Ham Radio Antenna Basics

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  • Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
  • In this video, we talk about some of the basic concepts regarding Ham Radio Antennas. Sponsored by www.pcbway.com Cheap & quick PCB, 3D Printing, CNC machining, and fabrication services from PCBWay.
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    Impedance and Ham Radio Antennas Explained: • Impedance and Ham Radi...
    What is SWR in Ham Radio: • What is SWR in Ham Radio?
    The Shorty Forty: • Best Ham Radio Antenna...
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Комментарии • 94

  • @W8VHS
    @W8VHS Год назад +11

    Good video, when I read about such things, I get a lot less out of it. Your explanations are much easier to understand. Thank you Sir. 73

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Thanks Vern, I try to take more complex topics and make them more consumable 👍

  • @spysweeper
    @spysweeper Месяц назад

    Great video! I'm just now trying to catch up and finally trying to get some time to refresh on theory/concepts after getting my Extra about a year or more ago! Never tried practicing HAM at all and just got an FTDX10 to now try to learn on! I'm sure your series will guide me through this as I relate more to how you dive deep and I also like the NanoVNA and you are by far giving me the best knowledge base about it and how to use it effectively!!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and the hard work of putting this together on RUclips!!!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Месяц назад +1

      Hey SS, glad you like the videos and are finding them helpful 👍

  • @tomdonahoe3539
    @tomdonahoe3539 6 месяцев назад

    @TheSmokinApe
    I'm studying to test for my Extra ticket next month & this video was extremely helpful by going quite a bit more depth than the study text did. I have some background in military / aviation avionics so I was able to follow most of your straight-foward explanations.
    Thank you for all the work you put into this. 73s.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  6 месяцев назад

      That’s awesome man, good luck on the test Tom 👍

  • @citicolina
    @citicolina Год назад

    Great video. After following the build of the unun and the shorty forty this one puts together the technical “magic” behind the hole system.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +2

      Hey Jorge, I do love taking about the shorty 40. Thanks for the comment 👍

    • @chrissewell1608
      @chrissewell1608 Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe Next time you talk about that, you should be holding a Fatty Natty!

  • @kevinpritchard3592
    @kevinpritchard3592 8 месяцев назад

    I’m a new Ham, and learning a ton. This was very helpful. Thanks

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  8 месяцев назад

      Hey Kevin, glad the video was helpful and welcome to the hobby!

  • @Maine307
    @Maine307 Год назад

    u just got a new subscriber!!! you and Dx Commander do an awesome wicked job of teaching! I thank you very much! keep up the awesome vids.. Cheers from the Woods of Maine! be safe stay strong!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +2

      Thanks for the feedback bro, glad you like the content 👍

  • @needhelp2453
    @needhelp2453 Год назад

    You are a really good teacher. Thanks for the video.

  • @primeradianttechnologies3085
    @primeradianttechnologies3085 Год назад

    Great content as allways! Thank you!

  • @JohnSmith-xi2oq
    @JohnSmith-xi2oq 6 месяцев назад

    Awesome video. I love the antenna theory.

  • @douglasrank-im1gp
    @douglasrank-im1gp Год назад +1

    I'm new to radio, seeking antenna knowledge. Thanks for this video. I have some ideas where to start building concepts.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching Doug 👍

  • @ferdinandwp4rjl377
    @ferdinandwp4rjl377 Год назад +1

    Great work Ape, keep safe 👍🏽👋🏼

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Thanks for watching Ferdinand 👍

  • @hamradiopenpals
    @hamradiopenpals Год назад

    Really good video! Difficult material made easier to understand; not easy to do.👏👏👏

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Thanks Paul, glad you liked it 👍

  • @K5YVY
    @K5YVY Год назад

    Back in class, professor thanks for the explanations. 🍎 I brought you this apple. 👍

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      How about them apples! Thanks for watching bro, I appreciate it!

  • @hamradiohef
    @hamradiohef Год назад

    Well said and well understood. Thanks Ape!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Thanks Hef, glad you liked it 👍

  • @MichaelLitty
    @MichaelLitty Год назад

    Excellent and enjoyable content. Thanks

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Thanks Michael, glad you liked it 👍

  • @W9HJBill
    @W9HJBill Год назад

    Great video Ape!

  • @peschpit
    @peschpit 11 месяцев назад

    Nice talk !

