Ham Radio Antenna Showdown! POTA PERformer vs Dominator

[@unclemikeyplays]

Also, I really appreciate your little historical bits in these videos!

[@andy2E0JIU]

Love the talk on the parks at beginning:) you got some beautiful parks out there.thanks for another great video.73

[@johnleonardelli_VE3IPS]

The elevated radial is key and as usual an honest review with the concerning bits pointed out

[@hawkeyeCH53E]

Awesome video Michael and the Wife. Beautiful scenery. I've built the performer motivated by your videos. Debating on get the additional equipment for the dominator. Takes for all you do for the ham radio community. 😊

[@howardjohnson2065]

The effort that you put into shooting and editing your videos makes things look seamless and effortless. Then add a history to the location, then you go to a farmer's market, then you cook a dinner, then you work P to P and more till sunset.. You continue to set the high bar to POTA. !!!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Not many ham radio videos are both informative and entertaining. It takes work, but I strive to deliver on both.

[@TrzCharlie]

Thanks for the comparison. I was the person who asked about your experience with the POTA Performer when you were live. Thanks. Charlie - N7OMI

[@ths3900]

I built an elevated Vertical with tuned elements. I just used a wire hung in a tree for the vertical element. It took a couple tries tuning it but the SWR can down pretty good. I have put it up two times on POTA. I think it performed well and will be one of my tools to make POTA contacts. Thanks for the demonstrations over the last few months. FYI I also made a 20 meter paint stirrer dipole. The dipole legs wind up on each end of the pair stirrer and store in a gallon zip lock bag.

[@billcrow5403]

I’m just amazed with that POTA PERformer. I got the plans from KJ6ER and followed you on your previous video and built one. I’ve been using it with a G90. Wow! Very impressed. I’ll see how you do with the dominator.

[@gregmihran8616]

I am so pleased to hear about your success with the PERformer! Keep having fun out there and keep in touch 😀73 KJ6ER

[@ChrisBeiting]

Dang dinner looked great!

[@wvbusdriver]

Thanks for the info on these antennas! Putting together a POTA Performer now, getting ready for many POTA adventures!!!

[@gregmihran8616]

Let me know if you have any questions as you build the PERformer, I'd be happy to help 😀73 KJ6ER

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

As I said on the livestream last week, the POTA PERformer is the real deal. The Dominator is good too, I think its main focus is dx though.

[@scottpohlenz142]

Thanks to your videos I am working on getting my POTA Performer set up pit together!

[@gregmihran8616]

That is fantastic Scott! Michael's video and my PDF plans should help walk you through it, but let me know if you have any questions 😀73 KJ6ER

[@robertmeyer4744]

Very nice ! Love the park and video and history ! Your wife was having a great time a great time with them crafty projects. Loved that market . made me hungry . Yes bands much better. 10/11/12 meters been real nice. good DX hear in NY. I got a nice UNUN 4:1 rated 1 KW on the way . I have been trying 4:1 verticals lately. Ground mount. the 39 ft one I had to slope. 5/8 wave on 20 meter band. Worked real nice. The 25 FT and 20,5 Ft also work. Once I get longer pole I am going to try the Poseidon antenna. 25 Ft one with a twist. Elevated radials and will be fanned radials like a fanned dipole . just for the 4 ground radials . Going to ham jass it up. ground radials will be tuned 1/4 wave for each band. 73

[@allanjones4283]

Beautiful and gorgeous park!!! ... Oh and thankyou for your fully info vid as usual 😀

[@russellroberts2228]

Another fascinating POTA adventure! The scenery is great, and the food even better. But, I digress. Both antennas seem to do well. The POTA PERformer looks like a definite winner and should be on one's wish list. Aloha, Russ (KH6JRM).

[@DK5ONV]

Great Video, Michael . . . keep all the good Stuff coming. 73 de Uncle Günter from across the Pond💯👍🙋‍♂

[@timg5tm941]

I need to try these antennas out!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I really think you’ll enjoy the results.

