Building Your First Vertical HF Antenna - Tips for Success

Breaking down the anatomy of a Vertical HF antenna for Ham Radio #hamradioantenna #hamradio #portablehamradio
Correction: I had a senior moment and said PL-239 in the video, it’s PL-259 and SO-239.
Links to some of my other videos that will help you get started:
How to Build an Easy HF Antenna:
• How to Build an Easy V...
Build a Dirt Cheap Antenna:
• Build a Dirt Cheap Spe...

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Correction: I had a senior moment and said PL-239 in the video, it’s PL-259 and SO-239.

[@unclemikeyplays]

"You're not gonna rip a hole in the universe!" -- love it, Walt! Great video as always!

[@captainwyattoutdoors1636]

Dang! I never knew that PL was for "plug" and SO was for "socket." I just memorized them without any guiding reference. Thanks Walt! Makes sense!

[@jamess1787]

Same here!

[@gregmacklem]

I am new to HF and am working on my General license. So I listen for now but do operate on the small piece of 10m that Technicians are alloted. My first antenna build, based on what I have learned from your channel, was a 25' random wire. My second build was a 17.5' random wire for my dad who is in my same boat with a Technician license. Both antennas work on various bands and I am quite happy with them. I did use an Unun and counterpoise on both antennas based on you recommendations.

[@jdschauss]

Great video as always, Walt. I have just built my first Rybakov using the DX Commander pole and LDG 4:1 I got from DXE, and I am eager to put it to work this weekend for field day. So far, the tuner in my little X6100 gets in flat on 40-10. Also, let folks know that when you set up your verticals on the beach, the "salt water amplifier" is REAL! We can't get that down here in the foothills of the Appalachians where I live, but having operated from Navarre Beach, FL once, I can say for sure it is a wonderful thing. K5SFC

[@KuehncIncorporated]

Thank You Walt!!! This is a perfect and quick lesson for new hams.

[@osrzgz]

Siempre encantado con su filosofía. Salir al campo y realizar mil pruebas propias,,,,, es lo más divertido y efectivo para aprender lo positivo o lo negativo.👏👏👏

[@rogerward3185]

Thanks. The more I learn, the more I appreciate your videos.

[@mikewagar8631]

Great stuff man!! I'm close to pulling the trigger! You've been a great help.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! 73, Walt

[@joeunderbrink6056]

Hey Walt, I've been studying for the past month or so and am going to take my Technician test tomorrow. Your videos have been educational, entertaining and a great motivator for me as I've been preparing. Thanks a lot and keep it coming! Thank you!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Go luck tomorrow, you got this!!!!

[@kumasu]

Wow, I have never known what PL and SO mean until today. Thank you. (Why hasn't anyone mentioned that before?)

[@mtb631]

Walt, you did this from reading the minds of all us new general operators. Really enjoyed the simple approach and especially the clamp on the 64:1 unun I picked up from your hint. I put up a 7M DX commander with 6.69 M wire and have been picking up active contacts all over NA from Northlake, TX. You are doing exactly what we need for common sense operating. I will be back in Louisiana in 10 days and really excited about going to my place on Grand Isle, La and doing the saltwater vertical. Will give you a report when I’m done, maybe a pic or two. Also picked up the fiberglass antenna you have at your house as my place is 12 ft off the ground and then also have a metal roof. Will be standing it up and will likely have to tune the metal tip like you mentioned in your video. Thanks again for your common sense approach and your dedication to doing these videos almost on a daily basis. Your a good man Charlie Brown!!!

[@tomm899]

Nice... I'll. Be traveling to terrebonne parish at end of the month... Planning on operating point-aux-chene WMA hopefully twice.

[@johnallen6440]

Love your videos Walt. I sometimes use the spider washing line tube in my garden as a pole mount!

[@kjb_tennessee]

Walt, it works.. I have 98 confirmed countries on 20 watts and wire antennas. Keep up the great work.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@markjohnson5252]

Walt, you have helped me so much. I have built many antennas that you have recommended, and I made many contacts. Thank you so much.

