DIY Multi-band Vertical HF Antenna

This video is a short demonstration of a homebrewed vertical antenna using a inductive coil that I made. It somewhat resembles a Wolf River Coil. I didn’t record video or pictures of me building it, wish I would have. DE WD8WV
#amateurradio
#verticleantenna
#qrpantenna

[@kd4baoc612]

Hey man, thanks for showing and sharing your build with us.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

No problem 👍

[@JoeGilson1]

Thanks for making this video!!! Exactly what what I was looking for. I can’t get some of my sticks to tune below a 2:x . I actually had to switch out whips designed for other bands but only ever ended up with about a two. TNX 73

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Glad it could help. Since making this video I actually purchased a 102" telescopic whip antenna, makes for more portability. When getting to a good SWR, you can rotate the collar either left or right slightly to tweak the SWR. Since I only operate QRP, my antenna hasn't caused me any problems. Again glad this could help. 73 - Juddie, WD8WV

[@rjinnh3933]

Great job Juddie and a well done vid! Pulling those PVC parts together gives all of us new possibilities. I'm going to seriously look at this for Mobile/Portable ops. Tnxs a Bunch...... 73 OM

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks for watching and your comment! I just couldn't see spending money on something I thought I could build. So far I am very pleased with it. I am hoping to use it for field day from my home QTH, just to give it a good work out. I know several people that saw my FB page and this video about building it have actually made their own and are very pleased with it. Again thanks for watching and your comment. Juddie - WD8WV

[@powellr3]

Your use of the weed whacker wire for spacing was genius.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks Randy!! Since I had no way of putting a spiral groove into the PVC pipe, I had to come up with something that would keep the wire from making contact. Also, I need something that would allow the piece of metal on the collar to go up and down and make contact with just one piece of wire. Since this video, I have made a few changes to the antenna. I have actually bought a 102" telescoping whip for the top instead of using the 10 Meter Hamstick. I also took off the SO-239 and put a bolt in to connect to a regular connector like the Hamstick would connect to. You can see that in another video I did testing it in the back yard. Appreciate you watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@SevenFortyOne]

This looks awesome Juddie! I might have to make one of these myself....

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

SevenFortyOne thanks! I can’t wait to hook the 817 to it and see how it works!! Juddie WD8WV

[@adddad9779]

Would love to see a build video! Thx for sharing.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

I am thinking about doing another one of these, so I may do a video on the build. Thanks for watching. Juddie WD8WV

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

Just getting back into radio. Real shame you didn't show how it's made. Still browsing myself to see how to make a vertical. Cheers from old George 🤠🇬🇧

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

I had planned to do a video showing how I put it together by building another one. I just haven't gotten around to it. It is hunting season, and that is my main hobby. It is very simple to make and after looking at a Wolf River Coil antenna I decided I could do this myself. I just had to wind both the stainless steel wire and weed eater twine around the PVC pipe. The weed eater twine keeps the wire from making contact with the next wire. The Wolf River Coil PVC pipe has been grooved by a lathe to hold the wire in place. There is another video I have up about the antenna, don't know if it is that one or this one, I show a sketch of the design at the end of the video and list the components. Thanks for watching, Juddie - WD8WV

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures Many thanks for your reply. I have just started to make one. Mainly scrap material. A bit different from yours. Video of mine soon. Cheers from old George

[@donalfinn4205]

Looks a damn good build to me. Congratulations from ☘️.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks. I think I may build another one and do a video of the construction. Several people have asked if I had a build video. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@donalfinn4205]

👍👍

[@mark2727]

WE8WV DE KD5SMF Looks like a nice project build. I'm researching homebrew vertical's so I can get my rig back on the air soon. 73's

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

KD5SMF DE WD8WV, thanks for watching. I have a FT-817ND and I have done one Parks On The Air (POTA) activation and I used a EF random wire antenna, but I wanted a Wolf River Coil, seen them used on KZbin videos a lot. Well after some research like you, I decided to try and build my own antenna. So I study the WRC antenna and said to myself I think I can build this. Well of course I have and the only thing I have changed since building it was I removed the HamStick and replaced it with a 102 inch telescopic whip antenna. Now it all fits in my backpack. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@MoTown44240]

