EFHW EMCOMM 2 Using Two Wires - NVIS & Sloper
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- Опубликовано: 14 июн 2024
- I will show you my setup I am using for my EMCOMM 2 EFHW Antenna. I have two wires attached that allows me to do both NVIS & longer distance with just a simple flick of a switch. This allows me to hone in when doing "directed HF Digital contacts no matter the distance.
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As a new ham who wanted to test emcomm capabilities, I hung a 40 m dipole at about 10 feet and worked the Florida QSO party on 40 meters. In two days I had QSO’s with 30 Florida counties on 40 meters, phone only. I learned a lot about when 40 meters is dead and when it is alive. I live in Boca Raton on the East Coast and this will be my setup after a hurricane hits.
I love the part where you TESTED and USED your setup. Great job and you are ready to go NOW!!
Very ingenious.Great video. One point of correction. The EmcomII is not a End Fed Half Wave antenna. It's a 5:1 non resonant, End Fed Random Wire antenna. Totally different antennas.
Your right. It actually is a "high frequency multiband antenna". Thanks for the comment and appreciate you taking the time to post this!
We’re currently running a SPECIAL limited Edition & Quantity of our ORIGINAL CHA EMCOMM II. We inky have about 75 or 80 units left in stick for $99. We had about 200 units at noon today. We sold several thousands of those units since the last 10 years or so. They’re VERY versatile and will fit on any regular city 0.10 acre lots.
Thanks for letting us know!
They are sold out at this time.....
Another new amiture operator here. Very interesting video.
Welcome aboard!
MJ, thank you for creating this video series. Your usage matches mine so this series is very helpful.
Wow, great compliment. Thank you!!
Very good idea and it would work ! I had commented on the video, then the video was taken down and now is back up. My comment was that I would think twice before choosing the Chameleon antenna. The reason is the price and the 5 to 1 transformer that is vey lossy. You lose over 50% of your transmit power in the 5 to 1 transformer. It's designed to be a broad band antenna, which may help with ALE type radios, but is unnecessary for the average ham. I stated I'd much rather use an End Fed Half Wave and not have all the losses on both transmit and receive. Loss with the Chameleon is two "S" units down compared to a resonate wire antenna. Price wise, you can buy or make a quality antenna for much less money. The Chameleon is high quality. You commented back that some people were saying the EFHF was viewed by some as a fad antenna and mentioned the Random length Wire Antenna which uses the 9 to 1 vs. the 49 to 1 transformer. I've been making great contacts with the EFHW, they work. They do suffer from multiple lobes on 10 meters and to a lesser degree on 15 meters. They are not perfect, but are darn good performers. If I want closer to perfect in a wire antenna, I use a dedicated Dipole. If I am adding an extra length of wire to the EFHW 10-40 meter version to get to 75/80M, I use a capacitor between the two sections to bring the 80 meter voice portion of the band in line so all the bands are in the correct part of the band all at once. My EFHF is just as "Tactical" as the Chameleon (I hate the word tactical, so over used). I find the Random Length Wire antenna to be very interesting. I have not used one, but many who have like them. I have used one at a friends QTH and it worked very well. The downside to the Random Wire antenna is the need for an antenna tuner and also the need for a choke part of the way back on the coax so that you don't get stray RF in your equipment. Being a non resonate antenna, they do sometimes suffer from RFI issues. The antenna uses the coax as a radiating element, so you need to use at least 60 feet of coax. More is better. I've read a counterpoise wire added at the transformer helps with this. You will need different lengths of counterpoise for different bands. Anyone who wants to learn more about the Random Length Wire Antenna (Which is not just any random length of wire) should go to the "Palomar Engineering" web page. There is some excellent info on these antennas on their site. Again, thank you for your great content. Your Digital videos are very well thought out and the videos are excellent.
You make some excellent points here John. For those who have HOA issues and need to run a shorter wire, the non resonate EMCOMM II fits the bill. Since I lately been doing digital, I don't need more than 35 watts it has worked great. If I had a large yard (which I don't) and no HOA, I would prefer a resonate antenna and the wire run for 80M (which is a band I prefer over 40M) would be more than double. The Palomar Resonate Antenna is one I want to go to when I move and hopefully get a large yard.
IF one has space the dipole is even a better setup for sure!!!!!! Again, GREAT points and I as so glad you brought this up.
Sorry for having to take down the video. The intro was messed up (did not notice it at first) when uploading to RUclips. That is what happens when you "read your own work". You are oblivious to the mistakes LOL....