[@SP5NT]

Great job Walt! As always! 👌 Your movies and adventures are inspiration for many new radiooperators. It's a pleasure to follow channel somebody with great hobby. Keep it up 💪 greetings from 🇵🇱, Łukasz SP5NT

[@aaronjohnston1584]

Launching KZbin to find a new video is like Christmas

[@SP5NT]

True 😁

[@KeystoneInvestigations]

Along the shore You'll find him here He's always on the go With mic in hand On the 20 meter band It's K4OGO! 😃

[@christophermarshall5765]

Very informative video Walt.

[@andyM7XTT]

Walt,loved this video!!!! Helped loads.thankyou

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you!! 73, Walt

[@johnbarney2739]

Thanks Walt for keeping things simple

[@abundantlifehomestead3100]

Great video Walt! I've only had my general a few months. My first HF antenna, built on 04/01 was a 17.5' wire velcro strapped to a pole saw handle. I already had a manual tuner, and I've done some tweaking and experimenting, but it's still my only antenna. I've made almost 1000 contacts on this simple setup. It really is that easy to get on the air.

[@ChrisKD9YSW]

Walt, again great video. Thinking of doing a dipole for 10 m then you come out with this video. All I know loving the information, thank you.

[@tnoldforester]

Thanks for your great videos. I have been following your lead on trying out antennas. I have tried a coastal 20, an EFHW for 40m horizontal NVIS and just started using a Rybakov on a fishing pole. The last two in the last two days. Both tuned very well. However, my first try on both resulted in very high noise S5-6. I thought my setup was bad. I went back to the C 20 and had the same noise. I couldn’t find anything wrong. Later that evening I hooked the Rybakov back up. Worked great, no to little noise. Got up early today and was checking it out again. Connected to several NE QSO parties and experienced good RST, 5/7 to 5/9. Later in the morning made contact with Australia on my G90 - clear as a bell. This evening contacted Portugal - both 5/7. I have yet to retry the EFHW antenna. I spoke with other HAMs in the area and they too experienced the noise. What I learned was that I need to try antennas more than once before coming to conclusions about their performance. I have not checked solar activities for the past few days, but I suspect there was some interference. I am new to HAM and not yet familiar with signal interference symptoms in real time. I enjoy your videos and trying out the antennas too. 👍

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Solar activity has been extremely high lately. That probably isn't helping. 73, Waly

[@tnoldforester]

Examined the solar flare activity for this past weekend and there was major solar activity that seems to coincide with my noise problem. I also listened to KZbin videos of the noise from such flares and it sounded the same. The horizontal EFHW was much worse than vertical antenna orientation that also indicated flare interference problems. On the flip side, I think my DX on 20m was enhanced on Sunday morning. Contacts to Australia and Portugal were very clear and strong. I was pretty stoked to make these contacts at all. Way to go G90 and Rybakov! KISS works again. I wonder how the progression of flare activity affects RF propagation? The initial contact of the ionizing radiation causes problems, but once passed and the ionosphere gets supercharged, does this help RF for DX?

[@corsavic1]

Walt well what can i say brilliant i made my first anntena by watching your vids just amazing great info even i can understand lol well done mate, M7ETK this is the way of the ham.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you my friend!! 73, Walt

[@dmsungam]

Try putting a 9:1 transformer at the base of the JPC-7 and change the whip to a 5.2 m whip, work wonders

[@JamesHindsW5ATJ]

Thanks for the video Walt. A lot of great information.

[@RichardFinch]

no holes in the universe , great information thanks

[@hamilgc2]

Walt tks again for another interesting video, I have watched all of them at least once. Keep on building.

[@CQBlindHams]

Love your videos. I have been doing great with a 55ft wire up a 80ft. tree with a 9 to 1 UNUN from Palamar. 50ft. coax to a Palamar super choke then I run the coax into the shack with an electrical LB and 1in PVC. I have worked 155 countries from near Greenville, SC.

[@scottybrown7741]

Super helpful - thanks!

[@brianr555]

Ok! Now its time to get out and build another antenna! Walt, you have some serious motivational skills!! Great video!

[@psychodadsn]

Good video! Just to clarify, the radiating element on verticals is the center conductor on the coax, the braid on the coax gets connected to ground or radials. Love your videos, keep it up! You got me into anyenna building and I have built several of the antennas you have featured. 73 N2SCD

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Yes that is correct. 73, Walt

[@kj5fsi]

Love your videos, keep em up.

[@REXOB9]

Thanks, just what I needed. New ham and I've not built an antenna yet, and want to do a vertical HR.

