A couple days ago I saw a 3 pack of cutting boards in Grocery Outlet for $4.99, I grabbed them for just such uses. I have been interested in the half square for some time. Thanks for your report on it's performance to me on the live feed today!

@RedSummitRF

2 жыл бұрын

For sure Richard. There are a couple down-sides. You obviously need two masts, and you have to make sure that feedline doesn't get too close to the one leg closest to it. But these are not performance issues. Just annoying things to deal with. Thanks!

Feed it at the bottom of one of the verticals with a 49:1 balun. Same shape, just shape the wire that looks like your drawing. Increased gain on the verticals.

@RedSummitRF

Жыл бұрын

Now that's a thought. I'd love to try that and see how it performs.

@user-ss6zt2mo1l

Жыл бұрын

@@RedSummitRF G5TM has a video on it. Fascinating. I started to mess around with Mana-Gal with different antenna shapes. Have not modeled it myself but find this fascinating. I’m trying to build a gain antenna to get me from the Midwestern US into India. I have never been able to do it on a regular basis. I’m only 100 watts and a vertical.

Excellent video. I'm running an odd antenna. Three half squares in parallel. It feed at the bottom with a remote tuner, an LDG RT100. It tunes up fine, 160-6 meters! I only run 100 watts at this time. I recently worked Japan, SSB, about 5PM, long path. I was 5x8! The antenna is mostly random length, about 400 feet horizontal and 60 feet vertical. 73 de WA3RSL.

@RedSummitRF

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's really cool! I love experimenting with antennas like that. Good work!

Very Cool Red!!!!

@RedSummitRF

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kevin - thanks man! Keep it safe over there in inferno land 😬😂

FINALLY! a construction vid of a half square instead of 'here it is' thank you. Is the formula the same for other frequencies such as 10m?

@RedSummitRF

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Ezat and thank you. Yes, the formula holds true for other frequencies. Thanks for watching. If you build one let me know how it goes. 73

@sandraabarca6029

4 жыл бұрын

exactly ty so much your approach and Teaching methods are critical to many of us , especially new to radio communications. Far too many operators who do videos are not teaching the viewer's but just sharing in a non teaching way. 7 3

Great project! I may have to make one myself. 73!

@RedSummitRF

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Rob. Do it! 🤙

You’ve got the Glock mat. 👍🏻 I have considered one of these for the transatlantic event but erecting it in the field sounds challenging since it needs at least two supports and maybe three with the feed line at 90 degrees. I’m interested to see how you do so. Should have meaningful gain and low radiation angles.

@RedSummitRF

4 жыл бұрын

Haha yeah, I have more than the mat 😬. The transatlantic event is exactly the reason I built this. You are right about deployment. I already have the trees picked out on the summit I'll be on 😂👊. I'll let you know.

Nice

@RedSummitRF

Жыл бұрын

Thanks

I have been looking for an update on how your antenna worked. I have had a lot of experience with building half squares. I found them to be a great antenna on 160 and 80 meters if the top wire is about 65 feet high. Beats a dipole at the same height because an 80 meter dipole is low at even 80 feet. On 40, I could get a dipole up about almost half wave and there was not much difference other than the dipole had a broader beam width. The dipole was now twice as high in terms of wavelength. On 20 meters the dipole again doubled in height and then became much better than the half square. An EZNEC analysis confirmed what I saw in practice. A dipole at 32 feet has gain of almost 7 dBi the 20 meter half square at 35 feet (top wire) has a gain of about 3.5 dBi. Comparing at the same elevation angle (18 degrees) the dipole has 5 dBi and the Half Square has 3.9 dBi if it has its top wire at 45 feet vs 32 for the dipole.

@RedSummitRF

2 жыл бұрын

Hi there! The half square worked great! Here's the video kzread.info/dash/bejne/gpV5tMuocsrWeJs.html . This is a good reminder to take it back out in the field. I wanted to try using it again under better band conditions. They are definitely better performers than the dipole. Thanks for your comment.

