TAPE MEASURE EFHW portable QRP antenna experiment (PART 1)

[@johnsinclair3067]

I couldn't wait for the on air test video, so I stopped at the hardware store and picked up a 100 foot tape measure. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@OM0ET]

😊 you are welcome John.

[@k8ilb]

Camera work and audio are superb. It’s a pleasure to watch you and very informative.

[@OM0ET]

Oh thank you so much for the nice comment! 😊

[@nevellgreenough404]

I've made measurements on small #43 cores with an HP4815 vector impedance meter and a 2400 ohm resistor load. Your original thought of a 21T/3T tap transformer has better SWR on 80 meters than a 14T/2T tap one. A shorter/lighter version can be made with a 14T/2T transformer for the higher bands. Fantastic idea- I'm off to the hardware store! --N2GX

[@M0LYF-AMATEUR-RADIO-TODAY]

Looking forward to the results! Nice work, great idea

[@larrygrigar3793]

Absolutely brilliant Paul! this project is why I keep coming back to your Channel :0)

[@OM0ET]

Thank you Larry! 😊 I just hope this antenna will work 😁 Best 73

[@joshua-the-seer8494]

That's a breakthrough! I am very inspired. I will be creating one ASAP. I have some upgrades in-mind. We can always see how to do things "better" when someone else is doing it ;) I'll post a reply video when possible.

[@OM0ET]

Great, I am looking forward to watch your video 😉👍

[@fantasticola]

Must be larger ferrites you can fit in there. But being a HFEW, really tune the SWR.

[@JReed305]

That is brilliant! Looking forward to part 2.

[@washingtonstatepicker3460]

Great video! I watched half 3 months ago and just finished today! I love this idea!

[@NHSbandUnofficial]

I'm interested in seeing how it performs.

[@52Warlock]

Nice. Looking forward to the test!

[@izzzzzz6]

your definatly not the only one who had this idea. I was considering uing one as a vertical however the material is not ideal.

[@terencebarfield5864]

I can it see the toroid and no wre cannot see it please give to me drawing of your tiroid

[@joseneves2822]

But what an inspired idea! Certainly in the field will work well ... waiting for the video with the antenna mounted and connected to the radio in broadcast. Thank you very much for sharing 😉👍

[@WessexWeather]

Fascinating video, thank you! Can’t wait for the test results!

[@dongelinas5990]

The use of an electrical fence post works great. Would place the tape measure about 3ft off the ground. Made of plastic with a spike at the end to push in the ground

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Interesting idea and look forward to seeing how it works. The price of the tape in the UK is too much to be viable. For the same money you can buy good wire and a winder from farm suppliers.

[@fantasticola]

I would pay the more expense for lighter kit, as i need weight down for portable. Any suggestions, as I'm in UK 🇬🇧 also? M7CHK

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

@@fantasticola As an ex sheep farmer, I'm looking at lightweight electric fence wire which should be good enough for QRP.

[@cecilmadden]

Did you forget a capacitor in your 49 to 1 circuit?

[@OM0ET]

No, no, I didn't had any at this time. 100pF capacitor will be added later 😉👍

[@cecilmadden]

@@OM0ET I like your idea, and enjoy your videos. I look forward to your testing the new antenna idea.

[@jeff-73]

Hi Paul. Did you do part 2 of this? I am curious how it works.

[@OM0ET]

Yes of course here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGiyZ5uFqrecrrM

[@don_n5skt]

Did not see the capacitor that is usually on an EFHW. Do you not typically use those? Looking forward to part 2.

[@michaelleslie8310]

What is that soldering gun you are using?

[@jacobKC3MRA]

That’s amazing. I am gonna build one. Could you attach the jumper to the part of the bolt on the outside of the case or does it need to be mounted inside?

[@OM0ET]

Thank you! I believe that soldered contact is always better that just mechanical contact on the bolt.

[@juanjocastillo]

Great idea Paul !!! A inductive coupling as a couple of turns of wire just inside de box will work???

[@26TM205]

You need an earth point for a counterpoise infact you could use the left over tape or part of it as a counterpoise? Just an idea

[@epedja]

Nice build. Practical. I considered similar build but I could not find aluminum tape measure. All are steel. I am concerned about using steel for antenna for increased loses. Main advantage of tape measure is that you can adjust wire length. It seems to me you are using EFHW configuration that just needs full length of tape. As you are working low power and full length of tape, it may be advisable to replace tape itself with copper wire. Winding mechanism would still serve the purpose and copper would help improving antenna efficiency.

[@darrinpearce9780]

Can't wait to see the testing, very interesting. 73's

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

Many years ago the USA firm Barker and Williams made an adjustable dipole from two stainless steel tape, tape measures, a rare item now. Time for a revival???

[@johnk8091]

I look forward to your outdoor test

[@erpece]

Great project, Paul!

[@OM0ET]

Thank you very much! 😊

[@andrzejpl9897]

Can You Try to compare tape with copper wire ?

[@ray32245mv]

this is DARPA type thinking, excellent work.

[@spillo84top]

Ciao Paul! Where did you find the metallic tape measure? In italy i'we found just a syntethic tape!

