dave! 73, Walt

[@user-cp2yl3xh6c]

Hi, have you build a Fan Dipole? I have build one in 40-20-15-10m and it's making a great job

[@lesjones5684]

You are the man 😅😅😅😅

[@MikeN2MAK]

I still need to try a 41' 9:1 and 17-five 4:1 (I've got a variation on this I want to try). The TennTennas 49:1 and LDG Infinity Stones make it so easy to make new antennas. I can't say enough good stuff about Tim N9SAB's antennas, especially the OCFD.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that, Tim is awesome!

[@user-rv7uf5oi9x]

I am new to HF. I bought a Palomar Engineers Bullet-8006-1500L antenna. I was anxious to get on the air, and it fit my installation requirements. It works very well. My FTDX10 tunes all bands to 1:1 or unity (except 30). It uses the shield of the last 40 feet of coax as one pole of the antenna. The coax is vertical to the 4:1 UnUn. The 95 ft. wire is horizontal. I have made DX contacts on 80, 40, 20, 17, and 10 meters. I even worked Australia and Russia (from Louisiana). Some of the "older" operators I know were skeptical when I told them about this antenna. What I would like to know from you, is do you have experience with antennas that use the coax shield as a radiating element? I don't mean using old coax for a wire. Thanks.

[@KD0QZR]

Another great freakin' video Walt! Unfortunately I can't give you any new ideas, because all of mine came from you and your videos!😆 Keep them coming my friend! 73 Justin KD0QZR

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks so much Justin! 73 my friend!

[@seanholio]

Love the hoodie, brother! Hope to chat on the air some day. Also, great ideas.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much! Hope to catch you soon! 73, Walt

[@gregorypaolini1969]

Awesome content! Keep up the great work! Sooo, if you’re looking for antenna ideas to experiment with, i was getting into stealth stuff, and was thinking about doing dipoles, wrapped around pvc, to keep them short, and then mounting them horizontally on top of fences, garage, house, etc - Whether it’s because of HOA rules, or you just dont want to be a flame for moths if the SHTF - How stealthy can we get?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That’s a great idea! 73, Walt

[@byd3k157]

When I go HamCation and see $200 plus Apple antennas, I’m going to think of your video.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

LOL roger that!!!

[@carls7844]

It's funny when I lived in NJ 100'x572' lot I had an 80m sky loop. When I moved to WV 35 acres I had too many trees in the way to put up that size loop. I now live in NC .66 acres I have been trying to plan on supports for an 80m sky loop. It has been some time since I have been on HF I would like to get back into the swing of things

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Now is a great time to get back on HF we’re nearing the peak of Solar Cycle 25.

[@agoraphobicadam1171]

HI Walt, I wish I could give you some ideas However I'm learning a lot from you. Merry Christmas KO4HPC 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Merry Christmas my friend!

[@on4mgy_radioamateur]

Once again a great video Walt. However, I do miss the open line fed doublet antenna in your list. A doublet antenna fed with open line or ladder line is such a great performer and multiband antenna it deserves a (high ranked) place in the top list of wire antennas. Best 73 de ON4MGY Nic

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks Nic, great antenna. I need to build one and add it for sure. Best 73, Walt

[@TechnicalsGuider]

Hi , Have you build a Fan Dipole antenna? I have build one in 40-20-15-10m and it's working great

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

No haven’t built one yet. Maybe in the future

[@peterlowrie1216]

Another great video Walt. Have you ever played with a linked vertical? Same idea as the linked dipole but only one leg going vertical tuned against a few radials. Resonant and no need for an atu. Take your 20m quarter wave, it's got 17, 15, 12 and 10m hiding in it and just waiting to be found with links or jumpers giving you resonant quarter waves from one wire. Keep up the good work de Mi5JYK

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! I have looked into that antenna but have never built one. It’s on my list of future projects. 73, Walt

[@Siskiyous6]

I am loving my new2 element Bruce array, the 1/4 wave elements make it a lot easier to install than 1/2 length elements, and the lower height requirements make building them a lot easier than a lot of antennas, and of course, I hate radials.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

awesome antenna!

