[Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna
Hello all, I backpack the AT here in the US and I've always wanted a small, lightweight HF antenna that won't break the bank. I finally have designed one that works great for QRP portable use. I call it the "WA3WSJ Bead-Wire Antenna." It made from bead wire, yes jewelry bead wire that is used to make bead jewelry! Wall Mart sells it over here packaged in a 40 foot spool. I even use the spool to store the antenna. A spool sells for just under $2.00 US. I take one 40' spool and tie on around 50 feet of 30lb test fishing line to one end. This is used as my radiator wire. I tie a small loop on the end of the fishing line. This loop just slips thru a 1oz. sinker and this is used to throw up into a tree etc. I also purchase two more spools and cut three 16 foot ground radials using the bead wire. I now have one 40' radiator wire and three 16' ground radial wire that I throw out around to operate. I use a BNC to two binding-post adapter that plugs into the antenna bnc on my Elecraft KX1. The whole antenna fits on one small spool and weights-in at 2oz! Parts for the WA3WSJ Bead-Wire Antenna: $6.00--3ea. 40' bead wire spools @ $2.00 ea. $3.00--1 set solder less banana jacks Radio Shack # 274-721 $2.00-- large spool of 30lb fishing line So for around $10 or $11 US dollars you have a very nice compact and lightweight qrp antenna that will tune on 20m,30m and 40m. I have worked Europe with this antenna using my KX1 @ 3w on 30m. ENJOY! 72, Ed,WA3WSJ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna in the Field
I wonder if someone, who has experienced and had the operating success with this BEAD-WIRE ANTENNA - could consider documenting it, with an Adobe article, photos perhaps, and diagrams, and what the heck - dimensions? It sounds like a good antenna - for us antenna challenged people, who live in restricted communities, or can only go out on the road. Silver wire, silver plated wire, steel, length, feed line, coils, matching, ..., frequency coverages possible . Stealth? Thanks for the great idea, Fred FL N3CSY .IC-706MKIIG for a while, awaiting K3 __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna in the Field
I would be interested in seeing the pics. I purchased a couple of bead wire spools. It is a cool idea. I am planning on taking my K1 camping soon, and might give it a try. Pete > > From: "Edward R. Breneiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2006/10/10 Tue PM 06:45:08 CDT > To: , <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna in the Field > > Hello all, > > I hiked up to Pulpit Rock about a two-mile hike straight up the mountain > for the PBMME. After setting up my KX1 and my Bead-Wire Antenna, I > called CQ and WA8REI came back to me from MI! He gave me a 579 report > and he was strong as well. I worked more stations after him including an > IK2 on 30m with 3.5w. Looks like I have a winner to use for backpacking. > I'll post some pictures on my website soon. > > By the way the entire Bead-Wire Antenna weighs-in at 2 oz. including the > small spool! That's 40' of bead wire for the radiator and three 16' > ground radials! > > The wire is the type used for beading -yes jewelry! > > > 72, > Ed,WA3WSJ > > > > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > Pete Axson WD4LST 17901 NE 18th Ave Citra, FL 32113 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna in the Field
Hello all, I hiked up to Pulpit Rock about a two-mile hike straight up the mountain for the PBMME. After setting up my KX1 and my Bead-Wire Antenna, I called CQ and WA8REI came back to me from MI! He gave me a 579 report and he was strong as well. I worked more stations after him including an IK2 on 30m with 3.5w. Looks like I have a winner to use for backpacking. I'll post some pictures on my website soon. By the way the entire Bead-Wire Antenna weighs-in at 2 oz. including the small spool! That's 40' of bead wire for the radiator and three 16' ground radials! The wire is the type used for beading -yes jewelry! 72, Ed,WA3WSJ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna
Doing the math, a wire self-resonant at 7 MHz exhibits 2:1 SWR limits that vary with the wire size as follows: #8 wire = 280 kHz #12 wire = 270 kHz #30 wire = 160 kHz Since the antenna is probably less than self-resonant length (1/2 wave or 1/4 wave over a perfect ground) the bandwidths will be greater than that owing to the matching network or ground losses. However, these numbers provide some idea of how the size of the wire affects bandwidth. The original poster was using a KX1. He didn't say, but I'd assume he's using an ATU, perhaps the KXAT1 built into the KX1. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Since the wire is quite thin, the resonant element which results will have a rather high-Q and therefore best used for a narrow range (such as the CW sub-band). My wife does beading and uses the stuff; it looks to me like stranded stainless wire with a nylon jacket. My guess is that the high Q will win out over the skin effect of the SS. Furthermore, although nylon is lossy at RF, that usually applies where the tangential electric field is relatively intense, such as when the nylon serves as an insulator or a capacitor dielectric, rather than merely as a jacket. I also think Ed will have loads of fun in spite of the losses. :) Stay dry, man! Marshall, WA3VPZ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna
Since the wire is quite thin, the resonant element which results will have a rather high-Q and therefore best used for a narrow range (such as the CW sub-band). My wife does beading and uses the stuff; it looks to me like stranded stainless wire with a nylon jacket. My guess is that the high Q will win out over the skin effect of the SS. Furthermore, although nylon is lossy at RF, that usually applies where the tangential electric field is relatively intense, such as when the nylon serves as an insulator or a capacitor dielectric, rather than merely as a jacket. I also think Ed will have loads of fun in spite of the losses. :) Stay dry, man! Marshall, WA3VPZ Steve wrote: Ed, Some of this stuff is plastic coated steel or stainless steel, similar to a fishing leader. This could explain the difficulty in soldering to it. If it's truly not copper based, I would be concerned about potential resistive losses for long antenna runs. Is there a way to determine what material this wire is made from? Steve aa8af > -Original Message- > > I received lots of emails concerning my "Bead-Wire Antenna." > I've decided to post on the reflectors rather than send out > to each Individual op. > > Here's what I did to make my antenna. I went out to my local > craft store called " The Rag Shop" and bought a 40' spool of > flexible bead wire. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna
Since RF current flows only along the very surface of the conductor, the silver plated stuff ought to be very good even if a bit expensive! Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Ed, Some of this stuff is plastic coated steel or stainless steel, similar to a fishing leader. This could explain the difficulty in soldering to it. If it's truly not copper based, I would be concerned about potential resistive losses for long antenna runs. Is there a way to determine what material this wire is made from? Steve aa8af > -Original Message- > > I received lots of emails concerning my "Bead-Wire Antenna." I've > decided to post on the reflectors rather than send out to each > Individual op. > > Here's what I did to make my antenna. I went out to my local > craft store called " The Rag Shop" and bought a 40' spool of > flexible bead wire. > This stuff is very strong, has a clear tough plastic coating > over it, but won't take solder. My wire has seven strands to > it. It comes on a plastic spool that's about 2.75" in _ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna
Ed, Some of this stuff is plastic coated steel or stainless steel, similar to a fishing leader. This could explain the difficulty in soldering to it. If it's truly not copper based, I would be concerned about potential resistive losses for long antenna runs. Is there a way to determine what material this wire is made from? Steve aa8af > -Original Message- > > I received lots of emails concerning my "Bead-Wire Antenna." > I've decided to post on the reflectors rather than send out > to each Individual op. > > Here's what I did to make my antenna. I went out to my local > craft store called " The Rag Shop" and bought a 40' spool of > flexible bead wire. > This stuff is very strong, has a clear tough plastic coating > over it, but won't take solder. My wire has seven strands to > it. It comes on a plastic spool that's about 2.75" in ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] WA3WSJ: Bead-Wire Antenna
Hello all, I received lots of emails concerning my "Bead-Wire Antenna." I've decided to post on the reflectors rather than send out to each Individual op. Here's what I did to make my antenna. I went out to my local craft store called " The Rag Shop" and bought a 40' spool of flexible bead wire. This stuff is very strong, has a clear tough plastic coating over it, but won't take solder. My wire has seven strands to it. It comes on a plastic spool that's about 2.75" in diameter and 5/8" thick. It even has a clear plastic cover that snaps over half the spool to keep the wire etc on the spool. The wire measures .012" in diameter so it's very small and light. In fact my 40' of wire and 40' fishing line with spool weighs-in at less than 1oz! I tie one end of the bead wire to 40' of 30lb test fishing line. On the on the fishing line I tie a loop. I tie about an 1" loop on the end of the fishing line so I can attach a 1oz lead sinker. The sinker is one that is egg shaped and has a wire loop at the top. In the field I simlpy slip the fishing line loop through the wire loop and double back over the sinker. This makes for a solid tie that can be taken off easily anytime. This sinker makes it easy to throw up the bead wire into a tree too. At present I use three ground radials each 16' in length made from #26 black stealh wire. I plan to make my ground radials out of the bead-wire too to save on space and weight. I tried this setup yesterday in my back yard with my KX1. On 30m I had 4.0W out with a 1.0:1 swr. On 20m I have 3.8w out with a swr of 1.2:1 and on 40m I have 2.8w out with a swr of 1.1:1. My entire trail radio package weighs-in at 1.6lb. Here's what I use on the AT: Radio: KX1 with 30m option Battery: Powerizer 11.1V 1800mah 3-cell Lithium Polymer ~4.5oz Antenna: Bead-Wire Ant. Attached with 2-post to bnc adapter Paddle: AT Paddle Mini (plugs directly into KX1, 3.5mm stero plug) The entire package stores in a small camera case! p.s. You can buy silver coated bead wire to solder to, but it's expensive! 72, Ed,WA3WSJ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
