The Invisible HF Antenna
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- More and more ham radio operators are having to operate where there are restrictions in the use of antennas. This can be for many reasons, but Peter G3OJV, demonstrates one way of tackling the problem.
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These videos are devoted to ham radio. The whole production, editing and any background music, is the sole work of Peter G3OJV. Peter, is the founder of Waters & Stanton, and has held a full Ham Radio licence for sixty four years. Waters & Stanton began life in Hockley Essex in 1973. Since then, the Company has become known the world over for supporting the Hobby. Approaching the age of eighty two, Peter aims put something back into Ham Radio by helping others with his extensive experience in the Hobby.
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This is great info. I have had very good luck with a 49:1 unun and 20m wire. No chokes or jumpers and it gets me 40m, 20m and 10m without a tuner. Using the tuner in my FT-710, I also get 6m, 12m, 15m, and 17m. It is so nice to be able to go from band to band without going outside and fiddling with the antenna. Love the videos Peter.
Yes ditto i also have a 20m wire with a 49.1 unun and do very well with it to Australia etc with my 100w
🥇🥇🥇
Many years ago I was living at a temporary address but wanted to use my HF radio, gazing upwards looking for ideas I spotted the TV antenna way above the chimney. Feeding the coax braid common mode against a few 1/4 wave counterpoises tucked under the carpet worked surprisingly well. A later refinement allowed me to watch TV while transmitting 100w.....
You, sir, are a delight!
Tell my wife!
@@watersstanton really, I am laughing after each sentence full of stealth fun ))
Love your videos. I don't know how popular POTA is in Great Britain but a great way to test an antenna here in the states is to hunt POTA. Over there you have all of Europe to test your antenna.
Great video, as always. Thanks.
Steve, k7ofg.
I love my stealthy, not so random, ‘ random wire’ especially in this chilly weather when its a bit too nippy for me to go /p down at the beach! NVIS on 40m, great fun! Thanks for all your brilliant videos Peter! 💐
Thanks for sharing!
I enjoy your videos, and this one is very relevant to my entry to the hobby. My first radio was a G90, and I used a home made 49:1 that was placed on a wooden fence post, and I was fortunate enough to have a tree in a woodlot that allowed me to get the end of the wire up 30 feet. My first 70 countries were logged with this combination. It's a wonderful set up, and with 24-26awg wire, it is almost invisible.
Thanks for sharing that. Ir will encourage others.
You are doing so well Peter
Much appreciated.
I live in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA and have a technician class license, which is limited to a small section of the 10 meter band (28.300-28.500). I live in an HOA which has restrictions on antennas. I bought a 10 meter radio and built a dipole out of speaker wire which I mounted to he top of my 6ft wood fence. My first contact was to Toronto, Canada, about 1900 kilometers. I have made other DX contacts as well. Just get a wire up and try.
Well done. Sound advice.
Great Video Peter. When my wife and I were renting a half-duplex. I put up a Magwire end fed antenna. It ran from a basement window up the side of the duplex then out to a fencepost. It was coated dark green that made it hard to see. In the basement I ran a TS130s Kenwood and a MFJ tuner on the windowsill. I made a fair number of contacts on 40 meters and other bands. The magwire would break once in a while so I would have to go out and reattach. I used a rubber band for strain relief.
Thanks for sharing
Any antenna is better than no antenna… have fun always! 73
100%
Thanks for another great video. EFHW is on my list of things to try but I can attest to surprising results from things I've just thrown in the air for a test, despite non-ideal setup. So as you point out, make something and test it over a few sessions to give conditions a chance.
Great video Peter, just getting out there and having a go is magic.
Always very good information.
I’m quite new to HF and have a very compact garden and I run a 20m long EFHW. As you say, it’s a compromise but although mine is only 4m up I’ve worked 55 countries and got as far as Brazil!
Great news. Keep at it.
Awesome video Peter!! Where there's a will, There's a way!
