Portable with HamSticks

[@joebirdwell5071]

Like Grandpa said “As I’ve gone through life’s highways and byways I soon found out that there were more horses asses than there were horses”. I have learned quite a bit from your videos! Keep up the good work!!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you my friend!!!

[@tommycheshire5508]

So many people are just plain rude and self absorbed. Pay no attention to them. The remainder of your fans are happy with what you are doing. I am more of a goofy radio operator. You are just having a good time sharing your experiences, for that I am eternally grateful. Always a delight to be scrolling through the internet offering and to stumble upon you and your big smile. I know you have had an experience that you want to share, be it something simple and it worked out, or just as valuable, something that does not work. I do miss your rare radio reviews. Screw them and carry on searching for a simple antenna that you thought of.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Right on! Thank you so much!

[@Swamp-Fox]

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it. Keep doing what you are doing Walt! Your results speak for themselves!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@bryantwalley]

From ATU to manual. Man you got to just delete and block the idiots. Dont even give them the courtesy of a response. They dont deserve it. Your content is great.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so very much, yeah you’re definitely right.

[@Aussat]

I've been a ham for over 30 years and I'm still learning, your channel is great, don't take in the negative comments you do fantastic and i like you are you, your not a fake like lot's of other channels, experimenting is what real hams do.. i lost that until i came across your channel, brilliant content Walt, appreciate what you produce.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@32_bits]

I found using two identical hamsticks as a dipole produced significantly better results than a single hamstick. Other than tunning the two hamsticks, getting the dipole high up made for good improvements. A 1:1 balun is another good addition to the dipole. Have fun and keep the video coming.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@BMCTackle]

LOVE the Shark Sticks! I used them as a home antenna. Mounted on the roof of my 2001 Durango with full chassis (ground), snuck the coax under the garage door and to the 7300. Had them for 8 mos, got all 50 states the first time with the sharks. Good antennas @ 100 watts. These can do 250 safely.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes they are great little antennas for their size.

[@SansNeural]

I live in an HOA with antenna restrictions, BUT I have an otherwise unused attic under a very tall, stupidly and space-wastingly pointy roof. I have a fan dipole in that attic that consists of a 4x4 electrical outlet box, two 40m hamsticks and two wires (dipole) tuned for 20m. The hamsticks dipole passband is pretty narrow, but works well for FT8 with a QRP radio with no tuner. The 20m wire dipole good SWR range is a bit wider, but I also use it for FT8 QRP. My IC-7300 and X6100 both tune the rest of both bands pretty well when using those radios.

[@tangle70]

There is always that one person. Ignore them, that is best approach unless they lay hands on you. I enjoy your videos and learn something from them. Thanks

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@donnakano3697]

I’m a retired EE and I enjoy watching your experiments with antennas. I operated mobile for years and used to drop a wire into the ocean to improve my ground plane. I don’t remember anything about doing that in my fields and waves engineering course.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@TR6Telos]

Sat inside with the rain bouncing of the window, wettest Feb on record here in the UK, fire on, beer poured and a great video . I am the same at 65 I just want everything to work with minimal messing around, and I just put a 25yr old ham stick up for 10 on the railings outside my house the stick on the bracket running vertically against a wooden cloths line support secured against it with string, stealthy, it should survive 150mph winds! As you say a bracket is available to hold 2 hamsticks for a dipole, that should be interesting, cheers. Mike g1zyx.

[@TR6Telos]

Forgot to say, ignore the village idiots!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank Mike! Cheers!

[@billryland6199]

I use a Nano VNA to adjust the Hamsticks. They work good on 40 & 20 with my FT-891.

[@christophermarshall5765]

Those FT-891 radios are brilliant. I have one as my portable set up, with the ATAS-120 antenna and LMR 400 coax along with a 2.5 m tripod. It works very well.

