Hardware Chat

Hi M7KOA,

I've just passed Foundation and have a Baofeng UV-5R . My home is surrounded by a hill, trees and close housing. 

The UV-5R does not pickup calls on its standard aerial so I made two ground plane antenna one from a coat hanger and the other from 3mm threaded rod.

You will note the spider legs in the attached photograph ( 433MHz aerial) form the ground plane. The small clamps are taken from "chocolate strip" connectors which have been removed from the plastic outers and are attached to an SO239 socket (other connector types are available). The ground plane rods can be loosened and packed for travelling. I made a similar aerial for 145MHz and the UV-5R now shows 5bars in the presence of a signal.

You can find instructions on the internet which will give dimensions and procedures for tuning and SWR testing.

I must add a note of  caution as I am currently using them in "receive only"  mode until I can build an SWR meter to tune and check the aerial for  a good SWR.

You will , of course, also need to tune and check the aerial for  correct SWR before use to avoid damaging  the transmitter  circuits.

I would invite others to advise on grounding the "ground plane" as I have no field experience, yet.

Hope this helps a little, 

Kind Regards

73s 

Mick

M7HHF

have a look at a nano VNA (about £40 from various places) and the RSGB do a great book ( https://www.rsgbshop.org/acatalog/NanoVNAs-Explained-2110.html ) that explains how to use them

you can tune antennas, tune filters and so much more with them, and there is a free "nanovnasaver" program that makes them easier to use with a windows PC

also have a look at a "ladder line J pole" antenna simple to make and just hang up

73

Peter M0PWX (not pete M0PSX who runs this site)