How to work the world with a home made antenna. Hello 10 meter band!

The ARRL 10 meter contest was last weekend. What a great time to put together a quick dipole antenna and get on the air.
HF Propagation aids:
prop.kc2g.com/
www.hamqsl.com/solar.html
Like what you see? You can leave me a tip:
www.paypal.me/kb9vbr
KB9VBR VHF/UHF Antennas:
www.jpole-antenna.com
Become a patron! Unlock exclusive content at: / kb9vbrantennas
Support Ham Radio Q&A by shopping at Amazon: amzn.to/2kO6LH7
Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
00:30 10 meter band
01:14 Building a 10 meter dipole antenna
06:08 10 meter propagation
10:15 10 Meter DX contacts
11:47 ARRL 10 meter contest recap
My Parks on the Air setup:
Transceiver: amzn.to/3lmHoei
Battery: amzn.to/3xBGgbv
Tuner: amzn.to/2ZCNM9l
Folding Table: amzn.to/3xFIp5Z
Throw Weight: amzn.to/32QW2nB
Video Production Equipment:
Camera amzn.to/32UaXNX
Lens amzn.to/31mmDrX
Wireless Microphone: amzn.to/3xFVBb4
Microphone: amzn.to/3daoAdq
GoPro: amzn.to/3pkmP30
Music by license:
www.premiumbeats.com
www.soundstripe.com
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Contact Information:
Questions, comments, or business inquiries may be directed to [e-mail]. If you wish for your product to be featured on my channel, please contact me.
#Hamradio #AmateurRadio #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #PortableHamRadio
#ARRL #10metercontest #worktheworld #10meterband #dipoleantenna

[@hammathguy3995]

If you are a metric type of person, don't use 133/frequency to calculate the length of the dipole. It will be much too short. Use 143/frequency instead. Other than that, pretty good information here. I really liked the explanation of the Winter Anomaly.

[@Boriajob]

Every one civilized uses the metric system 73s de LY1JI

[@timholtzclaw8930]

​@@Boriajob😅 good one.

[@havenacoustics]

Late to the party but great video. FYI NASA uses the metric system, including during the Apollo missions to the moon!

[@bobmarquez542]

What an a-hole reply!

[@bobmarquez542]

What an a-hole remark!

[@NathanMazanec]

Oh My! You had me laugh, "If you are in one of those other countries that hasn't landed on the moon..." That is a great point of view! I honestly have never heard that one before. That is a real zinger! Thanks again for all you do, and for the full laugh I got out of it!

[@CoveiraoPS3]

The US not using the metric system managed to land on the moon.. imagine if they used the metric system. They woud have already implemented teleportation.

[@travisaugustine7264]

#ShotsFired

[@redbaron2342]

...funny, since the base for that moon traveling technology came from metric Europe😉😁....

[@NathanMazanec]

@@redbaron2342 we all know that. 👍😀 Just an unexpected statement. Can't wait for ESA moon landing. Just kidding

[@zaywas]

Amstrong stated that the giant leap was for the whole mankind. I didn't quite get this joke.

[@redstickham6394]

When 10 is open, it doesn't take much to work the world. I remember in the afternoons hearing JAs all over the band and getting lots of QSL cards via the bureau later. The VKs and ZLs also came in. When the sunspots are good, it's amazing what less than 100watts and a wire will do.

[@waylonk2453]

That rig expert tool looks so handy! It's encouraging to see you set up that simple dipole so quickly. I've been struggling with hearing anything on 10m with simple wire antennae. After watching you throw it up in the tree, I think my antenna is too low and interacting with the ground. Thank you for the info you provide to the HAM community!

[@dougtaylor7724]

Love 10 meters. The Caribbean and South American stations are always running on the weekend. Great DX time for Techs.

[@flyingweed9671]

You made me laugh 😃. You are correct, we have not been to the moon, but we gave up using body parts for measuring some years ago.

[@romeo-sierra]

I definitely like videos, showcasing antennas. This is a great video for technicians as well as everyone else and it really shows how easy it is to get on the air.

