[Heathkit] Antenna Book Query

[k2cby]

I’ve been in the radio game in one capacity or another (ham, ship’s
operator, broadcast engineer) since 1959.

 

Based on that experience, I go back to the rules I first learned from a guy
who came by his two-letter-call the hard way – pre World War I.

 

1.                   Use a resonant antenna – ½ wave dipole, ¼ wave
vertical, beam.

 

2.                   If you can’t use a resonant antenna:

a.                   Use a reliable wide-range antenna coupler (Collins made
a great L-network coupler for the S-line; you can homebrew the same)

b.                   Use as much wire for the antenna as you can
(horizontal, vertical, or some of each) as high and clear of metal objects
as possible

c.                   Use as much wire in as many radials as you can for
counterpoise unless you are lucky enough to have a salt water ground or a
vehicle

d.                   Tune for maximum current into the antenna using an RF
ammeter 

e.                   Tune the coupler for minimum SWR 

 

This is not elegant or esoteric, but other stations will hear you – which is
what really counts.

 

Miles B. Anderson, K2CBY
16 Round Pond Lane
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Tel.: (631) 725-4400

Fax.: (631) 725-2223
e-mail: k2cby at optonline.net