Thank you for a great video. This is my favorite setup because I'm handicapped and it is simple and easy. I have 29 ft of 16 gauge speaker wire taped to the bottom and top of a DX Commander Classic 10-meter pole, not taped in the middle. I extend and collapse the pole when needed. I have the LDG 9:1 like you have in the video and an LDG 1:1 for my common mode choke. I put this setup on my back deck that overlooks the backyard which is 9 feet high. I modified this setup and used a tire anchor mount to put the DX Commander pole in. I got the tire anchor mount from another video you made "Urban Ground Plane - HF Vertical Antenna Over Concrete". It works. I just had to anchor the mount with a cinder block and a 25 lb. dumbbell. It helped me figure out a setup that would work on my deck that overhangs my backyard by 9 feet. This will be my primary setup. This is the setup that I told you in another comment, that I made my first DX contact in Texas. I appreciate your videos very much. Thank you for all the ideas you present in your videos.
LDG ununs? Rubbish... I THOUGHT - UNTIL I STARTED USING THEM! A true case of "Better than the sum of its parts". They perform brilliantly and the colour coding makes them perfect for "grab-and-go" portable ops. Inexpensive too!
I've been using a similar setup with great results. Packtenna 9:1 with 29' radiator. I tried one or two 17' radials for a while but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. I ended up using just 50' of coax with no choke and was getting lots of 2-5000 mile DX with just 20 watts - Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, most of Europe and 2 QSOs with Russia from here in Michigan (without the benefit of saltwater) a week ago when band conditions were better. The 29' random wire is a fantastic portable DX antenna ... but nothing very works well when the bands are was bad as they were the last few days. Another great video Walt.
Walt I love the way you do antennas you inspired me to teach a class in July on the rubskov antenna. I have to finish building this week then get it on the air and test with my new ldg 4-1 unun. Going back to pick up a ldg 9-1 and 1-1 Choke. Thank you
i have exactly the same antenna,. 29 feet random wire plus 17 feet ground wire using 9:1 unun. it can perfectly installed in a 10 meters pole. I used in POTA activation in mobile. The pole is installed behind my car. its performance uis good.
I love the 29’ random wire. I experimented with counterpoise and found 6.5’ worked best for me and made 40M more tunable with an internal 3:1 tuner. But everyone’s mileage may vary due to ground conditions.
I have tried the 29 ft vertical with 9:1 with 4 -17 ft ground plain . works good with good band conditions . I have to E tune on my 7300 to make work. lots of FT8 on 50 watts . my core got quite warm but not hot after hours of many contacts. good 20/17/15/12/10 meters . did not try 30 or 40 meters. or 60 /80 meters. I have with longer wire sloped set up. the bands been bad past few days. I did get NVIS on 10 meters yesterday FT8 at 400/500 watts . 1 contact. trying hours. got warm ferrite. 1/2 wave end fed vertical with 49:1 with 2 stack FT 240-61 wound 10 AWG. 3KV cap. I make my own UNUN and Baluns . I don't like I re wrap try again. I leaned 10 meter pole into tree for vertical some times . works good if band good. 73's
My number 1 antenna I learned to make here about a year ago when you first tried it. Not being anywhere near the salt water I place a four wire ground plane under it, wires are about 15' long. Works wonderfully.
I like those old school radios, much more than the latest rocket-ship, three dimensional, parallel differential-drive models, with warp drive. If you know what I mean... Good Luck!
Thanks for sharing, yes the flare messed things up a wee bit, and 40m was dead here, but then one hour after dark and the greyline peak, the band opened up and I got 14,000 miles into the uk then Sweden on 20m. It would seem after a flare the greyline gets a hf delay somehow hi. 73.
If you want a kick *ss antenna, try this one. I made a FULL wave vertical for 40 meters! I inflated a weather balloon and lifted that sucker up! But since that thing is almost 133 feet high, you need a totally windless day. (or night)
Another great video there Walt, thanks. I was just about to order the LDG 4:1 to make a Rybakov, now I've seen this video I'm not sure whether to buy the 9:1 , don't really want both at the moment. Which do you consider the better performance antenna, the Rybakov with 4:1 or this random wire antenna with the 9:1 ?
I like both, I'd probably go with the Rybakov with a slight edge over this because I'm a 20-10 meter guy. If you're after 40 meters this one is probably a better performer.
