The radio puts out one of two DC voltages to control the ATAS-120 (about 10 V to go oe way, about 8 to go the other way, IIRC). You could design and build an SWR bridge that manages not to interfere (DC open circuit from center conductor to shield - a big capacitor, for example, and high DC conductivity from input to output), But you may have trouble finding a commercial unit that works. And, yes, it is conceivable that you could hurt the meter. There is a form that you can probably find in old QST articles in which you shove a length of insulated wire through the shield of a piece of COAX, run under the shield for a few inches, and back out thru the shield, as a pickup, and that plan would work fine. (I think that the old Bird meters where you rotate the slug to choose forward versus reversework this way, and could be tested with an ohm meter. As far as better ground, the more copper is better is true for wires on the ground, it's a bit more important to have a resonant counterpoise if it's elevated. I'd go with a set of wires where at least one will be a multiple of 1/4 wavelength on each band that you'll use. As with a fan dipole, the ones that are bad lengths have a high impedance, sending the bulk of your counterpoise current down the ones that have a good lenght.
Man you make some really good points here. That's a whole lot of work to get the ATAS to work with an SWR bridge. Certainly not anything I'll be attempting any time soon. I didn't even think about the fact the radials would be elevated. Good catch. Now the million dollar question is how many will be hanging off the balcony in free space and how many will be over the (assumed) concrete slab that is the porch, and what will that do?
@@hamradiotube I guess the other thing to remember is that the ends of the resonant radials will be high voltage points, so you don't wan your neighbor's kid to be able to grab them, or to be near something flammable, or melt-able. It's not a trivial installation. Best of luck to the OP. Maybe a piece of paracord to an adjacent building or tree limb could support the radials well off of the ground and away from his balcony. Of course, you trigger the esthetics Karens. Maybe convince them that it's a holiday decoration? Wasn't this guy in Texas? Maybe Satin can Elmer him a solution.
I appreciate you going the extra mile to test the meter in line in the vehicle to get a real world result instead of just throwing out an opinion. Love your mailbag Monday segments
The Reel Potable EFHW has got to be the best - no other EFHW antenna that I know of that you can reel in or reel out the wire to change the resonant point on any band or any frequency within the range. And when done, just reel it all in to make a neat package. Regarding the ATAS - I would be very careful of connecting an appliance between the rig and the antenna. There is DC voltage on the coax when tuning. If the device inline presents a DC short, then you can let out smoke signals on your rig LOL
I have 2 of the TennTennas...the 25W and 100W. I started with the 25W version when I first got onto HF, and only had a QRP rig, and I eventually picked up the 100W transformer when I picked up a 50W amp (and later a FT-710). It is my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a 49:1, as they are just good quality and *very* affordable. Highly recommend...
You good sir, would benefit greatly from this compilation of Rickyisms from Trailer Park Boys. It WILL change your life. ua-cam.com/video/iAHMhSXRiyY/v-deo.htmlsi=IKII0kQ372fPgSwM
All good suggestions for commercial efhw's. Buy your first efhw and get on the air . Then start researching DIY's. Lot's of good resources and videos out there. Build one and then another one after that. Take your time. They're actually a pretty straight forward build. I've now built seven DIY's. Still have the original commercial. The funny thing is the DIY's all outperform the original commercial. That's the fun and most rewarding part. Especially when gifting your friends or new hams. Good luck.
If he'd ever have the damn things available maybe he'd be included in this video. I think I included his the last time I answered that question though. It's a fantastic antenna.
I ended up getting the Xtenna and put some Sotabeams wire on it since the Packtenna was not in stock. I'm still new to HF so I have never had any other EFHW so I don't know if I would know the difference. I looked at the Dually but wanted to get an antenna quick to get on the air. I think I'm still going to get one and it would be fun putting a kit together. Nice video. O got that same Klein MM. love it.
A suggestion: There are places where there may be no support for a wire antenna. And, the State parks where I live will not allow wires hanging from their trees. So a SOTA Beams mast and a resonant link dipole is the go to antenna everywhere.👍
I really like the Reliance Antennas EFHW buyout mini. It’s two pieces with the winder separate from the unun. You have to purchase the wire kit separately. The unun is small but very rugged and sealed against the elements. It also has a much higher power handling capability than most portable efhw antennas. I just did my first POTA activation with it the other weekend and it performed phenomenally I was able to work all over the country and had a ton of DX as well. Paired it up with an arborist throw line and the whole kit takes up very little space.
My go to is the PackTenna EFHW 20/10m with their add on link to get 40/15m as well. I like its compact with wire winder built in design. I also use it on 17/12m using the tuner in my KX3/KXPA100. I’ve also used Chameleon’s 8010 & 4010 with great results but I find the wire kind of unmanageable and they’re both very heavy antennas. As far as one working any better than the other performance wise? A 49:1 is a 49:1 & no particular one works any better than the other. At least that I’ve noticed. With that said I’m talking quality ones not cheap Chinese knockoffs.
