Testing The W3EDP-Mini Antenna.

[@45auto]

Good to see you again, Gil. I had not heard of the full size or mini version of this antenna. The mini version is certainly quite handy if not a stellar performer. Best for when you have limited space. Always great to have options.

[@JT-py9lv]

Thanks Gil. Kevin Laughlin built a very similar antenna a few years ago. He used a 49:1 I always enjoy your videos. Merci beaucoup mon ami.

[@RadioPrepper]

That would be an end-fed half-wave, very different...

[@NamasenITN]

Happy for you, to see you navigating again.

[@JT-py9lv]

I've built both examples. Just need to get out in the field to test them... Fingers are crossed !

[@TheHeff76]

Gil, what a great video. Loved the scenery and the review. Thanks! 73.

[@randalltom9750]

Back on the sailboat, nice! Love your videos...

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Great video Gil and very interesting, very useful for a travelling antenna. Would really like to see an antenna comparison video sometime. Good to see you on your boat and would like to see more videos combining marine with prepping radio and antennas. Have a great Summer and best 73 Ace G0ACE

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks, I probably will make one...

[@phils2180]

Sun, sea and radio, go for it Gil! Seas On The Air looks like great fun!👍😀. That is certainly a very simple/portable antenna and could be a good choice for summits, the only "issue" could be a method of supporting it on a bald hilltop. I've just treated myself to a TX-500 and I'm in the process of building a multi band antenna for SOTA. The 3 main requirements were lightweight, be easily tunable to resonance and be self supporting so I've opted for a 5.2m telescopic whip, home brew loading coil for 40m and free standing or stake mount. Enjoy your island hopping and safe sailing😀. 73.

[@RadioPrepper]

Those are pretty light for SOTA, good choice.

[@tbmpetsolutions]

Excellent vid. Glad you are on your boat enjoying radio as well.

[@spytromics]

Thanks for the fun video. I like your boat and the scenery of the south of France!

[@Subgunman]

As calm and relaxing a sailboat is ( they were called blowboats up in Lake Erie in the states) sometimes it’s nice to have a decent motor when the wind is not in your favor. Try to dress out the wood with a bit of teak oil to keep it fresh, one thing in common with motor boats, we’re constantly doing repairs and oiling the wood, but it’s well worth it. There is something relaxing about boating and adding radio to it is even more fun unless you are in the middle of a lightning storm. 73 from SV9 island in the Med.

[@RadioPrepper]

Definitely. I like my small Volvo MD1. I should work on that wood...

[@TI3IES]

It's good to see your posts again, very interesting, 73 from TI3IES

[@peterdalton4370]

Hi again Gil, After reading your reply I decided to build the mini version of this antenna and try it out. First thing I noticed was that my receiver on 40m was unusually quiet. The mini antenna tunes easily on all bands 40-10m but its efficiency seems low on all bands, so I would not recommend it for QRP /portable operation. As we know the dummy load tunes beautifully on all bands but does make a good radiating antenna. I have had a chance to use my middle size version (10.2 + 5.6 + 4:1 balun) of this antenna and while it seems to be more efficient than the mini version it does not perform (radiation efficiency) as well as my wire 40m 1/4 wave vertical. I feed my 40m 1/4 wave with odd multiples of 1/4 wave @ 20m so that at 20m where the antenna exhibits a high impedance at the feedpoint the coax feed line acts as impedance transformer and gives a low impedance at the end of the coax on 20m. The antenna tuner tuning is very sharp on 20m and the antenna radiates well. The antenna also loads easily on 15m giving me three bands, 40, 20, amd 15m. After saying the above I would advise QRP operators that considering your application is important when choosing your antenna; do you want to work DX or local contacts. The vertical is good for DX while a simple low dipole is better for local area work. Best regards, Peter VK1XP

[@GordonHudson]

I live in Scotland. I heard a station in Ireland on 40m but the only antenna I had was a 10m dipole. So I used the auto tuner and he gave me a 55 report. If you think about it we are happy to use a 2m long antenna for 40m on a car and we make contacts so we should not rule out small antennas for base station use.

[@syshellykay990]

I built this today, pretty amazing. Very tunable across all bands. My WSPR contacts span out to 15,000 KM. I appreciate Yor vid Gil! KJ7AOA

[@davem0udb]

I like this antenna out portable, no radials needed, something less to carry or worry about the public getting tangled up

[@Ossie12pints]

Nice one Gil, great stuff 👍👍

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

Good that your rig did not decide to jump into the sea this time Gil 😀.

[@RadioPrepper]

I was ready to jump after it! 😉

[@freisprechen2142]

Hello,nice to see you again. I wiil build this Antenna for my hollyday Trip in France in July. 73 DH7TB

[@OH8STN]

Outstanding Gil. Definitely nicer wx than we have 🤣👍

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks, is it warming up a bit up there?