No, a vertical that is 8 feet, 6 and a half inches will be a quarter wavelength for 11 meters and not require an unun. Check out this video: ruclips.net/video/wnQQ-ypFte0/видео.htmlsi=s2_37y3tE05VPnQV
These are both very similar antennas, I've found that the 29' is a slightly better antenna for the 40 meter band because of it's length being longer and closer to a quarter wavelength for that band.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES right- however for DX you need to choose wisely on the lengths (you don't want to produce more than a .64 wavelength) on the bands you intend to use. if you go to 3/4 wave your already folding your radiation pattern back into itself. Aim for non-resonate length close to 5/8 or .64 on the band you intend to use most. Since its multi band solution some bands will be better than others- but making it too ling can hurt you unless you start making it multiplies of a wavelength. Key is making the length a NON resonate one or you're going to have issues with 9:1/4:1 ununs.
I Walt I'm recent to the ham radio hobby - really, really enjoy your videos regarding building custom antennas - please keep giving us more!!
Thank you! 73, Walt
Thank you for a great video. This is my favorite setup because I'm handicapped and it is simple and easy. I have 29 ft of 16 gauge speaker wire taped to the bottom and top of a DX Commander Classic 10-meter pole, not taped in the middle. I extend and collapse the pole when needed. I have the LDG 9:1 like you have in the video and an LDG 1:1 for my common mode choke. I put this setup on my back deck that overlooks the backyard which is 9 feet high. I modified this setup and used a tire anchor mount to put the DX Commander pole in. I got the tire anchor mount from another video you made "Urban Ground Plane - HF Vertical Antenna Over Concrete". It works. I just had to anchor the mount with a cinder block and a 25 lb. dumbbell. It helped me figure out a setup that would work on my deck that overhangs my backyard by 9 feet. This will be my primary setup. This is the setup that I told you in another comment, that I made my first DX contact in Texas. I appreciate your videos very much. Thank you for all the ideas you present in your videos.
Thank you! 73, Walt
LDG ununs? Rubbish... I THOUGHT - UNTIL I STARTED USING THEM! A true case of "Better than the sum of its parts". They perform brilliantly and the colour coding makes them perfect for "grab-and-go" portable ops. Inexpensive too!
I heard somewhere that LDG have discontinued these UNUNS?
Real shame if they have.
@@AdamSWL Still for sale here in the UK but could be old stock. I'll pick some spares up just incase 👍
roger that!
@@AdamSWL I believe they only canceled the 49:1 unun. The rest still show as current products on their web site.
What can i say Walt this is the way of the ham .......brill
I hope you and your wife are doing well Walt, always stay great brother.
Thank you so very much my friend! 73, Walt
I've been using a similar setup with great results. Packtenna 9:1 with 29' radiator. I tried one or two 17' radials for a while but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. I ended up using just 50' of coax with no choke and was getting lots of 2-5000 mile DX with just 20 watts - Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, most of Europe and 2 QSOs with Russia from here in Michigan (without the benefit of saltwater) a week ago when band conditions were better.
The 29' random wire is a fantastic portable DX antenna ... but nothing very works well when the bands are was bad as they were the last few days.
Another great video Walt.
Thank you! 73, Walt
Walt I love the way you do antennas you inspired me to teach a class in July on the rubskov antenna. I have to finish building this week then get it on the air and test with my new ldg 4-1 unun. Going back to pick up a ldg 9-1 and 1-1 Choke. Thank you
I have a 26ft homemade one out of EMT metal pipe with 16 radials going into a ATU and it really does preform very very well! Great antennas!
Thank you! 73, Walt
i have exactly the same antenna,. 29 feet random wire plus 17 feet ground wire using 9:1 unun. it can perfectly installed in a 10 meters pole. I used in POTA activation in mobile. The pole is installed behind my car. its performance uis good.
29 feet is such a treat
When there is RF in the air
The antenna does show
That Walter knows
He's K4OGO! 😃
That Tentec with the modules is so cool… I love how they wrote the MHz right on there. It actually has style, despite its simplicity 😀
Ten-Tec had some great projects, but this small company just could not keep up with the other companies.
Me too, I love this radio
I love the 29’ random wire. I experimented with counterpoise and found 6.5’ worked best for me and made 40M more tunable with an internal 3:1 tuner. But everyone’s mileage may vary due to ground conditions.