Anything self built that works as its intended to work is better than "sore bought" in my opinion. Well done. 73 KB8AMZ

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks Terry! Since getting back into the hobby after being away for 12 years, I am more interested in building. I have built a Pixie kit, a QRP-Labs QCX40 and have a QCX20 to build this winter. I have also built a uBitx and a Bitx40, and have another uBitx to build this winter as well. Learning a little more about electronics this time. Right now I am repairing a Kenwood TS-440 that had the "dot" issue, frequencies not locking in. I have already gotten most all of the bands except 10 and 12 working, had to order a diode from China to replace one that the previous owner apparently broke when they tried to remove the glue from the VCO circuit. Building things is a blast, especially if they work!! Juddie WD8WV

[@TheBill70800]

besides sliding up and down on the coil you also turn it for a finer adjustment in case you didn't know.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

BIll D. yes I know you can rotate it left or right to get a better SWR. This was just a test to see if it would work. This was my first coil type antenna that I had ever built and I just want to see if it would even come close to working like I hoped. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie WD8WV

[@craigszwed]

Good test. I love fiddling with wire.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks Craig!! I am still waiting to get out and do some on the air testing, but it is hunting season now and that is my passion! LOL Will post a video of the actual on air testing when I get it out to test it. Juddie - WD8WV

[@TGUlricksen]

Bet your neighbors love that dog

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

You know Tim, they don't say anything. I guess because the one neighbor across the street is a bear hunt and his hounds bark 24/7. When I go to bed at night I can here them in their kennels barking. I guess those dogs run on Red Bull!! LOL

[@TGUlricksen]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures The sliding rule of reality lol.

[@Gm1vla]

Super build well done 73 Tony Gm1vla

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Tony Lee thanks for watching and commenting. The build was a lot of fun! Can’t wait to get on the air with it to see how it performs. Juddie - WD8WV

[@davem7847]

Wolf River Coils makes a nice tripod base with 2 foot legs

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

I have looked at ordering one of those bases and may do that. Since this video I have ordered their telescopic whip so I can go portable and not have to carry that hamstick. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@radioman3229]

Nice job man, give wrc a run for their money... id buy 73 NS9T!

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks, Bob. I had been wanting a WRC and looking at them I thought I could build one myself. Maybe not a good as them, but it was mine and I didn't care what it looked like. I studied a lot of their pictures of their antenna, and I watched some videos on making coils for antennas. Then I got busy figuring out what I needed. Of course, the first build was based on using a 10 Meter hamstick. Later I bought the 102-inch telescopic whip and the finally it looked like a WRC. That is why I call it the WRC Clone. Appreciate you watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@1crazynordlander]

Nice. I spent the money. Waiting for it to show up so I could look at it. So you use the weed trimmer line to keep the coil wire from touching itself on each wind. I was wondering how those were made.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Yes that is correct, the weed trimmer line was used to keep the coil wire from touching. I believe, the actual WRC has grooves in the PVC for their coil to lay in. I don't own a WRC and have never seen one in person to examine. I know several others who have watched my videos on this antenna, as well as seen my posting on several ham radio groups on FB that have actually made one from my attempt. They have used them and say they work well. Since the video, the only thing I have done was to finally order the telescopic 102" whip for mine. That way it is portable enough to carry in a back pack. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@1crazynordlander]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures I think I will do a video on the groves in a wolf river coil when I get it. The owners might not appreciate it. I am a new ham the is 61. I figured I would buy my first few antennas, reverse engineer them get an antenna analyzer and start making my own for myself. No desire to sell anything but if for some odd stroke of luck and I come up with something original then I'll share it. That is what amateur radio is about, right? I was wondering if you could use a ham stick on it and the 10 meter makes the most sense. I have the 20, 40 and 75 meter sticks from Shark Distributing. I subbed. Kevin KA0KAE

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

@@1crazynordlander thanks for the sub!! Yes you are correct, that is what ham radio is all about, making stuff. I have made my own 2 Meter antennas, made my own dipoles and heck just this past year got the stuff and made my own 9:1 unun for my End Fed random wire antenna to use when I do Parks On The Air (POTA) activation. That was the one reason I did the clone antenna of the WRC. I had the hamstick for 10 Meters just laying around and thought I can make that coil. So that is what I done. There are a lot of things in this hobby you can make instead of paying money to someone else for it. Again thanks for watching, commenting, and sub'ing. 73 Juddie WD8WV

