HF ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION - SIMPLE TESTS YOU CAN MAKE

Peter G3OJV, describes some simple tests you can make to check out antenna performance and propagation, from the comfort of your armchair!
49:1 UnUn
hamradiostore....

[@hubercats]

Very interesting technique, and so easy to use. I’m in the process of setting up and end-fed antenna (40 meter primary band, 49:1 unun) in my yard in Seattle, WA and thanks to you I now know a very good way to test its performance. Thanks very much, Peter. 73 (KK7CSC)

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful! Hope all goes well. 73 Peter

[@180mph9]

Never a dull moment on your channel, thank you for the great information.

[@DrHWO]

A very practical video, Peter and crystal clear as usual. I find that on my Icom 9700, even dialling my output power down to zero, give an output of around 15mW, which on couple of occasions has been enough to generate a reply, so for me hitting the Fbkin button was needed! 73, M0YZT

[@watersstanton]

OK thanks for that. 73 Peter

[@frankmooney7282]

Nice video explaining reverse beacon network, but not all of us use these fancy radios with built in keyer and waterfalls. 56 SSB confirmed dx countries on LOTW with 40/15 and 17 ground mount verticals in 2 yrs of covid. thanks for your videos, I've learned alot. 73 de KI7MJU

[@justmejonboy]

This is fascinating stuff, never realised any of this.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks. 73 Peter

[@rowhope]

Thank you so much! Great information. Simple and direct, as usual. I am grateful for your clear teaching style. Blessings.

[@watersstanton]

You are so welcome!

[@SteveG4YTK]

Hi Peter, I have been using it for a year now. Well worth trying a dead band very surprising the band could well be open. I always have it open when I switch the radio ON and open the logbook. Happy Christmas to all at WS

[@watersstanton]

Thanks fir sharing. 73 Peter

[@d.jensen5153]

Many thanks! Reverse Beacon Network is just the ticket! That and your advocacy for EFHW antennas are pulling me out of a deep stupor. 🗿

[@DannerPlace]

I've recently discovered your KZbin channel, and I must say it is an excellent resource for HAMs like me. TU ES 73 DE W5SRT, TX USA.

[@watersstanton]

Hi Dan, great to hear from you. Take care. 73 Peter.

[@fieldofscreams]

Thank you. Just starting out and this was incredibly helpful. I like the general discussion with the specific CW walk around. Now I know what I need to research next.

[@Paddy_Roche]

Can only concur with the comments below Peter. Great video and Tuition style.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks Paddy. Take care 73 Peter.

[@markg6jvy135]

Nicely explained Peter 👍👏👏

[@watersstanton]

Thanks 👍

[@davem0udb]

Another great video Peter, following on from your video on verticals in small gardens, i’m going to experiment. Merry Christmas M0UDB

[@watersstanton]

Happy holidays!Thanks Dave. Happy Christmas to you also. 73 Peter

[@tombaffa9374]

Great advice Peter! I’ve done this and it’s very interesting

[@watersstanton]

Good to hear. 73 Peter

[@dancingjim1]

Thank you so much for the excellent video. Just what I was looking for. Your teaching and demonstration is so relaxing and still so professional. Feels like I am a guest in your studio!! Will rewatch and try tonight.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful! Very nice words, Take care, 73 Peter

[@Kensownvids]

Great video. Can’t wait to try this out on my antennas.

[@watersstanton]

Have fun!

[@jeffpriddin9711]

Thank you once again a great video from you I realy enjoyed it.

[@watersstanton]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice.............................

[@watersstanton]

Thanks

[@davemaier7]

Thank you for all that you do. Best, Dave K7CI

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks Dave. 73 Peter

[@K3KTB]

Great information. Thank you.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@budokai6706]

Thank you...this may help. I'm having some issues with my HF g5rv lite installation.

[@watersstanton]

Glad it helped

[@chrisg7veo495]

a good tip for checking and comparing antennas and look forward to use cw for a change

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevetelford2821]

Thanks for that Peter, I've been meaning to have a go at the reverse repeater system. Hope you have a good Christmas and New year. DE Steve G7HUJ

[@watersstanton]

Happy holidays! 73 Peter.

[@johnrees44..G4EIJ]

Another great video, Peter…It’s worth mentioning that, on the reverse beacon website, you can bring up all your reverse beacon responses superimposed onto a World map that gives an excellent visual overview of your antenna performance.. 73..

[@watersstanton]

Hi John, thanks for that. 73 Peter.

[@bongkuci1]

thank you peter for all your videos ,seasons greetings to you your family and all the staff. james 2e0tdy essex

[@watersstanton]

Thanks James. Happy Christmas. 73 Peter

[@johnk8091]

Hello Peter. Gosh, it looks like you have a problem with the LCD display on your 7300. There is a line at the top . I bought my 7300 from your shop with the first batch that you received...I think that was March 2015. I was so impressed with it, that I bought a second 7300 six months later. I have had no problems with either of them. That LDG 49:1 looks like a handy thing to have...and cheap as chips. I have 1 KW 49:1 transformers for my EFHW antennas at home. But I think I might get one or two of those LDG ones for portable ops. 73 5Z4J, ZS5J

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks. 73 Peter

[@BennyCFD]

You can also get how much your antenna is getting out is by looking at the PO meter while transmitting. If you're set at 100W and the meter says 100 you pretty much transmitting 100W. If the PO meters shows 50W you know you're loosing power somewhere. Non resonate antenna, line loss, bad SWR or a combination thereof.

