Tom KN8C and Jeff W8SOB solder a wire together on thee wire antenna.
The Ham Salad group met on April 18 at the Seneca County EOC for a hands-on discussion on building wire antennas.
Dan AC8NP led the session, with everyone contributing ideas and suggestions. By the end of the morning, the group had successfully built and tested a 10-meter wire antenna.
What Are Wire Antennas?
•Simple antennas made from ordinary wire.
•Most popular type for amateur radio (especially HF).
•Lightweight, cheap (< $50 to build), and surprisingly effective.
•Can be hung from trees, poles, or rooftops.
Why they work so well:
•Easy to design using basic math.
•No fancy hardware needed.
•Perform nearly as well as commercial antennas.