How to build inexpensive, simple ham radio antennas.
Best POTA Antennas for any park
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If you need some new antenna ideas for your next POTA/SOTA event, please check out this informative video from Jim Reed (N4BFR).
In this video, Jim discusses the various terrain, power, and antenna support challenges that often confront field operations.
Jim offers helpful suggestions in situations where there are no trees to hang antennas or where environmental factors limit antenna size and footprint.
If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZiF0Rr90H0.
Thanks for joining us today.
Russ Roberts (KH6JRM/AL0HA).
Here are some comments from Jim (N4BFR):
Getting started with Parks on the Air (POTA) or struggling with challenging park terrain? This video breaks down the best POTA antenna options for activations with and without trees — from wire antennas to verticals and mobile setups.
Professor Jim (N4BFR) explains how to choose the right antenna based on terrain, footprint, power, and operating style, plus the one tool every POTA activator should carry to get the most out of their setup.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro - Best POTA Antennas
00:42 Meet Jim N4BFR
00:50 No “One Right” POTA Antenna
01:18 What Terrain Really Means
01:29 Trees vs No Trees
01:52 Planning for Tough Parks
02:15 Multi-Park Activations
02:41 Wire Antennas with Trees
03:32 Antenna Orientation Matters
04:22 Why Direction Matters
05:24 Operating from Your Vehicle
06:31 No Trees? Bring Your Own Support
08:17 Five Antenna Options
08:58 End-Fed Half Wave
09:17 Vertical Antennas
10:01 Trapped Dipoles
10:47 Why Short Antennas Work
11:54 Antenna Tradeoffs Explained
12:47 What should I get, and how much will it cost?
13:07 Simple classic dipole
13:35 Multiple band dipole options
13:56 End-fed halfwave
14:14 Multi-Band Antenna Considerations
14:40 QRP-sized EFHW
15:58 What antenna analyzer does?
17:08 Standing Wave Ratio (SWR)
17:41 Ham Tips
20:46 Recap
👉 For more POTA education and license courses, visit: https://hamradioprep.com
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73 from Ham Radio Prep & the World Radio League!
Jim from Ham Radio Prep explains how to select antennas for Parks on the Air based on different terrains, from forested areas to rocky cliffs. The discussion covers wire dipoles, verticals, and magnetic mounts, along with necessary tools for testing resonance in the field.
Thanks to "Tinker John" (W5CYF) for this inexpensive, homebrewed cable window pass through project. All you need are a few basic tools, bulkhead connectors, and small lumber pieces. If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRmbezrkGoc. Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Here are some comment from "Tinker John" (W5CYF): A simple and effective method of passing coax antenna cable through a window sill. Easy and inexpensive to make. Used for any type of antenna cable including ham radio, TV, CB or SWL. Suggested items that may be related to this video: https://www.amazon.com/shop/w5cyftink... This video shows how to create a window pass-through for coax cables, using readily available materials. The creator demonstrates a simple and inexpensive method for bringing coax cables from the outside into a ham shack, using a piece of printed circuit board and a pin...
If you want to experiment with unconventional antenna designs, please consider adapting US military HF antennas. These antennas are easy to build and perform well on several amateur radio bands. In this video, Walt (K4OGO) builds a Terminated End Fed V Antenna (TEFV). The antenna is broad banded, requires no antenna "tuner", and covers frequencies from 1.8 to 30 MHz. If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCmi84GMNJQ. Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Here are a few comments from Walt (K4OGO): built a US Military TEFV antenna to spec and worked the HF bands #hamradio #portablehamradio #hamradioantenna Link to Palomar Engineers maker of the 12:1 balun and 600 ohm termination resistor: https://palomar-engineers.com Transcript Follow along using the transcript. Show transcript COASTAL WAVES & WIRES 36.3K subscribers Videos About Salty Walt's Patr...
Here's another great 6 meter band antenna idea from Hayden (VK7HH). This vertical antenna is based on the "classic Cobra Antenna" described by the late Bill Orr (W6SAI). The antenna is easy-to-make using a few basic tools, a PVC mast, some RG-58 coaxial cable, and a few connectors. This antenna is suitable for both home and portable use. If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h7UGNbWmsY. Thanks for joining us today. Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM). Here are some comments from Hayden (VK7HH): This is a really simple and easy to construct antenna that will get you on the air on the six meter band using only RG-58 coax! I needed a quick and simple antenna for my WSPR beacon over the summer season. Enter the coaxial dipole or aka flowerpot antenna! Buy RG-58 👉 https://geni.us/HCI8NG (Amazon) ► $15 OFF at Radioddity: http://radioddity.refr.cc/haydenvk7hh Above links are affiliate The des...
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