How to build a Shortwave long wire antenna - No Soldering: For beginners:

I am new to shortwave radio and just thought I'd share my experiences in starting with this hobby.
This first video is by a beginner for beginners! In an uncomplicated way I'll show how I constructed my first outdoor long wire antenna, I'll show you:
- The parts you need.
- How to anchor, ground and connect your long wire antenna.
- All without the need for soldering.
- Show that it works!
- No techno-babble!
As a starter Radio for shortwave listening I recommend the TECSUN PL660
I managed to tune in BBC Ascension Island 12095kHz - 6,000km away! First try.
I created this video with the KZbin Video Editor ( / editor )

[@MadelineStkitts]

I appreciate your help. I begginer with my Tecsun pl- 330. From Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks for sharing a very well produced video - I think a lot of beginners will find it really helpful and some of us that have been around a bit longer. Congrats and 73! Clint

[@donaldemmerling9622]

What a good video for us that do not know how to do these things. I liked your inclusion of even some of the smallest things, like the grounding of the coax steps, because if you have not seen this simply saying to ground the coax leaves me wondering how that is done. Cheers for you. Keep it up.

[@analiensaturn]

I've made 5 antennas since I've been watching Ray. One tuned to 157.000 mhz for marine band, I'm close to the Mersey. One tuned to 446.000 mhz for PMR. Another on 153.350 mhz for Pogsac. And one dual band from Ed Fong. The PMR is built similar to Ed Fong J pole to look at but it's a coax dipole inside a plumbing pipe. All are perfect swr.

[@Drsef50]

Great video! As someone just venturing in to ham radio it's easy to find information on the internet that is WAY over my head. Yours is a clear and concise description of building a simple antenna. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@nunyabeeswax3112]

Good informative video. Thanks! What is the exact name of that splicing cable connector so I can get one on Amazon that can splice a coax cable with an 18-gauge stranded antenna wire? I'm curious though, why can't you run the antenna wire directly inside to the alligator clip (bypassing using the coax cable), and using another separate line of the antenna wire in the splicer, and running that extra antenna line to be grounded outside? That would be cheaper than also getting that coax cable. Is that coax cable even needed, especially since you're simply clipping the antenna wire to your shortwave receiver's telescoping antenna? It would be helpful to others if you would list those connectors, including the exact non-soldering type alligator clip you used.

[@krisraps]

i made similar LW Antenna in my third frloor addicc in my house and im in Latvia and i can get USA Stations at night, British stations and Bunch Of Russian Stations, Even Militarry Ones

[@superotterboy7937]

Great tutorial! I've just ordered a TECSUN R-9700DX, not as fancy as the PL660 but I like the analogue vibes so it's a start! I have some old coax cable left over from a satellite here so I must give this a go!

[@ado75]

Give it a go. You don't fancy receive antennas - just get some wire in the air :)

[@marcosmza1962]

Very useful an instructive! 73!

[@hamrad88]

Great demo and thanks for the reference to my channel.

[@Aco747lyte]

You're brilliant for rigging up that homebrew antenna! I've the same bits and pieces and will be making mine according to your instructions. I don't use a soldering irion, either. I have no early use for one, to be honest. So anyway, I just want to thank you so much for making this video. It was fun to watch, and your getting stuff together was, quite frankly, ingenious. ETA: Great lateral thinking! :)

[@ado75]

Thanks for your generous comment. The video quality is a bit amatureish I know, but I'm glad you got some value from it.

[@Aco747lyte]

Oh, I did! Your vid is by far the most easy to understand, and I found your instructions straightforward and uncomplicated. I've already got most of the stuff you used. In the garage I found a Harris 3m extension pole for a paint roller, and that is going to be used for my mast. Happy days to you, and have a great weekend.

[@Funk-DX]

to climb the top of the house is named: adventures of the DX-er ! thank you for this video, and please: SHARE ALSO THE RECEIVING RESULTS with your long wire. thx from Klaus

[@darrylb2053]

Great video,good detail.Would have liked more detail on your grounding method.Did you use a grounding rod,how long,or water pipe?You received good results for your efforts! Darryl b.c. Canada

[@ado75]

Hi Darryl. For grounding I stripped a short section of the coax, about 5cm, to reveal the mesh. I wrapped my ground wire around the exposed mesh in a spiral. Once done I sealed the coax and ground wire connection with duct (gorilla) tape. The ground wire was attached to length of copper pipe (about half a metre as that's all I had) and that was driven into the soil. Yes it made a noticeable difference. Hope this helps. I don't have it anymore as have an inverted V antenna now.

