Make Your Own Shortwave Speaker Wire Antenna!

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  • čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
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Komentáře • 173

  • @M81_WOODLAND
    @M81_WOODLAND Před rokem +19

    Thanks for sparing all of us the college level dissertation on the science of radio waves and antenna technology and just...
    ... getting down to the nuts and bolts with some easy to understand terminology.
    Too many radio guys just want to gatekeep with unnecessary nerd-ology.

  • @omaral-amoudi2295
    @omaral-amoudi2295 Před 7 měsíci +9

    What you did is excellent, and it can be made even better by connecting one end to the ground or a ground - omar from yemen

  • @eatthellama9140
    @eatthellama9140 Před 3 lety +20

    Just built mine and am inside an apartment made of rebar and stucco with crazy amounts of interference. This is incredible the difference it made! Thanks for the advice and good instructions on the build

    • @eatthellama9140
      @eatthellama9140 Před 3 lety +6

      Just to let anyone know the total cost for me was 18$. 25ft speaker wire, electrical tape, two packs of 4 alligator clips(I bought extra)

  • @rickjohnson6818
    @rickjohnson6818 Před rokem +6

    Great info. Subscribed. As an experiment, use a single light gauge wire hooked to a helium filled balloon. Depending on the size of the balloon and size of the wire, it is easy to imagine extending an antenna a couple hundred feet in the air. Just don't do it anywhere near an airstrip.

  • @andie_pants
    @andie_pants Před 3 lety +14

    I never thought about this from a preparation standpoint. Makes sense.

  • @raccoonlittlebear6476
    @raccoonlittlebear6476 Před rokem +9

    It's probably a good idea to get a small portable short wave radio, extra battery & small solar recharging unit & store them in a faraday cage. (convert a metal ammo can). Just in case.

  • @louismartinet882
    @louismartinet882 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Just assembled an antenna for my Grundig and it is amazing. Cost me about $15. Thanks so
    Much.

  • @CaptainBuzzcooler
    @CaptainBuzzcooler Před 5 lety +15

    Great info. I just recently dug my shortwave out of storage and this video shows up on my notifications. Thanks. 😀

    • @newfoundnugz5900
      @newfoundnugz5900 Před 3 lety +2

      That's probably AI listening in your phone.. Happens to me alot

  • @attheendoftheday8969
    @attheendoftheday8969 Před 3 lety +2

    Great video right here. Thanks for the info, I will make this for work tomorrow as we can't get signal in the machine shop right now. You're the man!

  • @MrWmburr7
    @MrWmburr7 Před 4 lety +8

    Hey, great (and simple) project! Thank you, my friend.

  • @toml.8210
    @toml.8210 Před 2 lety +3

    That fax stuff, weather maps, and even TV images are generated by feeding the audio from the headphone jack into your computer's microphone jack(or audio in on tablets) and converting the sounds using special free software.

  • @scott762mm
    @scott762mm Před 2 lety +3

    Cool! I just ordered a short wave radio. Thanks to amazon prime I'll have it Saturday morning 🤓

  • @ianmorton5943
    @ianmorton5943 Před 2 lety +3

    Iv done this and I think it's a nice way to start a hobby in shortwave as ppl buy radios and think thers nothing to listen to but this antenna will bring the signal in 100% grate vidio from uk

  • @jimberanis
    @jimberanis Před 3 měsíci +2

    TY great demonstration and presentation

  • @mikecampbell5856
    @mikecampbell5856 Před 3 lety +2

    I have an FM jack on the back of my Grundig. I think I will use that. Great video!

  • @ashfordramrattan3467
    @ashfordramrattan3467 Před 3 lety +8

    Excellent teaching methods. Fully understood. Thanks.going to make one.

