![]() ![]() One of the cool things about having an ATU is that, if it has the matching range, you can allow it to do the “heavy lifting” in terms of matching impedance.Īlthough I’d never put the X5105 to the test, I suspected its internal ATU would have the matching range to forgo building a 4:1 or 9:1 transformer and simply pair it directly with a random wire.Īll I would need was a 28.5 foot length of wire for a radiator, at least a 17 foot length for a counterpoise, and a BNC to binding post adapter. I also decided to employ my Xiegu X5105 since 1.) it’s one of the most affordable general coverage QRP transceivers I own and 2.) it has a built-in antenna tuner (ATU). ![]() On Monday, June 14, 2021, I made a simple goal: buy my antenna wire en route to Lake James State Park, build the antenna on site, and complete a valid Parks On The Air (POTA) activation. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I often set a little goal that runs in the back of my mind for each park or summit activation I make. I also get a great deal of pleasure out of building things. And the best part? They can perform as well as those that are available commercially. They require only the most simple of tools and are very affordable. You see, while I believe commercial field antennas can be incredibly durable and compact, it’s important to note that antennas are one of the easiest components of an amateur radio system to build yourself. My buddy Eric (WD8RIF) reminded me, though, that I hadn’t actually used a homebrew antenna in ages. These days, I take a number of commercial antennas to the field and use them in my real-time videos and I really enjoy deploying and using them. Until 2016, I had never purchased a commercial field antenna I built all the ones I had ever used. ![]()
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