[K3PZN-List] Mobile Antenna Question

Tue Jun 16 22:11:02 EDT 2015

My other thought is to recess the coil a bit into the bed of the truck - as I sense it will not impact its radiation very much.  

I was thinking that shortening the coil would impact resonance only at the lowest end of the lowest band, but indeed best to retain the whole antenna if possible.  

N3DRA has used this antenna, but only with small sedans - last I knew on a Beetle.  

wow - I was out watering the vegetable garden - its surrounded by a tall mesh fence - some kind of critter jumped out from under my beans but I did not get a good look before in vanished - perhaps a mole but my first thought was a snake (that I have typically seen back near our stream).  no damage to the vegetation seen yet -- I will explore more tomorrow.  

a single hop opening on 6m tonite.  heard NM5Z 3 nights in a row (worked him the first two -- Dave in MS in a paraplegic as described on his QRZ listing - he is an excellent CW op.  

73 CUL Curt 

     On Tuesday, June 16, 2015 9:36 PM, John Hoge <himself at wjjhoge.net> wrote:

 The whip at the end of the ATAS-120 provides a capacitive element that  
resonates with the coil. If it's too short, the antenna may not be  
able to tune to a sufficiently low SWR. That's most likely to happen  
on 40, 30, and 20 m.

73 de W3JJH

Quoting Curt Milton via K3PZN-List <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net>:

> Nick
> well there might be advantages to avoiding those places -- but I get  
>  your need. 
>
> I am not familiar with the mechanical construction, so I can't speak  
>  to that - but if the whip is merely aluminum then there is no  
> impact. 
>
> I am thinking the only loading coil is at the bottom so then its  
> merely the percentage difference of this antenna, so this is a loss  
> of something like 10%.  You would notice a 25% difference in  
> efficiency, but this sounds a bit smaller impact.  I guess there is  
> no practical way to tilt it a bit, as I would also consider that  
> option. 
>
> yes do obtain some more answers before cutting. 
>
> 73 Curt
>
>
>
>      On Tuesday, June 16, 2015 7:15 PM, Nick Proy (WT3O)  
> <wt3o at proylaw.com> wrote:
>
>
>  Good Evening Everyone,
>
> I have a mobile antenna question. I think I know the answer, but I  
> wanted to see if anyone else had any thoughts.
>
> I just got a new F-150 and want to install my FT-857 and ATAS-120  
> antenna. This year's F-150s are a little taller than previous years.  
>  If I put my ATAS-120 on the bed rails via a bed stake pocket mount,  
>  the antenna will be about 9 1/2 feet from the ground to the top of  
> the antenna. I'd still like to go through drive thru (banks, fast  
> food, etc...), but most clearances are about 9 feet. I was thinking  
> of cutting off about 8" of the ATAS whip and let the loading coil  
> pick up the difference. I can't imagine 8" would make a huge  
> difference on 20M or 40M (or even VHF with the auto-tuning antenna).
>
> Does anyone see any problems (other than a slight performance  
> decrease) with cutting off a few inches of the whip?
>
> Thanks and 73!
>
> -Nick (WT3O)
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ______________________________________________________________
>
> 73 de K3PZN Westminster, MD
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> 73 de K3PZN Westminster, MD
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73 de W3JJH
John
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73 de K3PZN Westminster, MD
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