Top 5 Antenna Mistakes in Ham Radio

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  • Опубликовано: 28 дек 2024

Комментарии • 113

  • @nerdlywehunt
    @nerdlywehunt Год назад +3

    All facts and no BS from two of the best hams on RUclips. Two thumbs up!

  • @Andy-up6li
    @Andy-up6li 4 месяца назад

    Thanks Love the Vids
    Thanks for the time you take 👍

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  4 месяца назад

      Thanks Andy, glad you like the videos 👍

  • @CriticalThinker-42
    @CriticalThinker-42 Год назад +2

    Vaseline for Waterproofing is used to coat the connectors male sections (and/or the inside female of the SO-239) with a heavy coating of New Unopened Vaseline (uncontaminated), then plug them in to fill the Air Voids (excess should squeeze into the insulated gap between the shield and pin, and onto the shield connection). When this is full of grease water cannot ingress into the connector. Wipe off the excess before screwing on the shield. Its a bit messy but works well. As a side note, yes it helps grease the threads too.
    On X-Ray cable connectors (years ago) I'd often used a New Unopened jar of Vaseline when I didn't have High Tension cable grease with me (Vapor-proof them and preventing arcs).
    Keep spreading the word!
    73 - mike

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Thanks for the detail Mike, I've heard of folks using it but never have...

    • @NickFrom1228
      @NickFrom1228 10 месяцев назад

      @@TheSmokinApe I think today many prefer the silicone dielectric grease.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  10 месяцев назад

      @@NickFrom1228 you are prolly correct 👍

  • @nateitkin8279
    @nateitkin8279 28 дней назад

    Great talk. Thank you both. It seems like someone needs to explain coax to several of the antenna manufacturers. They typically include coax with a lot of loss at UHF/VHF frequencies on mobile mounts. You can't easily change it because the coax is integral to the mount itself. I don't know why they feel the need to do this, but it forces operators to run much higher power than necessary just to piss away 20% in the coax.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  27 дней назад

      Hey Nate, they do it so they can squeeze every penny of profit out of the product.

    • @nateitkin8279
      @nateitkin8279 27 дней назад

      @@TheSmokinApe That's entirely possible, but I tend to live by Hanlon's Razor - "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity". My solution was to buy the cheapest mag mount I could find and correct the electrical and mechanical engineering failures. I replaced everything but the magnets and the triangular plate they attach to with my own 3/8 24 antenna mount that utilizes a SO-239 connector. Then I can use my M&P coax that's not any longer than necessary to reach the radio.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  27 дней назад +1

      @ you putting in overtime 😮

  • @gfodale
    @gfodale 7 месяцев назад +1

    When I use a tree(s) as support or anchor point, I make use of old window weights. It allows tension on the line, that can shift with the wind blowing the tree around. Prevents stress on the antenna trying to pull it apart as well.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  7 месяцев назад +1

      That’s a pretty good idea, thanks man 👍

  • @Fireman9143
    @Fireman9143 3 месяца назад

    +1 for technical videos. Is there a difference in how to wrap CMCs?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  3 месяца назад

      There are a few ways to do them; here is my playlist that covers just about everything you would want to know: Learn about Chokes, Baluns and UnUns for Ham Radio Antennas
      ruclips.net/p/PLm8ROkpFeqoqkGQtBYfcT9Y-2GCKxBuuk

  • @J0HN3
    @J0HN3 Год назад

    Great content Ape! Quick question for you sir: if I’m running an EFHW, does that also require a choke at the feed point, or does the nature of the EFHW (having a balun) serve the purpose already?
    Also, should I add a choke to the feed point of a DX commander? Got one in the mail on the way. I don’t have much experience with verticals.
    I’ve been choking most things just prior to the radio because I have some long coax runs, but I see the value of choking at the feed point to ensure the coax doesn’t become part of the antenna. I guess choking at both ends makes sense and won’t hurt.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Hey John, I do choke at both ends of the coax as I do not want CMC on the coax. Yes, I am a stickler about it... 👍

  • @tmccusk1
    @tmccusk1 Год назад

    Thanks for the great video!

