ENDFED ANTENNAS MADE EASY

A short video showing how I do it. Please give your tips below.
Equipment used:
SOTABEAMS Carbon-6 Mast www.sotabeams....
SOTABEAMS stake kit www.sotabeams....
Aluminium pegs www.sotabeams....
Prototype for Band Springer antenna www.sotabeams....

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Thanks for video Richard. Things I learned (the hard way) from doing stuff like this that may help others: 1. Wrap reflective tape around black plastic end caps - much easier to find when you drop them in long grass. 2. Cross wind wire/chord onto winders (do not loop it around winders) - makes unwinding fast and tangle free.

[@John-K6RXD]

Just got the Carbon 6. Excellent introduction. Thank you.

[@paulmueller3230]

Very useful video, Richard! Though I've completed 223 SOTA activations plus countless other portable operations, I understood the point of your video (some obviously didn't), and I learned a few new things from it that I will incorporate into my activations (a large percentage, actually) where I must use a mast.

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Thanks Paul.

[@malenve6vid]

Regardless of trees on the summit or not, I generally use a mast. If there are trees then I set up with the mast leaning against a tree, super fast way to get your wire in the air. In that case I run it like an inverted "L" with tree branches hold the wire horizontal. If I'm using an inverted V dipole, I do the same, just lean the mast against a tree branch. Malen VE6VID

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

I do much the same.

[@redf7209]

love the photography on your vids

[@alanread6596]

Very useful video. I got a bothy bag which you recommended in another video and a small foldup table and chair which fit very nicely in the bothy bag if its too windy. Your adventure videos are exellent and very helpful.

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Thanks Alan - that's encouraging.

[@NICKGAR7]

Great stuff RICHARD. Your wire winders with fig 8 winding are a must for deploying portable wire antennae. I even managed to get a 160m double on 2 winders for the 160 Club Calls contest!

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

That's encouraging. I have to make a 160m antenna soon.

[@henbentoify]

Thank you for your trouble. Lovely little mast you have there.

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Our Carbon-6 mast is very popular!

[@techno_one]

Great video Richard I like the tip about the wire winders .. looking forward to the next one. 73 DJ0DJS

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Glad you took something useful from the video!

[@ScottDreher]

Great video! Thanks, Richard.

[@alexg7kse]

Most of my activations are on rocky ground and building up a small cairn round the base works well for an anchor. You do need a set of guys though. For those I just wrap the ends round loose rocks. Remember that 4 guys are better than 3 when it's really windy

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Agreed.

[@andyhall3369]

Looking forward to the video on putting up masts in windy conditions. Maybe you could do a video with the tactical mini and a bandhopper dipole? Presumably you use guylines rather than the stake support? Thanks

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Yes - propbably in the summer.

[@elwood.downey]

Good basic info, well done, thanks.

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Hopefully the videos will improve as I get better at making them.

[@m1hax]

That stake is a great idea...!

[@doghouse94087]

Richard will you please elaborate on how you attach the wire to the pole? It looks like you slip something onto the pole and it slides down? Thanks Joy

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

I use a SOTABEAMS Versatile Top Insulator - designed for this application.

[@cthoadmin7458]

Under what circumstances would an end fed antenna be less effective than a dipole?

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Read W8JI’s website for comments. There are additional problems in portable settings as the current portion of the antenna can be low (at the radio) with subsequent increased losses.

[@MrLittlmike22]

hI Richard - just discovered this - have the Bandspringer (final model) care to give some guidelines as to how long the counterpoises should be ? my 817+ldg does not seem to be able to tune well... thank you

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

It's not normally very critical.

[@ve3eby]

I would have thought there would be concerns about using carbon fibre around RF. Yes or No? 73, Paul, VE3EBY

[@malenve6vid]

Paul, while they are slightly conductive, using them like what Richard did has no effect on the antenna. Malen VE6VID

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Depends. Check this out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5XbYq2aosp8hdU ...also see the follow-up video.

[@michaelmontisfortis]

i like beuse I enjoy !

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

No other reason is needed!

[@forgetyourlife]

Just got the Band Springer Midi, How does it connect to my ft-817? all there is, is a few bannana plugs?!

[@forgetyourlife]

Nevermind, I found the adapter swimming in the packing peanuts from DX engineering

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

The Band Springer Midi needs an antenna tuner. It's not suitable for direct connection to your radio.

[@forgetyourlife]

Richard Newstead right right.

[@steenrudberg]

Hi Richard - You got rather fast over the attachment of the far end of the antenna. Would it be good the extend the end with a string to keep it of the ground?

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

That's how the antenna is designed. The last few metres are cord and that ensures that the end is off the ground.

[@mirceacraciun4091]

Nice video ! The antenna wire is made from 2 pieces conected and the conection points is put on the top of the pole? YO8XCM

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

It allows the length of wire to be altered.

[@gsansoucie]

Is that a handheld mono paddle?

[@gsansoucie]

Found a better angle in another video. It’s a Palm paddle. I thought you had some secret design. I might have to put my palm paddle up for trade for a Palm mono.

[@KI4ASK]

Excellent - thanks! 73, KI4ASK

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@radioactive8772]

I hope this is not a dumb question, but here it goes. Don't you need a impedance transformer when you feed a wire from the end? Thanks KG7CQG

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Yes, some sort of matching unit is certainly required.

[@radioactive8772]

@@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures Thanks very much. KG7CQG

[@robertpoortvliet7764]

Very nice place, no qrm at all there :-)

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Nice and quiet!

[@ammocraft]

Just out of interest, being carbon, will that pole affect the tune or radiation of an end fed wire if run up the pole as a vertical or inverted L? Thx

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

This particular pole will make no measurable difference. Other types may be different.

[@ammocraft]

@@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures Thanks...it's yours I have, so all good there!

[@w3les]

Thanks for this Video...one of the best ones that I've seen on portable setups. de W3LES

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Thanks Lester - more coming so do subscribe!

[@robyounce4636]

I befuddles me as to why so many operators insist on these "poles" when excellent trees are available. There is a hardwood tree in view that would be a vastly superior way to hang that antenna. I would have simply tossed a line high over a branch and hoisted the far end of the antenna. This would perform much, much better than the unnecessary "pole" arrangement, less parts, less cost, simple....

[@spencermiles963]

Tress are not often available on every peak I go to.

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Plenty of sites where there are no trees for miles. As a professional engineer, I would always use a mast in preference to tree.

[@Tommyr]

Not every place has trees available.

[@robyounce4636]

@@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures Where there are no trees, fine...no choice there :-). Where trees are -- use them; it's a better antenna option and not even close. BTW I am an Industrial Engineer; it has nothing to do with Ham Radio....which I have been in for over 40 years.

[@robyounce4636]

@@spencermiles963 your mast is a good option on open ground, no arguments there...

[@matt9852]

Bizarre

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

Why?

[@matt9852]

@@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures The first 6 seconds are bizarre. You eccentric fellow.

[@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures]

@@matt9852 The alternative is "wassup guys!"

[@paultrussy]

@@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures haha, please no. Do it your way 👍