RSGB: Useful practical skills videos - Slim Jim antenna

Fifteen-year-old Henry-James Robinson, M7HJR entered the 2020 RSGB Construction competition with two Slim Jim antennas. In this video he explains how he made them, why he chose to construct them and what he has made since.
This video is the first in a series about useful practical skills, especially for new licensees. In the next five videos we demonstrate the practical skills needed to build useful things for your shack and give you an idea of the equipment you will need. We hope they inspire you to try something new!

[@FarouqTaj]

Thank you for making this video. Really useful and helps many of us beginners to take our first steps into this great hobby.

[@TheRSGB]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BigPinkJohn]

Nice video folks. Well done Dom.

[@MarkPentler]

A few tips for Slim Jim users:
300 vs 450 ohm ladder line - 300 is easier to pack and a bit more “hardy”, 450 gives you better results and the solid wire makes it easier to slide up and down when tuning, but if you do bend it over time the wire will break.
Dualbanded-ness: not great in the U.K. as it’s resonating for 440 and not 430 MHz
I wonder if people can talk about clip on vs air chokes as well, as I’ve not really seen them do do much in either configuration when I look on my SWR meter.
I’ll edit this if I think of anymore.

[@DJunclepaul2nd]

Super vid, simple and encourages us to get involved! My foundation exam is in 9 days!

[@BrianCraigKeith31mm]

Good series. Look forward.

[@steveparkes]

Awesome. I built one out of an FM antenna I bought for just 99p at a cheap shop that was made of 350 ohm cable. I take my foundation in just over a week so I haven't checked the SWR yet but it receives better than any of the rubber duckies I have and is almost indistinguishable from the flowerpot antenna I made. It will be used with a decathlon fishing pole on the tops of hills in a couple of weeks. I hope 👍

[@TheRSGB]

We wish you well with your exam!

[@stuart0604]

Also built one of these for SOTA very good results
2E0GVI

[@JohnTarbox]

Would it be possible to post a link to the plans to construct the Slim Jim? DE WA1KLI

[@byjimeny]

I was wondering the same thing. Where is that calculator he used? Perhaps I missed it in the video.

[@byjimeny]

I found it! m0ukd.com/calculators/slim-jim-and-j-pole-calculator/

[@JohnTarbox]

@@byjimeny Thanks for posting this link.

[@henry-jamesm7hjr526]

Hi there! M7HJR here, here is the link to the Essex ham website, this also tells you about the slim Jim but no calculator. www.essexham.co.uk/slim-jim