How to Build a Ham Radio Antenna
The world of ham radio is a great hobby, and building and experimenting with different antennas has long since been one the most favorite parts of the hobby. Of course, you will need to know how to build a ham radio antenna in order to get started. With this antenna, you will be able to transmit and receive anywhere on the frequencies between 28.300 Mhz to 28.500 Mhz on the 10-meter band. Once complete and connected to your transceiver, you will be up and running and proud to show it to your ham radio friends.
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Things You'll Need
- 50 Ohm coaxial cable
- Utility knife
- Wire cutter
- Wire strippers
- Piece of plexiglass, 2 x 2 x 1/2 inches
- Solder
- Soldering gun
- Safety glasses
- Rope
- Insulated wire 20 feet (#14 gauge)
- Hand Saw
- Drill
- 1/2-inch drill bit
- Antenna mast (if desired)
Instructions
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1
Cut the plexiglass into three pieces: Two at 2 x 3 inches pieces, and one in the shape of a "T". The "T" measurements are as follows: The cross bar will measure three inches across, the bottom will be four inches long. The width of both the cross bar and bottom piece will be two inches.
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2
Cut two pieces of 12-gauge insulated wire, each 8.5 feet. These two wires will form the two wires for the dipole.
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3
Strip off about once inch of insulation off one end of each wire using wire strippers.
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4
Take the T-shaped plexiglass and drill a half-inch hole in each end of the top cross section and one in the bottom of the T about one inch from the edges.
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5
Take the two wires at the end that has been stripped and run one each through the holes on the cross bar section of the plexiglass T. Run about three inches of wire though the hole and then back through the hole a second time so each wire is wrapped around one end of the cross bar of the T. This will secure the wire to the T insulator.
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6
Take the two other cut pieces of plexiglass measuring 2 x 3 and drill a hole in each end about 1 inch from the edge. These two pieces of plexiglass will be the end insulators for the dipole antenna.
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7
Attach an end insulator to the end of the wire opposite the T.
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8
Take the coax cable and measure about two inches from the end. Using the utility knife, cut down into the shielding carefully and slowly until you hit the wire mesh inside. Roll the cable with the knife until the cut goes around and back to the starting point. Remove the shielding.
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9
Pull back the wire mesh and twist it in a clockwise matter to tighten up the loose strands.
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10
Using the knife, cut away the center plastic insulator (white), about a half-inch to reveal the center pin/conductor.
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11
Using the soldering gun, solder the center conductor to the wire on one side of the T. Solder the wire mesh to the other wire on the T. Your coax cable is now connected to the dipole antenna.
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12
Mount the coax cable securely to the bottom of the T insulator using a small piece of the rope and running it through the drilled hole and around the cable, tying it in a snug knot.
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13
Using the rope, mount the top of the antenna (the T) as high as possible to a nearby tree or antenna mast, but away from any building structures.
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14
Stretch out the ends of the dipole antenna, and using the rope connected to the end insulators drilled holes, mount them to a surrounding tree or pole so the dipole wires make a slight downward slope and the antenna forms a slight inverted V shape.
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Tips & Warnings
Either stranded or solid wire will work for the dipole antenna. However, stranded wire tends to be more flexible to work with.
This antenna is intended for ham radio use only, and the operator must be a licensed radio operator by the FCC.
Be careful not to touch the tip of the soldering gun as this will cause injury or burn.
Never install your antenna around or next to any power lines.
