[Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
To the Group I received so many helpful ideas and solid advise it's hard to single out a single one for the best...All I can say I received the best ideas here than from any other spot many thanks to those who replied. This is why I recommend Elecraft to anyone who asks is the company in general and those on this forum for help. Product quality seems to follow after these other things, but it really helps. In summery I have decided I need at least 3 antennas for portable use depending on conditions, just as I would at home. It looks like I made a good decision when ordering to order the duel binding post BNC connector in fact a spare is in order I think. I have stocked up on several BNC's since the purchase of my KX3/K3's and preamps and such quality ones can be quite costly but I hate cheapies. Thx 73 to all, Fred/N0AZZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
Fred and all, Realizing that the terms best and portable mean different things to different people. Here is a portable vertical that I've been playing with since June: http://www.n6bt.com/n6bt-Bravo7K-1.htm This is a design from Tom Schiller, N6BT of the Force 12 era. He has an entire new line with his new company. This antenna is an asymmetrically fed vertical dipole. It supports 7 bands, 10m-40m via tuning of the lengths of tubing and some loading coils on certain bands. It is full length 10m - 20m and there is some loading for 30m 40m. He touts 90-99% efficiency with upper 90's for the non loaded bands and 90-95% on the loaded bands. The asymmetric design allows the feedpoint to be at the bottom for ease of feeding and keeps the center of gravity for the antenna near the bottom. I ordered mine with the tri-pod base and made up 3 u-shaped aluminum stakes to hold the tri-pod to the ground in the yard. So far it has survived hurricane Sandy effects here in SE Michigan and winds over 50mph. I did have a 60mph gust last week that finally pushed it over - no damage. I regrettably have little time to operate these days, but when I'm doing other things in the basement I run WSPR and have done direct comparisons with my window line fed 140' doublet. It performs comparably in my opinion. It exhibits the same properties as a vertical i.e. noisier, lower take off angle etc. Using both antennas for diversity reception is really cool. It almost eliminates QSB conditions sometimes in that if the QSB is changing polarizations, you hear the signal move from one ear to the other. There was a review of this antenna in QST last year and some suggestions were made by the reviewer, Ward Silver, N0AX, about mounting things more efficiently for changing bands etc. All of the suggestions made were incorporated in the version I received. Although the price tag is around $290, I believe it is cheaper than some of the comparable Buddi-system configurations. Obviously, I can (and have) made simple wire antennas for far cheaper and perform well. It just takes me a lot longer sometimes to get the wire where I want it. The one thing I like about the Bravo 7K is that it is made from easily purchased parts so that you can repair it in the field if necessary. I found all the lengths of tubing on the DX Engineering site. All of the hose clamps to secure the tubing are SS hose clamps found at most hardware outlets. It is portable and light, weighing in around 12 lbs or so, but not something you'll want for backpacking or other type of operating where keeping the weight down is a priority. I bought a drum hardware bag for mine that holds the antenna and all supporting cables, stakes, rope, tools etc. I made a W2DU balun for mine that is permanently mounted underneath the loading coil box. I found that tuning it was pretty much like it is laid out in their manual. I used a pipe cutter to notch my tubing elements so that I can easily change bands in seconds without remeasuring. It can be detuned fairly easily on 30 40m by large objects or different soil near the placement. I have taken it on a couple of small trips in the last few months and I can set it up in less than 15 minutes and be on the air. I'm currently stressing it out with a Michigan winter and hoping to be impressed with its toughness if it still works this spring ;-) I have no outside interest in this company, just a satisfied owner at this point. YMMV. 73, Dave W8FGU On 01/29/2013 04:36 AM, Fred Smith wrote: To the Group __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