[@miketaylor253]

Great video, maybe you can try the T2LT (flowerpot) antenna, as per G5TM (Tim) videos?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Great idea, I should try that.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

Great collection of antenna ideas! I like experimenting with homemade antennas almost as much as being on the air. Everything I have up right now is monoband resonant- I don't own a tuner (though I suppose I could have bought a tuner for the money I've spent in separate coax feeds). I'm blessed to own an extremely wide lot, so now I'm looking at what my options are for 80 and 160. The lot is plenty wide enough for a half-wave dipole for 160, but my shack is off to one end. So it's either end-fed or a long coax run to the center of the property... unless you have any ideas.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Oh how I dream of having that much room for antennas LOL. I would for sure try an end fed for 80 and 160 if I were you. 73, Walt

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES I still have more learning to do on efhw antennas, I'm still confused on what balun or unun I need to use to make monobanders for 80 and 160. Seems the more I read, the more confused I get!

[@KS0JD]

Nice list! 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks Jeff! 73

[@jorgezuni2818]

I’ve bought a few years ago a Balun/Unun 4:1 1-70 MHz. 2kw Rf transformer 200 homs to 50 homs … ….anyways I was looking at your video trying to determine what kind of Antenna I would built for this item that I bought . Very interesting video you put together. 73”

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching! 73, Walt

[@haxwithaxe]

I just built a 80-15ish random wire rubber duck on a 5ft fishing rod. I haven't quite finished it yet so I don't know how horrible it is with more than 250mW going through it but it will probably be good enough to do pedestrian mobile without cooking myself.

[@vincenzofidanza2539]

Hello Walt your antennas are all multiband but the humble 5/8 is a great antenna as well a vertical dipole for 20 meters, ladder line fed making it multiband.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes those are both great antennas.

[@ToiToiTrimmer]

Great vid, interesting order. How about a Moxon Antenna ? I’ve seen some interesting builds

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Oh I really want to build a Moxon!

[@alperbektas7131]

Thanks for useful video TA3LEO 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching!

[@WECB640]

Great review Walt. Can we build a STURBA CURTAIN sometime? LOL 73 bro.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes LOL!!! actually I have a few array antennas in the sketchbook that I really want to build. 73 bro!

[@Ronparks1378]

How about a video on receive only antennas. I use a hexbeam for my maim antenna but my radio has the capability of using a recoeve only antenna. I'm wondering if there might be one that works even better than the hex that might help me when I need to hear a station on the edge. I can run a little more power on transmit but it doesn't really help unless I can hear the other station.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That’s a great idea, I’ll definitely look into that.

[@dandypoint]

Pretty good list. Obviously the numbers were not in order of gain, simplicity or anything more than what you tend to use the most. At least it seems like that’s the order. I think your numbers 10 and 1 are the best for single band performance. For ease of installation the 1/4 wave vertical takes my number 1 spot with the inverted V a close second. For raw gain it would be the dipole at half wave high. I think the delta loop takes dead last in most categories as it’s too much wire for easy and normally less gain than a dipole. For multi bands the clear winners in performance are the longest horizontal wire that tunes on your lowest band of choice and one of the non resonant verticals, also the longest one that tunes on your lowest frequency of choice. Good job!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Good choices! Yes the order is just my personal preference. 73 my friend!

[@newsles2]

Interesting and helpful, especially for someone like me working towards their first license. Thanks. One question if I may: we live in a notoriously breezy place near the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, so I was concerned about using very fine-gauge wire for what will be a longwire going up into our locust tree, which will sway a good deal when the winds occur. I have a LoG utilising 18-gauge speaker wire for SWL, but for this I felt something like 12-gauge was a better option and got some of that Cerrowire stuff in bulk from Home depot. Would you envisage any problems using that gauge? I was reading that too fine a wire when hanging and stretching from a tree to the house can lead to easy breakage.

