Hi I'm Michael‚ KB9VBR‚ and I'm on a mission to inspire and educate the amateur radio community. I've been a ham radio operator since 1999‚ so my interests are varied and run deep. But most of all‚ ham radio is more than a hobby; it's a lifestyle that I enjoy and love to share with others.
My goal is to share positive and uplifting videos. I'll answer your questions and take deeper dives into some of the mysterious parts of ham radio. Whether you are a new ham or a grizzled veteran‚ I'm sure there will be something you'll like. Ham Radio Q&A answers your amateur radio questions and explores the different aspects of the hobby.
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Here you go: Heil Ham Radio BM-17 Dual headset: heilhamradio.com/product/bm-17-2/ How I record my contact audio: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tOqzZPphE7k.html My headset trigger switch: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-b5Wu8BlrSF0.html
The answer is no. 1:47 Please test a small transmitter located at the transformer feed of the EFHW without coax or any additional wire. The EFHW dipole will radiate the same power as a center fed dipole less a bit of loss (~1 dB) caused by the transformer. I've done this test several times confirming no need for a counterpoise of any sort.
You'd assume that the spreaders should be spaced at a 30 degree angle, but that is too wide according to the dimensions of the antenna elements. So I fed the numbers into a right angle triangle calculator and found that the ideal angle is about 20 degrees. That's the angle I used in my hub.
Michael: How have you modified the Chameleon jaw clamp to accept the 3/8x24 to SO-139 coax fitting. I see an isolation washer attached to the flange on the antenna side, but my jaw clamp only has a 3/8 hole in the flange. Did you have to drill the flange hole out to accept the coax fitting without shorting out?
Nice build. You're suspicion that "something" is interacting with the antenna is a certainty. The most apparent something is that big coated steel picnic table (TreeTop Products model 1JH1000) that's easily within the near field of 6 meters. So any resonance measurement is not meaningful because that bench is effectively a part of the antenna.
Yes, either the picnic table or my house and garage, which are both covered with metal siding. Since you referenced the picnic table, it's a Wausau Tile MF1020. I won it at a chamber of commerce raffle about 20 years ago. wausautile.com/Products/Square-Modular-4Bench-Table-MF1020.cfm
I am absolutely going to build one of these...might experiment and make a multiband version for POTA use. Also, I really enjoyed the music. Way more entertaining than the usual royalty free fare found on RU-vid.
Chuck, KK6USY, has experimented with a dual band Moxon on his channel, you might want to check that out. I've given up on the RU-vid music a long time ago and get my royalty free music from Soundstripe.
@@KB9VBRAntennas I'll have to take a look. I was considering something a bit overambitious. 20/17/15/10m. Could it fail horribly? Yes! Will I learn something? Probably!
Love that up tempo style smooth jazz in your production! Thanks for this one, Michael. You got me wanting to build one. As another poster mentioned and with your response about having patience with 6 meters, I might dedicate one of my portable rigs as a 'monitor' next to my main ham shack one.
I'm glad you enjoyed the music. It can be hard to pick something that appeals to a wide variety of viewer tastes. I've been known to turn up the volume and set the squelch on my rig so I can monitor the 6m band while I go about my day.
Excellent build, Michael. Putting fun projects together like you just did, is one of my favorite parts of the hobby. Thanks for showing us how to build this antenna.
I found a file on thingiverse for an adjustable arrow nock that I think would work. I haven't tried to adjust dimensions yet but the author included a step file so it shouldn't be too hard.
Perfect timing. I have been looking to make one of these. No 3D printer, but I'll figure out something for the hub. Locally 6m is pretty active with some local nets, so I am hoping soon to be able to participate. 73
If you can't figure something out, I will print it and send it to you for the cost of postage. I was also in the USAF in the early 80's. Spent whole enlistment at Barksdale. My email is good on the zed. 73
Check out the links in the description for my 15 meter Moxon build I did last year. The original plans I based that antenna on used a hub made out of wood.
I’ve found that 6 meters takes a lot of patience and listening. Sometimes I’ll crank the volume and turn up the squelch on the rig. Then I can hear when the band opens. Calling CQ doesn’t hurt either.