Hi Dave Thanks for the info, Nate had emailed me yesterday about it and I was sadden to hear of his health issues that had caused him to pull back from the project for a while. I linked to it yesterday nice to hear from someone that has one in use for a while. 73, Fred/N0AZZ -Original Message- From: Dave Van Wallaghen [mailto:w8...@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 7:20 AM To: Fred Smith Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna Fred and all, Realizing that the terms best and portable mean different things to different people. Here is a portable vertical that I've been playing with since June: http://www.n6bt.com/n6bt-Bravo7K-1.htm This is a design from Tom Schiller, N6BT of the Force 12 era. He has an entire new line with his new company. This antenna is an asymmetrically fed vertical dipole. It supports 7 bands, 10m-40m via tuning of the lengths of tubing and some loading coils on certain bands. It is full length 10m - 20m and there is some loading for 30m 40m. He touts 90-99% efficiency with upper 90's for the non loaded bands and 90-95% on the loaded bands. The asymmetric design allows the feedpoint to be at the bottom for ease of feeding and keeps the center of gravity for the antenna near the bottom. I ordered mine with the tri-pod base and made up 3 u-shaped aluminum stakes to hold the tri-pod to the ground in the yard. So far it has survived hurricane Sandy effects here in SE Michigan and winds over 50mph. I did have a 60mph gust last week that finally pushed it over - no damage. I regrettably have little time to operate these days, but when I'm doing other things in the basement I run WSPR and have done direct comparisons with my window line fed 140' doublet. It performs comparably in my opinion. It exhibits the same properties as a vertical i.e. noisier, lower take off angle etc. Using both antennas for diversity reception is really cool. It almost eliminates QSB conditions sometimes in that if the QSB is changing polarizations, you hear the signal move from one ear to the other. There was a review of this antenna in QST last year and some suggestions were made by the reviewer, Ward Silver, N0AX, about mounting things more efficiently for changing bands etc. All of the suggestions made were incorporated in the version I received. Although the price tag is around $290, I believe it is cheaper than some of the comparable Buddi-system configurations. Obviously, I can (and have) made simple wire antennas for far cheaper and perform well. It just takes me a lot longer sometimes to get the wire where I want it. The one thing I like about the Bravo 7K is that it is made from easily purchased parts so that you can repair it in the field if necessary. I found all the lengths of tubing on the DX Engineering site. All of the hose clamps to secure the tubing are SS hose clamps found at most hardware outlets. It is portable and light, weighing in around 12 lbs or so, but not something you'll want for backpacking or other type of operating where keeping the weight down is a priority. I bought a drum hardware bag for mine that holds the antenna and all supporting cables, stakes, rope, tools etc. I made a W2DU balun for mine that is permanently mounted underneath the loading coil box. I found that tuning it was pretty much like it is laid out in their manual. I used a pipe cutter to notch my tubing elements so that I can easily change bands in seconds without remeasuring. It can be detuned fairly easily on 30 40m by large objects or different soil near the placement. I have taken it on a couple of small trips in the last few months and I can set it up in less than 15 minutes and be on the air. I'm currently stressing it out with a Michigan winter and hoping to be impressed with its toughness if it still works this spring ;-) I have no outside interest in this company, just a satisfied owner at this point. YMMV. 73, Dave W8FGU On 01/29/2013 04:36 AM, Fred Smith wrote: To the Group __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
All, OK, a great discussion, so I thought I would share the antenna I like to use for portable. It is basicly a 44 foot doublet fed with 300 ohm ladderline (32 feet long with an additional 10 foot section that I can add). I couple that with my Jacktite 32 foot telescoping pole. Things fasten together with Anderson Power Pole connectors. In addition, I carry 2 additional 22 foot lengths of wire. I strap the pole to anything vertical, I have the heavy duty pole, so if I can find a support that is 3 feet high or more, there is no need for additional guying. That antenna can deploy in a variety of ways. If an additional support is available, I use it as a horizontal dipole. In situations where there are low bushes around, it goes up as an inverted vee - just tie the center insulator to the top of the pole and push it up - tie off the ends to whatever supports are available. If I want to operate 80 meters or want better efficiency on 40, the two 22 foot wires are added making it an 88 foot dipole. If space is limited, or I want a vertical, one end of the antenna is fastened to the top of the pole, and the other side of the antenna acts as a bent radial (the feedpoint is 10 feet above ground). The other two 22 foot wires can serve as additional radials. Support the feedline by whatever means available. I use a switchable 1:1/4:1 balun at the end of the feedline and a short length of coax to the rig. So, you don't have to be slaved to any one type of antenna. Sometimes 'best' is dictated by the physical surroundings. If you want to work locals, use the inverted vee or dipole, but if you are trying for something more distant, use the vertical configuration. Other than the Jacktite pole, the antenna is inexpensive, but there is no commercial offering, you have to build it yourself. The 'magic' of the 44 foot length is that the antenna radiates broadside to the wire with no lobes until you get above 10 meters, with the 88 foot length, lobes will be present above 20 meters. 73, Don W3FPR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
