How Do You Select An Antenna For Ham Radio?
Most hams choose a wire, beam or vertical antenna for HF operations. Wire antennas are simple and inexpensive. Beam antennas require rotators. Vertical antennas are compact. Wire Antennas Step 1 Plan on putting up the longest wire you can at the highest level possible. Step 2 Select an area clear of power lines and other obstructions. Step 3 Decide whether you want to operate with a dipole, an inverted vee or a long wire. Step 4 Decide whether you intend to feed the antenna with open wire, ladder line or coaxial cable. Step 5 Secure a weatherproof entrance of the line to your radio room. Step 6 Measure out wire for the lowest frequency at which you plan to operate by dividing 234 by the frequency, in megahertz, to determine the length of one leg of the antenna in feet. Step 7 Trim the antenna using wire cutters. Step 8 Attach it to the center insulator or balun. Step 9 Adjust for proper resonance with an SWR meter or reflected power meter. Beam Antennas Step 1 Remember that beam antenn
