As someone who is new to all of this, I think most beginners like myself are looking for an antenna that is multi band. Something I hear a lot of radio veterans ask us newbies is "what is it you want to do" and "what band do you plan on using", and as someone who is new to Ham Radio I couldn't give you a clear answer to either of those question's because I've never done this before; so how would I know? Also for people who just got their Technicians only, yes you can get on 10m but its a small sliver of HF and a really small area compared to a much wider area of VHF and UHF you have access to play around in as a technician. It's said that Ham Radio if fun to experiment with, but if you limit yourself to a single and narrow area to play in there isn't a whole lot to experiment with. All that being said, I think I'm going to start with a VHF/UHF antenna that is a tri-band, I'm looking at the Diamond Antenna X6000A for my starter antenna, it's said to handle 2m/70cm/23cm up to 100w. As for HF I plan on taking the test for General at the same time as my Technician and if or when I pass I plan on getting a multi band OCF dipole, specifically the DX Off Center Fed Windom 'short' 80 which is said to handle 80m,40m,20m,10m. I think with these two antenna's I would have a pretty good jump to get my feet off the ground and see what I like. I guess my main objective when starting is to simply listen to see what's out there so I can figure out where it is I want to go.
My first suggestion would be to buy a good antenna analyzer and build your own from wire and a good 1 to 1 balun. Then buy a KIO hexagonal beam and an inexpensive rotor and some good mast pipe. You will not be disappointed.
As for a _”first antenna”,_ the venerable _dipole_ is nearly a rite of passage. Also, so many antennas are compared to a _half wave dipole_ as far as matching, take-off angle, etc. Without actually having used one, it’s hard to evaluate other designs. A ham can eventually replace it, take it down, and store for emergencies - you know, like ham radio - *_”When All Else Fails®”_* … *73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*
CHA LEFS has been best all-purpose antenna for me. Only been a HAM a few years and this was one of my early antennas that I have stuck with after multiple purchases. I keep going back to this one because nothing else beats it in terms of out of the box capability and low SWR on all bands. SSB and Digital both work great.
Thinking of some solutions to water in the _unun_ box: Do they make some sort of one-way drain plug? Or maybe attach the toroid to an *outside* heat sink via some sort of _”heat pipe”,_ then pot it, cooling it solely by _conduction_ rather than _convection._ *73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*
I think a DX Commander because they are stupidly easy and your don’t require a to have a tree. Plus holds more than the typical 100 watts end-feds allowes you
Could you do an episode all about packet radio / APRS and if there is a comeback of packet use? I think it's so interesting and i do feel like we should rebuild the old networks of clusters and BBS'es. They do serve an inportant part as a fallback /emcom when shtf. It makes us more resiliant.
Would be nice to see a video on antennas for people living in Apartments, my landlord dosnt want me mounting anything to the building. I do have a 23 foot belcony and I'm able to zip tie things tho. What's my best option..
Pleased to see some time spent discussing the virtues of the simple monoband dipole as FIRST antenna. Home-built or purchased, this antenna lets the new ham experience some success before getting out the credit card for the Chameleon's and the WRC's.
As someone who is new to all of this, I think most beginners like myself are looking for an antenna that is multi band. Something I hear a lot of radio veterans ask us newbies is "what is it you want to do" and "what band do you plan on using", and as someone who is new to Ham Radio I couldn't give you a clear answer to either of those question's because I've never done this before; so how would I know? Also for people who just got their Technicians only, yes you can get on 10m but its a small sliver of HF and a really small area compared to a much wider area of VHF and UHF you have access to play around in as a technician. It's said that Ham Radio if fun to experiment with, but if you limit yourself to a single and narrow area to play in there isn't a whole lot to experiment with.
All that being said, I think I'm going to start with a VHF/UHF antenna that is a tri-band, I'm looking at the Diamond Antenna X6000A for my starter antenna, it's said to handle 2m/70cm/23cm up to 100w. As for HF I plan on taking the test for General at the same time as my Technician and if or when I pass I plan on getting a multi band OCF dipole, specifically the DX Off Center Fed Windom 'short' 80 which is said to handle 80m,40m,20m,10m.
I think with these two antenna's I would have a pretty good jump to get my feet off the ground and see what I like.
I guess my main objective when starting is to simply listen to see what's out there so I can figure out where it is I want to go.
And I do plan on buying a tuner.
I have an off center feed that I used for my first field day. We were hitting south America with ease on 20.
My first suggestion would be to buy a good antenna analyzer and build your own from wire and a good 1 to 1 balun. Then buy a KIO hexagonal beam and an inexpensive rotor and some good mast pipe. You will not be disappointed.
As for a _”first antenna”,_ the venerable _dipole_ is nearly a rite of passage. Also, so many antennas are compared to a _half wave dipole_ as far as matching, take-off angle, etc. Without actually having used one, it’s hard to evaluate other designs. A ham can eventually replace it, take it down, and store for emergencies - you know, like ham radio - *_”When All Else Fails®”_* …
*73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*
What perfect timing I just won a radio and need to find my first hf antenna
CHA LEFS has been best all-purpose antenna for me. Only been a HAM a few years and this was one of my early antennas that I have stuck with after multiple purchases. I keep going back to this one because nothing else beats it in terms of out of the box capability and low SWR on all bands. SSB and Digital both work great.
I believe I bought this antenna based on a HRCC review video. :)
80m or 40m Off Center Fed Dipole is a good starter. Cheap and just need 2 trees to put up. Or just 1 if you do inverted V.
100% agree! They usually have less CMC than EHFW, and the gain is sufficient enough to get across the country easily on 100W.
Thinking of some solutions to water in the _unun_ box: Do they make some sort of one-way drain plug? Or maybe attach the toroid to an *outside* heat sink via some sort of _”heat pipe”,_ then pot it, cooling it solely by _conduction_ rather than _convection._
*73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*
I think a DX Commander because they are stupidly easy and your don’t require a to have a tree. Plus holds more than the typical 100 watts end-feds allowes you
Again...Love the fam interrupting. Seriously, it just means your living life.
I had a professor say..."life happens".
Could you do an episode all about packet radio / APRS and if there is a comeback of packet use? I think it's so interesting and i do feel like we should rebuild the old networks of clusters and BBS'es. They do serve an inportant part as a fallback /emcom when shtf. It makes us more resiliant.
I have done that. Videos should be on my channel.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Oh great! I'll go and have a look then :) Great channel!
Attach a spring to the cable wires for wind flexing issues.
All the shows start off with "this is the afterchat", but youtube never notifies me of the main show!
Main show is always 5:00 pm pst. Please hit the bell on my channel so you get notified.
Would be nice to see a video on antennas for people living in Apartments, my landlord dosnt want me mounting anything to the building.
I do have a 23 foot belcony and I'm able to zip tie things tho. What's my best option..
I have the G90 for mobile use as well.
There are lots of metal clamps for antennas that will work with balcony’s. Do a bit of Google on that.
Hi .your intro is amazing...
You 've laugh me much. Tnx.🎉
Nice signal corps coin on your desk
Thanks!
Any antenna is better than no antenna at all this is rule number one Rule number two see rule number one
Pleased to see some time spent discussing the virtues of the simple monoband dipole as FIRST antenna. Home-built or purchased, this antenna lets the new ham experience some success before getting out the credit card for the Chameleon's and the WRC's.
Thank you!
So it transmits CW does the app decode CW.
What’s your callsign? 😂
🌮🌮🌮