  • @jamesgrosrenaudjr812
    @jamesgrosrenaudjr812 Před 3 lety +3

    That’s awesome I’ll probably make a few for my room and my camping gear , backyard radio.
    I have a clothes hanger attached to the fm antenna that came with my stereo which I broke so I had to fix the end of the antenna and the cloths hang works better then the tip it had . Tried to hook my little sw radio to it but I think the wire I’m using is wrong .cut the end off red and white stereo wires but it seem to have made things worse .

  • @rickcamren5423
    @rickcamren5423 Před 4 lety +4

    Good video...I'm currently running a longwire but it is only five foot off the ground running in an "L" shape along my wooden fence. I'm going to try and get it up in a tree and see how much it improves. I do get pretty decent reception at the moment..I have gotten as far as RNZ down here in Alabama but the condidtions have to be right.

  • @SriRam-yq4id
    @SriRam-yq4id Před 3 lety +1

    Excellent Video and appreciate your effort in sharing with everyone.

  • @bertram_oredrock
    @bertram_oredrock Před 5 lety +2

    Excellent instructional video. I will purchase some speaker wire tomorrow and make an antenna like yours. Thanks I242. I learn immensely from your channel.

  • @sandplasma
    @sandplasma Před 5 měsíci +1

    building mine now, thanks for the video!

  • @toml.8210
    @toml.8210 Před 3 lety +2

    I have seen some people tie the dipole crosswires to the paracord for support, like a clothesline- so it doesn't break from a falling stick or the wind.

  • @toml.8210
    @toml.8210 Před 3 lety +9

    Plastic zip-ties also work as insulators on the ends, as well as strain-reliefs and a way to keep the bundle of wires/paracord together. tape will eventually degrade from exposure and fall apart.

  • @DennisSantos
    @DennisSantos Před rokem +2

    If I use a 3.5mm Jack instead of the alligator clip, do both halves of the dipole solder to the center pin or one to the center and the other to the collar?

  • @daleval2182
    @daleval2182 Před 2 lety +3

    I have a clothes line off front deck, i cloths pin one end of dipole, run the other opoosite side deck to a second pole, will have 40 feet, each way, 80 ft total, but one clipped on line can be moved closer or futher my spinning the line reel, kind of a second outdoor adjustment, thanks for the idea, and another job i gotta get done today lol 💪🏡👍

  • @TheFrog767
    @TheFrog767 Před 5 lety +3

    Excellent saves me having to hold the antenna for a clear signal.

  • @patrickwall8517
    @patrickwall8517 Před 4 lety +5

    The best tip of all is to use speaker wire or lamp cord, because you measure and cut it once and you have two equal sides.

  • @toml.8210
    @toml.8210 Před 2 lety +3

    He's got LARGE "ring terminals" on the ends. You can hook those to something, or tie some twine or paracord to the rings to hang the antenna up high, and to electrically insulate or support the wire.
    He did mention it's important to electrically insulate the antenna wire from metal things that are already grounded.

  • @workermannamrekrow2768
    @workermannamrekrow2768 Před rokem +1

    Super idea. Thanks for the great video.

  • @user-qo7cs1ru1e
    @user-qo7cs1ru1e Před 10 měsíci +2

    Thank you very much for your info greetings fron Toluca Mexico

  • @moniquelegarda1842
    @moniquelegarda1842 Před 3 lety +1

    Great little project while stuck in lockdown.

  • @gabrielv.4358
    @gabrielv.4358 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Vídeo muito show! Eu sempre gostei de rádio, e agora pude adquirir um radio, embora bem barato, deve ser um bom início ao DXismo. Muito bom saber como fazer uma antena para escutar SW.
    Nice video! I always liked radios, and now I bought a radio, although its cheap, it should be a good start for DXing. Nice to know how to make an efficient antenna for SW listening
    I put the radio antenna to the TV antenna I have outside, and it made all the difference, but ofcourse I cant take the antenna with me on trips lol

  • @bravopapas4386
    @bravopapas4386 Před 2 lety +2

    I can not wait to make it , awsome

  • @pvillez
    @pvillez Před 2 lety +1

    Thank you very much, I learned a lot from your video!

