I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB

Haven't tried the tape or spring ideas. But a half wavelength antenna is
a good solution for an HT because it doesn't depend on the HT and your
body to be the other antenna half.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

merlin-7 wrote:
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB

"merlin-7" wrote in message
...
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in
areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB



There are a lot of alternatives betwenn the rubber duck and yagi antenna.

"Jimmie D" wrote in message
...

snip

There are a lot of alternatives betwenn the rubber duck and yagi antenna.


He's right. I made my first FD contacts on 2M using a TV-twinlead J-pole in
a length of PVC pipe. Worked one contact over 100 miles with my 5 watt
Yaesu FT-530 very near ground level. (Yes, the other end had a beam.)

The TV-twinlead J-pole is a bit tricky to build. I much prefer using copper
water pipe, but I made one of twinlead since that first FD. Twinlead's big
advantage: it rolls up and fits in your pocket, as there is no ground
plane. With a simple plastic loop at the top, it can be hoisted aloft with
kite string or hung by a stray nail on Uncle Hank's porch roof, etc. Rigid,
permanent mounting is always optional but never required.

Plus, it gets them ol' RFs away from yor haid.

merlin-7 wrote:
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

So what is wrong with a 19" monopole sticking up and
a 19" tiger tail hanging down for 2m operation?
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

"merlin-7" wrote in message
...
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in
areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB

You might try taking a telescoping whip, and adjust it to about 1/2
wavelength at 2 m. Then use a rubber band at the center of the whip to
fasten it to the talkie just below the rubber duck. In effect this gives a
"ground plane" antenna, but with only 2 radials. For 4 radials, use two
telescoping whips.

merlin-7 wrote:
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape
going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in
areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB

You may not need the gain of a yagi but could still easily do a collapsible
dipole that would fit your briefcase. TV rabbit (aka "bunny") ears come to
mind as a donor antenna -- replace the twinlead with 50 ohm coax (and a
choke balun). And for a portable antenna with a short feedline, RG-174/U is
mighty convenient (buy a BNC-to-whatever patch cable & snip off the uneeded
end). If you buy a longer BNC/BNC patch cable, you can cut it in half and
make two (different) antennas.

Bryan WA7PRC

"Bryan" wrote in message
...
merlin-7 wrote:
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape
going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in
areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB

You may not need the gain of a yagi but could still easily do a
collapsible
dipole that would fit your briefcase. TV rabbit (aka "bunny") ears come
to
mind as a donor antenna -- replace the twinlead with 50 ohm coax (and a
choke balun). And for a portable antenna with a short feedline, RG-174/U
is
mighty convenient (buy a BNC-to-whatever patch cable & snip off the
uneeded
end). If you buy a longer BNC/BNC patch cable, you can cut it in half and
make two (different) antennas.

Bryan WA7PRC


Forgot I had used TV rabbit ears during a month long stay up in Syracuse.
The TV was on cable but still had the rabbit ears that cme with the TV.
These were made for use with coax so they are just a cable connected to the
telscoping antenna. Bought an F to BNC adapter at Radio Shack and was in
business. Ive used pieces of wire pinned to curtains.

Jimmie

Jimmie D wrote:

Bryan wrote:
merlin-7 wrote:
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type
antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape
going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in
areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out
sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB

You may not need the gain of a yagi but could still easily do a
collapsible
dipole that would fit your briefcase. TV rabbit (aka "bunny") ears come
to
mind as a donor antenna -- replace the twinlead with 50 ohm coax (and a
choke balun). And for a portable antenna with a short feedline,
RG-174/U
is
mighty convenient (buy a BNC-to-whatever patch cable & snip off the
uneeded
end). If you buy a longer BNC/BNC patch cable, you can cut it in half
and
make two (different) antennas.

Bryan WA7PRC


Forgot I had used TV rabbit ears during a month long stay up in Syracuse.
The TV was on cable but still had the rabbit ears that cme with the TV.
These were made for use with coax so they are just a cable connected to
the
telscoping antenna. Bought an F to BNC adapter at Radio Shack and was in
business. Ive used pieces of wire pinned to curtains.

Jimmie

The coaxial cable was likely a 75 ohm variety... but would be close enough
to 50 ohms so the rig would drive it. Apparently, it did for you! ^5

Bryan

"Bryan" wrote in message
...
Jimmie D wrote:

Bryan wrote:
merlin-7 wrote:
I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type
antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding
a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape
going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of
springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in
areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out
sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB

You may not need the gain of a yagi but could still easily do a
collapsible
dipole that would fit your briefcase. TV rabbit (aka "bunny") ears
come
to
mind as a donor antenna -- replace the twinlead with 50 ohm coax (and a
choke balun). And for a portable antenna with a short feedline,
RG-174/U
is
mighty convenient (buy a BNC-to-whatever patch cable & snip off the
uneeded
end). If you buy a longer BNC/BNC patch cable, you can cut it in half
and
make two (different) antennas.

Bryan WA7PRC


Forgot I had used TV rabbit ears during a month long stay up in Syracuse.
The TV was on cable but still had the rabbit ears that cme with the TV.
These were made for use with coax so they are just a cable connected to
the
telscoping antenna. Bought an F to BNC adapter at Radio Shack and was in
business. Ive used pieces of wire pinned to curtains.

Jimmie

The coaxial cable was likely a 75 ohm variety... but would be close enough
to 50 ohms so the rig would drive it. Apparently, it did for you! ^5

Bryan



YEah, the cable on the antenna was pretty short, not more than a foot.
Fortunately I had a 6ft piece of rg58 with BNC connectors.