Hello all, To those who have a VBWFPA for qrp operation. I just tested my VBWFPA without a pole with excellent results. I plan to hike the AT soon, but don't want to carry a pole as I will use my two hiking poles to hike and to erect my tent. Today I threw up 30lb fishing line up into a tree in my backyard. I then just tied off the vertical radiator to the top swivel and raised it up into the tree. Next I just pushed the vertical radiator wire bottom plug into the coil and left it hang 26" or so above the ground. I next plugged in the two sets of three ground radials. I checked out the antenna on 20m and had a maximum swr of 1.4:1. On 40m a max swr of 1.4:1 and on 30m and max swr of 1.3:1 across the band. I then hooked up my K1 and set the power out at 3w into the VBWFPA in the tree. On 40m I heard W8AW and gave him a call. He gave me a 529 and I gave him 539. Turns out he was running 100w! I had a 15 minute qso with Jim in MI and myself in PA. Remember to hang it about 26" or so above the ground. If you raise it to high, the resonate frequencies are to high. So all who own a VBWFPA, you can use it without the pole with excellent results. For those who are wondering what the heck a VBWFPA is, check it out at: http://www.wa3wsj.com
72, Ed, WA3WSJ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
