One of the most popular antennas today is the end fed long wire antenna due to it ease of installation, portability and stealth in various installations. It can be a condo dweller’s only access to the world of ham radio or the best alternative for a backpacking SOTA (Summits on the Air) mountaintop expedition.
The antenna is simple to deploy, folds up easily for transport, and weighs under a pound, yet, with the proper length of wire, can work the 80-10 meter bands easily with the built in antenna tuner of most current day transceivers. You will need several components for a successful deployment of the end fed antenna and these are shown in the diagram below:
The antenna impedance matching components (BOX “Z” above) to match the antenna impedance to the coax line impedance (usually 50 ohms). For non-resonant end fed antennas, the typical feed point impedance is 300 to 600 ohms and a 9:1 impedance transformer (e.g. 450 ohm average antenna impedance to 50 ohm coax, also know as a 9:1 unun). For do-it-yourself antenna builders, 9:1 impedance transformer information is HERE
With end fed antennas, the coax is meant to radiate as part of the antenna system (serving as the “ground” or counterpoise) and therefore you need to use a Feed line Choke (BOX “FC” above) to suppress the common mode current on the outside of the coax feed line so it does not enter the radio and cause garbled communication.. The Feed line (FC) acts as a stop sign for RF current flowing back on the outside of the coax. The higher the choking resistance of the feed line choke, the less the coax braid RFI common mode current, and the less noise enters the radio. Feed Line choke alternatives are HERE.
The radio station is also a key component of the antenna system and has two functions: transmit and receive. Matching the transmitter to the coax feed line is often done with an antenna tuner and receiver systems should be installed to maximize signal to noise ratio. Reducing receiver noise is critical for weak signal reception and the use of coax noise filters AND receiver power supply lines (AC or DC) noise filters is usually needed for optimum reception. Reducing RFI generated by the radio station (you are the SOURCE of RFI) or received by your radio station (you are the VICTIM of RFI) is an important aspect of radio station operations. Palomar Engineers has many solutions for RFI problems – Click HERE to develop alternative strategies depending on your particular situation.
Want to compare End Fed Antennas? See: End Fed Antenna Secrets (PDF)
The “Bullet” End Fed Long Wire Antenna
The key to end fed antenna success is the matching network interface between the long wire antenna and the coax feed line and feed line choke at the transceiver. Palomar Engineers employs a dual core matching system that offers wide bandwidth (1-61 MHz), 500 watt PEP rating, and a connection for a counterpoise or ground if desired.
The antenna can be used as a sloper, “L” with a vertical section and a longer horizontal section, or as a random horizontal antenna between two trees or supports.
Our network matching network is called the “Bullet” because of it shape and its effectiveness at taking down or contacting distant (DX) stations all over the world under the right conditions. The Bullet uses all stainless steel connectors and a dual core ferrite 9:1 unun for higher power rating then many competitive products.
We sell the Bullet components separately so you can add you own wire type and length or you can purchase a complete antenna system including wire and end insulator.
KURT SPEAKS OUT - Digital PDF Version
Kurt's masterpiece contains 50 of Kurt Sterba's Kolumns from World Radio (1990 to 2006). 140 pages packed with sage advice, unusual antennas, and ham radio myths to avoid. Read, learn, and enjoy.
Included are unusual antennas: CCD, T2FD, OCF, Rattail Ver-Tee, G5RV, ZEPP, Loops and many others. Find out the real truth about antennas and STOP WASTING YOUR TIME and MONEY trying to get the lowest SWR! Download your copy and get educated by one of the experts – Krusty ole Kurt!!
Kurt N Sterba, sometimes known as “Krusty Olde Kurt” or “The Krusty One” and often as “The Masked Avenger”, is fearless in exposing antenna manufacturers who lie or use deceptive numbers to inflate the gain dB’s of their antennas. He also deflates those who use “new scientific breakthroughs” to explain the operation of their products. He pieces through the obfuscation of on-the-air antenna “experts” by explaining antennas, grounds, and feed lines in non-mathematical, simple English. His aim is to see that all understand the real basics of antennas, and are not taken in by the ever-prevalent, fine-sounding ad writers and other purveyors of false information.
Kurt wants you to know that downloading this work of art also entitles you to a free membership in KURTSKLUB, special product discounts, his oh-so-smart newsletter when he gets around to writing it, and more sage advice in his future books. You agree to keep your email box open, your mind free from commercial marketing hoop-la and let Kurt be your guide. Oh yea, spread the word, we need more members who seek true enlightenment like you!
Table of Contents
- THE CRUEL WORLD OF ANTENNAS. 5
- BROADBAND ANTENNAS. 8
- dB, dBi, dBd, ---- WHICH ONE IS RIGHT?. 12
- SMALL LOOPS REVISITED.. 15
- THE TRUTH ABOUT VERTICALS. 18
- GAIN AND FRONT-TO-BACK RATIO.. 21
- A GOOD, CHEAP. SMALL HF ANTENNA.. 24
- ALL ABOUT COAX.. 27
- THE TRUTH ABOUT LOOP ANTENNAS. 30
- 450 OHM LINE IS NOT 450 OHMS. 33
- DIPOLES AND DOUGHNUTS. 36
- THE “J” POLE.. 38
- 18 dB IS A MINOR DIFFERENCE?. 40
- TWO TYPES OF HAMS. 45
- ANTENNA TUNERS. 47
- WHICH SWR IS BETTER.. 50
- THE DOCTOR IS IN.. 52
- THE G5RV ON TWENTY METERS. 55
- KURT IS PREDJUDICED, NOT!57
- KURT REPEATS HIMSELF. 60
- IN WHICH THE MASKED AVENGER STRIKES. 63
- VERTICAL ANTENNAS AND SWR.. 66
- KURT STRIKES BACK.. 68
- THE RESONANT FEED-LINE DIPOLE.. 71
- MORE ABOUT RADIALS. 74
- KURT WRONG?. 76
- KURT’S 160 METER VERTICAL.. 78
- CLARIFICATION.. 80
- COILED CHOKE.. 83
- SHUNT FED VERTICALS. 86
- NEW ANTENNA BOOK.. 89
- LOW BAND – HORIZONTAL LOOP OR VERTICAL.. 91
- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ZEPP?. 93
- THE T2FD ANTENNA.. 95
- USING A TUNER WITH A MOBILE INSTALLATION.. 97
- RESONANCE.. 99
- TOO COMPLICATED.. 101
- RAI vs M2103
- ANOTHER FANTASTIC ANTENNA.. 106
- RAI vs M2CONTINUED.. 108
- MATH PROBLEM... 110
- DANGER!112
- SWR CHANGE.. 114
- BALUNS – WHAT DO THEY DO?. 118
- CURRENT METER.. 120
- ANTENNA GARBAGE.. 122
- 160 METER VERTICAL.. 124
- OVER AND OVER.. 126
- THE RAT TAIL ANTENNA.. 129
- SWR.. 131
- EFFECT OF GROUND.. 133
- 1:1 or 4:1 BALUN?. 135
- Non-Resonant vs. Resonant Antennas. 137
- My Station Causes RFI – What do I do?. 139
- My Station is a VICTIM of RFI – What do I do?. 140
This version is published by Palomar Engineers, Inc.
Typical installations are shown below:
Bullet End Fed Antenna Notes (PDF)
CAUTION
USE CAUTION WHEN INSTALLING ANTENNA AND KEEP AWAY FROM ANY POWER LINE WIRES!