[@johnrees44..G4EIJ]

Michael…That was, for me, the perfect intro to 10 metres! Thank you for the advice and the demo..John..G4EIJ

[@45auto]

Another home run, Michael. Informative with a good-natured elbow to our ham friends from elsewhere. 😀 U-rah-rah

[@duncanchaboudy4187]

Excellent video Michael. Thanks for keeping me motivated to radio!

[@davidsradioroom9678]

What a great introduction to the 10 meter band! Great job. 👍👍

[@shandybrandy5407]

Dear Michael, thank you for all the efforts in bringing such great videos. Watching your channel ever since I got my ticket has helped me significantly. Pls keep up the good work flowing. Cheers@ New Delhi

[@w4mkh]

Great explanation of MUF and how the different layers work. Thanks Michael.

[@DagonNaxos]

100W and a wire is all you need when the band is open. I did a lot of RTTY and BPSK31 on 10M back in the early 2010s as a technician, just when JT65 was becoming a thing. The sunspot cycle was way lower than it is today and I still worked all over the place when conditions were good. Now that FT8 and FT4 are a thing, it should be great for those folks who just got their ticket to get their WAS on 10m. I just wish more people would get on 10m and now 11m FM. When the conditions permit that will be a lot of fun! I had a blast a couple of Memorial Day weekends ago working all over the place on 29.6FM from the front seat of my Jeep on an MFJ 1/4 wave whip.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thanks for the reminder, I haven't been on 10m FM in ages.

[@robertallen3133]

Thank you for sharing this information.

[@happyhome41]

Most excellent show. Thank you !

[@pmcallah]

Thank you for the helpful 10 meter video! 😊

[@CarelessAdventure]

Really great video. Thanks for making this looks easy.

[@n5yiz]

Outstanding

[@WeRHamRadio]

Great job

[@ai8356]

Nice to work you on the contest. Best opening in 5 plus years. 73

[@ralphlong9973]

Excellent video. Great explanation of a very simple antenna that we can all create and great explanation of propagation specially during the 10 m solar cycle

[@joel6221]

Thanks Michael!

[@REXOB9]

Great video. First antenna video I've see that really makes it look easy, and feasible for a new ham. Thanks.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Many many years ago, the 10 meter dipole was the first antenna that I ever built. It was just as much fun to build and put this one on the air.

[@Indypackrat]

Thanks for the info, I have really enjoyed working 10

[@hamradiobasics]

Great video Michael ! Keep up the great work !

[@anthonyglaser929]

That info about the winter season was really helpful.

[@jonweathers5905]

Can't say thank you enough. Your videos are informative and always help me wrap my head around things. Im new to radio still studying for my Tech. So I do a lot of listening at the moment :-)

[@Kd4stt.]

Very helpful video, thanks.

[@tonyridlen]

I liked your 10 Meter band video! In my ham radio hobby I haven't had very many 10 meter contacts but it's ham radio and I love it!

[@xodrinker]

Nice video, learned alot. Actually this is the first vid that explains the stuff in a simple understandable manner. Thx again. Hope to catch you on the 10 mtr some day

[@TrevLarson1]

Always like your videos. Thanks for what you do for the hobby!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.

[@steveverhoef5667]

That was really helpful information!

[@kellyw1648]

Hey, I learned a lot of good information from this video. Definitely keep posting videos. Thanks, Merry Christmas and hope to hear ya on 10 meters. 73's.

[@wayneskiba1237]

Great video, Michael, I am getting into using the 10 meter band for the first time in a long time, so your video was very timely, thank you for sharing.

[@davewhite7679]

Yes, dipoles are easy to build and they work great! When that halfwave dipole is mounted in an inverted "V", like yours was, the resonant length changes slightly, and the 73 ohm impedance will start to decrease. Besides, more closely matching your 50 ohm transceiver, it also makes the radiation pattern more omnidirectional.👍 KZ9V

[@binder098]

Thank you Michael, I haven't give that band any consideration, but may give it a shot now.

