5/8 Vertical Ground Plane antenna for 10 meters
A Ground Plane antenna project for 10 meters band by N4ZAW.
SWR is under 2:1 from 26.960MHz to 29.890MHz. Reports are excellent. Sure, its ugly. But it is paid for. Pay no attention to the wire going-off horizontally from the base.
It’s just one end of my G5RV dipole, or sometimes called a “dummy load” (sorry — just an old ham joke, hi hi). Actually, I’ve made hundereds of DX contacts on that piece of wire!
The link for calculations used and LOTS of kewl ideas are found on“THE ANTENNA ELMER”
Parts Sources and Prices of materials used:
Large (1inch to 3inch size heatshrink Tubing available only one place that I know of, that being “Parts Express”.The cost depends upon the diameters,with the entire cost for what I used to weatherproof my antenna at around $15.00. Add a couple sticks of hot glue for sealing. 4FT of 1″x1/8″ aluminum bar stock from lowes($15.00)“MIGHTY PUTTY” Cost $10.00 for three sticks….One telescoping “pool pole fromBJ’S Wholesale Club , (sort of a Costco,or wholesale wally word) Price $16.00The 10’3″ fiberglass poles were purchased (5buks each) at ALLWATERS FISHING…
I used #12 solid copper, but #14 stranded works just as well, except for the top hat. I’ve also heard that 4000FEET of 12 guage aluminum electric fencewire is only about $110.00 fromTractor Supply stores.If this is true, my next project may be a Rhombic for 160METERS :)Another great online source for wire is“The Wire MAN”out of SC.
AS_Built parts list:
- 4-10 foot fiberglass telescoping fishing poles
- 1-Copper ground wire clamp
- 1 box:#8-5/8″ self-tapping screws
- 1 pkg:JB Weld
- 2 EA: 2″ hose clamps
- 1 pack :Hot glue sticks
- 1 EA: acid brush
- 1 EA: SO-239 connector
- 1 pack: (8 ea) 1/2 conduit clips
- 1 12″ piece of 1.25″sced 40 PVC pipe for insulator section.
- 1 12″ piece of 2″ PVC electrical conduit (fits nicely outside of the 1.25″PVC for super strength).
- 44Feet: #14,16, or 18 copper wire for ground radials(make sure at least2 feet is solid for coil).
- 21.2 Feet: tubing, preferably aluminum, but whatcha got? Can be telescoping (one section inside another).
A project originally available at http://www.pbase.com/12footer/the_10meter_vertical_antenna_project
Supposed to be Copyrights and credits to n4zaw
Hello Simone, My name is Mike, call sign KD8WBQ from Ohio, U.S.A.
Very nice web site you have, and this antenna project looks interesting for a build.
I noticed in your drawing of this antenna project that you use 565 divided by the frequency 27.5 mhz for the radiator. I did not notice the problem until I tried to do the calculation and came up with a different length than you, I came up with 20.54 feet . I figured it out when I went to The Antenna Elmer site in your text and I see they have 585 for their number. Your total length of 21.2 ft is correct, but your equation is wrong. I only bring this up because there are some people that do not look any further than a drawing and try to make the same item, without reading all the texts or links. Maybe you will want to update the drawing so it shows correctly.
Again you have a Very nice site and lots of cool things.
Mike.S KD8WBQ
Hello Simone, My name is Bayu , I’m from Indonesia. I like your post. It take me back to the past when i still using 2 m band radio. Your antenna usually works like my 2m half wave ground plane. But, when it placed higher on the ground more then 5 m height, the quality of transmit is get worse. So, place it near my bed inside my room. Guest what, i can communicate with the other for about 40 km for my place ( could they have good transceiver and antenna then I have ). I using only Icom IC 2N, no booster. The antenna i made is good for transmit and receive also. Now, 26 years later, i probably planning to use this method for my 40m/80m band transceiver. Again…probably. Thank you and nice to meet you here.
Regards,
Bayu S C
Hello Simone, my name is John, call sign N2YKG, from Orlando,Fl. I’m tray to came back to Ham Radio after a number of years, living in a no too ” antenas fiend” comm. I would like to know if your antena is portable ( to take it to the beach ? ) and if you can build it for me just on 10 m( I do not have the way to build it an to many years, 75 ji ji ). I may work only on CW. If it is posible tell me what is involve.
73 from the great state of Fl.