[Fists] Fred's Antennas.

[kiyoinc at attglobal.net]

<ny2v at twcny.rr.com> wrote:

...

> I am trying to figure out how to install a half-decent antenna here for HF. 
> There are few viable prospects, and all involve at least one wire or one guy 
> that cannot be installed at all. It's a small mobile home park, where we 
> rent lots but own the MH's. My lot is almost twice normal size, out front 
> where cars on the state highway can readily see it, so I like to keep it as 
> attractive as possible. This place has prohibitions against antennas, but 
> the CBers got grandfathered in, and when I told them I have been a ham 
> operator with emergency communications capabilities since 1948, the 
> management said OK, you can have one antenna similar to theirs, if it isn't 
> ugly or dangerous to others. In this era, that was a rare concession, and I 
> accepted the terms.
...
> Good luck in the contest. I miss CW. I miss operating in general. I WILL be 
> back. Not with a little mobile whip either. I'm too old to put up with 
> mediocrity if I know I can somehow do better. Cost is also a huge 
> consideration. In that department, I have no good news to report. Can't take 
> $$ with you, but they sure are handy while you're here. *smile*

Fred,

I've been thinking about your situation for several years.  I've been 
looking toward a "retirement" on the road.  Not in a motor home but 
something smaller, a camper-van like the 1960's hippies but updated with 
modern technology.

My "retirement" would be a continuation of my software engineering 
consultancy but using cell phones, wireless Internet, VPN, and my 
laptop. This technology is almost here, except for the price and 
universal access.

And of course, there is the question of Ham Radio.

2 meters is easy but HF is a problem.  What I've been thinking is using 
the metal frame of the van (the mobile home in your case) as the 
counterpoise.

I realize that it's not as good as a full ground plane but it is better 
than nothing.

The radiating element would be 1/2 of the driven element of my TH3jr. 
Essentially a trap vertical.   In fact, a TH3jr is 6 trap verticals 
arranged in 3 pairs.  I'm guessing that this rig would be 3-6 db below a 
proper dipole which isn't horrible.

The other possibility is to take the full TH3jr and hide it on the roof. 
  With a motor or pulley system, do an "Up Periscope" at night when no 
one can see it.

That doesn't address 40 or 80 meters.  I've never operated on 80. I have 
used a "low dipole" on 40, like 4 feet above ground.  The near vertical 
radiation pattern lets you work out to 300-400 miles with good results.

For 40 meters, I've been thinking about a dipole that starts as two 
horizontal aluminum poles attached to the top of the van.  At the ends 
of each pole, I'd add a flexible wire extension that I unroll and tie or 
toss over a branch.

Each side of the dipole is an aluminum pole, a run of wire, a quick 
disconnect, a length of nylon cord and a weight for tossing over a branch.

The commercial solutions look good but are pricey, the Hygain 18AVQ, 
14AVQ, and the new AV-640 give you the band coverage.

Another possibility is to just stick up 20 feet of aluminum, use an 
antenna tuner and hope for the best.  You'd certainly do better than 
those QRP KX1 backpackers.

de ah6gi/4