Build a 43¢ 5-Band Antenna in Minutes - No Tuner Required RAS #17

Can you really build a 5-band ham radio antenna for just 43 cents? In this episode of the Rubbish Antenna Series, we’re putting that idea to the test using nothing more than a length of Ethernet cable, a few taps, and some good old-fashioned experimentation. The maths: • 50 feet of Ethernet cable cost me $5 CAD • Ethernet cable contains 8 individual wires • One wire works out to approximately 12.5% of the cable • $5 × 12.5% = 62.5 cents • I only used about 34 feet of the 50-foot wire • Final cost = approximately 43 cents 😄 So yes… this antenna cost about 43 cents to build. Now before the comments explode 🤣… You may also need: • A telescopic fishing pole, painter’s pole, or support • Electrical tape or painter’s tape • A Sharpie for marking tap locations • A feedpoint connection method • A radio • A park bench and a coffee (optional but highly recommended) As always, this is an experiment. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s seeing what’s possible with simple materials, a bit of curiosity, and a willingness to try something ridiculous. WOOOHOOOO! 73, Simon - HamJazz #hamradio #amateurradio #antenna #diyantenna #hamjazz #pota #sota #fieldradio #portablehamradio #rubbishantennaseries