Next Meeting
Feb 7, 2025
07:00 PM Pacific Time
(In the Room, and by Zoom)
Program:
From Rookie to Innovator: Experimenting with (Slot) Antennas on a Budget
Ben Eadie, VE6SFX.
Ben Eadie, VE6SFX, also known as Ham Radio Rookie on YouTube and host of vfcomms.com. He is the creator of the FARA-J Antenna and is currently working on other creative ham radio gear.
For this presentation Ben will go over the design and characteristics of a portable slot antenna. He is currently fine-tuning a slot antenna kit and hoping to have it available soon.
I'll introduce the basics of slot antennas, discuss why they're so effective, and share my hands-on approach to designing and testing them. My goal is to show you that anyone can experiment, learn, and innovate with antennas, no matter their experience level. All it takes is curiosity, a willingness to try, and a handful of tools and materials.
As a rookie in the ham radio world, I've found that knowing very little can actually be an advantage. It gives me the freedom to ask dumb questions, challenge assumptions, and experiment without fear of breaking conventional wisdom. My curiosity led me to slot antennas an intriguing type of antenna that fits perfectly with my goals of creating something stealthy, compact, and effective for HOA-restricted environments, POTA, and even potentially SOTA environments in VHF and UHF.
Slot antennas have long been recognized as a highly effective design.
Historically, they were difficult to construct due to fabrication challenges and the high cost of materials. However, with today's materials and techniques, they've become surprisingly accessible and affordable. This opens the door for experimentation and innovation like never before.
I've discovered that while antenna calculations are important, real-world, empirical testing often delivers surprising results that deviate from theoretical predictions. My approach is simple: find a design, iterate, test, and learn. With just a few inexpensive materials craft knives, connectors, and Faraday tape you can build and test antennas that rival far more complex designs. Slot antennas, in particular, are a fantastic starting point because of their proven performance and adaptability to modern materials.
Note: Please make sure you're running the latest version of ZOOM in order to connect.
Zoom Tips:
#1 (Jim, K6SV) Download PDF ZOOM Guide
#2 (Rob, KC6TYD) Click for: To be let into the meeting:
"How To Change Your Zoom Name Before Entering"
Topic: PAARA Club Meeting
Time: Feb 7, 2025 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87518581405
Meeting ID: 875 1858 1405
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