How long should an end fed antenna be?
It is important to use a counterpoise. A standard recommendation (see QST, March 1936, p. 32, “An Unorthodox Antenna”) is an 84′ long end fed and a 17′ long counterpoise (6.5′ for 20m).
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Wire Lengths for Various Band Combinations.
| Group | USA Bands |
|---|---|
| f | 160-80-60-40-30-20-17-15-12-10-6 |
How long is a 80 meter end fed antenna?
The antenna has a limited bandwidth on the 80 meter band because the antenna is shortened for this band. The 10/(15)/20/40/80 End fed Antenna Kit has a total length of about 23 meters. From the feed point first 20.4 meter antenna wire then a coil of approximately 110 uH and then another +/- 2.5 meters wire.
What is an EFHW antenna?
Unlike the dipole antenna, which is comprised of two quarter-wavelength wires and fed at its center, the EFHW is a half-wavelength antenna with the coaxial cable for your transceiver attached at one end. It has become popular with portable operators because it’s very simple in its construction and deployment.
How good are end fed antennas?
End fed wire antennas can work very well under many circumstances. They have some disadvantages, but with careful installation, they can work well and be particularly versatile offering multi-band operation.
Do I need to ground an end fed antenna?
It is useless and all you need is to provide good grounding of the coaxial cable shield anywhere along the line between the transformer and entrance of the cable to your home. The EFHW antenna will work without any grounding too but it is recommended for protection of your equipment.
How long should be a counterpoise for an end fed antenna?
Length of counterpoise should be approx. 20-30 feet but NOT resonant. If possible, run the counterpoise away from or perpendicular to the antenna wire. You can also use the unun with no counterpoise or ground if your feedline is at least 25+ feet long.
Is longer antenna better?
Longer antennas have lower frequencies and higher bandwidths. This means signals can travel over longer distances. Radio stations operate at lower frequencies and their signals can easily connect to longer antennas.
Do end fed antennas need a counterpoise?
Long Wire / End Fed Wire Antenna Includes:
The end fed half wave antenna can be operated with a small counterpoise, and in some instances, no counterpoise is used at all, although this is not necessarily wise. The lower end of the antenna may also be grounded as an alternative to reduce static noise.
Do end fed antennas need radials?
No, it is not needed, but it can improve the antenna system. An EFHW is simply a half-wave length of wire and a matching device, and that’s it. Counterpoises are commonly added to shunt common mode reflections when operating outside of the wire’s resonant frequency to avoid RFI issues (“RF in the shack”).
Does a counterpoise have to be straight?
Lower frequency bands seem to be more sensitive to the length of the counterpoise wire, while on 10 m band, almost any piece of wire will do. Finally, the counterpoise does not have to be perfectly straight.
Can a TV antenna be too big?
A bigger antenna, properly designed, will always have more gain than a smaller one. And it will be the best kind of gain, much better than using a small antenna and simply overamplifying it, because a small antenna just won’t pull in truly weak signals like this gigantic one will.
What is the best antenna length?
The wavelength of a signal should always be 1/4 the length of the antenna you’re using, as this gives you the very best efficiency. While you don’t have to pick an antenna whose length is exactly 4 times the wavelength of the signal, it’s a good idea to get as close as you possible can.
How long should a counterpoise be for an end fed antenna?
20-30 feet
Length of counterpoise should be a minimum of 20-30 feet but longer is better. If possible run the counterpoise above ground away from or perpendicular to the antenna wire and do not ground the counterpoise at the unun.
How do I set up an end fed antenna?
Installing an End Fed HF Antenna – YouTube
Does a higher antenna get better reception?
In general, the higher you place your antenna, the better. It would be best to have your antenna placed 30 feet above ground level to give you the clearest over-the-air connection with a tower. For those looking for that height, outdoor antennas are usually a good place to start.
Does a longer antenna get better reception?
Can an antenna be too big?
Does End Fed need counterpoise?
Can a TV antenna be too high?
If you put in a huge antenna and you don’t need one, the result can be that the signals are so strong that your TV’s tuner begins to reject them because they’re distorted. This is especially true with antennas combined with amplifiers. It’s called “overdriving” and I’ve written about it before.
