When I was a young boy, I had a Slinky antenna affixed to a fishing reel supported on a window ledge of our 2 story brick bungalow house. When I had it lowered and it was breezy it would clink and clang alongside the house driving my mother nuts. This was for SWLing
Walt always enjoy your videos. You have inspired me to return the hobby, Due to 2 Strokes and partial paralysis for months I became in active, Recently I began binge watching RUclips Ham Radio related, for years I lusted over SDRs but most were beyond my budget. However the G90 finally were was within my reach. As were many Antennas. I really especially enjoyed discovering your Channel. I now have G90, 2 regular Slinky’s. After watching you build the Large Slinky Antenna and how well it worked. Was motivated to once again to become Radio “Active “. 20 years ago I build a DIY Home Brew Multi Band Dipole the was easily tuned using the internal Kenwood TS2000 tuner. Now with the aid a Rig Expert device I believe DIY Antennas will much more fun and easier too 💡😃 Again thanks for sharing all your insights, thoughts, especially your enthusiasm in this and your other videos. I hopefully will connect with on the Bands in the near future 😀 73 Steve AA4SH, Tennessee
Thank you, Walt, for promoting fun! I have been using a single slinky for short wave listening for some time. It makes for an amazing number of stations I can receive compared to the internal antenna. I also have a slinky dipole used an an inverted v, and it works well on 10 and 20 meters. I look forward to more fun on your channel.
OUTSTANDING! Keep up the good work Walt. PS. I have found that the metal on these will corrode very quickly, so it might be a good idea to spray some coating on them for protection. Electroplating might also be a good alternative. 73 👍
Slinkies are lossy....couldn't here you....oh wait, wrong video...LOL Thanks Walt for taking the time for another great video! I activated my first park today with my daughter using one of your antenna ideas! 73
Walt, I build your slinky dipole (borrowing my grandson's slinky's) with the balm. First contact was Brazil, followed by German! I was able to check into nets on 10m and 80m in the middle of the afternoon. I can't wait to set up for POTA and give it a try. First stop will be Mount Trashmore here in Virginia Beach. Thanks for the great idea.
Nelson Antennas needs to restock. I just bought the last two 9:1 boxes he had. Slinkys on the way too! Our favorite Country store eatery is no longer carrying them.
I found a couple of books and now understand baluns, ununs and wavelengths. I know how hard it is to try to help newbies in text on U Toob. Learning more about the G90. Talked to Italy this morning on 20 watts. Having a real blast here. BTW the new Slinkies are not metal You must have found some vintage ones. Thanks for all the help you have given me though. You are pointing me in the direction I want to go. Love the idea of low power.
Great results! I tried using a prebuilt Slinky antenna years ago indoors on HF and it didn't work well, but then neither did any other indoor antenna I tried. I love how amateur radio operators are able to make almost anything into an antenna and I love these "practical use" videos you post. 73 Walt!
@@redstickham6394 I gave up trying to have an HF shack in an apartment a long time ago, but I plan to get back into amateur radio when I retire. The good part is that so much new stuff has come out since I last owned HF capable equipment and it's much cheaper to get on the air nowadays than even 20 years ago.
Another great video. You sold me on the g90 and while doing a POTA here in So Cal last weekend, I got contacts from Canada and Spain on 15m SSB calling in.
I went out and bought a metal slinky. I used it with my 21ft tenkara fish rod mast and LDG 9:1 with the G90. I found it was 1:1 on 10 and 17m. I could receive well on most bands. I didn’t make any contacts but will try again.
Nice job Walt with two medium slinky's (2) , I have three large slinkys (3) two(2) on one side and one(1) on the other with a 75 ohmn t v cable transformer and coax to my sdr-rsp/dx receiver what a setup
That antenna worked pretty well and it looks like you had a great time as well. It's amazing what will get you on the air. I'm playing with a linear loaded doublet in my attic right now. It actually does get out. Great video, keep up the good work.