[@joeddejohn]

Cool. Thanks. Been interested in working that band.

[@Kd4stt.]

Thank you for this video, very informative and inspiring! Now wanting to build my own mono band 10 meter dipole antenna!

[@terryshackelford712]

Good & interestion tutorial thank you Michael!

[@ronm6359]

During cycle 24 I really discovered the magic of 10 meters, even though I’ve been a ham for 51 years. I got my 10m DXCC and 138 countries during the #24 peak, looking to get at least my 150 endorsement (stretch goal of 200, depending how good cycle 25 is). I did have a few hours to work the ARRL 10 m contest and I too found some great openings to South American and the west coast. I primarily use contests for new countries/new band countries, not competition. My antenna is a butternut HF6v but I will put up a dipole for 10 when the weather gets warmer. Thanks for the great video. 73s de N0SL, Ron.

[@daveN2MXX]

Thank you so much for making this video! I hope more folks realize that homebrew is the way to go for wire antennas, especially on 10m.

[@Scout75PortableRadio]

Thanks for the very informative video, Michael. I learned a few things about 10 meters! With the winter anomaly, it makes great sense why the ARRL 10 meter contest is held each year close to the Winter Solstice. Gives the contest good "bang for the buck" regardless of where we are at in the solar cycle.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Yeah, I didn't really understand why either until I started digging deeper into 10 meter propagation.

[@m.v.6446]

Thank you Michael for another wonderful and informative video! Great idea on building a 10m Dipole, an easy to build and deploy antenna to take advantage of the improved conditions of the 10m band. This antenna can also work on 12m with a little help from a tuner. Great job as always and thank you for your inspiring content!

[@darrellcollins877]

Very Nice Ham Radio Video, refreshing

[@ohaya1]

Great video and the ending was hilarious 😂

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Finally! a great video on the building of simple antenna. (dipole) wire is cheap, insulator's are cheap and so is your time vs commercially bought same antennas you can save well over $50 in most cases. And with the advent of easy to get analyzers tuning becomes a simple task. In the old days we had to drag out the base rig and power extension cords or generators outside to do the testing. etc. so today's hams have it easy in that dept and make antenna building a joy Thanks Michael for a great tutorial well done. de Ellis WA1RKS.

[@AlejandroGonzalez-AGS]

Great video…yes, 10m is becoming active and I’m ready… dusting off what I have and adding more equipment. I’m ready! Thanks for sharing, be safe..Cheers..

[@bobcatskrieman3384]

Great video on 10 meter. This gives me ideas how to try 10M and why it’s so mysterious . Thanks!!

[@hgw90026]

Thank you Michel. As a Technician, your video was the little push I needed to order my Xiegu G90. I know it's a QRP radio but I'm not a contester. I plan to do mostly digital and Ground Wave communication. Look forward to getting my General next.

[@errymoningkey2544]

This is great. 👍👍

[@KeenanBaird]

I’ve been a technician for almost 10 years now, I got my license at 15 at the National Boy Scout jamboree. I got home & just didn’t get into it for a variety of reasons. I recently moved & joined my local ham club. We made end fed half wave radios & I finished mine December 10th. I got to work 10m as it opened up that day. I ended up buying the yaesu ft-891 that I worked 10m on from the guy in my club & I am so excited to hopefully pass General in January. Thank you for your videos!

[@WillShattuck]

I have a G5RV JR that is 1.1:1 on 10m at 31’. Worked pretty well for the 10m contest. Thanks for the video.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I don't believe it's the antenna itself that gives me issues on 10 meters, but how it is oriented on my limited size lot.

[@jacko101]

FYI. The Apollo lunar modules were designed using metric units, and the astronauts used metric tools to conduct experiments and perform tasks on the lunar surface. The lunar rover, which was used during several of the Apollo missions, was also designed using metric units.