[@mrkopecky]

Forget the haters, constructive criticism is ok I guess. I’m always looking to see what you are building next. So many ways to get on the air. I activated on Monday using a 20m mini ham stick with old Rg6 coax. 75 ohm. & window screen counterpoise Took me awhile to get low swr. Rg8x will probably be better. Thanks for sharing.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! Yes RG8X will definitely help. 73, Walt

[@WX4CB]

hamsticks work great on the back of my metal box truck. got 5/9 on the intercon net while driving down here this morning

[@randalltom9750]

I've made and used many antennas, primarily focused on portable QRP field operations. A hamstick works great, especially when mobile. In practice, it's a simple and effective antenna... that's right, I said 'effective.'. And I work with 3-4 watts off a 9v battery.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that!

[@geirha75]

I love your response to the comments on collage. 🙂 I appreciate the work you do Walter. I always check and learn from your video documented experience/experiments when designing an antenna.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you for watching and thank you very much for the kind words!

[@dougdaniels]

I have 2 sets of Shark HamSticks, for 20m and 40m. One stinger is pre-tuned for a tripod and one for my trailer hitch mount. I color code them for quick setup in the field. I use 50' of coax and never need any radials. Perfect options for POTA when I can't set up an EFHW due to limited footprint.

[@cappyhitop]

I enjoyed this video. I've good fortune with the shark hamsticks. I managed to complete the 13 colonies clean sweep using a hamstick on top of my car last year. And that was a perfect reply to that cynical message Walt. Well done. Keep the videos coming.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@kennethblackwell1137]

I have a set of ham sticks for most bands and mostly use a single mag mount. I don't drive with stick installed. To make it quick and easy to swap bands, I had a session at home and tuned up all of them so when I get to the park or wherever....it only takes a minute or so to swap bands by just screwing them in and out of the mag mount which stays on the vehicle between operating stations. Thanks, Walt.....love your channel.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@vetham100]

I have several ham sticks and once the Canadian chill is gone, I will be out there with my ft857, some sticks and a lunch having fun. Thanks for another video. I enjoy your content, well done!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much! 73, Walt

[@vetham100]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES 73 Lewis VE3QJ

[@Keith_WB2VUO]

Hamsticks have been around in one form or another since the 1960's. The first ones I recall were from Kirk Antennas in CT and were described in the ARRL Mobile Manual around 1967(?). They are good, but so are the Hustler mobile antennas with their interchangeable resonators. Mosely had a series (Lancer 1000 comes to mind). Over almost 60 years, I have run more Hustler mobile antennas than the others. I have also used the Hustler resonators with my own masts. I brazed the 3/8-24 studs to 1/2" copper water line, reinforced with bushings. The sky's the limit to what you can do with time and decent tools. Still the best mobile antenna for me was a full-sized 1/4-wave for 15 meters! 11 feet plus on a heavy-duty ball mount. No drive-in windows for that beast, and actually got pulled over and checked for an overheight antenna once, heh... Not going to do that on the sub-compact, but was driving a 1976 Suburban back then, a beast if there ever was one! My latest project? Retooling a 10 meter Ringo to be a transportable antenna. More to follow on that, hi! 73, Keith, WB2VUO in Amherst, NY

[@sk8crk]

I wish we had better weather here, but it is the rainforest where I live... have fun and thanks for sharing!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@TheMockTv]

Hello from Germany Walt I read in the comments that you allow yourself to be influenced we say in german klugscheißer comments in your language smartass comments. Please don't do that. Your videos are perfect exactly the way you do them, as long as you enjoy what you do, everyone else in the community will enjoy it too Please ignore these people in the comments or simply block them or delete them. This is better for you and everyone else in the comments section, these people offer no value to the community other than causing trouble The German Ham radio amateurs have the same problem on their KZbin channels, even going so far that people simply come to their home and harass and insult them My great-grandfather once said to me, boy, the worst punishment you can give someone is to ignore them and not pay any attention to them and he was right I wish you all the best and good health and hope that we can hear each other on the shortwave 73 from DO4NRW

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@SuperCapsfan101]

Hi, Walt. Recently I went to a local park. I set up my HTX-100 and battery on a picnic table and mounted my 10M Shark hamstick on a charcoal grill. Worked several EU stations, as well as PX0FF. Would have worked more but the gnats were having Field Day! Also, the 10M stick works quite well on 12M! 73, Mike K3CXG who dat!

