Ham Radio HF Homebrew Antenna: 80m-6m Vertical Slinky Antenna!
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- Опубліковано 19 чер 2019
- Short video of me modding my version of a random wire antenna for portable operations. I mistakenly said in the video that this antenna will tune 80m-5m and then put a caption correcting myself to 80m-10m which was wrong as well....my tuner will tune 80m-6m on this antenna.
Disclaimer: I've used this antenna and made a fair amount of contacts on 80m, 40m, and 20m. I know it works fairly well on these bands just by using it a lot...(insert scientific testing here*)
I know this thing will tune up on 80m-6m but don't know how well it will work on anything other than the 3 mentioned. Hope you enjoy! - Розваги
The hardware with wood threads on one end and machine threads on the other is called a Hanger Bolt. It is often used for making a knock-down joint in furniture - for example, where the side rails connect to the legs on a wooden bed frame.
Good too know, Thanks!
Great video! I really like the improvements to the fold-over base. I will be making one this week sometime.
Thanks! I'm on vacation this week in the smokies and hope to do a POTA activation or 2 with it while here.
I did put 2 of the eyelets on the base since this video, one on each side. Now when I don't wanna park the car on it, 2 metal tent stakes go through those and anchor it down....beats carrying a brick lol
I bought a 25' telescopic flag pole and a ground mount to park my pickup on. I am going to make this antenna using your information for portable QRP work. Thanks for the idea and I look forward to trying it out.
This video has given me a lot of ideas for an antenna I'm working on. Thank you! BTW, I live a few miles north of you in Crawford county.
Mike - a couple of suggestions to simplify and ruggedize the base plate. #1 instead of a loose butt hinge, use a piano hinge - full width of the board. #2 Off set the hinge an additional distance equal to the diameter of the PVC pipe used. This will allow the PVC to be adjusted to sit square on the base board. #3 With everything in position and squared up, mount a folding cabinet hinge lock on the outer edge on both sides. These will lock the vertical board firmly in position. Love the concept.
Built a version with 10meter wind sock telescopic pole, 9:1 balum . Loads up fine as half wave on 20 meter. Great design idea. Thanks
Mike excellent build! Thanks for sharing! ✌
Nice idea! I’d like to see it on the analyzer and learn more how it perforoms
Dude first off I love your videos. You are so laid back and explain everything so a dummy can follow you. DO NOT STOP YOUR VIDEOS. As for this one, just a note, that hinge, I would really use a bolt instead of a screw. Using the bolt with a good size washer on either side would make this perfect. Loving your ideas and what you do for the HAM community. 73's N2QKK.
Thanks for the nice comment, it was a temporary deal so I'll definitely make it a bit stronger on the next! I haven't made a new video all year.... 2020 and all its crap, started a business, 3 kiddos, and railroad life have all but killed my radio time as of late.
@@mikehannah6054 I can totally understand. 2020 is the worst B movie that no one saw. A total shit show. I guess working like you do when you get home and have spare time it's all about the kids. Hope your business is working for you even through the horror of COVID. Good luck to you. 73's
Thank You for the idea. I'll be making one to use for portable operations. 2020 holds a bunch of RV trips for me and I'll enjoy the easy set-up of this for when we are camping. I'm going to attach it to the trailer-hitch bike mount. 73. KE2RON
I think the next version is gonna have a way to mount on the hitch of my expedition too.
Wow, great PORTABLE antenna
Would be nice to see it operating, if the swr is consistent etc
Next video you'll see it! Should've been out by now but the coronavirus has things messed up....
This is a great idea I'll probably build one for my Comm shop in marine corps
Creative and impressive! Thumbs-up!!
Put vertical board on top of horizontal board. This way as the wind blows the antenna away from the car toward the antenna the force against the hinge will be in a vertical direction across the screws instead of inline with the screws to help keep them from pulling out of the vertical board.
Awesome design, giong to be building one of these. Altough not sure how well a telescopic fishing rod is going to hold the weight in wind or other weather.
Like what you've made.
Nice video and your call is pretty cool
Nice work. Wondering if alloy tripod-style legs, which could also be ground plane/counterpoise, may improve it?
