Antenna Suggestions for All Bands (primarily HF)

[KE9EGF]

Hello, everyone.

I am getting a Yaesu FT-991A for Christmas because I like to mess around with everything that I can in one radio. I will be transmitting on all bands, but primarily HF. My 2 little metal telescopic dipoles won't do for long-range HF contacts, so I need something different. My 2 choices are to buy an antenna or make one myself. My antenna needs to be portable, because I move from house to house.

I need help deciding if I should make my antenna myself, and most importantly, what antenna I need for my choice of usage.

73!
KE9EGF

 

[KB4MSZ]

Do you plan to operate CW on the lower HF bands? Namely, on either 40 or 80 meters?

 

[KE9EGF]

Do you plan to operate CW on the lower HF bands? Namely, on either 40 or 80 meters?

Yes, but I will also be doing voice and data modes.

 

[K4EET]

<snip> My 2 choices are to buy an antenna or make one myself. My antenna needs to be portable, because I move from house to house.

I need help deciding if I should make my antenna myself, and most importantly, what antenna I need for my choice of usage. <snip>

Build vs. Buy

As to this question, it depends on what type of antenna meets your needs. You want to primarily work HF and the antenna must be portable to move from house to house. It would be helpful to know if these houses are in an HOA environment that restricts outdoor antennas.

For VHF/UHF operations, building that antenna would be fun, rewarding, and totally in the spirit of ham radio to build your own equipment. You still have the option to buy, if desired.

What Antennas Meet Your Needs and Requirements

First, for VHF/UHF operations, do you want a directional or omnidirectional radiation pattern? Regardless, the antenna can be kept small and easily be portable for moving between houses.

Second, for HF operations, the Yaesu FT-991A transmits from 1.8 MHz to 54 MHz. Do you need to or want to transmit on all of these bands? Do you plan to operate at 100 watts or could an amplifier be in your future? Does the antenna need to be of a stealth design for an HOA environment? Does the antenna need to be self supporting or will trees, fences, poles, etc. be available to tie the antenna to? Depending on the desired bands of operation, you may need multiple antennas with a multi-position antenna switch to connect the transceiver. Please give us an idea of your specific needs as well as what you can and can’t do in your environment.

These thoughts and questions need to be a little more solid before we can give you some ideas on portable antennas.

 

[prcguy]

How much space do you have horizontally? There are some very good performing wire antennas that will work 40-10m and are about 64ft long. For 80-10m that grows to about 133ft. End Fed Half Wave wire antennas with 49:1 transformer can be made very cheap and they are very portable.

 

[APX8000]

myantennas.com EFHW-8010 if you have the space

 

[522]

End Fed Half Wave wire antennas with 49:1 transformer can be made very cheap and they are very portable.

This one is my vote. Quick to setup and take down. Simple, and can be inexpensive. Especially if you make one yourself!

 

[prcguy]

I like to have several antennas to make the best use of propagation on different bands. An EFHW can be great for both NVIS and DX at the right height. Put it about 32ft high horizontal and its perfect for NVIS on 40m and below and a great height for low angle DX on 20 and 10m. But you can supplement that with a vertical for the upper bands if you can't get the EFHW at an ideal height for low angle on the higher bands. Its hard to find just one antenna that does everything well so just get more antennas.

 

[AK9R]

I will be transmitting on all bands, but primarily HF.

Keep in mind that as a Technician, your HF transmitting privileges are limited. Upgrading to General will go hand-in-hand with your new radio and antenna considerations. It's good that you are planning for the future.

 

[KE9EGF]

Keep in mind that as a Technician, your HF transmitting privileges are limited. Upgrading to General will go hand-in-hand with your new radio and antenna considerations. It's good that you are planning for the future.

I know, but I am getting my General for Christmas.

 

[KE9EGF]

To everyone reading or replying to this post, I will (most likely) NOT be getting the FT-991A anymore. I will likely get an Icom IC-7610, but I am not sure whether or not I will get it yet.

 

[KE9EGF]

How much space do you have horizontally? There are some very good performing wire antennas that will work 40-10m and are about 64ft long. For 80-10m that grows to about 133ft. End Fed Half Wave wire antennas with 49:1 transformer can be made very cheap and they are very portable.

Not a ton, but some. I want a portable antenna, and I want it to be at least semi-simple to set up.

 

[prcguy]

I've made a lot of these, a 100w SSB 64ft resonant EFHW for 40, 20, 15 and 10m. Winds up into a plastic chalk line reel and antenna with coax fits in a coat pocket. The wire pulls out in a few seconds with about 60ft of miniature parachute cord as a guy line and the empty reel becomes a throw weight to go over trees, etc. You can't get much simpler or portable than this and it works really well.

I sometimes carry a second reel full of just miniature para cord as a second guy line.

 

[K4EET]

To everyone reading or replying to this post, I will (most likely) NOT be getting the FT-991A anymore. I will likely get an Icom IC-7610, but I am not sure whether or not I will get it yet.

With respect to digital operations, do you want Yaesu Fusion or Icom/Kenwood D-STAR for your primary HF rig?

 

[AK9R]

I will likely get an Icom IC-7610, but I am not sure whether or not I will get it yet

Good radio. I have one. It's a big step for a new ham, but something you can grow into. If you find that the internal tuner is not able to handle your antenna choice, the LDG AT series of tuners are good choices. Just be aware that the AT-100 Pro 2 can only handle about 30 watts when running digital modes. The AT-200 Pro 2 is a better choice IMHO.

 

[AK9R]

Icom/Kenwood D-STAR

The only Icom HF radios that do D-STAR are the IC-705, IC-7100, and IC-9100.

 

[prcguy]

The only Icom HF radios that do D-STAR are the IC-705, IC-7100, and IC-9100.

I don't know why this never dawned on me but with a 7100 in front of me and two remote 7100s across the country, why haven't I tried HF D-STAR between remotes?

Duhhhh.

 

[KE9EGF]

Still don't know what radio to get. I'm on the fence about the IC-7610 for its lack of portability, since I need that. I am thinking about the IC-7300, and may lean towards that. I am getting my General license for Christmas, and just want a good, portable, ~$950 100W HF (or all-band, though those kinds of radios make some compromises) transceiver. What do you guys think?