How can I make my TV antenna stronger?
How to boost your TV antenna’s signal for better reception – YouTube
Does a bigger antenna get better reception?
It’s about gain.
A bigger antenna, properly designed, will always have more gain than a smaller one. And it will be the best kind of gain, much better than using a small antenna and simply overamplifying it, because a small antenna just won’t pull in truly weak signals like this gigantic one will.
Does an end fed antenna need to be grounded?
No. It has nothing to do with a “ground” or “counterpoise” any more than a dipole fed at its center. Feeding the end of a resonant length of wire requires generating a high voltage field.
How do I adjust my antenna for best reception?
5 Tricks for Getting the Best Possible Reception with Your Indoor…
- Find out where the broadcast towers are in your area. Aiming your antenna at TV transmission towers can improve reception.
- Place the antenna in or near a window.
- Go high.
- Test different antenna placements.
Does putting aluminum foil on antenna help?
Wrapping aluminum foil around your antenna will basically increase the surface area and conductivity of the antenna to boost the signal that your TV receives from it.
Which direction do I point my antenna?
How to Correctly Point a TV Antenna for Best Reception – YouTube
A standard recommendation (see QST, March 1936, p. 32, “An Unorthodox Antenna”) is an 84′ long end fed and a 17′ long counterpoise (6.5′ for 20m).
Wire Lengths for Various Band Combinations.
| Group | USA Bands |
|---|---|
| b | 40-30-20-17 |
| c | 40-30-20-17-15-12-10 |
| d | 80-40-30-20-17-15-12-10 |
| e | 160-80-40-30-20-17-15-12-10 |
How long is a 20 meter wire antenna?
Read more about . . . . Dipole Length Calculations.
| Approximate Lengths for HF Ham Band Dipole Antennas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Band (MHz) | Length (Feet) | Length (metres) |
| 10.1 (30 metres) | 47.5 | 14.7 |
| 14.00 (20 metres) | 34.3 | 10.6 |
| 18.068 | 26.6 | 8.2 |
How long should a 2m antenna be?
The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength. Most commercially available antennas come in length equivalent from 1/4 to 5/8’s of a full wavelength. This means that if you want to run a 2m rig (144’ish Mhz),a half wavelength antenna would be 3.3” long, and 3.3 ft is very manageable for vehiclular operations.
How high does a ham radio antenna need to be?
The number of amateur radio antennas and antenna support structures exceeding the height of 15 feet above ground on any residential lot shall be no greater than is necessary for reasonable accommodation of amateur radio operation.
Is a dipole better than end fed antenna?
While dipoles are very efficient antennas, they are not the only way to go. Some houses don’t really lend themselves to installing a half-wave dipole. If you only have one support an end-fed antenna may suit you better. But be warned – end-fed antennas can be noisier and also cause more EMC/interference problems.
How long is a 17 meter dipole antenna?
approximately 7.90 meters
Total length approximately 7.90 meters.
How long is a 17 meter dipole?
How far can a 5 watt ham radio transmit?
The 5 watt radio can reach up to 12 miles or more. Some handheld radios have 6 watts which can reach up to 20 miles in the right conditions.
Does antenna length affect reception?
The higher the frequency and the shorter the wavelength, the shorter the antenna can be made. When the length of the antenna is 1/4 of the wavelength, the transmission and reception conversion efficiency of the antenna is the highest.
Should an end fed antenna be grounded?
What is the length of a dipole at 2.4 GHz?
We found that the length of the dipole antenna for the 2.4 GHz frequency is 0.35 λ, and the balun length is 0.25λ for the bazooka and 0.2 λ for the 1: 1 balun.
How long should my dipole antenna be?
When determining how long to make each leg of a Dipole antenna, dividing the frequency in MHz into 468 will give the overall length. To find the half wave, divide that number by two. This will give you the length of each leg of the antenna.
How do you calculate antenna length?
The Half-Wave Dipole Antenna
The most widely used formula to calculate the approximate overall length of wire required for a dipole is: 468 / frequency (MHz) = length of wire in feet.
How far can a 100 watt ham radio transmit?
