YOTA QRP Speaker wire -vs- Hamstick dipole

[@stevenbata2336]

Great video Kevin. I watched the QRPer KZbin on using speaker wire to make an antenna. We stopped at Walmart in the way to the outer banks and i got a roll of it. I made my cuts and got it tuned. The one good contact i made, on 5 watts, was from NC to PA. The signal report was enough to qualify as a contact. I like how you supported your mast with the pvc pipe and flanges. 73s and have a great day de KD8VSP

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Steven.. Thanks for stopping by.. Glad you have had success with it.. I enjoy using the speaker wire for antennas.. I've found the last few times I've had good luck using it as a vertical dipole on my 40ft spiderbeam as well.. Here is a recent short video if you are interested.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJCtaqeOmqaUj7s ... Good luck on your future camping and QRP adventures ! !.. Thanks for your comment and channel support.. I appreciate it, 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@W6IWN_Radio]

I always enjoy watching your experiments! Great acreage!

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hello Robert.. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.. I'm not to scientific in my experiments so there isn't too much to learn, other than just going out and trying different things for the fun of it, LOL... Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@kd5inm]

Cool, great idea for the toilet flange

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi John.. I saw another guy use it this way on KZbin using 4 straps.. I thought I’d try it using 3 straps.. it worked great..

[@mikemiles3068]

Good video fun video and i love that YOTA never heard that before, i will have to use that when i am out in the yard❗️

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Mike.. Thank you for watching and for your comment.. Next time you are in the yard and activate, you can use Y-0002 as your yard designator ...LOL.. so now there will be two yards on the list.. maybe we can do a "YARD TO YARD" QSO.. ! LOL... Have fun.. Kevin ~ k0klb

[@mikemiles3068]

@@hamradioqrp-k0klb 👍

[@johnwest7993]

I learned a long time ago from watching other hams, that RF just doesn't care how much money you spend on your antenna wire. It's all just simple physics, basic length, diameter, height, matching, and good assembly practice. So I've never spent a dime on an HF antenna. A long-boom 2 meter beam and a rotor on a tall tower, sure, throw money at it if you want long range. But HF? Nope. I'm just amazed when I see hams who should know better spend $250 on a 'name' HF antenna that isn't even a beam, and doesn't get RF up in the air any better than the $5 piece of wire they used to have strung up, and often not as well. They should just name their HF pieces of wire with some hotshot name like TURBO-DIGITAL-SUPER-MEGA-X-ELIMINATOR-EXTERMINATOR-BLACK SNAKE-DX-PLUS!!!, and keep their money in their pocket.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi John.. Thanks for your comment.. I started out with a Gap Titan DX multiband vertical antenna.. It did very well for me on top of the metal shed.. But a friend of mine suggested I put up a wire from the house the silo which is 70ft high.. So I spent $89 on 1,000ft of 16 gauge wire and ran 550ft to the silo and hooked up to it with balanced 450 ohm feed line.. it blows the Gap Titan antenna away.. In fact, I don't have the Gap in the air anymore, LOL.. I run QRP with the 550 wire and have operated 100mw SSB (cause I dont know cw).. You can see pictures of the wire antenna on my QRZ.com page if you are interested.. WIRES FOR THE WIN, LOL.. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@Dave_KE5ES]

I am so glad I am not the only one that has a cat that likes to play with my wires and cords. I have three that chase everything around.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Steve.. I know, right?... They are always rolling in the cords, getting a leg caught or something, LOL.. They have the most fun when I'm wrapping up wires and coax.. they chase the ends as its dragging across the ground.. Thanks for watching and for your comment.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

I get them darn Spiders on my beam all the time! 😲

[@kb0hp]

What mast are you using at the back of your camper? Love your videos!

[@gsansoucie]

Wow, the PVC guyed base is brilliant. I whipped some guy clips to my Jackite and couldn’t figure out a good way for my Spiderbeam, now I know. At our previous house, I had a PVC tube on my deck with a flange I 3D printed for my SpiderBeam so I’m half way there. W1ND

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hello again gsansoucie.. I saw the PVC idea on another youtube channel and it does work well.. PVC on the deck you had is a good idea also for hanging out on the deck and playing radio.. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@gsansoucie]

@@hamradioqrp-k0klb I started DOTA a few years back (Decks On The Air) for my deck operations and also did YOTA a few years before that. I was just going through my logbooks and noticed some YOTA references which were not for working Youths On The Air. I would do YOTA for testing my /p gear before heading into the field. The bad part about the PVC guy I realized overnight is that I no longer have a 4’ section of 3” PVC (I threw so much of that out in our move) and will have to buy an 8’ section now. Oh well.

