[Elecraft] Best antenna for K2

Thu Oct 16 19:38:00 2003

Michael:
  I'm not sure about a "best" antenna, and I think anyone who attempted to 
answer that question, even for a very specific situation, would find 
himself on the other end of a flame war.  I think, in practice, "best 
antenna" is an oxymoron.

  However, I have taken the K2 /P a number of times using a 67 foot or 100 
foot length of wire, and counterpoise appropriate to the band you are 
operating.  That would be 33' for 40 meters, etc.  If you have the ATU, 
that should do the trick for an excellent (if not best) antenna that is 
simple to erect.  Just pull one end up (attached with insulator to a cord) 
in a nearby tree and go (pull it up horizontal if you can -- but it is not 
essential).  If you don't have the ATU, a very small MFJ tuner will help. 
This antenna will work far better on 40 meters than any of the mini 
verticals and weights considerably less.  The mini verticals do quite well, 
however, on the higher bands (15 and above).

  If you want to operate 80 meters, a longer wire is better.  The 100' wire 
will work fine.  You would need a counterpoise of about 66' on 80.  I 
hasten to point out to all, by the way, that, if you haven't been down on 
80 meters of late, you might give it a try.  It has been behaving 
beautifully the past couple of weeks: a number of good strong signals and 
quite low noise.  It would be nice to get more K2s down on this strangely 
underused band.

best wishes, and have fun,

dave belsley, w1euy

--On Thursday, October 16, 2003 1:56 PM -0600 "Michael D. Heit KD7YLA" 
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi folks,
>   I want to use my K2 primary for back packing in the mountains of
> Montana, Idaho and Washington, and next year, in Alaska. I want the best
> antenna for that type of operation. Primary use would be QRP, DX.
> Secondary would be SSB. I have seen a few online, and am leaning toward
> one of the "portable type" with the bag and all. I was wondering , since
> there is a lot of activity about just putting up a long wire, if this
> would be as efficient as one of the other types?  I should think a 50
> foot piece of wire would suffice? You guys and gals out there on this
> list are experts at this, may I be privileged to pick you collective
> brains about this question? Thank you very much for any and all replies I
> will get. By the way, my "normal" rucksack ( an A.L.I.C.E. Large with all
> gear for extended hike of minimum 2 weeks) weighs in at about #80 start
> of trip, may get to #60 by end of 2 weeks. This predicates taking 2
> batteries, and I am exploring the use of a solar panel to keep top charge
> of one battery while using another.
>
> --
> 73, de Michael Heit KD7YLA
> "Real Hams do it at a high frequency"
>
>
> ---
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----------------------------------
David A. Belsley
Professor of Economics