I have also been pleased with the convenience and performance of a 44' doublet. I currently have one hanging in a vertical dipole configuration from a tree that's about 55' high. Works great on 40m-6m. 73, Randy, KS4L On Jan 29, 2013, at 8:06 AM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: All, OK, a great discussion, so I thought I would share the antenna I like to use for portable. It is basicly a 44 foot doublet fed with 300 ohm ladderline (32 feet long with an additional 10 foot section that I can add). I couple that with my Jacktite 32 foot telescoping pole. Things fasten together with Anderson Power Pole connectors. In addition, I carry 2 additional 22 foot lengths of wire. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
Hey Fred, Sorry to hear of Natan's health issues. I had a very hard time getting a hold of Tom apparently due to some email server issues at the time. I tried to order this before Dayton last year and never did get a response. I wound up on Natan's email and he immediately got back to me. He was very professional and cordial. He told me that they were getting ready to move operations and that it would be 6 - 8 weeks for delivery. I got it in 4 - it was everything they stated it would be and packaged very well. I read a number of folks that had service problems with Tom but with Natan, my experience was a good one. I should drop them a note to let them know how well it is working for me. 73, Dave W8FGU On 01/29/2013 09:04 AM, Fred Smith wrote: Hi Dave Thanks for the info, Nate had emailed me yesterday about it and I was sadden to hear of his health issues that had caused him to pull back from the project for a while. I linked to it yesterday nice to hear from someone that has one in use for a while. 73, Fred/N0AZZ -Original Message- From: Dave Van Wallaghen [mailto:w8...@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 7:20 AM To: Fred Smith Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna Fred and all, Realizing that the terms best and portable mean different things to different people. Here is a portable vertical that I've been playing with since June: http://www.n6bt.com/n6bt-Bravo7K-1.htm This is a design from Tom Schiller, N6BT of the Force 12 era. He has an entire new line with his new company. This antenna is an asymmetrically fed vertical dipole. It supports 7 bands, 10m-40m via tuning of the lengths of tubing and some loading coils on certain bands. It is full length 10m - 20m and there is some loading for 30m 40m. He touts 90-99% efficiency with upper 90's for the non loaded bands and 90-95% on the loaded bands. The asymmetric design allows the feedpoint to be at the bottom for ease of feeding and keeps the center of gravity for the antenna near the bottom. I ordered mine with the tri-pod base and made up 3 u-shaped aluminum stakes to hold the tri-pod to the ground in the yard. So far it has survived hurricane Sandy effects here in SE Michigan and winds over 50mph. I did have a 60mph gust last week that finally pushed it over - no damage. I regrettably have little time to operate these days, but when I'm doing other things in the basement I run WSPR and have done direct comparisons with my window line fed 140' doublet. It performs comparably in my opinion. It exhibits the same properties as a vertical i.e. noisier, lower take off angle etc. Using both antennas for diversity reception is really cool. It almost eliminates QSB conditions sometimes in that if the QSB is changing polarizations, you hear the signal move from one ear to the other. There was a review of this antenna in QST last year and some suggestions were made by the reviewer, Ward Silver, N0AX, about mounting things more efficiently for changing bands etc. All of the suggestions made were incorporated in the version I received. Although the price tag is around $290, I believe it is cheaper than some of the comparable Buddi-system configurations. Obviously, I can (and have) made simple wire antennas for far cheaper and perform well. It just takes me a lot longer sometimes to get the wire where I want it. The one thing I like about the Bravo 7K is that it is made from easily purchased parts so that you can repair it in the field if necessary. I found all the lengths of tubing