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DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
I am a RACES / ARES member who is trying to actually prepare for
deployment with the ability to carry on effective communications from anywhere. I'm here in the antenna forum to get advice on a portable antenna system. I'm not here to join anyones particular theoretical antenna behavior cult. If you have real world experience with a portable multi band antenna system that actually worked for you please share that experience with me. Ive seen a couple of folded dipole antennas advertised that appear to have some sort of fifty ohm dummy load at the center of the fold. Do those things do more then provide a heat source for fleeing birds? There are several compact vertical and horizontal antennas being sold complete with stands or tripods are any of them worth their freight? The so called spiderweb beams look interesting can anyone offer real world experience on those? I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. -- Tom Horne, W3TDH K "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Tom Horne wrote:
I am a RACES / ARES member who is trying to actually prepare for deployment with the ability to carry on effective communications from anywhere. I'm here in the antenna forum to get advice on a portable antenna system. I'm not here to join anyones particular theoretical antenna behavior cult. If you have real world experience with a portable multi band antenna system that actually worked for you please share that experience with me. Ive seen a couple of folded dipole antennas advertised that appear to have some sort of fifty ohm dummy load at the center of the fold. Do those things do more then provide a heat source for fleeing birds? There are several compact vertical and horizontal antennas being sold complete with stands or tripods are any of them worth their freight? The so called spiderweb beams look interesting can anyone offer real world experience on those? I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. Tom; A friend of mine had a multi band dipole sometime ago. This ant had a separate dipole for each band all connected to one balun. It took us all afternoon to tune it for optimum operation. Each time we tuned one dipole the others needed work. YMMV. I have a B&W folded dipole all frequency folded dipole that does what I want it to do. When operated in NVIS I was able to contact stations over 400 miles away. I most likely could have done better but that was all I need for the application. The connection at the ends of the dipole consisted of a non inductive resistor of either 600 or 1200 ohms (I disremember which). This does swamp the reflected energy when the wire is non resonant. There are those who claim the antenna is the work of the devil and those who sing the praises of the thing. All I can say is that it did the job I wanted it for. My problem now is I can't string it up at my new QTH. Lot to short and no place for the sky hooks. :^( I also have a screwdriver antenna on my vehicle that also does the job it's designed for. It is not the most efficient antenna in the world either. However, I learned long ago that whatever answers the question no matter how inefficient is a success. Screwdriver's can be mounted on a tripod and will perform. Dave WD9BDZ Remember YMMV |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:23:16 GMT, Tom Horne
wrote: I want to know what does work from real world users. Tom, Used to provide checkpoint communications for the Baja offroad races. Best antennas we found for consistent regional communications were low horizontal dipoles fed with balanced line. You could tune them on any band and the radiation pattern was UP. Google NVIS antennas, or start he http://www.qsl.net/wb5ude/nvis/ S.T.W. |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Tom Horne wrote:
I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. What are you limitations? Supports? Size? Power? -- 73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:23:16 GMT, Tom Horne
wrote: I am a RACES / ARES member who is trying to actually prepare for deployment with the ability to carry on effective communications from anywhere. I'm here in the antenna forum to get advice on a portable antenna system. I'm not here to join anyones particular theoretical antenna behavior cult. If you have real world experience with a portable multi band antenna system that actually worked for you please share that experience with me. Ive seen a couple of folded dipole antennas advertised that appear to have some sort of fifty ohm dummy load at the center of the fold. Do those things do more then provide a heat source for fleeing birds? There are several compact vertical and horizontal antennas being sold complete with stands or tripods are any of them worth their freight? The so called spiderweb beams look interesting can anyone offer real world experience on those? I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. There are a multitude of answers for this question. I know my solution will annoy the purists, but I offer it anyway... I would recommend using the SGC-237 tuner (not cheap)! If it cannot load what ever antenna you can get up or improvise it probably cannot be done. With this device, a ground and 28 feet of vertical wire you can work to 160 meters. Of course the better the ground, the better the performance. A quarter wave on frequency might work better, but whatever you have will work. If the conditions permit a more elaborate antenna, the SGC-237 will make the matching an non issue. I am aware that a pi-network and skilled operator can out perform the tuner but the tuner takes the problem out of the field and into the planning stage. John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
