The EASY and CHEAP HAM RADIO APARTMENT ANTENNA (perfect for new hams!) 

I wish more hams understood that not everyone has a huge house with a great backyard in an area that has no HOA or township restrictions, but they don't. That is why I appreciate this video. I am in a tiny apartment in a very rural part of South Dakota. I am surrounded by other apartments, do not have a balcony or an attic, and my rooms are tiny...the whole place is less than 600 sq ft. So, thank you for putting this together. My first exposure was as a child growing up in the Middle East, where my Dad was a US diplomat. Back in the 1950s, there were no phones or the internet, and only the VOA and BBC for English language broadcasts to listen to, but the national propaganda was pretty strong. So he bought a Grundig shortwave radio, and I spent a lot of time doing what you described, listening to faraway stations in strange languages. He wasn't a ham, but he probably instinctively understood that his kids were going to need some way to keep themselves busy. And I did! By the way, I spent 30 years working for the FAA; the first 7 of them were in the Long Beach district office.

How timely! I’m a fellow aviator and I passed the Technician exam today, Keep the videos coming!

I have had my amateur radio license for a while, but have never used it. You've inspired me to go to the next step. Thank you!!!

I just stumbled across this video while not even looking for HAM related videos. This is the first time I've seen this type of antenna and it looks like a very practical setup for my situation. My landlady doesn't like anything and this looks stealthy enough to not be noticed.

I watched a lot of your guitar videos, now I can enjoy your progression in ham radio. I'm an undocumented ham enthusiasts myself.

Thank you for the video detailing your antenna solution. I really appreciate it. Please keep the great videos coming, Max.

Great video addressing a common problem for new hams and limited antenna options - keep bringing great content

Pretty cool to see you making radio videos!

Even if your not in an appartment holes in the wall can be problematic. I use a Comet CTC-50M for the transition from the shack to the outside. I was surprised how well it made the turns in the window channel still allowig you to lock the window closed and pretty much air tight. Have fun!

Excellent walk through Maxx!

Excellent tip, thanks! Also, congrats on joining the ham radio community. Cheers!

Your set up is exactly what I want and need. Thanks for posting.

My dad and I used to build clothesline dipoles, we had one on the wall of the garage, and one in the backyard. THAT is a fun project to try out. 👍

You might consider a J pole antenna. You can mount it on a small pvc pipe..place it in a big flower pot and park it in front of the window..heck place fake flowers and follege on it nobody will suspect its an antenna. I had a j pole in my attic and was able to hit repeaters 50 miles away using a 50 watt radio.

I was searching for YT vids on ham radio and all of a sudden there's my guitar reviewer guy! Got my license two weeks ago. Glad to find you reviewing ham radio gear.

THANK YOU!!!! I was thinking about doing this because of the same problem!!

I had no idea you did videos on this stuff, I searched for ham antenna for apartment and wasn't expecting to see Guitar Max show up! 🤷‍♂️ great info!

Looks a like a great solution! I was actually surprised that the power rating was 50 watts. I use a Compactenna on my Jeep for 2M/440 and it works great.

Thank you for sharing this interesting info

I can’t wait to try this I am moving to an apartment..one time when I lived in an apartment I used an instrument stand and put it on the side walk. I mounted a copper j pole antenna to it and was able to hit repeaters 35 miles plus away with a icom v8000 on 2 meters so it can be done it just takes a little bit of ingenuity 73 from KI4OMV

You’re using a good solution that solves your problem. The only thing I’d suggest is to put a stain relief on that coax line. With it screwed in to the top and bent over, it’s taking extra strain that will make it wear out a little faster.

Good video, Max, thanks!

Great video, Max. I actually made my own through the glass antenna - just to see if I could. Believe it or not, it actually worked like a manufactured one. It consisted of a length of 12 ga. hard copper wire, long enough to twist an inline coil. It was attached to a 1.5" x 2"piece of flat copper plate. I no longer have it or the schematics I made while building it so I don't recall the details of its construction. This was in the mid 1990s and my memory is slowly leaving me.

