For a lot of hams, transportable working begins merely: a wire in a tree, a folding chair, and the lure of constructing memorable contacts from a favourite spot. For Walt Hudson, K4OGO — higher recognized to many as “Salty Walt” from YouTube’s Coastal Waves & Wires — that spirit of the outside has at all times been the purpose.
Now Walt is again with a second assortment of antenna tasks, Salty Walt’s Subsequent Degree Moveable Antenna Sketchbook, increasing on the easygoing, field-tested type that made his first guide a favourite amongst radio amateurs.
The place Salty Walt’s Moveable Antenna Sketchbook centered on beachside builds and inventive wire antennas, the brand new quantity ventures into much more ideas whereas conserving the designs approachable. Readers will nonetheless discover sensible, deployable antennas designed for parks, seashores, and yard working, however this time Walt explores concepts like phased arrays, beam-forming, and higher-gain directional arrays — all introduced in his acquainted notebook-sketch type.
“Designing, constructing, enhancing, and studying about antennas by no means ends — it evolves,” says Walt. “This guide is supposed to take antenna constructing to the NEXT LEVEL.”
The 17 tasks vary from comparatively easy builds, corresponding to a three-element vertical Yagi-Uda and half-square antenna, to extra subtle designs together with transportable rhombics, bobtail curtains, and co-phased vertical arrays.
All through the guide, Walt retains the emphasis on learning-by-doing, with the identical entertaining instructing type and relaxed voice that followers have come to count on. “I referred to my first guide because the Jimmy Buffett of antenna books,” Walt says. “Properly, that is the second album, the place the songs are solely getting higher.”
Alongside the antenna tasks, Walt shares radios from his private assortment, and working ideas to assist amateurs get essentially the most from their stations, whether or not operating QRP or working at 100 watts. The guide additionally explores military-inspired antenna programs and streamlined wire antenna designs that may be deployed with minimal gear. The outcome feels much less like a technical handbook and extra like driving alongside on one other working journey.
Salty Walt’s Subsequent Degree Moveable Antenna Sketchbook is printed by ARRL The Nationwide Affiliation for Novice Radio®. For builders on the lookout for a fast weekend challenge to begin out, ARRL affords an Finish-Fed Half-Wave Antenna Package as an accessible introduction to transportable wire antennas. To order by telephone name 1-888-277-5289 (toll-free within the US), Monday by means of Thursday, 8 AM to 7 PM, and Friday, 8 AM to five PM Jap Time. Exterior the US, name (860) 594-0200.
ARRL will host Salty Walt on the 2026 Dayton Hamvention®, Might 15 – 17. Walt will lead a conveyable antenna discussion board on Friday, and signal books all through the weekend.
