[SMCARA] Portable 2M antenna

[Clarke, Tom AIR4.0P NATOPS]

Sometimes having a portable antenna for field day or special events might be a good thing.  

While at Ollies the other day I picked up a telescoping swimming pool skimmer pole, that seemed just right to serve as a mast.  It is about 12 feet in length.

For the base,  I had previously picked up a tripod speaker stand (find at a yard sale, music store,  or from MusiciansFriend.com). 

For the antenna I used the old standard ground plane constructed with an SO-239 connector. Build it into a 1 1/2 inch PVC cap.  About a foot of 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe is used to adapt the antenna to the top of the pool extension.

A PVC "Tee" fitting adapts the extension pole to the speaker stand.  The feedline runs down from the antenna,  inside the pole, and out the Tee.

This has been pretty stable, but guys can be fashioned from camping tent guys and stakes, if needed for windy conditions.

Although this is a unity gain antenna, getting it up 15 feet or so in the air will give your HT some decent range.

Pictures soon on the club website and I'll do a "show and tell" at the next meeting.

73 Tom/W4OKW


In an age when scientists are creating artificial intelligence, too many of our educational institutions seem to be creating artificial stupidity."
-- Thomas Sowell