[@AnelOlivardiaS]

Nice video and a very good info on this antenna. Question, does that antenna works fine over 50 and 100W? Right now I'm with a long wire antenna but for matter of lack of space I'm forced to have it on one position working as a directional, the matter is that I can't copy who signal comes from behind the antenna and I'm looking for the options to build one vertical that covers all HF bands and gives me more capability to copy more stations without the difficulties the long wire is giving me now. I have a Kenwood TS-50 and an ATU-100 antenna tuner. with the longwire. 73, HP1OIA.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Well I haven’t tried it on that much wattage. I would say it might be good for up to 50, it might to short transmissions on 100. You would have to keep a check on the PVC to make sure your not melting it. Thanks for watching and commenting . Juddie - J & J TOA

[@AnelOlivardiaS]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures Cool. With this info if I change the pvc for a more heat tolerable material I think it would work fine on 100W. I'll be looking for the item before building the antenna.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

@@AnelOlivardiaS sounds like a plan. Make sure you watch my other video about the antenna where I tested it with my Yaesu FT-817ND. Also, since building this antenna I replaced the 10 Meter HamStick with a 102 inch telescopic whip antenna. Makes it more portable for putting into a backpack. Again thank you for watching and commenting. 73 Juddie - WD8WV

[@AnelOlivardiaS]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures I like that better. a telescopic whip is more suitable for a base or a field day antenna. I will be checking on the videos. For the antenna tuner I don't have problems because I've made my research on the ATU-100 before buying it and it works very well tuning the long wire in all bands and even the old 5/8 Channel Master CB-10m base antenna. I will check on that design. Thanks again!

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

@@AnelOlivardiaS the design is the same, just switched out the 10 Meter HamStick for the telescopic whip. I ordered the whip from Wolf River Coils website. Good luck and I hope you will post back once you have yours constructed and working. Juddie - WD8WV

[@JarlSeamus]

And I believe if you tune it for 40, you get 15 meters for free? Nice job. A "How I did it" video would be awesome!

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I am planning at some time, when I have some free time, to do a build video. It is fairly simple and I have a sketch in the "Community" part of my KZbin channel. Again thanks for watching and your comment. Juddie - WD8WV

[@enginedave]

What do you use for matching? Also a whip on top would help you tune 10 meters

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Since this video I have gotten a telescopic whip for the coil. I use a auto-tuner, it is the LDG Z-871 for my Yaesu FT-817ND. But the coil connection can be slid up, down or side to side to get a proper match.

[@williamholland6083]

I'm in the process of building your WRCoil Clone. Found .080" weed trimmer line in yellow, should still work. Having a hard time keeping wire and trimmer line from unwinding. What did you do or use to keep the windings tight? I thought about double sided tape. Thanks in advance.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

William, I wish I had done an actual construction video on this build, and I had planned to build another, smaller unit and video it. If you look closely at some of the photos I had in the video I drilled some holes so the wire and weed eater twine could come inside the pipe and I drilled a hole for a screw that would hold the wire done. I also used electrical tape when I first started winding to help hold down, then as I progressed down the pipe, I would wrap more tape to hold that down. It was a pain trying to get that wrapped around the pipe and stay tight. When I got to the bottom of course I had a few more holes drilled so I could feed the wire and the weed eater twine through to the inside. I again used a screw to secure it down as well. Make sure the screws that you use to secure the wire and twine doesn't come in contact with the next wire. Again look at the still photos I had in the video. There are two videos for this antenna, not sure which one has the still photos. After I had that all secured, at the top and the bottom where the wire and weed eater twine goes in I used hot glue to secure that also to the pipe, once I was satisfied that all was good and tight. Hope this helps. Juddie WD8WV

[@williamholland6083]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures Thank you very much for getting back to me so quickly. Thanks for the great description and tips to get the coil built. I started using painter's tape to hold the wire and twine together. Yes I saw holes and screws and got that covered. YES you are correct it's a pain. I thought I was going about it incorrectly and maybe there would be an easier way. I will continue as you have described. Thank You.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

