Henry, I have a Buddipole that I've used with both the K2 and K3. What I like about it is its compactness. You can pack it up and stick it in a suitcase - no problem. I take the Buddipole, tripod, and switching power supply in my suitcase; and pack the K3, paddle, and some cables in the "Rose" carrying case. I've used it a couple of times on trips to New York.
The Buddipole has these coil-tap-clips that are (quite frankly) a pain in the butt. Supposedly, you're going to take the time to set it up, change the taps, for every band you use. Nope. I don't work that way. So, I have a small MJF mobile antenna tuner/SWR meter that I bring with me. I found that there are two tap positions on the coils where using the tuner I can get good results on 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. The first position is for 10, 12, 15, 20; the second position is for 30 and 40. Since I always end up using the Buddipole on the ground, I never set it up for horizontal (e.g dipole) configuration. At that height, it's an NVIS antenna. Instead, I put the center-conductor-connected element vertical, and the braid-connected-end horizontal. In other words, it's a compromise ground plane. It works about a good as mobile antenna. The main benefit is its portability. Don't expect it to work better than any other shortened, end-fed-coil-loaded antenna. It won't. But, it will work just as well. 73, Rob K6RB ----- Original Message ----- From: "Henry Carr" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2011 10:35 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Buddipole and K3 > Does anyone have experience operating with the Buddipole and the K3? How > was the performance? > > Henry N5HM > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
