[ILQSO] W9GRS operations

[Tim Childers K9CQ]

Troy,
The lower you go in frequency with any type of vertical, the less effective 
they are with loading like a mobile antenna has.  The feed point impedance 
drops as you go down in frequency (even if the antenna allows you to tune 
there) so you have to add in some inductance or capacitance to make the 
mobile antennas work.  It should have worked somewhat better on 20 though. 
You didn't mention if you had it mounted on a vehicle or what type of ground 
radial system you were using if you didn't.    I have found that the easiest 
portable setup that works well is a low height dipole/G5RV.  I used a mount 
that slides in a trailer hitch that has a 3 ft tube (made for mounting an 
offset umbrella on your porch) with sections of the "military 4 ft poles" to 
get the apex above 25 feet.  With this setup you can run a 10-80 G5RV and be 
a lot better on the lower frequencies.  I have found that my Comet CP-45 
Telescopic Aluminum Mast fits inside of the sleeved end of the military mast 
so I use three section of it and the Comet to get it high enough.

It would be interesting to know what everyone else is using for portable or 
mobile op's.   While moving I am using a Yaesu ATAS-120.  I run it a lot 
normally and have worked all over Europe and as far as Japan on 17 and 20 
meters but it tends to be way less effective on 40.  That is the challenge 
in the ILQP, to be effective on the bands that you can work close in so that 
the other counties in the state can hear you.  When I was on the county line 
of Pike/Brown, I wasn't sure how long we were going to stay and although I 
was out of the way enough, I decided to not put up the dipole.  I called CQ 
for quite a while on 20 with seemingly no takers.  Switched to 40 and 
calling CQ was pretty ineffective.  As I was calling CT moved in half a KC 
up and started calling.  I worked Craig but he said I was pretty weak.  I 
worked several more on 40 with varied results and decided to move along to 
the next stop.  Using the dipole on Scott/Morgan was much better.  I didn't 
get to the Cass line because I heard several stations working someone in 
Cass on phone so I knew it was somewhat covered.

73
Tim, K9CQ

-----Original Message----- 
From: Simpson, Troy
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 7:52 AM
To: ilqso at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [ILQSO] W9GRS operations

Good Morning All!

We tested out the mobile antenna and battery set up during the ILQP in
anticipation of this week's School Club Round-up (SCR).  Using a borrowed
Tarheel II, we had difficulty tuning it to 40m and we couldn't hear
anything on 20m.  The battery provided power enough to get a signal out as
we tested it with the base antenna as well.  We managed a few qso's with
close ones using the mobile/battery combo and called it a day.

Anyway, W9GRS will attempt mobile operations during SCR on Wednesday as we
have a field trip to Turkey Run S.P. in Indiana.  Mounting the antenna on
our "yellow charter" (school bus) should help with the tuning issues on
40m.  Our plan is to be on air around 16:00UTC for about an hour.  We will
be using the callsign *W9GRS/9 *for the Indiana operations.  We will still
be in the very sought after school multi as well.

I will try to spot us on DXsummit if I can get a decent cell signal.  We
will focus on 40m, but might try 20m if we can't get it to go.

We will also be on air after school today as we introduce a new group of
students to the different modes.  We will be on 20m primarily.  If you
see/hear us give us a call!

73's from the Flatlands of Illinois!

-Troy W9KVR and W9GRS Crew

-- 
Troy J. Simpson

Science Instructor - Glenn Raymond School
Head Coach Girls Track & Field - Watseka Community High School
Twitter:  @GRS_Science
Watseka, IL
______________________________________________________________
ILQSO mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ilqso
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:ILQSO at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html