01/19/2026
A simple and effective portable HF antenna designed for outdoor and picnic-table operation. It uses a random wire end-fed configuration supported by a non-conductive pole and requires an antenna tuner (ATU) to operate correctly across the HF bands.
Two practical layouts are illustrated: a vertical wire for limited space and a sloping wire for easier deployment.
The reference table provides recommended wire lengths for the main HF bands from 80 to 10 meters, in both feet and meters.
Note that end-fed half-wave (EFHW) antennas also exist and can operate without an antenna tuner, thanks to a dedicated matching circuit or transformer.
This setup, however, prioritizes simplicity and flexibility for portable, field, and casual HF operation, especially for beginners and intermediate hams.
