How To Use a 17 Foot Telescopic Whip for Ham Radio

With telescoping whips there's a useful tip that saves time getting the length right. Establish the number of thicker sections to get just short of the right length and pull those out. Then you only need to do the measuring with the last section. A cord with knots is also less clumsy than a tape measure. Put a loop in the end to attach to the base and add a knot for each band.

Walt, I find that your channel is one of the most helpful ones on YouTube for amateur radio stuff. Keep up the good work.

Just a thought: I still find the metric-imperial system a non-conflict issue. Americans use metrics more than they think--from buying soda in liters, eye-glasses, audio equipment specs in Hz, medicine—milligrams, radio—KHz MHz, electrical units of 120/220 volts, heck, even our money is metric being base 10. I still find it interesting that in Canada and UK-- they interchange metrics and Imperial units in cooking and baking-- even measuring (one sure way to get in trouble). Keep up the great videos! de AI4QT

I am all about the whips in the field personally, but there is something pretty important to remember. That guide to resonant length assumes a good ground plane and good ground under your ground plane. If you are placing everything on dry sand with no salt water on site, the ground will suck regardless of what you put down for a ground plane. This means that you will have to extend your whip more to actually get resonant. The more conductive the ground under your ground plane, the shorter the whip can be and reach resonance. I generally use the Wolf River whip because it is slightly longer than the other 17' whips, for just that reason, though I have a Chameleon whip as well. If all else fails, clip an extra length of solid copper wire to the end of your whip if things are really bad on the ground. Walt avoids all this by habitually setting up by the saltwater and running a counterpoise/radial down to it. That makes for a fantastic ground plane and thus avoids the problems I just talked about. For my own part, I have just gotten used to knowing about how long a whip I need and using a NanoVNA to dial it in once I am in the ballpark.

Hey Walt, Just wanted to say I’ve been watching your channel for a few months now and your my favorite ham radio YouTuber, no bs and straight to point, I learn something everytime I watch your videos, thanks for making them!

The 17' telescoping whip is easily my favorite antenna for portable use. I have the original and enhanced versions from WRC. They are so versatile, it's great to use mounted on the car, from a park bench, a stake in the ground or a tripod. Plus a 1/4-wave antenna is great.

Yes, I have the Moonraker one, as I saw a UK amateur using one. I have used mine with a mag mount and on my car's mount. 😊

Hi Walt, stumbled across your video looking for 17" whip antenna ideas. THANK YOU for inspiring people. If there were more operators like you in the ham radio community, it would be twice the size it is! De NG2Q

Brilliant video Walt as always. Enjoy every one you do!

Thank you for your operating experience with all of the options. I have both the MFJ 1979 and the Chameleon SS17 and for anyone interested in getting one, definitely get the Chameleon. It's much more robust in construction and also the upper segments are much thicker. The 1979 is a bit flimsy up top and probably will wear out more quickly despite both being the same price. For awhile there the SS17 was sold out and was hard to get (I became impatient and got the 1979 first). Another great video that makes my day! Always appreciate your vibe that keeps up the HAM spirit! 73!

Hi Walt, I have the Wolf River coils long whip with their Silver bullet 1000 set up. Works great. Having a blast the past 2 weeks on 12 and 10m!

I just used my Wolf River Coils 213" whip for POTA today. The new one they came out with this year is awesome. It collapses smaller, so it'll fit in cary-on luggage. It's double crimped and more rugged than their previous one too. It's become my go-to antenna the last few months. It's easy to setup on a mag mount and switch bands. I memorized how many sections to drop between each bands, LOL.

Walt, I really like your last two videos where you start out with what you were going to share with us. Also, these last two how to videos were desperately needed. They both fill a gap. There are many videos that review sliding coil antennas or telescopic whips. There are many videos showing people using them for POTA activations, but I haven’t found any that simply explain how to use them… until now!

On my whips after I get them tuned for length I mark the whip with a sharpie marker, that way I just extend them till the mark shows when I setup at the park. The sharpie does wear over time but it's quick to freshen it up.

Thanks Walt. I don't have one yet but I've checked the price a hundred times. I may hit the buy button next time. Always good stuff here.

Hi Walt, I watch about every episode and especially liked this one at about 4:28. You showed me an easier way to measure the antenna as it is extended. THANK YOU!!!

Hey Walt! I mark my whips with a sharpie for each band. Saves carrying a tape measure, and even with different ground conditions, it gets you close enough to fine tune if you wish. Four 10 meter (33ft) harbor freight tape measures with wires and connectors soldered on make great radials for a whip, and are bright yellow for visibility if using them in a park. Same with the wolf river coil, I mark it as well, and it will be very close depending on ground conditions.

Walt Thank you for a great timely subject, as Field Day is coming. I have watched many other channels regarding Verticals and Ham Sticks and have always had trouble tuning as fast as they seem to do, or if at all, so I gave up but once in a while I would try again. Then I discovered your channel. Easy to follow and understand. It inspired me to go back out and try it again, This time I moved the whip off the Tri-Pod unto a ground stake with a screen and bam it tuned so much easier and faster using my antenna analyzer. Now to hook up my radios and test it out. I now have confiance to tune the Ham Sticks that have been a pain for a few years. Thank you so much for a great channel. Tony (KH6TG)

I have had my eye on the 17' telescopic whips for a while. You have convinced me to get one!

Great point these 17 ft whips give great results. I use it with the MFJ tapped coil mounted directly to the SO239 on my car trunk. Not to drive mobile with!