Projects

Antennas

Building antennas is one of the most useful and cost-effective projects a ham can undertake. Getting some metal in the air for only a few bucks can bring you lots of satisfaction and leave you more money to buy more radios!

• 2-meter Quarter-wave vertical
  Want to build a 2 Meter antenna that works great that costs just a few bucks? Check out the video
• 2-meter / 440 dipole
  Here is a dual band antenna that you install as a vertical or horizontally polarized antenna. Check out the video
• 2-meter 'Slim Jim' for 300-ohm twinlead
  Got some old TV flat lined in your garage that you've been thinking of throwing away? You could build a J-pole antenna for 2 meters that has some decent gain over the rubber ducky antenna that came with your HT. There are lots of versions of this antenna on the web. Some even use copper piping and are very durable. Here's the link
• Dual-band VHF/UHF 'Slim Jim'
  This is another version of the 'Slim Jim' that also works on 440. Here's the link
• Dipole antennas
  Check out this ARRL link on how to build dipole antennas
• 10-meter dipole
  The Technician Class license gives you some privileges on the 10-meter band. Check out the video
• Multiband dipole antennas
  Here is a YouTube video that compares several types of dipole antennas. If you plan on buying or building a dipole antenna, this video is a must-see
• 40-meter inverted-V antenna
  Here is a YouTube video on this subject
• 80-meter vertical homebrew
  Want to homebrew a portable 80-meter vertical? Check out the video
• Copper vs Aluminum Antenna Wire
  Which is better Copper or Aluminum? Check out the video
• How to use Hamsticks in different ways for use on the HF bands in Ham Radio
  Here is how to use a Hamstick? Check out the video

Other

• See this video on how to install Anderson Powerpole connectors

• See this video on how to build a 50 ohm dummy load

• See this video History of the Transistor