[@watersstanton]

The power output has no connection with propogation!

[@scottbelcher9026]

That’s very cool!

[@watersstanton]

You are welcome. 73 Peter.

[@taekehf]

Thanks for the video. RBN is a very useful tool. Also, please check your audio before uploading :-) Part of the video, the audio was on the right channel.

[@watersstanton]

Sorry for that. It was a voice over setting error. Peter

[@PostingNotes]

Another great video Peter, I have learnt a lot from you various tutorials and you are part of the reason I have taken and passed my ham licence exams. This reverse beacon test was great idea, but sadly all I get is ‘ can not display information due to Europe’s GDPR. Can you help 🥲

[@shumbers]

Typo in your callsign Peter....B is next to V!

[@watersstanton]

Thanks. 73 Peter

[@robcarnaroli269]

I seem to have a problem. My back yard is big enough for a 20m antenna but I don't have enough room for a garden. Does the garden act as a counterpoise... :-) Great Videos Happy Holidays!

[@watersstanton]

No, you should be OK. Many antennas are erected over concrete and indeed above flat-roofed buildings. 73 Peter.

[@russjensen2282]

Thank for the great videos!! Is there a way test the RBN ona radio that does not have CW memories? I have a Xeigu G90, new antenna and I don't know CW. Thank you.

[@watersstanton]

Unfortunately you will need to send CW. It should nit be too difficult to simply learn the e characters of your call and follow this with “test” - that is all you need. 73 Peter.

[@Roddy1965]

I tried this when the greyline was at my QTH. The RBN showed the 40m going east and the 20m going west, within minutes of each test. Expected, but it was rather striking.

[@watersstanton]

That's interesting. Thanks for comment. 73 Peter.

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

Thanks Peter, most interesting. Happy holidays and keep safe 👍

[@watersstanton]

Same to you! Many thanks. 73 Peter

[@markramsay6399]

Cheers Peter. Excellent video. Was not aware of this, so going to try out this weekend. I suppose this is in some ways similar to the WSPR network? But without the need for specific installed software. Thx, , Mark 2E0MSR.

[@watersstanton]

Yes, exactly. 73 Peter

[@dubliner1100]

Brilliant as usual. Thank you once again

[@watersstanton]

Thanks again!

[@lifeundergas]

J.H.A Z-25k 5w in parallel with 10m antenna

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks. 73 Peter

[@ataboyboyboy8895]

I am sitting my exam in January, in the meantime can I test without a call sign to check my antenna? Regarding the end fed wire antenna, 20m, can I bend it once to fit my garden?

[@RESISTAGE]

legally no. can u get caught? no. just don't interrupt.

[@watersstanton]

YOU CANNOT TRANSMIT WITHOUT A LICENCE!

[@michaelcherry7117]

I'm a new Ham and find your videos very helpful. I tried this but didn't get any reports when I went to reverse beacon website what am I missing? Thanks K2MWC 73

[@watersstanton]

You need to send pretty good Morse cide but if generated by radio that should be mo problem. You must send in the CW section of the band ie ie near tge bottom. Reports take several minutes to come back.

[@paulhastings3109]

Peter great video but my 991a won't do that 🙃

[@watersstanton]

Ah - in that case yiu need to be abke to manually send CW. Sorry. 73 Peter.

[@paulsengupta971]

I'm not sure about that. I've got it programmed into my 991 (not A) and it works. It has five memories for morse strings which can be sent in the same way. Look in the manual under CW and then contest memory thingie. It's the second bit under "Text".

[@jamesschmaus8597]

BK-IN won't work, just keys up VOX. Must I have a key plugged in?

[@jamesschmaus8597]

I am in CW mode and have menu keyer on , preset message just wont transmit, only plays cw message

[@watersstanton]

Have you selected CW mode?

[@vk2ycj]

Hello Peter, is the callsign in the above intro text correct ? G3OJB or G3OJV ? Great video thanks, 73, Jamie VK2YCJ

[@watersstanton]

Yes, It was a typo. Should be G3OJV

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

An interesting idea Peter, do you happen to know if the IC705 has the CW memories? Thanks 73’s

[@watersstanton]

Yes it does.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

@@watersstanton Thank You

[@Capt_Duffy]

Outstanding video once again Sir, just one question, around how much SNR is considered good. TNX

[@watersstanton]

Noise level can be anything between zero and S9 plus. There is no bench mark.

[@782matt2]

👍👍

[@watersstanton]

Thanks.

[@MrDbone75]

Good Monday morning to you sir

[@watersstanton]

. 73 Peter Morning