I have definitely thought about using one of the large slinky, "spring toys" from Popular Science as a counterpoise/negative end of multi-band vertical dipole(s), running the outside length of a mast. All I need is one of those sweet carbon fiber masts to hold up the contraption. Soon... For fun I measured the SWR on the slinky stretched out maybe just 10 feet or so, so that it wasn't touching and it was all over the place up and down. Was afraid the green eggs and sour hams might be getting to you with some of your videos. Good to see this kind of fun, experimental content elevating our community and your spirit. Cheers and 73 Walt!
Great Antenn, love it. Thanks Walt for showing all these „wierd“ antennas😂 Ever thought about a survival blanket… 73 HB3XBL By the way, what firmware build do you run on the G90?
Today I have been playing with an 18ft vertical aluminum antenna 3ft off the ground on a fence post with a 4:1 unun feeding it along with 3 ground radials scavenged from some A99 parts I have. And have been working into the EU on FT8 on 12m at 50 watts. Using an LDG tuner of course inside fed with my 991A. It tunes up real easy I could probably use the internal tuner. AS it is it tunes 1:1 80-6m. I have larger higher antennas I can use butt I play at home too
Interesting name for that battery lol. The bands are hopping. I noticed two church steeples in the background, wouldn't that it be cool to string up an antenna between them?
Not soldered? Hoping to use them as a toy afterward? They solder amazingly well. I've had a couple of slinky antennas over the years, and they were great receive antennas, regardless of how they were made.
I have used the cheaper option which is electric fence gate springs. The only problem is they are really strong springs! I had two as a dipole with a 4:1 balun stretched to 8m long and it was 1:1 on 10 MHz. Worked really well too. Just sitting here reading the G90 manual prior to ordering one. Just sold my current portable radio. Its the ATU. Previously I have spent half my operating time dealing with fine tuning.
Walt: Great video. I've always had it in my head that slinky antennas where all loading coil and no radiator, but based on your work, it looks like they radiate pretty well. I wonder if slinky radials would work efficiently on a vertical. Maybe one or two slinkies attached at center points creating an X with 25 feet of counterpoise times four. It would take up much less square footage than regular wire (ie maybe 10 feet rather than 25 feet from mast.) Your videos are good at making people think outside the box on antenna design.
That was great. in NY the metal Slinky harder to find in local stores . I got the same pole . and the new green one. the 2024 edition. DX engineering has them and DX 10 wire . the bands lately are hot. even 160 meters at night. just 6 meters down for DX . that spring/summer the E layer gets going. I got 2 antenna's ready to go up the pole for them days. a 49:1 end fed cut for 6 M and type 61 core . tunes the whole band . and just a piece of RG 8X coax. cut for 6M 2 1/2 in PVC coil at end . have one for 10 M as well. working the UK from NY on 10 meters just a piece of RG 8X on a DX commander pole was fun. I made contact with a gutter antenna in England. was great. he loaded up the gutter with a tuner . love the fun ! 73's
This is quite cool, I actually looked at building a slinky antenna a couple of years ago, but it's surprisingly difficult to get a slink here in ZL lol I'll have to look again and see if I can find someplace that stocks them nearby 73s
Yea man. These type videos are some of my favorite. As you noticed the “original Slinky” is not the original. It is shorter. Tho get the original length you have to look for “science” or “scientific” coil spring. Or some kind of combo of the words.
That’s a good one right there! I’m going to give that a try. I am curious if you think k there’s a benefit to using the Slinky’s aside from the convenience? I like the compactness of storing them and carrying them.
I am definitely going to try this one. I have a question though. Why don’t you just run your radio off the car battery? Why do you use a LiFePO battery instead?