  • @SummitBidTech
    @SummitBidTech Год назад

    This is good. I’ve recently gotten back into the hobby after being a lapsed ham for 30 years.
    I’ve had a “multi-band” trap antenna stored away in a box for and put it up. It works but finding alarmingly high SWR everywhere I want to operate. I put up a G5RV and am finding the same thing. They still “work” but definitely needs improvement.
    I’m hoping This discussion and a nanoVNA will help me resolve the issues.
    73 de NL7FU

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Thanks for watching SBT. The GVR5 won't be resonate on all bands and will need a tuner if I recall correctly. Good luck with it!

    • @SummitBidTech
      @SummitBidTech Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe yes, I make heavy use of the tuner on my ft-991a.
      Mine is a G5RV/mini which is cut for 10/20 meters only. I suspect my issues are with my feed line lengths. 50 feet into the shack and then a couple 9’ patch coax to a switch and the radio. I’m hoping lengthening the feed line carefully might help my SWR issues since shortening it is impossible.
      Also, I need to understand what “always be choking” is about, lolz.
      73 de NL7FU/0

  • @FurgiePower
    @FurgiePower Год назад

    On weatherproof connections, make your first wrap with varnished cambric, then linerless splicing tape and finally super 33+ . Pay close attention to your overlaps of the splicing tape as this is your layer that seals the connection. The cambric will allow you to have a clean connection when you open it up at a later date. Great show on an often misunderstood topic. Thanks for the video guys!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Thanks for the tip Jason, glad you liked the video 👍

  • @MikeN2MAK
    @MikeN2MAK Год назад

    Good stuff as always fellas.

  • @mjktrash
    @mjktrash 7 месяцев назад

    Watching this much later than the live feed, but some of the descriptions of what/where to do things are fine if you're NOT brand new, and just learning. For example, installing a "choke", is this different than winding my coax thru a Toroid Core? 240-31? 240-43? How many wraps?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  7 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks for the feedback MJK. I try to do a mix of videos some are for beginners and some are for those with more experience. I have a playlist of chokes if you want more info on them 👍

    • @mjktrash
      @mjktrash 7 месяцев назад

      @@TheSmokinApe thank you, I'll look later tonight

  • @TonyYork-KB9RAO
    @TonyYork-KB9RAO 8 месяцев назад

    How does the impeadance of a connector change? and if this is the case would using adapters mess with the impeadances on say handhelds that people use different but not correct connections on?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  8 месяцев назад

      Well, there are 75ohm connectors. But loose or dirty connectors can present as open connections for example

  • @TonyYork-KB9RAO
    @TonyYork-KB9RAO 8 месяцев назад

    Working for many years in the trailer industry, A couple of tips 1, Tape -Scotch super 88, and super 33 (88 is the better of the 2), 2 dielectric grease, (Ihave seen dielectric grease last in truck plugs under the rear bumpers for years) this due to the grease and the 88 tape

    • @TonyYork-KB9RAO
      @TonyYork-KB9RAO 8 месяцев назад

      More on Scotch super 88-It will stretch way the hell out and return to original lengths nearly 100% which is one of the factors that make the stuff supreme.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  8 месяцев назад

      @@TonyYork-KB9RAO thanks for the info about the tape 👍

  • @poorman-trending
    @poorman-trending Год назад +1

    Shield as counterpoise is ok, though it depends on the length and you definitely have to choke near the shake or you will get a lot of rf in the shack.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      I suppose but you will probably do better with a choke and counterpoise 👍

  • @stevec9889
    @stevec9889 10 месяцев назад

    What materials for a mast will interfere with the antenna?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  10 месяцев назад

      Anything that is conducive, that said people use metal all the time, just try to not do thinks like use an AL pole for a vertical 👍

  • @timmcilraith8762
    @timmcilraith8762 10 месяцев назад

    Mr S Ape, very informative. Thanks. On par with Mr Og.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  10 месяцев назад

      Thank you Tim, much appreciated 👍

  • @dougdaniels
    @dougdaniels Год назад

    Great show guys. I'm interested in building my own CMC. If I heard correctly, you use a T240-31 toroid and 11 wraps of a 3' length of RG58. If I'm only building one CMC, what is a good source for the toroid and coax that doesn't require a bulk purchase to be economical? Thanks!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      I get my cores here: www.jpmsupply.com/category-s/1946.htm and the coax from ebay 👍

  • @yowsa52
    @yowsa52 8 месяцев назад

    I had an EFHW stung between two garden homes. 40' in the air and it still was bad. In the clear is the way to go.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  8 месяцев назад

      Thanks for watching yowsa 👍

  • @dougdukes1039
    @dougdukes1039 Год назад

    OK, so a newbie question. You talk about chokes, but what does a choke look like, and how do you install it? I mean are you talking ferrite beads? So I guess you have done a video on this. Can you point me to that video? Thanks, Great video.

