I was first licensed in 1959 and quickly put up my first antenna. I didn't bother doing any research into the subject like looking at a book or magazine. After all, how hard could it be? I had passed my Novice test and I knew some formulas. I put up a 132 foot dipole for 80 meters at about 10 feet and fed it with what I had laying around, TV twin lead. The antenna didn't work. I wondered why.

We want you to avoid such an experience so we have put up this page. The articles here have been hand picked from the pages of QST with the beginner in mind. There is a little antenna theory, again with the beginner in mind, and some simple to construct antenna projects that work well.--Al Alvareztorres AA1DO (SK)

Wire Antennas for the Beginner 
QST June 1983, pp. 33-38
Every ham knows how to make and install wire antennas. But if you've never done it, you probably have a few questions. Here are some answers.

Ground-plane Antennas for 144, 222, 449 MHz 
ARRL Antenna Book, 18^th Edition, pp. 18-16 to 18.17
(If you can't find aluminum rod or wire or welding rods, try metal coat hangers - they work too.)

Build a Portable Groundplane Antenna 
QST July 1991, pp. 33-34
Need a better antenna for your hand-held radio? Here's the answer.

An Easy to Build Rear Mount 2 Meter Yagi
QST June 2012, pp 39-40
Beam your 2M signal toward the direction you want to work.

Dual Band Handy Yagi
QST May 2008, pp. 42-43
Boost the range of your 2M/70cm handheld transceiver with this simple dual band Yagi--no soldering or coax connectors required!

A Compact Multiband Dipole
QST March 2016 pp. 45-46
This 48 ft dipole covers 10, 20, and 40 meters.
20 ft of window line matches both 10M and 20M.
The moderate SWR on 40 allows reasonably efficient
operation with a tuner.

"This Old Dipole" or Dipole 101
An antenna construction workshop conducted at Marshall Emm N1FN's location on Sunday, 8/2/98 (An EXCELLENT step-by-step with color photos on constructing a dipole. – Ed.)