I didn’t know the fine tuning method of the ATAS using the mic. Great tip. Thanks. I suspect the SWR meter interferes with whatever signal the radio sends along the coax to get the antenna to move up/down.
You may not have a Fluke meter, but Klein Tools makes pro level tools for electricians. Klein also makes an auto ranging version of your multimeter, but it is nearly twice the cost.
Great video. I don't know if you already did this topic or not, but watching this one, I was wondering if you could do a video on the pro's and con's of a 9:1 vs a 49:1 antenna.
Good idea! I have done a video comparing the two's performance but I haven't really talked about the pro's and cons of each. Make it stop raining in TX so I can do that!
I don't think the ATAS is smart enough to call it a homing process...that's kinda what it's doing but kinda not?? It's weird because it doesn't really know where it is at any time. But it works and I still love it!
I have the updated version of that Klein meter. It's okay, but I hate that it starts in AC mode. At least it does auto continuity, and it turns itself off after no use for a little while. Always use leak-proof batteries in your meters and your flashlights. The last thing you need is a dead piece of gear because of leakage. 🤙🏾
Dude I love 49:1 EFHWs!! I’m a big fan of Reliance Antennas. They sell a Bugout mini that’s about the size of my QRP EFHWs but handles 60w CW which is pretty dope. 73 om de KI7QCF
The radio puts out one of two DC voltages to control the ATAS-120 (about 10 V to go oe way, about 8 to go the other way, IIRC). You could design and build an SWR bridge that manages not to interfere (DC open circuit from center conductor to shield - a big capacitor, for example, and high DC conductivity from input to output), But you may have trouble finding a commercial unit that works. And, yes, it is conceivable that you could hurt the meter. There is a form that you can probably find in old QST articles in which you shove a length of insulated wire through the shield of a piece of COAX, run under the shield for a few inches, and back out thru the shield, as a pickup, and that plan would work fine. (I think that the old Bird meters where you rotate the slug to choose forward versus reversework this way, and could be tested with an ohm meter.
As far as better ground, the more copper is better is true for wires on the ground, it's a bit more important to have a resonant counterpoise if it's elevated. I'd go with a set of wires where at least one will be a multiple of 1/4 wavelength on each band that you'll use. As with a fan dipole, the ones that are bad lengths have a high impedance, sending the bulk of your counterpoise current down the ones that have a good lenght.
Man you make some really good points here. That's a whole lot of work to get the ATAS to work with an SWR bridge. Certainly not anything I'll be attempting any time soon. I didn't even think about the fact the radials would be elevated. Good catch. Now the million dollar question is how many will be hanging off the balcony in free space and how many will be over the (assumed) concrete slab that is the porch, and what will that do?
@@hamradiotube I guess the other thing to remember is that the ends of the resonant radials will be high voltage points, so you don't wan your neighbor's kid to be able to grab them, or to be near something flammable, or melt-able. It's not a trivial installation. Best of luck to the OP. Maybe a piece of paracord to an adjacent building or tree limb could support the radials well off of the ground and away from his balcony. Of course, you trigger the esthetics Karens. Maybe convince them that it's a holiday decoration?
Wasn't this guy in Texas? Maybe Satin can Elmer him a solution.
I appreciate you going the extra mile to test the meter in line in the vehicle to get a real world result instead of just throwing out an opinion. Love your mailbag Monday segments
The Reel Potable EFHW has got to be the best - no other EFHW antenna that I know of that you can reel in or reel out the wire to change the resonant point on any band or any frequency within the range. And when done, just reel it all in to make a neat package. Regarding the ATAS - I would be very careful of connecting an appliance between the rig and the antenna. There is DC voltage on the coax when tuning. If the device inline presents a DC short, then you can let out smoke signals on your rig LOL
I have 2 of the TennTennas...the 25W and 100W. I started with the 25W version when I first got onto HF, and only had a QRP rig, and I eventually picked up the 100W transformer when I picked up a 50W amp (and later a FT-710). It is my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a 49:1, as they are just good quality and *very* affordable. Highly recommend...
"Get two birds stoned at once" OMG LMAO. Blew my coffee out my nose. GOOD MORNING MIKE!
You good sir, would benefit greatly from this compilation of Rickyisms from Trailer Park Boys. It WILL change your life. ua-cam.com/video/iAHMhSXRiyY/v-deo.htmlsi=IKII0kQ372fPgSwM
@@hamradiotube ROTFL ok you had me laughing in the morning and now in the evening. That's a good day!
