[Elecraft] O.T. Antenna suggestions needed for JOTA operation.

[Don Wilhelm]

Dave,

Oh, I think on list would be fine too - trusting that there are others with
similar questions.
For a situation like you describe - poor soil and no trees, I would
recommend a dipole.  Verticals are just not effective radiators over soil
with poor conductivity.

For effective radiation at 80 meters, I can recommend an 88 foot length -
see www.cebik.com for LB Cebik's article 'If I can have only one antenna'
for reasons for this length - shorter will work, but will not radiate as
well.  Feed it in the center with 300 ohm twinlead or ladder line - it is
more portable than the 450 ohm variety but one will work as well as the
other.  Since you are apparently packing this in, use lightweight stuff for
the insulators - small pieces of plastic with holes will do fine, and use
some nylon mason line or your kevlar line works fine for the support ropes -
remember that the ends of the antenna will have high RF voltage (keep those
Scouts safe!).

Mount the center of the antenna on your pole, fasten the ends to whatever
brushy things are available (inverted vee) and use a 1:1 balun between the
feedline and the KAT2.  Take along a length of coax to connect the balun to
the KAT2 - the shorter the better, but be practical, a 10 foot length of
RG58 will not have much loss on the lower HF bands.

If you can spend a few bucks on the support pole, one of the telescoping
fiberglass jobs would be lighter and stronger than the PVC.  Henry Pollock
K4TMC sells poles that are designed for flying beach windsocks and are
stronger than the MFJ telescoping poles.  Take a look at www.TMastCo.com for
more information.  I bought some of his aluminum tubing and saw the poles
when I picked them up - other than as a satisfied customer, I have no other
interest in either his company or products.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- |
| I have agreed to support a local Scout Troup for Jamboree on the Air
(JOTA).
| Due to *their* Church requirements, it will only be for the Saturday,
| October 18th 2003.
| AND, worst of all, where we will be going there are absolutely *NO* trees,
| shrubs, etc. Just sagebrush and desert scrub.!! This section of Washington
| State is known for having the highest treeless mountains in the
Continental
| US.
|
| I plan on taking the K2/KBAT2/KAT2 combo. (5 - 10 W)
| I will be trying to use SSB --- the idea is for the Scouts to actually
talk
| (verbally)
| to other scouts anywhere in the world.
|
| I can take some short sections of 1" PVC pipe, some PVC couplings and some
| Kevlar
| rope.
| With a little bit of luck I can probably get the wire up about 10-15 feet
| off the ground.   :-/
|