I've used that length on EFHW antennas before with success. I'll have to give it a try on the randoms. 73 my friend
I have tried the 29 ft vertical with 9:1 with 4 -17 ft ground plain . works good with good band conditions . I have to E tune on my 7300 to make work. lots of FT8 on 50 watts . my core got quite warm but not hot after hours of many contacts. good 20/17/15/12/10 meters . did not try 30 or 40 meters. or 60 /80 meters. I have with longer wire sloped set up. the bands been bad past few days. I did get NVIS on 10 meters yesterday FT8 at 400/500 watts . 1 contact. trying hours. got warm ferrite. 1/2 wave end fed vertical with 49:1 with 2 stack FT 240-61 wound 10 AWG. 3KV cap. I make my own UNUN and Baluns . I don't like I re wrap try again. I leaned 10 meter pole into tree for vertical some times . works good if band good. 73's
Roger that, 73 my friend
LOVE these simple verticals!
Thank you! 73, Walt
Never ceases to amaze me .....Thanks so much!!!! Upstate NY
Thank you! 73, Walt
My number 1 antenna I learned to make here about a year ago when you first tried it. Not being anywhere near the salt water I place a four wire ground plane under it, wires are about 15' long. Works wonderfully.
Awesome! 73, Walt
I used that exact antenna for a POTA activation in the LBJ Grasslands. I logged 85 across multiple bands.
Awesome! 73, Walt
I like those old school radios, much more than the latest rocket-ship, three dimensional, parallel differential-drive models, with warp drive. If you know what I mean...
Good Luck!
Me too! Thank you! 73, Walt
Thanks for sharing, yes the flare messed things up a wee bit, and 40m was dead here, but then one hour after dark and the greyline peak, the band opened up and I got 14,000 miles into the uk then Sweden on 20m. It would seem after a flare the greyline gets a hf delay somehow hi. 73.
Awesome! 73 my friend
If you want a kick *ss antenna, try this one.
I made a FULL wave vertical for 40 meters! I inflated a weather balloon and lifted that sucker up!
But since that thing is almost 133 feet high, you need a totally windless day. (or night)
Wow awesome
Thank you! 73, Walt
Another great video, Walt. Is there such thing as a fan vertical antenna like a fan dipole? If so, I would like to see you build one.
Dx commander makes fan verts.
Thanks! Yes, the DX Commander antenna system is basically what you're explaining. I'll eventually get one up. 73, Walt
Another great video there Walt, thanks. I was just about to order the LDG 4:1 to make a Rybakov, now I've seen this video I'm not sure whether to buy the 9:1 , don't really want both at the moment. Which do you consider the better performance antenna, the Rybakov with 4:1 or this random wire antenna with the 9:1 ?
I like both, I'd probably go with the Rybakov with a slight edge over this because I'm a 20-10 meter guy. If you're after 40 meters this one is probably a better performer.
would this work well hanging the wire from a tree instead of using a pole? love your videos Walt, 73 from Canada
Thank you! Yes it would work well that way. 73, Walt
Yep so need to get 1 more unon
roger that!
Note: propagation conditions are so bad at the moment that Walt has had to resort to using 50W! 😱
hahahahaha
How did that choke on the coax get there? You do that or did you buy it like that? And what is that choke?
That is the Chameleon 50' coax with a built in choke. 73, Walt
29' - is that what they call the whole 9 yards (and a bit) ?
LOL yes indeed. 73 my friend
if i build a HALF WAVE ground plane for 11 meters. I need a UNUN ? 4.1-9.1 ?
No, a vertical that is 8 feet, 6 and a half inches will be a quarter wavelength for 11 meters and not require an unun. Check out this video:
ruclips.net/video/wnQQ-ypFte0/видео.htmlsi=s2_37y3tE05VPnQV
Hi! I am from Poland and I am looking for this LDG - RU-9:1 - UNUN 9:1 200W. Where I can buy? Thx
I thought a counterpoise wasn’t needed for an EF antenna?
That’s a debate and true for a horizontal or sloping halfwave. From what I’ve read and found on verticals a small counterpoise makes a difference
Walt, other than length and unun.....how does this differ from the rybakov?
Thanks!
It doesn't
These are both very similar antennas, I've found that the 29' is a slightly better antenna for the 40 meter band because of it's length being longer and closer to a quarter wavelength for that band.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES right- however for DX you need to choose wisely on the lengths (you don't want to produce more than a .64 wavelength) on the bands you intend to use. if you go to 3/4 wave your already folding your radiation pattern back into itself. Aim for non-resonate length close to 5/8 or .64 on the band you intend to use most. Since its multi band solution some bands will be better than others- but making it too ling can hurt you unless you start making it multiplies of a wavelength. Key is making the length a NON resonate one or you're going to have issues with 9:1/4:1 ununs.