Chris, If the tall trees are in a location that you can get the trailer near, I would go in that direction. Put up an inverted L and lay a bunch of radials on the ground. If you are close to a good fence, that might add to the ground system.
Although the balloon idea is attractive, Murphy says it will be windy. Myself, if I were doing a ballon, I'd generate some hydrogen in a milk jug with lye and strips of aluminum. It won't last as long as helium, but it's a lot cheaper and provides a lot more lift (4x IIRC). Ken On Nov 15, 2011, at 1:52 AM, - wrote: > So I have a new (to me) travel trailer, and a family farm, and I've made > maybe two 160M contacts ever. I don't get to play radio much, usually just > sweepstakes phone every year, and I missed last year. I find it fun to do > kinda off the wall stuff, its fun. > > So put this all together and I'm thinking I'll park the travel trailer in a > field, during a 160M contest, and play radio. The missing piece is the > antenna. > > I've done some reading, kites, balloons etc. I'm fine to build a big > lifting kite, I've got a hunk of tyvek somewhere, but that's not the point, > the point is what I'd lift. Balloons aren't interesting, I can't make > helium in the wood shop or sew a balloon. > > What I'm after is some thoughts on the antenna. Looks like a kite lifted > 1/4 wave vertical should be doable, but what about the radials? Try to > elevate them? I'm only 100w, so I'm interested in some reasonable (or a bit > more than what one might think reasonable) efforts which will help me be > successful. I read about bleeding static but don't have specifics. > > That being said, if there is no wind, and no antenna being lifted, success > is not only in the result but also in the prep. I'll be ready for the next > opportunity. A good story is worth something also. > > So what do you all think? I've got barbed wire fencing, lots of space, > copperweld and electric fence wire, some 50-60' or higher trees here and > there along the edges of the fields. Hilly pasture even for that matter, > but really limited in access for the travel trailer (not that it has to be > part of the setup, but I've got it, might as well use it). > > Thanks, > Chris > ________________________________ _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
