Homebrew Ground Plane for Solarcon/Antron A99 Antenna

Well I decided to make 90 degree ground plane that is attached to the mast instead buying one made by factory for this antenna. I think it's more fun to build something from the scratch and see if it's gonna work. With current skip conditions that we have it's hard to tell if this ground plane makes any difference but so far I get good reports and making all kinds of connections.

Пікірлер: 85

  • @MikeCoon-yi4gz
    @MikeCoon-yi4gz2 ай бұрын

    Those being mild steel rod you could bend them to a 45° angle. Make a circle from a heavyweight wire and weld it on at say half way. Maybe help with local.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    2 ай бұрын

    Interesting idea. I don't have any problem to communicate with local stations at this moment. Maybe when conditions will change during summer i will see some changes. Time will show. 73.

  • @RidgeHikerAdventures
    @RidgeHikerAdventures11 ай бұрын

    Great video, thanks for sharing! 73s from Ridge Hiker 595 Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    11 ай бұрын

    73's from South California. WR0767.

  • @mostlypostie1
    @mostlypostie1 Жыл бұрын

    That antenna is really working well! You were making it to Australia when most others had already disappeared into the noise. 73

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    I guess it is working well 😊. Sometimes I wonder if it's working at all 😂, I guess mother nature makes jokes on us 😂.

  • @allen_steel1236
    @allen_steel12363 ай бұрын

    Interesting way of making your ground plane, easier way of doing it would have been to just get a very large washer or a small plate drill hole in the center that will fit down over where the two coupling nuts are on the antenna. And well your studs to that. Also the factory ground elements sweep down at a 45° angle. The angle of the ground elements will also dictate the impedance of the antenna. That's why quarter wave antennas have 45° ground planes. Trying to use 90° right angle on a capacitive fed halfway you're going to have some problems. You're going to create a whole bunch of signal going straight up into the sky. Also how about showing us the actual reflected power but once you finish the project.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the comment. Most people say A-99 doesn't need groundplane but i did it just for fun and i did that ground plane because i saw it in 80s in Europe on Black Pirate antenna. I bought Solarcon Ground plane A-99CK just for testing and Yeah at some point i will make video with RigExpert to see if anything changes when Solarcon A99 is bearfoot and with ground plane etc. I did isolate Antron from my mast and i think that changed how it behaves with ground plane, but that could be my imagination also 😄. Very hard to collect data when you do dxing with skip, to many veriations etc. 73

  • @RadioMalopolska
    @RadioMalopolska Жыл бұрын

    nice Idea .. You are very ingenious . more invention in your mind .. Thats very that's rare these days. In todays World . Congratulations and "like" for you under movie .Now is like President Bllack Pirate model antenna

  • @Letscookcaribbeanfood
    @Letscookcaribbeanfood3 ай бұрын

    use copper, 468 x the frequency is the length of the antenna you will talk all over the world 🌎 when skip is rolling, build a 3 element beam with copper(Gama match is your homework look it up)

  • @mouthpiece985
    @mouthpiece985 Жыл бұрын

    I use the quad 5 n2 and Antron 99 about 15’ in the air as well 73 from 985 in the buckeye state

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Cool, they work very well at lover hight. Skip is booming in here.

  • @DK5ONV
    @DK5ONV Жыл бұрын

    Looks fantastic. Good Job on the Welding.... 💯👍🙋‍♂

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks 👍

  • @PhilipHounsham
    @PhilipHounsham Жыл бұрын

    Good effort...Well done you 👍👍

  • @Maine307
    @Maine307 Жыл бұрын

    its a little 30+ days since you made the video, What Changes and Advice can you give us about this? work good? work bad? new ideas? Thank you for making the video- I have Antron99, and thinking about groundplane too.. it site 10 feet above ground, on my wood shed.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Believe or not I am still not decided if it's better or not. I just got antenna analyzer and learning how to use it. I want to see if my SWR and other values will change when antenna is with or without radials. Some people saying that it makes no sense to have this with half wave antenna and others say that it will change radiation angle of the magnetic field and it should be better for skip. Question is how to prove that? In 80's they were selling antennas named Black Pirate with exact ground plane, so I guess they did that for some reason 😆. When and if I get some kind of data that I can show that ground plane changes anything I will make video. Solarcon makes ground plane for this antenna but under different angles. I was told by some local guys not not use that one for the skip. Not sure why. Didn't want to drill them with to many questions 😂.

