Telescoping 17ft Whip and Hamstick Matchbox

The Ground Mounted Matchbox is perfect when dealing with HOA’s. The matchbox with attached hamstick is stealthy and will be perfectly hidden in your landscaping.

If you are looking to maximize performance, use a 17ft telescoping whip with the included 16ft add on radial. Set the telescoping whip to 17ft, and you’ll be capable of operating 40M thru 10M with your transceivers internal ATU. If you wish to adjust the whip for a specific band, without an ATU, see SWR charts below. The Chameleon SS17 is highly recommended. Great for POTA! The matchbox has been updated. It now features large stainless steel washers on the outside and inside. These washers help distribute the stress of the 17ft whip. If you are using the matchbox with a 17ft telescoping whip, use paracord to support the whip. This is necessary in +30Mph winds.

Ground Mounted Matchbox

Free Shipping (US 48) Unfortunately, we can not ship internationally at this time. Telescoping whip and Hamsticks not included.

$87.99

SWR Results utilizing the 17ft Telescoping Whip with the 16ft add on radial. Results without a tuner.
40M 2.80:1 @ 7.175Mhz
20M 1.12:1 @ 14.175Mhz
17M 1.85:1 @ 18.110Mhz
15M 1.10:1 @ 21.225Mhz
12M 1.90:1 @ 24.930Mhz
10M 1.10:1 @ 28.400Mhz

See antenna length configurations in the displayed images below. Graphs below are not using an ATU. You can leave the antenna at 17ft, and your transceivers internal ATU to tune it on 40m-10m.

SWR Results utilizing Hamsticks. Results without a tuner.
40M 1.12:1 @ 7.175Mhz
20M 1.27:1 @ 14.175Mhz
10M 1.32:1 @ 24.930Mhz
6M 1.10:1 @ 28.400Mhz

40M Hamstick SWR and Bandwidth Results Example

Power Handling
100W SSB 50W FT8

Dimensions
MatchBox 8"x5"x2.5"

Stainless Steel Rod 10"
Only 5" of rod gets pushed into the ground.

The Ground Mounted Hamstick matchbox utilizes a toroid and capacitor combination very comparable to an EFHW. In the matchbox, this combination is configured differently to be optimized with a 17ft telescoping whip or hamstick. The ground radials have two main purposes. One, on 15m and 10m, the ground radials made a significant improvement in performance. They improved SWR when using 15m and 10m hamsticks. Two, the ground radials help prevent RF from traveling back down the feedline.

Use Directions.
Push the matchbox into the ground. If needed, use a rubber mallet to tap the stainless steel rod into the ground. Do not step on or hit the plastic matchbox!
Place each 5ft ground radial 180 degrees apart directly on the ground. If your landscaping bed curves, that is fine for the ground radials to follow.
Screw in 40m-6m Hamstick