Ham Radio Portable with the Lil Dude 6 Mast & Dude Spike 2.0

I try the Lil Dude 6 Ham Radio Mast & Dude Spike 2.0 for the first time and build a quick antenna on the beach #hamradio #portablehamradio #hamradioantenna
Link to the Ham Radio Dude KZbin channel:
/ @hamradiodude
Link to Ham Radio Dude Etsy store:
www.etsy.com/s...

[@jeifaskme9980]

Where can we get one??

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Link is in the description and here it is as well: www.etsy.com/shop/HamRadioDudeSells?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1772235734&from_page=listing

[@midnightsailor1]

Love your channel. Especially antenna builds. Built a dipole for 10 M a few days ago and using my Radiodity QT80 made my first ever QSO yesterday on 28.49500Mhz with LV2PWY in Venezuela from nothfork of long Island. Can't tell you how satisfying that was after trying to get everything right , for past few days. Just learning how to use the radio properly and seeing my antenna build actually work was the highlight of my day. 73's

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you and Congrats on the QSO!!

[@KeithS_WA6QXA]

I have the Lil Dude 6 & use the FT-710 as my POTA setup. Used to use the FT-891 but with the 710, the added features makes it so much better. Waterfall feature & built in tuner are 2 of the key features the 891 didn’t have that the 710 has! Love the 710! Great job on the video!

[@paulKJ5GKK]

Gulf of AMERICA!!!! Great to see you doing well Walt. I pray your Mrs. K4OGO is doing well. 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks, Allison is doing great! Yeah I was just having some fun, seems I upset a few and I've removed their derangement syndrome from the comments LOL. 73, Walt

[@the_mad_swimbaiter455]

I love love love my dude spike and Lil dude6 combo. My go to for winter field day with my LNR MTB Currahee.

[@robertmeyer4744]

Great fun Walt !! I have known Dude for several years now. Great stuff on his youtube channel ! I use his antenna winders with UNUN and Balens for my portable work most of the time. I just needed winder base and he sells them. You should be able to do a 5/8 wave for 10 meters with 4:1 UNUN same setup . Even the end fed half wave vertical for 10 meters should fit . That a 49:1 or 56:1 or 64:1 they all work. just effect's the tune length. I got that switchable UNUN and it works great just rated 100 watts . The weather in NY been bad lately. ICE and heavy snow now, Shortage of road salt so roads are extra bad. Many towns went over budget on snow plowing so they cutting back . When just trying out a antenna walmart speaker wire works great ! Love that 20 AH LiFePO4 !! That my smallest one. I go up to 300 AH depending what I am doing and how long. I have Icom 7300 and runs great on battery . BUT FT8 on 20 AH does not run long at 50-100 watts FT8 . SSB 100 watts runs hours !! I have Power queen 50 AH LiFePO4 and can run FT8 many hours ! at 50 watts . That my go to battery I use the most . The 100/200/300 AH ones I use for for cooler and my AMP .73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for the input! I'm ready for summer!

[@dorvinion]

I've had one of these since his first run back in September. It's my go to for portable now. Packs small and is tall enough for an efhw that's inverted

[@kennethblackwell1137]

Well done Walt....I enjoy your videos. We had 6-7" snow in extreme S. AL last week....no outdoor antenna then....

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I saw that WOW! I lived my childhood elementary school days in Pascagoula and never saw snow until we moved to Virginia.

[@rich4u1973]

I got 2 lil dudes for Christmas. It's a great mast. Also got a ft710 2 weeks ago, great radio!! Keep up the great videos Walt. KN4OEI 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! I'm looking hard at a 710.

[@andrewdrescher6389]

Why I've only just subscribed I don't know! Thank you for the short and interesting content Walt, love your enthusiasm 🙂

[@F4LDT-Alain]

Hello Walt, nice to see you working the good old G90 again and doing wonders with it. Nice and simple antenna, very much like what I use on the beaches of Brittany too with great success. I was on the 10m band during the EU contest over the past week-end, too bad that our paths didn't cross. It will happen sometime. 73s QRO and all the best to Mrs. K4OGO and yourself.

[@Eagle621]

Great to see ya back out. Will check out the little six😃… Stay healthy, 73 KZ4WTF in Copperhill TN

[@timothysampson4944]

710 Field is a Great radio! But I do enjoy the G90 and the 891 for portable.

[@bwillan]

A great antenna, salt water, and great 10m band conditions certainly makes the long distance DX contacts fun.

[@walterbeaton5056]

"Golf of America".....love it! NE4TN

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Hahaha you caught that!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@ right on!! MERICA

[@AH2EJ]

I had to laugh loud and replay the contact to verify I heard it right! HAHA

[@Niteskate1]

Thanks Walt, that looks like a great antenna set up to use on the beach here on the Pacific. 73 de VE7WNO

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I'm really looking forward to getting out on the beach with it some more.

[@bduff5004]

They are both fun and good radios. I do enjoy a waterfall being a retired submarine Sonarman. I love spectrum scopes and signal analysis

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes, there is nothing better than a SDR waterfall.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes, there is nothing better than a SDR waterfall.

