Kite Antenna - My First Attempt

I've always wanted to try flying an antenna from a kite but have never got around to making it happen.
This was my first attempt and it started off really well. Unfortunately my run of success didn't last!
The Amateur Radio UK channel is run by UK radio amateur M0GQC (James). As the channel name would suggest, the channel focuses primarily on amateur radio within the UK!!!

[@johng7rwf419]

You need a Cody kite for stability and load carrying. Stacked Cody's were used in WW1 to hoist a man aloft for reconnaissance purposes!

[@kennethblackwell1137]

Wow....that looks like fun....maybe something for the beach or nearby with off shore winds😁😁😁😁

[@Ei2iP]

Well done James 👏 Lots of food for thought..keep up the good work 👍

[@AmateurRadioUK]

Thanks Robbie.

[@PaulReedy]

After watching a KZbinr from the states here show how he did his kitenna on a beach in Florida, he gives some great advice. A similar size kit and he said to get 200lb string for it. I bought a reel for the kite and it had 1000ft of 100 pound string, I took all that off and replaced it with 500ft of 200lb. (Packaging actually said 290), and it held my 66ft wire up fine, but my balun was too heavy. I was just experimenting with what I had. When the wind picked up, it would lift the 1 1/4 pound balun, but now I have one that weighs 4 ounces, so I’ll give that a go as well as a a 122ft wire. Might want to write your contact info on the kite in case it goes flying off again.

[@AmateurRadioUK]

Yep, this was my first attempt & it really WASN'T my finest hour! My more recent attempts where I activated a couple of SOTA summits with a kite antenna were much more successful!

[@Scif64]

Nice one Simon. I used to fly a stunt kite back when I was 10 to 13 years old. Was great fun down on the coast. 73

[@AmateurRadioUK]

Nice. I eventually want to try this on a SOTA summit. The stronger wind should help but I want to get my rigging figured out in lower winds first (for precisely this reason). I've already filmed part 2 which will probably be released next week, so watch this space!

[@PaulGrahamM0PGX]

Nice, I've not watched your attempt 2 yet, but when I use a kite with a 1/2 wave end fed, I usually use strong kite line on the kite as we normally would and have the antenna fastened to a part of the kite that would make the kite un-flyable should the kite line fail (the basket / tail of your kite or on the bridal line near the back of the kite) I've had the kite line fail twice on me so far. I still add a weak point for the antenna. The antenna hangs straight down from the kite, so in effect I'm sitting under the kite, rather than where the kite is tethered. I've only tried this 4 or 5 times in all. I have two kites, one the same as yours, the other is quite a large (by my standards) Cody box kite.

[@robhills66]

Hi Simon looks the making of a great antenna when you get it sorted ,i did watch a chap use electric fence wire which is very strong nylon with strands of wire twisted in it as kite line and antenna in one ,it could be a way to go with your future plans , good luck with it im sure the rewards are there with kite antennas ,i will try this summer myself. Rob 2e0vdx

[@tonycampbell1178]

I have an amateur friend in China and we often discuss KZbin videos we’ve watched with a view to future projects. He has mentioned on a few occasions that he has issues understanding you due to the way you use um ugh, err ugh, etc, continuously. Maybe, because you’re a growing channel, it’s something you would look to address. I’m pretty sure he won’t be the only one who’s first language isn’t English and perhaps struggle to follow your narration. Interesting videos btw, keep them coming!

[@AmateurRadioUK]

Thanks for the feedback.......I'll try to watch out for that!

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@_MisterG]

Great video, as usual. Just an idea. Could you not use the kite line as it is and drop the aerial wire from the kite separately? That way it wouldn't be under tension and you'd have two tether points. Then again, if the wind gets blustery I suppose you could end up plaiting the wire and line! I've seen kite deployment systems though where a separate line was used to raise another item (eg teddy bears - see kite drop for details)

[@AmateurRadioUK]

Exactly my thoughts. Having the kite on a line with the antenna wire running up the line worked well on the second attempt (video coming out soon) but the additional weight tends to cause sag. It wasn't too bad because the wind was stronger on my second attempt, but would be a problem in lighter winds. As you guessed, the wire & string did make a bit of a mess for me to untangle at the end of the day! I looked at systems using separate lines. This is something that I might experiment with but I really wanted to stick with one line (for simplicity) if at all possible.

[@_MisterG]

@@AmateurRadioUK Have you seen plans for the Gibson Girl kite? The Cody kite is also a good one, but tricky to build and expensive to buy if I remember (old hobby rearing its head!)

[@AmateurRadioUK]

I'm going to have to Google that to find out what they are! May possibly try a large foil kite with more lift to get a longer/heavier wire up in the air once I have the logistics figured out.

[@jacovanzyl8896]

Hi, Where can one source a kite like yours?

[@AmateurRadioUK]

Mine came from eBay.

[@jacovanzyl8896]

@@AmateurRadioUK Thanks for the prompt response. Should I be looking for a specific brand? Do you perhaps have a link to the product? I know nothing about kites but I like the stability yours offers.

[@AmateurRadioUK]

Just type in "Sled kite" or "lift kite". You want something with a single line (as opposed to two control lines). To be brutally honest I don't know anything about kites either, hence the failure in this video! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144419240842?hash=item21a00ebb8a:g:tAsAAOSw0ZFiDpsU

[@jacovanzyl8896]

Thanks very much

[@josephcooksley3219]

Great presentation James , so the kite separated from your kite with no trailing string ? ZL2SCI/G1XZL

[@AmateurRadioUK]

It broke at the join between the antenna wire and the kite. The kite went sailing over the horizon but thankfully left my antenna wire & the attached radio behind!