Can’t believe you were outside 👀

THe length of the tiger tail is important. For 2m is will be about 20", experiment with the length

The change of green screen is working well there Jim, a lot of people have been fooled into thinking that you were outisde. Great lighting as well...

I am impressed that you made it through the entire video without having to have any words bleeped out. 🤣😂

Jim, please consider showing (in a future video) how the field strength changes with the tiger tail. I believe we fixate too much on SWR as proof that our antenna is working. Like I always say, "My dummy load has a great SWR." 73 OM

Adding a counterpoise should contribute to create a resonnant dipole. Therefore I suggest using an identical antenna as a counterpoise, or at least a similar one. The angle between both elements (antenna and counterpoise) will affect the impedance, therefore the SWR. And keep in mind these antenna sticks are loaded with an inductor and quite often a small capacitor, too: matching such a stick with anything else becomes a comlex equation! 🤔

I use a 19" counterpoise with the Signal Stick when I use it with my ICOM 705. I connect it to the ground. It makes a big difference and works great.

I would be curious to know if the counter poise affects transmitted or received signal strength. I am not too concerned with improving the SWR on my hand held. Also I think the length of the counter poise is important. It's not a ground plane, it's a counter poise. Just like in a dipole, the length is critical. Thanks.

Jim your counter poses is way too long you should use about the length of the size of the signal stick antenna. also you should use 146.000 not 144.00

Hi, a great experiment. I am sure that the 1/2 wavelength is the best one to choose. However, when holding a HT do you become part of the 'earth' through capacitance? Keep the vids coming. Like the various options that are out there.

That's funny , I hadn't finished the video yet and was wondering why I was getting pulled into this, Nice to see you outside Jim!!!

Thank you

My signal sticks do improve with a tiger tail of the appropriate length. It definitely improves receive (to my uncalibrated earballs) and I'm told that it makes a difference on transmit from reports. Adding a random length wire on as a counterpoise is a roll of the dice. It appears you didn't have a "lucky" length. Instead, start with about 20-1/2" and trim (in this case, it means actually **cut** the wire as rolling it doesn't seem to help) 1/8th inch at a time until tuned to suit you. If you are like me, you will be tempted to try just one more 1/8th inch off and you'll cut too much. The good news is... it's just a length of scrap wire. If you have to, make a few and trim until you learn when to stop. I use a ring terminal on the radio and an alligator clip on my tiger tails so that I can have one for VHF and one for UHF. Cheap. Easy. Effective. All things that most hams love!

Yeah, your counterpoise should be a specific length for your wavelength. Matters a low.

Jim, you're outside! Whoa.... good video, pro level

If a glass mount works for you, it works. Chuck just doesn't like using one because he puts a ham stick on it and everytime he hits a low tree branch it rips off his window.

Jim…First, yes great to see you outside, second… may try making your poise the length of your antenna or the magic 18 or 19 inch for two meters. Test different lengths. And let’s look at impedance more than swr. 😎 the yard looks great by the way, nice manicure.

Youre gonna have to go outside again with a shorter length Jim. :) A test is a test and it still gave you useable data. Thnx Jimbob. ;)

I wonder what the swr is on the signal stick when it's twisted up the way everyone does it so it won't poke your eye out.

I'm gonna start using my HT all gangster like sideways now

Pretty much says what I have believed for a long time. A counterpoise on an HT really doesn’t make much difference.

I think maybe the best HT antenna are ones that are folded "flexible metal tape" kind that spring up when you undo the velcro. Like the ones from HYS or Abree (spelling?) . They seem to be most efficient on an HT. Even tho they are like 19 or sometime 21 inches long

Nice experiment, but shouldn't the counterpoise be the same electrical length at the antenna. I use a trough the glass antenna on my pickup and hit repeaters 45 miles away, I have talked much farther from the top of a parking garage.

I think Chuck would give you grief no matter what you did! 73

New guy here...... Don't all those adapters at the base effectively worsen swr?