[600MRG] "The Lowdown Amateur Radio Antenna for 630 Meters Model 630.PD"

Tue Jan 11 10:17:03 EST 2022

In the “olden days” of Lower (160-190 kHz) operations, we used RF current meters to adjust the taps and position of variometers on our TX verticals. Taps on the loading coil were used as a “broad” matches, and then you adjust the variometer for fine-tuning until you achieve peak RF current in the antenna. Before antenna analyzers this was the preferred method—and it still works great. 

LItz wire allowed for very high Q loading coils and minimal losses. 

Fortunately, physics doesn’t change much over the decades. It still works great today. 

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
les at highnoonfilm.com <mailto:les at highnoonfilm.com>
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
EM63nf

NRC & IRCA Courtesy Program Committee Chairman
Member WTFDA, MWC

Perseus SDR, Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy + Discovery, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip. 

“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…” 

> On Jan 11, 2022, at 8:33 AM, John Langridge <kb5njd at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I'm a big fan of the bucket variometer and if you take the time to
> wind it with taps every other turn minimum, you can resonant a 30 foot
> capacitively top loaded vertical in about 2 minutes just by checking
> each tap and watching what X is doing with your on your analyzer.  No
> calculations required to do that.
> 
> Then is just a matter or matching to the feed line and there are a
> bunch of options there and minimal math required.
> 
> John Molnar, WA3ETD, wrote a great article for CQ a few years ago that
> is more of less on his website with details for how he winds buckets:
> https://wg2xka.wordpress.com/the-variometer/
> 
> So there are easy options for resonating and matching existing
> vertical antennas on 472 for someone willing to put in a little elbow
> grease.
> 
> 73!
> 
> John..
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 1/11/22, Dwight Blevins via 600MRG <600mrg at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>> Greg,
>> You asked about "something equivalent." There definitely is and it will cost
>> you maybe $125.00 max (if that). The equivalent is a 5 gallon plastic
>> bucket, a cheap 25' aluminum vertical and a roll of solid core insulated
>> wire (16 or 18 gauge). Add a 3-wire top hat to the vertical and ground mount
>> the thing with the big bucket loading coil, feed point taped up from ground.
>> I'm 75 years old and easily picked up the whole apparatus and had it up and
>> tied off in less than an hour, once everything else was assembled.
>> 
>> It works great on receive and my little 5 watt one tube 630m exciter loads
>> up with ease. I can copy KB5NJD Q5 most any time he is on the air, CW. All I
>> have for a counterpoise is that the mounting mast goes in the ground maybe
>> 40 inches and I have that tied off to a nearby chain link fence. Again, tip
>> of the antenna is maybe 25' up. For the top section I bought a 60 inch whip
>> which attaches to the top of the vertical where the top hat wires are
>> connected. They go down at a 45 angle, tied off with insulators to stakes on
>> the ground. So the 3 top hat sloper wires serve to support the slender
>> vertical when the wind comes.
>> 
>> I don't know what the radiation resistance is, but the thing works great,
>> low background noise, no BCI garbage, etc! I'm not saying don't buy the
>> commercial antenna, but on my budget I have to make my own stuff, which is
>> the fun part of the hobby :)
>> 
>> 73'sKW7TColorado
>> 
>>    On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, 06:38:03 AM MST, Greg KF5N
>> <greg.electricity at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I like the design as I could use it even in my relatively small back yard.
>> The availability of a turnkey antenna and other gear is good, but I'm not
>> even sure there is that much easily available reference material if you want
>> to build your own.
>> I recently ordered the 2022 ARRL Handbook, and found only one page on LF
>> propagation.  Did I miss something, or is there no other information on the
>> ham LF allocations in the latest handbook?
>> Let's say I was a newbie interested in trying out 630 meters.  Where would I
>> go to find construction details for an antenna equivalent to this commercial
>> offering?
>> Long ago (1980s) I built and operated a Lowfer Beacon.  There was the series
>> of books by Ken Cornell, and a couple of enthusiast periodicals on Lowfer
>> and other LF topics.
>> Lots of antenna topics and construction articles in those publications.
>> Is there something equivalent to this today for 630 meters?
>> 
>> 73 Greg KF5N
>> On Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 8:03 AM John Langridge <kb5njd at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Good morning,
>> 
>> Jamie, N2VJ, reported this morning on SLACK that a US-based company is
>> producing a portable, turnkey 630-meter vertical antenna system.
>> Originally developed for BC medium wave AM as an emergency continuity
>> system, this model has been modified for 472-479 kHz.  You can see the
>> specs here:  https://theradiosource.com/products/antenna-630pd.htm
>> 
>> Jamie indicated that the company is probably testing the market and
>> the price may be somewhere in the $890 USD range.  While that may seem
>> pricey to some, there are a lot of people out there still waiting for
>> a turnkey option and engineering and materials are expensive these
>> days.  Yes you can build this stuff for a LOT cheaper but there are a
>> lot of hams today that can't or won't so here is an option to fill the
>> void.
>> 
>> Have a look and show some interest as doing so often drives product
>> development and innovation.
>> 
>> Jamie explicitly noted that he is not endorsing this product and he
>> has no financial interest.
>> 
>> 73,
>> 
>> John KB5NJD
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