Meanwhile in the Emergency room, his kid is being treated for crashing due to no bicycle brakes. Lol. JK. Great idea actually, now it's a matter of waiting until the neighbors kid leaves his Huffy out after dark lol.
@@barrykelly2722 Cool - there should be a bunch of remnants there. If you plan on soldering this project the cheap cables work best. The dura ace , XTR, and Avid cables are no bueno for soldering. Good luck !
This does indeed work. I attached a 19” piece of Sotabeams antenna wire to my Yaesu VX-6R, and was able to hit a repeater 22 miles away. Previously I was unable to connect to it. Signal report was good enough to be understood, and hold a decent QSO. Just remember to hold still while transmitting, because the counterpoise shifting around will affect the quality of the signal.
That’s great , thanks ,I’m guessing the cable acts as a ground plane for the 1/4 wave or is making the 1/4 wave into a 1/2 wave dipole , the signal boost was really significant , proper game changer
Thanks! Clean job with the bike cable. Along these same lines......What antenna specific antenna could we deploy, other than the stock antenna, to increase Shortwave/AM/FM radio reception on a HT radio? At times I would just like to listen to Shortwave with my Yaesu FT3D and would not mind hooking up an antenna that would be tailored for receiving these signals.
You are welcome ! What I did for my VX3R is use one of the old spool type antennas ( like the sangean ant 60) cut off the 3.5mm connector , strip, tin, and solder the wire to the center pin of an SMA. It works really good. Thank you and thanks for watching !
I called them tiger tails or rat tails. I haven't seen much of a real performance difference where I am but Your Mileage May Vary YMMV. In your demonstration it sounded more staticy with the counterpoise than without. Definitely like the bike cable idea over regular cable though. Im thinking maybe piano wire or guitar string would be the same way.
They offer a fair increase in fringe coverage. For the price point it is hard to top. Guitar string would work well if that was what was on hand and the crimp would hold. Thanks for watching !
@SurvivalComms Are the results the same holding the HT. I know while holding you are effectively the counterpoise so I was just wondering if you tested that. Someone told me it would be counter the counterpoise. lol. I don't have an analyzer to test this theory and I am curious. Thanks, Good Video.
It works well and costs nothing. The body does couple capacitively but this does squeeze a bit more performance out. Try it and see if it works for you. Thanks for watching !
The best shorty VHF antenna going IMHO is the Smiley Antenna Short Duck. IIRC they have one for commercial split also if thats what you need. You can pick your connector and swap it out later of you desire as well. Thanks for watching ! www.smileyantenna.com/product-p/14660.htm
Thank you ! It's the easiest was to squeeze a bit more out of a radio. Plugging an earphone into an old transistor radio often had the same effect to receive a distant FM station. Thanks for watching !
For work in Film and TV in Ontario we often use Motorola HT 750 handsets, and when we are on location outside of the greater Toronto area, rural areas, forests, the signal may only carry 5 km of so - would this solution give us more range?
not on an HT750. HT750's use a MX thread antenna. If you do a search you will find a BNC adapter that will interface with a HT750 and you would be able to use a 1/4 wave antenna and the radial . Thanks for watching !
No worry of RF burn on an exposed wire? Could the static be coming from the fact that you have 1mm less pin engagement within the connection of antenna to SMA?
Could you not attach the wire to the antenna with an elastic band to keep it more out of the way and perhaps get an even better signal? My other question is how far were those signals unless I missed something there.
If there is solid contact with the radio chassis it will work but only as good as what you see here. Its the biggest boost you will get with a portable radio without connecting it to a mobile or fixed antenna at elevation advantage. Thanks for watching !
Meanwhile in the Emergency room, his kid is being treated for crashing due to no bicycle brakes. Lol. JK. Great idea actually, now it's a matter of waiting until the neighbors kid leaves his Huffy out after dark lol.
It's a shame the homeless dude's bike already had no brakes but when life gives you lemons ....... Thanks for watching !
Actually I have a plan to dumpster dive at the bike repair shop....maybe Friday.
@@barrykelly2722 Cool - there should be a bunch of remnants there. If you plan on soldering this project the cheap cables work best. The dura ace , XTR, and Avid cables are no bueno for soldering. Good luck !
Will this method work with a police scanner?
Yes it will. Thanks for watching !
What manner of wizzardry is this ? Lol. Great tip, thanks for sharing
You are welcome ! Radio hack 101 - improve the antenna :) This has been of great utility to me more than once. Thank you and thanks for watching !
This does indeed work. I attached a 19” piece of Sotabeams antenna wire to my Yaesu VX-6R, and was able to hit a repeater 22 miles away. Previously I was unable to connect to it. Signal report was good enough to be understood, and hold a decent QSO. Just remember to hold still while transmitting, because the counterpoise shifting around will affect the quality of the signal.
Yes movement is everything in LMR fringe coverage. Thanks for watching !
That’s great , thanks ,I’m guessing the cable acts as a ground plane for the 1/4 wave or is making the 1/4 wave into a 1/2 wave dipole , the signal boost was really significant , proper game changer
Yes it does. It is perhaps the easiest way to increase TX/RX outside of elevation. Thanks for watching !
Genius to use that bicycle cable! I've made them with hook-up wire and yeah, not very pretty! Thanks Bret! You've been killing the videos lately!
You are welcome and thank you ! Bicycle cable is great for all kinds of stuff. Thanks for watching !
Dont laugh too hard But this should help my little Baofeng radio. Thanks,For the tip. :)
You are welcome and it will help for sure. Give it a shot and let me know how it works. Thanks for watching !