[@TheShawna1]

I went the OPEK hvt-400B route made a mobile mount and just replace the stinger for each band and change a jumper.has been on my mobile inplace of the Atas-120.

[@w4mkh]

Cool idea. I have a full set of shark hamsticks include dupes for 40 & 20 for dipoles. But I never thought about moving the stinger from one to the other. I’ll have to give that a try.

[@CriticalThinker-42]

Trying Out Different Things and Having Fun is One of the Great Things about Ham Radio, keeping it and our minds Fresh. There is no perfect antenna. BUT there is One Immutable Truth, ANY Antenna is better than No Antenna! Asking What If... and Giving it a Try, has been the source of Many advancements throughout History, with Many of those going against, and getting Grief from, so called Common Wisdom. Even Einstein ran into that with his Miracle Year papers. Keep up the Good Work Walt, and Thanks for the Videos! - 73 mike

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you so much Mike!

[@Aimsport-video]

Shark stick sets are cheap enough you can have phone and digital ones pre tuned for each band and use their quick release adapters.

[@jeffkunce8501]

I was going to comment the exact same thing! Keep the stinger on each stick, pre-tuned, and use the quick mounts. You can switch bands in seconds. A tuner will extend the bandwidth a bit on the lower bands. A good tuner (like on the G90) will even tune on a different band - but the performance is terrible. I also keep a quick-mount on a 17' whip. When I'm stationary, I can pop that on the same mount, turn on the tuner, and work all bands from one antenna.

[@richiec7602]

He Walt. Fairly new tech here and new to 10 meter hf. I have an MFJ Hamstick dipole and I love it. I have heard stations all over the US and around the world. I made a contact in Italy recently. They are easy to set up for swr. You can also buy the attachment that could hold multiple Hamstick dipoles, one for each band you want to use. Love your videos. You keep it simple, especially for us newcomers. Thanks

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks so much and keep having fun on 10 meters my friend! 73, Walt

[@clydeosterhout1221]

HF radio is as much an art as it is a science, as what SHOULD work doesn’t always. Perhaps what you do may not be the optimal or “correct” setup, but you get positive results. That’s difficult to argue against! Keep up the good work!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that and thank you! 73, Walt

[@garyclark4930]

Nice video. For Christmas I was given a pair of 20 meter and a pair of 40 meter Ham Sticks to make dipoles. My first HF QSO was on 40 meters with the Ham Stick dipole. Walt I am like you I have made so many different antennas experimenting. Some worked great and some not so well. I am not a RF engineer, just a guy havening fun trying different things. Keep on having fun and thanks for sharing. Gary KF6EWO

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

For what it's worth Walt, I think you do a great job! I've learned a lot about portable radio from you. Robert K5TPC

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@wb6msa]

Hey Walt, I use the 891 ham stick combo for pota, always surprised to get dx with that little antenna! I'm enjoying learning about antennas along with you. Thanks for all you do with the channel!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@WolfQuantum]

I have a set of Shark Ham Sticks for 10, 20, 40, and 80 meters. I repurposed a photo backdrop set to give me a tripod mount with sections that can run from 8 or 9 feet up to about 20 feet or so. I have the mirror mount coming in today. A few of the guys in our club have analyzers and we are setting up the trailer for Fort Clark Days here. We'll set it up and adjust the antennas. I'll probably mark the stingers so I can break them down for packing. My Icom 706MkII has an ATU strapped to it so even better. Watching this makes me think I will have the guy with the analyzer check each antenna for resonance. It would be nice to run one antenna at full height and not have to take it down to change each time I wanted to change bands.

