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Random Wire Antenna and EmTech ZM-2 Tuner for Portable Radio

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I have never tried using a tuner while working portable. I’ve always used resonant antennas. I’ve wanted to give it a try though, and when Ray K8DRT heard me mention it he lent me is EmTech ZM-2. The only problem was I wanted to try the tuner with a random wire antenna, and I didn’t have one. But after looking around in my antenna parts I found a 9:1 unun that Adam K6ARK had made for me. So, I fired up the soldering iron and made the antenna. Then I went to the back yard to test everything out. Success! The tuner and antenna worked great, but the true test comes in putting it on the air in the field in an actual portable activation. So, the following day I did just that on a couple of Summits on the Air peaks. The one in this video is Merriam Mountain W7A/AE-052
You can find the full CW recordings of this activation here: drive.google.c...
EmTech ZM-s Tuner: steadynet.com/...
Packtenna 10m Carbon Fiber Mast: www.packtenna....
Adam K6ARK Antenna Kit: k6ark.com/
Thomas K4SWL Blog: qrper.com/tag/...
GM0EUL UMPP-1 Morse Code Paddle: sites.google.c...
Bioenno 4.5Ah LiFePO4 battery: amzn.to/3GR1CVg
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#ThNHR #HamRadio #SOTA #CW #MorseCode #PortableRadio

Опубликовано:

5 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 50

@brian-k3es680 2 года назад

Great video, Charlie! I'm glad to have made your log with you running 500 mW. Amazing! A 9:1 unun with 71' random wire and a ZM-2 tuner are part of my POTA activation kit. I've had good success, but am still learning. BTW, a BaMaKey TP-III came in the mail yesterday, and I'm really looking forward to getting it out in the woods! Best 73 de Brian - K3ES

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi Brian - yes, I've seen your call in several of my recent activations. Especially the on from Greens peak back in October. You were in there three times on 17m CW, 20m CW, and 20m SSB. I love it when people chase on multiple bands and modes. Thanks. It looks like almost all of your chases are SOTA/POTA activations, which makes sense since you mention you are a POTA guy 👍. That TP-III is still my favorite paddle. Expensive but worth every penny! I hope I didn't steer you wrong. Let me know how it goes with the paddle. 73

@ryanzink5048 2 года назад

Nothing like reliving some issues with my paddles by hearing it again from the other side 😬 Thanks for the activation Charlie! I need to get up north before winter bonus season ends...

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Haha we all make mistakes. Did you not notice the 100 I made? 🤣. Only a few more days and a storm is coming. Yes, the bonus window is closing fast!

@Smokey2-2016_USMC 2 года назад

Thanks Charlie for the vid and the test regarding the antenna tuner. More food for thought for an upcoming activation with my KX1. 73 N6PKT

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

A KX1? Very cool. I have a friend who has one he's trying to repair. I sure would like to try one of those transceivers sometime. Thank you for the many, many chases Richard. You are in my log a lot! Very much appreciated! 73

@KG5IF 2 года назад

Really great inspirational video for working SOTA. I have to admit I've never worked SOTA but have done POTA. Great doing your pre-flight before going to the peak and also taking the time to show us what works well. I do have the 817 and the ZM2. I cant say enough good things about this tuner. It works very well. Best of luck and I'm enjoying your channel. 73s KG5IF

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi Richard - thank you for your comments. The tuner was a loner but I will be purchasing it. 100% agree about it's quality. POTA is awesome too. Anything portable is super fun! Enjoy and hope to catch you on the airwaves.

@averageguysradio 2 года назад

Nicely done Charlie, I may need to break out my Z-817 and take my 9:1 K6ARK inspired antenna out in the field. So far I have only tested it in the back yard. There's no doubt about it Adam has a solid design, my EFHW (again inspired by K6ARK) is a solid preformer in the field. I use it as often as my dipole anymore. 73

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Very cool Jose. It's fun to switch things up a bit isn't it? Looking forward to our joint activation some day.

