End fed 40M half wave.

[Joe]

The home brew bug has bit me, besides it keeps me off the streets and for the most part out of trouble.  ;)  I am building a RockMite 40m. I am looking for a compact quick deploy antenna. I was leaning towards a LNR Trail-Friendly, but I came across a home brew 40m end fed http://www.earchi.org/92011endfedfiles/Endfed40.pdf. I checked and can order all the parts I don't have and will cost about $35.00, the LNR goes for $75.00.  :o

Just looking for feedback on if this would be a good build as described.

73 Joe

[gil]

Hello Joe,

Look at this: http://betterqrp.com

Works like a charm and you get a SWR indicator...

Gil.

[KK0G]

Or for only $30 you could buy a SOTA Tuner kit - http://www.qrpkits.com/sota.html - which will result in the same thing plus the ability to tune a 40-15M EFHW, plus you'd get an SWR indicator. That's what I'd do if it were me............. come to think of it that's exactly what I did  8)

[KK0G]

Whoops, I wasn't paying attention. I see Gil just recommended pretty much the same thing just a different brand.

[Joe]

Hello Gil and KK0G, Thak You for the feedback I will look at both kits.

[cockpitbob]

I really like what Gil did, buying just the wire (with loading coil) from LNR.  Getting 63' of wire off the ground can be a pain.  If I get lazy I'll do the same, otherwise I'll play with winding my own.

[gil]

I really like what Gil did, buying just the wire (with loading coil) from LNR.  Getting 63' of wire off the ground can be a pain.  If I get lazy I'll do the same, otherwise I'll play with winding my own.

That worked really well! Larry art LNR precision sold me the wire/choke for $44. It is a lot, but combined with the BetterQRO end-fed tuner, you get a great combination.. I also have the SOTA tuner, but never use it.. Easier to hoist one end of the end-fed..

Gil.

[KC9TNH]

Thanks for all the links; the build manuals for the little tuners are neat. (Oh for more time but in 51 days that lament will be academic.)

Some folks eschew end-feds, but I really like them up at the farm property where I hunt. Besides being simple, when away from RFI-HellSuburbia, they're not as noisy as some make out. The shorter end-fed at the back of my property is a great listening antenna too being away from any utilities, 484 lasered yards away from the fairground lights, etc.

I might build one of these 2 tuners someday just because, or do it with a grand-daughter. (The Elecraft T1 is always in the bag anyway, bought along time ago when all I had was the 817 and this.)

One thing I've noticed with my end-fed at the back lot line:  I had the luxury of a long piece of superb coax and so climbed up & raised the fed end (at the south) to about 16' in the spruce, and the wire rises to about 27' in another tree to the north. I noticed that not only does it still play good back "over the shoulder" to the south & Gulf but, because both ends are off the ground noticeably, it also goes E-W really good like a dipole, almost a tri-directional. Just wondered if anyone has noticed that phenomena in playing with end-feds. It makes sense, I get it, but was just one of those bonus things that was, "Oh... cool!"
;D

As I ditch that 'w' word I just might have to build one of these little tuners, so thanks again.

[Joe]

Ordered the EFHW tunner from Better QRP.

What type of coax should I use for the feed line from radio to tuner, and what length should I start with? In the manual it states lengths of up to 3 feet give the most constent results.

I was thinking of using 18 AWG insulated strand wire for the antenna. But open for suggestions.

Thanks for all the help !!!

72 Joe

[gil]

Hello Joe,

I use 25' of coax (RG-174) with mine, no problem. My wire is 26AWG from http://thewireman.com/antennap.html #534. You don't need something as thick as 18AWG. That wire is thin but being copper-clad steel has a break strength of 25Lbs. Good thing is, it is hard to see... I used to buy the 18AWG (#532) but decided it was too thick.

Gil.

[Joe]

Hello Joe,

I use 25' of coax (RG-174) with mine, no problem. My wire is 26AWG from http://thewireman.com/antennap.html #534. You don't need something as thick as 18AWG. That wire is thin but being copper-clad steel has a break strength of 25Lbs. Good thing is, it is hard to see... I used to buy the 18AWG (#532) but decided it was too thick.

Gil.

Thank You Gil.

I will be ordering from them soon. Have to nock out some jobs before I can get back to building.

Joe

[cockpitbob]

An old ham once said "tuners are for wussies." 
That said, tuners make life much more convenient.  My main antenna is one 180' long wire connected to a tuner and I can work 160M - 10M with it.  Yes, it's a low performance compromise, but for me it beats making my yard a spider's web of resonant wires.

[KC9TNH]

An old ham once said "tuners are for wussies." 
That said, tuners make life much more convenient.  My main antenna is one 180' long wire connected to a tuner and I can work 160M - 10M with it.  Yes, it's a low performance compromise, but for me it beats making my yard a spider's web of resonant wires.

Annnnnd....Roger!
I know some of those guys; the same ones that, according to them on air, wouldn't be caught dead owning a balun or unun of any kind either. Digging a little bit I find they have the luxury of big acres and run lots of open-wire line to so many wires and obstacles in the air it looks like Heinz Guderian defending against Brit gliders on D-Day (at this writing 69 years ago the Dakotas were taking off for the French coast with their LGOPs about to bring the rain down on the Wehrmacht).

I don't have such luxuries, I don't' like RF in the shack or getting bit, and with the small circuits available today I'll happily pack a few extra ounces to toss up one piece of wire and be versatile.
8)

[s2man]

I've got acres, but no trees or poles (besides the power pole), so a big antenna is out for me, too.  Doing research into my future HF antenna I decided I could put an inverted V, bent leg, multi freq fan dipole on the gable end of my house and wrapped around the sides, or, a tunable magnetic loop, like gil's.  I suspect the mag loop will win.

[gil]

I've got acres, but no trees or poles (besides the power pole), so a big antenna is out for me, too.

A magnetic loop might serve you well.. See the antennas section.

Gil.