[PaQSO] Ed's Antennas

[AD8J]

Hi Ed:

I enjoyed reading about your antenna installation.  I 
think I will try the white tape (or maybe white paint) 
on the weights as I too sometimes have trouble finding 
the fishing line when it comes down.  I agree with 
cutting off the weight before pulling the pull rope up.  
Another hint is to carry extra weights in your pocket 
and to always put the wire cutter back in the same 
pocket so it doesn't get lost.

I don't think you will find much improvement by
being near a freshwater lake other than being more
out in the open.  However, salt water is great!

I was wondering if you have noticed much interaction
between the two 40 meter antennas?  I usually check
the SWR after installing each additional antenna and
have found that it changes.  No telling what it does to
the patterns.

I've had good luck with putting up a 40 meter dipole
with a "disposable" reflector under it to send the
signal up during the day.  When the sun sets, I rip
the reflector down to help the longer distance skip.
My 40 meter dipole is cut for the middle of the band
and the tuner takes care of both ends.

For being a rover, I have 40 and 20 meter dipoles
connected to the same center insulator with a shared
feed line.  Each of the four legs is wound on a PVC
frame like an oversized kite string winder.  The cords
from the end insulators are attached and wound on
the same winder.  When I pull into a site, I use a
fishing pole and weight to get the pull rope over a
high branch.  I unwrap the antenna wires in four different
directions before pulling the center up.  It's then a
simple matter of running out as much cord as needed,
on the four legs, to get to four trees.  I don't tie to the
trees but wrap around them once or twice to hold the
inverted Vee's in place.  When it's time to leave, I lower
the center and wind the four ends for the next stop.  With
this arrangement I can usually have the dual band antenna 
up in less that 15 minutes and down in about 5 minutes.

John Getz, AD8J