> [Original Message] > > ...Looking for a small (pack-away in a suit-case and going to bahamas > on a cruise line for vacation antenna.) I found three on the Yahoo search > that looked good. the buddiepole, the Ventura, the miracle whip > > each one claims to have all band and each one says has at least some gain>
The small portable antennas do not show gain over their full sized big brothers. For direct comparisons of portable;/packable antennas, see HFPack.com. Vertical antennas are compared at http://www.hflink.com/hfpack/antennas/shootoutvertical2002.html and horizontal antennas at http://www.hflink.com/hfpack/antennas/shootouthorizontal2002.html . Beside efficiency, of course one must be concerned about size and ruggedness. The "Miracle Whip" is quite small, and for some this outweigh its low efficiency. The Ventanna is helically wound with18 inch sections and is very rugged as well as doing well in the HFPack 20 meter Shootout. The Buddipole is a rugged antenna with tapped coils on rigid forms, rather than a more fragile B&W Airdux (tm) style. Take a look at all the antennas on HFPack. I use a Superantenas MP-1, which in its small version can be carried inside its own loading coil/sleeve. I am informed that some travellers have been required to placed their MP-1's in checked baggage sic ethey might be used as a baton or club. (No one has yet made me do this with heavier -- much more suitable for clubbing -- laptop batteries.) Cortland KA5S _______________________________________________ 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
