Ham Radio Magic Tarp Antenna

Thanks to Simon Stribing (VA7BIX) for this fascinating, nearly perfect "stealth" antenna for your home station or for that "go bag" you use for portable operations.

Simon shows us how to use a common tarp to support a full wave loop antenna for 15 meters. The "Magic Tarp" antenna can also be used as a long wire to tap into the 40 meter Amateur Radio band.

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvn9H0CYBNo.

Here are some comments from Simon (VA7BIX):

G'day mates - this 10 x 12 Magic "Tarp" antenna is crazy cool - as stealth as they come, and if you were camping, no one would know you've got an antenna up. Not only that - it works as a FULL LOOP on 15 meters, and then a long wire which happens to be absolutely resonant on 40 meters, and it TRIPLES as an incredible ground radial. This video was shot in my backyard, with lots of noise, and also the feedpoint was facing directly into a tin shed hahaha. This antenna at the park will be incredible! Can't wait to try it. Cheap and easy to build mates. You will need a tuner, unless you want to just rock the full look on 15 meters and the long wire for 40 meters. Tuner https://amzn.to/3HODaGW DISCORD: / discord Feel free to click 👍 Like 👉 Comment 👉 SUBSCRIBE WOOOHOOO 🎺🎺 HUGE THANKS TO THE PATREON'S OF MY CHANNEL: Darrell Beard Lorene Hacker Bill Mitchell Rich Korona Mike Hausauer Stan Kuprianczyk Josh Averyt Maurice Austin If you wish to 'tip' the channel, here's the link: / hamjazz Thanks mates! BURNABY RADIO: Mike - you're the greatest. Contact Mike today for quotes on any and all ham radio gear in Canada! sales@burnabyradio.com ALPHA ANTENNA https://alphaantenna.com 00:00 Introduction 00:49 A "Tarp" Antenna! Really? 02:32 Materials Needed 03:15 ATU - 100 Tuner Recommendation CHEAP! 03:43 Let's Build This! 04:08 Feedpoint Installation 04:42 Time to Raise the MAGIC "TARP" 05:21 Electrically Sound - Let's Connect the BNC Binding Connector 06:11 Is the "Loop" Resonant Anywhere, on Any Band? 08:24 Let's Turn on the Tuner and See what SWR we get with Loop and Tuner 09:41 Undo "Ground" side of Loop and Change to Ground Radial So Tarp is now a LONG WIRE 10:05 LONG WIRE RESONANT on 40 Meters! 11:29 Let's See if We Can Make a Contact on 15M FULL LOOP ANTENNA 13:04 Now the "Long Wire" 14:48 Change to Ground Radial System with Vertical Whip 15:47 INCREDIBLE DX CONTACT 16:18 "Lazy" Conclusion Lying on the Magic "TARP" Wooohooo