  • @fireballtp
    @fireballtp Před 3 lety +3

    I have a couple thrift-store-find radios a Grundig Satellit 800 and a Heathkit SW 7800. Terrible reception in this apartment. But now I’m eyeing a roll of thrift store speaker wire for an antenna.

  • @tiroler
    @tiroler Před 2 měsíci

    Excelente! Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I can't wait to make this antenna.

  • @Burps___
    @Burps___ Před 4 lety +4

    What a clear-speaking and demonstrating video. I’m gonna do it! I have the Sangean 909x, too. I like the alligator clip idea, even for that radio.

  • @mikecampbell5856
    @mikecampbell5856 Před 3 lety +4

    I remember listening to shortwave on 9/11 and the German language broadcast was kinda terrifying, and I don' know a word of German. I listened on my grandparents 1936 Silvertone that I used to play with in the early 60s and inherited in 1981. My grandparents lived in a valley right below a hill and it would pick up shortwave with a 4 foot piece of lamp cord hanging in the back.

    • @earlspencer7863
      @earlspencer7863 Před 3 lety

      Lol the Nazis are coming! Seriously you should try learning some German. A good channel is "Easy German" to start with.

    • @vincentkosik403
      @vincentkosik403 Před rokem +1

      How do you say bra in German?
      Easy...Stopthemfromfloppin

  • @BetaboyBuffet
    @BetaboyBuffet Před 2 lety +1

    deffo trying this out, thanks

  • @craigbetts1586
    @craigbetts1586 Před 5 lety +5

    excellent how to video simple and very low cost for an antenna

  • @UrbenJipsy
    @UrbenJipsy Před 3 lety +1

    Thats it man, exactly what i was lookin 4

  • @billb1788
    @billb1788 Před 2 lety

    I'm going to make this 👌. I was thinking tho instead of making a hole separate dipole if you wanted it longer could you just add whatever length you like to each side? So use the 25ft as the "base" with the option for added length. 🤔 maybe quick connects or a wing nut and bolt since you already have the "eye holes" at either end.

  • @luismedina8502
    @luismedina8502 Před 2 lety +1

    Nice work, thank you!

  • @OL-Tom
    @OL-Tom Před 5 lety +3

    Coolness, Any recommendations on a quality radio (solar power) living in Northern NV we get lots of sun

  • @shawnlauderdale6502
    @shawnlauderdale6502 Před 3 lety +1

    Great information! Thanks!

  • @duenge
    @duenge Před 2 lety +2

    Make a chain link fence an antenna. My late ham friend would clamp on to a chain link fence, and talk around the world....An aluminum chaise lounge chair worked CW at 5 watts to Europe....

  • @AKayfabe
    @AKayfabe Před 5 lety +2

    This is very cool if only I understood the first thing abt wiring, radio or electronics. I always wanted to have one of these

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 5 lety +3

      If you want to learn just ask I can help you figure it out

  • @richardparker3150
    @richardparker3150 Před 5 lety +4

    I hope enough people watch this video, your help on this is real good. I used to talk on 11meters . I learned about dipole antennas about 40years ago.

  • @MrDoubleBrutalT800
    @MrDoubleBrutalT800 Před 3 lety +1

    Can I hook the end up with a male BNC connector? Then I could use the antenna input of the ats909x with an bnc to 3,5mm adapter

  • @357bullfrog9
    @357bullfrog9 Před 3 lety +1

    If you go strait up 20ft then split and go 10ft in either direction would it be like having a 40 ft antenna?

  • @bobjones9727
    @bobjones9727 Před 2 lety +1

    Great video. I will build one.

  • @davidzimmer2694
    @davidzimmer2694 Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you. Well done..

