[Elecraft] IMPROV Antenna Test

[Ken Newman]

When the spring comes, portable QRP becomes quite 
important.  On Sunday my XYL reported it would be
a good time to go shopping at the factory outlets near
Lancaster, PA.  Not exactly what I had in mind for the
day, I remembered the "Improv" idea from the article
in the "QRP Homebrewer" #9 pg 44.  by of course 
N2CX.  In a quick scan of the magazine, I grabbed the
usual QRP Portable crate and also the Hustler 2 meter
mobile antenna to used for part of the Improv.  
When we got there at the Outlet , I let her go wild with
no time constraints either... that's the great guy I am!
I parked the "mobile" backed up to a grassy strip
away from everything and setup the Improv.   I used
the Black Widow 20' pole to support the 16.5' wire
to make the radiator and the ground being the car with
the modified Hustler mount.  See the article for details.
The SWR was 1.2:1 on the K1 without the internal
tuner used.. NOT BAD!  Condx on 20 seemed poor
and no results from CQs .  One QSO however....
N4BP while he was working the CQM contest.
If you can't work Bob, you need a new antenna, but 
the Improv seems to be alive.  Try it!  I plan to do
that for more important shopping trips!

72 de Ken N2CQ