Which is best? POTA Antenna Showdown in the Wild

It's a POTA road trip! I head out to activate three new to me parks while using a different antenna at each one. Ride along with me for an epic Parks on the Air activation as we find out which one will be the best
As a bonus, patrons can view the full, unedited phone contacts for this Parks on the Air activation. Visit my page on Patreon for details: / kb9vbrantennas
I do return QSL, if you made a contact with me and would like a QSL, please send me one. Return postage not necessary, but always appreciated. As they say, KB9VBR is 'good in the book.
Coffee and Ham Radios Apollo End Fed Half Wave: coffee-and-ham-radios.square....
Chameleon CHA F-Loop 3.0 Magnetic Loop: chameleonantenna.com/shop-her...
213 inch whip antenna: amzn.to/3O3Bvkm
Feather Flag Base: amzn.to/3O6O7al
Antenna mirror mount jaw clamp: amzn.to/48yzRPL
3/8x24 SO-239 stud mount: amzn.to/3Sjre69
Aluminum window screen: amzn.to/3Sii0Ho
Faraday cloth: amzn.to/3vCru7r
Yaesu FT-891 transceiver: amzn.to/3RSg4DO
Heil Ham Radio BM-17 Dual headset: heilhamradio.com/product/bm-1...
How I record my contact audio: • Audio recording in the...
My headset trigger switch: • Ham Radio How To: Buil...
Bill Cross was a fascinating 'character' in pioneer history: www.wisconsinhistory.org/Reco...
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#Hamradio #AmateurRadio #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #PortableHamRadio #adventureradio #bestantenna #efhw #CaHRtenna #magneticloop #verticalantenna #bestpotantenna #hamharder

[@ac0gv]

In Wisconsin, all good road trips start with Kwik trip!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Of course I liked the Coffee and Ham Radios Apollo EFHW best. (The others were pretty good too)

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I think I've consistently gotten more DX on that antenna than any other one I've had.

[@billjobes1851]

What an ambitious, fantastic day of park activations ! All three antennas are in my kit, and I can't pick one as a favorite over the others, as they all work so well. As you demonstrated, Michael ! Thanks for a most entertaining ride-along. W3WJ.

[@Sonicgott]

Woo! Kwik Trip FTW! Love that place.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Awesome! Last year, I did a 5-park rove, using 5 different antennas, and just 5 watts, for International QRP Day. It was a good challenge and a lot of fun.

[@andrewfiertek5937]

I love it when you make a contact into Europe and then then they spot you, all of a sudden it's nothing but europeans which gets confusing quick with the different prefixes. A lot of fun. Thanks for the great video like always!! Vertical seemed quickest and easiest to get on the air.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Europe was on fire that morning!

[@IW2MJQchannel]

Great job Michael and glad to be part of the video... Tks Steven IW2MJQ

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thanks for the contact, it's a pleasure to get you in the log.

[@Eric10179]

13:16 it’s nice to see people actually monitoring and using 146.520 and APRS, especially while out and about doing POTA!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I'm usually running 146.52 and APRS while on the road. If you want to know where I am while out at a park, just look for KB9VBR-9

[@kyroha]

Very nice job on the DX!

[@RJ_McKenzie]

Congrats on your 100 unique parks!

[@charlesrknottsjr]

Mike you are a outstanding person

[@N4GW]

Great video. I like the vertical the best

[@VictorJenks]

Thanks Michael

[@TheSmokinApe]

Nice job Michael 👍

[@SteveKarolek]

I love the fact that you provide background on the new locations you visit. Great video, thanks!

[@goodymb]

The vertical looks pretty good to me, keep up the great work.

[@netfixr1]

Outstanding job on your activations . it's hard to pick a favorite antenna since you had such great results, but it's nice to have them all in all in the tool box. - Thanks for another great video.

[@mikegooding]

It's a pleasure to have made your video! My inverted V was strung East to West. I'm surprised to hear you had the loop East to West as well. 73 de W8ZFM

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Loops pick up best along their broadside, but they also tend to have a bit of a shorter skip. I think that's why I got so many lower midwest stations on 20 meters that day.

[@Dap8998]

What a busy day you had Michael and congratulations on the 100 parks. As far as the antennas you used I really like the EFHW and the Big Gun!!!!

[@vidargrindheim5689]

You are really inspiring Michael, Quality content. Kudos! Hope to catch you one day. 73`s from LB1LJ / Vidar in Norway.

[@randyn5ilq165]

Congrats on #100 Michael! I myself have committed to the 213” Vertical for my 20-10m activations using 6-16 1/2’ radials. Looks like you did well, check that very well with the vertical also. Thanks for the video(s) and GL. 73 Randy N5ilq.

