[Elecraft] Buddipole and K3

[Rob]

Henry,

I have a Buddipole that I've used with both the K2 and K3. What I like about 
it is its compactness. You can pack it up and stick it in a suitcase - no 
problem. I take the Buddipole, tripod, and switching power supply in my 
suitcase; and pack the K3, paddle, and some cables in the "Rose" carrying 
case. I've used it a couple of times on trips to New York.

The Buddipole has these coil-tap-clips that are (quite frankly) a pain in 
the butt. Supposedly, you're going to take the time to set it up, change the 
taps, for every band you use. Nope. I don't work that way. So, I have a 
small MJF mobile antenna tuner/SWR meter that I bring with me. I found that 
there are two tap positions on the coils where using the tuner I can get 
good results on 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. The first position is 
for 10, 12, 15, 20; the second position is for 30 and 40.

Since I always end up using the Buddipole on the ground, I never set it up 
for horizontal (e.g dipole) configuration. At that height, it's an NVIS 
antenna. Instead, I put the center-conductor-connected element vertical, and 
the braid-connected-end horizontal. In other words, it's a compromise ground 
plane.

It works about a good as  mobile antenna. The main benefit is its 
portability. Don't expect it to work better than any other shortened, 
end-fed-coil-loaded antenna. It won't. But, it will work just as well.

73,

Rob K6RB

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Henry Carr" <hmcarr3rd at gmail.com>
To: <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2011 10:35 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Buddipole and K3


> Does anyone have experience operating with the Buddipole and the K3?  How
> was the performance?
>
> Henry N5HM
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