[Antennas] Re: B&W window antenna

Thu, 4 Apr 2002 18:20:37 -0500 (EST)

 Hi Bob:

   I once worked a station that was 1000 miles away on 10 meters (when it was open) by loading up a light bulb that was hung from a tree.  The lesson was that DX can be worked with antennas ranging from as little as light bulbs or bed springs when conditions are right.  Now my signal report was 55, but I am sure it would have been 59+ if I had been using a dipole at the same height.  Of course I told all my friends (I was just a kid at the time) about my exploits, but it didn't mean my light bulb was a good antenna, it just meant the band was open and I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

   What I thought you were asking this usergroup was how this antenna worked for those who owned one.  I found it OK with 100 watts and not so hot with 5 watts.  If, however, you were to ask me how does this antenna work with 5 watts, I would have given you a relative statement like - not as good as a full size dipole, but better than a light bulb.  Since working DX with 100 watts can be a challenge to begin with, this would mean that using the B&W window antenna with QRP would make it that much more difficult; not impossible, just more difficult.  It really depends on how much time, patience and luck you have to determine if this antenna would work for you.

   As far as the Mircle Whip is concerned, it is just a small whip with a tuner built in.  You can get a low SWR in most cases, but, like a dummy load, this doesn't guarantee performance.  Generally, it has been ranked very low by hams that have purchased it (see www.eham.com reviews) which only supports the old maxum, "the more metal the better." 

   I hope this helps.  Your statements raise many issues that need to be explored before you can get an answer that fits your question, but this is the fun with ham radio.

Ron W7MRR

--- On Thu 04/04,   wrote:
> In a message dated 4/3/02 11:40:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> [email protected] writes:
> 
>      If you want to run QRP, this isn't the antenna for you.  If you want
> to 
> run portable fixed while on vacation this works nicely with a 100 watt 
> transceiver.
>   >>
> Hi Ron,
> I guess this is one area where I have to disagree with you.
> With "MY" home-brew antenna (I'm sure all are close to equal) I
> have worked 
> Egypt Turkey, Poland and many other Europe stations.
> When France had a contest appx 2 months ago I think I worked 42 stations
> on 
> that night and just from a MFJ 5 watt
> rig.==================================>
> So much for bragging that some will never believe.
> Now  I have to admit that i'm coax dumb but when I put up a dipole and I
> have 
> my little Woman key the rig for me I have a SWR of say 3.1 to 1.
> I cut and prune untill I have a flat SWR.(Thats what the pros have always
> 
> told me)
> I have no book at this time and not being an EE I can't see where coax is
> 
> called very lossy.
> But looking at the hams working QRP at not watts but mil's and making 
> contacts with coax feed line.
> On 40 I have worked Australia.
> As WN2HOQ I worked KL7CC on 15 meters with an old TT 509. watts>
> My antenna was a ground mounted home-brew 15 meter vertical.
> OK now a question.
> I read a bit about the Mirical whip antenna.
> I saw the rough drawing of how the core was wound with TAPS and going to
> the 
> selector switch.
> I have the small MFJ random wire antenna tuner and the cores are bigger
> and 2 
> are stacked on top of each other.
> Other then that it looks the same.
> Is it?
> 40 Meters is dead now so we decided not to even try.
> We have the SWR down with the tuner but still no contacts no that
> B&W.
> Will keep the list posted.
> Thanks for taking the time to write.
> 73
> Bob
> AF2Qrp 
> - - - 
> 
> Your moderator for this list is:
> Larry Wilson KE1HZ [email protected]
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