John Ferrell wrote:
I know my solution will annoy the purists, but I offer it anyway... I would recommend using the SGC-237 tuner (not cheap)! If it cannot load what ever antenna you can get up or improvise it probably cannot be done. With this device, a ground and 28 feet of vertical wire you can work to 160 meters. Of course the better the ground, the better the performance. A quarter wave on frequency might work better, but whatever you have will work. I have used a 22 foot vertical with 22 foot radials fed by an SG-230 for effective 40m-10m operation. -- 73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Cecil Moore wrote:
Tom Horne wrote: I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. What are you limitations? Supports? Size? Power? Supports are an open question. I expect to have at least a forty eight foot, two inch, aluminum, mast to use because that is what I'm buying to support a directional or omni antenna array for the six, two, and three quarter meter bands. That mast is available in eight foot long sections. The six sections, couplers, guy rings, and the rest of the mast assembly will live in one of those long air luggage carriers with two built in wheels on one end that people use for things like skis. I can certainly include one or more of the surplus GI plastic or aluminum masts in the mobile equipment set, but three masts would be too much for deployments involving commercial airline flights. Depending on how heavy all of that is I could put one or two of the forty one foot Jackite(r) poles or equivalent in that same kit. The power would be the one hundred watts that can be gotten from one of the DC to daylight mobile transceivers such as my Yaesu FT-857D. I expect to build my lugable station into an air transport case with the internal shelves and the removable front and back covers. That station will have 1200/9600 packet for Winlink 2000 radio Email composed of a laptop, TNC, and data radio. A dual bander for VHF / UHF voice and the Yaesu FT-857D for HF. If the Kenwood TM-D710A continues to get high reviews I'll use it for both voice and data on VHF / UHF and leave the separate TNC for a ground mobile deployment. The rest of the weight will be the power supply and rechargeable AGM battery up to the weight limit prescribed for a single piece of airline passenger baggage. If that ends up being impractical from a weight standpoint I might break it up into two air transport cases. If I remember correctly they simply won't transport an overweight item but they just charge you extra for having an extra piece of baggage. My reason for wanting to identify the antennas first is that they sort of govern what else is possible. -- Tom Horne "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
John Ferrell wrote:
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:23:16 GMT, Tom Horne wrote: I am a RACES / ARES member who is trying to actually prepare for deployment with the ability to carry on effective communications from anywhere. I'm here in the antenna forum to get advice on a portable antenna system. I'm not here to join anyones particular theoretical antenna behavior cult. If you have real world experience with a portable multi band antenna system that actually worked for you please share that experience with me. Ive seen a couple of folded dipole antennas advertised that appear to have some sort of fifty ohm dummy load at the center of the fold. Do those things do more then provide a heat source for fleeing birds? There are several compact vertical and horizontal antennas being sold complete with stands or tripods are any of them worth their freight? The so called spiderweb beams look interesting can anyone offer real world experience on those? I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. There are a multitude of answers for this question. I know my solution will annoy the purists, but I offer it anyway... I would recommend using the SGC-237 tuner (not cheap)! If it cannot load what ever antenna you can get up or improvise it probably cannot be done. With this device, a ground and 28 feet of vertical wire you can work to 160 meters. Of course the better the ground, the better the performance. A quarter wave on frequency might work better, but whatever you have will work. If the conditions permit a more elaborate antenna, the SGC-237 will make the matching an non issue. I am aware that a pi-network and skilled operator can out perform the tuner but the tuner takes the problem out of the field and into the planning stage. John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" I didn't mention the issue of antenna tuners it but I was thinking of including the Yaesu FC-30 tuner in the HF set but I wanted to get some advice first. I was considering that tuner because it can be directly controlled by the transceiver and even bolted right to it. If that's a bad idea I have not bought one yet. I take it you are not a fan of the diesel fuel and ammonium nitrate fertilizer solution to stumps. {;) -- Tom Horne "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
In article ,
