Tips on How to Build The Cheapest EFHW Antenna - (End Fed Half Wave)

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thank you for the mention Sean. For me dont scrimp on the core, magnet wire and the SO239/BNC. The rest is a free for all.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks for the input (I know I'm about late).. Great new video, by the way. Keep doing great things!

[@JT-py9lv]

I know this guy (wink wink) that was at a local hamfest. He bought 8,000' of 22awg wire for $8.00. He also bought 10 240-43 toe-roids for $10.00. Deals are out there if you look for them. It might take you a while, but you can accumulate the stuff over a period time. I can build an end fed antenna for under $5.00 including the hermetically sealed case/enclosure to put it in. All from parts purchased at local hamfests.

[@johnwest7993]

I only got 4500 feet of 22g hook-up wire for $10 at a ham swap. I was robbed! But I did find a box of 2 thousand or more silver mica caps of all sorts of values from a few pF to 3300 pF under a table at a swap that I got for $20. I also got a pair of old GE desk mics out of a box under a table that looked really filthy, for $2 for the pair. I cleaned them up. They look new, and work great. Always look under the tables at the ham swaps. I ignore the shiny, organized stuff on top of the tables and go directly underneath to the stuff they have already decided is too worthless to display.

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

My first EFHW I put the toroid, SO239 and a banana socket for the wire into a snap-closure food container I stole from the kitchen (sorry, Nicola). I have always just figure-of-8'ed the wire round my thumb and fingers

[@hamradiohef]

I built all my end feds using the same methods you outlined. Found great deals on all the parts needed. With a little research you can build a 40-10 EFHW for less then 20 bucks. Just have to be creative in where you source everything. They last one I made handles 250 watt SSB and around 100w Digital (so far, lol). That cost me around 28.00. Great video Dude and looking forward to the next one! And to your point, it was fun building, even through the mistakes I initially made. It’s well worth the learning and patience. 73, K4HEF

[@jameski5oeb668]

My friend Ryan and I went the other direction with our builds. We took a 40-10 49:1 kit and upsized it for about the same money as the kit. Used a 240-43 Toroid and wrapped 24:3 with really big 14ga magnet wire. Then put it on a 3D printed winder and applied the 18ga antenna wire 140’ with a 30’ counter poise. Added the BNC and capacitor. 80-10m theoretical antenna. We spent hours trying to tune it, but didn’t get it below 2:1 SWR before it got cold and dark. Next time we are together we are going to tune and run it as an inverted V, UPSIZED! Easily handle 100watts, maybe even on FT8?!? Thanks for a great video!!

[@paulsengupta971]

Look at Colin's videos, the 240-43 should be good for 100W on FT8, possibly even 150W.

[@don_n5skt]

S0-239 from American Radio Supply was $3.99. Very nice video with some great ideas.

[@KH6WI]

I could save money by making my own antenna or using a $30 LDG UNUN that comes pre-assembled and just needs me to add the wire. I've done both of those, but I also have an EARCHI antenna made by my local club and I have two CaHR antenna kits. I bought them because I want to support my club and CaHR. I don't do super-chats/patreon/etc, so buying their kits is my way of supporting the people that make videos I enjoy watching.

[@K7VZ]

Your phone: "Dude has lost it. I'll call for backup."

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

😂

[@willian.direction6740]

Dont need any winder got my pinky finger and thumb to wind wire on. Don't need coax plug at feed point solder rg174 straight to toroid. I need a small piece of recycled flat plastic 1 zip tie and a piece of tie off cord for the feed point end. I piece of discarded zip tie with 2 small hole for the cord to tie antenna to my pole and have the antenna wire slide through the other hole. 6m of string on the far end to tie off to ground making a nice inverted V. 1 toroid magnet wire and capacitor. I recon $10 tops.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Great.

[@donaldsmith3048]

If nothing else you got me and maybe others to think of things. I am going to go look for a Kite winder. I have most of the other things from when I ordered things for my EFHW for my house. I got 5 of the caps, 250 feet of the magnet wire, and the same for all the other things. I just need to find a winder. Thank you!! 73 W4DES

[@TsiolkovskySportingLocks]

Brilliant video but just been doing some pricing here in the UK and its off the scale - cheapest Amazon toroid 140-43 is approx 1 dollars! You guys have no idea how lucky you are to have all these great suppliers and cheaper options.!

[@daniell8387]

I splice together used wire from other projects, and I buy bulk crap wire at flea markets. I picked up 100 feet of romex for $10, 4 conductor. Sure that's 400 feet of solid conductor 14 ga THHN but it'll work.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Wires got to be the cheapest thing to source , thinking about it.

[@daniell8387]

@@HAMRADIODUDE depends on the wire. Wtih crap wire like the stuff I use, oh yeah it's cheap lol

[@W4TRI]

All great ideas. I love my Xtenna and my free time.

[@nickhauser3390]

You’re the guy that Big Antenna is scared of! I usually look for city wide rummage and city wide cleanup (city comes and grabs everyone’s junk). I’ve found tube testers and 50ohm coax too!

