There is no doubt about the popularity of the End-Fed Half-Wave antenna. It is used by a very large number of hams, especially during portable operations like POTA, SOTA, WWFF etc. Why is it so popular? The principal reason seems to be ease of deployment. The EFHW requires only a single support and can even … Continue reading Matching an EFHW antenna – a third way
Tag: Outdoor Ops
EFHW matching: 49:1 Impedance Transformer or L-Network?
What is the best way to match the very high impedance of an End-Fed Half-Wave antenna to the 50 ohm impedance of a transceiver? There are various ways to do this but this week's post is going to focus on just two - a 49:1 impedance transformer (or UNUN if you prefer) and an L-network. … Continue reading EFHW matching: 49:1 Impedance Transformer or L-Network?
SSEFHW – Another Shortened End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna for 20m
Peter Waters G3OJV Screen grab from YouTube I was browsing through ham radio videos on YouTube recently as I often do (daily!) when I came across one from Peter Waters G3OJV on the Waters & Stanton video channel. The title of the video immediately caught my attention: "Shortened Vertical Half Wave Antenna". End-fed antennas are … Continue reading SSEFHW – Another Shortened End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna for 20m
I KISSed my Antenna – Here’s Why …
Many years ago I learned about a design technique called KISS. It was an acronym for "Keep It Sweet and Simple". Somewhere along life's journey I started seeing the acronym change to the rather offensive "Keep It Simple Stupid" which I entirely dislike. There are many sound reasons for simplifying a design but none of … Continue reading I KISSed my Antenna – Here’s Why …
What 3 Words? – Maidenhead Grid Squares!
I was taking a walk in a local park recently. The Sydenham river flows through the park and plunges over the Niagara Escarpment creating a local attraction called Inglis Falls. Usually a very pretty sight, but during the spring thaw and following a heavy rainfall, it had become a raging torrent of water that was … Continue reading What 3 Words? – Maidenhead Grid Squares!
A Ham with One Voltmeter Always Knows the Battery Voltage
Is this too high Hans? There is a popular old saying about a man with one clock always knowing what time it is, but a man with two clocks is never sure. Well doesn't that also apply to voltmeters and any other kind of meter in a ham's kit bag? The Ham Radio Outside the … Continue reading A Ham with One Voltmeter Always Knows the Battery Voltage
A Simple Antenna that is Omnidirectional, Directional and NVIS?
Our winter weather may have a few weeks to run yet, but a relatively warm spell gave me the opportunity to get out into the Big Blue Sky Shack to try out another antenna idea. Destination: MacGregor Point Provincial Park on the Ontario shore of mighty Lake Huron. The shore ice still stretched quite a … Continue reading A Simple Antenna that is Omnidirectional, Directional and NVIS?
An End-Fed Half Wave Antenna – with no impedance transformer?
One of the great benefits of being a ham radio blogger is that it opens up a new door to learning. Through that door comes valuable input from readers of Ham Radio Outside the Box. Let me state one thing very clearly: I am not an expert; the intent of this blog is to report … Continue reading An End-Fed Half Wave Antenna – with no impedance transformer?
A Quick and Easy QRP Emergency Field Antenna
I once drove to a park about 45 minutes away from home to do a POTA activation then realized I had left my antenna at home. <<Panic>>. I improvised by digging a 33ft wire out of my pack, cutting it in half and hastily erecting a V-dipole with its ends only about 10ft above the … Continue reading A Quick and Easy QRP Emergency Field Antenna
A Universal Unun? Not so fast!
I have been reading a lot from the "Ban all End-Feds" brigade lately. The animosity towards feeding a wire antenna at one of its ends approaches supernova intensity at times. Some of the opinions expressed are perfectly valid, true and backed up with sound science and math. But some of the denizens of end-fed doom … Continue reading A Universal Unun? Not so fast!
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