A better ground plane/counterpoise would no doubt improve the performance. I run a similar type of antenna, but I use speaker wire coiled around the fiberglass pole. I have the fiberglass pole elevated about 12 feet with 3 ground plane radials angled down to the ground. All lengths were cut to be resonant at 40 meters. I use no balun and feed the antenna with 50ohm coax to the radio and have 1 to 1 match. Worked the world with this vertical.....it's by far my favorite antenna! After seeing this video I am going to try replacing the speaker wire with the slinky and see if it still works as well.
Your power, SWR on different bands, total length of slinky wire you used (original package) and grounding via cp outletport? Contacts, your signal reports and states/countries worked. Looked like fun.
Love slinky antenna. Cool idea for the setup here OM. Hope to catch you on the air. 73 N7ECV
Although my idea's a bit different... I like your thinking enough that I bought a slinky (slinky Jr) and will be getting another and 2 full size slinkys for a different project antenna.
Good idea! I have some ideas. Everyone has ideas. Take the good ideas myself or others give you and use them! The other ideas are maybe good but not for what you want. Take and use the good ones and flush the other. Maybe use pressure treated wood, or linseed oil on the wood, put end cap on PVC pipe to hold fishing pole from going out the bottom. Maybe not use the antenna connection to hold the 9:1 up. Not sure if it will make any difference but for some reason it just doesn't seem right. But I think the bigger thing is I am not sure how it will work in any kind of wind. Even a small wind is going to put a lot of stress on the screws holding the hinge. Maybe carriage bolts through the wood and a stronger hinge. Not sure what you will use it for, but many use things when the wast hits the fan, there may be some less than good weather! I think you have a good idea! Just some little things. I think it needs to be SOLDIEGER PROOF, where possible. I think you have something that some drunk high school boys could put together, easy to do. I just think that they could screw it up easy. If you think about it being used by drunk high school boys, it will be easy to use and strong. You have it easy for the drunks but make it stronger. I know there is not going to have drunks putting it up. But by thinking of some drunks doing it then when the waste hits the fan and you need to do this in not very good weather it still can be done or there is a rush and you can give this to someone that doesn't know anything about radios to put up some you can set up the radios and things.
A few things to reply to ya.... I've since this video added a cap to the bottom of the pipe so the pole stays put. (I think it's in the other video) The wire from the 9:1 does not support it, there is a metal clip that supports it...the wire has no tension at all. Wood was only used because this is a "prototype-ish" build, the final product (whenever I find the time) will be a bit stronger and made out of something more weather resistant. Thanks for commenting!
Would it possible to make the same thing but instead of wood actually using pvc PVC 5-Way Cross to make a stand with 4 legs?
That would make it fit in a little bag or something for transporting, might have to fill the legs with sand or something to make it heavy enough to support the pole maybe...
Very inspiring video well done
Great for portable idea. Please tell us the model of fishing rod and some info on how it is working like SWR and if not real numbers then how are reports from others on your signal strength and what areas of the country have you worked with it?
B&M BW6RR Black widow 20' Crappie pole of Amazon. I'm going to do a heads up comparison video soon to give a good show of how it performs.
Where did you source the 20' crappie pole? De W5JRJ
Have you considered using 2 slinkies for a center fed helical vertical dipole?
For the same height that would make your operating Fq much higher - esp if you took the 9:1 off.
Did you use a metal, fiberglass, or carbon fiber pole?
Thanks!
Need to see if it works, before I try this, you never mentioned how it went
Not seeing a lot of videos with good reviews on the slinky antennas. Slinkys have 67 feet of coil. Should work on 80 meters just add a foot or so of wire and a good radial. And yes a good tuner.
Thinking about trying it. $ 20 rod $ 5 slinky little handy work for a stand. BEATS $400 + for a 68 foot vertical that is put up and can not be moved. Plus carry it with you. How is this working out? Let us know.
I like it for portable ops...it's so fast up and down, little effort to get on the air......I'm still tweaking and playing around with it.
This design is brilliant and kudos to you. I'm jealous lol
Very good mate
Have you done digital to see the performance on PSK reporter?
Yes, I haven't saved the results though. I'm going to be making another video soon and will include! Thanks for commenting!
