The Most Popular HF Back Yard Antennas - 2023 Results

[@WX4CB]

my first antenna before i got my license was my moms plastic coated steel washing line that was strung about 60ft down the garden... worked great for shortwave listening...

[@Scrimboblik]

I'm still using one on 10m 12m 15m 17m 20m & 40m 👍

[@paulweston3289]

Love your channel ! 77yrs next week. left UK at 6 mos. I am on 25 acers . Have 7 wire antennas ,3 VHF. Radio obsessed since that xtal radio at age 8! All best, 73

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks Paul. Great to hear from you. 73 Peter

[@Ragchewer]

I had remarkable results using a 9:1 UNUN with 117 feet of wire. It sloped from 10 feet up to 50 feet in a tree. 160-6 meters tuned with the internal tuner as all bands were below a 3:1 SWR. (100 feet of RG8X) W6PDL

[@Ossie12pints]

Hi Peter, great video. I currently use a efhw cut for 40 meters. I struggle with a small garden so it goes up the side of the house and then over the roof resting on the ridge and down the other side. Not ideal but works for me and gets me on the air. Plus you can't hardly see it!

[@batwillow]

Greetings de G1YYU, I have a G5RV dirivative antenna the ZS6BKW which covers all the bands from 80 through to 10 behind my shack and I have a DX Commander in my field (lucky enough to have and no neighbours) that covers 80 - 10 and I've got a 11m wire on it as well. The DX Commander would go well in small gardens, but as you say any buildings nearby could cause issues. Alway enjoy your videos 73 Will.

[@cricket1043]

Peter, an absolutely great video! We own a small cottage in the US within an area listed on the National Register of Historic places, so stealth is key. Couple that with shallow clay cover over bedrock ramps up the challenge. Trying to keep things simple on HF (20 - 40) / barefoot) and not attract the wrong attention. My wife says to leave the radio home (haha) but that's not an option. Cheers!

[@ronjoseph7973]

The ZS6BKW was the only multiband antenna that would work in my garden home. The feed point is attached by pulley to the top of the chimney about 23’ in the air. The main challenge was to get the angle of the elements at no less than 90 degrees at the feed point. The yard is about 55 feet so I had to zig-zag the elements attached to tree limbs to achieve that parameter. It’s set up as an inverted V. I have about 2’ of wire left over on one side and about 10’ on the other. I ran the excess wire down 1” PVC pipes angled inward at 75 degrees. It is resonant on 40, 20, 17, 12, and 10 meters with SWR running 1.5 to 3. The best SWR across the band is on 10 meters. I use a MFJ 941E manual tuner for SWR over 2. It’s definitely a comprised antenna but I’m still able to make contacts on all the resonant frequencies and staying within the confines of a very densely populated area.

[@kengerace]

Thanks for the videos. Handsome sweater (jumper I believe y’all call them)😊

[@KE5KWE]

Speaking from across the pond,it is a great video and a wonderful summary of antennas. I recommend your channel to all, Perhaps another future project might be the magnetic loop antenna and it's place for those of us who operate from flats or even mobile homes.vThanks for the great information.

[@watersstanton]

OK Bill will put it on the list.

[@kc8wvg]

Bill, I installed a Ciro Mazzoni Baby-loop about 6 months ago on a rotator. Work well. I also have a Hustler 4btv and an OCF dipole. If you have any questions about the Loop antenna, email me. Enjoy the hobby. KC8WVG

[@SimonWilton]

Pete. You're so right in the popularity of the G5RV being swayed to the EFHW. Certainly here in North America. 73 Simon VA3SII G7HCD

[@stevet7522]

Ladder line (600 ohm) or window line (450 ohm) doublets are my favorite antennas. Even using those feed lines for a 40,20,15,10 dipole is far better than any other antenna I have owned.

[@Ben--David]

So I modified my NVIS EFHW (MFJ-1984HP) multiband to an inverted V, but instead of using guy ropes I used guy wires. Happy unintended consequence, though it is no longer multiband it is a PERFECT 20M antenna. 1.0:1 across the band. I have separate 2m/70cm vertical and 10m/6m vertical. So though it was not what I intended, I am getting contacts 2,000 miles away telling me I am 20 over 9 with no amp and only using 95 of 100w. Never like to drive full. Very happy! BTW, stripped all the TV coax off my house and am using lots of mix 31 ferrites around the house, 3 on HVAC, plus special Palomar kits for IC-7300 and IC-7100.

[@brian.7966]

well done Peter great film.