@M0RSF 2 года назад

Good video Charlie and a nice run of contacts logged. Thanks for sharing a little information on those Volcanic Cinder Cones. Very interesting indeed. 73 Chris M0RSF

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi Chris - thanks. Yeah I thought the cider cones might be interesting to some people. Glad you found it interesting. Nice to hear from you again! 73 my friend.

@nvrumi 2 года назад

Charlie, when crimping/soldering such fine wire, I'll strip a longer piece, then tin it and fold it over once or twice to give more area for purchase. I've also made that rookie mistake... more than once. :) SOTAbeams sells some of their 3D printed antenna parts and I put one of their mounts that fits over the upper section of either the travel mast or the TDS 3000 on the distal end of my wire. That makes deployment easy on the mast. It also provides an anchor if you want to fasten to something else. Nice video.

@owlcricker-k7ulm 2 года назад

HMMMM? Mistakes by AG7TX? Say it aint so

@nvrumi 2 года назад

@@owlcricker-k7ulm I've made my share; I'm also I'm not quite done yet. :o

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi David - thanks for the note. The suggestion about the tinning of the wire is a good one. And I didn't know about the SOTAbeams parts. I'll go take a look.

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

haha

@nvrumi 2 года назад

@@RedSummitRF Charlie, I bought a bunch of those small antenna parts when I placed an order for something else. The incremental cost was small and it made sense because of shipping costs. So I have a small supply of parts for building light wire antennas in the parts kit. When I affixed the wire end to the mast coupler, I used a larkshead knot, or cow hitch, then place an inch of small heat shrink over the pair of wires and added a small cable tie to that. I think the wire will break before the connection. I enjoy the videos. You have a great place for SOTA. I hope to work you sometime.

@alvarogaitan2529 2 года назад

charlie you numero uno

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Thanks Alvaro!

@nicolenew1708 Год назад

THANK YOU ❤

@RedSummitRF Год назад

Thanks for checking out the videos!

@davidryeburn4010 2 года назад

The ZM-2 tuner has a wide tuning range. It would be interesting to see how well the same antenna worked with the ZM-2 tuner without using the 9:1 Unun. For the same transmitter output check the voltage one the bottom end of the antenna, or the current into it, both ways. I'd be willing to bet that you'll do better without the Unun. David VE7EZM and AF7BZ

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Indeed. That WOULD be an interesting test. I think it's safe to say we all want our antennas as efficient as possible. With that tuner it very well could be more efficient. I do hope to use this antenna with a radio that has a built in tuner, like a KX2, in the future. I might need the unun in that case or a similar one, don't you think? Thank you for your comments. I love the dialog! And thanks for visiting the channel.

@k8drtqrp 2 года назад

So when I built it the first thing I did was pair it with my KX1 and cut a random length of wire, 25'ish, and a short counterpoise if my memory serves me right. Worked well enough. I also used it with my QCX 20 putting out about a watt. A station in Hungary was my first QSO with the QCX and that same antenna.

@romanomorelli2831 9 месяцев назад

I used 33.5 foot wire wrap around fibre glass pole as vertical and same length counterpoise along the ground attached to binding posts on my zm-2 no unun it worked a treat on the bands 40/10m

@toddhowell2299 6 месяцев назад

This is good info. I just built the 4SQRP tuner and it has binding posts for a random wire, but that just seems wrong to me. I'll have to try it out.

@ellisc.foleyjr9778 2 года назад

Nice tuner and activation Charlie, Tuners do have their applications. believe it or not I have three for VHF and UHF that I use in emergency's during contests swr have gone up for varius reasons and the tuners keep me on the air!. They are my own PI network designs work well. Tnx fer another great video 72 gud de de Ellis WA1RKS

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi Ellis - I have used the tuner on a few more activations. This last one I had to keep the wire at about 8 feet due to high winds. Still worked like a charm. I am beginning to see the advantages of a tuner and random wire as I gain experience with the system! That is really cool that you have come up with your own designs. Thanks for the kind words, Ellis!

@JayN4GO 2 года назад

Nice job Om. Not familiar with that key. Maybe it’s on your list. Glad you slowed down a bit however, when I get in qrq mode it’s hard to send slower without screwing up. Those summits there are just amazing. Hope you can get out more as spring approaches. Tuners make it so good to have to not get up when changing bands. The tuner in the kx2 will tune a spark plug. The tuner you borrowed looks awful convenient. Small and works well.