[@D_S_status1604]

😊

[@unclemikeyplays]

I may have mentioned this before, but the Jaw Mount Clamp that you have in your default equipment list is no longer available. The Chameleon jaw mount looks about equivalent, but I haven't sprung for it yet. Similarly, the SS25 is currently out of stock and due back in sometime in October. Which is both good and bad, because I want one, but I really need to slow my roll buying equipment 😀

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I don't know if it's discontinued or just out of stock. If you google the "Workman QRCS3" you'll find plenty of other sources for the clamp. The Chameleon jaw clamp is identical. I have one of theirs and can spot no differences between it and the Workman model.

[@mrkopecky]

I gotta get some filters for my sea to summit coffee filter. As always, thanks again for sharing.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I hate dealing with wet coffee grounds when camping. I’ve pretty much progressed from percolator, to French press, to pour over. The pour over is the way to go.

[@45auto]

Great view while playing radio. U-rah-rah

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Ain’t it amazing. Eagles catching fish and boats going by all day.

[@limanowski1234]

one of your best videos Michael. The editing was very good a nice presentation, John Limanowski N9DNB

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Not many ham radio videos are both informative and entertaining. It takes work, but I strive to deliver on both.

[@w4mps1964]

Good video Michael. Thank you. I've used the 17 ft elevated SS vertical with great success. Easy portable setup and takedown. But for a half wave on 20, I'd probably opt to use a wire EFHW secured to my 30 ft mast with a 49:1 balun and counterpoise. I would also use the coax with an RF choke as an additional counterpoise. A 25 ft SS whip, especially elevated, would probably be a little to unwieldy for me (plus you need to add that pigtail), especially if there was a bit of a breeze. I've tried an EFHW built for 17 meters with an additional 20 meter stub. Worked FB. To test, I just put the mast in my drive over mast mount in the front driveway. First contact using my KX3 QRP was with Austria. 73, Marc, W4MPS

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I think the Dominator concept would work well with a wire vertical radiator supported by a 30 foot mast. I will be the first to admit that the SS25 whip is a lot and it really requires a solid support.

[@gregmihran8616]

The key to successfully supporting the fully extended 25' whip is using the right tripod! I always used a 10M Spiderbeam mast and wire elements for my halfwave antennas until I found the Polarduck wide-spread tripod featured in my PDF. There is no center structure that limits the span of the legs. Therefore, you can spread the legs out further for amazing support even when the 25' whip is fully extended. I've had it in winds where the upper half was bending 35 degrees and the tripod was stable as a rock. And because I already have the transformer attached to the tripod, I just extend the legs, screw in the whip and I up and running within a couple minutes. Something to consider 😀73 KJ6ER

[@marcelookunz-lu1fk]

Hi Michael, another great video. Very good content for radio amateurs and a passion we share, antennas. But I also want to highlight the excellent work of recording and editing the video; I also have a modest channel here on YT, and I know how complicated it is to edit each section and all the time it takes. Congratulations and a great 73 from the city of Pilar, province of Santa Fe, Argentina; in the south of America. Hola Michael; otro excelente video. Muy bueno en contenido para radioaficionados y una pasión que compartimos, Las antenas. Pero además estaco el excelente trabajo de grabación y edición de video; yo también tengo un modesto canal aquí en YT, y se lo complicado que es editar cada tramo y todo el tiempo que lleva. Felicitaciones y un gran 73 desde la ciudad de Pilar, provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina; en el sur de América.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Not many ham radio videos are both informative and entertaining. It takes work, but I strive to deliver on both.

[@Sonicgott]

I hope you enjoyed it here in my home state of Minnesota! ❤ - KF0QNM

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I lived in Winona for about five years as a young child, so it’s always good to visit.

[@johnorrells3797]

Never mind the radio, food looks good 👍🍽️😁

[@playhamradio]

Great video, Michael. I didn't make the video, other than on the maps, but I did make an SS25 to SS25 P2P contact with you that day. Thanks again. VA7TNR

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I think I remember our conversation. I’m glad to get you in the log

[@HamAround23]

I had a chance to put the dominator on the air at a park today and I'm pretty impressed with its performance. My swr was similar to yours on 20m about 1.7:1

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I was talking to Greg, KJ6ER, about the slightly higher SWR and he believes it may be due to how close the transformer was to the ground. In his setups, the transformer is at about 4 feet. Mine was about a foot from the ground. raising it a bit should improve things. But even with the slightly elevated SWR, the antenna worked great.