Cecil Moore wrote: Tom Horne wrote: I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. What are you limitations? Supports? Size? Power? As far as Autotuners, especially the Motorola based, Stepped, Binary, Lumped, Incremental Component Tuners, (SEA, SGC, etc) they have some inherent problems that are a function of the design criteria. First, they can't tune ANYWHERE (50 Khz or more) near the natural 1/2 wave point of the attached antenna, where impedances head for infinity. Second, they MUST have a very good RF Ground to work against, in order to function properly. Don't even "think" the word "Counterpoise", but do demand the phrase, LOW Impedance RF Ground, when engineering an effective use of such an Autotuner. There have been some, that have used these type tuners, as a Tuned Element in the center of a Dipole, but again, these are severely compromised antenna systems, and not likely to out preform a Dipole or Inverted Vee, Tuned for the Operating Frequency. -- Bruce in alaska add path after fast to reply |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:10:32 GMT, Tom Horne
wrote: The six sections, couplers, guy rings, and the rest of the mast assembly will live in one of those long air luggage carriers with two built in wheels on one end that people use for things like skis. Hi Tom, With some care in isolating the VHF antennas you hoist aloft, you could turn the mast and guys into a thick radiator capable of covering 80 through 30 Meters omni. With some effort in trap building (into the conducting guys) you could extend that higher. The more radial guys, the easier the broad band match; however, this can become an issue of diminishing returns and increasing complexity. 73's Richard Clark, KB7QHC |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
I've had good luck with a portable antenna system that I use QRP with
an FT817, on 80-10m. I use a High Sierra Sidekick short screwdriver antenna (other "shorter" brands would also work ) with a modified BuddiPole mast and tripod. WIth my 5 watts I can work many stations that I can hear as long as there are no pileups - if so you need some patience! I modified this by making a bracket for the mast that holds 4 , 10-12 ft MFJ telescoping antennas horizonatally to form the counterpoise. I use a 10 ft telescoping antenna on the screwdriver to make it more efficient on HF. All of this fits in a medium suitcase and when folded is only 24 inches long. To power the screwdriver motor I use a 9 volt, yes 9 volt, standard battery with a manual up/down switch. I use multiple Mix 31 ferrite beads on the coax and antenna motor wires at the antenna. I prefer the screwdriver type antenna as it is remotely tunable and most of them work well on 9-12 volts and don't require heavy duty batteries - I like to switch bands a lot but don't like to manually tune antennas "every 10 minutes". This setup puts the base of the antenna 7 to 8 feet above the ground so you have a bit less ground loss than if you put the ground counterpoise on the ground or a few feet above the ground. The angle of radiation on this is probably at the horizon so if you're looking for short range HF then this would not be the configuration to use. I've thought about making the bracket commerically available if anyone was interested, to augment my mobile antenna supplies (www.repDesign.us). If interested let me know. 73, Dick Post, N7EMW On Jan 27, 11:23*pm, Tom Horne wrote: I am a RACES / ARES member who is trying to actually prepare for deployment with the ability to carry on effective communications from anywhere. *I'm here in the antenna forum to get advice on a portable antenna system. *I'm not here to join anyones particular theoretical antenna behavior cult. *If you have real world experience with a portable multi band antenna system that actually worked for you please share that experience with me. Ive seen a couple of folded dipole antennas advertised that appear to have some sort of fifty ohm dummy load at the center of the fold. *Do those things do more then provide a heat source for fleeing birds? There are several compact vertical and horizontal antennas being sold complete with stands or tripods are any of them worth their freight? The so called spiderweb beams look interesting can anyone offer real world experience on those? I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. *I want to know what does work from real world users. -- Tom Horne, W3TDH K "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. *It is much too dangerous for general use." *Thomas Alva Edison |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
I didn't mention the issue of antenna tuners it but I was thinking of including the Yaesu FC-30 tuner in the HF set but I wanted to get some advice first. I was considering that tuner because it can be directly controlled by the transceiver and even bolted right to it. If that's a bad idea I have not bought one yet. I take it you are not a fan of the diesel fuel and ammonium nitrate fertilizer solution to stumps. {;) Stumps.... I try to resist the urge to experiment in that direction. I continue to look for a mentor that has gray hair, and a complete inventory of eyes & limbs. I sure miss the days when every hardware store carried Calcium Carbide. Can you recommend any fuses or detonators? tuners I like built in tuners but I like having the tuner at the antenna even better. In days past a big mismatch was just an inconvenience. Today RF at the operating position means the only equipment that does work is the radio. I use only two HF antennas at this time. The 28 foot vertical with the SGC-237 which works fine 10-160m with no Shack RF and A Cushcraft A3S 40-10 beam with the tuner in the TenTec Jupiter. Both meet my expectations. A vertical MAY NOT meet your mission profile for short range communications. A low dipole (High enough not to present a safety hazard) may be more useful. As an earlier poster pointed out, it would be best to select a length that is NOT a half wave on a desired operating frequency. Once again, a clever technician can beat any tuner but I find it difficult to be clever when it is dark, cold, wet and hungry. John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