  • @Knife_Collector
    @Knife_Collector Před rokem +3

    I have recently gotten back into shortwave radios, and the older stations I use to listen to I do not think exists anymore.
    But my question is, do you know of, or can find out frequencies that would be of importance in a dire emergency?
    I have found internet pages with emergency broadcast frequencies from government and local civilian groups dealing with emergencies, but wondering about frequencies from places that would be giving real time broadcasts of things we would not hear from government sources on things they might not be wanting us to know, like riots, outbreaks of zombies, martial law etc. Or would this be a wait till it happens and search for such frequencies that might pop up?

  • @usernamemykel
    @usernamemykel Před 2 lety +1

    I'd be able to put a dipole up, outside my house, but the maximum length of each leg would be 12'. What band should I expect to receive?
    Thank you!

  • @krisraps
    @krisraps Před 3 lety +2

    I Have The Same Setup At My Addic In My House In Third Floor, Picks Up American Signals From Where I Am At Night, Im Located In Latvia.
    I get Indian Channels And Ohh, Whole World Almost :)
    And The Second Big Antenna Project That I Made Was And IS Fishing Poile ANtenna, Around `7 Meters In Sky,, Its A Dipole ANtenna,
    Works So good For 170.000 Mhz And Around There, I Tuned It For That Frequencie, Its Just Two telescopic ANtennas made Together With A Radio Gap between Them And Then Its Out I Believe It Was 19.9 Cm Or SOmething On Both Sides And Jeap, It Catches A Lot Of These Upper Frequencies, But Total I Have Like 40 Antennas In My Property. :)

  • @johnr625
    @johnr625 Před 2 lety +1

    Great video, well explained and easily understood many thanks. Some good ideas in there! I like the ring crimp insulators and one of the comments suggests using cable ties to hook on to whatever. A question for you please. I hear it's very important to have a good ground. How would you build that into an antenna like this?

    • @georgedakil3506
      @georgedakil3506 Před rokem

      Why a good ground. Will it improve performance, or just a safety feature for lightning?

  • @Crusty_Camper
    @Crusty_Camper Před 2 lety +4

    A very useful video, thanks. I have a question about the orientation of the antenna. Does it have to be more or less in a straight line, or would it still be as effective if the two arms were set at 90 degrees to each other? My ideal location is at a corner of my property where a 90 degree set up would be best, if it would work.

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 2 lety +2

      As long as you get it up in the air it works 90 degree would not matter at all.

  • @tysontyson1244
    @tysontyson1244 Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you!

  • @Sch00lbu5
    @Sch00lbu5 Před 3 lety +3

    This is a good bug-out or vacation antenna solution. I'd like my home antenna to be longer and I'll also make this type of a more portable antenna. But One thing I never see in CZcams vids is, for my home installation, how do I get the wire into the house? Stucco house, expensive windows.

    • @usernamemykel
      @usernamemykel Před 2 lety

      Same way as your cable for TV enters the house - make a hole!

  • @ricbrady
    @ricbrady Před 5 lety +4

    Great information, as always!! Quick question, what is the name of the larger radio that you showed in the video that picks up Ham radio? Is that your "go to" shortwave? Which do you like the best?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 5 lety +1

      I did a review on it 2 years ago its a great radio, Its a Sangean ATS 909X. Its a bit big to carry while bugging out but its a great radio. For serious shortwave monitoring I would just use my HF rig, a yeasu FT-450D but this one is pretty amazing Here is the review I did on the radio czcams.com/video/hC22Im_YW2Q/video.html

  • @mowoodpecker
    @mowoodpecker Před 2 lety

    are these antenna directional

  • @CornerTalker
    @CornerTalker Před 2 lety

    Would a fence make a good antenna? Anyone try it? chain-link? barbed wire?

  • @Fimpiekijke
    @Fimpiekijke Před 3 lety +1

    Great explained, what is the effect if you touch the trees, i thought it is needed to not touch anything and hang the antenna freely with isolator or plastic tie to the trees.

    • @ernestperez6812
      @ernestperez6812 Před rokem

      The speaker wire is already insulated except for the ends.