[@oncomics1128]

I have been using this pole for a couple months. I travel on a plane with it in my backpack and it is a wonder.

[@jmonte5899]

Thanks for the video, Walt. We had flurries here in Central WI today. That's not unusual here, but having no snow on the ground yesterday is unusual for Central WI.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that, I have spent some time working in Marinette up in the northeast corner of your great state. Seems there was always snow on the ground this time of the year.

[@jmonte5899]

@COASTALWAVESWATERS Do you have an email I can contact you with? I'm having some problems getting my G90 set up. I have yet to get a contact on it.

[@KQ4KXA]

Love to see you use the g90 and cant wait to see a yaesu beautiful radios. Just got the cables for digirig so can do ft8 with the g106 may play with that at work this week while its slow

[@chrisnmichelle0218]

I trust you more than others, that is for sure!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@stevesummersell_K4WXX]

They were sold out a few months ago and I got the POTA20 instead. Stupid light and perfect for backpacking. It survived the Alabama Blizzard of ‘25 😂 I want to try the faraday tape/no wire vertical with it as it too is carbon fiber.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That was a crazy southern snow storm!

[@stevesummersell_K4WXX]

@ It was! Especially for we who never get snow ❄️

[@robmccarthy1018]

Walt. I always follow your great friendly informative videos from down here in Australia. I've had a G90 (mainly inspired by your vids) for just over a year since coming back to Ham radio after a 40 year hiatus. Love the G90 but I recently bought a new Yaesu FT710. It's brilliant, especially the noise reduction and filters etc. I like having the 100W but the G90's 20W was fine. The 7100 receiver is where I appreciate the new rig as I live in a noisy urban environment. Ain't gonna sell the G90 tho'. Love it too much. 😁

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for the input! I will always love my G90 but I really want a 100 watt rig that I can use portable with a built-in ATU and a SDR waterfall.

[@bobr6555]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES sounds like an IC-7300?

[@Retired_Five-0_W4WAG]

The wind looked like it was blowing pretty good and that spike looked like it was holding the mast pretty steady. 👍

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes, it held up well through the wind.

[@danielrgusa]

I have the Lil dude 6 as well and it’s a great mast. I usually use it with my Chameleon lefs 40-10 efhw.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks Walt! If you have any ideas for future products, I would love to collab.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@@HAMRADIODUDE that’s a plan!! Thanks again for this awesome setup!

[@WD0OMHamRadio]

The FT710 is a very, very good radio, and I recommend it highly. Very clear waterfall, great receiver, lots of filtering options. Very hard to go wrong. You'll miss the G90's broad tuner (710 is only 3:1), but you can always get a tuner for it, or just work resonant when you use it. Oh! Hey, speaking of wire antennas, how is the book coming along?!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for the input, I'm leaning hard in the direction of the FT-710. The book is currently being edited. It won't be long!

[@bduff5004]

HaHa Walt, I bought the G90 after a year of watching you so it's only fair you get a FT-710!!!!!! 73

[@ericp6961]

I know, right! I just ordered a G90 from Radioddity last week after watching all of Walt's videos. I don't even have it yet and now he's looking at the FT-710 for more power with a waterfall!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I will always love the G90, I'm just ready to try something with a waterfall, 100 watts and an ATU. If only Xiegu would make a 100 watt G90!

[@jerryKB2GCG]

I get all his products, they and he are awesome!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thank You, Jerry!

[@derekjuliescott]

Nice one I'm working in Scarborough tomorrow east coast of Yorkshire will be taking the 5.6 meter wipe and the g90 let's see if I have many contacts as you Walter. You never know we may even work each other. 73s Derek

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Good luck and have fun! 73, Walt

[@jamess1787]

Im going on a short work trip, packing my x6100, hope bands stay like this (or open up more). 🤜🤛

[@donbunson5031]

I missed out this week, on ebay, on a xiegu g90 by £15. I am still not over it as not only did I miss out on it but it went for a reasonable price £270. The quest continues.

[@adistef]

this is pretty cool; till now I had no idea about this mast exists; i'm curious how will it work in normal park soil. also that spike doubles down as a good vampire deterrent 😅

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

This thing would be even better in normal soil I’m sure. 73, Walt

[@tmccusk1]

Thanks Walt. When is your antenna book coming out?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Very soon!

[@tmccusk1]

@ I want one!

[@Swamp-Fox]

You snagged some nice DX! I hope the wife is doing well. 73, KF4LMZ

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks, she is doing great!

[@truckinguy92]

I’m curious if the link for the mast includes the spike. I’m not seeing a separate link for the spike. Great video Walt!😊

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

The link should just be to the store, I believe the spike is sold separately.

[@truckinguy92]

@ yes it is a link to the store but I didn’t see a separate listing for the spike.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

@@truckinguy92 It's possible the spike had sold out by then. Walt did some magic to my store.