on the DX Engineering site. All of the hose clamps to secure the tubing are SS hose clamps found at most hardware outlets. It is portable and light, weighing in around 12 lbs or so, but not something you'll want for backpacking or other type of operating where keeping the weight down is a priority. I bought a drum hardware bag for mine that holds the antenna and all supporting cables, stakes, rope, tools etc. I made a W2DU balun for mine that is permanently mounted underneath the loading coil box. I found that tuning it was pretty much like it is laid out in their manual. I used a pipe cutter to notch my tubing elements so that I can easily change bands in seconds without remeasuring. It can be detuned fairly easily on 30 40m by large objects or different soil near the placement. I have taken it on a couple of small trips in the last few months and I can set it up in less than 15 minutes and be on the air. I'm currently stressing it out with a Michigan winter and hoping to be impressed with its toughness if it still works this spring ;-) I have no outside interest in this company, just a satisfied owner at this point. YMMV. 73, Dave W8FGU On 01/29/2013 04:36 AM, Fred Smith wrote: To the Group __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
I like using plug-together sections. Using 2 x 22ft sections on one side and one 22ft section on the other makes a nice OCF dipole that is close to 50ohm on 40, 20 and 10 with a 4:1 balun. Adjust middle and end height to a good match without a tuner. Other 1/3 2/3 arrangements can be made using plug-together sections to cover more bands without switches or tuner. Do the same for the vertical version. Even good quality tuners work better with loads that are closer to 50ohm and the OCF with balun/choke makes it easy. David G3UNA - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna All, OK, a great discussion, so I thought I would share the antenna I like to use for portable. It is basicly a 44 foot doublet fed with 300 ohm ladderline (32 feet long with an additional 10 foot section that I can add). I couple that with my Jacktite 32 foot telescoping pole. Things fasten together with Anderson Power Pole connectors. In addition, I carry 2 additional 22 foot lengths of wire. I strap the pole to anything vertical, I have the heavy duty pole, so if I can find a support that is 3 feet high or more, there is no need for additional guying. That antenna can deploy in a variety of ways. If an additional support is available, I use it as a horizontal dipole. In situations where there are low bushes around, it goes up as an inverted vee - just tie the center insulator to the top of the pole and push it up - tie off the ends to whatever supports are available. If I want to operate 80 meters or want better efficiency on 40, the two 22 foot wires are added making it an 88 foot dipole. If space is limited, or I want a vertical, one end of the antenna is fastened to the top of the pole, and the other side of the antenna acts as a bent radial (the feedpoint is 10 feet above ground). The other two 22 foot wires can serve as additional radials. Support the feedline by whatever means available. I use a switchable 1:1/4:1 balun at the end of the feedline and a short length of coax to the rig. So, you don't have to be slaved to any one type of antenna. Sometimes 'best' is dictated by the physical surroundings. If you want to work locals, use the inverted vee or dipole, but if you are trying for something more distant, use the vertical configuration. Other than the Jacktite pole, the antenna is inexpensive, but there is no commercial offering, you have to build it yourself. The 'magic' of the 44 foot length is that the antenna radiates broadside to the wire with no lobes until you get above 10 meters, with the 88 foot length, lobes will be present above 20 meters. 73, Don W3FPR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
I don't recall seeing anyone mention the new CrankIR portable vertical antenna from SteppIR. Supposed to be available this spring. Scroll down on their home page to see the announcement. http://www.steppir.com/ Personally, I use a home made 80M OCF dipole at the moment. Regards, David McAnally WD5M On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:36 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: To the Group I received so many helpful ideas and solid advise it's hard to single out a single one for the best...All I can say I received the best ideas here than from any other spot many thanks to those who replied. This is why I recommend Elecraft to anyone who asks is the company in general and those on this forum for help. Product quality seems to follow after these other things, but it really helps. In summery I have decided I need at least 3 antennas for portable use depending on conditions, just as I would at home. It looks like I made a good decision when ordering to order the duel binding post BNC connector in fact a spare is in order I think. I have stocked up on several BNC's since the purchase of my KX3/K3's and preamps and such quality ones can be quite costly but I hate cheapies. Thx 73 to all, Fred/N0AZZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
