[Cliffdwellers] Overview of antenna history at KD7BFX

Sun, 13 Jan 2002 14:20:49 -0500

Yes - "hamsticks" (Valor, Pro-Am, Iron Horse, etc) work great with 1/4wl
counterpoise attached.  I have WAS and over 70 countries with hamsticks
on my 5th floor balcony, most on 20m and 10m using IC-706mk2g.

73 de Ian
N8IK

Bill Marx wrote:
> 
> Hi Will,
> Your note was jam packed with useful information. Having tried some of your antennas and some of my own I have little to add.
> 
> At my home in Florida there is no antenna problems. At an apartment I own the best solution so far is a mag mount with a mobile
> antenna (Hustler) on a metal radiator cover by the window.
> 
> I can also extend it out the window at night with a counterpoise hanging down and that is satisfactory. If I had a balcony then the
> mobile would be clamped to the metal railing.
> 
> I remember using a long wire stretched out on the deck of my boat with an antenna tuner many years ago and it worked great just
> laying on the deck but thats another story...
> Bill Marx W2CQ
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 12:44 AM
> Subject: [Cliffdwellers] Overview of antenna history at KD7BFX
> 
> > Presently I have the best QTH, from an antenna point of view, that I
> > have had in 4 short years of hamming, and nearly 20 of "serious" SWL. My
> > main antenna for HF is a 66' inverted-V, 45' at the apex, with an
> > included angle of about 100 degrees, ends at 17.'  Needless to say, it
> > works quite well on all bands from 40-10, and when I tie the feeder
> > conductors together and use my artificial ground box, it does a credible
> > job on 80 as well. I work mostly CW.
> >
> > Up until late last year, I had to deal with serious limitations on my
> > antennas, due to landlords, neighbors, or simply lack of space, even
> > where neighbors and landlords were willing.  Here is a short list of
> > *some* of the things I have tried which worked (reasonably) *well*:
> >
> > *Random-wires, if they are at least 1/2 wavelength on the band of
> > interest. Quarter-wave "randoms" are a real mess without a serious
> > radial system (artificial ground devices don't work so well here), and
> > if you can install a good radial ground system, you probably don't have
> > to worry about stealth or space restrictions, anyway.
> >
> > *Small transmitting loop antennas (also known as "magloops"). I have
> > used both the MFJ and AEA versions. The MFJ is the better of the two,
> > and it does work, but tuning is *very* sharp on 40, 30, and the bottom
> > of 20. Smallest antenna I have used, and the much hyped nulling and
> > noise-reducing characteristics of this antenna are real, and useful. I
> > homebrewed one, and it worked better than those commercially available,
> > for *much* less money ($75 vs. $350!). The real trick is finding (or
> > making, in my case) a suitable HV capacitor. Vacuum variables are ideal,
> > if you can afford them. I 'brewed a "trombone" variable, using copper
> > plumbing pipe and PTFE sheet insulation. I used a continuous piece of
> > 5/8" copper refrigeration tubing, and welded the raditor to the cap,
> > which reduced the losses considerably. There are several excellent
> > design programs (DOS) available.
> >
> > *Bent or 'articulated' dipoles. Simply, put up a dipole as big as you
> > can, where you can. I have had them from 20' to nearly 100, indoors and
> > out, high and low, straight and crooked, etc. As long as the included
> > angle between any two adjacent segments is not less than 90 degrees, the
> > antenna should work (or usually did for me). A tuner, the best you can
> > afford, is a very wise investment for the cliffdwelling ham. I have put
> > dipoles of this type under eaves, along ceilings, between a window and a
> > tree, etc.
> >
> > *Mobile whips and other shortened, loaded verticals. One word:
> > counterpoise! There are a lot of mobile whips (I mean to include
> > screwdriver types here) and "restricted-space" shortened verticals on
> > the market. Some work better than others. I have had good results with
> > the "Hamstick" brand. On a second floor balcony, with one 'resonant'
> > radial hanging, I have routinely worked CW into G, DL, EA, VK, LU, JA,
> > and elsewhere, from Arizona using 50W or less. Results similar but
> > somewhat less on SSB.
> >
> > I found being space restricted was a net, long term plus. I learned a
> > lot about antenna theory, about propagation (taking advantage of
> > optimums), and mostly about the importance and the difference that
> > quality in materials and workmanship makes. The best solder joints, the
> > best wire, etc. *will* make a big big difference when you have to use
> > less than ideal antennas. Filtering, shielding, and grounding are
> > important, more important than for the ham with 5 acres and no deed
> > restrictions and an unlimited budget. Without them, you *will* cause a
> > bunch of TVI and other RFI. It is almost inevitable with sub-subsized
> > antennas. This is especially important if you plan to run more than
> > 100W. My present living arrangements are long term but not permanent, so
> > I may need to use and refine what I have thus far learned about
> > cliffdwelling. That's why I joined this reflector again. A compromise HF
> > antenna doesn't mean a compromise or weak or inferior HF station. I'm
> > not alone in using my own ingenuity, good advice, and careful, thorough,
> > hard work to squeeze the maximum out of my apartment antennas (and the
> > rest of my station) in order to work a good share of DX, even some rare
> > (the best operator with a pint-sized antenna will usually catch the
> > rarie before a poor operator with a KW and stacked beams), and good
> > reports. Don't treat it as second-best, it is really a challenge in the
> > best and oldest tradition of amateur radio.
> >
> > 73 de KD7BFX (Will) AR
> >
> > Fernando Quinones wrote:
> >
> > > Hello Allan.
> > > You are the first post I have read since
> > > I subscribed. My name is Fernando.
> > > I'm interested in how others get on the
> > > air from restricted conditions.
> > > Specifically, Stealth antenna solutions.
> > >
> > > enjoy
> > > --- allan egleston <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > >  My name is Allan Egleston. Call sign is kf6uxj. I
> > > > live on a small lot.
> > > > The only antenna I have now up is a j pole. 73's de
> > > > Allan kf6uxj
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Cliffdwellers mailing list
> > > > [email protected]
> > > >
> > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cliffdwellers
> > >
> > > =====
> > > 73's Fernando NF6Q/NNN0JYM
> > > San Jose,CA.
> > > CCA #01187; K2 #2330 (in it's infancy)
> > > <http://www.geocities.com/nf6q>
> > >
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