Thanks! Clean job with the bike cable. Along these same lines......What antenna specific antenna could we deploy, other than the stock antenna, to increase Shortwave/AM/FM radio reception on a HT radio? At times I would just like to listen to Shortwave with my Yaesu FT3D and would not mind hooking up an antenna that would be tailored for receiving these signals.
You are welcome ! What I did for my VX3R is use one of the old spool type antennas ( like the sangean ant 60) cut off the 3.5mm connector , strip, tin, and solder the wire to the center pin of an SMA. It works really good. Thank you and thanks for watching !
I called them tiger tails or rat tails. I haven't seen much of a real performance difference where I am but Your Mileage May Vary YMMV. In your demonstration it sounded more staticy with the counterpoise than without. Definitely like the bike cable idea over regular cable though.
Im thinking maybe piano wire or guitar string would be the same way.
They offer a fair increase in fringe coverage. For the price point it is hard to top. Guitar string would work well if that was what was on hand and the crimp would hold. Thanks for watching !
more proof radios are magic
Electromagnetic voodoo. Thanks for watching !
Good to see you are back!
WOW, that's such a great idea! I've done this with copper wire and I always hated how it would take a set. Thanks for sharing! 73
You are welcome ! Give it a shot bike cables can be had cheap. Thanks for watching !
Goof
Thanks for watching !
Good tips Bret! You always got the best tips when it comes to this stuff. Thanks for sharing brother
You are welcome ! Thank you Matt and thanks for watching !
Perfect .... thanks
Thank you and thanks for watching !
Good information. I use a counterpoise on my 9:1 Unun End Fed wire antenna and it does a great job. Without it I have issues. 73 Juddie WD8WV
Thank you ! The end fed generally does much better in my experience with one for certain. Thanks for watching !
2:22…..one of those bikes is now a one speed….:)
Thanks for sharing! 73!
You are welcome Thank you for watching !
That’s a great tip. I wouldn’t have thought that it make that big a difference. I will be doing this for my radios. 73 dude!
Thank you Lowry ! Hope to catch you on the air ! Thanks for watching !
Ive done this for commercial handhelds for commercial freqs
I have as well. Its a big help for the Forestry and SAR folks. Thank for watching !
@@survivalcomms yep are system dont work well with portable radios.
@@topshot95 Portable coverage is definitely a luxury of a well $$$$ engineered $$$$ system.
Great video. Subbing now!
@SurvivalComms Are the results the same holding the HT. I know while holding you are effectively the counterpoise so I was just wondering if you tested that. Someone told me it would be counter the counterpoise. lol. I don't have an analyzer to test this theory and I am curious. Thanks, Good Video.
It works well and costs nothing. The body does couple capacitively but this does squeeze a bit more performance out. Try it and see if it works for you. Thanks for watching !
Do you know any good mini vhf sma female antenna up to 100mm length?
The best shorty VHF antenna going IMHO is the Smiley Antenna Short Duck. IIRC they have one for commercial split also if thats what you need. You can pick your connector and swap it out later of you desire as well. Thanks for watching !
www.smileyantenna.com/product-p/14660.htm
You Sir, are a GOD.
I'm just a creator sharing ideas shared with me long ago. I hope it helps ! Thanks for watching !
Sweet idea 😎😊
Thank you ! It's the easiest was to squeeze a bit more out of a radio. Plugging an earphone into an old transistor radio often had the same effect to receive a distant FM station. Thanks for watching !
is 19" ok for UHF ?
Yes it works fine. Thanks for watching !
I will give it a try! Thanks.
You are welcome ! Let me know how it works out for you ! Thanks for watching !
Yes sir! True story.
The truth will set you free :) Thanks for watching !
Wow! The meter doesn't lie.
Thanks for watching !
For work in Film and TV in Ontario we often use Motorola HT 750 handsets, and when we are on location outside of the greater Toronto area, rural areas, forests, the signal may only carry 5 km of so - would this solution give us more range?
not on an HT750. HT750's use a MX thread antenna. If you do a search you will find a BNC adapter that will interface with a HT750 and you would be able to use a 1/4 wave antenna and the radial . Thanks for watching !
Thank you for the tip! Will any type of metallic wire work for this?
Yes it will thanks for watching !
What is the diameter size ring terminal?
1/4" will do it for an SMA
Thank you! I will.
@@survivalcomms thank you!
@@joeltangunan YW !
73!
I feel as if there was a missed opportunity to have a kid riding through the yard trying to slow down on a bike but their brakes aren’t working 😂😂
Great concise video and presentation. The bike cable seems like a great solution. I'm gonna try it. Cheers!
Thank you and thanks for watching !
No worry of RF burn on an exposed wire?
Could the static be coming from the fact that you have 1mm less pin engagement within the connection of antenna to SMA?
Insulate it with heat shrink or use hook up wire. Thanks for watching.
Brilliant Thank you so much!
Thank you ! Thanks for watching !
@@survivalcomms not a problem always great to see helpful ideas. stay safe mate!
@@DavidCurrie-lo9jd You as well !
Could you not attach the wire to the antenna with an elastic band to keep it more out of the way and perhaps get an even better signal?
My other question is how far were those signals unless I missed something there.
If there is solid contact with the radio chassis it will work but only as good as what you see here. Its the biggest boost you will get with a portable radio without connecting it to a mobile or fixed antenna at elevation advantage. Thanks for watching !
Its work on my baofeng uv5r..
Thanks bro
You are welcome ! Thanks for watching !
Interesting. Tim , KB0VQP.
Thanks for watching !