[@michaelrosebud]

Another great tutorial Michael, whenever I need to know something, I always go to your site. 10 meters is hot right now on the west coast, and I am trying to get some friends in Maine on it too. Again, as always, thanks for all the great advice you give us all, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours. Mike KI4TOL Lacey, Washington USA

[@TheMikeDarling]

Thanks for this video Michael. I build a 10m sleeve dipole for the contest, and toooo long and big snow storm so couldn't fix it. Did the contest anyway with my 84 ft long wire and had fun. And you are right. Get a 10m dedicated antenna up and working - great things to come! Again, thanks for making and sharing the video. 73 Mike N7GND

[@a_ham_like_me]

Thanks for producing another great video. I was not aware of the increase in F2 propagation during the winter...good to know as it's cold out there!

[@ku4uv]

E-layer propagation that occurs during the winter months is not the same as F2 layer skip. E-layer skip on 10 meters can occur during the nighttime hours. I have worked stations on 10 meters out to several hundreds miles during the summer, around midnight. 10 meter propagation can be odd at times.

[@rebeccamacgregor549]

When 10m is open it is amazing.

[@9Z4Y]

really good info thanks for this video 73

[@Bdub1952]

Thanks for the great video, Michael. I cut my teeth on 10 meters in '94 as a spanking new Tech Plus. My rig was a 10 meter Uniden President HR2510 with 25 blistering watts, and my mobile antenna was a 102' CB whip. I worked the world from my Ranger pickup with that setup on my commute to and from work. At home I had a simple 10 meter dipole on the roof, and it brought me very surprising results as well. Your video really brought back some great 10 meter memories, so thank you very much.

[@jamescollier3]

25 Watts will get from East Coast USA to Europe? thanks

[@Bdub1952]

@@jamescollier3 very easy, when the band is open.

[@jamescollier3]

Thanks!!😄

[@steveverhoef5667]

Thanks!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thank you for your support. It is greatly appreciated.

[@jeffbetts2]

Good stuff! New ham here. Subscribed!

[@Frankh77]

I've been digging 10fm lately. Late morning to early afternoon, the West coast comes in nicely (from Cleveland)

[@timaustin577]

Thank you :-)

[@michaelames6317]

Awesome video! Just learning as Technician from the land of the Moon landing Michael...hahaha 😂 learning both 6m & 10m... Thank you for posting! 73s

[@JrGoonior]

10 Meters is really starting to work well. Recently made a contact across the pond in England from Northwest Indiana mobile on 15 Watts into a Hustler HQ-27 on the trunk. He gave me a 5 7, I was ecstatic. 73's WB9LIY.

[@marktyldesley7373]

Nice vid, very helpful. I have a very small garden so this dipole might just work, currently using a 4btv, it works, but feel a dipole might be the answer

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Thanks for video. Easy antenna to make and gives good results on 10m. Maybe even consider making two - one positioned horizontal and one vertical so you can switch between them? Can really make a difference sometimes.

[@HouseOfThe8Strings]

10 meters is what got me hooked on DX! I caught a few contesters this past weekend also. KC4PPS

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

It certainly was a good weekend for DX

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Thanks very much for this Michael, I like the gentle way you introduced some theory into this. Enough to take on board and be useful but not so much to swamp me. More like this please and maybe come back periodically and chart 10m progress as the cycle continues. Season's greetings and best 73.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Ten meters is going to get progressively better over the next couple of years, so expect more videos.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

@@KB9VBRAntennas I look forward to them!

