Kite antenna for 160-10m - Oceania DX Contest 2010

Testing a kite antenna for HF during the Oceania DX Phone Contest on Oct 3, 2010 at Tania Park, Balgowlah Heights, Sydney. The Rokkaku kite easily lifted the 40m end-fed wire antenna which was matched by a 49:1 unun and an auto-tuner. Operators were Gerard VK2IO and Axel VK2HXL. Contacts were made on 40m, 20m and 15m. Thanks to Xaphoid for the backing track, VK5ZVS for inspirational kite videos and Westwind Kites for flying tips.

[@vk2io]

The 49:1 unun provides a good match to 50 ohms from an end-fed antenna. The 40m wire is a half wave on the 80m band, and a multiple of this on the higher bands so the antenna offers a high impedance on all the bands of interest, typically 2 kohm - 5 kohm.

[@DENMONKEY]

thanks for the vid guys. Looks like fun VK2MRX

[@W3TFART]

so did the cops speak to you thinking something suss was going on ?

[@guruhmukhammadhaikal1713]

Wow great video. I am remember my first qso with you from Indonesia with my homebrew radio Best regard De YG3FSL

[@jimedwards9310]

great video. looked like a fun time. loved the bird :)

[@songofthepassaic1521]

Came for the kite antenna enjoyed the background music... Whats the song?

[@vk2io]

You'd need a much shorter antenna for the FM band and you'd have to use a transmission line from the ground up to the kite. If you used ribbon cable (old style TV cable) instead of coax it should be possible to lift it up with the kite and it wouldn't be too lossy. It would definitely increase range.

[@PD0MP]

that works fine, it should be an nice experiment to put an 1/4wave ground plane for 160M in it. or maybe to work with traps for multibanding. i'am a bit skeptical about balluns. but you had some great fun that day, most important. 73's de PD0MP

[@Stuff_happens]

What about static build up?

[@va3vad]

Try to use stainless steel downrigger wire. The one used for fishing. Use 100m string than attach the wire. I use a 200m long wire, rated for 80 kg. You can use a much bigger kite and you have wind all the time at 250 - 300 meters up. Don't use insulated wire so you can roll it up and can be tuned to the frequency ( no tuner required ). Than just use an alligator clip to the wire side and a banana plug to the radio. It works great on all bands. ATTENTION !!! STAY A WAY FROM HIGH POWER WIRES IT WILL KILL YOU !!!

[@Inkling777]

I wonder if 200 meters of wire reaching far into the sky offers a significant improvement over a much shorter antenna closer to the ground. One way to test that would be to set up WSPR transmitters near one another with each antenna and operating on the same band. Then see what the coverage of each is. Perhaps you could even publish the results on KZbin.

[@Dreamlgider]

why a 49:1 balun ?

[@VK3EGN1]

I use 18m spiderbeam pole to lift tuner 16m high. For higher outout you need different tuner, like inductive link 7 to 1. I gues your next step should be vertical beam. Enjoy it!

[@m0bob]

I am well impressed. I have never tried usinga kite for antenna use, that's somethingi will try soon. I have bought kites in the past, but they have usually disintegrated in the wind (probably because they were cheap). I will have to buya decent one. 73 de Bob M0BOB.

[@itsjimmyo]

That was cool 73s KF5AXY

[@N2RRAny]

Very cool! Gotta try that one day. 73!

[@cx500bike]

Good video great kite and a Landy 110 :D

[@picobyte]

Cewl stuff! I always wanted to try that! And think of taking high voltage power to the top feeding thrusters,fixing the kite stationary to provide ham&wireless-networking relays and even live HD-video streams of the place it hangs out :D

[@rn3qkg]

Best!!!!!

[@OK2BCK]

you rock!

[@gibbonspider]

Maybe a small tail on the kite to stabilise the swaying,and always use a pair of gloves when handling the wires and cords.They can slice through skin and bone pretty quick. But have fun. Catch you on 80m one day, kite to kite. 73

[@Radninja88]

Looked like the Police at 4:30!

[@GerardVK2IO]

It can indeed - try it!

[@rayharkins14]

What a smart idea. 73 kb6lqv

[@klaasomega1]

LOOK TO KZbin VLIEGEREN MET JOOP VISSER. THANKS

[@lu3dcs]

very nice good dx 73" LU3DCS

[@LU8HRW]

Very nice video, thanks for share it! 73` LU8HRW

[@klaasomega1]

GREAT BEAUTIFUL BELLISSIMO PRACHTIG NICE SUBLIME SUPER AMEZING LOOK TO YOU TUBE VLIEGEREN MET JOOP VISSER THANKS

[@dallasjames8610]

Dump the music, just noise.