Great video antennas are a black magic process
A happy new year Peter...How about non-resonant? I run 155' off center fed all the way around my backyard/garden, through the trees, tall shrubbery, then terminating to the top of a 10m fiberglass pole, strapped to a fence post. I have all of 80 meters, even Western Europe by night easily on 40 meters, and finally, great reach on 20. I pulled ideas from you over the years to concoct this monstrosity. I use a feed-point remote antenna tuner, and only a relatively short counterpoise. 9:1 unun fed...Thank you Peter, as always...N2QFK
Sounds a great performer.
Here here.
Great idea!
Already scrounging up a battery remote control relay in a box to switch in the other sections.
Will run it by my VNA and Analyzer.
Building and testing is more fun than using.
-Foy
N1FOY
I have made wire aerials using 24swg enamelled copper wire. Once it has weathered a bit, it is almost impossible to spot. The pigeons occasionally fly into it and snap it, but it is very easy to solder it back together.
Works great
Thanks for using metric Peter
:-)
Great advice Peter...W6QR
Great nest of ideas. Thank you.
Thanks for this. Have a new ic 7300 using a moonraker long wire antenna which I got secondhand . I replaced the wire as the landlord's son cut it down even though his dad was aware of what i was doing. Having no success whatsoever being heard on FT8, though Rx coming in fine. Not sure where I'm going wrong, checked signal level, modulation level, clock synch etc. Have tried with 10 and 20m lengths of thck copper wire. I have a wisprlite beacon and I get many spots using this on WSPR. On the Icom on wspr I have occasionally got a small number of spots briefly at much higher power than the beacon about 5 to 10w, beacon is about 500mW. I tried 48 and 44.1 kHz sample rate in WSJTX doesn't seem to make a difference. Have two questions. 1. Which is preferable a 49:1 or a 9:1 UnUn? 2. Moonraker seem to use a quarter(10m on 40m band) rather than a half wave length() for their end fed long wire antenna. Any idea on why this is and how theur system works? 73s M7JZW.
Always wanted to try the metal washing line would be perfect stealth antenna if it worked 😂
9:1 unun and a tuner, it'll work.
well, antenna could be stealth, but my dad with visible long wire over garden also tweaked all neighbors analog PAL TV filters a lot... )) ... its question if these days with DVB-T and IPTV its easier; also having later 100W on CW, keying was slightly felt in any audio nearby ...
The non radial verticals use the unun feed method. Usually the ratio is about 6 to 1 and radiator is about 28-ft long. Use at least 15-20 feet coax feed before using ferrite snap on chokes. Best to use 2 or 3 snap ons. Best ant use is 40M and up.
Edit: DE KK5R
Thanks for the info!
All good regarding a quad-band stealth antenna Peter. But have you given due consideration to mentioning the EMF implications of this approach in your video? In the UK, licensees are required to calculate the EMF of their fixed antennas to ensure they are within the permitted distances for any given power level which might affect nearby members of the public (ie their next-door neighbours in this case). I'm sure you have taken this into account Peter and are compliant, but it's worth mentioning this aspect of fixed antennas in your films when suggesting installing them at low level and in close proximity to neighbours, grandchildren and passers-by etc.
I think. this is generally understood these days. For UK hams there is a calculator on the RSGB site.Verticals can also be a challenge.
@@watersstanton ya, binged the "RSGB EMF calculator", nice info, tnx;
Stealth?
Try using a metal cored washing line... or two. One 10m and the other at 102inches.
Had some amazing results with both.
Wife uses short antenna for her "smalls".
When I worked for the RA I found loads of hidden antennas using the direction finder in my vehicle. However, none of them were operating in the amateur bands.
RA ??
@@hallen4094 Radiocommunications Agency.
@@hallen4094 Radiocommunications Agency maybe. Now known as Ofcom.