[@truckinguy92]

@ looking for something similar for my POTA 33 carbon fiber mast. Thanks

[@Rubedo777]

Well done Walt… been out antennering in the back yard / garden 4c and thats an improvement today… experiment with a vertical 29 ft random then will cut it to the Rybakov… btw… just for interest only… watching a KZbin about slot antenna’s by John Portune if anyone is having problems with HOA he cut an antenna for 2mtrs INTO his tv dish no one can tell… just for info… thanks Walt.. book ? 73. 💙 G0uvl

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Book is in the editing process now. It won’t be long!

[@mcdeadsquirrel]

Thanks, Walt...it's freezing up here by the way....lmc Upstate

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Stay warm up there!

[@mcdeadsquirrel]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES 👍👍👍👍

[@KG6UQA]

Thanks for the video Walt, how's the Antenna book going.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! It's currently in the editing process. It won't be long!

[@chuck_N4SHO]

Excellent. Loved the Gulf of America comment.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Yeah I was just having some fun, seems I upset a few and I've removed their derangement syndrome from the comments LOL. 73, Walt

[@PacMan257]

In the video it appears you have the pole fully extended, which is 20' but the vertical wire is only a little over 8'. How did you terminate the end at the top of the vertical wire? I love your videos and you have me seriously looking at a G90. KQ4OFG

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks, you’ll love the G90. The wire is just taped to the pole. The last loop of electrical tape is about an inch from the end or top of the wire.

[@FIL357]

Hi Walt. Great vid. Thanks. What was the unun please? 1:1 or maybe 9:1? Sorry, I’m not teck savvy. Phil Suffolk, U.K.🇬🇧

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@@FIL357 Thanks Phil, no worries, I used a 1:1

[@bille3rd]

Did the carbon fiber mast give any negative issues?

[@petersichel9934]

Have the same question. I’ve read carbon fiber should be treated like a metal mast. Not recommended to support a vertical close to the mast. Fiberglass is radio transparent.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I think the video itself and the contacts made answer this question

[@danielrgusa]

Did you guys not watch the video? Seems like it worked pretty damn good to me.

[@bille3rd]

Thanks Walt, I enjoyed the video. I always learn from your experience! I was asking a genuine question and have always been taught that there are no stupid questions! Your knowledge and experience with different antennas has taught me and others a lot. Thanks! I too, was wondering if the carbon fiber of the mast posed any effects, good or bad, to the performance. You have experienced the performance compared to non-carbon fiber masts and made me wonder if you noticed much if any difference between the two. Your video wasn’t a comparison so thats why I asked!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@ no worries, honestly I’ve never had an issue with carbon fiber masts, at least nothing noticeable. 73, Walt

[@hazer72]

What's the name brand of that battery?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

FUKUAI, try saying that out loud LOL

[@hazer72]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES LOL it's what I say when a bot tells me the wrong answer :D

[@Tamlin73]

Hi Walt :) A question, the new G90, has it regular FM now? And not just NFM? 73 de LA-M160560

[@mandytuning]

Why running with the antenna tuner?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

To make it perfect instead of running back and forth trimming. It was cold and snowing.

[@nikushi1]

Hi. Could you share more about the battery? Brand, link, etc. Thanks, LZ1INP 73!

[@bryan94591]

Gulf of America heh heh 😏

[@bobr6555]

"Gulf of America"? 🤣

[@northwoodsyankee3528]

I nosed around 10M some this afternoon and didn't hear much. Called CQ a bit and didn't get anything.

[@americaswayout4489]

Walt, a new experiment for you? A fellow discovered the concept of using a ham stick removing the stinger on the top 3/8s over 24 and using a telescopic whip on the coiled bottom half? It seemed right up your experimenter alley. You already have everything to play with it so for those that don't tell us if their is potential using what we might have. I have a Chinese version whip so I ordered the M to 3/8 over 24 adapters and do have several ham sticks? I ALWAYS FELT the ham sticks being so loaded lacked the size to use other than a mobile but being longer the whips might change that? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIeTg4Zset5-fJo

[@donnakano3697]

Why a balun? Unbalanced coax to unbalanced ground plane.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@@donnakano3697 because it works

[@aguilaneth]

On the gulf of america hehehe great to hear that 😂

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Yeah I was just having some fun, seems I upset a few and I've removed their derangement syndrome from the comments LOL. 73, Walt

[@aguilaneth]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES 👍🙂

[@johnnorth9355]

You are a hardier soul than me Walt - I'm waiting for the spring to come ! 73 my friend M7BLC

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I'm ready for summer!!!!!

[@AdamosDad]

To me your best contact was with the fellow down in the Gulf of America. Great video with the Lil Dude 6. 73's🎙KD9OAM🎧

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Yeah I was just having some fun, seems I upset a few and I've removed their derangement syndrome from the comments LOL. 73, Walt

[@AdamosDad]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Yes I'm afraid TDS is still out there, but there is a cure, many are taking the red pill.

[@JoshPerez]

Gulf of America 😂

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yeah I was just having some fun, seems I upset a few and I've removed their derangement syndrome from the comments LOL. 73, Walt

[@JoshPerez]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES 73 Walt, you can't do anything right with the TDS crowd. Hope to you hear you on the air sometime soon, would recognize your callsign right away.