  • @survivalltsurvivallt2795
    @survivalltsurvivallt2795 Před 5 lety +1

    Nice video good job 👍 👍

  • @joelrochow1
    @joelrochow1 Před rokem +1

    If you live in a VA condo with its concrete and rebar construction, just forget shortwave listening until you are back in a rental unit, 300 fett from any RFI.

  • @duncan3417
    @duncan3417 Před 3 lety +3

    Hi, great video. I do basically do the same with lamp wire. I split it as well. I loop my wire around two pencils that can go in different directions. This still doe's not work well for me.
    I don't know if it is the loops or if the wire is to long or just the surroundings. This just gives me lots of static. I have to use it inside my apt. I live on the 1st floor and have a 6 story building about 100 ft from my windows. Also there are lots of power lines. Is there any hope? I get better reception with the built in antennas, but not good. Thanks!

    • @jeepdog
      @jeepdog Před 3 lety +2

      you are getting electromagnetic interference from your environment

  • @ferebeefamily
    @ferebeefamily Před 5 lety +1

    Thank you.

  • @aureliusprimus
    @aureliusprimus Před 4 lety +2

    Very fine !! I have a question about the wire.. Does the diameter of the wire can be important for a better reception ?

    • @patrickwall8517
      @patrickwall8517 Před 4 lety +4

      No the diameter will have no effect on reception. What metal the wire is made of makes a difference. Copper wire will have better reception than steel or aluminum because copper is better conductor.

  • @briantaylor4148
    @briantaylor4148 Před 3 lety +5

    As a novice I have tried unsuccessfully in the past with a plain horizontal wire with no joy at all. This looked a good way of doing well.So I thought I would try this dipole method. I set it up outside exactly as per your instructions, but here again it made no difference. I live near the bottom of a hill in a bungalow using the soffit as a fixing points. What can I do to improve my signals please? Thanks, Brian Taylor

    • @nervousstranger
      @nervousstranger Před 2 lety +3

      Short wave is kinda hot or miss. Depending on where you live or the time of year you might not get a lot of signals.

  • @jeffthompson8663
    @jeffthompson8663 Před 3 lety +1

    Good vid.

  • @ut4646
    @ut4646 Před 4 lety +3

    excellent video

  • @mark58761
    @mark58761 Před 3 lety +1

    I enjoyed your video. I'm new to shortwave. I bought a nice radio but need an antenna. I can support about 100' of speaker wire on old clothes lines on my property. My question is, does it matter how long the lead wire is from the antenna? I'd want to run the lead wire from the antenna to my house.

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 3 lety +1

      Not really when it comes to shortwave monitoring the more wire the better.

  • @alxhsa
    @alxhsa Před 2 lety +4

    I can't wait to try this! Thanks so much for sharing. I do have a question: does the length of the wire matter? I bought a 50' reel of speaker wire and I did exactly what you recommended on the two horizontal wires but for the other end where it connects to the radio's antenna, I have 35' instead of the 10' you recommend.

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 2 lety +2

      The longer and higher you go with this the better, that is what I have found

    • @alxhsa
      @alxhsa Před 2 lety +3

      @@Iridium242 awesome! Thanks! I clipped each of the horizontal wires on 10' PVC pipes and right away I noticed a HUGE difference in reception! Thank you so much. I ended up returning the XHDATA AN-80 Shortwave Reel Antenna ($13) which was ok but not great and the wire in it kept getting stuck and would not wind it back very easily.

    • @MagicRoosterBluesBand
      @MagicRoosterBluesBand Před 2 lety +1

      I've been told 50 feet of wire is the limit for these little portable SW radios, as they will overload the radio. Been trying to find more info on longer wires and grounding for these portables but with little success. So far this is the best video on the subject.

    • @toml.8210
      @toml.8210 Před 2 lety +1

      @@MagicRoosterBluesBand They must be referring to antennas on transmitters, not receivers.

    • @enriquediaz7547
      @enriquediaz7547 Před 2 lety +2

      Question: the two leads/wires connected to the alligator clip: are they simply exposed & then “shorted” together?

