[Elecraft] Portable Antennas (Is there an "easy" button?)

[Michael Babineau]

Bernie : 

One of the most simple and effective portable antennas is the 44 Doublet, sometimes referred to as the Norcal Doublet  :

http://www.norcalqrp.org/norcaldoublet.htm

This should give you coverage from 40m through 10m with the internal ATUs in the Elecraft rigs. 

I don't like to rely on mother nature for antenna supports so I normally use a 20 foot panfish pole
to support the antenna as an inverted vee. Other options would be the bigger DK9SQ mast, the similar
model that MFJ sells or the JackKite models (all close to 30 feet when fully extended). 

Get yourself a Pomona 1296 BNC to Male Binding post adaptor and put Radio Shack solderless Banana Plugs on the 
ends of the wire feedline, this will allow for quick connect and disconnect of the antenna. 

I use fishing snap swivels at the center and ends of the antenna and stake the ends of the doublet with some small
aluminum tent pegs attached to some lengths of brightly colored nylon cord so the ends of the antenna are 
visible and present less of a hazard to anyone who might happen by. 

The 88 foot version of this antenna will give you coverage down to 80m. 

Its cheap, very portable, easy to deploy and effective. 

Michael VE3WMB (K1, KX1, K2 builder/owner)

P.S. Here is a trick to reduce the strain on the tip of the poles when supporting a doublet 
(here is a case where a picture is worth 1000 words ) :

http://www.qsl.net/v/ve3wmb//VE3WMB/Blog/Entries/2010/9/28_Field_Doublet_centre_support.html

>Dear Folks: 

>I have a K2/10 (#6922) and a K1 (#1024).  I have used the latter in the field, and hope to use both portable.  I have a Buddi-Pole setup, but am annoyed at how long it takes to set >up.  I am wondering if you folks have a suggestion for a really easy portable antenna setup.  Anyone? 

>As a corollary to that question, I hear people say they just "toss a wire up in a tree".  Both of my Elecraft rigs have the ATU's installed, and so, could I just use a wire?  I am >contemplating getting some fine gauge wire (#24?) and soldering a 40 foot length to the positive pole of a BNC connector and a similar length to the shield.  What do you guys think? 

>73 de Bernie, KF0QS