I had a lot of invisible antenna. 30 AWG wire to indoor. white wire wrap wire. under eave antenna. use AC power line as TX antenna. unused TV coax cable as antenna. old Cable TV coax to pole as antenna. all for HF. VHF 1/2 wave non radial antenna in 3rd floor of apartment hanging in closet worked better than 20 ft pole mounted outdoor antenna outside. AG6JU
Supports are more of the problem than the wire. 20 meters of #18 bare stranded copper wire or fish line that is more than enough for 100 watts plus end fed. Even a sloper from the peak of the house to the back fence is a good solution. For the low bands a remote antenna tuner into a quarter or less is a best solution as you don't want RF in the shack.
muy bueno y sencillo no sabia de esa podibilidad
Thanks for sharing
I find this video very interesting, howevcer I don't understand a balun into an end-fed antenna. When feeding a balun with coaxial cabe, where is the counterpois? Is the shield nonterminated?
The transformer is an UnUn not a balun. Yes coax is counterpose.m
Peter, If youre using a horizontal wire antenna, as youve discussed here. Is it better in a North-South or East-West orientation?
I have the same question.
In general radiation will be at right angles to the run of the wire. You choose what is best for your location.
@@watersstantonMine is what I call a flat L (it bends) so I have trouble guessing how that radiates! Paul G1THW
I'm in California. I've made many European contacts with and end fed in a tree & 100 watts. I prefer my 2 element quad at 60 feet now of course, but dx can be done with stealth antenna. Best bet is not to buy a home with an hoa though.
Another great video,Peter.my wooden fence is however steel capped on top. The steel is here and there interrupted so cannot use it as a gutter antenna.but supposecanalso not run a wireover it ? Happy new year. Johan
Thanks John. Happy new year to you.
Give it a try. Also try linking a wire across the interruptions to use the steel itself.
Will the 10 meter wire work as a 1/4 wave on 40 meters?
No with the 49:1 transformer in circuit.
Yay a new friend from overseas 😁 I have autism and love meeting people or finding people like you on UA-cam love the elders share with us the knowledge of the winds young man why not use radically charged photons to use the radios frequency highways they carry enough energy to do this or use radiation waves or frequency spirals I'm going to stop before I get in trouble again I'm not allowed to be smart as autistic adult in America
Hi Peter, I am new to all this stuff but I like to listen to airplane transmissions on AM frequency 126.3500 what antenna would you recommend I use for best performance please or any of your followers, my radio is a Uniden UBC125XLT with a BNC antenna connection. Thank you all.
You need a dedicated VHF Airband antenna. Check our website.
Hey there Peter! Thx for the video! Your comments about trimming the length of the antenna wire raised a question. Where do you trim when dealing with a three section antenna?
Happy new year! 73
Carlyle KO4QNT
Each section needs to be trimmed band by band apart from 10m which follows 20m band automatically.
Does the EFHW with 49:1 unun need a counterpoise wire, or is the single wire sufficient?
Usually a 0.05 wavelength counterpoise, but you can use the outer of the coax as a counterpoise if you have enough coax. Choke off the coax before it enters the building or a few metres from the radio. Mostly I prefer to use a separate counterpoise wire. Think of an EFHW as a VERY off centre fed dipole.
Thanks Peter. It would be good if you could give some practical information on building and adjusting that 65 uH loading coil for 40 meters - how many turns, spacing, wire gauge etc. Thanks. BTW just bought a new FT-710 two weeks ago (absolutely love it) actually prefer it against my FTDX-10, but it appears the Yaesu UK cash back website is faulty - it cannot accept the PDF invoice for proof of purchase. AR 73
Try this on-line inductance calculator
www.66pacific.com/calculators/coil-inductance-calculator.aspx
Peter, how does a wire placed along the to of a fence with 100W feed comply with the new regulations on emf to your neighbours bodies???
Tell them not to sit directly below it while you're transmitting.
The RSGB has a calculator on their website.
Quais são os motivos ou argumentos, para não poder ter antenas aparentes?
You can have separate antennas but ANT position must be either end fed wire or coax feed. But not both.
Would a 1/4 wave vertical using a coil resonate on 40 & 15 meters and save space compared to the endfed 1/2 wave??? Thanks for your videos! ❤
It will work, but you’ll certainly have restricted bandwidth and will miss stations, but you can make contacts. It won’t quite match the end fed’s performance (at proper height), but it WILL save space. The Comet 250HD is the perfect example and you can even talk on 80m on it.