[@gregmihran8616]

There are many factors that impact SWR - with antennas, everything affects everything! However, keeping the transformer above the ground 3-4' and close to the whip will alleviate random EM wave reflections and radiation distortions which also could affect SWR. Also, the RF choke at the feedpoint needs to be a good one. If you don't have one already, I strongly recommend the one I shared in the PDF from Palomar Engineers 😀73 KJ6ER

[@PhilBodden]

Greetings from the Cayman Islands, de ZF1PB

[@doubleD_K2DRD]

Great video. K2DRD.

[@skepticalmechanic]

I worked you… AD2ER… thanks! love the videos 73.

[@N4GW]

excellent video

[@jackK5FIT]

I still haven't used my SS25 but I will try this week. I have a Wolf River Coils TIA so I can try the coil with the SS25 as well. I've been using the Wolf River Coils antenna sittin on a faraday cloth and it's worked very well. I bought an extra cloth so I can see if doubling it matters. I also have everything I need to set up the POTA Performer. I have one question because I couldn't tell on the video. Is the whip mount insulated from the tripod? Thanks for the great video and the historical points.

[@gregmihran8616]

Yes Jack, the radiator (whip) must be insulated from the mirror mount because that mount is where the radials are attached! And no, the mirror mount does not have to be insulated from the tripod. Let us know how it works out for u 😀73 KJ6ER

[@jackK5FIT]

@@gregmihran8616 Thanks!

[@threadripper979]

What Mrs. KB9VBR is doing looks a lot harder to do than hamming.

[@jerryKB2GCG]

I’ve been looking at building these, subjective but 25 degrees is not an incredibly low takeoff angle, that would be something along the lines of 10 degrees

[@gregmihran8616]

You're right Jerry. Actually Michael made a minor error ... PERformer quarterwave radiation angle = 25 degrees, Dominator halfwave radiation angle = 17 degrees. Not quite 10 degrees but I've been getting phenomenal DX on 10-15M with the Dominator across the Asia-Pacific, South America and Europe 😀73 KJ6ER

[@doubleD_K2DRD]

Have tried to make contact a few times. Can be difficult from NC with the pile up’s.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I noticed that unless you have a strong signal, getting in from the Carolinas can be challenging.

[@earnestmatlock9694]

Awesome video as always Michael, 👍. That ft-891 is a workhorse compact rig. Antennas do well too. POTA is for federal parks only? I ask as I have B.A. Steinhagen state of Texas state park here under my nose practically. The lake is fed by both the Neches river and the Angelina rivers. It looks very much like that Mississippi river parks you just worked. The lake is shallow and filled with muddy sediment and is highly reflective to signal. Where can I find the POTA rules and possibly register? 73 GOD bless Earnest K5EWM.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

State and Federal park properties, trails, wildlife areas, and natural areas are all eligible for the Parks on the Air program. You can find the full details here: parksontheair.com/. I looked at Steinhagen Lake, and it appears to be an Army Corps of Engineers site, which unfortunately isn't part of the program. COE sites aren't part of the program for a few reasons, but most notably because the ownership and management of the lands isn't always federal or state. So the volunteers found it easier to disallow those sites than to disentangle the ownership mess.

[@HamAround23]

How long of a counterpoise where you using on the dominator? Also does kj6er have the information on using the ss25 for the dominator available?

[@gregmihran8616]

The Dominator halfwave antenna requires a single linked counterpoise wire laying on the ground which covers 5 bands, 20M-10M. All the build details are in the PDF plans 😀73 KJ6ER

[@HamAround23]

​@gregmihran8616 Thanks Greg, I built the PERformer about a month ago and it has become my go to vertical antenna. Can't wait to try out the Dominator. 73 KC1RPV

[@N8TIN_Dan]

As usual excellent video. Got me want to get a setup for traveling like you. However, your partner has me in hot water. My wife saw her loom and now she wants to know where I can acquire one.

[@christinemartens922]

I am using a Ashford Knitters Loom. Not sure why it’s called that- it is a portable rigid heddle loom. Love it because it folds up into a carrying case and keeps the warp and such all neat and tidy. You can get them in varying sizes at places on line like The Woolery, Susan’s Fiber Shop and probably Kansas Yarn Barn. And of course Ashford. Well worth the investment! Happy Weaving- Christine (KC9BME)

[@N8TIN_Dan]

@@christinemartens922 excellent she took and weaving art class while in college she loved it. It maybe her Christmas gift. Thank you.