Wiki The Slinky was invented and developed by American naval engineer Richard T. James in 1943 and successfully demonstrated at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia in November 1945. The Slinky was originally priced at $1, but many paid much more due to price increases of spring steel in Pennsylvania. It has, however, remained modestly priced throughout its history as a result of Betty James' concern about the toy's affordability for less affluent customers. In addition to its use as a toy, it has been used as a classroom teaching tool; as a portable and extendable radio antenna in wartime (particularly the Vietnam War
Question Walt: since it is a dipole it should have a resonant frequency when used without a transformer or perhaps connected to a 1:1 balun. Curious as to what that would be. Your. Ideas cost me money btw. Just ordered the antenna mast and slinkies
I just set up a single slinky as an end fed long wire on a painter pole with a 9:1 unun. It is showing < 1.5:1 on all the ham band 40 and higher. !! @@COASTALWAVESWIRES
I was telling one of my non radio friends that you could reach halfway around the world on 5 watts. He looked at me like he was saying something smart, Well could you reach all the way around the world with 10 watts. How do you answer a reply like that. I said yes I can but I would end up talking to myself. He thinks the internet is the same as radio. I just smile and change subjects, I thought someone might see the ironic humor in that. He did not get the "talking to myself" at all.
One of the USN attack subs did that with its HF antenna extended just above the surface. It sent a pulse that arrived after circling the world about 1/7 second later. Of course it was probably running a bit more than 10 watts.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES much obliged for the info sir - not sure it will work up here in the far north but worth a try - wud be an awsume fasr set up rig - thanks again 73
Pretty kool idea Walt! Maybe should start a business, Salty Tenna- Home of slinktenna. 👍
Im surprised that it worked so well. Great stuff, Walt. This slinktenna will now be for sale at every ham radio shop now!😂
Thank you! 73, Walt
When I was a young boy, I had a Slinky antenna affixed to a fishing reel supported on a window ledge of our 2 story brick bungalow house. When I had it lowered and it was breezy it would clink and clang alongside the house driving my mother nuts. This was for SWLing
Walt always enjoy your videos. You have inspired me to return the hobby, Due to 2 Strokes and partial paralysis for months I became in active, Recently I began binge watching RUclips Ham Radio related, for years I lusted over SDRs but most were beyond my budget.
However the G90 finally were was within my reach. As were many Antennas. I really especially enjoyed discovering your Channel. I now have G90, 2 regular Slinky’s.
After watching you build the Large Slinky Antenna and how well it worked. Was motivated to once again to become Radio “Active “. 20 years ago I build a DIY Home Brew Multi Band Dipole the was easily tuned using the internal Kenwood TS2000 tuner. Now with the aid a Rig Expert device I believe DIY Antennas will much more fun and easier too 💡😃
Again thanks for sharing all your insights, thoughts, especially your enthusiasm in this and your other videos. I hopefully will connect with on the Bands in the near future 😀
73 Steve AA4SH, Tennessee
Thank you, Walt, for promoting fun!
I have been using a single slinky for short wave listening for some time. It makes for an amazing number of stations I can receive compared to the internal antenna. I also have a slinky dipole used an an inverted v, and it works well on 10 and 20 meters. I look forward to more fun on your channel.
Thanks Walt . I always look forward to your videos . They keep me interested in amateur radio. 73 friend from KJ4HRL.
OUTSTANDING! Keep up the good work Walt. PS. I have found that the metal on these will corrode very quickly, so it might be a good idea to spray some coating on them for protection. Electroplating might also be a good alternative. 73 👍
"What walks down stairs alone or in pairs and makes a slinkety sound? A spring a spring, a marvelous thing, everyone knows it's slinky."
I have an old horizontal slinky dipole with a rope in the center! I also have a commemoration brass slinky! Have fun!
Slinkies are lossy....couldn't here you....oh wait, wrong video...LOL Thanks Walt for taking the time for another great video! I activated my first park today with my daughter using one of your antenna ideas! 73
Walt, I build your slinky dipole (borrowing my grandson's slinky's) with the balm. First contact was Brazil, followed by German! I was able to check into nets on 10m and 80m in the middle of the afternoon. I can't wait to set up for POTA and give it a try. First stop will be Mount Trashmore here in Virginia Beach. Thanks for the great idea.
