[NLRS] $50 W7EC Screwdriver Antenna

[Ford Peterson]

For those who haven't heard, Hal-W7EC near Seattle has agreed to outfit all the MNQP HF mobile wannabees in MN with an 80m - 10m screwdriver antenna for $50 each (plus shipping).  Hal's 80 years young but has made many of these for the Seattle group.  And at $50, the price includes the motor, the coil, the antenna, the weather shroud, it's a steal.  What it does NOT include is the DPDT switch to move the antenna (controller), the Stainless 3/8" x 24 thread Whip (radio shack), or the bumper mount, which he recommends be fabricated from a trailer receiver hitch (or other?).  The 160m add-on coil will be an extra $10.  The list is getting longer so if you want one, better get on the list soon.  Email me...

Hal-W7EC called me tonight.  Success!

Although I told a few of you guys that want one, some may not have been told.  Hal's volunteer lathe operator was recently involved in a serious car accident that severed all the tendons in both wrists.  Tough to run the lathe!  His involvement would delay things quite a bit--perhaps forever.  Sounds like a rough road for the fella.  Undaunted, Hal proceeded to secure the able assistance of the local Vo-Tech to make the special parts.  So we are back in business.  Hal's got the mandrel and the Vo-Techies will do the special cuts in the PVC to support the wire for the coils.

I received my 160m add-on coil from Hal today.  She's a beauty!  At just over 13" long, it measures 307uH!  200 turns of #16 thermaleze copper wire on a 1-5/8" core.  Wow!  Hal has been unable to locate any 2" diameter heat shrink tubing, so if there is a source of the stuff someplace, it could get wrapped properly.  I don't think I'll bother wrapping mine.  

Wouldn't it be nifty to get 15 or 20 mobiles running 160m in the daytime for the MNQP?  Then we ALL could work ALL the mobiles in MN!  Here is a link to some pictures of my setup from the last MNQP.  Scroll to the bottom and look for the Soapbox by N0FP.  The PDF loads quicker.
http://www.w0aa.org/mnqp/2005/mnqso.html

Here is the list of takers so far...

Brad-K9BZ
Lee-K0LW
Bill-AC0W
Mark-WA0MHJ
Tony-KM0O (cancelled)
Doug-AA0AW
Pat-K0PC
Bob-KC0NFB
Ford-N0FP (I want another one)
Dewey-N0VO
John-NG0R
Dave-N9TTX
Dick-N0IM
Tom-K0PYK
Gene-W0PI
Troy-AB0YZ

So that makes 15 so far.  The coils will be made soon, so if you want one (or several), then email me.  Let's get the MNQP to be the #1 state QSO party!

Ford-N0FP
ford at cmgate.com