I'm not a big fan of SteppIR a little overpriced and for me their beams were not a good choice because of the Stepper motors a lot of ice and wind here. Service issues would be a problem also no tower for me lol. I did look at that it looks like a fiberglass windsock pole and a fishing reel would work about the same and they are 31'. Fred/N0AZZ From: David McAnally [mailto:david.mcana...@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 9:29 AM To: Fred Smith Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna I don't recall seeing anyone mention the new CrankIR portable vertical antenna from SteppIR. Supposed to be available this spring. Scroll down on their home page to see the announcement. http://www.steppir.com/ Personally, I use a home made 80M OCF dipole at the moment. Regards, David McAnally WD5M On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:36 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: To the Group I received so many helpful ideas and solid advise it's hard to single out a single one for the best...All I can say I received the best ideas here than from any other spot many thanks to those who replied. This is why I recommend Elecraft to anyone who asks is the company in general and those on this forum for help. Product quality seems to follow after these other things, but it really helps. In summery I have decided I need at least 3 antennas for portable use depending on conditions, just as I would at home. It looks like I made a good decision when ordering to order the duel binding post BNC connector in fact a spare is in order I think. I have stocked up on several BNC's since the purchase of my KX3/K3's and preamps and such quality ones can be quite costly but I hate cheapies. Thx 73 to all, Fred/N0AZZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
I have one more 'fallback' system that might be worth mentioning here. For those situations where I cannot be nearer to my antenna and must deal with a longer transmission line, I use my SGC-211 remote autocoupler. It runs for 5 years on a handful of AA batteries. It will tune just about anything, just like the KX3. The advantage is a long and clean coax run to the radio, whereever that might happen to be located. Here's a practical example: Maybe I want to put up a stealth loop or random wire, or even a Delta loop or a doublet. The only place to do so might be at some distance from the transmitter, for example, trees way out back of a townhouse or condo. I can put the SG-211 out there at the feedpoint, bury my coax cable in a shallow slit trench, and no one is the wiser. Disadvantages: Limited to 60 watts, not naturally weatherproof. Advantages: battery operated, a shot of RF tunes it, and the RF is kept out of the shack. Availability: it's a seasonal product and I've never seen one listed anywhere 'used'. eHAM ratings are not that great because there used to be a problem with it randomly re-tuning and the pre-2007 comments about this drag down the overall rating. There is now a tune-lock switch and I have not had any problems myself. It's not a perfect solution but one worth at least knowing exists. 73, Stan WB2LQF On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:36 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: I received so many helpful ideas and solid advise it's hard to single out a single one for the best...All I can say I received the best ideas here than from any other spot many thanks to those who replied. This is why I recommend Elecraft to anyone who asks is the company in general and those on this forum for help. Product quality seems to follow after these other things, but it really helps. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
Does anyone know more about the new SteppIR CrankIR? For instance, I assume it needs a ground plane and the photo seems to show it elevated like on a back deck or something. I should probably just drive down to SteppIR in Bellevue this afternoon and ask them, it is a 15 minute drive. If I find out anything I will report back if anyone is interested. I have found that companies are more easy to give out information in person then on the phone. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 29, 2013, at 7:48 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: I'm not a big fan of SteppIR a little overpriced and for me their beams were not a good choice because of the Stepper motors a lot of ice and wind here. Service issues would be a problem also no tower for me lol. I did look at that it looks like a fiberglass windsock pole and a fishing reel would work about the same and they are 31'. Fred/N0AZZ From: David McAnally [mailto:david.mcana...