@@williamholland6083 the only easier way would be if you had a way to just cut grooves in the PVC for the wire to lay in. That is what I think Wolf River Coils does. I believe their PVC is put on some sort of lathe that will cut a channel for the wire to lay. Doing the coil is the hardest part of the entire build. Good luck and would love to see your finished product when done. You can email me a picture at our email address which you can find by clicking the “About” on our channel. 73 Juddie WD8WV

[@williamholland6083]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures Don't have a lathe to groove the PVC. I understand that Wolf River cuts the PVC. Just have to do it like you did. Thanks 73's KE0KUM.

[@josephkopeczy2678]

My friend made his hf mobile antenna multi band what he did was put a slip cap on each end of a PVC pipe and he have a Plummer put threads on the pipe between the slip caps he not use a wire that had insulation around it he used silver wire wrap around the threads for soaceing the wire fit pretty good inside the thread 20 better he work 100 country he use sch 40 pipe he ran 600 pep into the antenna his steal sip was 68 inches ask around about k6mb noble antenna

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

That is nice that he was able to get a plumber to thread the outside. I didn’t use insulated wire, I used electric fence wire and to keep it separated I used weedeater twine. Thanks for watching and will looks him up. Juddie WD8WV

[@no5x937]

Is that coil wire insulated? It looks light purple.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

No the wire is not insulated, that light purple is the weed eater twine that keeps the metal wire from touching. If you watched the entire video you will see the parts that used to build this, a spool of 18 gauge steel wire, weed eater twine, 18 gauge insulated wire, PVC pipe, PVC fitting and cap. Juddie - WD8WV

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

Try to cut the radials for the bands u use like 468/freq then take that and cut it

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

That is one way of doing it, but looking at all the reviews and information about the Wolf River Coil antenna, they use 3 - 33 foot radials with their system. But yes you could cut the counterpoise wires to specific lengths for the bands you want to use. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures well as that might be true some times just cutting 3 radials with the formal i gave should work as well i gues either or will work juddie lol

[@brentjohnson6654]

Very nice! 73 de KI5HXM

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks. Juddie WD8WV

[@peter1963]

Dear, Could you tell me how many windings there are on the first part of your antenna. The first antenna part on top of the coil. I'd like to make one my own.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Peter, not sure how many windings are on the top part. That is a 10-Meter HamStick antenna that I had laying around that I used. Since this video I have removed the HamStick antenna and know use a 102" telescopic antenna. Makes the whole setup more portable for backpacking. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@peter1963]

Dear, OK thank you for your reply. The 102" telescopic antenne is a great idea. Will have a look where I can find one.

[@grampysmagic3327]

got any details on the coil de AA9GG

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Paul Mateer, I am working on a drawing now and will upload it into my “Community” section of my KZbin channel along with some description of the build. Thanks for watching and your comment. 73 Juddie WD8WV

[@cliftonhead9665]

Like your video a great deal, could you list the parts you used and size of those parts please. Thanks 73 W4CBH

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Everything is pretty much listed at the end of the video. You would have to stop the video at those specific areas to see actually what it is and then there is description of what I did and how I built it. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@Rudy80417]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks for watching and the thumbs up.

[@hhampton]

How much power will it take? Is is QRP only?

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Flying Hamster I am sure it will handle up to 10 watts and may even do up to 20, but I wouldn’t want to load it more than that. I haven’t tried it with a 100 watts. The materials, connecting wires are only 18 gauge and the coil wire is 18 gauge galvanized steel wire. Thanks for watching and your question, I will have to try and see what it will handle. Juddie - WD8WV

[@hhampton]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures Thanks.

[@hanestshirtsarecool]

Thanks for posting. Could you add 🤔 English subtitles?

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

I believe I have the subtitles on now. At least when I watch it and click on "CC" I see the text on the screen. Thanks for watching and commenting. Juddie - WD8WV

[@thahiraumer7236]

Very interesting..! I want to try one, you have any details..?!