John Ferrell wrote:
I didn't mention the issue of antenna tuners it but I was thinking of including the Yaesu FC-30 tuner in the HF set but I wanted to get some advice first. I was considering that tuner because it can be directly controlled by the transceiver and even bolted right to it. If that's a bad idea I have not bought one yet. I take it you are not a fan of the diesel fuel and ammonium nitrate fertilizer solution to stumps. {;) Stumps.... I try to resist the urge to experiment in that direction. I continue to look for a mentor that has gray hair, and a complete inventory of eyes & limbs. I sure miss the days when every hardware store carried Calcium Carbide. Can you recommend any fuses or detonators? A common 1/4 stick fire cracker as the detonator and model rocket engine nichrome wire igniters wired to energize from a safe distance away. You have to pack the mixture pretty tight with the fire cracker in the middle. Wrap the nichrome igniter wire around the firecracker's fuse, run your wire out a safe distance, connect wires to battery terminal and key operated switch / covered push button combination, make the needed safety announcement, when all check points report all clear insert and operate the keyed switch, begin countdown, press button. -- Tom Horne "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison tuners I like built in tuners but I like having the tuner at the antenna even better. In days past a big mismatch was just an inconvenience. Today RF at the operating position means the only equipment that does work is the radio. I use only two HF antennas at this time. The 28 foot vertical with the SGC-237 which works fine 10-160m with no Shack RF and A Cushcraft A3S 40-10 beam with the tuner in the TenTec Jupiter. Both meet my expectations. A vertical MAY NOT meet your mission profile for short range communications. A low dipole (High enough not to present a safety hazard) may be more useful. As an earlier poster pointed out, it would be best to select a length that is NOT a half wave on a desired operating frequency. Once again, a clever technician can beat any tuner but I find it difficult to be clever when it is dark, cold, wet and hungry. John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
A common 1/4 stick fire cracker as the detonator and model rocket engine nichrome wire igniters wired to energize from a safe distance away. You have to pack the mixture pretty tight with the fire cracker in the middle. Wrap the nichrome igniter wire around the firecracker's fuse, run your wire out a safe distance, connect wires to battery terminal and key operated switch / covered push button combination, make the needed safety announcement, when all check points report all clear insert and operate the keyed switch, begin countdown, press button. Firecrackers are not readily available here but I will give it some thought. Knee replacement is on the schedule for next week so the lab work will have to wait... John Ferrell W8CCW "Life is easier if you learn to plow around the stumps" |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Tom Horne wrote:
I am a RACES / ARES member who is trying to actually prepare for deployment with the ability to carry on effective communications from anywhere. I'm here in the antenna forum to get advice on a portable antenna system. I'm not here to join anyones particular theoretical antenna behavior cult. If you have real world experience with a portable multi band antenna system that actually worked for you please share that experience with me. Hi Tom. First things first - Are you willing to learn anything? This isn't as rude as it may first appear. I've had a good bit of experience with folks in emergency ops who don't want to learn about HF, they just want a one size fits all answer. Ive seen a couple of folded dipole antennas advertised that appear to have some sort of fifty ohm dummy load at the center of the fold. Do those things do more then provide a heat source for fleeing birds? They are not particularly good antennas. But they might just be good for your purpose. They are very wideband, and that may be important if you don't want to run a tuner. Many of their limitations can be overcome with applying more power. Before I get beat up by the antenna purists, the folded dipoles do serve a purpose of being antennas that you don't have to mess around with. I'd never own one, but for this purpose, maybe so. There are several compact vertical and horizontal antennas being sold complete with stands or tripods are any of them worth their freight? I suspect that the folded dipole would work a bit better. The so called spiderweb beams look interesting can anyone offer real world experience on those? No experience here, but under emergency condx, it seems like a nuisance. I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. And yet you came here! Just a joke son... a few questions might be in order: Are you looking for rapid setup, or are you going to be in a regular location with the antenna already in position? You noted deployment, so I'll assume the former. For speed of deployment and flexibility, it is hard to beat a general purpose dipole, ladder line, and a tuner. It is inexpensive, inherently all HF band, and performs pretty darn well. You do