Building Fun Ham Radio Antennas

Building ham radio antennas from non-traditional items like tape measures and slinky toys #hamradio #hamradioantenna #portablehamradio

Link to Tape Measure Antenna video:

Link to Vertical Slinky Antenna video:

Link to Vertical Slinky Dipole Antenna video:

[northwoodsyankee]

You definitely come up with some good stuff.

[DarkShadowCustoms]

Ham radio is all about experimentation. The very first antenna I put up was a Hustler dual band 2m/70 vertical I purchased used for $40 at a local hamfest. When my Elmer came over to help me get it in the air we discovered it was missing the top most element. I pulled a large sausage roasting fork out of the garage, cut the handle off, and shoved it into the top of the antenna. It wound up being 1.5: or less on 2 meter and flat on 70 cm. That was April of last year we put up the antenna and it is still in use to this day. We call it my "tuning fork antenna" and I don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon. It has also become the landmark used by local hams in the area to find my house.

[robertmeyer]

this is the fun we have in radio. some not work so well and others work great. Not knowing at the start how it will work then finding out can be a lot of fun. 73's

[kjb_tennessee]

Thanks for the inspiration Walt. I’m about to head outside and put up a Carolina Windom antenna, explained to me as a dipole with a vertical component.

[dalemyers]

A fun project! I’ll give it a try this weekend. Slinky is ordered. Should be fun.

[hughpatterson]

Prior to watching the first video I found of yours, I thought any antenna I came up with wouldn't work and I should just stick to buying what was out there. Not any more. I've been out in the yard constantly trying new things. While 75% of them don't work well (if at all), every once and a while I hit a home run. I now live for those moments. Thank you for inspiring me to try my hand at antenna building. Even when things don't work well, I still have fun and that's what amateur radio is all about. Of course, my wife now hides extension cords and any metal object I can demolish in my attempts to build antennas...73...KN6KNB

[WECB]

You're 100% right Walt. "Try it and see" is an excellent attitude in the spirit of Ham Radio. Please accept my apology if I've put a damper on that spirt. 73 OM

[georgebradshaw]

Hi Walt, thanks for the video. I seem to have collected a few old “spring” broken 25’ tape measures. What a great idea! ‘73 my friend! AC3EA

[NukaVaultReadiness]

Experimenting is one of the key parts of being a ham.
Part science and part fun.
73's!

[Zapruderfilm]

In 2000 I made an antenna out of HVAC aluminum sealing tape.

I cut it for 10 meters, was able to solder the ends of some 450 ohm ladder line to it.

I took the paper backing off of around half an inch of each corner and stuck it up at the top of one of my shack walls.

I then ran the ladder line over to my tuner.

It tuned up decently in 10 meters.
I then found a station in France calling CQ on CW on that band and answered him using approx 50 watts of power.

He came back to me with a 559 report.

I was living in Helena Montana at the time.

You just don’t know until you try.👍

[markwalker]

On point Walt, this is why we are "amateurs" good work!

[doubleD_KDRD]

Some good ideas. Non conventional antenna’s!! I Need to get inspired for an easy POTA portable.

[greenlamacrypto]

I had a Slinky dipole in my attic for many years!🎉

[joewoodchuck]

I'm an advocate of using what you have or can ressonably get/afford easily.
Just recently I saw a video on a chameleon antenna which apears to work well. It's two telescoping elements set at an angle from each other. A wire connecting the two elements at the top makes it a delta loop. The problem is that it sells for $600! One of the main components is two 17' telescoping elements. I found 18.4' telescoping antennas on eBay for $17. They're made well as far as i can tell. A piece of wire across the top and I too have a delta loop if it want to. All for $34. Yes there's some sort of a matching section as well but that shouldn't be hard to work out.
It's a hobby. Let's play!

[mobiltec]

From what I've read, that's the whole reason Ham Radio was created for civilians in the first place. For the advancement of the technology and good will.

[joelaut]

Thanks Walt! You are right about the experimenting, playing around having fun! Yv

[jerryKBGCG]

Love what your approach is to antenna building and the hobby. KB2GCG Jerry

[darylcheshire]

I was impressed by this guy who made a HF antenna out of a wire wound pool noodle.
I thought you’d stick four tape measures back to back with a SO259 in the middle and extend the tapes outward.

[knacknockin]

I am a faithful viewer of your videos and I've replicated some of your wire antennas with success. My dilemma is that I can't find telescopic poles the right length. Maybe a video showing your vast selection of poles would be beneficial to many of us? Thank you for keeping us motivated with experimentation.

[markhyman]

Consider compiling your excellent antenna diagrams in pdf format and provide a link to where that file could b viewed and downloaded. That would be very instructive and helpful for all of us.