[HBQRP] Rookie antenna builder

[Hal Schlotfeld]

I just built one of the Earchi end-feds a couple of weeks ago. I think it
works quite well. However I use mine as a inverted L. As for the box I just
used one from Radioshack. I think it was 3"x2"x1", small but plenty of room
for everything.  I also added a few counterpoise wires to keep rf out of
the shack. So far the best dx I've had with the antenna has been Slovenia

On Thu, Sep 25, 2014 at 11:14 PM, Darrell Fulmer <darrell.fulmer at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I hope I am not inappropriately using up the group's bandwidth with
> rookie talk, but here goes . . .
>
> As with lots of folks, my antenna situation is pretty limited --
> aluminum siding, nearby power lines, no suitably placed trees for a
> dipole.  Right now, my KX3 can hear a few signals mostly on 40 and 17
> meters using a wire strung from my second story to a point about 10 feet
> up in my yard. I have made a few QRP CW QSOs. I am gathering the
> materials to build this (hopefully better) 6 - 40 meter end fed  antenna:
>
> http://www.earchi.org/92011endfedfiles/Endfed6_40.pdf
>
> or,
>
> http://kx3helper.com/endfed-40-6m-antenna/
>
> I am getting stuff like BNC/PL-259/SO-239/soldered/crimped/yada yada
> yada figured out -- I think. Right now my plan is to just to buy an RG8x
> feedline of the appropriate length, and with the appropriate connectors
> (BNC male, PL-259 -- for the earchi version antenna) and run it from the
> radio to the antenna's matchbox.
>
> I am thinking I can use a short length of  2.5 inch PVC pipe, closed on
> the ends with flat PVC caps, to house the toroid and wires for the 9:1
> unun. I think I can drill the necessary holes, waterproof everything,
> glue it together, and paint it for UV protection. BUT, even though it
> will be like an slightly oversized tuna can, the PVC pipe is a little
> heavy.
>
> ***Do you know a good source of small, sturdy, reasonably priced,
> weatherproof boxes that could be used for this?***   W1SFR (kx3helper)
> lists the size of his box as 3.12 X 2.13 X 1.58. Weight 3oz.
>
> I know all of this is very basic stuff, but please let me know if you
> see any fatal flaws here, or have any tips. Please feel welcome to
> contact me off-list.
>
> Thank you and 73,
>
> Darrell Fulmer
> AD0EF
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> HBQRP mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hbqrp
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HBQRP at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>