  • @joelbradberry8273
    @joelbradberry8273 Před rokem

    Where are you located?

  • @84lepetitmort
    @84lepetitmort Před 3 lety +3

    Quick question: What are those round washer-like "endpieces" called that you strung paracord through to be able to hang up your antenna?

    • @sugizotakuro
      @sugizotakuro Před 3 lety +1

      it is ring connectors for wire. come in various sizes.

    • @slamdunk58
      @slamdunk58 Před 2 lety

      Sorry to sound completely stupid.... but what are Ring connectors for wire? Thanks

  • @artenmatosian4062
    @artenmatosian4062 Před 4 lety +5

    Do you get better shortwave '' reception.'' if you hang your wire ends facing and north or south or east and west. Or does it matter ?????

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 4 lety +3

      For just general reception, the orientation does not matter, it should do fine however you can put it up.

    • @artenmatosian4062
      @artenmatosian4062 Před 4 lety +1

      THANK YOU VERY MUCH ''STAY SAFE''@@Iridium242

  • @goreswoodworking7417
    @goreswoodworking7417 Před 2 lety +2

    I just made one. How out 18ga speaker wire. It made a world of difference for my short wave especially above 7mhz. Thanks for the video.
    I’m using a worldstar solid state multiband receiver from I think the mid 70s. This is my fist short wave but looking at getting a newer version. What is your option on the new radios? And certain brand?

    • @toml.8210
      @toml.8210 Před 2 lety

      18 Ga wire should be fine. Some experts suggest thinner wire to filter out some noise from house wiring or local RFI.
      The Tecsun receivers are popular lately. I use a retekess AM/FM/SW and a Kaito KA600

    • @DG-kq8zf
      @DG-kq8zf Před 2 lety

      Check out todderbert. He reviews as many radios as you'll ever want to know about. He kinda takes the place of two hands and a radio. Sad to see him give it up. Anyway... Todderbert

  • @cookingforfools8691
    @cookingforfools8691 Před 3 lety +9

    I did something similar to this years ago with my Radio Shack Shortwave radio. It opened a whole new world or odd radio shows. With cancel culture cracking down on the internet, I think this would be a great way to get alternative radio.

  • @bennettsmith854
    @bennettsmith854 Před 4 lety +2

    Good Stuff! Do I need to ground the radio or antenna in some way or fashion?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 4 lety +2

      Not with this, its mainly for reception. Now I would not be putting it outside during a thunderstorm but for just listening in, no worries.

    • @bennettsmith854
      @bennettsmith854 Před 4 lety

      @@Iridium242 Excellent! Thank you.

  • @K-Kil
    @K-Kil Před 2 lety +3

    I ordered one of those retekes units and it gets here tomorrow. I have tons of scrap wire that I can get ready for when it shows up. I can't wait to see what SW has to offer.

    • @Callatis
      @Callatis Před rokem

      How's the SW reception with Retekess V-115? Do you recommend it for SW?

    • @K-Kil
      @K-Kil Před rokem

      @@Callatis Using scrap wire I was able to pick up radio Havana from North Texas

  • @TwistedMetalsOfTexas
    @TwistedMetalsOfTexas Před 5 lety +2

    Does having the extra length of antenna put any extra strain on the battery life of the short wave? Otherwise love it gonna try it out! Hope all is well and have a wonderful day

  • @nerdbit84
    @nerdbit84 Před 3 lety +1

    Nice , great vid. So it's more of a portable antenna if you go camping or something on the go, since no ground?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 3 lety +1

      Yes, exactly

    • @joesmith4222
      @joesmith4222 Před 3 lety

      If you don't have a ground port on your radio you can twist a wire around the battery spring and attach to the uffer ground rod below your outside electric meter for twice the reception in addition to the antenna. Or a big nail and get the ground wet.