[@davidverheyen6635]

Thank you. Most shops claim to use some type of thread made specifically for them. Lightweight yet strong. And they all seem to be so far away that shipping and taxes cost more than the antenna itself. What type of wire would that be? Also, some spreak about using a MICA capacitor, that seems to be much more expensive.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Probably talking about Kevlar re enforced wire, if I had to guess. You can get it from www.sotabeams.co.uk/dx-wire-ultralight-ul-45-85-170-400m-lengths/ or a similar on ebay. I have some I may sell , in the near future. Cheers.

[@ArkJohn]

I purchased a kit and while putting it together, i was wondering this very thing. There's not much to it, I think the hardest part to find would be the correct toroid. Now I'm on a mission....... i need a portable antenna.......

[@bkbigtone2866]

Dude your videos are invaluable to a new ham like myself.

[@503Nick]

No counterpoise needed but I agree with everything else! Nice video Dude

[@NickFrom1228]

Hi HRD. The link to the capacitors in the description is pointing at the black 26 AWG wire. Just thought you would like to know. Thanks.

[@Obeeewaan]

helpful video, but the link for the caps is the same as the link for the bntech 26 ga wire..??

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks for bringing that up. This is an Amazon affiliate link amzn.to/3oMMsxn

[@marvinhanson6942]

I get my magnet wire for free just look for electronics or microwave ovens anything with transformers in tham, take out the transformer and unwind the magnet wire, different size transformers have have different gage wire. The older the transformers it seems the better quality wire.

[@moozoowizard]

The bought ones are only available from the USA and hence for me there is the cost of shipping to Australia. If I ever get a 3d printer I'll design my own efhw winder and put the model up on thingaverse for everyone. I hate that these people making them in the USA don't do this when they are only making small numbers of them and are always out of stock. The toroid recommend by MM0OPX is out of stock. I want an efhw that's also efficient on 10m since I don't have anything for 10m. The MM0OPX recommend toroid is needed for that. It's 43 mix but different dimensions to a 140-43.

[@enginedave]

Your cred went way up mentioning Colin!

[@johnwest7993]

Here's the link to Colin's video:kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpaTqKmYhLaYpc0 I only found the core on Mouser. I bought a couple to experiment with and build my EFHW's. The cores cost me about $8 each, plus tax and shipping. That's not as cheap as some different cores, but for gaining 10% or 20% more radiated power I figured they were worth another $3 or whatever. I'll hardwire the coax to the toroid in the box. I hate the possibility of intermittent connections up in the air. Just a reminder, 'tinned' copper wire at RF is basically just 'tin' wire due to skin effect. Insulated, stranded bare copper wire has less loss. As an experienced Elmer, in order to save money, I would use an air-core transformer and avoid the toroid altogether. The cores are convenient, stable, compact, and reliable, but cost money and are less efficient than an air-core transformer. Also, while I have all sorts of magnet wire, if I were a noob, I would use whatever insulated wire I could find. RF-wise, they all work. In practice, look for something with a fairly high temperature insulation. Teflon insulated wire is uncommon but works great at high temperatures. More common is PTFE insulated wire, and is quite good at handling heat. Failing finding a high temperature insulated wire, run low power. Running 5, 10, or 20 Watts is good for the soul and can make you feel superior to other hams who have to run 100 Watts or more to make contacts. Good sized magnet wire is designed to wind motors and electromagnets with, and as such is just plain copper with a very thin, very high-temperature insulation on it so that more windings will fit in a small space and handle the heat. But anything that will fit on the toroid and not melt from high power will do if you can't afford the magnet wire. Try out your toroid under load in your workroom with a dummy load of whatever resistance is appropriate, and with the power you want to run and see if the insulation will last, or start to melt. If it starts to melt after a while, try some other kind of wire, or reduce your RF power and live with it till you can afford some magnet wire. If you're running 10 or 20 Watts on a 100 Watt-sized core, like the one suggested by Colin, (and me,) don't worry about heat.

[@the_mad_swimbaiter455]

I like the approach, great video!

[@patriot9455]

You talk about these components as if they have to be bought all at once. If you buy them over time will spread out the cost over several pay days. this could be a way to have an antenna for home permanently mounted, and a nice POTA with radials.

[@lyledal]

Extremely helpful! Thanks!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

My pleasure.

[@laheart1957]

Does the end fed antenna half work for shortwave bands?

[@macgyver5108]

Yes, commonly used from 7-30 mhz and even found in some 2m VHF marine band antennas.

[@ae4xo]

edhw is the thing right now

[@ke0ourwilliam982]

E-bay has a EFHW built for $10. Shipping $5.85. Just need that winder to put it on and some wire. Win win

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Awesome. Found it. www.ebay.com/itm/303314358101?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=32cKTXoUQ32&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY. Thanks

[@ths3900]

Good Idea. Thanks

[@gonebamboo4116]

I'm going for less than a couple bucks using ladder line as the transformer.

[@carl-gunnarhillefors7612]

BNC (FEMALE) CONNECTOR A R E ALWAYS BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE! DO NOT USE PL259 /SO239!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

WHY ALL CAPS?

[@MikeN2MAK]

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a great option. I got that idea from Carlos KD9OLN. I stop into mine from time to time to see what wire, PVC or other things I can find.

[@pieterdutoit9642]

yes to buy the stuff from your side end up here +/- 100$ taxes, /freight kill s it all,73, Pieter zl1pdt