[@castle5711]

"Rip a hole in the universe". That would be kinda cool, tho' the FCC might frown on the power output for that event... Thanks - great layout for the new operators! 73 Ed KK7SAB

[@chipweather]

Great video for beginners

[@patm5165]

This is antenna college, learn so much from Walt, have helped so many with so much, thank you!

[@pasjeihobby]

Most easy to digest piece of antenna knowledge on YT. 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Wow, thanks! 73, Walt

[@pasjeihobby]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES At the beginning of this year we had Harris Technician for a week, teaching us about field antennas and dealing with just the wire ones made by ourself. Guy was quite experienced. His DIY example ladder antenna was noisy... I mean very noisy ;) We had scheduled comms plan with someone across Poland and we could not establish propper comms. I made vertical without even a pole, just hanging from tree. Well grounded, bit of counterpoise. I had crystal quality voice and digital transfer speed he didn't see for a while. He was literally astonished 😁😆 It was right before I retired and this was one of most proud moments of my service. There was a lot of ppl participating in this training and word has spread quickly. Very high rank officers came to my farewell and named me as The Last Professional Radio Operator in my unit, expressing sadness about losing me from service. I tried to pass my experioence to youngsters but there is no passion :( Tears man, a lot of tears. And all of this thanks to you and others, sharing knowledge. Thank you Walt.

[@martinsmith2984]

Thanks so much, great information, looking forward to getting out on the hilltop and building my first vertical..👍

[@kbopbop]

Elmer on brother! Love what you do!

[@robertmeyer4744]

very good Walt. best thing. do not over think it. I start with speaker wire. one thing I learned that cut length of wire can change around. different insulated wire has different villosity factor . like silicone to PTFE to PVC . even the wire diameter can effect the length . and type of soil the ground is on has a big impact . even snow on the ground . usually a good thing , on lower frequency . 73's

[@randyhavener1851]

Thanks Walt! This is Great Stuff!!

[@K4NXS]

Thanks Walt!

[@MrTommy001]

The wire you show early in the video looks like the same wire I use to make snares to catch vermin in my backyard! Home Depot stuff. Once again, my time well spent. I'm basically a new ham since I just got into HF about three months ago. You are showing me the way. KD7LWL

[@paulswift700]

Hi Walt. Very nicely explained well done. I'm a retired antenna design engineer and trying to get these points over to the beginner can be a taste. So well done keep it going. Best 73. De HS0ZLQ, G0MIH. Paul in Thailand

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@brianfields4479]

thanks for sharing. to be honest I thought most newbies knew all about ants before the lic came through, but maybe not. 73

[@bobr6555]

"All about antennas"? I doubt many if any hams know "all about antennas".

[@rossbassette7518]

Real easy and effective radials can be had by laying down 2 4x8 foot pieces of aluminum screen. Attach 1 ground lead to each section piece of screen. This is very easy to deploy and pack up. Others have used sheets of Faraday Cloth with similar results

[@bobr6555]

Absolutely correct. Using a Faraday cloth about the same size as the metal insect screen I used to use, with a 17ft vertical whip, 9:1 unun and auto tuner to my FT891 or IC7300, and operating portable on my trips around the Australian outback I have had many 20m SSB contacts with the USA including with Walt. VK4BOB

[@Dap8998]

Key the mic your not going to rip a hole in the universe 🤣🤣 Another great and informative video Walt. 73.

[@peternilsson7582]

Thanks!

[@bduff5004]

Walt Thanks! Exactly my speed at this point. I appreciated this! N4STS

[@DeepBlueWaves]

U look right at home with that world map behind you :)

[@newsles2]

"If you key the mic you're not gonna rip a hole in The Universe" 😂 That's reassuring, thanks! Btw, I may have already asked this, but do you happen to know the external diameter of the bottom of the DX Commander Classic? Everyone seems to talk about the interior dimensions, but I'd find that info useful ahead of getting one next week and trying out some of your ideas. Thanks for another great vid.

[@Peter_S_]

Great advice. 👍 73

[@forgetyourlife]

I love to see a pdf or even a book to buy of all your drawings.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I’m working on it!

