[GCARC] I like EFHW Wire Antennas

[Kenneth Bozarth]

I also like the EFHW antennas and had one installed at my QTH for a long
time. I wound the transformer myself and it worked well. If you are not a
technical person who likes to build and measure things, several suppliers
of these transformers are around. You need to know how much power you will
run. If you are currently a 100W station but may want to upgrade the power
in the future then go with a system that will handle legal limit. The
transformer is the critical item there. My transformer was about 20' from
my shack window and it was at head level on a pole for easy service. The
wire sloped up then back down ala inverted V, which it formerly actually
was. There are some tuning tricks for the EFHW, so if you plan to install
one we are all here to supply this info.

As Darrell pointed out, it is always good to have an antenna analyzer for
easy low level adjustments with no walking back and forth to the shack to
check SWR. If you don't have one yet, get one someone else in the club has,
so he/she can help with its operation.

Good luck.
Ken KN2U

On Tue, Nov 28, 2023 at 7:44 AM Karl Frank W2KBF via GCARC <
gcarc at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> Mary W2TDS, yes there are many antenna choices and you may be experiencing
> "paralysis by analysis".  So just start with something now and you can add
> more antennas when time permits.
> Someone may have mentioned End-Fed Half wave antennas (EFHW) already.
> These are MULTIBAND, very EASY TO INSTALL and require only a SINGLE WIRE
> which is less visible than fan dipoles, which require a separate set of
> wires in parallel for each band.  EFHW antennas DO require a transformer at
> one end, to which your coax would attach.  Typically, you would attach the
> transformer end to your house and the other end of the wire to a tree.
> This simplifies and shortens the run of coax to your antenna.  Jonathan
> WB2MNF uses one at the clubhouse for the 40 meter Winlink HF station and I
> use one at my QTH in Swedesboro for 80, 40 and 20 meters.
> An EFHW antenna covering 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters would be about 133
> feet long.  An antenna covering 40, 20 and 10 meters would be about 66 feet
> long.
> MFJ sells a 40 - 10 meter model that is available from Ham Radio Outlet.
> MyAntennas.com sells End-Fed and Off-Center Fed wire antennas that are of
> good quality.
> Also, ARRL sells an EFHW kit for about $70.  I built one ARRL kit already
> and have a second kit that is unbuilt.  If I remember, I can bring it to
> the dinner on Wednesday (to show it, not to sell it . . . I intend to build
> it myself).
> It is very satisfying to make contacts using something that you built
> yourself.
>         Karl W2KBF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net <gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
> Behalf Of Agustin Neron Properties LLC
> Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:40 AM
> To: Tony Starr <tstarr1450 at gmail.com>; mary delemarre <
> marydelemarre at gmail.com>
> Cc: GCARC <gcarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [GCARC] Antenna question
>
> Hi Mary,
> I would chime in and agree with Tony's assessment.
> If you have the space, go with a multi-band fan dipole . . .
>
> > On 11/27/2023 10:11 AM EST Tony Starr <tstarr1450 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Mary,
> >
> > Both choices are good ones, but if you have the space, why not go with
> > a wire antenna such as a fan dipole?  I have a Hustler 5BTV, with 25
> > radials under it, but it is not my only antenna, and in most cases, my
> > wire dipoles will out-perform it . . .
> >
> > Tony K3TS
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 9:52 AM mary delemarre
> > <marydelemarre at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > >    I have been struggling for a while on what to do about an HF
> > > antenna.  I have read & search and still I am perplexed . . .
> > >
> >
>
>
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