I might just "Pop" in to the Field Day site this year. I have not seen anything about Field Day Yet ? Can you just use a Butt connector at the end of the Trimmer line to wire connection ? and just a Piece of No.12 solid Copper from the SO 239 center pin to the Lug, No crimp connector necessary Thanks Mike M..
Does it matter if the balun is near the forrest floor. I hoist the entire balun up into the tree and then stake the ring on the opposite end of the wire into the ground.
It really doesn't matter. I've used this style of antenna with the feed point low and the feed point high. Both work well, do whatever is convenient for you.
The 710 isn’t crazy expensive…very affordable if you own a home right…my FT 991a was more expensive…I take that out for POTA…it’s excellent for POTA…the 710 is definitely the perfect radio for Home and Field…a decent battery and solar charger…honestly, I only do field because as an amateur astronomer…I use it as part of my radio telescope too…
Thank you for explanation. I going to use your method to mine situation. I have to gutters one slightly longer than other. 80m is very bad, CB is very good. I want to try to make 80m good.
Glad you did this. I have also had mine put away for a while. I have two 12' tall - when extended - light stands for stage lighting I want to use the TDL up and see if it performs better than stuck in the dirt! Thanks, Mike
Even without a coax shield connected to the secondary winding, it will still work thanks to the DISPLACEMENT current and capacitance between the primary and secondary winding. So whatever we do the antenna will always find a way not to violate Kirchhoff's law, BTW KCL does not apply entirely to RF circuits. See the test without any connection to the second port of the secondary winding. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7bm0c_CNtVU.htmlsi=gsvkeJz7wdy2uEz3
Hello, we purchased a retevis rt97 repeater for work, there is very little information on its configuration and operation on the Internet. When the signal is relayed, a strong hum is added, the speech itself is almost inaudible, what could be the problem? What does setting parameters do?
Nicely done, Michael. Your 9:1 transformer build is excellent and easily understandable. This would make an excellent Field Day Antenna system. Aloha de Russ (KH6JRM).
I'm studying for my general now, and I'm getting hot flashes for operating hf far afield. This video is flush with ideas I like, thank you. I think I'm going to make a polarity tester here in the next few days. I'm not over tech savvy. I find ideas like that really helpful.
Great video very good explanation, Question: I have a MFJ 962E and regarding the inductance as per the manual instructions there is no mention of not transmitting while turning the inductance knob anti-clock for the lowest setting and afterwards to follow with both the Transmitter and antenna knobs? Is it applicable for your type of ATU or what? Many thanks
The key difference is that the MFJ-962E is a roller inductor tuner. The inductance values smoothly change as you turn the knob. Other tuners, like the MFJ-949E use a variable tapped inductor. As you turn the knob, inductance points abruptly change, causing spikes that can damage your transceiver if you are transmitting while turning the knob. For this reason you should not transmit while adjusting inductance on a variable tapped tuner.
I was introduced to Quirky QRP when he was making the SlinkTenna at the start of COVID-19. I was in a 3rd floor apartment and that slinky dipole was what allowed me to be on the air the past 4 years! He make GREAT products! 5 weeks ago I just moved from Texas to Vancouver, Washington and in a townhome where I can run 100 watts on my OCF dipole! I just gave my SlinkTenna to an older ham I met last week, as he is in a senior facility on the 3rd floor! Keep on making your great videos, and push the 'Noise Reduction' button on those folks whining about you doing diverse content.. Just like the BIG KNOB on our radios, they can tune elsewhere! Stan - WB5UDI
Not the first ham radio guy to sell coffee. There is a ham who roasts coffee orders on demand. He occasionally gets a mention on ham tube, but not lately.
When I use the dummy load on my tuner. I have 100 watts out. But when I endeavor to match either of my two dipoles, while I can get the SWR below 1.5 in all cases, I cannot get full power. That doesn't make sense to me; is it nevertheless the way matches work?
Boo Resonances and impetiance are loosely related..please educate yourself before talking.. guy on the left knows guy on the right please get you general liscense