[NLRS] 6m Rover Antennas - response

[Jim Froemke]

I've used two of the PAR stressed moxons for many years; both vertically stacked and single. I've never had a problem with either of them (single) up to 85 mph (TX 130 toll road). The low hanging tree branches can cause problems with the wire reflector if you're not careful and you do need to decouple the feedline (6 turns of RG-58 on a 5" dia.). Like any other 6 meter antenna they work best at or above one wavelength (above the ground, not your vehicle roof) so as to get the benefit of up to 6 dB of ground bounce (when horz. Polarized); depending on your topography. 
I chose the PAR because of the forward gain (point away from the nose sources) and shorter radius of rotation. Yes, the forward gain is noticeable if your drive in a circle and observe the received signals without changing the topography in the direction of the transmitting station. You can view my PAR stressed moxon here: 
http://k0mhc.blogspot.com/2013/05/vucc-expedition-to-fringe-grids-within.html

73, Jim
K0MHC/Rover
-----Original Message-----
From: nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of w0zq at aol.com
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 9:18 AM
To: nlrs at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [NLRS] 6m Rover Antennas




Hello fellow rovers -

Wondering what everyone is using these days for 6m rover antennas.  The Moxon's seem to be popular.   PAR makes the classic SM-50 while MFJ has entered the market with their MFJ-1896 for about $30 less.  Anyone have any experience with either, particularly going down the road at 70 mph?   Do they hold up?  The MFJ appears to use a more tradional boom & boom mount while PARs design uses a stressed design with the reflector formed in part by a wire.   My question is mostly around robustness ... can these two designs hold up to the stress of 70 mph?

73, Jon
W0ZQ

See you at the 47th Central States VHF Society Conference, July 25–27, in Elk Grove Village, IL ______________________________________________________________
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