  • @duaneshuster6366
    @duaneshuster63663 ай бұрын

    Nice ot shoukd help the antrin is z dc shorted antenna the 45°angle radisl kit nefer improved then cause thats for a 1/4 streight fed ant like shakespher big stick that work but for A99 radials need go horzional yes you got it grat! This maks dxing better

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    3 ай бұрын

    Good to know. I have both ground planes and trying to get some data to prove if ground plane does anything to this antenna or not. 73 and have fun outh there.

  • @mikeofborg2
    @mikeofborg28 ай бұрын

    Nicely done

  • @jetcyclezero8907
    @jetcyclezero8907 Жыл бұрын

    Very good idea,all steel disc w/6 elements.On the solorcon aluminum GPK ring I re-drilled and tapped the holes at 90deg.I sometimes forget to ware a old pair of gloves when doing maintinance.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    That's cool idea. Did you see the difference in signal between oryginal GPK and 90deg.

  • @jetcyclezero8907

    @jetcyclezero8907

    Жыл бұрын

    @@myszaca It made the radiation pattern begin at the bottom way I saw all other antennas are.It seemed to receive with less noise on AM when it was lower to the ground under+ or -20 ft.I also shortend them 5in so they didnt sag.I used it mostly when I would go camping or park up on a mountain.Happy Holidays!!

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jetcyclezero8907 That's cool. Happy Holidays and have fun with the skip. 73

  • @ericzerkle5214
    @ericzerkle5214 Жыл бұрын

    A local here used 4 102 inch whips on the bottom of his maxx 2000 and installed them at a 90 degree angle, sorta like an old 1970s aluminum antenna. It actually worked well!!

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    did he ever mention that his swr was affected by those 102". I will check on mine one day but I was just curious if you know anything about that.

  • @josephwade3241

    @josephwade3241

    8 ай бұрын

    Homeade star duster kinda sounds like whatyour talking Bout. I made something like this myself.

  • @josephwade3241

    @josephwade3241

    8 ай бұрын

    I used aluminum tubing and bent 2 9ft. Sections into an 45degrees clamped . 1.2.1 swr

  • @josephwade3241

    @josephwade3241

    8 ай бұрын

    The mast and radiating element is 1 inch aluminum tubing

  • @josephwade3241

    @josephwade3241

    8 ай бұрын

    Bottom 12 ft. Of the mast is steel fence tubing with threads and coupler

  • @mikebolton5577
    @mikebolton5577 Жыл бұрын

    Did the additional radials change your SWR?

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    According to my old external swr did not, but I just got nano vna analyzer and i will do experiment and scan antenna with radials and then without. It will take some time before i do it because it's raining in here. Let you know something as soon as I know, maybe i will make short video.

  • @RT038
    @RT0383 ай бұрын

    Mines antenna is up around 35 feet of the ground are they really strick on the height in your county

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    3 ай бұрын

    All depends on neighborhood, city , associations etc. So yeah there are some restrictions plus neighbors issues etc. Always something 😄. 73 and have fun out there.

  • @lesjones5684
    @lesjones56848 ай бұрын

    Ok good buddy 😂😂😂😂😅😅😅

  • @Pascal-F11DRE
    @Pascal-F11DRE Жыл бұрын

    FB ! Excellente réalisations Bravo 73's QRO

  • @UDX-3030
    @UDX-30308 күн бұрын

    How did you come up with the length of the 6 radials ?

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    2 күн бұрын

    Well I didn't. I had this rods so I used them. Total experimental project. Hard to get any data if it works or not, Someone commented to use 3 feet long and maybe copper rods etc. I just got original groundplane for it made by Solarcon and I will install it. Maybe I get some data from my nano vna and see if there are any swr changes 🤔 etc Supposedly 1/2 wave antenna doesn't need groundplane. 73.

  • @UDX-3030

    @UDX-3030

    2 күн бұрын

    @@myszaca gotcha, I’ve seen some videos indicating radials should be 1\4 wave long and 135 degrees down from the vertical ? I’m running the Antron 99 with ground plane kit at 36feet to the base in a heavily wooded area and I’m amazed at the DXing I can do. Thx for the update. UDX-3030 👍

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    2 күн бұрын

    So you got the ground plane made by Solarcon with the ring?