have to run a tuner, which is pretty simple, but that goes along with my how much do you want to learn schtick. All you need is a couple of trees, or even masts, and you can be set up and running in a short time. Length of the antenna can be adjusted according to how much space you have at deployment. Of course, the shorter you make it, the less well it performs on the lower bands. I've used these for years, and have talked and buzzed the world over. I tend to shy away from beams for emergency use, unless I have an omni or near omni antenna to complement them. The much maligned Folded dipole would be next on my list. Simple to set up and use. It isn't as forgiving on length as the general purpose dipole however. Those shorty verticals work pretty fair on the higher frequencies, but are a real b***h on 80 meters. The bandwidth is quite sharp, and can give you fits. I use a bugcatcher on 80 in the car because there isn't much alternative, and I have to have multiple taps to tune 80/75 meters. Screwdrivers tune more easily on 80/75, but their performance is down a little from the bugcatcher. I'd steer away from short verticals if you think you're going to be doing work in that neighborhood. Hope this helps. - 73 de Mike N3LI - |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
John Ferrell wrote:
I know my solution will annoy the purists, but I offer it anyway... I would recommend using the SGC-237 tuner (not cheap)! If it cannot load what ever antenna you can get up or improvise it probably cannot be done. With this device, a ground and 28 feet of vertical wire you can work to 160 meters. Of course the better the ground, the better the performance. A quarter wave on frequency might work better, but whatever you have will work. Performance probably won't be that great, but hey, it's an option. And the purists would be arguing and wouldn't geth the antenna up until after the emergency is over, if then! ;^) - 73 de Mike N3LI - |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Michael Coslo wrote:
Tom Horne wrote: I am a RACES / ARES member who is trying to actually prepare for deployment with the ability to carry on effective communications from anywhere. I'm here in the antenna forum to get advice on a portable antenna system. I'm not here to join anyones particular theoretical antenna behavior cult. If you have real world experience with a portable multi band antenna system that actually worked for you please share that experience with me. Hi Tom. First things first - Are you willing to learn anything? This isn't as rude as it may first appear. I've had a good bit of experience with folks in emergency ops who don't want to learn about HF, they just want a one size fits all answer. Ive seen a couple of folded dipole antennas advertised that appear to have some sort of fifty ohm dummy load at the center of the fold. Do those things do more then provide a heat source for fleeing birds? They are not particularly good antennas. But they might just be good for your purpose. They are very wideband, and that may be important if you don't want to run a tuner. Many of their limitations can be overcome with applying more power. Before I get beat up by the antenna purists, the folded dipoles do serve a purpose of being antennas that you don't have to mess around with. I'd never own one, but for this purpose, maybe so. There are several compact vertical and horizontal antennas being sold complete with stands or tripods are any of them worth their freight? I suspect that the folded dipole would work a bit better. The so called spiderweb beams look interesting can anyone offer real world experience on those? No experience here, but under emergency condx, it seems like a nuisance. I'm honestly looking for advice that is based on experience rather than a particular theory of what should work. I want to know what does work from real world users. And yet you came here! Just a joke son... a few questions might be in order: Are you looking for rapid setup, or are you going to be in a regular location with the antenna already in position? You noted deployment, so I'll assume the former. For speed of deployment and flexibility, it is hard to beat a general purpose dipole, ladder line, and a tuner. It is inexpensive, inherently all HF band, and performs pretty darn well. You do have to run a tuner, which is pretty simple, but that goes along with my how much do you want to learn schtick. All you need is a couple of trees, or even masts, and you can be set up and running in a short time. Length of the antenna can be adjusted according to how much space you have at deployment. Of course, the shorter you make it, the less well it performs on the lower bands. I've used these for years, and have talked and buzzed the world over. I tend to shy away from beams for emergency use, unless I have an omni or near omni antenna to complement them. The much maligned Folded dipole would be next on my list. Simple to set up and use. It isn't as forgiving on length as the general purpose dipole however. Those shorty verticals work pretty fair on the higher frequencies, but are a real b***h on 80 meters. The bandwidth is quite sharp, and can give you fits. I use a bugcatcher on 80 in the car because there isn't much alternative, and I have to have multiple taps to tune 80/75 meters. Screwdrivers tune more easily on 80/75, but their performance is down a little from the bugcatcher. I'd steer away from short verticals if you think you're going to be doing work in that neighborhood. Hope this helps. - 73 de Mike N3LI - I will learn whatever I need to in order to be an effective radio operator when that is what is really needed. I've already set up a Winlink2000 gateway just to learn how. I've got a portable packet set up worked out using just an HT, a readily portable TNC, laptop computer, and a portable J-pole. I'm scheduled for my Skywarn class and I'm enrolled in the Level 1 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course and I plan on taking all three courses and the needed exams to become a certified emergency communicator. I think I can honestly say I'm willing to learn. What I was hoping to find was operators who have already used one or more of the antennas I was asking about who would be willing to share their experience of the effectiveness or lack of same with me. -- Tom Horne "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Tom Horne wrote in