[@newsles2]

What did I say wrong? 😦

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Sorry, I missed this comment. I don’t see any issues at all using 12 gauge wire.

[@newsles2]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thanks and that's ok because I only just discovered your reply! Must get my notifications sorted. Btw the antenna works pretty well from 40 down to 10 although 10 is a bity sketchy, so thanks for all the informative vids that have been and remain a great help and inspiration. I have a DX Commander Classic pole arriving next week for my Birthday so hoping to have some fun with that. Thanks again Walt :-) Les, KK7TPM.

[@brr5222]

Hi Walt, in this video your #1 antenna is the vertical efhw 20-10 meter. On your 1st picture you show a 49:1 unun and in your 2nd picture you show a 9:1 unun. I'm guessing its a 9:1, am I right?

[@twobikesandadrone]

You need to go back to college and learn English 🤣 Seriously though, my goal (after I finally get off the gold mine and buy the FT-891 and necessary accoutrements I want/need) is to go out in the desert or up in the mountains and have some fun setting up whatever wire antennas I can make work. I also need to keep the kit as small as I can since I'll be traveling on one of my motorcycles...........so I can mix both hobbies at once!! Your channel should help with that immensely!! Which is why I just subscribed!!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for subscribing! 73, Walt

[@carls7844]

I got the plans from an ARRL handbook ( I don't remember the year now) it said no Balun was needed it was fed with a thin coax. All of the plans that I have seen have called for some sort of Balun. I used mine with out, and made contacts all over the world. Any reason there is no mention of not using a Balun?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

with a resonate antenna you can get by without a balun and have great results.

[@kevinverville8608]

All fun antennas! I agree on the vertical EFHW. Mine is linked @ 20m to add 40m, as in inverted-L. That is what I almost always run in the RV. Great video for beginners! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God bless Walt!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much! Merry Christmas and God bless my friend!

[@Schlem]

Fun top ten. I bet you could do something cool with a long tape measure. Easy to deploy and already marked for length..

[@Schlem]

PS- I'm working a 71 foot random wire, but it's crap with a 9:1. But super neato.with a 49:1! 80-6M, minimal tuning needed.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Hmmm, a tape measure antenna! check out my video on that hahaha: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGfamHaBaptmfcUsi=M-9OugViXBGsvg5A

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That's awesome. 73 my friend

[@willtoy7393]

Is there anyway I got reach out to you. Currently trying a project and have some questions

[@RemyRAD]