All good suggestions for commercial efhw's. Buy your first efhw and get on the air . Then start researching DIY's. Lot's of good resources and videos out there. Build one and then another one after that. Take your time. They're actually a pretty straight forward build. I've now built seven DIY's. Still have the original commercial. The funny thing is the DIY's all outperform the original commercial. That's the fun and most rewarding part. Especially when gifting your friends or new hams. Good luck.
Yes Packtenna efhw is my #1 go to. Use mostly on 20m but i built my own 40m link for it.
Have to throw a recommendation for the KM4ACK EFHW. It is my go-to for POTA and works incredible. I have the non-APRS version (j/k 😄)
If he'd ever have the damn things available maybe he'd be included in this video. I think I included his the last time I answered that question though. It's a fantastic antenna.
I have the Packtenna. It’s great and you will never find one. Reel POTA is amazing and works better to me and super easy to deploy.
I ended up getting the Xtenna and put some Sotabeams wire on it since the Packtenna was not in stock. I'm still new to HF so I have never had any other EFHW so I don't know if I would know the difference. I looked at the Dually but wanted to get an antenna quick to get on the air. I think I'm still going to get one and it would be fun putting a kit together. Nice video. O got that same Klein MM. love it.
I use a three mosquitos EFHW and it works GREAT!!!!
A suggestion: There are places where there may be no support for a wire antenna. And, the State parks where I live will not allow wires hanging from their trees. So a SOTA Beams mast and a resonant link dipole is the go to antenna everywhere.👍
I really like the Reliance Antennas EFHW buyout mini. It’s two pieces with the winder separate from the unun. You have to purchase the wire kit separately. The unun is small but very rugged and sealed against the elements. It also has a much higher power handling capability than most portable efhw antennas.
I just did my first POTA activation with it the other weekend and it performed phenomenally I was able to work all over the country and had a ton of DX as well. Paired it up with an arborist throw line and the whole kit takes up very little space.
*bugout mini*
I totally forgot about that antenna. I have one too! Haven't used it yet.
@@hamradiotube I’ll except a full review on it next week. 🤣
Great video as always Mike thank you 🙂👍
My go to is the PackTenna EFHW 20/10m with their add on link to get 40/15m as well. I like its compact with wire winder built in design. I also use it on 17/12m using the tuner in my KX3/KXPA100. I’ve also used Chameleon’s 8010 & 4010 with great results but I find the wire kind of unmanageable and they’re both very heavy antennas.
As far as one working any better than the other performance wise? A 49:1 is a 49:1 & no particular one works any better than the other. At least that I’ve noticed. With that said I’m talking quality ones not cheap Chinese knockoffs.
I didn’t know the fine tuning method of the ATAS using the mic. Great tip. Thanks.
I suspect the SWR meter interferes with whatever signal the radio sends along the coax to get the antenna to move up/down.
Packtenna for the win
You may not have a Fluke meter, but Klein Tools makes pro level tools for electricians. Klein also makes an auto ranging version of your multimeter, but it is nearly twice the cost.
Never underestimate the power of having good tools. 🛠️
I like X-Tenna's EFHW. fairly cheap.
As light and rugged as possible. N9SABs latest models are amazing.
I've not used any of his antennas.
I have plans on changing your thoughts on the best end fed antenna. :) Might need to get you another antenna to test soon.
Lol I saw your video. Looks pretty cool.
Great video.
I don't know if you already did this topic or not, but watching this one, I was wondering if you could do a video on the pro's and con's of a 9:1 vs a 49:1 antenna.
Good idea! I have done a video comparing the two's performance but I haven't really talked about the pro's and cons of each. Make it stop raining in TX so I can do that!
the ATAS must be going through a homing process... Kinda nice that it doesn't require a home with every tune.
I don't think the ATAS is smart enough to call it a homing process...that's kinda what it's doing but kinda not?? It's weird because it doesn't really know where it is at any time. But it works and I still love it!
I have the updated version of that Klein meter. It's okay, but I hate that it starts in AC mode. At least it does auto continuity, and it turns itself off after no use for a little while. Always use leak-proof batteries in your meters and your flashlights. The last thing you need is a dead piece of gear because of leakage. 🤙🏾
Thanks for answering my question on meters! Jerry KB2GCG
You bet. Thanks for the support!
Does the Poseidon antenna work under water also.
Yes but you have to take your radio underwater too🤣
I think Tenn Tenna is the only one that's not a BNC?
The small one that I showed in this video is BNC.
Dude I love 49:1 EFHWs!! I’m a big fan of Reliance Antennas. They sell a Bugout mini that’s about the size of my QRP EFHWs but handles 60w CW which is pretty dope. 73 om de KI7QCF
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