@@hamradiomadesimple I wonder about the efficiency of a loaded 80 meter vertical. It would be narrow as to frequency range. It should also have a much better take off angle. Maybe do both if you can. I can see where the shorter length of the wire that comes with the Chameleon could be a benefit on 80 M in a small yard or with a HOA. I just think it's important for people to know about the reduced efficiency with this wide banded type of antenna. If you are working digital, then less power is required anyway. I strive to always use the most efficient antenna possible within a given space (maybe a little anal....lol). I'm waiting until my neighbor who is a snow bird gets back with his drone to put my 80M wire over a 70' tall tree. Looking forward to it. It's not often you can get that kind of height on a city lot. I'll most likely do an inverted "L" with a 42' pole and the tree. Again, thank you for the great content. I'm over the "Fan Boy" channels who just put out too many junk videos to keep the $$$$ stream coming in.
@@johnkaelberer237 What you have is the IDEAL setup for a city lot, John. You are blessed to have the space to set that up and your neighbors help to boot. Let me know when you get it set up and send me a picture please. kw3kw@gmx.com THANKS!!!
Looking forward to the Vara info. Thanks
HF Vara is out but not the Vara AC. Yep, that one is next. It has so many working parts and they keep adding new features. Hope to have it done in 2 weeks. Thanks for hitting the like and subscribe buttons!!
A good idea! Those running QRP might check inexpensive and lightweight TV coax switches. For low power they should work and they'd allow you to select different coax-fed antennas.
Great idea and thanks for posting this. Only by sharing thoughts, ideas and experience can we grow in the Ham Radio community.
Keeping up with your videos. Thanks for another great one MJ.
Thanks, will do my best Thomas!
That’s a very good video! That’s the idea of the CHA EMCOMM II antenna. It’s a basic system on which you can expand according to your needs.
Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Love your antenna's and hope others will too!
I just seen this video, great information here. One change i would make would be use a DPST switch, this will prevent any miss switching or opens on the antenna system.
Nice idea and thanks for posting!!
Interesting video! I will be doing something similar with my EFHW 35' high sloper in conjunction with my roof mounted EFHW at about 13', but I have coax running to both so will use a simple antenna switch in my shack. Going to check out that "VARA' video.
GREAT, leverage your investment and have different outcomes with the two wires!! Let me know how it goes.
Great info - thanks!
Glad it was helpful Gary, thanks for taking the time to let me know.
I have wondered about this too or running 4 wires on a dipole 90 degrees out from the other 1/8 wave
If you do it, let me know what results you get!!
This is a fantastic idea. I’m a new HAM - just got my license. Would someone tell me how to wire the two antennae to a SPDT switch?
I am dealing with a neurological issue at the moment that causes me to forgot stuff (last video posted talks about this). I really can't remember at this time. Try me in a few weeks and I should remember this. Sorry, my brain is not working quite right just yet.
Usually these switches have center connection that connects to one or the other of the connectors at each end. Connect the wire or cable to your transceiver to the center one and connect the antennas to the two on the ends. To make disconnecting those antennas easier, you might run those connectors to two banana jacks and then connect the antennas to them.
Those switches are probably not open at RF frequencies
They work GREAT. No problems and have great distance on the Sloper and nice regional TX on the NVIS.
I have wondered about this for a while, but why not use a spdt switch instead of two switches?
It should but since I keep my transformer up about 8-10 feet, It is easier for me to use the toggle switches. If it was lower to the ground that would be another way. Cost more but will work the same. I use two spdt switches already in my utility box at the bottom of the flag pole. I have two UHF/VHF antennas and two HF Antennas. The other HF is Comet CHA 250 vertical antenna. Thanks for taking the time to mention this!!
@1Ddrummer please let us know your results. I have suspicions it may not work as intended, unlike a fan dipole where the impedance is the same for each dipole and only one will be used and there isn't too much interaction? With both being resonant, I suspect the power may be divided between both. Would be good to hear from the experts or who can model.
@@AusProbiz I thought the same until I saw that he was only connecting one antenna at a time. Connecting two at the same time is likely to result in a really weird radiation pattern.
Wait until you discover 2 pole switches
Black wire disappears the best.
YES!!!
I may have missed it but what are the actual physical lwngths of each radiating wire???
With the EMCOMM 2, I think it is either 60' or 63' that comes with the setup. I went an ordered a second wire from them since the coating on the wire is more durable. Either way, start at 63' and bend back as needed.
Why not just text them?
Where is the fun then? Why go camping when you can just stay home and sleep in your bed?? Its an adventure and an experience!!
Another great video. Hart va3kis
Thanks Hart for letting me know. It really does make a difference!