[@KeystoneInvestigations]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Don't forget to put the PL-239 in it. Ooooops....sorry! 😮

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@@KeystoneInvestigations hahaha yeah I had a senior moment there and didn’t catch it when I reviewed the video

[@doubleD_K2DRD]

Walt. Thanks so much.

[@bevo65]

Very educational! One question I’ve had (not an engineer!) is why you might use half-wave versus quarter-wave versus 5/8-wave, etc. And while I know you’ve addressed it before, but when should we use different ratios of transformers?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! As far as length it's all a matter of takeoff angle and preference. I just did a lengthy explanation of the transformer ratio topic. I'd be typing long reply here to explain it. Please go have a look at that video. 73, Walt

[@johnnorth9355]

Thank you Professor Walt. Next lesson please describe how to get rid of all the scrap wire I have created lol. 73 M7BLC

[@castle5711]

Could repurpose as radials...

[@KaL_Tero_Vet_RET]

Ground radials

[@javierarmendariz193]

As a new Ham, I enjoy your videos and get a lot out of them. Thanks! Question: can I use the cheap TV coax for ground radials? I know it’s not good for feed line. Wondering if the shielding makes it not good for the radials either. Thanks again.

[@DavidHarris2022]

Great video Walt as always, have you ever thought of having a go at using a kite antenna? would make a great video of you with 20 metere of wire in the sky. 73's David 2E0IXK

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes I actually have a kite for that and will get out on the beach with it someday

[@CC-hk6vy]

As an idea, as you mature the audience, maybe even moving to other more complex antennas within the theme--use with big 46' pole from DXE to support longer wire antennas, and also maybe single band wire vertical array. I bet if you did you 20m 1/4 vertical with a passive Director stuck wherever you wanted better gain (your VK targets) itd be more gain, you only need about 10% wavelength spacing. This would open up the ideas more too, EFHW vertical beams are not much in use so playing would be in order. Just some ideas, thanks for your content amd format, BTW Love You ❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕 the music and how you do it all on your phone. De WO8USA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! I actually have wires cut and a plan for a 10 meter vertical with a director, just waiting for better conditions. Thanks for the ideas! The music is my son so I greatly appreciate the compliment! 73, Walt

[@ozone385]

Great video Walt. A question is working with MM how many points after the decimal do you use or a rule of thumb to go by?

[@bobr6555]

25.4mm = 2.54cm = 1 inch. Learn the worldwide metric system and get a tape measure showing metric measurements. To work out any wavelength, just divide 300 by the frequency, easy peasy.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I just go to millimeters. So 5.01 meters is 5010 millimeters on the tape

[@mtb631]

KJ5DMI here btw Walt…

[@mtb631]

BTW, did not see where to pick up the RG8x with the choke in the coax. Could not find it on amazon. Drop a link if you have one on this posting. Thanks

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Here you go: chameleonantenna.com/shop-here/ols/products/cha-50-coax-with-integrated-rfi-choke

[@brr5222]

Hi Walt, I love your simple but in-depth explanations and have a question. Here is my situation. I live on a postage stamp city lot with a 35'+ tree with a pulley mounted at its top. Four feet away from the base of the tree is a rusty but intact 42" high chain link fence that circles my yard with a total length of 150 feet with 2 right angles. In theory, if I mount the wire to about 25 feet + 42" fence = 28.5 feet up and use the fence as the radial attached through a 4:1 UNUN( level with the top of the fence), do you think it would radiate properly? I don't live in a HOA but in a major city and this would disappear into its surroundings. Thanks!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I actually think that would work well. Give it a shot!

[@brr5222]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thanks, I will and let you know the results.

[@michaelwood8071]

Thanks. In a lot of ways this hobby is a lot like an English speaker learning German. It’s so complicated with so many new terms. You just want to quit. Thanks for making easier and more friendly.

[@randyalanjones]

Your videos are encouraging. I have been a ham for about 5 years and I am still lost. I like to have things known before I spend money and seems like ham radio that is impossible. I also enjoy CB and I have a question. Is there a cheap wire antenna you can build that will work on 10 and 11 meters? Thank you for your time.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

You can use any 10 meter antenna on 11 with a tuner. Unfortunately it’s a little trickier to make a resonant antenna that will work on both bands with good SWR on both bands. A vertical dipole might be worth a try.