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Towards the end of the video I show the components I used to build the coil, 18 gauge steel wire, 18 gauge stranded wire, weed eater twine (for spacing between the steel wire), PVC pipe, a PVC thread adapter and two threaded end caps. If I remember right there is like 83 or 93 turns of steel wire down the PVC pipe. The top of the coil wire is run inside the PVC and is connected to the hamstick mount which was attached to the thread PVC cap. The bottom end of the wire is run inside the PVC and not connected to anything. The bottom PVC thread cap has the SO239 attached to it with the 18 gauge stranded wire (red) connected to the center connector of the SO239. I placed there terminals on the SO239 mounting bolts for the 3 counterpoise wires. I have changed the bottom since this video. There is also some notes that I added towards the end of the video. If you check my channel again you will see that their was an update video from about 5 months ago (December) and you can see an actual sketch I made of the antenna and see the new bottom mount I did. I hope this helps you. Several other people who seen my postings on FB and the videos here have already built their own and really like it. 73 Juddie - WD8WV

[@thahiraumer7236]

Could you be kind enough to send me the schematic..? My Email id is [e-mail]

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

@@thahiraumer7236 check your email.

[@thahiraumer7236]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures thanks for the mails.. i will make schematic from the informations you shared, if anything wrong in diagram please let me know.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

@@thahiraumer7236 the only difference from the schematic I sent you and what I actually have now is I removed the SO-239 from the bottom and replaced with a bolt so it can screw onto a mount.

[@donaldsmith3048]

how did you make the ham stick?

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Donald Smith, I didn’t make the HamStick. I purchased several HamSticks back in the late 90’s to use while HF mobile. When I dropped out of the hobby for about 11 years, I had gotten rid of all my ham equipment except for this 10 Meter HamStick. It was in my out building. When I decided to make the coil, I needed a radiating element. So I found the HamStick and screwed it to the top of the coil. A few months back I finally bought a 102” telescopic whip and don’t use the HamStick anymore. Juddie - WD8WV

[@donaldsmith3048]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures I have been thinking about getting the long whip for CB, think it is about 102 inch, the spring adds about 4 in. then winding a coil. but I really need something that will do better. There would only be a very small part of that really doing anything.

[@umakanthbojanapalli3240]

Help de VU3UBU valuable information but one doubt sir your making one inductor coil use 18swg copper wire which turns plz

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

At time stamp 6:53 I list the materials and for the coil, it is 18 gauge stainless steel wire and the reddish color between the wire is 0.080" diameter weedeater twine. The 18 gauge stainless steel wire is wound coil is 83 turns to create the coil to give you 60 uHenrys. The 18 gauge stranded copper wire was to connect the collar to the center connector of the SO-239 (no turns) on the bottom. Another piece of 18 gauge wire was soldered to the 18 gauge stainless steel wire and connected to the center bolt in the top cap where the HamStick would attached. Only the 18 gauge stainless steel wire is coiled. Again, towards the end of the video there are instructions and in my second video I believe I have a sketch I drew on that video. Hope this helps.Juddie - WD8WV

[@andyhowe1302]

Is there some diagram so I can give it a go? 😊

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Andy Howe I believe I posted a picture of the sketch I drew up with the info on my community section of my KZbin channel page. If not let me know. Juddie WD8WV

[@andyhowe1302]

@@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures thanks i will take a look 73s

[@richness1644]

I love dogs. Just not when they make it impossible to hear what you’re saying.

[@averagejoe8213]

did his dog bark the whole time? I had to shut off the video, my dog was going crazy. I watch these videos after the family goes to bed. sorry.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

I can't remember if the dog barks thru the whole video or not. He is a Norwegian Elkhound and wants my attention when I am in the yard.

[@chanelkuini5883]

God ples skema

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Really don't have a schematic. There are several videos about this antenna I built and one of them has a pencil sketch sort of schematic at the end of the video. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Frank5]

Too much dog barking noise

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Sorry if there is to much barking, but my dog wants my attention and no matter where I am in the back yard if he sees me he is going to bark. Thanks for watching anyway.

[@warrenphillips69]

Keep the dog inside next time.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Sorry that the dog bothered you. He isn't an inside dog, he is an outside dog. Appreciate you watching and commenting. Juddie - J & J TOA