Compact, No-Radial, HF Vertical Antenna based on Flagpole Technique | Ham Radio

This is one of the BEST I've seen on this channel. Bravo Peter. I can confirm that feeding the vertical at 1/3 up from ground does work well because the lower end is coupling to ground, making it electrically longer. The balanced line up inside a conduit will have a slight imbalance, but no big deal. The outer sheath acts as a sort of "folded balun". Placing the real 1:1 choke/balun at the input of the tuner is by far the best location for it. The only thing I would add is that any control cables for the ATU also need to be choked, otherwise return currents will pass through them and render the ATU not actually "floating". I have done this with my AH-4 to feed a doublet at the center, and yes it does work well. 73 Peter, and thanks for sharing an excellent discussion. I hope others make and experiment with this design.

I love your channel Peter... and this is another really interesting video... got me thinking for sure on how I could use this idea...many thanks, much appreciated.

I have been using vertical dipoles for single bands, and as doublets for a couple years now. This is an antenna that is overlooked far too often. I feed mine with twin RG-6 cable, using only the center wire, one per antenna element. RG-6 is very insulated and can be ran parallel to the lower antenna element, down a metal mast, alongside gutters, etc. It eliminates the issue of metal interacting with the RF field of traditional twin line feed. So you can skip the running of the feed line at right angles to the antenna. I still run it to the 4:1 posts on my ATU.

Balanced line inside a conductive tube, is called TWIN-AX. IBM was using this type of cable for digital networking back in the 70's 73 de K1TDG

On the to do list..Thanks Peter

Thanks Peter. Interesting stuff OB!

Good video, thanks Peter. This idea is very interesting as it might be adapted to make a useful multiband portable/field antenna. One thing that occured to me is, if the "flagpole" was next to a wooden fence, the balanced line may be hidden by running it along the fence.... UK hams maybe need to unite - make flagpoles in our gardens a common feature, just like our US friends.😂

A very interesting topic and an extremely well delivered presentation. Thank you Peter. M0DSK

Hi Peter - A GREAT video - I really enjoyed your explanation and how easy it is to build - I am sure you will encourage your subscribers to have a go especially as it covers so many bands - excellent -Dave

A cellphone company did this. Right next to our complex. It took most awhile to catch on. It is attached to a big box at it's base. Some think it's a Stingray. But we do know it's an antenna..

Another great idea Peter...73, Bill, W6QR

Very interesting. I wish I was closer to your store. USA here.

Hi Peter, another excellent video. May I ask you were you bought the bamboo stand that is sitting over your two radios? Look fantastic!

Hi Peter, as always a great informative video , i have been using an Aluminium scaffold pole 10m in length as a vertical and am pleased with the results, mounted on my garage isolated from earth with ceramic, fed from an Icom AH 4 mounted inside the garage, i do have copper radials and an earth all terminations hidden under my decking. Can resonate on all bands between 80 and 6m . Ultimate stealth as one of my wife’s friends came round and commented why her washing line was so tall. Regards. Paul G7JVB

Very informative video and fascinating antenna design! It's potentially a stealth antenna as well, though I believe my XYL would have noticed if a 7 meters tall pole popped up in the garden. How would this antenna work if you substituted the tubing with wires? I assume it would work, but most likely at the cost of the bandwidth. It would definitely be interesting to build and experiment with.

hello Peter Love your videos, i have just started my foundation course and don,t have much money the video about a year ago that you did LOW COST HIGH PERFORMANCE HF ANTENNA is a real gem. My question is would a slightly smaller ferrite ring still work and insulated copper wire as I have both.

So interesting & tnx! 73 de WA4ELW in TN 🇺🇸 dit dit 😃

This looks like an off center fed but vertical. The balance line could act like part of the matching network depending on length. The tuner is making the match. I'm guessing the return currents get to ride on the bottom short piece of wire. Same idea as adding a ground side to the End Fed half wave for improved performance.

I've been studying the "flagpole" antenna made with the ladder line inside the flagpole. The company that makes them has a somewhat high price point. Although with some packages you get the antenna tuner, and various other items. I'd say about $1400 out the door (minus tax) is a good combination and free shipping in the states. Had another flagpole with the radials and used the pole as an antenna, along with an antenna tuner. But sold that and moved on. Now, I'm actually considering this expensive one, with no radials. I live in an HOA and a 20' flag pole is ok in the colony. I was hoping that you'd have a flagpole with the ladder line and tuner, to demonstrate to all of us here on this video. 73's de KQ1K

This is very interesting however knowing that the ATU's require DC to operate and this is supplied down the coax. Having reviewed the video you referenced, I use an SDG tuner that requires the use of an iso-T to strip off DC from the signal in the coax. The type of balun needed is a 1:1 CURRENT BALUN. So one needs to install the system as such, current balun, iso-T, tuner and antenna. What does one do for lightning protection at the antenna point? Can we use a spark gap lighting protector at the point where the ladder line meets the tuner? When not in use I keep all antennas isolated (disconnected) from my equipment. Dropping a flag pole is out of the question as to the fact it would arise suspicion why it’s lowered for t-storms. We live in a "hot zone" for lightning strikes being up hill and near the ocean.