  • @johnlomasney
    @johnlomasney Před 3 lety +1

    Informative

  • @PraxisPrepper
    @PraxisPrepper Před rokem +2

    Thanks for this video. I tried building a really large antenna for my shortwave using a technique that uses coaxial wire. I had a VERY successful experience building an FM antenna that way, but my much larger (50 foot across) version that I plugged into my shortwave radio seems useless. I think I'm doing something wrong. I didn't use your technique here, but rather that same build style that I used to make my FM antenna. Is that idiotic? I don't really know anything about radio (that's likely obvious to anyone who DOES by what I'm writing here). I'd love any advice or guidance you might be able to share. I have a coaxial jack into my SW receiver. Would love to be able to utilize that. Thanks in advance for any help!
    PS - When I saw that YOU had made a video on this topic, I figured it'd be a great place to go. I'd been involved in the 30 Days of Preparedness last year with you. I think your episode followed my own.

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před rokem +1

      Thanks yeah I remember that. Best bet would be to look up a G5RV antenna, you can connect your coax to 75 ohm ladder line, then a balun, and then about 51 feet of wire on each side, Should give you an amazingly wide receive coverage as well as transmit should you ever need it

    • @PraxisPrepper
      @PraxisPrepper Před rokem

      @@Iridium242 Thanks so much for the tip! I'll check it out.

  • @stephenwilliams5201
    @stephenwilliams5201 Před 3 lety +3

    You are cooking with gas my man. I went to radio shack. Baught a sack of gator clips. Then cut several. Wires about 3 to 5 meters each. So now with just a few meters of hook up wire is a big boost, and can be rolled up and put in Cary bag. Kv4li.

  • @kriskkallinn7816
    @kriskkallinn7816 Před 4 lety +1

    Hi! Can I use plain copper wire for an antenna?

  • @slamdunk58
    @slamdunk58 Před 2 lety +1

    I can't see what it is you've used to hang the two ends of the di pole to the tree from?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 2 lety

      In the video I think (I hope lol) I showed that I used some paracord to hang the ends, that just went over a branch of the tree

  • @kevinmalone5430
    @kevinmalone5430 Před rokem +1

    Would 14 gauge speaker wire be too big, and I just want to stick to 18 gauge? Do I want to strip the plastic from the wire to attach to the ring connectors, or just to the alligator clip?

    • @AgentWonderbread45
      @AgentWonderbread45 Před rokem +1

      i've read that the gauge of wire doesn't really matter, 18 should work fine.

    • @dav8194
      @dav8194 Před rokem +1

      Stripping it won't matter

  • @williamwurthmann1573
    @williamwurthmann1573 Před 5 lety +2

    Will radios work after an EMP?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 5 lety +4

      If they are protected with some kind of Faraday cage, check out my video on making one out of an ammo can.

  • @pennyc7064
    @pennyc7064 Před 2 lety +1

    Any alternative to improve reception for people living in the city?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 2 lety +1

      you can hang this antenna up along the roofline of your inside room and it will work very well also, it does not need to be outside

    • @pennyc7064
      @pennyc7064 Před 2 lety +1

      @@Iridium242 thank you for your reply.

  • @alexchin2286
    @alexchin2286 Před 3 lety +2

    Love your video. Will build one soon. Instead of 15 feet on either side of the dipole would reception be affected if I build one with 30 feet on either side?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 3 lety +1

      The longer the better, also the higher the better. Its only for reception so no worries

    • @alexchin2286
      @alexchin2286 Před 3 lety

      Thanks

  • @bionicdoug
    @bionicdoug Před 2 lety

    Will this help with CB and GMRS radios?

    • @usernamemykel
      @usernamemykel Před 2 lety

      No. First of all, one doesn't transmit on shortwave receivers, so the antenna length is not critical. Assuming one wishes to transmit on the CB or GMRS (with a GMRS license), one needs to know that those radios transmit and receive on certain radio "bands", which are like "streets", and within those bands are specific frequencies, which are like house numbers along specific streets. So, antennas of specific lengths are required.

