Build a Continuously Loaded Helically Wound Vertical Antenna for Ham Radio with Affordable Materials

The world of ham radio is filled with fascinating people, ideas, and projects. One such project that caught my attention is the "continuously loaded, helically wound vertical antenna" designed by Bev AH6NF (YL). In this article, we will analyze the design, materials, and steps to build this antenna, and then we'll give it a try ourselves to see how it performs.

Design

The design of this antenna is simple yet effective. It is a vertical antenna that is helically wound with a 91cm stinger. The stinger can be folded along the 122cm mast for easy storage. The antenna is continuously loaded, which means that it is designed to operate on multiple bands without the need for an antenna tuner.

Materials

The materials needed to build this antenna are readily available and affordable. The list includes:

1.22 meters of 1.27 cm white PVC water pipe

9.14 meters of 1.63 mm² insulated electrical house wiring

2.38 mm diameter brass brazing rod, 91 cm long

Miscellaneous junkbox stuff

Number 8 screw 3.81 cm long

Number 8 nut

Two small washers

Optional disconnect

Optional ring lug

Any junk wire 4.57 meters long for counterpoise

The total cost of these materials are very low, which makes this project affordable for most people.

Building the Antenna

The steps to build this antenna are straightforward and can be completed in less than an hour. Here is a summary of the steps involved:

Cut a 1.22-meter length of plastic pipe

Drill 2.38 mm holes through the pipe

Push wire through the holes

Wrap the remainder of the wire around the pipe

Attach the screw, washers, and nut to the top end of the pipe

Insert the brass rod into the screw

Attach the counterpoise wire to the bottom of the pipe

Connect the coax to the antenna

Performance

Now that we have built the antenna, it's time to test its performance. The best way to test an antenna is to use an antenna analyzer or an HF rig. Tuning the antenna to the desired 20-meter band is important to achieve a low SWR. The author suggests using the LOW POWER CW setting on the HF rig when testing the antenna.

Conclusion

The "continuously loaded, helically wound vertical antenna" designed by Bev AH6NF (YL) is an excellent project for anyone interested in ham radio. The design is simple, the materials are affordable, and the steps to build the antenna are straightforward. By building this antenna, we can learn more about ham radio, improve our skills, and have fun in the process.