    • @bassangler73
      @bassangler73 Год назад

      There are several videos out there. But a choke is just something to kill the Common Mode Current from coming back into your radio..You can buy them or make your own. A few turns around a Toroid works great or you can buy a 1:1 Balun..If your in a pinch you can make a dirty balun by coiling up 5 to 10 coils of coax and zip tying them together

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Hey Doug, here is a playlist where I have several videos about chokes: ruclips.net/p/PLm8ROkpFeqoqkGQtBYfcT9Y-2GCKxBuuk

    • @bassangler73
      @bassangler73 Год назад

      The ape will fix you up!​@@TheSmokinApe

    • @sleeve8651
      @sleeve8651 5 месяцев назад

      I ran Ham sticks for some time, on multiple bands with a 6 inch magnet mount.
      Initially I tried running them straight !
      Vertical above the cab of the Pickup I was driving !
      However, the noise coming into the cab from wind noise, was horrendous !
      Not much of a stretch there !
      I found a 3/8 24 mount that could be tilted, and laid the antenna back somewhere ballpark 45 degrees or so, virtually eliminating most of the cab noise !
      And perhaps offering a unique take off angle, as I received great reports, on 40, 17, and 10 meters !
      80 was worthless for my installation !
      Very limited band width there, as well !
      Eventually found an original Yaesu ATIS 120 screwdriver Antenna !
      Which worked very well !

  • @chrisbeerad8835
    @chrisbeerad8835 11 месяцев назад +3

    Biggest mistake is trying to be good at too many bands with one antenna . The other thing is having too much crap around your antenna . Get them in the clear , make them resonate on the band you favour . if the band or couple bands you like are not open go for a walk or do something else ya don`t need every band from one crap piece of wire that gets you a contact for 2 seconds in somebodies noise floor or a digital call sign swap that means nothing .

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  11 месяцев назад

      lol, excelling point Chris! Thanks for watching bro 👍

  • @donausmus4281
    @donausmus4281 10 месяцев назад

    I even have a choke coming into my radio from an ATAS 120 on my Ram 2500. The ATAS is a great, convenient compromise antenna but requires a WELL BONDED vehicle. While parked, of course.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  10 месяцев назад +1

      People love those ATAS antennas 👍

  • @Thomas-ZET
    @Thomas-ZET Год назад

    Good information that many don’t think of, for grounding I’m lucky with 10 plus feet of clay

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Glad you liked the video Thomas, thanks for watching 🍻

  • @TonyYork-KB9RAO
    @TonyYork-KB9RAO 8 месяцев назад

    Good coax is somewhat relative to its length, and frequency.

  • @graywolf1911
    @graywolf1911 11 месяцев назад

    In placing CMC every quarter wave for long coax runs, but what if the long coax runs are BURIED? I have 125 and 250 foot runs and they are all buried. I firmly agree with CMC's at both ends.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  11 месяцев назад +1

      In that case I would choke at both ends, that is exactly what I do here with unburied coax.

    • @graywolf1911
      @graywolf1911 11 месяцев назад

      @@TheSmokinApe Unburied Coax? WOW, how do you not run over the coax with your lawn mower, LOL, that begs another question, I have heard and read everything imaginable on Amateur Radio UTube concerning burying coax. Some say just under the surface with cable trencher, some say at least 30", some say PVC conduit. Well, at last check at HD, 3" PVC 10-foot sections were crazy at $30 a section so I am not about to spend over $300 for PVC. I say 3" because if I run 3 LMR 400 cables, it gets a little tight with 2", and if you throw in a HD rotator cable, then one is really pushing the limit. Maybe it would be cheaper and a lot less work if I just run the cable like the power company, up in the air on a pole or two. But then, I need to buy PT 4x4 12-foot posts and dig those holes, and then with the coax in the air, am I opening the door to all sorts of "pick-up interference? Thoughts guys?