How far can a 100 watt ham radio transmit? A 100 watt radio can transmit up to about 10 miles. However, the distance that a radio can transmit depends on a variety of factors, such as the type of antenna used, the height of the antenna, and the weather conditions.
How far will a 50 watt ham radio transmit?
Urban Environment – Around 1/2 – 1 mile from handheld to handheld, up to 2 miles mobile to handheld, and up to 5 miles or more, base to mobile, with base antenna at 50′.
Do longer antennas work better?
How far will a 9dBi antenna reach?
one kilometer
This 9dBi high- gain antenna can deliver links of up to one kilometer. It can be particularly useful to link local area networks of two buildings wirelessly, eliminating the need to run cable or use leased lines. However, careful planning is required to achieve these distances.
Counterpoise. At end fed antennas a certain current flows into the antenna, but according to “Kirchhoff’s current law” a proportional amount of current must flow somewhere else. Without counterpoise this will be the outside of the coax cable. A good way to minimize this is to create a counter-capacity.
What is the formula for antenna length?
What is the optimal length antenna for a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi?
The antenna length for Wi-Fi with 2.4 GHz thus corresponds to about 3.1 cm. For a radio with 95 MHz, this is 78 cm long for the version according to 𝛌/4.
How long is a 160 meter end fed antenna?
Frequency: 160-6m Inc. WARC bands. Unun: 9:1. Length: 41.7m.
How do you hook up a long wire antenna?
Long Wire Antenna – YouTube
How long is a 160m dipole antenna?
This kit contains all parts to make a dipole antenna for the 160 meter band. With a handy fixing plate for the toroid, so no longer necessary for gluing. Total length approximately 80 meters.
What is the best wire to use for a long wire antenna?
The best material to support its own weight is steel. You can use a large gauge (say, 14-12) of copper wire which will work. For short wires that won’t bend, solid copper will work. If you are going to attach it to a support structure that won’t flex, finer than 14 would work.
Does a long wire antenna have to be straight?
The wire may be straight or it may be strung back and forth between trees or walls just to get enough wire into the air. Due to the great variability of the (unplanned) antenna structure, effectiveness can vary wildly from one installation to another.
What is the 160 meter band used for?
The 160-meter band is the oldest amateur band and was the staple of reliable communication in the earliest days of amateur radio, when almost all communications were over relatively short distances, and typical operating frequencies were below 20 MHz.
Does thicker wire make a better antenna?
the better it will be for performance. A thick wire is always better than a thin wire.
Is solid or stranded wire better for antennas?
Either will work but there are practical and electrical differences to consider. Stranded wire with a diameter over 16 AWG is easier to work with since thicker solid wire is too stiff. But either type will work for a PIT tag antenna. Solid and stranded wire have different electrical charactistics.
Can any wire be used as an antenna?
Since most antennas are used outdoors, you must use outdoor-rated wire. You can use uninsulated wire, but it is much better to use insulated wire for safety purposes if there is any chance that someone could come in contact with the wire while you are transmitting.
How thick should antenna wire be?
Perhaps the most common wire used in antennas is copper ‘building’ wire. This is PVC plastic coated wire, seven strand, 2.5mm.
What frequency is 160-meter band?
between 1.8 and 2 MHz
160-meter band refers to the band of radio frequencies between 1.8 and 2 MHz, just above the medium wave broadcast band. For many decades the lowest radio frequency band allocated for use by amateur radio, before the adoption, at the beginning of the 21st century in most countries, of the 630- and 2200-meter bands.
What frequency is 630m?
472–479 kHz
The 630-meter (or 600-meter) amateur radio band is a frequency band allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to amateur radio operators, and it ranges from 472–479 kHz, or equivalently 625.9–635.1 meters wavelength.
What is the best wire to use for an antenna?
copper-clad steel
The strongest wire that’s suitable for antenna service is copper-clad steel, also known as Copperweld®. The copper coating is necessary for rf service because steel is a relatively poor conduc- tor.
What wire is best for antenna?
The toughest and most flexible of all the wire tested was the thin stainless-steel cable, making it the best overall choice of antenna wire for all conditions.