[@Dan-56]

Thanks Peter for a great discussion on “this years popular antennas” ! Because of your videos on the EFHW I gave it a try for portable operation and have been quite pleased with the performance of a “tuned” 40m EFHW for use on its resonant bands without the need of a tuner. 73 de Dan WD4DB

[@rogerlafrance6355]

When most antennas were designed, there were no broadband transformers or practical coax cable. Most transmitters had two binding posts for balanced lines or ground one side for a longwiire. Most hams would make their own balanced line for HiZ or use 75 ohm twisted pair (like you see in cat5 line) or use cheaper lampcord that was close enough. Twisting or using transposers every few feet helped reduce noise and stray radiation soon to be known as TVI. Today, an ATU in the shed is a good solution for bands you don't have the space for.

[@jonmcadams5401]

For a small garden unobtrusive all HF band antenna, I've had success with a non resonant 71' foot end fed sloper antenna with a 9:1 unun, 50' feet of coax & common mode choke 3' from the transceiver. 15' at the high end going down from a balcony to the top of 6" wooden fence. No problems with RF in the shack, SWR on all HF bands including WARC bands is 1.5 to 1 or less using a tuner, and from California I've made 100 watt and some QRP SSB contacts to Europe, Mediterranean, Africa, South America, Asia, Australia & get good 5/9 signal reports on daily West coast 40 & 80 meter SSB Nets. It's an inexpensive, stealth all band HF antenna for limited spaces.

[@m0aze611]

Life and ham radio is a compromise - EFHW are great, use at home in my 100 foot garden and I use for /p QRP when out and about. Are they the best? Doubt it but it fits into my space and bands I work. 100 foot tower and a Yagi would yield better results but divorce is very expensive and would I want my neighbours to see something so close to our homes No! Great vid Peter. 73.

[@derekthwaytes4689]

thanks for the info peter have looked at the links, I was wondering what the best way to install a verical, even though our garden is 100ft by 60ft, at the present I use a doublet. keep well Derek

[@adam-g7crq]

Interesting video Peter, there's a fair amount of us that live in blocks of flats, maybe a video on compact antennas.

[@watersstanton]

OK will put that on my list.

[@skepticalmechanic]

Agreed!

[@billedwards7964]

I prefer Doublets in my small garden and no eathing issues with shack in upstairs bedroom. How to use EFHW from upstairs room where shack is in front room and EFHW on rear wall down the garden? Coax run about 25 feet/8 metres and instructions usually say keep coax run as short as possible, 6feet/ 2 metres and good "RF" Ground. That could be a new topic if there is a solution. I see many antenna youtube videos showing set-ups and locations. But most would not pass the OFCOM EMF risk assessment. It would seem the operators are inviting a visit from OFCOM when the video is the evidence. As a long time customer of W&S and Nevada it is confusing where both in same warehouse building? Some items available in both stores and seems confusing to me when I now want a piece of radio gear? Enjoy video you produce Peter, Regards Bill.

[@grs6262]

To those proficient in code, the use of CW is merely communicating in a second language..you can head copy clear text while doing chores around the shack...

[@G7VFY]

If you use a 12+metre fibreglass pole a 160m inverted V might be possible in a small garden, either as a doublet or an end-fed half wave. G7VFY

[@Ressy66]

Good info Peter, wonder if you still think BB7V vertical works well without radials, or how it compares to say a hustler or dx commander with radials, I've heard its best if about 6 to 8 feet above ground, any thoughts on that?.. Happy New Year!

[@watersstanton]

The diamond antenna works on the principle of an end fedhalf wave but in reduced dimensions. that is why it does not need radios and raising the height should help.

[@dixsusu]

@@watersstanton Do a video of how end fedhalf wave came about . From zeppelin to ground . The round story then much of guys here will understand WHY !

[@MINI-4X4-RADIO]

Any antenna is better than no antenna I currently have a 1M MagLoop set on 17M and a bent 10M Wire Dipole in the Loft 17M 157 DXCC & WAS, 10M 73 DXCC & 35 States all with 2.5W on FT8 You do what you can, with What you have. I live on a New Estate(UK), My garden is 4.5M X 7M :( I hope(?) to get a small inverted "U" between 2 X 7M Fibreglass Poles, @ 21M Wire fed with 9:1 Balun & Remote ATU

[@larryprather5559]

I’m sitting way over here in Maryland. My ancestors escaped Britain before the pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock. They were in Jamestown. I appreciate your technical presentations on antennas. That’s perhaps the most interesting aspect of the hobby today. I just happened to stumble onto another UK ham radio your tube channel out of London. Loud, tacky, shrieking dudes who made vicious fun of your air fryer video. Only sell radios. I did not subscribe and won’t.

[@watersstanton]

Ah well at least they are watching this channel! Nice to hear from you. 73 Peter

[@johnatkinson5693]

A half G5rv is still pretty good ? Well I think so anyway.

[@dbailey3024]

I use a diy hwef with inductor for 80m and a inverted delta loop with diy 4:1 and portable hwef for 40m I found they work better than dipoles and g5rv in my opinion I’ve tried so many antennas including vertical ants and alleyways went back to my delta loop and efhw thankyou for an interesting look to what people think.Dylan 🫡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