[@GeorgeEI7KO]

Well done good vid. 73 de EI7KO

[@nr3rful]

Love the phrase..."bits and bobs "

[@denizyildiz8904]

So what for is the ground? I couldnt see the connection between the ground and antenna. Then it is not grounded,is it?

[@tlee1157]

Which direction did you hang the long wire North South, East to West for best reception. We are located on the west coast of N.America.

[@ado75]

It was random length, about 15m long and L shaped. With a random wire receive only antenna, the important things are; get it as long as possible, as high as possible and insulate/isolate from ground. Even if you can get 10ft of wire up - it will make enormous difference to your reception.

[@f.kharrasi4333]

Hey, I wanted to know what role the antennas are grounded? When not connected to the radio. Is this necessary?

[@ado75]

My antenna is permanently grounded. When it is attached to the active radio/receiver it "diverts" RF (radio Interference) away from the receiver to ground - this greatly improves reception and listening quality, especially on shortwave. When not connected to the radio it does nothing. It would be cumbersome to have to connect the ground wire to the antenna each time you switch on the receiver. So its best just to leave the antenna set up with the ground wire. Once you ground an antenna it becomes a lightning conductor. I live in a very low risk area for lightning - we do not get many electrical storms. However, it would be best for a lightning discharge to be directed to the ground rather than in to the house. Also some weather phenomena, such as heavy rain, can build up a static electrical charge on your antenna - so grounding helps there too. It's best practice not to leave you receiver connected to the antenna when not in use, as it could be damaged if subjected to the above phenomena. Do not connect up during and electrical storm! Ray explains things a lot better than me.

[@monkeezorg]

Hey - you didn't put the links to the guys that you mention - is there any chance you can update the info with their links? Thanks for the video.

[@ado75]

Think they disappeared Tom Stiles is kzbin.info/door/LVm5STfCi4fYim73JIKClA Ray (Radio Workshop) kzbin.info/door/h342SYfMKEMlqoqVqEfwCQ Hope this helps

[@analiensaturn]

If you fill your light metal pole with sand it will be stronger

[@danielgarciazamora3439]

How do u make you conjunction box?

[@ado75]

Just a plastic container with a clip on lid, make some holes & seal it with duct tape.

[@bude8234]

So, you don't need any type of Balun between the long wire and the coax? Thanks.

[@ado75]

Now there's a can of worms! There as many answers to that question as there are types of antennae, whats bands they are cut for etc, etc. However, in this case - for a shortwave listener listening across all of HF, having the antenna as high as possible, isolated and grounded will significantly improve reception. Sorry for the late reply btw.

[@stevengroberts8565]

If I was you, which I'm not because I'm far better looking, I would tie the wire around the top of the lamp post just to the left of your house (As visible in your video) then you have the perfect pole which is also metal & earthed. What do you think? No one notices these things as their eyes are normally glued to their phones when they are out walking.

[@charlesbeck1367]

how is your ground working you have not connected to your radio chassis or no connection to your antenna your braided wire is dead on both ends what's the point of grounding I don't know that's why I am asking ......

[@ado75]

Sorry for delayed reply. The braid is connected to the "chassis" when the coax connector is plugged in to the radio. Grounding of a long/random wire is a matter of experimentation. In my situation my SDR shows an appreciable reduction in noise (RF) with the antenna grounded. Ray explains this better than me. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpPEYYqbiK5rnpI www.g4nsj.co.uk/endfed.shtml Also check this thread forums.radioreference.com/coax-cable-connectors/302611-what-exactly-does-mean-ground-antenna-2.html and this wiki is quite good en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_wire_antenna

[@danielgarciazamora3439]

Juctionbox?

[@ado75]

The junction box was plastic container that snaps shut. I think it's was a small container for screws or something. But any type of sealed water proof container will do - like a food container etc. Then just wrapped in duct tape - just to be sure ☺

[@jonteske4267]

Were you every a cryptologist? One Time Pad is a cryptologic term.

[@ado75]

:) No. But I've heard a few numbers stations.

[@MrZorbatron]

Good design. You really need to kill your steadying function on the camera. The dancing border in the first 9 minutes is bad, but the distortion after 9:30 is absolutely awful to the point of being nauseating. I listened to most of it, unable to watch most of the video because it made my head spin.

[@ado75]

MrZorbatron i know big mistake

[@applealien6658]

Would be a better video if you did not record your phone especially if it is vertical

[@hymlog]

....LIKE WATCHING GRASS GROW! ...WORK ON IT ! GEEEEESH!

[@Liofa73]

See Nomore --- Patience grasshooper. Or go get the information elsewhere...