[@davidfogel4578]

Wow!! Great video. I liked the loop and vertical antennas. Mainly due to the ease of deployment. But you proved all three antennas did a good job. -KE6EX Algonquin IL

[@K5BLA]

A very rewarding day for you and certainly motivational to get out to POTA! The vertical was simple but very impressive and I'm going to add it to my bag for quick and easy activations. Thanks for another very informative video Michael!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The vertical, by far, is my favorite for its fast setups and teardown.

[@johnosborne2224]

I enjoyed this video very much. Well made and interesting video sir. I'm brand-new in HAM, don't know anything yet. But that POTA stuff looks real interesting. I think I'll be building the long-wire dipole next.

[@andyM7XTT]

Great video michael n think my favourites gotta be the vertical on this one.73

[@Cliff-KI5OPP]

For speed and ease of setup i liked the vertical. End fed would be my 2nd

[@thehamjazz]

Hey Michael, always love your videos mate. I would say the vertical is my choice, especially that time of the day on 20 meters - grey line madness! Cheers!

[@chevyguy6510]

You always look like you are having a blast. Trying to get from a Hunter to Activator by Spring. Thanks for the motivation!- KD9TRA

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Getting out in the park, setting up, and making a bunch of contacts is a lot of fun. I hope to hear you on the air soon.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I like all the DX you had with the EFHW and surprised that the vertical didn't get more DX, probably time of day. The vertical has worked well for me in the past as well. I might have to send you our new multiband vertical tp see how it compares. I spent about 4 hours today test two versions, basically different toroid's I think people will be surprised at the outcome. Nice Job Michael, 73!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I think it was partially time of day (it was about 22:00z) when I was on the air, but also the pileups were so large, I'd have a hard time hearing the weaker European stations.

[@arthurjurkowitsch9785]

I like the history story. Keep up the great work. KC2DHL. 73!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The DNR had a sanitized version in the wildlife area description. A little digging led me to what a wild person he really was.

[@wildbill1]

Nice job mike! Bill cross sounds like quite the interesting character. 73

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I've got a feeling that there were a lot more of these 'interesting' characters in the early wilderness days of the northwoods.

[@smoberdeen]

Thanks Mike. I like the Wolf River Coil and Magic carpet since it is what I use. I also have 3 band linked vertical (17m, 20m, 40m (Don Dickey special)) wire that I toss into the tree. 73, Stu, K8STU

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Nice work Michael. I always find it unnaturally weird to sit in any other seat other than the driver's seat in my own car. I know there is just more room sitting in the other seats and I see many do so... But to each their own. That CARH antenna did pretty darn good with the DX. 73!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Yeah, I suppose I could put the seat back so I'd have more room behind the wheel, but then I'd have to readjust it when I'm done to once again find that perfect spot for my foot to hit the clutch.

[@dougdaniels]

I always use my EFHW if I have a suitable footprint. I use my vertical if space is at a premium. Congratz on the century mark!

[@bobkonkel6344]

Just like my 17 ft whip and the magic carpet…the big gun of activations….thanks Michael! KD9TQH - Pota Bob

[@dc5723]

From all three, I would say the vertical was the best performer.

[@truckinguy92]

My favorite would be the EFHW as it makes for easy band changes. Next would be the 17’ vertical with one or two elevated counterpoise(s). I don’t have a mag loop because they’re too expensive. Congratulations on your 100th party Michael!🎉

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The quick band changes with out readjustment do make up for the extra time it takes to set up the EFHW. If I'm going to sit at a park and work down the bands, that's the route I'd go.

[@KHoos]

For portable activations there is also the difference in how much work setting up one antenna over the other is. With an endfed or other wire antennas there is the throwing which for me usually takes multiple attempts. With a vertical there are radials or the magic carpet. Thanks for making this video!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The vertical with the screen is the fastest to set up and tear down. I can be on the air in minutes, that's with adjusting the whip to resonance. The end fed takes about 10-15 minutes to set up and about 7-10 minutes to tear down. The advantage of the end fed antenna is that band changes are effortless. I don't have to disconnect the coax, adjust the antenna, test, and reconnect. The magnetic loop is some where in the middle: fast setup, but more time spent tuning for a frequency. If I know I'm going to be on one or two bands, or only out for an hour or so, I'll use the vertical. If its a day long or weekend ordeal, then I will take the time to put a wire antenna up.

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice... ❤

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

My best pota on 40m was about 102 using a 17' whip and WRC with one elevated resonant radial, this past Sunday.

[@marcinmichigan2772]

I think that one nice thing is that the EFHW accommodates instant band changes 10/15/20/40. Nice video Michael de K8MH

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The quick band changes with out readjustment do make up for the extra time it takes to set up the EFHW. If I'm going to sit at a park and work down the bands, that's the route I'd go.