[@SlooDon]

Walt, thanks for the video! I found your channel a few months back while doing some research. I'm just getting into amateur radio, taking my Tech exam this Saturday. Your content has been a great help and also fun to watch! I have a 60 watt 10 meter radio. Planned on using a 10 meter ham-stick with a mirror mount on a spike or with a fender mount on my F-250. Eventually want to make a dipole with 2 two sticks and the MFJ-347 mount. Put it on a mast made from a piece of 10'6" fence top rail. This I would put on some type of receiver mount. Haven't worked the details. Thanks again!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@stephanhersey1186]

I've used Ham Sticks quite a bit and know they work. One thing to remember when tuning them with the stinger not to get the lower end of the stinger down into the main coil. Enjoy your videos. Keep it up. Steve, k7ofg.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@d.j.roberts187]

Your videos are great. I wouldn’t waste another minute responding to negativity. That’s what they want.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@anthonycostello7167]

Do what you do , And keep enjoying it . I myself am not a 20 meter fan , But I can respect those that experiment with all bands phone . Keep going Walt . "Life is to short for shooting fish in a barrel"

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@bearbpm]

Some people are just so miserable in their own life that they have to try and bring everyone else down to their level. Haters gonna hate. I try to avoid those that are toxic. But you sir, on the other hand, are the reason some of us are getting into the hobby or getting back into it. Keep doing what you do!!! de K4RUE

[@DavidCase-ov5uo]

Agreed! Some people who do not understand your knowledge or skills feel embarrassed and try to save face by denigrating your skills. I am not a mechanic but I do not scorn anyone who IS a mechanic. G4BTI.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@theramblingsoflarry9290]

I bought a pack of ham sticks and use a mag mount on my truck Simple and easy to use

[@theramblingsoflarry9290]

I bought a pack and they had a stinger and they camped tuned for the band I want. I have two and make a dipole with them

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that!

[@WR3ND]

Looking forward to watching this soon. Thanks and 73. 👍

[@WR3ND]

Once again a very nice video, Walt! Definitely looking forward to those crazy hamstick builds of yours in the future - I've also been messing around with these and think they're a lot of fun. Cheers buddy.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@MikeinVirginia1]

I always wondered what a hamstick was for. Thanks for the info!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks for watching!

[@KX4UL]

Hamsticks do work well. I had a 20m and a 40m MFJ Hamstick mag mounted on top of my cargo van in the driveway and made hundreds of contacts. Good video! I like your happy up-beat attitude, now subbed...73!

[@terryjwood]

I retired about 5 years ago and decided that I should give HF a try after being VHF only for the last 45 years. I realized that I had NO antennas at all and needed to invest in something. So I went with hamsticks. I was shocked at how well they worked with some simple counterpoise. I even made dipoles out of them by using the MFJ-2100, HF OCTOPUS ANTENNA BASE. It worked well and I was able to work multiple bands without changing antennas. I later bought the MFJ-1984MP, END FED, 1/2 WAVE. It works on 40, 20, 15 and 10. With an antenna tuner / trans-match I'm able to use it on the WARC bands too. Recently I discovered that if I added counterpoise I could load it on 80 and 160 meters, even though the antenna is only 66 ft (20 meters) long. I still use the ham sticks, but I use them on my van! Imagine that! But with a tripod and some simple wire counterpoise I can also use them for portable operation. I never imagined I'd get so much fun out of trying new and different antennas and see what works and what doesn't!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Awesome, thanks for commenting! 73, Walt

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

Looking forward to watching you play with these in a dipole configuration. I know people have done it, but no one's really talked about their experiences doing it (like you tend to do with all of your antenna videos). Keep up the great work! Oh, by the way- I got my homemade Commander-ish vertical on the air a couple weeks ago, and I've already worked all continents with it!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@unclebus9046]

I think you're awesome Walt! Some people are just jerks. I love your attitude. 73 K2CMP

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@N3PEM]

Hamsticks were my first portable HF antenna and I still use them! at about 20 or 30 bucks a pop its a great cheap and easy way to get on the air!