@dandypoint

2 жыл бұрын

@@RedSummitRF Thanks for the reply. They definitely work. All mine have worked good. They have about 3 dB gain over a single vertical. I wish you could compare to a dipole at the same height at the same time. It’s hard to make up for the “free” ground gain you get with a 20 meter dipole at 25 feet or higher unless of course you are over seawater with a vertical! It is always good to have more than one antenna in your bag. I am presently experimenting with a portable 40 meter sloping dipole with the center at 15 feet. Comparing to a flat one at 46 feet. I have been running 2 watts and working all over! They surprise me frequently on which one is best. I have another 40 meter half square built to try in the spring. Keep up the good work.

nice go there, there is a australian who uses half squares from his local beach, he uses 2 fishing poles and feeds the antenna from the bottom corner, and is on video working stateside on 5w ssb, so mayve a quick look @ his video would help you

@RedSummitRF

2 жыл бұрын

You must be talking about Peter Parker. Yes, I've seen that one. Adam K6ARK also uses to masts. At the time I didn't have two that were tall enough. That's a really good option for sure. Thanks for suggesting it!

Any idea what type of gain the half square has as compared to a dipole? And what if you added to reflector how much additional gain would that be

@RedSummitRF

Жыл бұрын

Don't know off the top of my head. It would be interesting to chart it and see the results!

Nice one Charlie. That antenna ends up being pretty big! I am also wondering how the impedance is around 50 ohm. I guess I need to study more. 🤪

@RedSummitRF

4 жыл бұрын

Haha yeah, I don't know in great detail either. I'd hate to take a stab at the answer here 😬. I'm already waiting for the balun argument to resurface 😂. That's one for K6ARK. Thanks Greg!

@pa3fat

4 жыл бұрын

Red Summit RF eznec? Might give some input to this. Off center dipole is around 200. Groundplane with lowered radials approx 50. Perpendicular radials 37? Not that far off probably. All antennas aren’t 50 so always some mismatch

Is the shield of the cable on the short leg and the center on the 3/4wave? You trim both at same time. Wasn't totally clear.

@RedSummitRF

4 жыл бұрын

I can't remember which I chose, but it doesn't matter. It works equally well regardless of which leg goes to center vs shield.

@pa3fat

4 жыл бұрын

Red Summit RF mmm probably, but did you shorten the legs at same time? To keep the ‘balance’. One leg being couterpoise or radial. Trying get a grip on this. Like tuning a g5rv shorten the legs or adapt the ladderline. All have ‘some’ effect. Trying to make the half square some day.

@RedSummitRF

4 жыл бұрын

​@@pa3fat Sorry, I can see how the video isn't entirely clear. Yes, I shortened the legs at the same time cutting the exact amount off each leg as I tuned it (see 14:00 - 14:31 of the video - still not entirely clear, I know). I apologize if I am not understanding your question. Let me know and I'll try to clarify further if I'm still not making sense. Charlie

@pa3fat

4 жыл бұрын

@@RedSummitRF Charlie clear now. Tnx !

@opticoax747

4 жыл бұрын

Where did 502 come from?

Could this be used for transmit or is it a better receiver antenna?

@RedSummitRF

4 жыл бұрын

This is an excellent DX antenna used for both TX and RX.

Did you tune both ends equally?

@RedSummitRF

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I took the same amount off each leg as I went through the tuning process.

What is the location of that LDS church ?

@RedSummitRF

3 жыл бұрын

In Mesa on Brown Road

Okay ya stumped me, why 502?

@RedSummitRF

3 жыл бұрын

A few others have asked this. My reply found below is "it's a modification of the standard formula to calculate the length in feet of a dipole. I got it from this website: www.hamuniverse.com/wb3aywcurtainantennas.html Look at the very bottom under the "formulas" heading for a simple explanation. A regular dipole has a standard formula of 468/f which is quite close to this one. " Thanks for watching! 72.

You forgot to flip the video in post... it looks like you're left handed!

@RedSummitRF

3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha I wish becoming right handed was that easy. But you know the saying . . . at least us lefties are in our right mind