[@Matthew-KN4QHQ]

Some crazy pileups. I’m glad my parks have been a little more calm! I’ve been using the magic carpet on a WRC. I’ll try to get you from a park so we can get a carpet to carpet contact. LOL.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Late afternoon on a Saturday is going to do that, especially on 20 meters. Another good time for massive pileups is a Saturday evening late shift on 40 meters.

[@cappyhitop]

I worked you on the mag loop and the vertical. Strong 59 signal in Ohio with both. KE8SWR

[@BurtonChristmasLites]

Michael I honestly like the verticals on the high bands but always like my wire dipoles on the lower bands. Robert KD4YDC

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I kind of feel the same way. Nothing beats lots of wire for 40 and 80 meters.

[@billmcilwee566]

EFHW are always great. QRN, and mayhap band QRM, but the bands that are possible are amazing. Magloops are becoming a new 73 of mine as they are also NVIS. Verticals always work but can be limited to bands. My 73 of this video was the magloop. KF0NNQ.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I've been having a lot of fun with the magnetic loop, too.

[@TheRetrospectVault]

Nice headset

[@happyjack880]

On my best day I've never heard 20m that clear in my shack at home. Might be time to upgrade antennas.

[@ve3lks997]

Which antenna did I prefer? I am always partial to the vertical with the magic carpet. You can have that up and running in just a couple minutes and don't have to worry about finding trees or setting up poles to attach wires too. Awesome video as always.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The vertical is a favorite of mine, too. it sets up fast and works great.

[@45auto]

My Coffee and Ham Radios Artemis (brother to the Apollo) is my Every Day antenna. Maybe I'll be good enough some day that Santa will bring me a WRC Sporty 40 and a whip. U-rah-rah

[@sklise1]

i like the music

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thanks, it's always a challenge to pick music that fits well and is appealing to a wide range of audiences.

[@twobikesandadrone]

Great video! I'm getting closer to buying my first HF rig (probably an FT-891 as well) and doing some POTA/SOTA stuff, and videos like this are so helpful in getting my callsign ears in shape. I'm a bit scared that I'll be very slow at recognizing callsigns and hope I improve quickly with practice, which I'm sure I will. Love the editing with all the different calls, back to back, and I doubt that you're asking permission to use the calls on your videos right? No need really, I would think, since it's all wide open anyway, but I am curious.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

There are things you can do to manage the pile-up so it isn't as massive as this. I did a video a couple years ago on a couple strategies: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXmwmp1nf9eHbJY. As for recording, since the airwaves are public, there isn't an expectation of privacy. Permission wouldn't need to be granted for someone voluntarily calling me.

[@twobikesandadrone]

@@KB9VBRAntennas thanks! I'll take a look at that video!

[@n3ljs399]

I did t make the video …lol at K4319…. Long John Silver. Great video. 73 de N3LJS

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

And such a great phonetic too. It made hungry for popcorn shrimp.

[@fakechecknumber1198]

The Gleason map would show straight lines. Flat banjo

[@MrStanwyck]

The 3 antenna comparisons was awesome. I have to say I enjoyed the vertical with the Magic carpet and the F-loop. What length of LMR cable did you use with the F-loop? Did you have a 3 or 4 foot loop. I just ordered the CHA F-loop DIY kit. I’m looking forward to building it and trying it out. Bill, KC2KNA

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I used the standard 3 foot loop (102 inch length) on the F-Loop 3. I think the DIY kit is a great option for getting a magnetic loop at an affordable price. Have fun building it.

[@natep121]

Tried to get you at Bill Cross P2P from the ice age trail but was too far to hear you on groundwave. Had a lot of fun though!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

It's good to hear you are getting out to parks. 20 meters was so congested that morning that I don't think I would have heard you unless you had a big signal.

[@natep121]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Yep. Took me 15 min of hopping around to find a spot to call CQ on 20m.

[@justin9605]

Thank you.

[@WQ9V]

I am building a Yagi antenna would it effect the performance if I mount it on a metal pole?

[@johnosborne2224]

Hi Mike! I'm wondering 🤔, Could I use 3 poles of a dining-fly to support a long-wire dipole antenna? If I'm free of buildings does it really have to be very high off the ground? Yours in the park wasn't. Next! I gotta understand how long. I'm studying, just going slow. Thank you for your time and videos. John O

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The peak of my wire antenna was at about 20 feet and sloped downwards to about six feet. The general rule for dipole antenna height is that you will have an optimized RF takeoff antenna when it is 1/2 wave in the air. Below that height, the lopes start to point upwards until you get to the point that they are radiating directly up. This concept is called Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation and is very helpful on the lower bands (40 meters and below) for making local or regional contacts up to about 250-300 miles. On the higher bands, 20 meters and above, NVIS doesn't really apply, as the lobes will pretty much radiate outwards at any height. With the antenna about 20 feet in the air, I should get good stateside coverage on the 20 meter band, which was my intention. Now to answer your question, the poles from a dining fly are going to be very short, probably under 10 feet. You can support a wire antenna with them, but don't expect DX or international contacts. On 40 meters or less, your antenna will act as an NVIS antenna and give you good regional coverage. On 20 meters or higher, you will probably be limited to about 1,000 - 1,500 miles or so. For portable operation, I'm pretty happy if I can get the antenna up 20-30 feet in the air. At that height I can talk anywhere in the US with a bit of DX or international contacts if propagation is willing.