  • @UDX-3030

    @UDX-3030

    2 күн бұрын

    @@myszaca I did, I ran it for about 6 months without and just installed it recently at the summer QTH. It’s working really well considering I’ve got 60-80 ft high tree line around me here in the woods. Probably should’ve added it sooner. 🤷‍♂️ In the 70s I ran a 1/2 wave super mag with radials at 90 degrees with some success. I think you’ll like the Antron radial kit. 👍

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    2 күн бұрын

    @@UDX-3030 Nice. I had 1/2 wave President Black pirate ☠️ antenna that came with 90 degree groundplane. Thats why I did this one. Also I did seperate antenna from the mast, swr dropped little bit more for some reason. 73, so far today I have nothing but crickets on 38 😄.

  • @windytokes
    @windytokes Жыл бұрын

    Great idea… gonna have to do this to mine replace the guy wires holding my radials… have a 102 about 25ft up with 3 radials 1 pointed to UK and others 2 pointed 90* offset from that, works alright but would need more radials if I wanna talk to the states… 73’s from NB Canada

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Cool. I wish I could somehow proof that they work 😆. I did it because one of my buddies in Europe has a President Pirate half wave antenna from the 80's and it was built by the President company with an attachable ground plane kit. I am thinking of making the same aluminium ring that solarcon makes for A-99 but with 90 degree radials as I have now instead 120 degree or so. Let us know what your experience is with the ground plane with skip. 73 from WR 0767.

  • @randyguay7115
    @randyguay7115 Жыл бұрын

    Hay 767 i am 199 florida georgia line i hope to catch you on xhannel 28 soon.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    We see how it goes. Lately there is a zoo going on on 38 😂. I go by WR0767.

  • @yavamaystudio8045
    @yavamaystudio8045Ай бұрын

    Jaki masz swr i czy sie laczysz z Europą?

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    14 күн бұрын

    Sorry nie widzialem komentarza. Swr jest 1.2 i polaczylem sie z Polską dwa razy, Francja i Italia plus inne kraje. Wszystko zależy od propagacji. Pozdrowienia 73.

  • @maciekmackowski5780
    @maciekmackowski5780 Жыл бұрын

    CY teraz jest lepszy odbior ?

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Powiem ci że nie wiem do końca czy jest duża różnica między antena bez przeciwwag, propagacja jest taka mocna że słyszę stacje z różnych stron świata i sam już się zagubiłem 😂. Myślę że na pewno coś daje bo słyszę propagację czasami lepiej niż lokalne stacje. Według wzoru książkowego takie przeciwwagi powinny pomagać przy propagacji. Kosztowało mnie to może $15 i trochę zabawy więc zrobiłem.

  • @billhastings1006
    @billhastings1006 Жыл бұрын

    Hello 767, came across your video and I'm doing the same thing. I'm going to use some antennas I got from a local cb shop in South bend ,Indiana, called CB SPECIALIST, good people. Hope it works for you and 73s, sir.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    nice. let me know how did it go with your project.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Did you make your groundplane? I was wondering if you did and did you get better ears on your antenna because of that?

  • @billhastings1006

    @billhastings1006

    Жыл бұрын

    @@myszaca I'm working on a tilt setup. Have about half completed, the rest soon, going higher with the mast. Let you know when it's done. Did you see any improvement on your setup? Hope all is well, Happy 4th! 73s , KX420, Northern Indiana.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    @@billhastings1006 So I have Solarcon with and without ground plane at my backyard, when I switch between both antennas and compare signals sometimes I can hear far away stations better with ground plane. Still not sure if that's happening because antennas are spread between each other 15' and one getting better signal than the other but from what I am experiencing at 14' above ground looks to me like those radials do something. I am thinking of changing radials to aluminum and making it with a telescoping option to see if the length will change something or not. Some people use 3' length on radials and stated that noise level was less then with long radials. Not sure about that project yet 😂. Well good luck with your project and keep me posted. Can't wait to see your opinion and experience. 73 and Happy 4th.

  • @randyguay7115
    @randyguay7115 Жыл бұрын

    Good job should work very good. It does suck when you have so many rules and guidelines you have to deal with for a hobby .

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    That's why I got Solarcon A-99 antenna. Almost 18' above the ground and it does a good job so far. 73

  • @M0WWS
    @M0WWS Жыл бұрын

    It doesn't need a ground plane it's a half wave already.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Well I did it just for fun. Question is why factory makes one for this antenna. It has different angle though.