Great Vid Mike ... I am working on a simular setup 43' vertical .. 1/2 1.25" fence top rail / 1/2 slinky .. 9:1 feed .. VA3VJC .. 73
Dude.... this is freaking awesome!!! You could make some $$$ if you market it right. I’d buy it
Thanks! It's still an evolving project . Now that the holidays are over and my wife got me an antenna analyzer....I'm gonna be going to town on videos and antennas lol
What kind of swr were you able to accomplish on each band? Whar amount of power do you use?
I use 100w. 1:1.1 with the tuner, up to 1:2.6 without.
One more question. Where did you get your unun? Home brew or bought?
Homebrew
great idea
Mike, If you arer going to you use wooden base your design for POTA and other temporary installations you DO NOT need to build the base from vinyl or another composite material like Trex. The composite are much heavier than real wood and provide no additional structural support better than wood. The 1x6 pine board should work just fine.
Where did you obtain the 20ft crappie pole? Cost?
Amazon...it was around $25. I checked, but it's unavailable and I couldn't find the exact price.
what wattage have you put through it. I have a Kenwood 520.
100w on just about every mode.
How long is the slinky?
so just your dollar store slinky ? is there a model number for the slinky, i have the same setup but i use 33.9 feet of speaker wire, and is a pain to sit there and rap it all the way down the pole at a 2 inch gap, works great but too time consuming, any info on the slinky would be great ,KD9JRU
I was using 16ga speaker wire too....made my dang hands cramp wrapping it! Here is the link of what I bought from Amazon.
The Original Slinky Brand Metal Slinky 3 Pack www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJHKR4C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_nvY3pQBXFMyUq
@@mikehannah6054 hi Mike. Thanks for your videos. Learning and having ideas. Just one question. Amazon shows 3 packs. Are u using 3 of them. Because i bought 2 packs today. If unwrapped size wont be enough, i will buy one more.
Just 1 slinky on this one. I think on my new one I will solder 2 together and get a longer pole though.
Is the slinky trimmed to any specific length?
No sir, unwrapped after I received and put it on. I did see a good article about recommended lengths and would've trimmed if needed, but it seemed to tune up well where I needed it to with no adjusting.... unscientifically tested.
Do you have a link for the telescoping fishing pole?
Here ya go, thanks for watching!
www.amazon.com/BW6RR-Black-Widow-Readyrig-Fishing/dp/B00D3ROJB8
Would be interesting to see an analyzer scan from 160 to 6 meters. Thanks for the video.
Will have an analyzer on it in the next video. Whenever my buddy and I get around to making it anyways...
slinky antenna ok for me great great great .....sunshine ..come back quickly please...
Awesome
I already have most of the parts to do this less the 9:1 unun that I can pick up, and need an easy to set up system since my end fed has had to come down. Do you have any information on the ideal length of counterpoise for different bands? I'd really like to do about 100w on 80, 40, 20 and 10m, mainly on the lower bands.
I actually don't have any info on this. When I was using the radios internal tuner I would change the counterpoise length to lower the swr, but since getting the auto tuner I haven't messed with adjusting it anymore. I now use a tape measure and just extend all 25' out any time I'm using it. (I have a video on that on here) Once I save enough pennies to get an antenna analyzer, I'll do further testing.
@@mikehannah6054 Thanks for the reply. I have an analyzer, so once I get one set up I will run it across all bands and provide an update. I will probably try something like a 25-33 food counterpoise to start with and take it from there. 73.
I would think that the coil of the slinky would make the impedance all wonky.
The inductance of the coil actually helps... Generally any short antenna will need some inductance added into it, be that a base loading coil, a mid-loading coil or here distributed linear loading over the full length,.... Basically this is what a VHF "rubber duck" helical antenna looks like if you scale it for HF.
We had part of a Slinky. But I straightened it. 👻
do you have an update on the operation of this invention?
There is a secondary video to this on my channel, the counterpoise one. I need to make another! I've since done some changes and gotten an analyzer
@@mikehannah6054 Hi, please do an update, I l quite interested in this invention. Thanks.
Mike, or anybody, don’t you think this would probably outperform an mfj 1399T? Lot more wire in the air.
I couldn't tell ya man, maybe someone else can chime in.
How did you attach the ring terminal to the slinky?
There's a small metal clip that holds the end to the next loop. I cut that off and just put the now loose end into the ring terminal and soldered it.
Thanks Mike, I'm very much considering building one.
Sweet, maybe you can improve the design!
Lol 😂 maybe.