  • @forrestseaver6050
    @forrestseaver6050 Před 3 lety

    What gauge speaker wire did you use?

  • @ThePNWRiderWA
    @ThePNWRiderWA Před 5 lety +1

    Shortwave is a must. It is often neglected and the way you extended the range is easy. Would this work in things like the Baofeng units to increase reception ?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 5 lety

      Reception yes, but unless you cut it for the correct bands I would not use it for transmit at all, it might hurt the radio since SWR would be high

  • @mjohnson77682
    @mjohnson77682 Před 4 lety +2

    I find adding a 20-foot (ish) random wire or dipole just overloads my portables because they dont have a robust front end. I am on a Tecsun PL380.
    How do you compensate for this?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 4 lety +3

      Honestly I have not had that problem, the radio I used in this, is still using this antenna I made in this video. Perhaps you can turn down the RF gain

  • @michaelkhf
    @michaelkhf Před rokem +1

    Newbie question: if I don't have alligator clips, can I wrap the speaker wire around the antenna on my radio instead?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před rokem +1

      Heck yeah, years ago I just taped the wire on the antenna with duct tape, it worked, wasn't pretty but worked.

    • @michaelkhf
      @michaelkhf Před rokem +1

      @@Iridium242 thanks for fast reply. I have insulated speaker wire. Do I need to strip the insulation and wrap bare wire around the antenna?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před rokem +1

      @@michaelkhf Yeah it helps, it might work somewhat without stripping it but I always stripped it off and taped it on, this was years ago and it worked pretty well just tossing the wire out a window on the 20th floor of a NYC apartment building

    • @michaelkhf
      @michaelkhf Před rokem +1

      @@Iridium242 I will try it. I have a Bingfu 20-1300MHz Police Scanner Antenna Radio I will attach the speaker wire to. I don't know if I will be able to receive frequencies below 20MHz even with the speaker wire

  • @chtyan
    @chtyan Před 4 lety +1

    How does it work for AM ?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 4 lety +1

      Very good, I get in many stations far away at night. We have no local AM stations here so its hard to tell in the day time

  • @davejohnson8656
    @davejohnson8656 Před 4 lety

    Will this setup work on a scanner?

    • @atlwolf3
      @atlwolf3 Před 4 lety +1

      Scanners are typically listening to VHF and UHF. This antenna isn't really for that. Look up some videos on how to make a j pole antenna.

    • @kgabris3387
      @kgabris3387 Před rokem +1

      Scanners are generally wide band depending on the model. High end scanners go from 100Khz to 1400Mhz depending on the frequency band your listening to dictates the antenna disign and length. 10meter ham and 11meter CB can be adequately received with a CB antenna. Shortwave 25Mhz and a less requires a much longer antenna if using a dipole. However there are many other designs that perform very well while sitting on your kitchen table. Nice thing about a dipole is that it can be cut to an exact length to give maximum performance on a specific band. Confusing to some but easy to find a ham radio club in your area. Someone will gladly guide you through the process.

  • @jeepinjohnny2898
    @jeepinjohnny2898 Před 5 lety +3

    hey - interesting. HOWEVER did you just twist the 2 wires together then screw to the alligator clip ?

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 5 lety +7

      Yes, forgot to mention that, I stripped both sides, twisted them together and then soldered them in the clip itself. It would have worked had I not soldered it, just did that to make it a bit more sturdy. I did also clamp down the end of the clip on the soldered wires just for extra strength

  • @huntercarver1851
    @huntercarver1851 Před 3 lety +1

    That Retekess has shortwave on it.. you said it was AM FM only

    • @Iridium242
      @Iridium242  Před 3 lety +2

      Right, it has shortwave but its AM only not SSB

    • @gregorypeterschmidt620
      @gregorypeterschmidt620 Před 3 lety +2

      Hunter, AM / FM / SSB refer to modulation differences. Shortwave refers to the frequencies.