Is This Budget Chinese Quarter Wave Vertical Antenna Worth It?

Introduction and Unboxing00:00:00

Introduction to the budget quarter-wave vertical antenna purchased from AliExpress for around $25 to $100. The presenter unboxes the item, noting it arrives in a cardboard box within a plastic shipping bag from China via USPS. The package includes the stainless steel whip, a counterpoise made of computer ribbon cable strands, a ring terminal, and a ground spike. There are no instructions included.

Physical Inspection and Identification00:02:00

Detailed inspection of the antenna components. The label indicates a length of 5.6 meters, though the whip measures 17 feet. The presenter uses a multimeter continuity test to identify which side of the center insulator connects to the radiating whip versus the ground spike, marking them with a Sharpie for future reference.

Counterpoise Preparation and Setup00:09:30

Preparation of the 10-strand ribbon cable counterpoise. The presenter separates the individual wires and discusses concerns regarding durability, UV exposure, and tangling. The ground spike is installed in the backyard, and the radial wires are laid out in a circular pattern around the base.

SWR Testing and Results00:16:50

Field testing of the antenna using a Rig Expert AA55 antenna analyzer. The presenter adjusts the telescopic whip length to find resonance. Initial SWR sweeps show excellent matches on 20m and 17m, acceptable matches on 15m and 12m, and higher SWR on 10m and 6m. The presenter notes potential detuning from nearby metal structures and plans to retest in a more open location.

Conclusion and Final Verdict00:21:00

Final assessment of the antenna's usability. Despite some squirrely readings on higher bands and the delicate nature of the thin radial wires, the presenter concludes the antenna is usable for portable QRP operations, especially with an antenna tuner. He summarizes the pros and cons, including weight, cost, and the ground spike requirement, and signs off.