[Elecraft] Antenna

[Bob Nielsen]

I recall seeing ads for slinky antennas in the ham magazines several
years ago. A google search on "slinky antenna" returns many hits and
some useful information on the subject.  There is a commercially made
version at http://www.antennasmore.com/helitrix.htm.

73,

Bob, N7XY

On Sun, Nov 03, 2002 at 11:43:50AM -0500, Helmut Usbeck wrote:
> Since the antenna subject came up again, I'd give the results of this one.
> Years ago when I was in the Army Signal Corps I saw some guys fooling
> around with an antenna that looked, and was made out of two slinkys.
> It was not homebrewed but was commercially made.  They just stretched the
> slinky's out and fed the coax into their T-195 transmitter which had an
> auto-tune antenna tuner.  Worked out as good as the normal Army issued
> doublets or whip antennae.
> 
> Well I finally got around to playing with this setup.  I took one slinky
> and mounted it on a length of PVC and lashed it vertically to the railing
> on my terrace.  For a "ground" I used the railing of the terrace.  One
> tunes it by lengthening or shortening it.  Seven and one-half feet is a
> good starting point for 40 meters.  Two slinky's need to be spliced
> together for 80 meters.  No problem getting a 1 to 1 SWR, without a tuner.
> 
> A dipole can be made with two of them supported though the middle of the
> slinkys with nylon cord which also serve as insulators. It's fed of course
> with coax.  This was pretty much the setup the Army used. When done it can
> be collapsed and put into a large pocket. I was told (by people who
> were never in the military) that this antenna was used extensively in Viet Nam, but I never seen any when
> I was there (1968).  It's also not the famous "jungle antenna".  I've seen
> them used when I was stationed down in the Canal Zone(1969).  A warrant officer
> did tell me that they were used since the 1950's experimently.
> 
> So far I've worked into the NE, down south, and into the mid-west with 59
> reports from my QTH in NYC using a K2/100 on sideband.  I'm a rather
> casual operator and haven't chased any DX.
> 
> Has anyone else tried slinkys?
> 
> Regards,
> Helm.  WB2ADT