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi Jay - the paddle is the GM0EUL UMMPP-1 and the link is down in the description. I didn't mention it because I'm still field testing it for the next paddle review. Wait until you see SP Hill if you think those cindar cones are cool. I'll be on that hill soon. I wasn't sure I was going to like a tuner but YES I'm convinced they heve thier place and hope my next QRP radio has a built in tuner. Thx Jay!

@JayN4GO 2 года назад

@@RedSummitRF you can beg for patreon subs and buy one in no time😂

@wild-radio7373 2 года назад

Fantastic video!♡ thank you sir 😎👍🔥

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

So nice of you to say so Wild. Thanks!

@DK5ONV 2 года назад

Cooliooo Charlie. Yeah Adam is mad scientist. He's always trying to make something new work out. The funniest Thing I never forget I saw him doing was the Making of the DX Brewmander Cantenna. Damn how did I enjoyed watching him doing the Welding Work and testing this Cantenna right infront of his house. That lil Em-Tech Tuner looks really neat and seems to do its job pretty well. Do they have a tuner just like that for 100W? Happy weekend into Arizona & keep up your great work. 73 de Your Friend Uncle Guenter

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Thank you for the comment Guenter. I remember that bear can video. It was a really fun one to watch. The EmTech is doing a great job. I used it again on 3 more peaks yesterday. I do have a tuner in the home shack for my 100w radio, but it's nothing like that one. It's bulky and not made for portable ops (MFJ-969). I am still using a lot of gear I purchased when I first got into the hobby and I'm in dire need of some upgrades. I truly appreciate your support Geunter. 73 my friend!

@DK5ONV 2 года назад

@@RedSummitRF Happy tuesday Charlie & Sandy 🍻🙋‍♂

@dave-k0dag470 2 года назад

Do you need a counterpoise since you’re using the 9:1 transformer? That always confuses me because you seem to get a different answer based on who you ask? Great video!

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi Dave! Thanks! Regarding the question, It depends on the antenna design and how it is deployed. Generally with a 9:1 unun the feedline coax shield provides the counterpoise function. Since the feedline in this antenna design is very short the counterpoise is needed - even with a longer feedline it is still needed in some cases. You must have a counterpoise of some sort whether it be a coax feedline or the actual counterpoise line for higher efficiency. Watch this RU-vid video especially at that 3:30 mark ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y7vaXcaeVgM.html and you'll see some data on it. Bottom line is it depends, but most of the time you get a more efficient antenna with a counterpoise.

@dave-k0dag470 2 года назад

@@RedSummitRF Thanks, Charlie! By the way, I received my BaMaTech TP-III paddle today. I opened up the package and immediately hunted a couple of POTA activators. I like the paddle! Thanks, again!

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

@@dave-k0dag470 great happy dit-dah-ing

@cargodera1 2 года назад

What peak are you on? I couldn't understand you at the point you mentioned it. Thanks.

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

Hi David- sorry about that. This was Merriam Mountain AKA Merriam Crater, SOTA ref W7A/AE-052. Thank you for the note and for watching.

@glevideo 4 месяца назад

I’m curious why you connect your random wire thru an Un-Un then into the ZM-2. Why go thru the Un-Un and not directly to the antenna wire binding post on the tuner? I would think using the Un-Un AND the tuner would double your insertion loss. Doesn’t the ZM-2 have the capability to tune wire antennas? At least I think it does and that would be why the binding posts are there and why there is an impedance transformer inside.

@RedSummitRF 18 дней назад

That is another way to perform the task, yes. Just experimenting and trying new things.

@G7VFY 2 года назад

If that is an 49:1 UnUn then you do not need an antenna tuner, just a length of wire , cut to 1/2 of the longest wavelength. If you have a 9:1UnUn then it must to NOT be cut to a resonant, half wave length!

@RedSummitRF 2 года назад

9:1 unun, 17 ft counterpoise, 41 ft radiator