@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 9:29 AM To: Fred Smith Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna I don't recall seeing anyone mention the new CrankIR portable vertical antenna from SteppIR. Supposed to be available this spring. Scroll down on their home page to see the announcement. http://www.steppir.com/ Personally, I use a home made 80M OCF dipole at the moment. Regards, David McAnally WD5M On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:36 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: To the Group I received so many helpful ideas and solid advise it's hard to single out a single one for the best...All I can say I received the best ideas here than from any other spot many thanks to those who replied. This is why I recommend Elecraft to anyone who asks is the company in general and those on this forum for help. Product quality seems to follow after these other things, but it really helps. In summery I have decided I need at least 3 antennas for portable use depending on conditions, just as I would at home. It looks like I made a good decision when ordering to order the duel binding post BNC connector in fact a spare is in order I think. I have stocked up on several BNC's since the purchase of my KX3/K3's and preamps and such quality ones can be quite costly but I hate cheapies. Thx 73 to all, Fred/N0AZZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
Stan That is an SGC product that I didn't even know they had, I'll look it up. Guys I've been keeping Google busy yesterday and today a lot of really good information. I hope a few of the group has enjoyed some of this as much as I have and a lot applies not to just my original QRP antenna either. Time to reload the printer with more paper. Fred/N0AZZ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of stan levandowski Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 10:20 AM Cc: Elecraft List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna I have one more 'fallback' system that might be worth mentioning here. For those situations where I cannot be nearer to my antenna and must deal with a longer transmission line, I use my SGC-211 remote autocoupler. It runs for 5 years on a handful of AA batteries. It will tune just about anything, just like the KX3. The advantage is a long and clean coax run to the radio, whereever that might happen to be located. Here's a practical example: Maybe I want to put up a stealth loop or random wire, or even a Delta loop or a doublet. The only place to do so might be at some distance from the transmitter, for example, trees way out back of a townhouse or condo. I can put the SG-211 out there at the feedpoint, bury my coax cable in a shallow slit trench, and no one is the wiser. Disadvantages: Limited to 60 watts, not naturally weatherproof. Advantages: battery operated, a shot of RF tunes it, and the RF is kept out of the shack. Availability: it's a seasonal product and I've never seen one listed anywhere 'used'. eHAM ratings are not that great because there used to be a problem with it randomly re-tuning and the pre-2007 comments about this drag down the overall rating. There is now a tune-lock switch and I have not had any problems myself. It's not a perfect solution but one worth at least knowing exists. 73, Stan WB2LQF On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:36 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: I received so many helpful ideas and solid advise it's hard to single out a single one for the best...All I can say I received the best ideas here than from any other spot many thanks to those who replied. This is why I recommend Elecraft to anyone who asks is the company in general and those on this forum for help. Product quality seems to follow after these other things, but it really helps. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2639/5566 - Release Date: 01/29/13 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
Mike, That previous post by David McAnally links to a blog that has some good information. I read that and I will probably put off heading into Bellevue today (maybe). The David McAnally link to the block answered my questions for now. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 29, 2013, at 8:48 AM, K2MK k...@comcast.net wrote: Hi Phil, I would be interested in hearing more about it. Just curious more than anything. 73, Mike K2MK Does anyone know more about the new SteppIR CrankIR? For instance, I assume it needs a ground plane and the photo seems to show it elevated like on a back deck or something. I should probably just drive down to SteppIR in Bellevue this afternoon and ask them, it is a 15 minute drive. If I find out anything I will report back if anyone is interested. I have found that companies are more easy to give out information in person then on the phone. 73, phil, K7PEH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
