160m Delta kite aerial

Re-evaluation of using an eight foot Delta kite for 160m amateur radio quarter wave antenna made me film this video. I have adjusted the side spars and the kite seems to be much more stable. This video shows my setup I use when using a kite from a car park with a wire antenna that is a multiple of quarter waves in length. Enjoy.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• 160m
• wire
• antenna
• Delta
• kite
• ham
• amateur
• radio

[GregS635563]

Great video. I saw an alligator clip with a white wire attached. Where is the other end of that? 73

[VK5ZVS]

@GregS635563

The white wire is attached to the metal threaded support section via a lug and screw. This allows for a continuous and direct connection between the wire and the existing antenna, which may not exist when the wire goes slack from, say, a sudden drop in wind strength. The wire may otherwise form a "weak" connection to both the carabiner clip and the metal support. ok? Hope this makes sense.

[eibeer]

would be good to hear some signals

[VK5ZVS]

@eibeer - I'll try to record some video footage with some real-time audio in the near future (time and weather permitting! Need another set of hands.....)

Cheers.

[skidpatrol]

Hi,

can you tell me the make and size of your kite, i would like on, also the wind range.

Thanks..

[VK5ZVS]

Hi,

Sure. The kite is a G-Kites brand (Gomberg Kites). The kite is 8 feet wide by 3.5 feet tall. It flies with light wind and up - due to it's larger size. Hope that helps. Thanks for calling by.

Cheers.

[vermontcreekbed]

@VK5ZVS Know all about that.

Looks like you are well set up.

[JohnMC894]

Like the way you used the galvanised wire fence as a extra earth. Had a 1meter fence running under my 132' Long wire in Germany. Spent ages with a 600 watt iron soldering it all up with 1/2" braid. Well it was scrap any how so I got it for free. It worked. I used it for SWL normally but put it to test on my homebrew CW Tx and Eddystone Rx on the ACF frequencies before I got my ticket. 73 John. Ex G0 WXU.

[VK3EGN1]

This type of kite is excellent in low wind conditions.

It can make difference of flying or not flying at all.

However, 120m high winds are often much stronger then close to earth.

I have 4 of these kites, but use is limited to quiet weather.

I only use this type of kite in summer evenings, when wind often dies.

[VK5ZVS]

I'll take that as a compliment. Hi! Thanks. Call again anytime.