I built a dipole with 4 Slinkys when I had very limited space and made quite a few contacts with it. Thanks for keeping the experimental spirit alive!
20 watts. A slinky and awesome DX! Always great Walt!
Nelson Antennas needs to restock. I just bought the last two 9:1 boxes he had. Slinkys on the way too! Our favorite Country store eatery is no longer carrying them.
I've been watching your videos for the last several months. I love your passion, man. It's all about having some fun. 73 and thanks so much.
Wish I had known you were on yesterday, I was also on probably just missing you... Thanks Walt
Nice use of a Slinky! Make sure you get the metal ones not the plastic ones. 73
I found a couple of books and now understand baluns, ununs and wavelengths. I know how hard it is to try to help newbies in text on U Toob. Learning more about the G90. Talked to Italy this morning on 20 watts. Having a real blast here. BTW the new Slinkies are not metal You must have found some vintage ones. Thanks for all the help you have given me though. You are pointing me in the direction I want to go. Love the idea of low power.
Great results! I tried using a prebuilt Slinky antenna years ago indoors on HF and it didn't work well, but then neither did any other indoor antenna I tried. I love how amateur radio operators are able to make almost anything into an antenna and I love these "practical use" videos you post. 73 Walt!
I'm restricted to indoor antennas as well and they are a compromise, but they can work. Don't give up.
@@redstickham6394 I gave up trying to have an HF shack in an apartment a long time ago, but I plan to get back into amateur radio when I retire. The good part is that so much new stuff has come out since I last owned HF capable equipment and it's much cheaper to get on the air nowadays than even 20 years ago.
12:25 Yes I'm watching :)
👍Good stuff Walt, thanks. Never tried a Slinky. Maybe would describe this as vertical doublet. Whatever it is, certainly works. 😂
Another great video. You sold me on the g90 and while doing a POTA here in So Cal last weekend, I got contacts from Canada and Spain on 15m SSB calling in.
I went out and bought a metal slinky. I used it with my 21ft tenkara fish rod mast and LDG 9:1 with the G90. I found it was 1:1 on 10 and 17m. I could receive well on most bands. I didn’t make any contacts but will try again.
"Somewhat verticle dipole". I love that!
Great video Walt. You always make it fun. 73 and keep them coming.
Nice job Walt with two medium slinky's (2) , I have three large slinkys (3) two(2) on one side and one(1) on the other with a 75 ohmn t v cable transformer and coax to my sdr-rsp/dx receiver what a setup
That antenna worked pretty well and it looks like you had a great time as well. It's amazing what will get you on the air. I'm playing with a linear loaded doublet in my attic right now. It actually does get out. Great video, keep up the good work.
Hi walt, you see ;a easy antenna and easy for portable us. Fun to play when we were a child and still fun now as a "big" child🤭
I have definitely thought about using one of the large slinky, "spring toys" from Popular Science as a counterpoise/negative end of multi-band vertical dipole(s), running the outside length of a mast. All I need is one of those sweet carbon fiber masts to hold up the contraption. Soon... For fun I measured the SWR on the slinky stretched out maybe just 10 feet or so, so that it wasn't touching and it was all over the place up and down. Was afraid the green eggs and sour hams might be getting to you with some of your videos. Good to see this kind of fun, experimental content elevating our community and your spirit. Cheers and 73 Walt!
Great Antenn, love it. Thanks Walt for showing all these „wierd“ antennas😂 Ever thought about a survival blanket… 73 HB3XBL
By the way, what firmware build do you run on the G90?
One of my first homebrews 10 years ago was a dipole slinky
Today I have been playing with an 18ft vertical aluminum antenna 3ft off the ground on a fence post with a 4:1 unun feeding it along with 3 ground radials scavenged from some A99 parts I have. And have been working into the EU on FT8 on 12m at 50 watts. Using an LDG tuner of course inside fed with my 991A. It tunes up real easy I could probably use the internal tuner. AS it is it tunes 1:1 80-6m. I have larger higher antennas I can use butt I play at home too
I gotta try one of these! Well done Walt!