[@kennethherring2918]

Michael, I noticed that much of the gear you buy is from Amazon, is there any paticular reason why? As an example, your FT-891 lists for $699.95 on Amazon whereas this radio can be purchsed from say R&L for $619.95. I'm just curious about this. It seems that with those who watch you video and are looking for gear might have a tendency to buy it using the provided link. I mean no disrepect for this question, but for me I'm very much price minded when it comes to ham gear and I tend to lookf for the best deals.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I encourage anyone shopping for gear to look around for the best price, but the short answer to your question is: affiliate links. I'll state up front that I use affiliate links as a source of revenue. Producing these videos is labor intensive and youtube advertising does not pay the bills. Amazon is a good source for many, many items and it is easy to refer people that direction. But for big ticket items like transceivers and such, I do recommend shopping around for the best deal.

[@kennethherring2918]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Thanks for the info.

[@scottgarvy]

Jaw clamps have been unavailable for quite a while. They have the same thing in the vise grip style on eBay used and Amazon new.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I don't know if it's discontinued or just out of stock. If you google the "Workman QRCS3" you'll find plenty of other sources for the clamp.

[@scottgarvy]

@@KB9VBRAntennas ok thank you Michael!

[@jerryKB2GCG]

Hate people tuning up on frequency, but it just happens. What headset is that Michael ?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I’ve got auto notch on a hot button to quickly eliminate the tuner uppers. The headset is the Heil BM-17 dual.

[@seanpetty393]

What logging software are you using?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I'm currently using Smart Logger, www.smartlogger.app

[@ronniet5680]

25 foot whip and the window screen please

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Stay tuned. I’ve got some crazy deployment ideas with the SS25 and the wolf river coil.

[@cybersean3000]

Does Winona have any big brown beaver? I hear they like to eat Taco Bell 7 layer burritos.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Do they? Tell me more

[@TXSchiedsrichter]

what headset are you using?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

It's a Heil BM-17 dual side headset

[@TXSchiedsrichter]

@@KB9VBRAntennas And the PTT you're using?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I built my own. Here's the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGa6pmt4odeGfJI

[@truckinguy92]

FT8 boo! That’s not ham radio, it’s 2 computers squawking at each other. Otherwise great video Mike! So in other words POTA Dominator = EFHW.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

If it goes over the airwaves, it's ham radio. I won't deny anyone's enjoyment of the hobby. Yes, the POTA Dominator is a vertical end fed half wave. More on the theory of operation can be found in the document in the video description.

[@truckinguy92]

@@KB9VBRAntennas I read the document, thanks. Of course it’s ham radio, but it’s the lazy ham’s ham radio. I’m not denying anyone’s enjoyment of the hobby, it’s just not mine. I prefer to get my contacts the “legitimate way”. That’s either with a mic or a key, not a computer.

[@gregmihran8616]

Yes the Dominator halfwave vertical is an EFHW for DX but it operates on one band at a time, tuned by the telescoping whip and linked counterpoise. A typical EFHW is a multiband wire antenna (not usually vertical) that propagates differently on each band of operation due to the different band wavelength presented by the wire. Depending on multiple factors, it may also require a tuner for optimal performance. I wanted a resonant (no tuner), highly efficient (>90%) single-band-at-a-time halfwave vertical antenna (easily adjusted for other bands) using a portable lightweight tripod with attached transformer and telescoping whip that I can deploy in 2 minutes. The Dominator halfwave vertical (running one band at a time) has a predictable, low angle of radiation for DX and twice the radiated power of a quarterwave for each of the bands 10M-20M😀73 KJ6ER

[@jerryKB2GCG]

I’ve been looking at building these, subjective but 25 degrees is not an incredibly low takeoff angle, that would be something along the lines of 10 degrees

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

After consulting with KJ6ER I was mistaken. The takeoff angle on the PERformer is 25 degrees. The Dominator is lower at 17 degrees. Greg has effectively worked DX on 10-15 meters with it from the west coast