[@randyalanjones]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thank you. I got started in all this with a CB about 30 years ago. I still like 11 meters and I had a Antron 99. Once I became a ham things got so complicated with what antenna to use that it became a burden and not fun anymore. My dad died so I moved into my mom's house to take care of her and now have limited space and no trees. People tell you the opposite things so I am trying to embrace your motto of just get a wire in the air. But my goal is to have one very good antenna that is mounted and then play with other ones. Problem is I can not figure out that one to mount. I can get a tall Spiderbeam aluminum mast and do a dipole but then people say it can not be on a metal mast. Others say it can be so who knows who to listen to. I thought about a multi band vertical but then some say those suck and others say they are great. Very hard to know what is right in any of this anymore. I hate to spend money on crap or have to keep messing with something when I only want to come home and use it after a long day at work. I guess CB and ignorance was better!

[@snelldeful]

Walt, do you have a video discussing the ferrite beads? Maybe which to use for a choke? I think I understand where I would place them. For example, If I want to use the feedline as part of the ground then I might place them closer to the transceiver. Or, I could isolate the feedline by placing them at the feedpoint. Or I could even place them at both ends of the feedline. But how do we know which to use and how many of them? thanks! KK6IPK.

[@jamescady723]

Step 1: Live on or very near a large body of salt water. (JK! :D) Thanks for your videos!

[@Eternalvigilance1776.]

I'm very new to this and also had a question? If I use more adapters and converters for my antenna do I introduce more noise to my radio?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Not really, I use them frequently and don’t have any issues

[@Eternalvigilance1776.]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRESRoger that.

[@user-hr4jj7vo2k]

Can I use a metal roof for a counter poise

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes! That’s exactly what I do for my home antenna

[@johnf853]

What dx commander pole do you recommend? I was looking at the 10m travel pole thanks I was wanting to get into pota and qrp I just ordered a g90..

[@Ron-xn4wf]

Where can I buy the DXCommander 10 meter pole ?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Here’s the one I have: dxcommander.com/product/10m-expedition-pole-dx-commander/

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

Rule of thumb.....more shorter radials is better than a few long ones.

[@chipweather]

Except if they are off the ground. I learned that the hard way.

[@kikodv1ksantos936]

can you share the link for the online antenna calculator? DV1K 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

It’s in the Apple and Android app stores as “Antenna Tool”

[@GeorgeCudd]

Which DX Commander pole are you using. The 10 meter original?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

No, I use the 10M Expedition

[@GeorgeCudd]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thanks

[@jasonhughes1526]

Hey Walt, Sorry to ask this on a public forum, but I am traveling from Saint Louis to St. Augustine Florida for the scattering of my Dad's ashes. I intend to take a HAM radio with me and an EFHW antenna I have (Probably my 40m) and a pole out to the beach. Have you ever had to get any kind of permit or cordon off the area you're operating at when at a public beach? 73 WB0ZAY

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I have never had to get any permits or had any issues. God bless your father.

[@geoffmcwiggan2814]

Have you ever built a 5/8 over 5/8 for 10m. ?

[@MC-wl8ig]

Can I use PVC pipe to make the pole?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Not sure it will stay rigid and straight for the amount of length you’ll need to make a vertical antenna

[@Peter_S_]

There are different grades of PVC pipe based on the wall thickness. Try the stuff called "Schedule 40" or even better, "Schedule 80" for the most strength. Don't bother with "Class 125" PVC because of the thin walls.

[@jimhopk]

Rip a hole in the universe! lol

[@mobiltec]

OOOOoooo hhhh... What about a helium balloon for support... No pole needed LOL... That would be fun if it's not too windy......

[@Peter_S_]

Balloons work great in clam weather but the price of helium is going through the roof and the supply is limited. Kites can do really well if the wind is steady.

[@mobiltec]

@@Peter_S_ Another great idea.

[@peterfrend5360]

Another really great informative & instructional video, Walt. I always recommend people to watch your channel & learn, the same as I do? Thankyou. Best 73 de Pete GI0FZT.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much Pete!

[@johnorrells3797]

If your enthusiasm does not rub off on the newbie there in no hope. Keep up the good work. John G6DQY

[@ricksargent8754]

Thanks Walt!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@joeunderbrink6056]

Thanks!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for supporting the channel my friend!!

[@maurasmith-mitsky762]

Thanks!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much for supporting the channel!! 73, Walt