Yeah making antennas. Around 1980. I went to Radio Engineering Inc. in Sarasota, Florida. For a summer. To prepare for my 1st Class FCC Radiotelephone License. And on the trip down there. I had my CB radio/base station. That ran on either 12 volts DC or 120 volts AC. But on the second floor of this dormitory. I had no access to an antenna. The one on the car was screwed in. So? What to do? 44 years ago, I had just gotten a brand-new Texas Instrument, Electronic Sliderule a.k.a. calculator. To help my poor math aptitude out. And that had a DC wall wart, power supply with 6 foot cord. The plug on that 6 foot cord was smaller than the center conductor. To the coaxial cable connector. On the back of the CB radio. So I just stuck it in. And my CB radio lit up with dozens and dozens of signals, operators, calls. I'm picking up a ton of people. My signal strength meter is nearly, pegged. And of course no ground is connected. It's just a 6 foot piece of wire. With a wall wart at the end of it. Not plugged into anything, of course. But the signals are great sounding. I wondered what would happen? If I were to key up the microphone? It might likely blow up my CB transmitter? With no proper load across the, PL-259 connector. But? I am already drunk and stoned and it's nighttime. So? What do I have to lose? So I key up the microphone. And look at the meter very quickly. And strangely? It's sitting right where it's supposed to? This can't be right? There's no ground connected! It seems to be loading just fine. I wonder if anybody can hear me? Breaker breaker good buddy! Well this turned out to work exceedingly well. I was talking to people, 10 miles away. My signal was exceptional everybody said. I was like what the hell is going on here? I am plugged into a, calculator charger cord. That is lying on the floor. This is not normal. This should not be happening! And all of the other guys in class with me. They are equally amazed. Because this should not be. It's impossible for this to work properly. But it seems to be working marvelously. The next day in class. This was a topic of major discussion. And our professor and former military instructor. Says this is not possible. This cannot work. And everybody said. No it really works. And I'm just sitting there, smiling. With my CB radio and calculator charger cord I brought with me to class. So I put it on the professors front table. I plug it in. Rest the charger cord plug inside the, CB radio socket. And it works great. The professor got angry. And so this cannot be. Thought it was some kind of trick. Nope. No trick. It was the most ridiculous thing ever! It completely destroyed everything he was teaching us. Everything! And so then you said everybody should build antennas. You don't need to a simple old Texas instrument calculator charger cord will work great at 27 MHz on the 11 m band. You can't pay for an antenna to work better. It was the most ridiculous thing ever. It only proves. Electromagnetic waves are really electro magical waves. And sometimes choose to entertain us. I didn't even know, those electromagnetic waves, liked me? But they sure did when I plugged in that calculator charger cord into the CB radio antenna socket. So remember that. It's great for 11 meters at 27 MHz. Don't spend money on a real one. Go into your box of junk. You'll find one of those charger cords lying around. That goes to that gizmo whose batteries died. And it only needs to be about 12 feet off the ground maybe 13. I guess maybe for, 2 meters/GMRS and what have you? Unfolded paperclips might work. And look at all the time and money you would have saved. Just connect a paperclip into your antenna socket. It'll probably work great. Much like an antenna. We can only hope. Trying to save money in go greener. Without being so wasteful. I mean we can unwind a burned out motor winding. And make that a helical antenna. By wrapping it around a flagpole you don't have any flags for anymore. And you can make an extra little curly Q, at the top. And they call that Top Loading. The same way we drink our Beer! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha! It can be a lot of fun making antennas out of, wars. RemyRAD

[@CC-hk6vy]

Walt--an idea for something different but within scope.....could you think about a wire antenna with balun covering g 160-10? I've been told that you could make a wire antenna, resonant on ham bands using g 1.8 MHz as a harmonic, and a 49 or 56 or 64:1 balun. I k ow this isn't an on-the-beach vertical, but beaches are big or your estate in Poland... Wrapping 240ft of wire up and down and around might be worth it to get on 160, 80, 60,40,30,20,17,15,12,and 10. Just a thought for one of thise different episodes as tbe Beach gets cold but knowing you have lots of trees in VA.73 De WO8USA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I like the idea! I will start wrapping my mind around this for sure! 73

[@brianfields4479]

good video. simplest ant in the world for real dx is, one vertical resonant wire, one radial, 10,000 mile + dx every time .dont even need a mast, if you have a tree.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! roger that my friend!

[@ErikTheVikingMechanic]

Great. Thank you for daily videos. EFHW is an absolutely fantastic and efficient antenna. M7LDK

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

EFHW is an absolute gem of an antenna! 73 my friend

[@brianr76]

Walt, just curious if you do any digital modes like FT8 at all?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

No I’m just a voice guy and currently starting to do some CW.

[@brianr76]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRESI see…. My wire antenna only gets me so far, so at a friends urging I grabbed a signalink USB interface yesterday and operated for the first time on FT8 last night. Great for weak signal DX. I made 51 qso’s in about a 3-4 hour period including one in Israel, one in European Russia. I’d love to learn CW someday …

[@brianr76]

Edited….. WIRE antenna, not wife 😂

[@frugalsurvival.]

If I wanted to build and antenna for each frequency, how far apart would they need to be? I have 40 acres so I could build some good ones. With my 991a I would like to be able to achieve all frequencies.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

They can actually be very close together, take a look at a fan dipole or the DX Commander vertical. Wires are closely spaced

[@frugalsurvival.]

@COASTALWAVESWIRES ok thanks

[@GoonyMclinux]

I use a vertical loop on one pole, feed point is on one corner and its zig zagged a little on one side so the wire fits, I use a 9:1 unun at the feed point. Even though I did everything wrong I have thousands of contacts on it. 😂

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

At the end of the day it's all about the contacts!

