Fastest No Tune 80 10 EFHW NVIS Antenna? Chalk Line based Ham Radio Antenna.
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- NanoVNA SWR Tested Amateur Radio antenna based on a chalk line reel and copper wire. This may be the least hassle way to set up an HF / Shortwave antenna without a tuner in the field, without adding extra weight. QRP only unless you use a larger 49:1 or 64:1 transformer. Comment your thoughts or observations, and subscribe if you would like to see more!
QRPGUYS No Tune Mini EFHW 80-10: qrpguys.com/qr...
Yep i use the same copper line and Irwin speed reels (might change to your reels) for my setup. Nice, compact and easy to adjust. Instead of knots i added small heat shrink tubes to mark my bands. Instead of hanging my reel by the copper line, I tied a kevlar kite line into a loop and fed it into the case opposite to the line side. Keeps it insulated and has 500lb test strength.
Nice setup! I made the gear drive speed reels last time and switched to this one.
where do you guys get the copper braid line?
I loved the practical deployment, and the antenna is sure to perform. I may just adopt an NVIS strategy afield... but for now, I just started to play with a new Gabil 7350... My antenna collection grows... and your video here may prompt an addition. Thanks.
I just got all the parts for my DIY EFHW. I thought I'd take one last look for inspiration on how to build it, and came across this video. I just happen to have a chalk line that I never use, so it's definitely going to be turned into an antenna!
really cool little setup !!
awhile back i built a couple metal irwin chalk lines for tree climbing, replacing the chalk line with throw line. one thing that i did was add a para cord loop to the back of the box. i just drilled a hole, took the box apart then put a loop around where the screw goes and put back together.
Definitely a good idea. I am going to add that to this and future versions.
Fantastic video and idea for a portable NVIS multiband antenna setup. Thanks so much for sharing. I have a new project to work on now. Will go great with the FX-4CR I have on order for travel/POTA etc. Cheers and 73 de W3LAM!
Hams impress me with this kind of thing. Excellent video.
Thanks for watching!
That is absolutely amazing. Best quick setup/teardown setup I have seen. Hate to say it. But I am gonna copy it and build one tomorrow. I am going to send a link to this video to my buddy so he can build one. Thank you for taking the time to make this video and showing us. New subscriber. Maurice N7NHS
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you found it useful!
Just love the idea of the chalkline
Absolutely brilliant!
Thank you, looks like an easy, field expedient and very "packable" HF for those low power signals...for when it absolutely, positively has to be there... :)
Awesome idea! I had kept some steel 100' tape measures aside to do something similar but now I have to locate that chalkline and fishing leader. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! Let me know how you like it after you get it all assembled.
@@BucktailResearch Thanks for the reply! Do you have brands on the chalk line and fishing line? My set up is not quite as lean. I made a PAC-12 a long time ago from the free plans available on the internet. Works great, but more to carry.
@@b.griffinarmstrong8677 Chalk line is MD Building Products 00760. Fishing leader is SurfStrand 30# test copper leader.
@@BucktailResearch Thank you!
Very cool use of a chalkline winder. I am currently waiting for a (tr)uSDX and am looking to have a similar portable HF setup. Right now I have a packtenna EFHW configured for linked 20/40, but this idea is brilliant.
Thank you!
Dude, this is GREAT!!! I love 40m because of the NVIS... my setup is a pain in the butt. I will switch to this.
I love the ChalkLine Winder Idea with the braided copper trolling wire. I am definitely going to look into this more as I test more with Wire antennas over the Summer.
Share your results in the comments when you do! Thanks for watching!
Pretty cool stuff! I just eliminated several antennas from my go bag as a result. I bought one and just got 135' of sotabeams pvc-coated wire measured and added. I drilled a small hole in the spool to feed the wire through and knot it. Winding it up starts get a little snug as I wind the last 10' or so but it's fine. I am considering adding a banana socket to the center of the spool, opposite the handle. I often use Jackite poles and the weight of the winder would be too much on the far end, so I would merely reverse it. Not sure if the coil of unused wire will impact resonance and performance if it's on the feedpoint end of the spool though.