[@TheAnnoDomini]

I love the "who haven't landed on the moon" comment! 😂

[@DK5ONV]

Hello Michael, happy Holidays to you and yours over there in the Badger State. 73 de YFUG from southwest Germany 💯🙋‍♂

[@2E0LMI]

Nicely done. I joined in a bit just for fun in the contest too, just pipped you with 66 QSOs🙂I normally run an inverted V in my loft, but for this contest I ran my foundation 10 watts into a T2LT in a sloper config in the back garden, the top just 22' above the ground. T2LT is easy to make for anyone who needs an antenna to be few from one end, and no matching balun to make either. M7TDV

[@Brenda-jf2pe]

I was all over the world on 10 meters, this December from Utah. Uniform Tango ! With an old kenwood 520s and a cb antenna I -Max 2000 loved it!! JohnBoyUtah KJ7TBR 🇺🇸😎📡🎙 73’s

[@turtlecreek4633]

Nice, quick build! LOL - that guy at the end who was done with the contest was funny. 73 w3rrm

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Yeah. I’ve been there after 20 hours of field day operation

[@ajward5789]

Worked the contest from Oshkosh using a homemade 10 dipole as well! My contact map was similar to yours!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I've seen a couple other contact maps from stations at about the same latitude and region and all of them looked quite similar. East coast short skip was difficult for the upper midwest.

[@evanfinch4987]

KB9VCP here--looks like we got our license around the same time!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

August of 1999. You appear to have been right on my heels.

[@daniellandwehr443]

Thank you for the video Awesome information been doing a Hobby for many years(just listening ) got licensed in June 2023 and you’re inspiring me to get on 10 m this winter ends next summer with the sun cycle, being what it is thank you 73 KF0MYU

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

This summer wasn't the best for the 10 meter band as there was quite a bit of solar activity that suppressed it. But things are picking up again and in the last few weeks 10 meters has been shown to be quite productive. It should be amazing this winter when the 10 meter contest rolls around again.

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

I worked 4U1UN (United Nations in NY) last Saturday on 10 meters, I plan on converting my 20 meter dipole to a 10 meter dipole this week.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Nice, the east coast was bit outside my skip zone Saturday, so I didn't get many stations east of me.

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Interesting, I went out QRP Sunday afternoon and my QSO map in HAMRS showed all east coast, no West coast at all. I must have the opposite problem with the current conditions.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I thought so too. First I thought it was something with my antenna, but after seeing two QSO maps of stations with similar patterns within 175 miles of me and at the same latitude, I think it's a broader statement of the propagation conditions of my general location.

[@45auto]

Cut it and add something like bullet connectors so you can use it for both.

[@davewhite7679]

Instead of converting your 20-meter dipole, just add quarterwave 10-meter wire elements, and it becomes a 2-band "fan-dipole." 😃 KZ9V

[@coolstuff_.]

Cool

[@DesertRatLife]

lol one of those countrys that havent landed on the moon. That cracked me up lol. good video.

[@johnwest7993]

A carefully built homebrew antenna will almost always work as well or better than any similar commercial antenna. No matter how much they charge for a 'DX Turbo Super CQ LDO Eliminator III X+ Gold', the fact is that they are all just a bit of metal hung up in the air, and radio-waves don't read labels. Once I figured that out and started building all of my own antennas, mobile, portable, and base station arrays, radio became a lot more fun, and cheaper. And now I have several different antennas for different applications, and I spend most of my ham time experimenting with antenna designs since I can try a dozen different types for $50 or less in total in materials. Commercial antennas are usually more convenient and last longer out in the weather, but if you can build your own antennas, you can fix your own antennas, and it costs essentially nothing to do so. The only antenna I ever put any real money into was my LowFer antenna, and I put about $250 into it. It had over 2 miles of wire wound up in it and 35 pounds of #8 copper on the loading coil. It was the most fun and the most successful antenna I ever built or owned. Unlike a lot of hams, I wouldn't consider spending that much money on a transceiver. It would be a waste of money. It's all about your antenna, your headphones, and your understanding of RF.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Plus there's a lot of satisfaction in putting a home built antenna on the air and making contacts with it.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

10 meters is definitely a fun band to work! 73!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Yep. 10 is always full of surprises

[@demorestautosport]

Good Stuff Michael! I have been wanting to build a similar antenna for the winter and this has inspired me to! 73! KE8QPI

[@CliffN9BLE]

Great video as always. Like how you explain things and keep it simple like that. What coax were you using? Trying to build my portable setup

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The coax was RG-6. I needed coax for the antenna so I picked a length up at the Home Depot. 75 ohm cable, like RG-6, is actually a good match for dipoles.

