There are others on the group who can get into the technical side of
things -- I just thought I'd tell you what I'd use in the bush, or anywhere
else for that matter. Make up a twin lead J-pole -- its flexible and you can
hang it from almost anything. If you Google J-pole you'll find a hundred
different designs, but electrically they are all the same thing. The
twin-lead version can be hung anywhere from a string, and then
rolls up and fits in your pocket when you're done. If you want you
can hang it on a stick or twig tied to your backpack! A very
easy to make, versatile, and effective antenna! It's the only
one you'll ever really need!

Irv VE6BP


"James186282" wrote in message
...
In my mind I would simply like an antenna that was effective but flexable.
Length is not "critical" as I plan to hang it up high on an LB harness.
The idea is a rough and tumble antenna that can work in the woods on a
Search and Rescue mission but will give me the very best range out (not so
much up/dn)

Irv Finkleman wrote:
There are others on the group who can get into the technical side of
things -- I just thought I'd tell you what I'd use in the bush, or anywhere
else for that matter. Make up a twin lead J-pole -- its flexible and you can
hang it from almost anything. If you Google J-pole you'll find a hundred
different designs, but electrically they are all the same thing. The
twin-lead version can be hung anywhere from a string, and then
rolls up and fits in your pocket when you're done. If you want you
can hang it on a stick or twig tied to your backpack! A very
easy to make, versatile, and effective antenna! It's the only
one you'll ever really need!

Irv VE6BP

I tried that a long time ago and came to a different conclusion. What I
found in the remote areas was a lot of multipath reception. Sorry about
the technical term -- the consequence of multipath is that the signal
strength changes dramatically as you move. It's the cause of the "picket
fencing" familiar to mobile operators. Changing antenna position even a
few inches can take a signal from unreadable to nearly full quieting.
With an HT mounted whip, I move the HT around until I hit a hot spot,
and hold it there while communicating. When I hung an antenna from a
tree, it was a crap shoot (how's that for keeping it non-technical?)
whether it would end up at a hot spot or a lousy spot.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Roy Lewallen wrote:
Irv Finkleman wrote:
There are others on the group who can get into the technical side of
things -- I just thought I'd tell you what I'd use in the bush, or
anywhere
else for that matter. Make up a twin lead J-pole -- its flexible and
you can
hang it from almost anything. If you Google J-pole you'll find a hundred
different designs, but electrically they are all the same thing. The
twin-lead version can be hung anywhere from a string, and then
rolls up and fits in your pocket when you're done. If you want you
can hang it on a stick or twig tied to your backpack! A very
easy to make, versatile, and effective antenna! It's the only
one you'll ever really need!

Irv VE6BP

I tried that a long time ago and came to a different conclusion. . .

Sorry, I missed the suggestion of hanging the J-pole from your backpack.
That would allow moving around for the best reception in the multipath
environment. My comments were in response to the suggestion of hanging
it from a string, which I found not to be a good idea.

Like most vertical radiators isolated from earth ground, a J-pole can
couple quite a bit of current to the feedline, making the feedline, rig,
and your body part of the antenna system. So you might find some
feedline lengths and orientations to work better than others.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL