Stealth Wire HF Antenna Setup: Concealed Communication Made Easy

Here we attempt to conceal a multi-band HF Antenna and then test its results compared to an EFHW.

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[richardevans]

Hi Matt, great video as always, I have used various stealth aerials over the years, 3 years ago we decided to cash in on the huge equity in our house, sold up and retired to a park home (Static caravan). I have aerial restrictions, . My HF aerial is an end fed wire of 111 feet, I feed it with a home made wide band transformer, which works with lengths of wire as little as 33 feet, and then uses wires in multiples of 11 feet. it runs up my down pipe along the inside of the gutter clips, up the eves into the opposite gutter and back down the other side of the van. It works and I also only use 5 watts QRP CW only, as another challenge lol. It Blows me away how well it works, it loses so much local noise being low, . I have QSOs most days, an in the commonwealth contest I even got a 339 from VK land, when the condX were really good earlier in the year. I also have a simple vertical dipole just for 10 meters (flower pot), I run this up a 10 meter fibre glass pole and have a wind sock on it so the neighbours and park owners have no idea it is for radio.. I have played with aerials since i was a boy and have learnt Aerials do not read books so all the theory helps but some times just try it and suck it and see. In the past I have loaded up chain link fences, cast iron gutters, whirly gig washing lines, factory rooves normal laundry lines if the nylon chord has a metal strainer running through, and its amazing what will actually radiate a low power signal. Thanks again for all you do for the hobby, 73 De Richard G0VCW TU dit dit

[thrillscience]

I've had amazing luck with antennas that were way too low and shouldn't work. In fact, I have a WSPR beacon running where the EFHW fell on the ground! It's been months since it fell from the tree, and I still get reports nightly from all continents.

[tiggydorset]

Almost finished constructing my fan dipole in the loft. Got: 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17 so far (no ATU needed on any band, except for 160 where I only have 100kHz of bandwith below 2:1). Wires bent back and forth, up and down ect. It's not going to be the most efficient antenna in the world, can't be choosers when space is restricted and I'm on the bands including 160m.

[MichaelPickles]

That is a mullion dollar view from your garden!

[curtheisler]

Aside from the great info, your backyard view is BEAUTIFUL. Very jealous. Enjoy it

[jeankinney]

It is surprising how gain and reception a low long wire can get. I use an Inverted V on my very tall tree to 80 feet at the top V point. I was trying to get as much height as possible, so the tree was a gift from God! The side wires were connected to two shedscon each side with black nylon robe that is strong and resilient to sun and wind. It works well, just need to make sure that I transmit on the frequencies for the antenna. It resembles a zeplain antenna placed on a balloon zeplain. I will be making sure I match and tune the antenna and frequencies. No transmitting 80 meters on a antenna made for 40 meters ! This is where I need to grow and take care to label my coax lines and my HF radios big time, big and clear!

[dyngbld]

I have put antennas in crazy places. You do what you have to sometimes.

[jeffcooper]

I'm always amazed by what can be done 'outside' the laws of physics.

[electronics.unmessed]

Many thanks for sharing this. It's always great to see things tested in reality. Interesting that the antenna has an OK-ish VSWR and of course, no surprise that you loose a number of dBs in comparison to your antenna at a proper height. I made some simulations using NEC. I found that at low antenna heights the antennas main beam direction is going vertically up to the sky. So I guess, the loss of some dBs is mainly caused by the unfavorable radiation characteristics.

[David__]

Thanks for sharing & for all the useful content you share Matt.
I'm running a setup that loops right around my property & has surprisingly good recieve results.
Would be really interested to do a back to back transmit test between your 2 antennas to see & hear the difference.

[andyrussell]

The problem with this fence top setup is the EMF compliance distance of 1.5m for 100W SSB on 40m (with an assumed 20% duty cycle) which is on the neighbours property! The EFHW doesn't have this drawback!

[TRTelos]

I wired up 2 window frames with tuner and 5watts at 120ft asl in a tower block, got Europe no problem in the 30mins of my "Super test".

[tangomike]

What a NICE place you live in, beuatifull.

[thomashardy]

I figure this might work well in my attic.

[HOAHamRadio]

Thanks for sharing this "imperfect" antenna that works. I've had to do some similar things because of restrictions at my house and I am amazed at what the less than textbook antennas can do. Nice illustrations with the SDR.

[wrongsideof]

What an amazing view from your back garden. Can't you engineer something 'stealthy' using some of that field?!

[chriscornelissen]

0:00 cool to hear some Dutch in the air 😊🇳🇱

[jxkr]

I have found that if you install wire aerials using 24swg enamelled copper wire, they are almost impossible to see. Also surprisingly robust, just the occasional snap if a pigeon hits it.

[andrewallsopp]

I’m a beginner and trying to quickly gain knowledge I appreciated this post and fascinated by the lapstop software but in reality too much jargon for me I need to learn and I’d like a lesson explaining that laptop software if you can point me to one - thanks 👍🏻

[mrtechie]

ZS6BKW -- what would happen if you changed the driven element from a dipole into a closed loop (quad/diamond/rhombic)?