Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
N9SAB 80 m linked EFHW ham radio antenna field test for portable QRP, 40 m NVIS, Winlink, and multiband HF operation on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
In this video, I deploy the lightweight N9SAB linked end fed half wave antenna low and nearly horizontal as a 40 meter NVIS antenna. I test its real world performance using one watt FT8, examine its SWR with a RigExpert Stick Pro, and complete a short range 40 meter Winlink connection using NVIS.
Although this is the 80 meter model, this first field test focuses on the 20 and 40 meter elements. The 80 meter element and a dedicated 80 and 40 meter NVIS test will be covered separately.
The antenna was tested with the Lab599 TX-500MP, LiNK500MP MK2, Microsoft Surface Go, and a GigaParts carbon fiber mast. One watt FT8 reports reached stations across Europe, the Arctic, Russia, Iceland, and Newfoundland despite the antenna being deployed at a low height optimized for 40 meter NVIS.
The video also demonstrates why antenna height is always a compromise. A low horizontal deployment supports high angle radiation for regional NVIS communications, but it reduces the electrical height and potential performance of the antenna on 20, 15, and 10 meters.
Key results:
• 40 meters: approximately 1.4:1 SWR at 7 MHz
• 40 meter SWR remained approximately 1.4:1 to 1.7:1 between 7 and 7.2 MHz
• 20 meters: good analyzer results and excellent one watt FT8 performance
• 15 meters: usable, with SWR between approximately 2.15:1 and 1.9:1
• 10 meters: usable with an antenna tuner
• 40 meter Winlink NVIS connection over approximately 18 km
• Lightweight linked construction for portable and emergency communications
• 80, 40, and 20 meter operation, with 15 and 10 meters available as bonus bands
• 60 meter NVIS operation possible with an antenna tuner
The N9SAB linked EFHW offers regional NVIS capability on the lower HF bands while retaining useful higher band coverage for portable ham radio, emergency communications, SOTA, Parks on the Air, and general field operation.
Featured antenna:
N9SAB 80 m linked EFHW antenna on eBay
Affiliate link:
ebay.us/3EGwqy
Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through this link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Books by Julian OH8STN:
Radio Antenna Handbook for SHTF
Pragmatic field notes covering HF, NVIS, CB, and portable antenna systems:
amazon.com/dp/B0G4KM81BD
Grid-Down Emergency Communications
Practical communications planning for maintaining connectivity when conventional infrastructure fails:
amazon.com/dp/B0G4JY2RLJ
Complete Amazon author page:
amazon.com/author/julian-oh8stn
Support Off-Grid Ham Radio:
Website:
oh8stn.org
73
Julian OH8STN
Off-Grid Ham Radio
Minimize Gear, Maximize Capability
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Why baseline antenna testing matters
01:39 N9SAB linked EFHW design
02:14 Portable QRP field test setup
03:09 RigExpert Stick Pro measurements
03:22 Day one results and storm interruption
03:48 Low horizontal 40 meter NVIS deployment
04:13 NVIS height and band performance tradeoffs
05:07 One watt FT8 results
06:18 Antenna analyzer results
06:48 40 meter SWR performance
07:03 20 meter performance
07:19 15 meter performance
07:57 10 meter performance
08:37 Overall multiband capability
09:13 40 meter Winlink NVIS demonstration
10:29 Final verdict on the N9SAB antenna
12:25 Radio Antenna Handbook for SHTF
#HamRadio #NVISAntenna #EFHW #HamRadioAntenna #PortableHamRadio #QRP #Winlink #N9SAB
N9SAB 80 m linked EFHW ham radio antenna field test for portable QRP, 40 m NVIS, Winlink, and multiband HF operation on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
In this video, I deploy the lightweight N9SAB linked end fed half wave antenna low and nearly horizontal as a 40 meter NVIS antenna. I test its real world performance using one watt FT8, examine its SWR with a RigExpert Stick Pro, and complete a short range 40 meter Winlink connection using NVIS.
Although this is the 80 meter model, this first field test focuses on the 20 and 40 meter elements. The 80 meter element and a dedicated 80 and 40 meter NVIS test will be covered separately.
The antenna was tested with the Lab599 TX-500MP, LiNK500MP MK2, Microsoft Surface Go, and a GigaParts carbon fiber mast. One watt FT8 reports reached stations across Europe, the Arctic, Russia, Iceland, and Newfoundland despite the antenna being deployed at a low height optimized for 40 meter NVIS.
The video also demonstrates why antenna height is always a compromise. A low horizontal deployment supports high angle radiation for regional NVIS communications, but it reduces the electrical height and potential performance of the antenna on 20, 15, and 10 meters.
Key results:
• 40 meters: approximately 1.4:1 SWR at 7 MHz
• 40 meter SWR remained approximately 1.4:1 to 1.7:1 between 7 and 7.2 MHz
• 20 meters: good analyzer results and excellent one watt FT8 performance
• 15 meters: usable, with SWR between approximately 2.15:1 and 1.9:1
• 10 meters: usable with an antenna tuner
• 40 meter Winlink NVIS connection over approximately 18 km
• Lightweight linked construction for portable and emergency communications
• 80, 40, and 20 meter operation, with 15 and 10 meters available as bonus bands
• 60 meter NVIS operation possible with an antenna tuner
The N9SAB linked EFHW offers regional NVIS capability on the lower HF bands while retaining useful higher band coverage for portable ham radio, emergency communications, SOTA, Parks on the Air, and general field operation.
Featured antenna:
N9SAB 80 m linked EFHW antenna on eBay
Affiliate link:
ebay.us/3EGwqy
Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through this link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Books by Julian OH8STN:
Radio Antenna Handbook for SHTF
Pragmatic field notes covering HF, NVIS, CB, and portable antenna systems:
amazon.com/dp/B0G4KM81BD
Grid-Down Emergency Communications
Practical communications planning for maintaining connectivity when conventional infrastructure fails:
amazon.com/dp/B0G4JY2RLJ
Complete Amazon author page:
amazon.com/author/julian-oh8stn
Support Off-Grid Ham Radio:
Website:
oh8stn.org
73
Julian OH8STN
Off-Grid Ham Radio
Minimize Gear, Maximize Capability
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Why baseline antenna testing matters
01:39 N9SAB linked EFHW design
02:14 Portable QRP field test setup
03:09 RigExpert Stick Pro measurements
03:22 Day one results and storm interruption
03:48 Low horizontal 40 meter NVIS deployment
04:13 NVIS height and band performance tradeoffs
05:07 One watt FT8 results
06:18 Antenna analyzer results
06:48 40 meter SWR performance
07:03 20 meter performance
07:19 15 meter performance
07:57 10 meter performance
08:37 Overall multiband capability
09:13 40 meter Winlink NVIS demonstration
10:29 Final verdict on the N9SAB antenna
12:25 Radio Antenna Handbook for SHTF
#HamRadio #NVISAntenna #EFHW #HamRadioAntenna #PortableHamRadio #QRP #Winlink #N9SAB