[@OH8STN]

@RadioPrepper Yeah it's about 22c here today. Not great but liveable.

[@thewheelchairprepper8070]

Thanks Gil for another GREAT VIDEO ...I love your beautiful sailboat 73 from Tennessee!

[@MaryBell-wb8dn]

What a nice adventure Gil. Sailing to an island with nice weather to test some equipment. I have been keeping an eye on you since you were in the U.S. Looks like you are doing well. 73,s Kb9ghn.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks, it could be worse...

[@DavidS-iw4ei]

Great video Gil. I was in Nice two weeks ago. Next year we should get a beer. 73's KE6UPI

[@RadioPrepper]

Absolutely, email me at [e-mail]

[@KL3NCH]

Tres bien Gil. I built a Mini and a Junior following Jose's plans and they live side by side on the same winder but I used 300 Ohms window line. Perhaps the 450 Ohms would be better. It is as you say just an OK performer but so simple to make, lightweight and inexpensive. I've only tried using the Mini so far. The Elecraft T1 makes light work of "tuning" it which is hardly a surprise. I apologise if it has already been noted, but I have read that W3EDP only popularised the antenna based on another USA ham's design. Great great video Gil.

[@RadioPrepper]

Interesting thanks! The full size W3EDP works significantly better than the mini..

[@Atomshamradio]

Very nice you dont need much to get on the air or up to high if thier was a emergency

[@Roland.Hoffmann]

Thanks a lot. Excellent, Gil. 73 de DL4SFC

[@xtogarcia1463]

He usado esta version -micro W3EDP con buen resultado en 20m . Contactos en la primera prueba con : Rusia, Islandia, Finlandia ... @ 2500 km en el primer intento con solo 10W. Buenos reportes. La antena diispone de otro pico de resonancia alrededor de 10m que es muy sensible al uso de un contrapeso.Este contrapeso es de longitud muy corta y está conectado en el punto de salida "fría" del balun 1:4 , donde se une con la linea abierta de 450 ohmios. Con este contrapeso, puedo despazar el pico de 10m y llegar a 11m con una pérdida lógica de rendimiento.También afecta, pero en menor medida al pico de 20m. La zona intermadia entre picos es adaptable con ATU, pero no espero grandes cosas. El contrapeso es un punto a favor. Comentar además que el balun 1::4 mejor que sea de corriente (dos toroides separados) ya que la version de voltage ( un toroide común) no limita la corriente de modo común generada por la asimetría de la antena. En cualquier caso un choke RF siempre es más que recomendable, es necesario. Buena relización y excelente video.

[@josephcooksley3219]

Gil great Marine Broad cast , lazy days on the Med not so lazy if a storm brews up lol , but a good demonstration of the Antenna you are using ... i wonder what the tune match was with the configuration you were trying out certainly made the grade ZL2SCI/G1XZL

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks, unfortunately I forgot my antenna analyser..

[@richarde735]

I’ve been looking at xeigu g90 for pota and shtf.

[@DonzLockz]

Beautiful location to test your antenna Gil. Currently -2.5⁰C here.🥶

[@RadioPrepper]

Ouch!

[@mikelukasik9996]

Nice video there Gil and I will build one myself, I just received the JPC-12 center loaded vertical ant so I will let you know how it works. 72's Mike, VA3MD

[@RadioPrepper]

Please do..

[@billryland6199]

You always need a counterpoise with a 4:1 transformer. The output is only 200 ohms. Try a 9:1 UNUN to drive 450 ohm line.

[@RadioPrepper]

200 Ohms where?

[@marcusetveronique7508]

Slpendidos !!!!! Video com dab !!!!!! Merci pour ce partage Gil 73's+++ Marco

[@RadioPrepper]

Merci Marco!

[@johnwest7993]

A ham station aboard a boat is referred to as a 'maritime mobile'.

[@baptiste6058]

Thanks Gil, did you try this antena in CW ? By the way, I've just upload the OpenGD77 firmware on my RT3S and it's a bug game changer ! You shoukd try it if you've not already. Best regards

[@jeroenhashman2383]

i am a maritieme mobile on south west coast of the Netherlands using a 20.2m efhw on a 9.3m boat top of the mast is at 13m. inverted V using pvc pipe to keep it clear from the rigging. i like this idea for simplicity. could i run it straight from the mfj-901b ?

[@RadioPrepper]

My mast is only 8m tall 😞

[@Aimsport-video]

So a “will it antenna” for your mast and stays next? You have a G90 after all! Great video.

[@RadioPrepper]

Not sure what I'm going to use...

[@GregMckenzie-j6m]

jhi Gil thanks for the video j jose uses a 4:1 UNUN where you use a 4:1 balun is there a reason why ?

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, it's just what I had on hand..

