🥒 Pickle-Tuned HF Antenna Experiment

Welcome to one of the funniest and most unexpected ham radio experiments I’ve ever done. In this video, I head out to a POTA park and try something no tuner manual has ever mentioned: using a pickle to tune an HF antenna.

Yes… an actual pickle.
Yes… I ate too many.
And yes… it’s all real.

▶️ Watch the Video

Pickle Tune Your HF Antenna – Full Video Coming Soon

Why a Pickle?

Ham radio is supposed to be fun, weird, experimental, and a little ridiculous. Pickles are full of electrolytes, moisture, and conductive brine. In theory, they can influence impedance and shift your antenna’s resonance.

So instead of just talking about it, I grabbed a jar of pickles and tested the idea in the field.

What Happened?

The pickle definitely changed things. The analyzer showed:

A shift in resonance
Different SWR readings
A measurable effect on the antenna
A questionable life choice on my part

This wasn’t a lab test. It was real-world, outdoors, portable ham radio — with a side of dill.

What’s in the Video

My full portable HF setup
How I connected the pickle
Analyzer readings before and after
Real on-air results
Me eating more pickles than necessary
A whole lot of fun and experimenting

Entertainment Disclaimer

This experiment is pure fun.
I don’t recommend replacing your tuner or counterpoise with anything you find in a deli. Your results may vary — wildly.

But that’s the spirit of ham radio: try something new, learn something, and enjoy the process.

The Real Purpose

Get outside.
Experiment.
Bring your radio somewhere fun.
Try goofy ideas.
Make memories.

If a pickle gets someone excited about ham radio again, then this experiment was a complete success.

Try It Yourself

If you want to test it, here’s what I suggest:

Bring extra pickles
Bring napkins
Bring your antenna analyzer
Bring a camera — no one will believe you

Tag me if you try it. I want to see how your pickle performs.

Final Thoughts

Ham radio shouldn’t always be serious. Sometimes, the best antenna experiment comes straight out of a jar.

Thanks for visiting, and stay tuned for more fun videos and field experiments on MrMuds Ham Radio Time.