  • @billpowell5931
    @billpowell5931 Год назад

    Great explanations and good information for all Hams. Thanks for sharing. 73, W9WRP

  • @paulm0hpd319
    @paulm0hpd319 Год назад +1

    Good explanation think much is covered here ,many misunderstand that reflected power isn't necessarily lost power as its reflected back from the source to the antenna by adding to the incident wave ,the feedline does play a big part in how much of the reflected power reaches the antenna, if low loss cable or balance feedline is used the percentage of reflected power conserved in the system and radiated by the antenna increases especially if a tuner is used to allow the transmitter to produce its full power into the system

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Great info Paul, thanks for sharing!

    • @feeatlastfeeatlast5283
      @feeatlastfeeatlast5283 9 месяцев назад

      This is crucial to understand.
      If it were not true, a 50 ohm antenna fed with 450-600 ohm transmission line ( SWR of 9:1 to 12:1 ) would be horribly inefficient but we know that is not true.

    • @paulm0hpd319
      @paulm0hpd319 9 месяцев назад

      the higher impedance of the line can be used to match at the antenna feedpoint to reduce loss on the feedline 👍

  • @davidwilcox9110
    @davidwilcox9110 Год назад

    I am an OLD Elmer for some older and younger hams and really enjoy your videos, especially ones about antennas. Keep it up my friend. And yes eyes do glaze over at times but keep it up…. Eventually some things make sense even years later. Dave K8WPE

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Awesome David, glad you like the videos 👍

    • @arconeagain
      @arconeagain Год назад

      How did you miss end effect?

  • @CapeCodCNC
    @CapeCodCNC Год назад

    Good stuff!

  • @memptn01
    @memptn01 Год назад

    I'm new to ham and about to start studying for my license but wanted to ask about the 1/2 wave length dipole for 20m being 10ft off the ground. Is there a limit or formula for the bands that works for? I know I don't know what I'm talking about yet but I assume you wouldn't want your 10m dipole to only be 5ft off the ground.
    Any feed back would be appreciated. Chat included.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Sorry man, just saw this. Check out this video for dipole info: ruclips.net/video/0V6Zgrksf6k/видео.html

  • @user-tl5tt5yw3c
    @user-tl5tt5yw3c 6 месяцев назад

    Thanks for vid ,it seems with low q antenna I always hear a very faint signal no matter where I turn the vfo,

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  6 месяцев назад

      It’s because they are so wide banded but that introduces a problem with noise because they hear everything if that makes sense 👍

  • @Tump2010
    @Tump2010 Год назад +1

    Math Son..... 😀
    Great informative video Ape.

  • @kb8vom
    @kb8vom Год назад

    Good video Sir! I have been sitting here all day trying to figure out how to operate 2 hf stations on 2 G5RV antennas at the same time. I have about 3/4 of an acre of space to work with, so separation is tight. I have a headache! HAHA

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Two radios right? You might want to look at bandpass filters... Thanks for watching VOM!

    • @kb8vom
      @kb8vom Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe Thank You Sir, that is what I was thinking. Something else I was thinking, 1 radio voice, other radio digital, just not both at same time and disconnect the antenna feed to the non-op radio. Something else I thought about was 2 position antenna switches that I have. Set them up for antenna 1 and 2, radio 1 and 2, and start flippin' switches!! HAHA

  • @AndyAAzeroAM
    @AndyAAzeroAM Год назад

    So if I hook up a watt meter and it says 75 watts out on a 100 watt rig, can one assume that some of that 25 watts is lost due to swr? I'm sure other factors would be involved as well. That could be an interesting test. Trim for 2:1 take a reading then cut for resonance and take a reading. I'm only half way through the video while typing this so sorry if you talk about in a few minutes

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +2

      Check the SWR video in the description for more detail. The 100w became 75w in the example due to insertion loss or line loss from the coaxial cable. You can test the loss of coax by moving a watt meter from the rig output to the end of the coax to see the difference 👍

  • @ryanjennings5050
    @ryanjennings5050 Год назад

    Nice video

  • @billdornbush2475
    @billdornbush2475 Год назад

    I understand how the coil of wire adds inductance and therefore decreases the frequency of the antenna. I also understand that the capacitor helps lower the SWR of the antenna. How do you determine their values?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Well Bill, I cheated. For the shorty forty it's an old design and I believe I got it from one of the ARRL publications. There are various calculators and tools to figure it out, I should put that on the list of video I need to do. Sorry I don't have a better answer for you...

