Posted: 2/12/2009 3:01:42 PM EDT
I'd like some advice on setting up a station. Goals include versatile emergency communication capabilities (across town, across the county, around the world), as well as giving me the ability to make use of my license for pleasure. I'm not in a position to construct anything permanently (currently renting), so consider this a semi-portable station. More specifically, I'd like to set up for HF (all bands would be nice, but realistically I don't see how lower than 80m is possible), VHF/UHF, a broad spectrum discone for scanner usage, and possibly an HDTV antenna (not particularly related, but if I set up a mast for the others, I might as well, as Dish doesn't supply HD locals to me  ).
I'm not to concerned about the shack side of things; I have a Yaesu FT-8900R that will handle the FM bands nicely, and will probably go with an Icom IC-7000 or Yaesu FT-857D for HF, as well as a GRE PSR-600 scanner. A USB digital interface will be used as well, though I have not selected a specific one yet. Power will be battery based with a charger; solar is planned for a future point. Antennas is my big concern, being the most important component. The lot measures about 124' deep and 82' wide (backyard is about 64' deep). The back yard has a low fence all around, a shed on the back of the lot, and heavy vegetation to the northwest. I've included a lot diagram and some photos to show you guys what I have to work with, but I'm really quite lost as to what I should be doing to meet my goals. The lay of the land: 
Front yard: 
Back yard Northwest: 
Back yard North: 
Back yard South: 
Back yard East: 
Back yard Northeast: 
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For general HF use, you might want to consider a trap vertical. I've used one (still have one) when I was renting. Low footprint, and it is a compromise. Key is running some radials out. Just use a shovel to open a line in the grass and run the radial wire. Or, you could just use lawn fabric wire to hold the wire down until the grass grows over them.
As far as VHF/UHF, height is your friend here. Maybe a push-up mast with a like omni antenna will work for you. It really depends on the terrain of your area. Those of just a couple of thoughts. I hope they help. 73's Colorado_Penguin |
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From your pics, I think your best bet would be to erect a 30-40 ft. telescoping mast at the center/rear of the house. Pretty much in the center of the lot. Then put up a trapped inverted vee near the top for HF and the UHF/VHF antenna (omni) on top. I have been using a 40ft telescoping mast for some time now at 2 different locations. It is only extended to 30ft and anchored to the house at 11-12 feet so it doesn't require any guys.
80 meters is the sticky point. I think you may have enough room for a trapped dipole that will do 80 if you orient it diagonally across the lot. ETA–– just read the post above, a trapped vertical is an option, however, you still need a mast for the VHF/UHF so why not kill 2 antennas with one mast. Also, a vertical antenna will hear more electrical/manmade noise. ETA–– sri..where does the power come into the house? I noticed the power lines to your east. Must be careful! |
| Discone = we call them air cooled dummy loads. I use them for receiving only. Your lot should hold a 101' G5RV set up as an inverted V. G5RV will work bands 6 thru 80 with a tuner. They really shine on 20 meters though. With a good tuner [LDG] you could load up anything metal if you needed to. At field day we have loaded up tin roofs and rain gutters and worked stations with 5 watts. If you had the room a full wave loop for 160 meters works great on all bands. I use my loop 95% of the time. Super quiet and has about 2.5db gain. |
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Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. It sounds like a mast with some form of inverted v is a good place to start. It looks like I could safely do 30-50 feet in the center of the yard, assuming proper guying. What should I be looking for in terms of a mast? I don't want to get too wild and crazy, but want something nice and stable. I've seen things ranging from man-portable to deuce-and-a-half-portable. My personal nature is to over engineer things, particularly when they might fall on my head, but that probably isn't the best approach here.
Power lines aren't a big concern; the main feed enter the house near the satellite dish. The wire seen in the photos serves a circuit for the shed, and can be kept off 98% of the time. It's definitely not how I would have installed it if it was my property, that's for sure. I hear you on discones; I just want something to feed a scanner across the spectrum. That would be strictly for receive only. I will likely mount this a little lower on the mast, and put a decent dual band on the top for 2m/70cm. |
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My mast is a Rohn. It came with guy rings and pins for when it is extended fully. Also has clamps for when mast sections are not fully extended.
I will try to find a link. ETA––mast link |
| You might also try a simple random wire. I have a Hustler 5BTV, a DIY dipole trapped for 15/20/40, and a random wire. I use the wire the most. I just picked up 500' of 14-ga stranded wire from HD for $35 and mounted a balun under the eave. I run coax through the attic to the balun and the wire runs through insulators in the trees with a ground wire going to a 8' copper rod buried next to the house. |