  • @DonzLockz
    @DonzLockz Год назад +1

    I have a metal roof plus a foil-fibreglass-foil blanket under the tin roof to help reduce heat in summer. Its good for the house and all but no good for antennas. Lol
    Im gonna buy a 20m roll up plastic tape thingy to plan out my yard for antennas and directions etc.
    Thnx for the info Ape ' Chucky.😊

    • @ag1382
      @ag1382 Год назад +1

      You have a metal ground plane the size of your home? Vertical antenna……

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Glad you liked it Don!

    • @Porco_Utah
      @Porco_Utah Год назад +1

      Metal Roof itself make good antenna against earth/ground, good NVIS ant. I wish if I had metal roof. AG6JU

  • @Porco_Utah
    @Porco_Utah Год назад

    my mistake on HF antenna are some of the commercially made Vertical antenna, simple fiberglass rod and wire and automatic antenna tuner do better and cheaper. AG6JU

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Agreed, some of the commercial stuff is rubbish. Thanks for watching...

  • @Bob-cx4ze
    @Bob-cx4ze 2 месяца назад

    Why can't I have a dual purpose modern art installation and antenna?

  • @chublez
    @chublez Год назад

    Got a sirio mobile myself. Easily the best bit of metal I've stuck on a car short of a full 1/4 wave for getting out.

  • @CurtNovitsky
    @CurtNovitsky Год назад

    But if ones antenna is radiating it's not much farther away than the coax so wouldn't one get RFID in there shack no matter what radiates ? Hf has a long wave length? relatively speaking

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      That's whey you want good coax with a proper shield / dielectric the choke stops any currents on the outside of the shield.

    • @CurtNovitsky
      @CurtNovitsky Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe thanks for reply ,let's say someone has good shielding and most of the radiated power leaves the ant,and no radiation from transmission lines ,the antenna itself is negligible distance from coax and shack so unless the shack is insulated or very far away ,the shack would still be infiltrated with rf from the antenna ,on 40 meters only maybe half wavelength away ,

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      @@CurtNovitsky yes, RF radiated from the antenna could make its way into the shack.

  • @Redbelly357
    @Redbelly357 Год назад

    Everything is turned in to a competition. Just do the best you can (and afford) and have fun.

  • @PARTner91
    @PARTner91 Год назад

    I disagree with the idea that a great radio with a poor antenna is a bad scenario. I deal with an HOA so my antenna is a “bad antenna” by many hams’ standards. With my “bad antenna”, I’ve worked DXCC and more. I would struggle to do that with a G90, but the IC-7610 makes the most of what I have. There’s a lot to be said for a GREAT receiver making the most of a weak signal scenario.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      You can disagree, I am OK with that BUT it's pretty much universally accepted that the antenna is more important. The g90 to ic7610 is an extreme example of edge cases. You can run a race car with bad tires but you will win more races with good tires.

  • @CurtNovitsky
    @CurtNovitsky Год назад

    What if radio manufactures sold a multi band rig and when one turned it on found out it only had one band ?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      I'd suspect that manufacturer wouldn't be in business very long.

  • @digitalradiohacker
    @digitalradiohacker Год назад

    "You have an end fed half-wave mounted 6ft off the ground"
    So an effectively employed NVIS antenna which will be deaf to local noise and Russian taxi-drivers.

    • @Porco_Utah
      @Porco_Utah Год назад

      here in city , Orange County CA, HF antenna below roof line win for low noise level. neighbour's roofs make good shield against noise. only get good clean signal from up above. AG6JU

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      I'm pretty sure I added that the person wanted to work DX, and since you know so much about effectively employed NVIS antennas you know that DX is more difficult and that's why I made the 300 mile comment.