[@GoonyMclinux]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES If you want to try one its setup like an inverted V with the bottom of the loop also inverted V under the other wire back to the 9:1 about 5 or 6 feet apart. I use a stake on the none feed point side about 4 feet high to keep the wire off the ground. Mine is a 5/8 wave loop on 40 so ends up being somewhat resonant there. You literally have everything already so go for it, I wanna see how it works on the coast. 🤣

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

Tim is nice guy, too. There, I've said it.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

hahaha yes he is!

[@curtishustace]

I didn't know you could build a vertical random wave . . . No ground plane?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

With the larger vertical random wire I use one 17 foot counterpoise. With the others as I show in the video I put down 4 to 6 counterpoise wires about 5 meters long each. With the half wave vertical I use 5% of a wavelength for a counter (1 meter for a 20 meter EFHW)

[@bobr6555]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES I've gotta say it, try a piece of metal flyscreen instead of radials. Hey, I had the real thrill of working Walt on 20m with a 17ft telescopic whip and flyscreen when I was camped in outback Queensland, Australia! VK4BOB

[@timmotel5804]

Good Day. I really appreciate you speaking "American" regarding lengths of wire. Yes I know... Best Regards

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you!! 73, Walt

[@s8ultra732]

Im a technician, which one would you recommend that i build? I have anytone 555 and 6666.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Build a resonant antenna for 10 meters. I’d build a quarterwave vertical for the 10 meter band.

[@s8ultra732]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES thank you. I bought all the stuff but cant find in amazon a 1:1 choke.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@@s8ultra732 for a choke you could use this: www.dxengineering.com/parts/ldg-ru-1-1?seid=dxese1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN6wBhCcARIsAKZvD5iY8lmTsquf58mxpB0YkeQshz42XEh-EvwUeZBSnIMAEQhCGpCPIaQaAorAEALw_wcB I think you would do better to use a 1:1 balun and make your driven element (vertical wire) 8 foot 3 inches long for a 1/4 wave in the Tech voice area of the 10 meter band. Put down at least 4 or more radials on the ground. Length for those is not the important but the more wire on the ground, the better. Here’s the 1:1 balun I use for this antenna: www.dxengineering.com/parts/ldg-rba-1-1?rrec=true

[@s8ultra732]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES thank you very much. Im so excited to build my first 10meter vertical antenna.

[@lesjones5684]

I made on brother 😅😅😅

[@TheRdeanpeek]

rhombic would be cool

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I like that idea!

[@corsavic1]

hi walt how you doing

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Hi! I'm doing great! 73

[@oldgeezerproductions]

Why would anybody bother with a wire antenna other than a center fed Zepp? Using a balanced wire feeder and a tuner and mounted in an upside down "V" configuration, it is adjustable to any frequency giving a 1:1 SWR , it's easy to mount with cheap common hardware, no radials and really excellent performance all around. I love Zeppelin antennas. Last night, from Central Coast California, I worked Yosemite on 80 meters SSB with just one, watt ONE WATT output into a Zepp, 35' at the apex and feeding it with cheap TV twinlead.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

People would bother with other wire antennas because the spirit of ham radio is experimenting with different things.

[@oldgeezerproductions]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRESIndeed, and so have.

[@lesjones5684]

11 meters inverted v 😂😂

[@LB0FI]

Yes, English is a hard language!😅

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

hahahahaha yes it is!

[@jerryKB2GCG]

Build a slinky!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Great idea!!!!! I've actually done that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJbNq6Cmn82Hrbcsi=ePrN0_vfKpgAb6x7

[@jerryKB2GCG]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES darn, forgot that one!

[@jerryKB2GCG]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES I have one in my attic as a backup antena

[@ItsEverythingElse]

"infed"

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

?????? End Fed?

[@GSWEAR66]

Another great video as always Walt! Thank you very much!! KF0LZX

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for the kind words my friend!