Winding it up after deployment would work best with some tension, so I will secure the far end to something and walk as I wind.
Exactly how I wind mine as well. Have you tested this with a VNA yet?
@@BucktailResearch Yes, that's how I marked the wire for each band. It varies in the field, as you might expect. But it's always in the ballpark.
Thank for the video!
I decided to follow along with this great idea. When I was getting parts, I had forgotten about the choke. Which one did you get? Were you particular about it for any reason? Thank you!
I just use the clamp on ferrites from amazon. They seem to work well as a choke and for taming various RFI issues in the shack.
Great idea and execution
Thank you!
Bought the QRP Guys 80-10 kit and with the spade lugs, it was too tight of a fit at the connection where the BNC Connector and the spade lug were all tied together using their dimensions for hole locations so... just ordered the next sized up box from Digi-Key (Hammond 1551TBK). That will provide enough space to get everything installed, use a hot glue gun to secure the parts so they don't rattle around and should be set.
Interesting. I didn't have that problem with the one they sent me. Wonder what changed?
Ingenious!
Great stuff! I'm going to try to make something similar.
Let me know in the comments how it goes!
Great work on the velcro box. I use 15' of LMR100 but thinking of making that coax 20-25' now. I use a TennTennas 25W EFHW transformer since I use it with G90 too. QRPGuys 10W is smaller tho. You reckon ~150 ft PolyStealth 22 wire would wind on that winder? .052" OD, 70lbs breaking strength. Inspiring videos!
I'm not sure if that much will fit, but I will see about trying that. Also will look into that transformer. Thanks for the suggestions!
Awesome idea with chaulk line. Thank you. KJ5CMW, Brenham, Texas...
Nice, added to my list!
Look forward to hearing how it works for you!
BRILLIANT and awesome explanation !!!!!!!!!
Freakin' genius.
lol, we had those in vietnam. called a fishing reel antenna.
Thank You for the good information. I will see if I can make one of them but want it to handel full power for my IC7300. But that is only making a bigger transformer. I have make one already for my home use. 73 W4DES
Nice video, love these kind of vids. Subscribed
I like how simple you made this setup,but do you know how many feet/inches your knots are from the end? Are you willing to share that information with us? Also is it a 49:1 ? Thanks for this video, 🙏👍👍👍👍
Great idea! Can you give more info on the transformer? You said it was a kit from QRP but was not able to locate on their website. Thanks again for sharing!
K6ARK has similar options.
QRP Guys webside under 80-10 mini no tune antenna if I remember correctly.
super cool video!! inspiring.
Thank you!
Great idea!
Great idea, nice and easy!👍
You could also use a fishing reel for this- distribute the wire more evenly.
Thanks for sharing. Sig
Thanks for watching!
Just love it
This is such a cool design! I definitely want to build one soon. Just curious, could you theoretically install the transformer into the chalk line holder? Or does it have to be on the "loose" end? Thanks!
73
KB3TVP
I am going to mess with that next. Thinking maybe start with an alligator clip and attach gently so as not to crush the wire needlessly. Perhaps some kind of brushed contact internally would work. I am working on 3d modelling some new ideas for this, I may try to incorporate the transformer into the housing itself.
What adjustments would you do for 100W? This looks awesome. Would it be possible to do this for 100W? Would the wire/line get too bulky for the winder? Great stuff.
Yep! I have a larger setup for my icom 706. I am sure the wire isn't technically ideal, but with a larger transformer rated for that power it seems to work fine.
@@BucktailResearch This was going to be my exact question. I'm a new General, and not that QRP "saavy". Any advice on which transformer would be useful for that application?
Where did you find the plastic clips?
Brilliant.
Thank you for watching!
Very nice!
Thank you!
Nice
When you calibrate your nanovna do put the calibration pieces at the end of your feed line? Also have you tested 45# copper leader with this chalk line? Thanks for sharing!