I like your video format and having fun with radio!
Interesting name for that battery lol. The bands are hopping. I noticed two church steeples in the background, wouldn't that it be cool to string up an antenna between them?
Not soldered? Hoping to use them as a toy afterward? They solder amazingly well. I've had a couple of slinky antennas over the years, and they were great receive antennas, regardless of how they were made.
How about a 'beer can' antenna next? Great series! 73 DE WA5RR
Awesome work Walt!
I have used the cheaper option which is electric fence gate springs. The only problem is they are really strong springs! I had two as a dipole with a 4:1 balun stretched to 8m long and it was 1:1 on 10 MHz. Worked really well too. Just sitting here reading the G90 manual prior to ordering one. Just sold my current portable radio. Its the ATU. Previously I have spent half my operating time dealing with fine tuning.
I loled quite hard 😁 Slinky 😆😆 Good Lord how much free time do you have? 🤣🤣🤣 We need you back in Poland for sure 💪 Amazing video 👀
Walt: Great video. I've always had it in my head that slinky antennas where all loading coil and no radiator, but based on your work, it looks like they radiate pretty well. I wonder if slinky radials would work efficiently on a vertical. Maybe one or two slinkies attached at center points creating an X with 25 feet of counterpoise times four. It would take up much less square footage than regular wire (ie maybe 10 feet rather than 25 feet from mast.) Your videos are good at making people think outside the box on antenna design.
That was great. in NY the metal Slinky harder to find in local stores . I got the same pole . and the new green one. the 2024 edition. DX engineering has them and DX 10 wire . the bands lately are hot. even 160 meters at night. just 6 meters down for DX . that spring/summer the E layer gets going. I got 2 antenna's ready to go up the pole for them days. a 49:1 end fed cut for 6 M and type 61 core . tunes the whole band . and just a piece of RG 8X coax. cut for 6M 2 1/2 in PVC coil at end . have one for 10 M as well. working the UK from NY on 10 meters just a piece of RG 8X on a DX commander pole was fun. I made contact with a gutter antenna in England. was great. he loaded up the gutter with a tuner . love the fun ! 73's
Awesome video once again Walt. 73s
Wow! Cool build and outstanding content!
Yay! Walt dropped another fun video ! 😊
Great work Walt. The dx commander had a right sway to it. 😂
73
This is quite cool, I actually looked at building a slinky antenna a couple of years ago, but it's surprisingly difficult to get a slink here in ZL lol
I'll have to look again and see if I can find someplace that stocks them nearby 73s
Great video. I plan to build some antennas this year.
Good work Walt. I'm glad to see a random object antenna haha 73
M7LDK
Great job Walt I was thinking of doing the same look like it worked great thanks brother 73
I'd love to see a comparison of the slinky dipole compared to an end fed half wave at the same location on the same pole.
Walt, did you tape the Balun and ends to the pole? Great idea, need to try it out. Are you coming down to Hamcation next week?
Yes I taped them, I won't be able to come down to Hamcation, just started a new job today.
Nice job proving that a Slinky actually has real use.
Thank you!!! 73, Walt
Love your videos... a new subscriber. 73
Thank you very much! 73, Walt
Looks like that worked really well 😊
it was fun!
Awesome video as always! 👍
Yea man. These type videos are some of my favorite. As you noticed the “original Slinky” is not the original. It is shorter. Tho get the original length you have to look for “science” or “scientific” coil spring. Or some kind of combo of the words.
Great vid again this is ham radio fun fun fun thanks mate
Holy Crap! That is amazing.
Well done Walt.....
Great video as always!
you having alot of fun. thats cool.
That’s a good one right there! I’m going to give that a try. I am curious if you think k there’s a benefit to using the Slinky’s aside from the convenience? I like the compactness of storing them and carrying them.
Giggity giggity I want a radio like that.
😂😂😂
It's not just a toy for all of the girls and boys... It is an antenna too! 73!
