[Elecraft] Portable Antennae

[Don Wilhelm]

Larry,

The system I use for a portable antenna can be adapted to most any 
circumstances I find myself in.  It can be a horizontal dipole, and 
inverted vee or a vertical.  They all work, some better than others, but 
hey, it allows one to get on the air in difficult places.  It is not 
always that one can find the ideal set of conditions, so I make the best 
of what I can.

The heart of my system is a 32 ft telescoping fiberglass medium duty 
mast I obtained from www.tmastco.com.  Along with that, I have a 44 ft. 
dipole center fed with 25 feet of parallel line.
I also carry a 25 ft length of additional parallel line, and 2-22 ft 
pieces of antenna wire.  I also have a roll of mason line to use for 
tying things off.  The additional feedline length and 22 ft. antenna 
wire extensions are fitted with alligator clips so it can be added when 
desirable.

When I set up, I look at the space available - if I have another high 
end support in addition to my pole, the antenna goes up as a horizontal 
dipole, but if space is more limited, I just secure the pole with a 
bungy cord to a sstationary object and tie the top of the pole to the 
center insulator,  then put it up as an inverted vee.  If space is even 
more limited, I tie one end of the antenna wire to the top of the pole 
and use it as a vertical with one radial laid out on the ground wherever 
I can - if room allows, I will clip on the extra wire at the ground side 
of the feedpoint to add more radials.  The extra 22 ft pieces of wire 
can also be added to the ends of the antenna to make an 88 ft. dipole or 
inverted vee for more efficient radiation on 40 meters and allowing 
operation on 80.  The mason line can also be used for light guy wires if 
that is desirable.  Tent pins serve nicely for anchor points when no 
others are available.

So there you have my system - it can be a 44 ft. dipole or inverted vee 
(extendable to 88 ft.) or it can be a vertical (with feedpoint about 8 
feet above the ground) with one or more radials.  Used with a tuner, it 
makes a versatile antenna.  A few insulators made out of plastic or PVC, 
a bit of wire, some 300 ohm or 450 ohm ladder line and a handful of 
alligator clips can make you a similar antenna.  No, I do not have plans 
for it on my website - maybe one day it will get there.

73,
Don W3FPR



Larry K1UO wrote:
>
> While I await my K3 (sometime in June) I would like to construct a good
> portable antennae to use while camping (RV camping). If it is a dipole it
> will need to be short enough to fit in the footprint of a campsite. Any
> recommendations.maybe even for a vertical?
>
>  
>
> 73 & God Bless!
>
> Ken/NO4D
>
> Ken,
>
>    Take a look at either the "End Fedz" or "Buddi Pole" portable antennas. 
> Possibly one of those may suit your needs.  Good luck
>
> Larry K1UO
>