Yes, do please let us know what you find. I'm really interested. They'll probably roll it out at Dayton. 73 Gil, W1RG From: phys...@mac.com Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:25:00 -0800 To: m...@mo-net.com CC: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna Does anyone know more about the new SteppIR CrankIR? For instance, I assume it needs a ground plane and the photo seems to show it elevated like on a back deck or something. I should probably just drive down to SteppIR in Bellevue this afternoon and ask them, it is a 15 minute drive. If I find out anything I will report back if anyone is interested. I have found that companies are more easy to give out information in person then on the phone. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 29, 2013, at 7:48 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: I'm not a big fan of SteppIR a little overpriced and for me their beams were not a good choice because of the Stepper motors a lot of ice and wind here. Service issues would be a problem also no tower for me lol. I did look at that it looks like a fiberglass windsock pole and a fishing reel would work about the same and they are 31'. Fred/N0AZZ From: David McAnally [mailto:david.mcana...@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 9:29 AM To: Fred Smith Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna I don't recall seeing anyone mention the new CrankIR portable vertical antenna from SteppIR. Supposed to be available this spring. Scroll down on their home page to see the announcement. http://www.steppir.com/ Personally, I use a home made 80M OCF dipole at the moment. Regards, David McAnally WD5M On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:36 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: To the Group I received so many helpful ideas and solid advise it's hard to single out a single one for the best...All I can say I received the best ideas here than from any other spot many thanks to those who replied. This is why I recommend Elecraft to anyone who asks is the company in general and those on this forum for help. Product quality seems to follow after these other things, but it really helps. In summery I have decided I need at least 3 antennas for portable use depending on conditions, just as I would at home. It looks like I made a good decision when ordering to order the duel binding post BNC connector in fact a spare is in order I think. I have stocked up on several BNC's since the purchase of my KX3/K3's and preamps and such quality ones can be quite costly but I hate cheapies. Thx 73 to all, Fred/N0AZZ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Antenna
I put this together a few months ago for a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it served well from our cabin in the woods Wanted to try it at the seashore near Hatteras but the weather cut thr trip short. Jackite 31' fiberglas mast, with the very top section replaced by a broken piece from an earlier mishap. AWG14 stranded wire runs **inside** the mast from the bottom until it protrudes an inch or so from the top of the (now hollow all the way) tip section. A little fitting made of PC board with a BNC for coax feed, and four screw lugs for radials/counterpoises. I usually use two pieces of AWG22 about 60 ft long and just stretch them out along the ground, zigzagging or bending as needs for the space. vertical counductor connects to BNC center with ring lugs and thumbscrews. T1 autotuner connected at the base with a bias tee in front of it. Another bias tee at the transmitter end. Optocoupler at the antenna end bias tee connected to remote jack of the T1. Battery and PB switch at the bias tee transmitter end. I carry a piece of rebar and hammer. A 3 ft section of PVC pipe large enough to slip **over** the bottom section of the Jackite. Some PVC Ts are drilled to slip over the rebar. Have used it on 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10. I'm beginning to believe it works better than my 40 m full wave loop at home that is only 15 ft or so off the ground. 73, Jim, N5IB Woman is 57 But Looks 27 Mom publishes simple facelift trick that angered doctors... http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5108463dd8cca463d40a3st01vuc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] best portable antenna
Did anyone mention the NorCal Qrp dipole made from 4 conductor computer ribbon? It forms the dipole and parrarel feedline including support loop. Fishing swivels can be used as additional hardware. It looks very neat! 4 conductor ribbon. 2 outside wires form the dipole and feedline with the two center wires forming a center tie off and support for the feedline. I've got a link or something somewhere but you can prob google it. 73 Mike R Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin! Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC HF Echolink mobile __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