[@MikeN2MAK]

I spent some money last year and got the Shark Quick Disconnects for my 4 hamsticks, Wolf River Coil antennas/whips, and mounts (mag, mirror, tripod and clamp). It makes it a lot easier to switch them out, especially if theres any wind. Plus it helps prevent snow and moisture getting up in the connections. I do think it was money well spent, especially for the use.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I agree, 73 my friend!

[@KC3UVF]

I ran a 10m shark on the truck. Awesome antenna for the upper bands. It's currently resident in the basement awaiting the onset of better weather and longer days. I got out of the Exploder and into an Escape. That makes me a bit cramped for space and at a complete loss for a mounting solution. I love my 10m radio but I may end up having to get a more comprehensive HF rig with a removeable faceplate... or use the DX70 if I can find a separation kit.

[@ridgerunnerLX]

Thanks!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

@@ridgerunnerLX thank you for supporting the channel! 73, Walt

[@tlebryk]

The 40m ham stick is notoriously diffixult to tune, if at all. Had one on the porch with counterpoise and could not get swr below 3. Now it is used in series with my non-resonant wire endfed and I get good performance on 20 thru 10m. Thanks for the demonstratuon!

[@GordonHudson]

I had this problem on the car. Then I found a reel of wire in the boot, attached it to the earth on the magmount with a crocodile clip and threw it onto the back seet. Amazingly the SWR dropped to 1.5.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@George_S.G]

People who are always critical are because they have some kind of envy that others know more than them, keep doing the work you do because I have learned a lot from your channel 73 from KC1SXC.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! Much appreciated my friend!

[@George_S.G]

You welcome!!

[@ae4xo]

This is awesome. I love seeing things we can do when we can’t use end feds

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@mdouble100]

Stay positive and just keep doing what you're doing. Your videos are wonderful, no college degree needed to enjoy them. It is important to note that making things unduly complicated, as some HAM's do, diminishes the value of information which is not freely understood by those who are not professional electrical engineers. Einstein once said that if you can't explain something simply then you really don't understand it. So, using the Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) methods are, in my opinion a pretty effective way to approach any topic. 😁

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@JimmyKI5PRK]

Hey Walt, I want to thank you for all the great video content you produce. I'm a relatively new HAM and I find your video very informative and helpful. Keep doing what you do and ignore all the negativity out there. 73...

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@agoraphobicadam1171]

Part of the hobby is learning as we go along. Heck, Thats part of the fun and feeling the accomplishment when we get things the way we want them to work. KO4HPC 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Good going Walt, thanks for video. Have been using hamsticks mobile and very happy with results. Once I got them tuned for each band, I just uncscrew the stinger section to store them which saves me re-tuning them. Though, if you are using them in different setups, this might not be an option.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that! 73, Walt

[@M6EastCoastGirl]

I ❤ AmPro hamsticks! Brilliant! Thanks Walt!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@pauldavis5075]

I know you like the X6100, I added a Micro PA50+ to get 25 or 50 watts out with 1 or 2 watts in. It's auto rf sensing and auto band sensing. Only the new "+" model is good. It's fits into the palm of your hand. You are right about 20 watts is the sweet spot.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I will check it out

[@gaptastic]

MAN!!! I thought u were gonna break out the tru(dx) .. great video ... commenting but still watching

[@loraz0]

Hey Walt! I mark the stingers just like I mark my 17' whips. I have found they are really close, and usually under 1.5 : 1 with a quick adjustment. I use a sharpie or nail polish.

[@dr5674]

Walt, I love your videos, keep up the good work!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@barryzoll9772]

Awesome video Walt!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@AzPauly]

I've had success with Hamsticks.. last June I made a 20m Arizona to VK land on my 891 while camping..tons of fun! As for the Sad Hams, maybe celebrate them by pinning the more absurd ones to the top..😁

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that!