[@threadripper979]

Right on, Michael - we use freedom units here in America.

[@boatsyoung]

Love all your videos but as a technician this one appealed the most to me. I'm in an area Western washington, two questions. Do fir trees affect the 10 m band? Two. I can get the center up 16 ft easy enough, but what about the opposing ends do they also need to be at 16 ft or can I use them as an inverted V?

[@hammathguy3995]

I don't know about the effect of fir trees on the 10 meter band. We don't have them in my part of the world. It might be an interesting study for you to do. Then report back. This is how we learn things. As to inverted Vs, yes. All of my HF antennas are inverted Vs. By going to the inverted V you can get an impedance closer to 50 ohms. One of those antennas is mounted in my bio-tower (that's what I call the box elder tree in my back yard). It seems to work quite well.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Off hand, I’m going to say that the fir trees won’t affect 10 meters. I know they will attenuate shorter frequencies like 70cm, but shouldn’t pose issues to the hf bands. Deploying antenna as an inverted V is fine. It will slightly affect the DX takeoff angle, but not enough to be a hindrance. I had mine up in a V and it worked great.

[@mattstosh6960]

10m was OUTSTANDING to Alaska during last weeks ARRL 10m contest. I mean OUTSTANDING.... Even at 80 watts. The solar values/ SFI / wind and KP domino's all fell perfectly. Hoping to work more technicians. I specifically look for QRP and new stations. 10 at 10 to Alaska - 10m opens around 10am local (1800 utc) to Alaska. Hoping to work you Michael - For the rest .....Come find us.on FT /CW / rare phone.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I'll keep the antenna up all winter, so I'll be looking for you on the bands.

[@EricFullwood]

FTDX-3000 remains a beauty

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

That rig still holds its own against the newer SDR models.

[@thed8229]

Yeah buddy 10m is starting to rock. I love my Hamclock's MUF map to keep me informed about the 10m propagation. K0ATV

[@ki4qfl]

The comment about the G5RV not working well on the 10 meter band. I thought it was just me. My G5RV mini is useless on the 10 meter, but works pretty well on the others.

[@ncoldmanoverland]

Epic comment, love it! “If you are in one of those countries………lolololololol

[@thebugg333]

I've been hearing a little about 10 meters when scanning 2 meter repeaters...my FTdx10 has picked up a lot more activity in this band so I'll need to scan around to see if I can make contacts.

[@vvatc]

12:32 How to do you plot the points on a map? Is that a website or an app or something?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I forgot to add the link. I use www.qso map.org

[@Photomanguru]

That was excellent, I'm going to make my own now for POTA, it will be my first home brew antenna. I'm not sure how to figure out what wire to use for 500+ watts. For fun It would be nice to be able to rotate it. I've seen examples of whips on an extendible pole in a PVC tube.... Loved the overview on propagation and the ionosphere, as a beginner I don't understand that yet, more videos please,,. Well done! VE6GTX

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

For 500 watts you can go 18ga or heavier wire. 14ga will easily do full legal limit.

[@G0USL]

To find the wavelength in metres (of a band in metres(funny that)) Use the constant for the speed of light being 300/F = wavelength in metres. (That's the formula the German engineer would have used that put America on the Moon)

[@Ron-xn4wf]

Another great video. How long can a coax be for this dipole?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

It depends on the type of coax. My coax run was 70 feet long. RG8x is good enough for 10m at that length but longer than 100 feet and I’d look at RG-8U or something lower loss.

[@franciscolopez3229]

That's a very informative video. I just noticed, you didn't used a balun sir. Having said that, what coax did you used? Can I use an rg58 a/u for a direct fed just like you did sir? Sure would appreciate it very much.

[@Radio48]

excellent 10meter video , love dipoles just wish i had more trees . W5XCW

[@DifferentGearTV]

Don't forget. If the 10 meter band is open so is 11!! Much better QSO on 11 meters