Thank you for your video. I am new to the Ham radio world and I am trying to figure out how to start with a hand held like a UV-5RX3 or similar. But wanted to be able to get a mobile or car radio player if I could figure out how to use it properly first. Lol. I really enjoyed the video and it was truly helpful.

Interesting, Max, thanks! Always been interested in Ham radio, I need to explore it more one day...

NO WAY. I've been watching your guitar reviews forever. Happy to have found your HAM radio channel!

Very informative! I actually just learned you had this channel from your Guitar Max channel. I'm a truck driver and ofcourse use 10 and 11 meter on AM in the truck. I've always wanted to get into ham radio but the anntana has been the hold back! I'm gonna go back and watch the video you were talking about before this one now!

Well done Max. Great idea. I'm a subscriber to your guitar channel and guitar picker down here in Australia. I became a licensed Ham way back in 1962 (all tubes and home brew) I'm now 76 and guitar player still and do some SWLing 73s Rob

Thank You! I will be ordering this for sure. Stay tune for update! 🐒

Great Videos ! You really motivate people to learn more about Amateur Radio

Wow I found this during a search. I usually watch you doing guitar reviews. Good for you. 73’s KB2-DCV

Holy shit i remember watching you review guitar pedals years ago glad to see you again

Good stuff man. Have you tried a roll up J-pole? I have had good results with it hanging from a curtain rod indoors, although outdoor deployment would be most ideal though. Clear skies and 73.

I totally overlooked this idea for my bedroom using my HT. Heck, can bring my mobile in there too. Great idea!!! Thanks for this.

Good video and especially for those of us like you who live in an apartment dwelling! Welcome to ham radio too by the way! 73 from AA7YA.

Hey Max you should do GUITAR VIDEOS!!!!! Just kidding but I was surprised to see this channel while studying for my Technician license.

Very well done. Many hams live in rentals that restrict antennas. This gives hope to be able to get on the air.

Nice work finding a solution. Apartments are definitely a challenge for this hobby. I rent my house so I'm not keen on drilling holes through the walls either. I use a the Ed Fong J-pole PVC (Schedule 20, not schedule 40!) kit attached to a PA speaker tripod I picked up cheap from Sweetwater. Poor Josh couldn't wrap his head around what I was going to use the tripod for. 😆 Welcome to the hobby and look forward to more videos.

If your window is metal framed, as it looks like...try loading that frame as a 'quad' driven element/loop. Also...if your window is over 40" high or wide (or both) get some sticky backed copper tape (I got mine off Ebay) and stick a dipole onto the glass..vertical or horizontal. I've done this in free space...stick 2 x 1/2 wave dipoles say for 2M on the glass but make the two dipoles a bit less than a 1/4 wave apart and they should, in theory 'beam' away from the glass at 90 degrees (in a similar way to two trucker aerials on a semi truck. Good luck and a good video.

Great video!

Enjoyed your video

First of all congratulations on getting your Ham license Max. I just subscribed to your Channel. I love everything about your channel. And this is a guy that has one hour flight time on a Cessna 172. I love everything Aviation, cars and ham radio. Just to mention a few. I also live in an apartment in NJ. What I'm using for VHF and UHF is a dual band Slim Jim antenna made by N9TAX. It's been working very well for me. Great video, keep them coming. Good luck with all your adventures and welcome amateur radio. God bless and all the best. 73 from KC2NGH.

Hey see you updated your setup and put in an external speaker. Got a link where you got that speaker?

Nice you're not letting being in an apartment keep you from hamming. HF in an apartment is a real challenge. It's not easy, but not impossible. I have done it.

Thanks

Maybe a mag mount (NMO) on top of the window a/c with a longer antenna might work well too. Thanks for sharing.