[@johnnorth9355]

Nice little radio the Yaesu. Keep on keeping it simple Walt. The UK has just been overrun with wanabee Italians today so I really appriciate your style of radio.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Hahaha I told Callum this morning the UK is the new Italy.

[@MrToymod]

We have a full 1000 watts in the uk now , wahoo😮

[@jstrunck]

I agree! I like my Sharks also. I also have tuned them for a resonant frequency without an antenna tuner. They are plug and play now. I have heard and worked EA’s number of times on 15m. Take care sir and see you on the next vid!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

At first I thought Ham Sticks were crutches specially made for short legged hams but thanks to you I made a 80-10 meter spiderweb with those ham stick things. Actually works pretty good! 👍👍👍

[@billvet6]

I have never seen a monument for a critic. Good video. AB9QU.

[@1crazynordlander]

I get great reports with my 20 meter shark distributing ham stick in my mobile setups. My main mobile is a FT-891 and my other mobile is a IC-7100. I was told I have the best mobile setup by the controllers on the YL System. I have broken quite a few POTA pile ups too as a hunter.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

That is awesome!

[@angelscomputers]

We are always so synced haha, just installed one in my truck 10 minutes ago. Tuned 20m right away, I got surprised how fast I tune it. By the instructions put first 4” inside and only had to put 2 more inches in and done.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Hahahahaha that’s awesome

[@thomashardy9994]

I like your channel because there’s always something new and interesting. I may try some of these ham sticks.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@CoaxAndCampstools]

Walt, just listened to the HRWB European Ham Radio Show episode podcast. Hope to work you on the air CW one of these days. Probably the only way I'm going to work you in VA from CA. Keep up the good work.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@iamnobody9542]

I have some of the original ham stix. The loading coils are up top by the whip, which, like the Hustlers, is the most efficient placement for the coils. Most mobile whips are ~8' long. Note that antennas loose efficiency below about 1/3 of full length, which is Y your 2M ht whips run ~6 - 7" long. The ham stix are good 20 & up, but are way too short for 40 & 75. They will be ~15% efficient on 40, and 3.5% on 75. They will work when condx are good, but not optimum. I use them as rotary dipoles with 4 5' sections of aluminum TV mast on 20 & 15, and I have been heard from NY to New Zealand on 15 recently with my 817ND, but fading - the Gotcha - got me. Maybe a half hour earlier? Maybe... Will try again... 72, 73 Jerry wa2omu

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

73, Walt

[@MirlitronOne]

Walt, I've spent a lifetime in education and scientific research, and I DO understand a lot of antenna theory. I can assure anybody (and you and I know from experience) that very little diverges more from the theory than do antennas. Aerial theory has its uses and purpose, but at the end of the day you can't argue with a real aerial and the results you get from it. And if you're satisfied with the results and having fun, no amount of theory will get you further. 73 de M1GWZ

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@raylowe3324]

Nicely done. I have a 20 meter helical wound vertical I use sometimes portable. It is essentially the same as a hamstick. Keep the nice vids coming 73 WD5DHK

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@alanthomas8817]

Hi Walt, Like the idea of a hamstick dipole, it had me thinking, with all the dipole pieces wondered if a 40m resonator stick work with the 20m as the ground end or vice versa? I might try it out when the weather here gets warmer and dries out lol. 73 and thanks

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@janiceemery2008]

Thank you for sharing Walt, love the video. I was thinking about buying a 40 and 20m MFJ ham sticks. Not sure if I am going to do that. Thank you again for sharing.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

For roughly $25 each it’s worth the investment but they’re not the end all be all antennas for sure. 73, Walt

[@daron2428]

I use hamsticks all the time there great

[@WX4CB]

you know.. if you have the little triangular plate from the hustler whips, they work great with the hamsticks having multiple bands in one.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Roger that

[@cmarchi128]

great video

[@robpinter5431]