@@BBaldwin Thanks for the ideas!
It depends on what you mean. If you mean a quarter wave on 15m, then a coil after that as a combined choke/loading coil, then maybe. If you're talking about a loaded vertical with a coil at the bottom for 40m, it won't work on 15m. A 40m dipole/vertical is only resonant on 15m if it's the full length. The coil will act differently on 40m and on 15m.
My G5RV Jr. is hidden in my attic!
Thank you for this video! ... but what happened to the audio track? I seems, that only the top high region of the audio spectrum has been recorded? vy73 from Hamburg/Germany, Dietmar, DL4HAO :)
Cannot hear a problem or see any problem on EQ display.
@@watersstanton Thank you for your fast reply. I just recognized, it was my fault, my pc has switched the audio output to the internal speaker of my small external HDMI monitor, so now, with the normal external speaker, everythin is fine! vy73, Dietmar, DL4HAO
I assume you are expecting the coax to act as the counterpoise? Or do you prefer to hang one (2-3M?) from the UnUn?
73, Earl WA4KBT
The coax feed dies the job.
Would this Antenna still work if it’s 18inches off the ground fixed to a low brick wall?
All antennas work, but there is only one way to find out how well an antenna works!
Can an arial drape or must it be pulled tight?
It makes little difference provided not draped over metal.
Mum's the word old top.
5:32 before he said what antenna it is. It's EFHW
Audio?
What about a shop tour video?
On the list.
He doesn't have a shop : (
@@DXCommanderHQ Isn't the shop in Milton Keynes?
Do you have advices for receive only HF antennas?
Any transmit antenna, indoor loop antenna sometime called a box antenna that use a multi-turn loop antenna and tuned it with a bar capacitor, then a myriad of active receive antennas (I prefer a conjugated crossed dual circular or square loop antennas which is is fed into a balanced RX PRE-AMP...
Many...
Bit of wire. Usually as long and as high as you can get it. If it's for a particular frequency or band, you can create a resonant antenna for that band. If it's for general coverage, you can connect a random length directly to the receiver or you can put in a 9:1 unun and run coax from there, perhaps coax inside the building so it's shielded from interference when inside the building.
@ Thank you!
09/01/25. Thursday.
My stealth antennas are a nest of dipoles in my loft...would love to get them outside but hey ho.
👌🍷🍾 Very well
pick a frequency and call out . they will find you
I have a long wire that is 119 feet long and I have a 9:1 UnUn. the SWR is above 3 on all bands. Will shortening the wire to 71 feet help bring the SWR down. My Yaesu seems to be able to cope and match the SWR down to 1ish.
I wouldn't worry about it if the radio can tune it. That's the nature of a random wire antenna, it needs a tuner.
My experience with 9:1 is that you really have to try it and see. The feeder length also comes into play.
COSI L.ANTENNA E IL CAVO COAASIALE...LA CALZA ESTERNA...
Et encore une IA....pénible...!!
Need antenna for flat dwellers.
Get to the point
Can't the English talk like the Americans? This is easier for me to understand as a German
He is English.🇬🇧
There's the problem 😉
Germans can have trouble with English English accent, compared to US American, typically from California or Oregon, where the "dialect problem" is less.. US English from the SE and NE, and Midwest, are more difficult.
Most Europeans actually find Canadian English the easiest to understand, but Scottish, funktioniert nicht!
@@lohikarhu734 We have a US Army radio station here in the Stuttgart area - AFN -
I listen it most of the day-time ... it just plays rock music and not that crap music like the other radio stations.
I also went to one of the US barracks several times a week for work.
So my ears are probably tuned in from US English.
When an English person speaks, it sounds to me like Donald Duck talking
@@membersataniccabal.coronau804 Maybe turn the clarifier knob a bit...
@@paulsengupta971 Clarifier ... yes, thats a good idea
Hi Peter, I use a fishing rod with ten meters wire as antenna, in QRP and a manual antenna tuner, I'd like to try a wire antenna with 49:1 balun soon, thank for your advice 73 de iu7bsh op. Marco
Sounds great!