Oh I’ve used them antennas on my pick up before and they were pretty decent so I’m sure you will ensure that so I’ll be looking for your videos God bless

Hi Max- Have you figured out something for HF at your location? Here are few ideas: 1. low power magnetic loop on tripod next to the window. 2. Load up the large window frame from the inside, and run a counterpoise wire along the carpet edges (there will likely be high current on the indoor wire.. roll up when not in use), use a 4:1 or 6:1 balun and feed with coax. Run the coax to an External tuner if required. 3. If there is a vertical rain gutter downspout out side of one of the windows- clamp on to it, feed it with rg-8x/mini, and run an indoor counterpoise wire.. Make a ~ 10inch diameter rf choke (inside) out of the coax. 4. Snake an end-fed 20m (or 40m) out of the window. I've found, that placing the end-feds (lossy) balun "outside" of the dwelling helps with snr and general reduction of noise. End-Fed users- remember, a good length of coax will act as part of a counterpoise for these very inefficient wire antennas. 5. Remove screen- clamp on to the window sill (or use a tripod) and extend a (~ 7ft +) telescoping whip outside, and rig up a counterpoise.. I've used all of these techniques except for the mag-loop, in apartments, various locations, including up in the Alaska's Arctic region.. Wide band ssb can be a challenge, but cw and super narrowband digital modes easily net lots of dx.. 73, n6spp-cm98

Excellent video .Would like to check how far rig should remain away from antenna assuming you are transmitting 50 watts on 2m .Also my shack table and window is just 4 feet away ,will is cause any issue considering I'm just 2-3 feets away from antenna .

It would be interesting to see your solution for a HF antenna. Maybe a small mag loop next to the window? Or a stealthy wire hanging out the window at night? It’s will be fun to experiment. Congratulations on your ham ticket. Love aviation stuff too! 73’s de n5vwn

Oh no way! Cause of your last video I'm now buying a barecat! Thank you! Please keep talking about this wonderful hobby

Ham radio really ain't my bag, but I did want to drop by and give you some encouragement on the fledgling HMH channel! \m/

Been a ham for 6 years now. Had know idea that you were a ham operator. KI7KWH. Rock on my man….

Thank you

Slap a meg mount on that air conditioning unit!

Interesting, I am moving to an Apartment shortly, and this looks like a perfect fit, PS 50 Watts is Perfect, Thank You 73's

Please tell me if you will that SWR ur using : that tuner please ? Thank you 🙋🏽‍♀️

Nice info my friend. Did you try any HF apartment antenna ?

Just a thought not sure if it would work but what about on top of the AC unit and you could just run the wire back in. Thank you for putting these vids out new subscriber 🤙

kinda cool i found this channel I watch your guitar channel didnt know you were in to Amateur Radio and plains way cool man

Get a NanoVNA. Swr is only one tiny aspect of them. Can also be used to check feed loss in coax and many other ham related jobs.

A big mistake many make about VHF/UHF is thinking more power is better. No matter how powerful your transceiver, or amplifiers, VHF/UHF is "line of sight". It will reach just past the horizon and no more. Height of the antenna makes all the difference. You talked about the few watts from the UV-5R and being able to work the repeater. An alternative to what you are doing is to make a copper tape pattern on the inside of the window, and solder two short jumpers from an SO-239 socket. It can be a vertical dipole if you have room on the window... 38" total, cut a gap in the middle to attach the socket.

Hi Maxx from KA8MNO. For your HF transceiver or Shortwave listening you can use a couple of the old style metal Slinky toys as a Dipole indoors. They work great and very cheap. 73s.

Awesome, I just followed this from your mention from the GuitarMax channel, you should really have a look at VK3YE's channel and try some of his homebrew antenna's. Nice to know metal heads and can ham heads as well.

If you need a good window antenna for VHF there's a lot of information online for a 'window Vhf delta loop' it would be very efficient and easy to make. Or a flower pot type of antenna is also excellent for Vhf-Uhf work .or if you have a multi- mode V/UHF radio, ( where you can use modes like Single Side Band -SSB or Morse code, a simple dipole can be constructed easily inside of an apartment window or sliding glass door. There's a plethora of small HF antennas as well to build and can work indoors too. Oh if you have a balcony there's even more antennas you can try. Building an antenna can be a lot of fun.

Amateur Radio is absolutely Metal dude. Glad to see you're onboard & learning! K0ATV

Nice little pass-thru inductive coupling antenna. I guess the reason you did not move it further down the window was the inside solar film. I just think it is a good idea to be able to open your window more than a couple of inches. All you had to do was take a long reach...