I have not tested the 45 pound test yet, but that's only because the price on this 30 pound was significantly cheaper at the time. I put the calibration pieces directly on the nanoVNA itself, as the feedline is part of the antenna system. That needs to be included in the test.
Maybe a stupid question - does the unused copper wire still rolled up in the reel not change the antenna length?
It does not add to the antenna length.
Excellent
Thank you!
Looks great can you add links to the chalk line you used 🙏
I think I may have added them to the video description. I have a lot of catching up to do on the channel. Had to take some time off from it.
Nice👍🇬🇧
hmm.. i heard NVIS only works on the lower bands so is this one which probably have quite a high takeoff angle ever useful on the higher ones?
JS8Call & Winlink. Brilliant!
Hi What size is the unun and will be effected by the hight above ground
This is cool
Thank you!
Is what you use a 49 to 1 or a 64 to 1 ? Which is better for 10 to 80 ?
Absolutely a very well thought out and efficient antenna. Would you happen to have a material sheet listed online somewhere?
I believe I have a few of the items listed in the video description. Perhaps I failed to do so?
@@BucktailResearch I got the your same chalk line on E-bay.
You aren’t selling kits are you?
Not yet. Working on perfecting some things and then I will likely see if there's a market for it. I sold my first 3d printed item on ebay on friday. Not radio related though.
Good vid. Tnx!
Thank you!
Small bits and pieces are better in camo color scheme (than for example bright yellow) when fiddling with them in the forest - discuss.
Now, where's my camouflage picnic table? It's around here somewhere...
Would rather design it to be usable blindfolded than have bright neon eyesores in my scenery.
Post some links. Where can I get the chalk line?
I purchased the reel from Amazon and the fishing line direct.
I use something very similar with a locking scuba finger reel. Is there any penalty(that a dedicated antenna analyzer would show) when having the extra line wound up beyond the endpoint? Windcamp has a dipole with winders and tiny ferrules marking the bands. There's gotta be a reason convention calls for trimmed line, no?
Thanks for asking! With insulated wire, there may be some capacitance at play, but this bare copper just behaves like a solid chunk of wire at the end. It works very well.
@@BucktailResearch that answers my question!
Do you think it fit a 150ft 45lb copper line or just the 30lb version?
Is this setup for general licensed hams and above only?
You can use certain HF frequencies as a technician, but for the most part it's general class and higher. hamstudy.org makes getting your general and extra too easy to pass up.
What's your estimate of max power and radiation pattern?
The radiation pattern is just that of a basic End Fed Half Wave. If you use the 80m length but are TXing on 20m, it's a very bizarre looking pattern, so I try to use the correct length, even though multiple bands can get a good SWR. I found those patterns with a google search that someone had modelled. Not sure the source at the moment.
Can I ask how far you are able to transmit to?
Sure. My furthest contact on 5 watts with this setup is Russia I believe.
What brand is your chalkline reel? AJ6GE
MD Building Products 00760
What brand is the copper fishing leader and where did you aquire it?
Surfstrand on Amazon
stainless steel down rigger ball cable is realluystrong and comes in different diameters
Very lossy electrically. Otherwise I would use it.
Stainless Steel wire is far less efficient than Copper Wire.👎🏻
Does the wire that is wrapped in a coil on the chalk line have any effect?
Does not seem to. It's unshielded so any effect should be very minimal.
What brand wire do you use
Surfstrand.
Leave some women for the rest of us dude
I love this kind of stuff.
Totally useful in a real world emergency, self sufficient, personally customized.....
And my favorite part:
ZERO SAD HAM FUDD SHIT ABOUT RULES, REGULATIONS, AND KISSING GOVERNMENT BUREACRATS DICKS.
ioo😊 qaaaz 😅 😮😮
UH: Wake-up call….NVIS DOES NOT WORK above 10MHz because of something called the “critical angle”. Please look it up and you’ll quickly realize that NVIS works primarily on 80m and 40m….K7RAW-The Antenna Whisperer.
The EFHW is overrated
@thetechprepper
Very informative.