[@MoseleyJaguar]

I've got the copper to build a loop, but I need to just stop waiting and build it!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Now's the peak of the solar cycle, there is no better time to get it on the air.

[@dan_in_sd]

Mike, on the mag loop you wer 20W. but on the 1/4 wave whip did you stay at the 20W or go up 100W. thanks

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I ran 50 watts on the end fed and the vertical and 20 watts for the mag loop. The magnetic loop is limited to 25 watts sideband due to the air gap capacitor in the tuning unit.

[@VictorJenks]

Hey Mike . I’ve always wondered why elevation is never considered when filling out QSL confirmations .

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thanks a good question. I provide grid squares, but not the elevation. I'd imagine that elevation would be more import on VHF/UHF contacts.

[@davidhaywood9071]

I tried building the 9:1 UnUn you demonstrated some time ago. I crossed the antenna connection and ground with a 460-ohm resistor because it was what I had. The SWR's were so high they would read on my RigExpert AA230 zoom. I checked to make sure I had wired it correctly and I had. To be sure, I built a second one with the same results. I did use 3 240--43 and 14 gauge magnet wire on both builds. Do you have any recommendations on something to check or an idea of what I may have done wrong? Thank You and I appreciate your videos and your help.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The first thing to me that comes to mind is that there is a dead short somewhere in your transformer. That would be the only way to explain why the SWR would be off the scale when testing with a resistor. When I wind a transformer, I'll use a continuity meter to verify and label each end of the wire as A, B, or C, so that I don't mix up wires as I solder them together. The only other explanation would be that your ferrite core material isn't truly 240-43. Depending on were you got it from, it may have been mislabeled.

[@davidhaywood9071]

Thanks very much for your response. I checked. I did check for shorts before making the connections. I am not sure about the toroid, I got it from Amazon and I ordered a 240-43 but to my knowledge there is no way I can check to that is exactly what I got.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I did a google search for the term "how to identify unknown toroids" and got some resources on how to check the initial impedance and permeability of a ferrite core. This may be helpful in identifying your toroid.

[@dan_in_sd]

Mike, did i detect a couterpoise on the CaHR endfed? How long was that?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The CaHR end fed antenna includes about 90 feet of wire. You use about 62-67 feet for the radiator and the balance (about 23 feet) can be used as the counterpoise.

[@tomanderson6152]

What adapter do you use with the ft891 so that you can attach your headset?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

It's a foot long RJ45 network extension cable. It allows you to unplug the microphone without having to remove the face plate: amzn.to/3wH0tA2

[@davewhite7679]

That ever elusive "BEST" portable antenna. 😂 Based on what criteria? Bandwidth, portability, take off angle, ease of deployment, directional gain, noise rejection, impedence match, multi-band agility, weight, footprint requirement, wind resistance, cost, etc... Every application and every deployment location is unique. So any singular "BEST" antenna is a fantasy. 😅 KZ9V

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The best antenna is the one that gets you on the air. :)

[@davewhite7679]

​@KB9VBRAntennas Exactly right! Do you remember the old "light bulb antenna" contest? 😂 Some of us have even accidentally made a contact while still connected to our test dummy load. 🤣 KZ9V

[@pakeck1]

What brand and model was the vertical you used today?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Links for all my antennas are in the video description, but the whip was a 213 inch whip from Wolf River Coil.

[@pnowikow]

What software do you use to track your contacts?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I'm using Hamrs (www.hamrs.app) on a Windows PC

[@pnowikow]

Thanks I'll give it a try@@KB9VBRAntennas

[@Aimsport-video]

William Henry Harrison was what his mother called him when she was… Cross.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

That name is certainly a mouth full. Hearing it, he'd know when his mother was mad at him.

[@K4dsx]

Thank you Mike as always!!! I see the screen instead of the faraday! Interesting! de K4DSX

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Both the screen and the cloth provide the same performance so I usually pick one over the other for mechanical reasons. This time of year it can be windy and the ground muddy. I've found the screen 'sticks' to the ground better in the wind and I don't worry so much about it getting dirty.

[@miltonb4652]

Great video. I'm partial to loop antennas so I liked it best. 73s. Milton KL1LF