Antennas

G5RV A multiband classic—but remember, you should never tune an antenna through the coaxial cable. The tuner should always be placed between the twin-lead and the coax. Here’s my configuration: 2×15 m inverted-V dipole → 10 m of 300-ohm TV ladder line through the attic → N7DDC autotuner → choke balun → TRX. A great idea from W5DXP is to adjust the tuning by changing the ladder line length. You can basically use any dipole length with proper tuner—I’ve had great results with 2×17 m and even 2×40 m.

GP Vertical Another classic. Many people underestimate verticals compared to dipoles or beams, but they’re excellent antennas—as long as you understand what to expect: no gain, but a low radiation angle, which is great for DX. More radials = more efficiency. But even with just two, you can make plenty of DX contacts. I like the multiband fan configuration—just run the wires in parallel. Don’t overdo it though, or you might run into unwanted resonances and lack of low angle radiation. From my experience, 20 m / 15 m / 10 m works fine.

Inverted L A solid starting point for serious work on 160 m and 80 m. Again: more radials = better performance. I also had good results using a fan configuration, with parallel wires for different bands and elevated (1-2m) radials.

Moxon Small but efficient. I built one for 10 m back in 2014 using wire and some old junk. Mounted it on wooden poles, about 4 m AGL. Boom—first contact was a VU station on SSB with 5 W. Do I need to say more?

144 MHz 6 element Yagi An ultralight beam from DK7ZB. No problem making 600 km contacts with QRP—assuming a decent location, of course.

LOG = Loop on the ground Excellent receiving antenna from KK5JY. I use it a lot while skywatching in rural locations. Experiment with preamps and overall lenght, it is quiet antenna but with really good SNR. You can boost the gain by putting it slightly up of the ground. It performs great also in noisy enviroment.