If you want to have an Ham radio for your own, then you must have a clear idea about some ham radio accessories.
Ham stick antenna is one of the most useful part to get the best performance. You should know in detail about this antenna before starting an amateur radio hobby. So, what is a ham stick antenna?
A ham stick antenna is a copper-wrapped fiberglass tube that is a few feet long. The copper winding increases its electrical length, but not its physical length.
The antenna has a steel strap on the end with a set screw for adjusting its length and reducing the SWR on your desired frequency.
In this article, I will discuss everything you need to know about ham stick antenna. Let’s start..
Ham Stick Antenna
A ham stick antenna is a type of mono-pole antenna that is commonly used by amateur radio operators. antennas are favored for their compact size, portability, and ease of use.
Ham Stick” is a brand antenna mainly manufactured by Lakeview Company. However, other similar antennas are also known as ham sticks antennas.
A ham stick usually comes with two parts. A lower fiberglass mast along with a fixed band and a linear wound loading coil for an upper steel strap.
There are several screws for ham radio antenna tuning that allow you to raise or lower it to accommodate it. A ham stick antenna is planned to be used vertically.
Which Ham Stick Antenna Suits You?
Ham stick antennas have many lengths such as 10m, 20m, 30m, 40m, 80m, etc. It is better to use a 10m ham stick at the beginning.
Some users have made bad comments about 80m. So you should not go for the longer antenna like 80m. You can try all set meters of ham sticks to figure out which is best for you.
Anyway, you may get better results using a 20m or 40m ham stick. A 20m ham stick can be quite effective for operating mobile ham radio for car.
Can You Use A Ham Stick For Base Station?
Yes. You can use a ham stick antenna for ham radio base station. It will take you into the air. You need at-least 40m sticks to set it up and get the best performance.
To use a ham stick as a base station antenna, you need the following:
- A ham stick antenna specifically designed for base station use.
- A mounting system to secure the antenna to a mast or other support structure.
- An appropriate coaxial cable to connect the antenna to your radio.
- A ground plane or counterpoise system to ensure efficient operation of the antenna.
Once you have all these components, you can assemble and install the ham stick antenna and connect it to your ham base station. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines for safe and effective installation.
Advantages Of Ham Stick Antenna
Ham stick antennas are quite cheap and have a relatively low air load profile for mobile use. If your ham stick becomes invalid or stolen, you can easily get a new one for just $30.
With a ham stick, you can handle high frequency from your car without a huge antenna. Besides, you can easily set up and remove a ham stick antenna whenever you want.
Disadvantages Of Ham Stick Antenna
Ham stick antennas are sometimes ineffective. The larger the size of the ham stick, the lower the efficiency. Also, its operating range is very narrow, such as 5 or 10kHz or more.
Many users find the ham stick incompetent. So experiment with many ham stick antennas to see which one works for you.
Verdict
A ham stick antenna is a type of antenna that lets you transmit and receive clear signals between multiple wireless points.
It is quite simple and effective for hams to use. Many people are using it in their residence as well as in their vehicles.
So, are you clear about the concept of ham stick antenna? I’m sure you are now. You can contact local a ham or visit his place to see how the ham stick antenna works.
Hi, This is Rick. I am working as one of the chief author for this website. I am very much familiar and skilled in the use of amateur radio equipment and communication techniques including the physics of radio waves, Morse code, antenna design, circuit design, and more.
I am very much interested is to learn about the new invention of this Ham radio field and help beginners with my expertise. I also check facts in other post in this website as well. Have you any question on Ham radio? Feel free to contact me via contact page.