Monday, June 17, 2019

Ham Antennas For Those Small Backyards

 I am having a problem trying to decide on what ham antenna I want to put in my small backyard. It is only about 25 feet from the back of the house to the fence. The one side yard is a little bigger, but the high power lines are over it. The other side has the driveway, so it is limited there too. The front yard is out of the question except for connecting a dipole antenna.
 I did have a dipole going from the push up mast to the mast on the chimney and then to a tree in the front yard. It was a 10 to 80 meter g5rv junior. It was about 35 feet at the apex and then sloped down to the tree and mast. It did not do a bad job, but I would like something better. I have some vertical antennas I could use, but don't have the room for lots of ground radials. I have thought about creating some kind of home-brew counterpoise system.
 I have also been thinking about a home-brew delta loop antenna with some crappie fishing poles, 4 to 1 balun and using a push up mast. I thought about a moxon antenna, but at 20 meters it would not fit and I would not have the proper height. The more I think about it the delta loop makes the most sense. Besides it also will be multi-band.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

What Kind Of Ham Antenna Should I Homebrew

 I am thinking of building a Ham Antenna as the weather is getting warmer. Well I think I may build a multiband Delta Loop Antenna. I am just thinking of where I am going to place this antenna in the yard. I do have some limited choices, but I think I can manager it. It may just take the mast that my 11 meter vertical antenna is on.
 I have some crappie 16 foot fishing poles to use for the base of the delta loop. I did think about which way I wanted to mount this ham antenna. I thought about the crappie fiberglass poles at the top. This would make the apex at the bottom. I thought about that some more and decided that that may make it top heavy, but not by much. So I will make it with the crappie poles at the bottom.
 The next decision is where I will make the connection to the 4 to 1 balun. I have seen some hams make it to the left or right. I have seen others make it right in the center, with pretty good results. I think this is the way to go and it will provide the best results. This way I can draw the coax cable to the house and down to my antenna switch.
 My idea for the crappie poles is to mount them to a piece of metal sign post tubing. I have some circular brackets for pipe that will bolt to it. I will then bolt that to an old full 5/8 cb antenna mount that was retired from my ground plane antenna. The crappie fishing pole will slide into these and have some rubber for support. The antenna wire will go through them and up to a pulley at the apex. I don't think it will be difficult to set up. I may pull the pulley up, so I can easily lower it from the antenna mast. Well when I get this together, I will post some pictures and see how it works.



Friday, April 19, 2019

The Best 10 Meter Ham Radios In 2019

 I have noticed that quite a few Ham Radio Operators are looking at the 10 Meter Ham Radios. I wonder if maybe the 10 meter ham band is going to pick up. Well I am not sure, but it would be pretty nice if it did. I no I scan around the Ham Bands and 10 meters is usually quiet. Maybe if I had a nice bi beam antenna, I would hear some chatter going on.

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