[@brucecairnie3975]

It is great to watch someone working while you were playing! I even enjoyed it from here watching the video! 73 Kevin VA7SGY

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hey Bruce... haha, I know, right?.. I do enjoy playing more than working, LOL... I should have made a career out of it, haha.. Thanks for watching and for your comment.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@demizer1968]

You can put a knot in the speaker wire wher you want the legs to stop, too. It’s a great antenna. Have DX’d from SW MO.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hello Demizer.. Thanks for stopping by and for the sub... I'll keep the knot in mind for future options.. I agree, it does work well as a small and compact antenna for portable ops.. very simple and cheap, LOL.. Thanks for your comment and for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@Scout75PortableRadio]

That's a clever way to support your Spiderbeam mast. I may have make something like that for mine. I made a 20m speaker wire dipole antenna and have had good look with it. One thing you might consider doing to yours is tying a lineman's knot where the two legs separate. Really easy to do. KG6HQD Jerry has a good video on it here on KZbin

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hello Scout75... Thanks for your comment.. I got the idea from another youtube channel.. he used 4 guy straps on his.. I watched KG6HQD and the knot.. thx for the tip.. I'll try that next time... Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@billryland6199]

I made a dipole of 2 40 meter Hamsticks. The bandwidth was very narrow & SWR was high even when tuned to frequency.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Bill.. I have not been able to get the SWR down on those hamstick dipoles either.. I adjust the best I can and roll with it.. nothing too resonant though, LOL.. thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@dandypoint]

Not sure if you mentioned the height of the antennas. I have a couple questions. We’re they both broadside in the same direction and same height? Did you have two speaker wire dipoles on 40 and one on 20? It looked like the speaker wire feeder was parallel wire ( speaker wire) at one point and coax coming into the camper. Not sure how you made the transition. Why did you need the tuner? Maybe it was to tune the 40 dipole on 20? I would think the speaker wire dipole cut for 20 would beat the Hamsticks hands down unless the antennas are not pointed in the same direction.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Don.. Thanks for your comment.. I had to re-watch the video to remember what I did, LOL.. Even after watching it, my memory is questionable, LOL.. The speaker wire legs were cut for 40m (32ft each leg, 64ft total length) and I used the tuner so I could match it for 40 and 20m and use the balance line connector on the back and also switch between the speaker wire and hamstick dipoles. Both the speaker wire and hamsticks were pointing N/S and broadside to the E/W. I used the coax to connect to the MFJ Hamstick Dipoles that were on the mast on the back of the camper.. The speaker wire dipole was slightly higher than the MFJ hamstick dipoles.. I was doing a comparison between the MFJ hamsticks and the speaker wire dipole.. The test was far from being scientific but did tell me that both would work well and that there wasn't a huge difference.. For ease of deployment, the hamstick dipole is much easier to launch. Thanks for watching, 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@heffptbo]

What are you using as the black mast?

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hello heffptbo... It's a collapsible fiberglass pole manufactured by Spiderbeam.. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin

[@1crazynordlander]

What is the SDR app on your iPhone? Alan KX7KX has two "Good Friends" named Kevin. I love contacting Alan on the third period and again (if I can stay awake) on the 9 PM west coast 40 meter session.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Kevin... What I use is not an app, but just a web base website that you can access on your laptop web browser or web browser on the phone.. the link is: rx.linkfanel.net/ It shows all the SDR's around the world that you can access and listen for your signal or voice.. I use them to measure propagation across the country as the sun sets in the evenings.. Yes, All the folks at the YL system are awesome.. They do a great job working the system.. Thanks for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@thelandrethfarm4782]

Playing ham radio while brother sprays, my boys work while I play radio! Lol, nice videos, thanks!

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hello Landreth Farm.. Thanks for your comment... haha, it sounds like we have it all figured out to our advantage, LOL.. Thanks for watching... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@kd5you1]

Nice video & PVC pipe/Spiderbeam idea! Is that Spiderbeam the 40 foot mast? I have the 40 foot mast and I was looking for something like this to support it while I used it in the field.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi John.. Thank you for watching the video and for your comment.. Yes, it is the 40' spider beam.. I saw the PVC idea from another youtube video and gave it a try.. That person used (4) guy straps on his, but it works well with (3) also.. It is super quick and easy to set up.. I would suggest the toilet ring mount on the bottom as well and putting a spike thru that to keep the bottom from sliding out.. Good Luck.. 73 k0klb - Kevin

[@kd5you1]

@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Ok thank you very much Kevin! i'm temporarily using my drive-on mount for my Max Gains Systems mast for the Spiderbeam mast lol. I'll be making a trip to the hardware store soon! 73 KD5YOU

[@paulplack490]

John, that toilet flange antenna mount is worthy of inclusion in Jeff Foxworthy's joke calendar! I couldn't tell from the video, but were the Hamstick and wire dipoles both oriented in the same direction?

