End Fed Half Wave Vertical Antenna

This is an empirical "shoot-out" between a 135' OCF dipole mounted up 40' in the clear vs. a 31' end fed half wave vertical sitting on the deck. Hope it awakens interest in an age-old aerial design that offers an alternative to the compromise antennas so often selected by those who have to deal with restrictions - or who want to operate portable and actually make some contacts...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[raypsi1]

Hey

gr8 shoot out. I would have had a coax choke on the half wave.

73

de n8zu good luck and good dxing

[stanscoyote]

I prefer ferrite beads. An 8 turn coax choke affected my SWR negatively.

[Raymond Burns]

What about radials

De ray wb2mly

[stanscoyote]

Does not need radials. Halfwave antennas have very high feedpoint impedances with correspondingly low current return requirements. The coax outer shield does the job in this setup. That's the appeal of half wavelength wires. Read up on it; worthwhile learning about them.

[Crobular I]

Surely it needs a 9-1 UN UN toroid transformer though. 2.5" toroid and 18 bi-filar turns should do it.

[stanscoyote]

The plans are online at the EARCHI website mentioned at the end of the video. The matchbox design and construction is no secret. 73, stan

[Peri Cosseboom]

I have a 33 foot end fed wire with a Hawaii end fed match box. Very nice from 10 to 40. Particularity on 10. The guys with the big beams and 1000 watts are clueless and jealous.

[sealsster]

Great Video! Just waiting for my fiberglass pole to be delivered. If it arrives in time will be trying it on the Virginia QSO party this weekend.

[Kk Andretti]

Thanks Stan..:) enjoyed the video also.:)

[stanscoyote]

It's an antenna for use with amateur radio transmitters and receivers where impedance matching is important. If you are a shortwave listener, your best bet is to throw up as much wire as you can: any size, any shape. The requirements for a receiver are vastly different from those of transmitters. Enjoy the shortwave bands.