Wide bander mK II BNC
- Thread starter ve3kko
- Start date
K4EET
Chaplain
It looks like you edited out an important characteristic of the antenna. Your unedited post read as follows:
<quote>
I am considering purchasing a Wonder Wand MK4 portable antenna.
I would like to hear of your experiences with this antenna. Is it usable indoors as some YouTube users seem to suggest.
Thanks
</quote>
As for being usable indoors, I couldn’t find a spec as to how long each leg is on that dipole. If you can get it to fit, indoors will not be optimal but somebody will hear you. Radiation exposure might be a concern but since it is a QRP antenna your power level is probably 10 watts or less.
It would be nice to know how long each leg of the dipole is. Then we could calculate the resonate frequency. All other frequencies outside of the resonant bandwidth would need the included antenna tuner to lower the SWR seen by the transmitter. Of course that means the antenna would not be matched and therefore would suffer in efficiency.
The antenna supposedly can operate from 160 meters through 2 meters. The advertisement does not say what SWR can be achieved. But that broad of a bandwidth would require a well-designed antenna tuner. The small, included antenna tuner may not be able to achieve a 2:1 SWR across 160 meters through 2 meters.
The £130 cost is about right if the antenna’s performance meets the advertised specifications. At 160 meters, if the antenna tuner can really tune that, your operating bandwidth without retuning is going to be small. And to tune 2 meters… Let’s just say that would be an awesome antenna tuner.
While I do not have one of these antennas, I am basing my opinion on what I see in their advertisement:
Wonderwand Widebander MK4 Wire Antenna
The Wonderwand Widebander MK4 is a state-of-the-art device that boosts signal reception and transmission capabilities across frequencies. Its cutting-edge technology combined with a sleek and modern design ensures enhanced performance and reliability for various communication requirements...
www.radioworld.co.uk
You would be better off building/buying a fan dipole for the bands that you want to primarily operate on. Then a small antenna tuner could be used to let the transmitter see a low SWR if needed.
Another option would be to consider the Shark HamStick line of antennas. I have seen them mounted on a camera tripod with a single counterpoise. Those HamStick antennas seem to work quite well based on verbal comments that I have heard.
So lots of possibilities for a QRP antenna system. Hopefully you will get some more comments here on the Wonderwand Widebander MK4 Wire Antenna and perhaps other ideas for small and maybe super portable antenna systems.
I hope you find this post somewhat helpful. Let all of us know your thoughts. I also hope that this first post in response to your thread’s topic will generate some positive discussion for you from other Radio Reference members.
73, Dave K4EET
ve3kko
Member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2005
- Messages
- 10
I must apologize.It looks like you edited out an important characteristic of the antenna. Your unedited post read as follows:
<quote>
I am considering purchasing a Wonder Wand MK4 portable antenna.
I would like to hear of your experiences with this antenna. Is it usable indoors as some YouTube users seem to suggest.
Thanks
</quote>
As for being usable indoors, I couldn’t find a spec as to how long each leg is on that dipole. If you can get it to fit, indoors will not be optimal but somebody will hear you. Radiation exposure might be a concern but since it is a QRP antenna your power level is probably 10 watts or less.
It would be nice to know how long each leg of the dipole is. Then we could calculate the resonate frequency. All other frequencies outside of the resonant bandwidth would need the included antenna tuner to lower the SWR seen by the transmitter. Of course that means the antenna would not be matched and therefore would suffer in efficiency.
The antenna supposedly can operate from 160 meters through 2 meters. The advertisement does not say what SWR can be achieved. But that broad of a bandwidth would require a well-designed antenna tuner. The small, included antenna tuner may not be able to achieve a 2:1 SWR across 160 meters through 2 meters.
The £130 cost is about right if the antenna’s performance meets the advertised specifications. At 160 meters, if the antenna tuner can really tune that, your operating bandwidth without retuning is going to be small. And to tune 2 meters… Let’s just say that would be an awesome antenna tuner.
While I do not have one of these antennas, I am basing my opinion on what I see in their advertisement:
Wonderwand Widebander MK4 Wire Antenna
The Wonderwand Widebander MK4 is a state-of-the-art device that boosts signal reception and transmission capabilities across frequencies. Its cutting-edge technology combined with a sleek and modern design ensures enhanced performance and reliability for various communication requirements...www.radioworld.co.uk
You would be better off building/buying a fan dipole for the bands that you want to primarily operate on. Then a small antenna tuner could be used to let the transmitter see a low SWR if needed.
Another option would be to consider the Shark HamStick line of antennas. I have seen them mounted on a camera tripod with a single counterpoise. Those HamStick antennas seem to work quite well based on verbal comments that I have heard.
So lots of possibilities for a QRP antenna system. Hopefully you will get some more comments here on the Wonderwand Widebander MK4 Wire Antenna and perhaps other ideas for small and maybe super portable antenna systems.
I hope you find this post somewhat helpful. Let all of us know your thoughts. I also hope that this first post in response to your thread’s topic will generate some positive discussion for you from other Radio Reference members.
73, Dave K4EET
I meant to enquire about the MK2. My head must have been in a cloud.
I thank you for your reply, this information is valuable and appreciated.
I've used a similar antenna called the Miracle Whip many years ago and outdoors it can make contacts on 20 through 10m with a lot of patience but lower bands only very short distances. Indoors in a completely wooden structure maybe, indoors in a concrete or stucco building, probably not.
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