Learning, experimenting and sharing with fans, thanks Walt, Is there a multi band HF antenna that is unable like the ham stick?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@rlwoodlief]

Walt my friend, you keep doing YOU and let the idiots go about their business. We love your videos...73 de N4RLW

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@n0vty873]

Ypu could mount 3 or 4 of your fav hamsticks on 1 mount tune them up and switch between the bands as you please

[@stevemcnaughton-kb3jc96]

Walt, that's a great idea using the x5105 as your antenna analyzer, I have one, and never thought of that. I was figuring I need to spend a couple hundred on one of those portable analyzers! 73 KB3JC

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@Hamradio101]

Excellent as always Walt and we'll do calling out the trolls🧌

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you! 73, Walt

[@bobbywhitney6262]

Great video! I have a question: When using the hamsticks for certain frequencies, is it recommended or required to use counterpoise cables with the particular band you want to communicate on? I love your videos and thank you for your input.

[@richs39]

I'm curious why you use alligator clips for your battery. I would think making a quick harness with terminals for the battery, and connector of choice to connect to the radio's power lead might faster & safer. As an added bonus, less voltage drop, when transmitting. Of course, you spend more time operating than I do, so I am not being critical. What you do works.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I have different batteries and power sources, alligator clips are just quick and easy

[@scottmorris4914]

I need to go back and listen to your video on baluns/ununs. But with this antenna, you didn’t one of either. how would the impedence of this antenna be compared to the coax?

[@markviers998]

I think we have the same collection of ham sticks, I u e the Shark ones also. I added the quick disconnect mounts to each so I could switch between on the Breedlove mount I have on the car. Worked great but I got lazy and added an ATAS screwdriver, it's easier to switch between bands but I really didn't see any difference in performance between the 2.

[@joshspurlock3631]

Can you tell us more about that counterpoise that’s floating? How long does it need to be for land usage?

[@quaildogusa]

I love my hamsticks with my magmount

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

So easy to get up and running

[@KC5JKN]

Curious, once tuned, do you ever need to re-tune your hamsticks? Like, depending on your location for your next POTA, would you need to re-tune? Or is it a true set-it-once-and-forget-it thing? Thank you!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Yes I have to retune them in different locations and setups

[@billstaats1817]

Have fun Brother!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thanks! Always brother!

[@robertgipson6901]

Do two 1/4 wave hamsticks in a dipole configuration make a 1/2 half wave diapole?

[@adam-g7crq]

Hi Walt, I haven't tried this myself yet but I intend to, on some of my hamsticks I find some of them a bit tricky to tune in so I'm going to try a shunt between the base of the antenna and ground using either a 400Pf or 600Pf 1000v ceramic capacitor, don't know if it'll work but it's a cheap experiment, thanks for the video Adam G7CRQ.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Interesting, let me know how it goes. 73 my friend

[@adam-g7crq]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES it'll be a while, I've got to get out of the pub 🍻😁

[@wed_ward]

Looks like an MJF - I didn't hear the brand mentioned. I'm wondering which I should go with the MJF or Shark?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I mentioned at the end these are Sharks, it probably doesn’t make a difference but I like the Sharks I have. 73, Walt

[@hamradioonthego]

Great portable ops!. I picked up the same set up and looking forward to duplicating your success here. I’ll put up a video as well. 73

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Awesome! Have fun! 73, Walt

[@Andrew-dg7qm]

Hey Walt, another good one - and sorry about the sad ham ☹️🍖who thinks you need to go to college (though you already have). Some people are envious. Keep it up, we love it 😎📻📡

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Thank you Andrew!

[@Andrew-dg7qm]

@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Vulnerability and love are the truest marks of courage. You love radio and you love sharing it. The opposite of love is fear. They don’t have your experience or what it took to get you that experience. And they’re probably afraid they don’t know enough to do what you’ve been doing. Little do they know you learn by doing. Keep on doing it

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

So would that experiment be a hamstick off center fed?

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Haha no but that’s a good idea