[NLRS] 2M Big Wheel antenna info

[Doug Reed]

At the last breakfast there was a request for a copy of the original QST 
article for the 2M Big Wheel antenna. I found three articles at:
www.6mt.com/2tech.htm
The web site didn't respond when I tried it but having Google display 
the cached version did show the links to download the files, which did 
work. The Zipped images total about 1MB and I could email them if 
requested.

They are GIF copies of the original magazine pages from QST Sept 61, Oct 
61, and SWOT #1869. Kind of ugly but readable. As I remember it is 
essentially the same info as from the VHF Manual around that time, but 
with additional text.

The layout of the tubing bending fixture is not well documented but can 
be easily figured out based on a 24" radius circle, 100 (+-50) degree 
angle from the center of the circle and 6" radius in the corners. Bend 
the tubing around the form and trim to 80" OAL. Will barely fit on a 
2'x4' piece of plywood with 1x2" or 1x4" wood to set the edges for bending.

The easiest way to build the feed point is to forget the original design 
with a SO-239 and 1"-1.5" ceramic insulator. Instead go to your favorite 
radio store and buy one of the SO-239 connector to 3/8" stud adapters 
commonly found as replacement parts for CB antennas. The adapter mounts 
into a hole in the lower bracket and the stud portion is around 1.5" 
tall, close enough for this antenna since the shorting strap is 
adjustable for setting SWR.

The second article (Oct 61) included on-the-air test data and described 
the 4-bay stack. The article said the 2-bay stack was noticeably better 
than a single antenna and the 4-bay version was better yet as expected 
from stacking gain.

The stacking articles mention the need to invert antennas for phasing. 
Instead of inverting the antenna, the same effect can be had by 
reversing the start and end connections of each loop. Instead of left on 
the bottom, right on the top, use right on top, left on the bottom. The 
antennas will need to be retuned after placing them in the stack.

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.