[@OM0ET]

In the local store. There is a similar one in the video description

[@TonyM7CVK]

Excellent build again Paul would like to see it in operation I will add to my list of builds regards M7CVK Tony

[@OM0ET]

Thanks Tony, I hope this antenna will at least a bit successfull 😁

[@qrpradiolistner7232]

A great job my friend ... you have a lot of patience and good hands for this type of modification ... I have only one doubt, you should scratch the paint on the radiator otherwise contact with the crocodile is not possible ... Greetings from central Italy. 73. Giuseppe iz0gzw qrp.

[@OM0ET]

Thanks my friend. 😄 Yes I am aware of this of course. I want scratch it after first use in the field. I have prepared a small piece of sand paper with me too.

[@paulhastings3109]

Are you using copper, and not magnetic wire.

[@jeffholverson8294]

Great idea. Two questions, 1) how much power do you think it will handle, 2) how is the signal without the capacitor that is usually on this type of antenna at the Un-un? Did you notice the transformer getting warm during transmission? Thank you for the inspiration. Keep up the great work. Be safe.

[@SaitamJ]

Exelente, espero con ansias el video de prueba en campo, creo que me voy a armar una. Saludos desde Buenos Aires, LU7DZM

[@paulhastings3109]

When it part 2 thank you

[@DavidKK4GAF]

Do you still sell your loop antenna?

[@OM0ET]

Yes David, I do

[@Pillowcase]

The STEM antenna was an extendable antenna developed in Canada for space probes. It actually was more like those carpenter tape measures because as it rolled out it was curved, so it stayed straight. Picture of it: www.spacenet.on.ca/data/pages/canada-in-space/alouette-images/images-stem.html

[@OM0ET]

Thanks, very interesting! 👍

[@KU9L]

I enjoyed watching this video very much & want to build a version of it for my ATS3-B Qrp rig. Thank you very much! 73, Dave - KU9L

[@ivandubinsky1857]

True ham radio innovation. 🙂

[@OM0ET]

😃👍

[@janhenkins]

Very nice idea! But don't throw away the excess tape, you can use that to make light-weight hand-held Yagi antennas for the 10m to 70cm bands! 73 de M7HNK

[@OM0ET]

Thanks Jan for a good idea 😊

[@andrewdronsson9028]

Fine idea. You should only change a label on your tape meter. :-)

[@juliocaesarramos5250]

Nice idea!!!! Let's go to test......

[@vnzboy]

Hell yeah. New subscriber herw, Love your channel.

[@OM0ET]

Thank you! 😊😊

[@iu1olr]

i love this project!!!!!

[@EricMethven]

Don't forget to remove the paint from the tape where the crocodile clip attaches.

[@bask2140]

Why not use a hot glue gun to secure the ferrite coil?

[@OM0ET]

On the hot sun in the summer a hot glue can melt and loose toroid.

[@2pi628]

Algorithm Bump!🔥

[@Patrick_PD2ET]

Super nice !! 📡😉👍

[@OM0ET]

Thank you! 😊

[@paulhastings3109]

It's a nice build 10-40mts 1/2 wave

[@hammathguy3995]

You may have cut the tape a bit short. It will be short at 3.5 MHz. 300/3.5 = 85.7 meters. Divide by 2 and you get 42.9 meters. It should be fine if you operate a little higher in the band. About 3.6 Mhz. That's what theory says anyway. It could work perfectly in the field.

[@liml735]

Отличная конструкция антенны для /P!!! 55! 73!

[@outdoorturkiye4480]

Sehr gut👌

[@mabo4848]

great

[@OM0ET]

Thank you 😊

[@davidwickersham7873]

This is not a new idea. Heathkit made one that we used for a portable SSB radio in the early 1970s. It had frequency marked on the tap so you just pulled out to what you wanted to operate on. We talked to our techs in Araiba from Pasadena Texas.

[@TacticalData]

No kidding David, really? Do you have a link to the Heathkit video showing the winding of the toroid like OM0ET did? Link it if you have it - thanks! Thanks for the video OM0ET - I appreciated it.

[@HALEdigitalARTS]

Sick...

[@old-timeangler5356]

'Paul, great video, a project I will also try, thank you, de W2DWL

[@iu5khp]

Great idea Paul! Nicola IU5KHP

[@OM0ET]

Thank you Nicola 😊

[@Screamingtut]

the term you meant to say is Alligator for the clip instead of Crocodile, they are different.

[@USXPOP]

He was correct. In Europe and England and maybe other places it is called a crocodile. USA says Alligator. Same device, different convention in terms. W0YVY

[@jessgypin-ko5ds]

Tapetenna

[@toml.8210]

Please stop using the phonetic alphabet for your call sign. It is proper to use plain English. You need to know that pass the amateur radio technician license test!

[@kd9lac803]

Not sure about where you're from but here in the USA, one of the test questions asks about phonetics use on the HF bands, and the correct answer says to use phonetics due to weaker signals and poor audio quality. Also, here we can't use the HF bands regularly until we get to General or Extra. The Tech pool, however, does have questions about the phonetic alphabet.