  • @M0WWS

    @M0WWS

    Жыл бұрын

    @@myszaca Not sure, maybe they sell them to fit a 5/8 wave antenna. Replacing the halfwave A99 with a 5/8 wave plus groundplane would give a little more gain over a dipole.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    @@M0WWS not sure, but they sell ground plane for this one. My buddy has half wave Black Pirate antenna from 80-90s that came with the same 90 deg ground plane, it's it doing anything to this antenna? Don't know 😆. Don't have antenna analyzer. But according to some guys it will help with skip. Who knows. I know that I can talk to Australia, Canada etc from stock radio, with skip. I got single quad antenna that i have to put together and test it, then compare to this one. Fun hobby. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  • @miker8379

    @miker8379

    Жыл бұрын

    @@myszaca they also claim it has 9db gain. More than a yagi

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    @@miker8379 😂, yeah I wish more like 0db

  • @billhastings1006
    @billhastings1006 Жыл бұрын

    I've seen your added radials and doe it make an improvement? I have the same antenna and setting up to do this to mine. Please let me know, it would be a great help to all! Thank you!

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    I just responded to the similar question that was asked below your post. Ongoing project. No data to proove it that it helps. Will do some test with antenna analyzer when I figure out how to work it 😄. I never had ground plane so its my ongoing test project. when I have time I mess with it. Set up your antenna and run it as is. One post below said that he run antenna like tht with 3" long radials and used it for skip. As far as I can read online it should do something to shoot sognal under different angle but how am I gonna prove that? 😄

  • @billhastings1006

    @billhastings1006

    Жыл бұрын

    @@myszaca Thank you. Going g back over and missed some post, but still helpful! I ask cuz we're all at differe.t places and it does react differently. Thanks again and maybe talk to you on the waves, 73s!

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    @@billhastings1006 yeah that's the thing, each station different rules like location, soil, hills etc. I am blocked on one side with the house and other with small hill at the back of the yard but still doing some skip shooting. So looks like putting antenna as high as possible is the key, tune antenna with analyzer and then try to get the lowest swr. This hobby is like they say CB-constant buying 😂 and messing with it.

  • @jetcyclezero8907
    @jetcyclezero8907 Жыл бұрын

    12/11Sunday Hello agian WR 0767This morning I was given #WR 0317.I am happy to get the # I asked for .If I hear you I will make sure to say Hello.WesolychSwait

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    That's cool, congrats. I got WR# around 3 weeks ago. What's your location ? Those 2 radios are one of the best for cb this days. Very stable. Wesołych Świąt. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  • @dirkr7891
    @dirkr78914 ай бұрын

    Many work for an antenna that dont need radials to work!

  • @lesjones5684
    @lesjones56848 ай бұрын

    Rig it 😂😂😂

  • @AndrewSparkfish
    @AndrewSparkfishАй бұрын

    Apparently ground planes make no difference to that antennas gain.

  • @UDX-3030

    @UDX-3030

    Күн бұрын

    Radials are really more about ERP, not SWR.

  • @jimmycake7143
    @jimmycake7143 Жыл бұрын

    Too heavy, easier to get solarcon GP kit with collar and fiberglass rods.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    For sure aluminum or fiber would be lighter. I just want to try one with a 90 degree angle. I may have to change to aluminum tubing. 73.

  • @keiths7929
    @keiths7929 Жыл бұрын

    This antenna is an end-fed half wavelength dipole. It is matched with a shunt coil and a capacitor. A radial system (Counterpoise) will make no difference to the antenna efficiency or performance. Just snake oil.

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    Жыл бұрын

    Highly possible but my question is, why solarcon sales ground plane for this antenna, it's under different angle but it's designed for that antenna. Any clue? please advise.

  • @arconeagain

    @arconeagain

    Жыл бұрын

    Okay RF and antenna expert. Mixed terminology here. It's a half wave dipole and it's end fed?? Elevated ground radials on an end fed antenna do not improve ground efficiency? Radials cannot be employed to decouple the feedline from the antenna?

  • @arconeagain

    @arconeagain

    Жыл бұрын

    And if you're a ham, termination of licence effective immediately!

  • @ON5ADB
    @ON5ADB9 ай бұрын

    leer eerst je hamer vasthouden!!

  • @myszaca

    @myszaca

    9 ай бұрын

    Danke. Zeigen Sie mir ein Video, wie man es hält. Ich werde es anschauen. 73