[@GregMckenzie-j6m]

@@RadioPrepper okay Thanks I have been inspired by your video and made the mini junior and the 84ft version so thanks Haven’t tested in the field yet

[@RadioPrepper]

Let me know how it goes!

[@GregMckenzie-j6m]

used the antenna 1st time made a contact 4,241 km and 2nd contact 2,266km using 5 watts ICOM 705 15m band i would say this works a big thanks for your video

[@RadioPrepper]

Awesome!

[@hbrob]

Great video, where did you get that 4:1 balun?

[@RadioPrepper]

SotaBeams.

[@hbrob]

@@RadioPrepper thanks 73 AE7BP

[@Trent28888]

Pity the antenna is useless but atleast u now kmow u can pull up a 1/4 wave for 20M on your boat Gil 😉 Thanx for another good video

[@eyeinidas]

I made one. I used a 9:1 balun and made a contact in Utah from South Carolina. KO4UGN

[@ronleblanc9832]

what size battery do you use for the C90 how much power draw at 20 watts looks like a beautiful location

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, four 7ah Liitokala LIFWPO4 cells..

[@johnnorth9355]

G90's are amazing.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

thanks, fantastic experiment 73 from kb2uew

[@severinsalin5467]

Bonjour, Connaissez-vous la différence entre le xiegu x6100 et le icom ic-705?

[@1289512]

700 euros 😂

[@48pluto]

I have now a doublet for 10 meters. This antenna doesn't perform on 20/40 meters at all. It's good for listening though. Anyway. I was in the proces of thinking to replace it by a W3EDC - mini because i have limited space for a 40 meter antenna and i want to have a better antenna for it. The results in your'e video aren't very convincing. It probably receives better then what i have now. But i might loose performance on 10 meters.. And introduce maybe RFI.. Of course i was already planning to use a choke. I'll need to think more about this. I don't want to do all the work for nothing :)

[@RadioPrepper]

I tried on 15m but there wasn't anyone..

[@48pluto]

@@RadioPrepper I build one. One hour ago. I will put it up tomorrow or the day after that and see what will happen.

[@RadioPrepper]

Let me know how it performs!

[@mabo4848]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@hoggif]

It seems the mini version is 25% sized from full version. Lenght of the 5m wire seems somewhat short for 20m band, far from half wavelenght. That gives me an idea to try out how 50% size version would work with 2.6m ladder line and 10.2m of wire. That would be a perfect size for my tiny garden and I could really use a replacement if it was better than my current random length inverted L. 73

[@RadioPrepper]

I think an 8m wire would be better too...

[@davevic8071]

Super, mais il manquerait pas le moteur sur la tender 😂

[@RadioPrepper]

Oui mais c'est 2000 Euros...

[@steveschroder8782]

4:1 balun or unun??

[@RadioPrepper]

BALUN.

[@donalfinn4205]

God bless the days when KZbinrs put stuff up for free, and because they wanted to. Without expecting everyone else to pay your way. It’s a bit much. I’m gone.

[@RadioPrepper]

You watched the video for free, didn't you? Why should I pay out of my pocket for your entertainment? And yet, mostly, I do...

[@andrzejpl9897]

Looks like you don’t need to have good antenna to made nice video ?😀

[@drvigg9083]

The W3EDP was most definitely NOT based on or inspired by the Zepp...unless the 1936 article in QST was intentionally misleading us. I don't know what that is you're showing, but it certainly is NOT a W3EDP antenna: "The antenna and counterpoise are at right angles to each other." [Beers, QST, March 1936, p 32.] The design procedure described involved starting with a 100 foot (30.48m) long wire, assessing its performance over some period of time, cutting off four feet (1.22m) from its length, and repeating, then, after settling on an 84 foot (25.60m) antenna, performing a similar process to arrive at a 17 foot (5.18m) counterpoise wire for most of the then-extent bands. What you have is a mini-version of something that, coincidentally, has similar dimensions and happens to work reasonably well, but it is, without question, not a smaller version of a W3EDP.

[@michaelhamilton3778]

J-Pole - similarities

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

Yes, I think it is a similar idea to a J-pole but with a high impedance ladder line feedpoint that is brought down to nearer 50 Ohms by the 1:4 BALUN.

[@m0wao690]

I'm on a boat... isn't that /mm Maritime Mobile 😂 73

[@RadioPrepper]

I think you need to be some miles from shore...

[@9PAT508]

it's a j-pole antenna

[@russellsullivan1804]

"promo sm"

[@RadioPrepper]

What does that mean?

[@vincenzofidanza2539]

Do't go to the strait of Gibilterra , Orcas like rudders

[@donalfinn4205]

I must try this KZbin racket. Seems to be a way of making handy money.👎

[@RadioPrepper]

LOL, about $120 a month. I spend twice that for the channel, not even counting my time! Keep your day job!