[Mobile-Portable] Camping

[Dean Norris]

At 16:08 3/9/2002, Hal Offutt wrote:
>Message text written by Dean Norris
> >
>I have an Icom706MKii I use mobile and while camping.  I can use the
>Hustler antenna from the truck which pulls my 22' 5th wheel but I would
>prefer to use an antenna that is easy to put up and has more potential gain
>
>than the Hustler.
>
>My question is, what would be a good wire antenna to use with the 706 and
>an MFJ 300 watt tuner? I can feed a long wire, balanced line or coax. It
>shud be easy to put up and take down also.
>
>Not asking for much, I know but do any of you assembled masses have
>suggestions?
>
>
>Thanks kindly
>
>Unkadean<
>
>
>Dean,
>
>The G5RV-type antenna is perfect for this.  This is basically a dipole
>fed with ladder line, but the wire can be any convenient length - say 60,
>80, 100 or 120 feet.  Both sides should be the same length.  Your tuner
>will tune it on all bands (might not be tunable on 160 if it's too short)
>and
>  a ground is not needed (but still a good idea).
>
>For installation, you need a slingshot (wrist rocket, available at sporting
>goods stores), a fishing reel filled with medium sized fishing line, and
>some 1 oz fishing weights.  You also need two 150' lengths of lightweight
>rope or twine.  You tie the weight to the fishing line, shoot the weight
>over
>a convenient tree branch with the wrist rocket, go find the fishing line on
>
>the other side of the tree (sometimes a chore), tie the twine to it and
>then
>reel it in.  Now the  twine goes from the ground up into the tree and back
>down to the ground on the other side of the tree. You then attach one end
>of the antenna to the twine and pull it up to the desired position and tie
>off
>the twine.  That takes care of one end of the antenna.  You repeat the
>process for the other end of the antenna.
>
>With a little practice, you can install the whole thing in less than 15
>minutes.
>
>The ladder line is very light and will not pull the antenna down very much
>in the middle like coax would.  The lack of weight means that relatively
>small branches will support the antenna nicely, especially for a short
>camping stay.  You can use #18 or even thinner insulated wire, or whatever
>you have around.
>
>Happy camping, camper.
>
>73,
>
>Hal W1NN.


Thanks Hal.  I went to the Scottsdale swapmeet today and picked up a 51 
foot 40-10Mtr G5RV.  Anxious to try it out.  Should work well from the 
camper.  I have a 20 foot chuck of RG-58x feeding from the dinette area 
through to an opening in the front of the camper.  From there it can go out 
and pick up the antenna.  Hopefully we can get out to the mountains in 2 
weeks.  Will report back.

Thanks agn

Dean


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