Awesome job, Walt! Any tips on attaching the 9:1 to the pole?
I am definitely going to try this one. I have a question though. Why don’t you just run your radio off the car battery? Why do you use a LiFePO battery instead?
I just like to simulate how I will be running the radio portable as soon as the weather is back.
Slinky was invented by a marine engineer in the Philly area .
Wiki
The Slinky was invented and developed by American naval engineer Richard T. James in 1943 and successfully demonstrated at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia in November 1945.
The Slinky was originally priced at $1, but many paid much more due to price increases of spring steel in Pennsylvania. It has, however, remained modestly priced throughout its history as a result of Betty James' concern about the toy's affordability for less affluent customers. In addition to its use as a toy, it has been used as a classroom teaching tool; as a portable and extendable radio antenna in wartime (particularly the Vietnam War
Question Walt: since it is a dipole it should have a resonant frequency when used without a transformer or perhaps connected to a 1:1 balun. Curious as to what that would be. Your. Ideas cost me money btw. Just ordered the antenna mast and slinkies
I'm not sure but I would think somewhere between 75 and 60 meters
I just set up a single slinky as an end fed long wire on a painter pole with a 9:1 unun. It is showing < 1.5:1 on all the ham band 40 and higher. !! @@COASTALWAVESWIRES
I have photos but not able to post them here?
Best battery name ever lol
hahahaha
Great contacts. KO4HPC 73
Now I have that Slinky commercial in my head. it's Slinky.....It's Slinky..... lol 73
Radio is fun
I agree!!
I was telling one of my non radio friends that you could reach halfway around the world on 5 watts. He looked at me like he was saying something smart, Well could you reach all the way around the world with 10 watts. How do you answer a reply like that. I said yes I can but I would end up talking to myself. He thinks the internet is the same as radio. I just smile and change subjects, I thought someone might see the ironic humor in that. He did not get the "talking to myself" at all.
One of the USN attack subs did that with its HF antenna extended just above the surface. It sent a pulse that arrived after circling the world about 1/7 second later. Of course it was probably running a bit more than 10 watts.
Oh no Walt. Kids around the world are now going to find their slinky's missing !
I gotta get me one of those poles
I have 2 slinkies, I also bought a 9:1 box
aghhhh ! Walt you never said I needed 2 !
4:13
Love your videos.
I wonder the max watts the slinky can handle?
Thank you! I’m thinking a couple hundred watts
I wonder if there would be any performance increase if you used a copper or brass slinky?
I like the FX-4CR, but you cant beat a radio with a built-in tuner. looks like you borrowed the knobs from your RS-978
Yes those knobs are from that radio. 73, Walt
nice antenna - what is the length of the pole that is used for the diapole - ie the vert length of both halves of the diapole - much obliged 73
The pole is 10 meters high. Each half of the dipole is 4 meters.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES much obliged for the info sir - not sure it will work up here in the far north but worth a try - wud be an awsume fasr set up rig - thanks again 73
Very interesting. Does anyone have an idea of the polarization?
Good morning Walt, great to see you making contacts with the slinky antenna how many watts were you running?
20
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES that’s what I thought since you had a G90 but I wasn’t sure if maybe you were using less than 20 watts.
PRC 77, 1/4/1/2/full wwave. toss in tree, talk. got 22km out of that for 5 days.
Wait where's the slinky affiliate code at the end of the video?
Hahahaha
Walt how and where could I get the holder for the DX commander? Thank you
a.co/d/1o41ime
Please a antenna making for mw, sw, fm. Home made
is it aloud to steal a grandchild toy? 73 Erich
Slinkis do make good antennas, but do not get the plastic ones. They won't work. 😁😁
How about calling it a Fookoo, like the foo fighters, lol
A 5 dollar antenna a amazing now patient it and sell it for 500 dollars that's what the antenna companys do 👍🤔🙄🐷
And I thought I was an antennerator junkie.
Brilliant as always