[Elecraft] Flagpole antenna

[Vic Rosenthal]

MagicAggie@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I need a vertical antenna on my lot for a few reasons, and a flagpole
> vertical (flagpole being the radiator, not housing it) seems to justify a lot
> of those reasons. Force 12 currently has a special on their flagpole kits.
> Size is about 15.5 feet of flagpole,longer if needed. Does anybody have
> experience with these type of antennas?  It will be for my K1.  It will
> strictly be for 40,30,20, and 17meters strictly CW, strictly QRP.  Will the
> KAT1 (K1 internal tuner) be able to tune such a load? Any other vertical
> recommendations?

I haven't seen this particular antenna in the flesh, though I looked at it on
their Website.  Based on this, I would say the following:

1) The antenna's performance will be very dependent on the quality of the radial
ground system that you can install.  I would shoot for a minimum of 16 radials,
each one 16 feet long.  If you can install 32 radials each 25-30 feet long, that
would be significantly better.  Follow Force 12's instructions about the
placement of the coax balun.

2) The antenna is somewhat short for 40 meters.  Force 12 mentions an extension;
a 25 foot vertical would be much better on 30/40.  Remember, if you are QRP you
need a better antenna than the QRO guy!

3) The antenna is just a vertical with no matching circuitry, so it will show a
high swr on some bands.  Therefore, I suggest that you feed it with RG8/U to
reduce the loss, even though you don't need the power-handling capability.  The
KAT1 will probably match it on all bands.  If it doesn't, just change the length
of the feedline a bit.  The shorter the better, again to reduce loss from the
swr on the line.

Regarding other verticals: Force 12's 5-band vertical dipoles are small,
efficient, and expensive.  They do not need a buried radial system.  The
FluidMotion BigIR vertical does require a ground system, but would be unbeatable
with a good one.  It's also expensive.

Good luck.

Vic K2VCO