Howdy KK7REZ Matt in Idaho I have a question what is a cheap inexpensive 10m antenna that I can build with speaker wire 73 kk7rez
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I’ve got just the guide for you!
Check out this video guide, it’ll teach you how to build a dipole for 10m: How to Build a Dipole Antenna for Ham Radio – Ham Radio Prep
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Thank you i will check it out ! 73 KK7REZ
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@KK7REZ Dipole antennas are super easy and cheap to make! I’ve made probably hundreds of contacts on homemade dipoles! They’re definitely a great option!
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Yes Home-brew dipole antennas are super fun to make and do contest with i have a quick question @N0APX i want to build a vertical under $100 i have somewhat of a idea but is there something simple i can use pvc pipe for the mass and copper wire
kind of like this idea Ham Radio Multiband Ground Plane Antenna by ok1cdj - Thingiverse
73 Thank you KK7REZ
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Yeah, so it should be really simple if you want to build a mono band antenna. A multi-band can be a bit more complex. Which do you intend to build?
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mono band
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@KK7REZ I know 1/4-wave ground plane antennas work pretty well in some cases, and they’re fairly easy and cheap to make!
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Keep in mind these simple facts…
Any antenna is better than no antenna.
A dipole is based on a simple formula of 468 divided by the Frequency in MHz
for example 28.300 MHz (Ten Meters) is 468 divided by 28.3 equals 16.53 feet in length of the dipole.
You want half of that length on each side of the feed point (center insulator)
Therefore cut your 16 foot 7 inches of wire in half
one piece goes on the shield side of your coax the other is connected to the center conductor the far ends of each side need an insulator.
Place this in a still PVC Tube and add a loop of wire on one end to hand it in a tree limb
Now you have a vertical half wave length antenna for Ten Meters
which does NOT need radials, because it is a full half wave length design.
Dipoles are fun and extremely easy to build.
Get on the air and have fun !
Steve
KG5VK
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The Third fact is…
A quarter wave length antenna needs the other half.
Most Verticals are a quarter wavelength
the other half is the Radial field.
A quarter wave vertical without radials with be a very poor radiator
pushing most of it’s energy into the ground soil
Even though the SWR will look nice
it will not get you many contacts.
SWR and it’s myth of quality antennas is a whole different but related discussion
Cheers!
Steve KG5VK
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KG5Vk Thank you I look forward to making it 73 kk7rez
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See it for Big HF wire antennas
Rhombics, and V Beams
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