    • @chrissewell1608
      @chrissewell1608 Год назад

      My MFJ brand - Dual Band, mag mount antenna, has that small Blue capacitor inside the magnetic base. It also has a base loading coil. Its a great antenna, on both 2M & 440... until water creeps in the base (every time!) And RUSTS, ALL the connections!

  • @VeteranInThePhilippines-uy6uc
    @VeteranInThePhilippines-uy6uc 5 месяцев назад

    Where do you get you balun / unun boxes ?

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  5 месяцев назад

      I got them from Amazon, search for project boxes or electric boxes

  • @StocksStuddy
    @StocksStuddy Год назад

    You should be at the game to a video about the updated test for amateurs license

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      You are right, thanks for watching Seth 👍

  • @VeteranInThePhilippines-uy6uc
    @VeteranInThePhilippines-uy6uc 5 месяцев назад

    Hello I am in the philippnes right and I am looking at building a multi band vertical antenna using a unun perfered with 1 wire 40 meter and up I would order a dx commander except the import fees would be about $120 on top if the price of it shipped so I hope you can help
    73''s
    Erik
    KE7UYC

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  5 месяцев назад

      Check out the EARCHI antenna 👍

  • @arconeagain
    @arconeagain Год назад

    I love it when hams define resonance as an antenna with no reactance. You're skipping steps, that is NOT the definition, it is a resultant of resonance, when measuring.
    Good teaching and education must take place at the beginning of basic antenna fundamentals. That way, the student will have a far better grasp and understanding on the theory. This will help immensely as they continue on into other areas. It's almost like skipping Ohm's Law.

  • @temporarilyoffline
    @temporarilyoffline Год назад

    Dips to the right. I knew it!

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад +1

      Personally I prefer onion dip but its a little messy for HR

  • @darrylhowe1465
    @darrylhowe1465 6 месяцев назад +3

    Sorry brother, I was looking for the basic basics. You seem to be presenting an intermediate or advanced class.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  6 месяцев назад +2

      Hey Darry, sorry I missed the mark on this one for you. I appreciate the feedback 👍

  • @moparfamily814
    @moparfamily814 Год назад

    Can I get my neighbor sick if I put a ham antenna on my house

  • @chrissewell1608
    @chrissewell1608 Год назад +2

    I am now, more educated.... and more confused! 🤔🤕

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Lol Chris, that’s how it works with ham radio 👀

  • @dfw1ddm
    @dfw1ddm Год назад +1

    Not quite 100% a beginners video.

  • @artbremer4076
    @artbremer4076 Год назад +1

    This video is far from beginners, mate

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      Thanks for the feedback Art, sorry it wasn’t what you were looking for…

  • @arconeagain
    @arconeagain Год назад

    The heading at 5:10 should read: How do I calculate the length of my 'dipole antenna?'
    You went to the length (excuse the pun) of explaining velocity factor, thus making the antenna shorter, but failed to mention the all important end effect. This is very misleading, as people may take the 468 for theoretical resonance, instead of 492. Plus, it was a good opportunity to briefly explain end effect. This is very poor teaching.
    Surprisingly, I watched a ham with one of the biggest channels on RUclips (and he's a well know antenna manufacturer) attempt to explain the dipole antenna, and he thought the subtraction was for velocity factor. He seemingly did not know about end effect! And he has a massive fan base giving tutorials, and they can't praise him enough!
    By the way, you have just been audited by a CBer. That's right, I'm just a CB radio loser. However, I have an education and more than half a brain in my head.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      And it sounds like some shame in that head too! CBers are welcome here, I have videos on a few of them…

    • @arconeagain
      @arconeagain Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe no shame, except when I feel the slightest bit of guilt (false) when putting hams in their place. You see, I've had many hams talk down to me, and they even come down on the citizens band to preach, illegally.
      Your response should be: you're correct. I really should amend this video. Not only is it so misleading that amateurs (that's right, you're amateurs) will be cutting antennas to the wrong length, they could also fail their test before 'they are' even amateurs.
      So funny. Do you have any questions for me on antenna theory? I'd like to help.

    • @TheSmokinApe
      @TheSmokinApe  Год назад

      I think the correct thing is for you to go watch some cat videos and calm down...

    • @arconeagain
      @arconeagain Год назад

      @@TheSmokinApe I've got a cat so don't need to, and the bloody thing drives me mad. I've realised it's gone completely deaf, so now I can't even shout loud enough at it. I'm going to have to teach it sign language.

  • @hamradiopenpals
    @hamradiopenpals Год назад

    Really good video! Difficult material made easier to understand; not easy to do.👏👏👏