news:gjxoj.14357$fs4.12898@trnddc02: I will learn whatever I need to in order to be an effective radio operator when that is what is really needed. I've already set up a Winlink2000 gateway just to learn how. I've got a portable packet set up worked out using just an HT, a readily portable TNC, laptop computer, and a portable J-pole. I'm scheduled for my Skywarn class and I'm enrolled in the Level 1 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course and I plan on taking all three courses and the needed exams to become a certified emergency communicator. I think I can honestly say I'm willing to learn. Okay, Tom, good to hear that. First thing of course is to get the General license. Second thing is that HF is a whole different animal than VHF. My experience with new guys and gals is that they often think of HF/MF as just another set of frequencies to use. It is and it isn't. Propagation knowledge is needed, not only on your end of the signal, but on the other end as well. Working the vagaries of propagation is one of the great joys of Ham radio, but it requires a pretty big commitment, and an enjoyment of the game as well. You're going to have to get on the air, and spend a couple years learning - it isn't going to be like using a computer program. HF is an unruly beast, and your antenna is only going to be a small part of it. I'm not trying to bust your chops here, it's just a different ball game, and your post started out like one of those "just tell me what I need to do" commercials. 8^) What I was hoping to find was operators who have already used one or more of the antennas I was asking about who would be willing to share their experience of the effectiveness or lack of same with me. My vote is for the general purpose dipole and a tuner. Flexible, and "all HF band". It will work in multiple locations, (important for an antenna that must be raised in whatever condx are present) is reasonably efficient, and works pretty darn well. - 73 de Mike N3LI - |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Mike Coslo wrote:
Tom Horne wrote in news:gjxoj.14357$fs4.12898@trnddc02: I will learn whatever I need to in order to be an effective radio operator when that is what is really needed. I've already set up a Winlink2000 gateway just to learn how. I've got a portable packet set up worked out using just an HT, a readily portable TNC, laptop computer, and a portable J-pole. I'm scheduled for my Skywarn class and I'm enrolled in the Level 1 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course and I plan on taking all three courses and the needed exams to become a certified emergency communicator. I think I can honestly say I'm willing to learn. Okay, Tom, good to hear that. First thing of course is to get the General license. Second thing is that HF is a whole different animal than VHF. My experience with new guys and gals is that they often think of HF/MF as just another set of frequencies to use. It is and it isn't. Propagation knowledge is needed, not only on your end of the signal, but on the other end as well. Working the vagaries of propagation is one of the great joys of Ham radio, but it requires a pretty big commitment, and an enjoyment of the game as well. You're going to have to get on the air, and spend a couple years learning - it isn't going to be like using a computer program. HF is an unruly beast, and your antenna is only going to be a small part of it. I'm not trying to bust your chops here, it's just a different ball game, and your post started out like one of those "just tell me what I need to do" commercials. 8^) What I was hoping to find was operators who have already used one or more of the antennas I was asking about who would be willing to share their experience of the effectiveness or lack of same with me. My vote is for the general purpose dipole and a tuner. Flexible, and "all HF band". It will work in multiple locations, (important for an antenna that must be raised in whatever condx are present) is reasonably efficient, and works pretty darn well. - 73 de Mike N3LI - I don't know what data base your checking but I have an Extra class license already. The reason I spent do much time on VHF is that is were the public service work gets done for the most part. -- Tom Horne "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison |
DE W3TDH I need a portable HF antenna set up.
Tom Horne wrote:
I don't know what data base your checking but I have an Extra class license already. The reason I spent do much time on VHF is that is were the public service work gets done for the most part. Okay, good enough. Sorry for the mistake. I'll stop bothering you now.. 8^) Good luck with whatever you set up. - Mike N3LI - |
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