    • @digitalradiohacker
      @digitalradiohacker Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe
      Maybe I got the worng end of the stick. You stated the "antenna mounted off the ground" as though it was a coment from somebody else, and I replied as though I were replying to THEM, not you. I guess it didn't come across so well.
      I've been subscribed to you for a while, so I KNOW that you're pretty knowledgeable. On the other hand, I don't specifically know if you've come across NVIS before. It's a topic I'm passionate about because I'm not a fan of "DX". I'm sick of bands full of "5+9 whats my number" contest stations running 1KW and would prefer to work stations beyond the line of sight, but still within the same region.
      I didn't catch the DX part, which may be where the confusion came from (it's an hour long video that I watched to the end before commenting).
      Either way, and as per usual, a lot of context is lost when conversation is had in text format - If we'd had the conversation face to face, it probably wouldn't have turned out this way.
      Note:
      Most radio amateurs talk on RUclips / FB etc about filters, antennas and various other tech topics and merely repeat things they've heard from people who heard those things from people who once read those things in an article written by people who..... Essentially, they repeat rumour, bad advice and what would be considered hearsay in a court.
      You on the other hand, to my knowledge, have NEVER made a claim on here that something will do ANYTHING. Instead you have measured that thing with some kind of instrument, and then you have come to a conclusion, and you measure it with an instrument that most people could afford.
      You're doing great work. Keep it up! 👍👍👍

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      lol, sorry about the misunderstanding and thank you for the kind words. I agree that there is way to much nonsense here on the RUclipss. I am a co-host of a ham radio talkshow called Coffee and Ham Radios, here is a like to a presentation I did on NVIS: ruclips.net/user/liveWFE6S7ihyZk?si=Pw4KFdCTx3FvftRb

    • @digitalradiohacker
      @digitalradiohacker Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe
      Thanks, I'll take a look.

  • @mewrongwayKOCXF
    @mewrongwayKOCXF 9 месяцев назад

    Ok Ape, How do you know my antenna sucks? Been window peeking? 🤔

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  9 месяцев назад +1

      I was 👀

    • @mewrongwayKOCXF
      @mewrongwayKOCXF 9 месяцев назад

      @@TheSmokinApe Thanks for all your awesome videos! 👍👍👍

  • @rudiwiedemann8173
    @rudiwiedemann8173 3 месяца назад

    I'm feeding a vertical with coax, so how do I build an "UnUn Choke" unlike your "BalUn Choke"?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  3 месяца назад

      Not 100% sure what you mean but if you are trying to suppress CMC I’d get 3’ of rg58 and put 11 wraps on a ft240-31 toroid and place that at the antenna feedpoint.

  • @kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953
    @kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953 Год назад

    I hope you talked about the numerous benefits to balanced feeder and the best multi band antenna the All mighty HW Doublet fed with 4” open spaced into a palstar tuner with the 1:1 balun on the antenna input so it sees 50ohm and won’t ever cook. The only way to get 99% of the power out of ur rig and into the antenna 😊

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Oh boy...

    • @chrisbeerad8835
      @chrisbeerad8835 11 месяцев назад

      Bullshit, i never ever use a trans match. needing that means your antenna sucks and having a million contacts doesn`t mitigate that fact on bands that are wide open and very forgiving anyway . try it on 10 m when its marginal and your short path Europe with equatorial noise . il take a resonant monobander all day over ya trans matched doublet that`s a jack of all trades but master of non . You'll think im talking to ghosts cause you wont hear what im hearing

  • @ac0m-glennthompson432
    @ac0m-glennthompson432 Год назад

    Antenna in the attic is my only choice because of my HOA. I have 2 up there and they work okay as long as I use FT8.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      You gonna roll with what you can, glad to here you’re making contacts with it 👍

    • @d.j.roberts187
      @d.j.roberts187 Год назад +1

      I have a 10m dipole with a 1:1 Balun. Works well ft8.. ok on ssb. I haven’t tested with the hvac system on (in attic).

  • @seanwieland9763
    @seanwieland9763 Год назад

    Antenna shaming. 😅

  • @marklowe7431
    @marklowe7431 6 месяцев назад

    Anyone every say you sound like Joe Rogan?

  • @stevehansen6068
    @stevehansen6068 Год назад

    1

  • @bussi7859
    @bussi7859 Год назад

    This sucks, i was SM7GDO now I’m oe6ccp. Who is this channel for? So many errors

  • @KF0NNQ
    @KF0NNQ Год назад

    More tech the better! KF0NNQ

  • @stevenblack122
    @stevenblack122 Год назад

    1

  • @gailpeterson4012
    @gailpeterson4012 11 месяцев назад

    1

  • @rodneyprice1673
    @rodneyprice1673 10 месяцев назад

    1

  • @wb7wbw-l2p
    @wb7wbw-l2p 9 месяцев назад

    1