DIY Ham Radio Antenna: The Incredible Tape Measure Antenna - under $25!

[@MrMudsHamRadioRadioTime]

Great idea. I want to build one so when I catch a Sad Ham I can throw it back😂

[@thehamjazz]

Hahaha, Wooohooo Mr Mud! You Rock buddy!

[@iridiumcaptain]

Howdy! I'm W6PDX. Thanks for chatting with me and my dad about your setup. Hopefully I'll hear you on air sometime. Cheers!

[@J123G]

If you use a Circumference Tape Measure you'll see that the tape is flat and not curved. That would make it much easier to remove the paint from one side (back side) on a belt sander.

[@jimnelson726]

Fun video Simon.....you are truly the father of innovation! Kd9van

[@DK5ONV]

Wohooo Simon...yoda Signal Fisherman 2023. Gosh Your Tape Measure Antenna seems to perform just fantastic. I can't believe you still having such beautiful WX there. The Days here are grey in grey overcast Temps are down @ 7-12°Cel. during the Daylight Hours. Happy Humpday Buddy - keep up ypur fantastic Work. 73 de YFUG 💯🙋‍♂

[@thehamjazz]

Wooohooo Uncle Guenter brother! Thanks for dropping by buddy - OMG the tape measure is the bomb buddy. It is freezing here today but I am planning a park bench activation later on for Grey Line. Weather has definitely turned here buddy - cold brrrrr. Wooohooo cheers buddy

[@robk3005]

Looks great Simon. There's more than 1 way to POTA, just like there's no wrong notes in Jazz. 73 mate.... woo hoo

[@MarkPeeren]

Poor man's SteppIR. I love it.

[@thehamjazz]

@@MarkPeeren wooohoooo absolutely mate! Wire is wire eh? I’d love to get Steppir to send me an antenna so I could do a side by side comparison with it next to the tape measure wooohooo. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment buddy. Cheers Mark

[@Tommy_Boy.]

Great fun Simon! Always entertaining and great to see what can actually work, and outside the box thrifty ideas for getting on the air. Bravo! 👍📻⚡🎺WA7FLY

[@thehamjazz]

Thanks so much Tommy Boy! What I'm learning about all of this, is electricity is not discriminating. So if it conducts, why not put some RF through it? Also, I'm all about building stuff on the cheap. hahaha, I guess that's the farmer in me. We always were around welders, oxy torches, pipe benders, drill presses etc. Had a blast making bull bars for the vehicles, cattle yards etc. hahaha. Wow cattle yards would make a great antenna hahaa. Cheers and beers buddy!

[@Tommy_Boy.]

@@thehamjazz So much fun! Thanks for sharing your ingenuity!

[@MrToymod]

Woooo wooo going to give it a go later.

[@KG6NLWMotoRadio]

Very fun video!!

[@thehamjazz]

Thanks Frank. Always a pleasure hearing you on the air buddy - cheers mate!

[@lawrencethompson465]

Hey Simon, truly a neat video. Love to see you sharing your enthusiasm and passion. I’ll have to try this setup. 73 N4LWT

[@thehamjazz]

Woohooo - hey buddy this antenna is the greatest for portable ops. Wow! To be able to sit at a picnic table and not move and raise and lower the 'curtain' hahaha. Cheers mate

[@curlazz]

@RADIOBUNKER73 sos vos el que hace el contacto en el minuto 3:21 ?

[@johnk8091]

wooohooow

[@peterlowrie1216]

Just found your channel and love the enthusiasm and the antenna design. It's what the hobby is all about. Great stuff de MI5JYK

[@willie2333]

Sir as a new operator on Han radio I would if you could tell all the tape measurement for all the bands as I would like to try this hear in Scotland also maybe a link as counterpoise lengths and coaxe connection.

[@thehamjazz]

Hey there Willie, congrats on becoming a new ham! As my buddy says 'the addiction is real'. If you're around tomorrow mate, I will be live streaming around 10pm your time, and every Wednesday using the tape measure. I can definitely provide you with the lengths mate. Off the top of my head here is what we've got, and I'm sorry they're in imperial measurements. Firstly, you'll need 16 - 24 elevated radials of 8ft 9 inches. Cat5E ethernet cable is the best, and it is CHEAP. As for the tape measure.... the measurements are as follows, based on this radial system. 10 meters = 6ft 12 meters = 8ft 15 meters = 10ft 17 meters = 13' 6" 20 meters = 17' 6" These measurements vary mate based on soil composition, height, surroundings etc, but if you start with those measurements you can easily shorten or lengthen them which is REALLY fun, to get the perfect SWR. I hope this helps mate. Please reach out if you have any other questions. Cheers

[@gliderrider]

Did you mention anything about a counter poise? Nice video! De n5vwn

[@Gm1vla]

Fantastic Mate Tony Gm1vla 73

[@thehamjazz]

Hey Tony, thanks mate - this antenna has really been a game changer for me - to be able to not worry about a tuner at a picnic table and quickly work 5 bands. It's nuts. hahahaa. Cheers buddy!

[@hamradioattitude9712]

what an ingenious idea ,congrats 73 wb3dsj