I am no longer making this antenna as my key business is now taking up all of my available time. Thanks to the over thousand users that continue to enjoy this design around the world. I leave this info up for historical reasons as well as access to the video at the bottom of the page. Thanks! Steve, W1SFR 

Get the complete kit and get on the air in minutes. NO CLIPS, NO COILS, NO MUSS, NO FUSS.

Update from Brian (QTH Virginia) from QRPZone.com:

Had another opportunity to try out the endfed over the New year holiday while at my in-laws house in PA. Ran the coax out the window (UnUn was hanging about 3 feet off ground) and sloped the antenna up a tree about 25 feet high and caught an amazing opening on the upper bands. 10m to New Zealand and Austrailia with QRP… I am ecstatic!

The EndFed 40 m to 6 m Antenna is arguably one of the best field antenna choices you can make for QRP ops and is especially well matched with the KX3, KX2, FT-817, the KX1, and any other QRP rig with a tuner.

Rich—K2UPS said: “The antenna arrived Saturday via priority mail. It is considerably lighter than the one I built which is perfect for when I go hiking. I took it down to the beach today ( it was partly sunny and 51′) and made over a dozen contacts in a few hours. Greece, France, Italy, Brazil, Belgium, Mexico, Canada and also AL CA NC IN & PA. Had a blast! I operated 30, 20, 17 & 12 meters. It is so nice to have both a rig and antenna that allow QSY’s and band changes as fast as you can turn the knob. Thanks for a great product!”

Got a note from my buddy Tony the other day. “Having been Field Day Director five times, team leader of four DXpeditions  and having worked for three antenna compaines I can say with some degree of authority that your antenna is the most compact and easiest to get up and get on the air I’ve ever seen. It will definitely be my next SOTA antenna!”

“Your antenna Is a real gem. I have used it horizontal, sloping and dangling vertical from my hotel balcony. I usually use 20′ of surplus fiberglass masting to support the unun by running the coax down inside the mast. I bungee the mast to whatever is available and toss the other end into a tree. On 40-10 meters it tunes easily with my PFR3 and KX3. This weekend we operated Winter Field Day my KXPA100 easily tuned the antenna on 10-160 meters. Better yet, it worked, I made contacts on all bands. I wouldn’t have believed using a 35′ antenna on 160 but I made a 500 mile contact with one call.”

The W1SFR End Fed Antenna is 35′ long and made with 18 ga Davis RF “PolyStealth” antenna wire, or Wireman “silky” 18ga. The wire is more expensive than others but resists kinking and has a very rugged PVC coating.

• Ideal balance of strength and flexibility
• Low-Gloss finish and small size makes wire disappear into the background
• Superior abrasion resistance for running through trees
• UV & Weather resistant for use on the seacoast or in other harsh environments subjected to acid rain, high wind, or high snow and ice loads.

The 9:1 UnUN and antenna wire together only weigh about 7.5oz. (give or take a tad).

The first time I threw a line and hoisted this antenna into a huge maple tree in my back yard (in Vermont) I fired it up and heard Brazil coming in loud and strong on 20 meters. I was impressed enough to decide to make them and offer them up to the public.

The matching transformer is a 9:1 UnUn which is trifilar wound. The antenna wire is attached to a stainless steel stud and the unit has a BNC connector so no SO-239 adapter needed. The toroid is held in place internally with a generous amount of hot glue and can take a beating. There is a black delrin insulator (which may be different that the image below) on the end of the antenna to attach ropes or to mount on top of a pole like a Jakite or similar fiberglass pole.

The wire is folded over about 3 inches, after the insulator is attached, then secured and sealed with double walled adhesive lined heat shrink. I have spared no expense and make these just like I would for myself.

You just can’t get a better made End Fed antenna!

Here’s my process for setting up an antenna with throwing line kit:

See what they’re saying on eHam HERE.

Pair the antenna with our throwing line kit and you have a complete solution to getting on the air quickly and reliably. The kit consists of the Antenna with UnUn and 35′ wire, a line winder, throwing line, throwing weight and heavy duty antenna stake. 

A note about the throwing line and weight:

It is strongly suggested that you use a glove or at the very least some sort of protection for your index finger of your throwing hand. The 8oz weight creates a lot of velocity and dragging it across your finger at a high speed can create rope burns. Ask me how I know that 😉

This antenna requires at least 25′ of coax feed line with no chokes. The shield of the coax acts as a counterpoise. You do NOT need an additional counterpoise or ground wire with this antenna. If you want to use the antenna for 80m, the you will need to add a counterpoise, and I suggest using an additional 50 to 100′ of wire. You can just wrap it around the outside of the BNC connector or clip it on. Some have hacked the UnUn and added an additional stud for a counterpoise. Tests show that laying the coax in a straight line is best, but the difference when folded back on itself or in some random pattern is only minor. Length of the coax is not critical beyond 25′. I use a 25′ feed line of RG-174.

Maximum Rating: 100 watts