If your window frames are aluminum could you possibly make an antenna just connecting to them in some way? I'm, a new ham and thinking of trying something similar with my aluminum window frames.

Dude!!! I used to watch your Guitar Channel and even got the Dragonfire pickups for my wife's Ibanez. Glad to see you're a HAM as well. My call sign is N5PAN. I am Extra Class. I have also been looking into maybe getting into personaol aviation like Ultralights or Powered Para Gliders. Well to the hobby! 73

Good stuff. Ever operate while airborne?

I passed my tech license last night woohoo. I seen you mentioned the 7800 bundle on ebay and also the 7900 on Amazon. Do you prefer one over the other?

That was great, really don’t want that 50 watts of power antenna at your head height, I’d be putting it as high as possible at the top of that window. 50 watts is still radiated power coming back towards you in that room. Over 20 years it could do some damage. Be fine short term. I’ve got a buddy that wears a hazmat suit up the fm broadcast towers within 5 metres of the high power antennas, he said he could feel the water around his eyes heating up. That’s why the low power 80 watt 5g towers are at least 5 metres off the ground, not just for distance but rf safety. Looks like the antenna link is gone. I’m keen on one.

Tie a fishing string on it in case it falls off. I did one too before this video. Your neighbors will think you have an old mobile cell phone 😅

Are you using the antenna also for CW?

Unfortunately, my apartment doesn’t even have a window. However, I am still able to reach local repeaters from the back of a closet using a hidden “J-pole”. I can use up to 50 watts, but I get by with 5. I think I have an average range of 75-100 miles with these repeaters. Now if I could only get HF to work!

Can you update the link for the antenna in the description?

First thanks for the video. Secondly I'm a new Ham and in my area I noticed right away no one is really using analog. Even on Echolink trying other repeaters, it's pretty quiet. So I went out and purchased a digital HT and pi-star. Just like I thought I made way more contacts on fusion than on analog. I see video's like this and I too live in an apartment and would like to invest in a small mobile radio setup. The window antenna is idea due to all the restrictions, but I'm back to the question am I wasting my money?

I have a Tram thru the glass antenna on my F-150 Crew Cab. Mine has a small ground plane on the inside module. It works great on 2meter and 440 for me. Nice video with good info for new hams, or an older one moving into an apartment or assisted living.✋73's🎙 KD9OAM🎧📻📡

What frequency are those antennas you are wearing?

How well does this antenna do on receiving? If I wanted to use it with an SDR, would it work well? Obviously, I would only be using it for 2 m and 70 cm contacts well not contacts but listening. Like the airbands and possibly NOAA ?

Whats the point for VHF? Just use a handheld with a nice antenna.

Hello, Thank You kindly for this informative video. PLEASE tell me what I can use to remove this antenna off my window then move to another room or even my car (Will it restick to my new location?

Hi I am from India, thanks

I would recommend a J-Pole antenna. It is very easy to make and is very efficient. No metal ground plane is needed. I made one for my boat when we lived in Iowa. You can even make a simple dipole and mount it vertically. 19 inches on each end, and you're done!

Any SWR below 2 is acceptable on all amateur bands...

your landlord is gonna kick your ass for cutting the film from the window. lol

Interesting, I wonder if it could be adapted to work 20 or 40 meters with a thin wire tied to a tree

Mounting it so close to the window frame seems sun-optimal to me.

KD6CFE was here. 73`s.

Haha grandpa with his CB Radio lol😂🎉

VHF+ in an apartment is not much of a challenge. HF is a whole different issue. A wire jPole on a wall will work well for VHF+.

Love the setup that you have for VHF/UHF - that will let you do a lot. For HF (once you get there) set up a SuperAntenna inside your apartment and it will give you 80m-2m. This is how to do it: ru-vid.comYYAU2zcmSUQ?feature=share

👍

Hmmm how well will this antenna work in a nitrogen infused double pane window

Will this interfere with the digital TVs of today?

Good video

where is your guitartenna?

Had no clue you also are a happy ham

Now show us what to use for HF?

Tram mobile antennas suck ! I'll never buy another . But the tram 1450 base antenna works very well .