Not to "knock" the name brands in HF mobile, but have you ever wondered why
they cost so much--up to 700 bucks for a screwdriver all-band mobile
antenna? I do because I couln't AFFORD to pay 5-7 hundred bucks for
a mobile HF antenna! And it's not the performance you are paying for; it's
fancy paint jobs and "consumer" gimmickry that run the price up! And,
actually the performance *may* be not be all that good anyway. Take for
example the ones that claim 160-10 Meter coverage. Take a look at the
loading coil, yeah, the 1 1/2" one. The one that is "transformer-wound" with
ultra thin wire. THAT'S how they are doing it. Also, many times 160 meter
mobile performance isn't all that spectactular anyway.

That is why I build the Carolina Cyclone screwdriver. I knew what I would
want *if* I were in the market for a screwdriver that would run with the big
boys, but wouldn't break the budget. Here is a 2" diameter screwdriver that
does "outtalk" those "all-band" units and it does it with large diameter
wire (14 gauge) and 8 turns spacing--about 1 wire diameter in between. The
result is an HF mobile antenna that delivers coverage from 80 thru 10 Meters
with a solid, reliable signal even when conditions
squash other mobiles. That includes the "transformer-wound" ones. For the
guys that spend a lot of time on 80 and 40 Meters, I build and recommend the
Cyclone II, a 3" diameter coil. It's for the fellas that spend a lot of
time on these bands. It earns its keep everytime. It's what I have on my
pickup truck.

I don't know it all, but I've done a LOT of experimenting and I have found
that, for the best performance on the lower bands, 3 inches is about the
best overall. If you go much bigger, then the "Q" goes so high and the
bandwidth so narrow, you spend much time re-tuning as you drive along. I
once tried out a 6" bugcatcher, and you couldn't move 5 feet until it would
be WAAAY off, and you'd need a tuner to use it at all. NO fun.

So I have build the Carolina Cyclone for the past 10 years. It is a basic,
good-looking screwdriver. It does not use PVC at all. All parts are
machined in a professional shop, and these parts are hard, black nylon. It
allows one to use an amplifier up to 1000 wattsSSB (1500 with the Cyclone
II) without worry. It comes with either a clear or a Sked 20 PVC coil cover
(don't confuse with that with the INTERNAL works). Some people actually
like the solid cover and it gives the optical illusion of being "shorter"
than it actually is--nice for those XYL's/spouses that object to tall
antennas. Your choice as to the cover.
And while many screwdrivers cost hundreds more, the Carolina Cyclone costs
only $240--$350 for the Cyclone II. Shipping is included in the price, but
price is also less whip(they are too darn hard to package and ship). And if
you are running an Icom 706, I will include a little module that will allow
you to semi-automatically set your antenna quickly with a tone signal.

I don't do a whole lot of advertising, and I am retired so this gives me a
little work in my shop. I love building antennas and this gives vent to my
hobby,

Visit www.qsl.net/k4kwh

Thanks all es 73

K4KWH