How to tune a 40M Loading Coil for the Poor Man's POTA PERformer

[@arthurgumbus3969]

Nice Job on the coil and its adjustment. I too use this antenna for POTA, using the Chameleon 17' telescoping whip. I have made 4 tuned counterpoise's but to date have only deployed two. 73 Art W1SWL

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks Art! Be sure to subscribe. New videos about once a week. 73. Jerry

[@RickLangevin]

Great video. Like I was there working on it with you. Learned a lot thanks

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks Rick. Glad you enjoyed it. Subscribe as I have lots of videos planned. Also looking for suggestions from viewers. Like, subscribe and hit notification bell.

[@RickLangevin]

@@BudgetHamRadio Already Did. Thanks

[@franciscolopez3229]

Great video sir and thank you. This is what I love about the hobby, experimenting and sharing what have been learned. '73 and all the best, DW1QEW.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching! Be sure the subscribe and hit the notification bell and share with your contacts! 73. KM4ZKB Jerry

[@garyclark4930]

Good video, antenna is working well on 40 meters. I just want to share an observation if you don't mind. As you tuned the coil your tail that connects to your vertical element is getting longer. This makes your vertical element longer. If you trim the length of that tail you might get your resonant frequency to go up bit more. Very interesting and informative video. Gary KF6EWO

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks! That is true! Had not thought of it that way. I will trim it and double check. Be sure to subscribe so you won't miss any of the new releases. 73.

[@garyclark4930]

@@BudgetHamRadio I am a subscriber. Happy Thanksgiving

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

A great video, I learned something about coils and POTA, thanks from the UK.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Glad you enjoyed it. More videos coming.

[@deankq4adj125]

Enjoyed watching your process for adjusting the coil. Thanks for sharing!

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks! I want everyone to see that it generally is not a one and done type scenario. Real life is hardly ever that easy. Be sure to subscribe to get notified when new videos are posted. 73's.

[@gt3940]

I hope you can do a video on making your square plastic mounted choke, tnx fer the videos !

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Will do! Subscribe so you don’t miss it!

[@Steve-qn6bt]

Thank you for the ideas. I'm debating whether to use a fiberglass fishing rod or a stainless steel telescoping antenna. I've also made coils for 15, 17, 20 and 40 meters using your method. Additionally, the car at 0:50 must have gone Back To The Future!

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Yeah editing footage when you have an active road nearby presents some unusual challenges. Just some thoughts on whip vs fishing rod. If the whip falls or is knocked over, will it survive without bending? A fiberglass or carbon fiber rod should with no problem.

[@KF0NNQ]

Appreciate this video. Great use of problem solving and every Ham's tools. Liked and subscribed. 73, Bill.😊

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks for the sub Bill!

[@dennisjoiner3717]

I should dig out my TS-50 and give it some exercise. Great video, always enjoy antenna building and testing.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks be sure to subscribe! More videos in the works!

[@JohnLastnamewithheld]

just found my FAVORITE ham radio YT channel. ANYTHING budget conscious is what I'm all about... Thanks for the content and I will be watching for more. BTW do you know the difference the system would have if the wire was 14ga braided copper, insulated? thanks again Sir

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks! I haven’t tested it but I understand that larger diameter elements increase the bandwidth. The lengths should not change based on diameter .

[@andyedwards9595]

Thank you for your very informative videos. I just got my tech license, and I am currently studying for my general. I have searched for a video that walks through a simple, cost-effective antenna build with parts. I have seen similar builds, but how you put yours together is straightforward. This video was extremely informative, showing the manual tunning of the loading coil. As a visual learner, it helps me see something done rather than read about it. This video series has helped me align some areas of confusion I have been having while studying for my tech and general licenses. Thank you so much! I do have a question. In the first Poor Man's POTA PERformer video, you mentioned you would show how you connected your radio in your (awesome) truck to a separate battery. Could you show that in a future video? Thanks again, and please keep the videos coming. I love your teaching style and ideas!

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks! I will try to show the battery setup in an upcoming video.

[@RatchetFWD]

Nice video tuning out in the field .

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks! Be sure and subscribe. Just posted a new video today on the NanoVNA.

[@DuaneErby-xn2rp]

I use steel tape measures for radials on my antenna. Easy to dial in resonant lengths. I suggest 4 radials that will likely drop the swr as well.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Currently working on a version using steel tape measures myself. If you use 4 equally spaced radials the antenna becomes omni directional and you lose the 3-4 db f/b ratio. Be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss any of the new videos when they are released! 73. Jerry KM4ZKB

[@royferguson3909]

brilliant idea. it solves my problem. many thanks❤

[@BudgetHamRadio]

@@royferguson3909 glad it helped you out! Subscribe and click the notification bell to be notified when more videos are released!

[@M7XCB]

Great video. all ways enjoy building antennas i will get my TS-50 off shelf give it a run on the air.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Mine has been a surprisingly good blessing to me. I wasn’t sure when I bought it but has been great. Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe.

[@Barracuda48082]

Wow, pota pileup !

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Happens virtually every time with this antenna…. Thanks for watching. Subscribe so you don’t miss any of the videos that are in the works!

[@robduncan599]

When at the start of the video, you used a 20m radial and added to another to make up a single 40m radial , genius! Only I'm thinking you are making a ground plane aerial, into a vertical dipole? With a single wire low to the ground, it's more like a low vertical dipole, hence the resonat will be lower in band ? Rather that changing the coil adding a 2nd wire radial might have been closer to the 7.2mhz desired frequency? I'm not a technical ham but I'm always messing around with aerials.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

The coil made the vertical driven 20m element react “electrically” as long as a 40m element without the need to have a physical element twice as high in the air. Hope that makes sense.

[@robduncan599]

@BudgetHamRadio sure that makes complete sence. I think I didn't make my point very well . Tks for your time . Very 73

[@BudgetHamRadio]

@@robduncan599 Thanks for watching Rob. I may not have understood what you were asking. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.

[@robduncan599]

@@BudgetHamRadio I'm in Scotland. MM0udi 73

[@tlnelson7598]

Could you adjust the radials to bring down the SWR?

[@tlnelson7598]

I found your tuned radial chart. thanks enjoyed the video.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks for watching! Yes, v2 specs chart lowers the SWR Have fun!

[@doc145]

I’m confused. Reducing inductance increases the resonant frequency. You took a turn off the coil thereby reducing its inductance. Therefore the frequency should increase. But it went from 7 to 7.2 mhz. Resonant frequency decreased instead of increasing. What am I missing. 🤔

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Isn’t 7.2 higher than 7.0?

[@doc145]

@@BudgetHamRadiolol. Wow was I having a senior moment 😂.

[@southernexposure1205]

No worries. Happens to me all the time.

[@scubasky]

How can you tell if the coil or vertical is too long or the radials are too long since in an elevated vertical both have to be tuned?

[@BudgetHamRadio]

I would recommend building the radials identical to the specifications. Double check your lengths and make sure both radials are identical. The vertical should also be built starting with the 6m element. Double check your length to the chart. The version 2 chart offers a lower SWR than the original. Test SWR for each band before going to the next band. If you don’t you will get stacked error tolerance and all your bands will be off. Be sure when testing each band that you have the radials configured for that band by moving the non-conductive jumper. Take it a band at a time and IF you have to adjust, only adjust the vertical. Hope this makes sense. Good luck! Remember: Measure twice, cut once also applied to antenna wire lengths.

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Don’t build the 40M coil until the original 20-6M antenna is built and tuned properly.

[@davidbyrd5065]

Great video . Very good information , especially for anyone interested in antenna building and for new Hams. KN4BHS

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss any.

[@W4EMB]

Holler if you want to do a POTA meet up sometime and compare set ups . We could meet up at Port Royal Park in TN... drop me a line. Great video. -W4EMB.. Im good on QRZ... I have some vids up too..

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Will contact via email. Thanks!

[@tlnelson7598]

10 meter contact in Brazil rec'd 55

[@BudgetHamRadio]

Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe!

[@Barracuda48082]

A tad long is always better..

[@BudgetHamRadio]

You can always trim length. It is harder to add length. Enjoy.