On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, I took my production run Xiegu X6200 (on loan from Radioddity) to the Blue Ridge Parkway for its first POTA activation. The activation was a success, with good band conditions on 40 and 30 meters. You can read that field report by clicking here. Later that day, I had a … Continue reading Xiegu X6200: Second POTA activation with rough propagation, but CW saves the day!→
If you’re following the new Xiegu X6200 closely, you might recall that I took a prototype version of the radio out two weeks ago for a POTA activation. Propagation was so challenging–as in, a complete radio blackout in North America due to an X-Class flare–it took about 90 minutes of calling CQ POTA to snag … Continue reading The New Xiegu X6200: First POTA activation in CW with a production unit!→
Many thanks to Jim (WU3K) who shares the following guest post: Jim Kayaks to Janes Island by Jim (WU3K) On Sunday, April 28th, 2024 I set out for Janes Island State Park (US-1580) near Crisfield, MD to activate my first POTA. I have always enjoyed chasing POTA stations, but decided it was time to activate … Continue reading Field Report: Jim Kayaks to Janes Island→
On Friday, April 26, 2024, I dropped in on a POTA site I hadn’t visited in months: South Mountains State Park (US-2753). The Clear Creek Access area–on the north west side of the park–is the quickest POTA detour for me as I travel from Asheville to Hickory along the I-40 corridor. In my previous field … Continue reading POTA at South Mountains: Wet Weather, Flaky Bands, but Brilliant Field Radio Fun!→
N9SAB sent over a care package filed with lightweight, efficient, stealthy antennas for portable and fixed station ham radio use. Let's unbox them together!
The folks are Coffee and Ham Radio did it again! This time with their Ares End Fed random wire (non-resonant) antenna. What’s a random wire antenna and why would you want one? Let’s talk about that as we put this antenna together.
Ares is the Greek god of war. Also of courage. That’s a mighty high aspiration to name an antenna after. But it seems fitting for an antenna, that when used properly, can be uncompromising and savage on the bands. The Ares is a random wire, or non resonant end fed antenna. It uses a 9:1 transformer at the feed point to match the impedance of the wire to the transmitter.
Coffee and Ham Radios sent me this antenna in exchange for a build and review video. There’s no outside influence and my comments are my own.
But why a non resonant antenna? Don’t antennas need to be resonant to operate. That’s the cool thing about this style of antennas. If a radiator is not resonant on any of the bands it is intended for, it will have an impedance at the end of the wire of about 450-600 ohms. You can use an external tuner or matching device to resonate it on those bands. Back in the days of tube radios and open wire feed lines, it was easy to match the 450 ohm impedance of the random wire to your transmitter. Today, using 50 ohm coax, we use the 9:1 transformer and a tuner to accomplish the same task. It’s a really weird quirk that makes this style of antennas useful on a broad range of frequencies.
This is a pretty simplified explanation, I’ve got a video that goes into greater detail, I encourage you to check it out, the link is in the description below.
With that said, I have quite a bit of experience with and really love random wire or non resonant antennas, so I’m a bit excited to put this one together. Let’s head to the bench, unbox the Ares antenna, assemble it, and give it a test.
Let’s talk about wire length, because that’s the key to an effective non resonant antenna. If you look online, there are countless charts that give you preferred wire lengths based on which bands you wish to cover. These lengths have been mathematically calculated to not be resonant on any of the target frequencies you wish to use. But two lengths that are preferred are 41 and 71 feet.
With 71 feet of wire, and a tuner I can pretty much operate on any band between 10 and 80 meters. If my radiator is a shorter 41 feet long, then I have 40 through 10 meter support. There are other lengths that work. But these two lengths, 71 or 41 feet have the best mathematical combination for length vs band coverage.
The Ares now comes standard with enough wire for a 71 foot radiator along with a 28 foot counterpoise, approximately 100 feet of wire. Older models only came with 60 feet of wire. So the upgrade in wire length allows the freedom to choose between building an 80 meter or 40 meter antenna. I want 80 meter support, so I’m building mine with 71 feet of wire, but if you want an antenna with a smaller footprint, and 80 meters isn’t a big deal for you, cut your radiator at 41 feet for 40 through 10 meter coverage
As a bonus, patrons can view the full, unedited phone contacts for this Parks on the Air activation. Visit my page on Patreon for details: https://www.patreon.com/kb9vbrantennas
I do return QSL, if you made a contact with me and would like a QSL, please send me one. Return postage not necessary, but always appreciated. As they say, KB9VBR is ‘good in the book.
===================== Minnesota Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup
1 cup wild rice 4 slices bacon 1 large yellow onion diced 2 large celery stalks diced 2 large carrots diced 1 pound mushrooms sliced 2 cloves garlic 1 tsp oregano 2 tbsp butter 3 tbsp flour 1 cup white wine 1 bay leaf 2 tsp rosemary 4 cups chicken stock 1 cup heavy cream 1 tbsp vinegar salt and pepper
In a separate pot add wild rice and 1 tsp salt to 2 cups boiling water. Cook for about 45 minutes or until done (authentic wild rice may take less time, read package directions).
Cut bacon into 1/4 slices and cook in large pot until fat is rendered. Remove to paper towel. Add vegetables to bacon fat and saute until onions are translucent 3-5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for additional 15-20 minutes until they develop a deep brown color.
Add butter, when melted add flour and oregano and stir until thickened. Add wine to deglaze pot. Add chicken stock, bay leaf, and rosemary. Cook for 20 minutes.
Add wild rice, heavy cream and simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Add vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers.
Timestamp
00:00 CaHR Ares Random Wire Antenna 02:06 Unboxing the CaHR Ares Antenna 05:45 Assembling the random wire antenna 07:22 Non resonant Antenna wire lengths 08: 22 Deploying the antenna at Blue Mound State Park 10:09 17 meter contacts 12:15 15 meter contacts 14:08 40 meter contacts 14:47 20 meter contacts 17:10 Wild Rice and mushroom soup 18:10 How did it work?
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