How does it perform? ;)
Great video, marvellous idea. Where can I find how the antenna performed ? I am so keen on having something that keeps me friends with the neighbours. It does not need counterpoise or radials ?
73
VK6BLU
I do usually use a counterpoise with it. I have not really kept any kind of "records" of how it's performed. I can only say it works well for what it is.
Is there a video with this tuning up and on the air?
Not yet, once the weather gets warmer there will be.
I’m in that same mode this winter, adding to my QRP setup and waiting for better weather. This is an interesting use of a slinky. I had a slinky dipole about 20 years ago that absolutely sucked. I can see this working, based on its length. 73s de W1ND
gsansoucie i
Mike, I have been using a Slinky Dipole for many years. They are a great antenna. Been looking for an option for Parks use and saw your video. Had all the pieces except more slinkies which I have just purchased. So if I have it right, you are just running the pole to full length with the slinky at its normal length, into the UNUN, 25 foot counterpoise and all is well. Sounds just like what I have been looking for. I use an old Kenwood AT250 auto tuner that will tune just about anything, so it should work well. Saw one of the earlier comments about using a vertical dipole, might even try that as well! Thanks for your effort. Col VK2VAR
While waiting on new slinkies to arrive, I ran my dipole onto my 7m Squid Pole. Approximated half way point on the the pole, and thats where the centre of the dipole sits. Pulled the ends down and up. Set it in the mount, and wow it works great. The AT250 tunes it on 80 to 10m, and am getting good results. Just made a loop for stress relief on the coax connector and it hangs out the side, half way up the mast. A couple of minutes to erect and its done! Takes longer to get everything out of the car. For a Parks setup this is quite good, specially if doing a few parks in a day. No mucking about putting a dipole up a tree. Thanks again for the inspiration!
Where did you buy the pole. Please tell me
B&M BW6RR Black Widow Readyrig 20 Ft Fishing Pole www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3ROJB8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_JsIxcwyMtQ8pe
This one's apparently out of stock, but this is the one I ordered.
Thanks Cabela's had them in stock now I have to find a METAL Slinki
I would love to see you operate your radio with it and tune it up with your tuner 73 kd7kyb Kevin
Next video is going to be this antenna heads up against a wolf river coil....should've done it by now but hopefully soon!
Muito boa antena legal
well smack me on the ass and call me sally... thats really compact... I have the 9:1 already..walmart here I come....oh ya Subed and liked
Hahahaha, awesome! And thanks!!! Let me know how it works out for ya and if ya come up with anything that improves it. I've got a few more ideas to speed up deploying it and taking it down I'll share soon.
Make a video of the antenna in operation ! 73 AE4OY WILLIAM EM-81UF
Soon, work and covid has me all jacked up atm lol
Is this literally just one steel slinky?
Yes, on my next iteration I'll use 2 to make it longer
Nice job
3:31 minerallac strap
Can you get away with a 16 foot crappie pole for this?
Well I'm not sure honestly, I will collapse mine one section and see....I would think so, but my lady got me an analyzer for Christmas so I'll see what effects it has.... Best I can do lol
Mike Hannah I’ve got a 16 footer I can play with as well
Walmart sells a 13 foot Black Widow pole.
Bravo !
Nice antenna. Try to keep your counter poise to no more than .05 wavelengths on your lowest band. 80M = about 13.5’. Not critical. If you get longer, the longer you get you end up with a dipole and a good portion of your power/ current will end up at ground level. Yuck 🤮
Your auto tuner should be okay with it. On 40-80 you may want to try a 49:1 UNUN to get a better match as your impedance can be 2000-5000 ohms at the feed point then.
So in all seriousness, I want to buy one. I have no "technical" skills, but really want one of these. Shoot me a message please if you'd be interested in selling one.
Have you watched the update video?
Slinky is the name I use for my wife - as every once in a while I like to throw her down the stairs...
:)
does your wife know you're messing up HER kitchen? mmm...mmm...mmm.
Nice Rig. The only suggestion is to use two PVC stubs rather than the whole length. You're ready to handle comms in firefights with Bernie Sanders socialists in W9 land. 😃
ibb.co/c1xfsM7 had some hickups but still need to test before Friday anyways 1" pvc 1.25" black pipe used a foot for a guy ring 9:1 ldg unun can't wait to test