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hello Paul.. Thank you for your comment.. yes, both were orientated in the same direction with the legs pointing N/S and the side of the wire/hamstick were facing E/W.. I saw the PVC/toilet flange idea from another operators youtube video.. he had 4 guy straps holding his up, but I was cheap and only use 3.. LOL. Thanks for watching, 73... kevin ~ k0klb

[@jamespuckett6457]

That’s awesome!

[@alexalonso2093]

Question what size flange and pvc pipe? 7 3

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Alex... I have the 40ft spider beam, and used the 3 inch PVC pipe and the toilet flange that fits on the ends of it.. It works well... 73.

[@donalfinn4205]

Nice test!👍☘️

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Donal.. Thank you for your comment and watching the video.. I appreciate it !.. Kevin ~ k0klb

[@donalfinn4205]

@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Subbed too!☘️👍 EI3KY

[@DK5ONV]

That was just great. 🙋‍♂

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi UG... Thanks for your comment and for watching from the shores of the Rhine River.. Glad you're my friend.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@DK5ONV]

@@hamradioqrp-k0klb 🤘💯🎸🎸🎸🤘🙋‍♂

[@JJ-vk2bg]

Hi, there! Could you let me the android SDR software?

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi J&J.. I just used a web browser on my Iphone which should work on your android as well.. just pull up the following URL on your web browser.. rx.linkfanel.net/ Good Luck... 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@PaulGrahamM0PGX]

Another nice video then, keep at it, seems like you'll do well on youtube :) What band is the speaker wire dipole cut for? Or is it supposed to be multi-band?

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Paul... Thank you for your encouraging comment.. I made the length of the dipole legs so I could easily tune it for 40m and 20m with my tuner.. So I guess it would be a multiband.. I'm really an amateur rookie in all of this.. I kind of just throw something together and see how it performs... My Elmer says if I have a Tuner/matching unit I can tune anything... and so far, he's been right.. LOL Thanks for watching ! 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@timtyler2715]

What is the application you're using on your phone? Good job on the video! Love the cats...

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Tim.. Thx for the comment.. I currently use the iMovie app on my iPhone.. I use to do all my video editing on a laptop program called Magix Movie edit pro, but hardly used it anymore since I do everything on the phone now.. iMovie makes editing simple and has some good basic editing features along with a pretty good selection of music tracks that are royalty free.. Having it on my phone, I can now edit videos on the fly, real time and share almost immediately... Good Luck, 73 k0klb ~ Kevin

[@timtyler2715]

@@hamradioqrp-k0klb You’re doing a great job. The app I’m curious about is the one you show in the video when you’re testing the output power of the antenna you’re demonstrating.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

@@timtyler2715 Oh.. sorry.. I didn't think about that app.. I just use the kiwi web SDR net at rx.linkfanel.net/ To pull it up on my phone, I just use the Safari web browser and put that website url in.. Zoom into the stations and open the one you want to use.. Type in the frequency you are tx'ing on (be sure to select USB or LSB) and listen for yourself.. Here is a very generic video I put together when using it on my laptop here at the home QTH.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZTddYedobScaJo

[@timtyler2715]

@@hamradioqrp-k0klb Thank you very much!!! KI5OOS

[@alvarogaitan2529]

cool video thank you 73 from kb2uew

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Alvaro.. Thank you for your comment and for watching.. I appreciate it.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@BennyCFD]

For the price it's pretty hard to beat an inexpensive Dipole.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Benny.. Thanks for watching and for your comment.. yes, they are pretty efficient antennas, for sure, and speaker wire works amazingly well.... I’m also finding that with an external tuner, there are a variety of metal things that can be turned into a radio wave radiation device.. It may not be as efficient, but in a pinch, they will work, lol... Hope you enjoy this channel and maybe we will meet on the air someday.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb

[@N0SSC]

That’s a new kind of YOTA 😂 Love your vids. What a helpful feline partner as well haaha

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hi Sterling.. Thank you for the nice comment.. haha... ya, we've plenty of feline barn cats that love to help with everything we do outside... I watched your Learn CW video (1).. I'll probably continue my work of learning CW again this winter and will follow your series to help me along.. thx for posting those.. k0klb ~ Kevin

[@2pi628]

Yep, just like my wife.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

@@2pi628 Hi Mike... haha.. I know, right?... Thanks for your comment and for watching.. 73, Kevin ~ k0klb