antennas

hello
i am 13 and new to ham radio.do you hav suggestions for a cheap antenna for my handheld. i am looking for something that doesnt hav too much soldering to do

Welcome to Ham Radio!

What I would suggest is pretty easy.

First what kind of connector does the handheld use? BNC or SMA?

You should buy and adapter first that is BNC to PL-259 or SMA-PL-259

I personally have never done this but what you can do is make a ground plane. My elmers have told me that if you cut a piece of wire resonant on the operating frequency, you can solder it to connect it to the adapter. Then suspend it VERTICALLY, this you must do for FM repeaters if you want good results. I would suggest maybe talking to an elmer so you ask him/her face to face. When I build antennas that helps alot!

73's and best of luck

[KD8EPC]

are you gonna use it for a base antenna or an antenna that is for portable use? and what type of connector does your ht have? i may have something if you are using it as a base.
73s de KD8EPC

yes. i am going to use it as a base antenna.it has an SMA connector.

first, get a SMA-PL-259 adapter. You can't go wrong with that on a HT http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

what type of handheld you have?

it is an YAESU radio VX5R.

the handheld has 50 MHZ 146MHz and 440MHZ

[KE5FIX]

You can't go wrong with building this antenna for the 2 meter band. I have used one for about a year now with no problem.
It is easy to build and not much soldering.Link (http://home.att.net/~jleggio/projects/rdf/tape_bm.htm)

is it for transmitting?it says its radio direction finding

[ve6wtf]

Really it depends on what you want.
what do you want?
how high?
how much gain?
directional or omni directional?
if i were you,
If you can beg your mom.
just put up a 1/4 wave verticle with radials
IT IS AS SIMPLE AS IT GETS.
and if you want just a simple handheld antenna,
if you dont have one, gimme your address. i will mail one

yes . i think i will stick to building a ground plane.it is simple.i found an article on the net.i already have some copper wire and the connector which i got today.

[KE5FIX]

Quote[/b] (VA7AAX @ Jan. 03 2007,08:27)]is it for transmitting?it says its radio direction finding
To answer your question, yes it will transmit and it does a great job of it. I have used it with my vx-6r to talk 40-50+ miles easily.

Now, here's a question that has kinda slipped. Do you have any way of checking the SWRs of the antenna?(i.e. a SWR bridge/meter or an antenna analyzer)

The easiest way to find one would be to get in touch with some local hams and use use theirs.

an update . i did build an antenna with help of some local hams .they happened to have an SWR meter.thanks fo all the suggestions

[VA3SAX]

well what did you build hows it working? so on and so on give us some details here

i built the simple ground plane.SWR was good.i just tryed it on repeaters that i can access with the rubber ducky. but will let you know.

[ve6wtf]

ERm, what repeaters do you use?
I have been trying to get a hold of you,
But I have not been very succesful

[W8LBO]

I'd say a homemade dipole. Very easy to build and good practice, too.

[kl7aj]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Jan. 01 2007,22:42)]hello
i am 13 and new to ham radio.do you hav suggestions for a cheap antenna for my handheld. i am looking for something that doesnt hav too much soldering to do
But...but...but...SOLDERING is 90% of the fun of ham radio!


I'm often asked the reason why
My actions are so strange,
I always give the same reply,
"There's solder in my veins!"

Others get their biggest thrill
From driving Semi trucks,
But nothing beats the smell so sweet
As smold'ring rosin flux.......

[W8LBO]

LOL, that sounds pretty unhealthy.

[va7aax]

if i had solder in my blood , i would be dead long ago. contains LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!