Posted: 5/11/2009 10:31:39 AM EDT
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I'm trying to come up with a simple to build antenna project for an upcoming meeting. We'll have two teams working on their antennas (maybe two separate projects?) and space will be limited since we'll be indoors. Last year we did simple 40M dipoles. I thought about doing a fan antenna this year but I'm open to more "interesting" ideas.
I'd appreciate any ideas for something that is easy to build within the span of a little less than 2 hours and is easily portable. |
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If your site has the space for it, you may want to look at doing a 2el ground-mounted yagi. All you need are measuring wheels, supports (sticks, 1x1s, PVC, whatever) to keep it off the ground, and tons of wire. Figure out the direction you want to mount it for maximum contacts.
There was a QST article a couple of months back about a 3el 160m yagi in Antarctica. |
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MFJ, High Sierra, and Hamstick all have a dipole mount, with SO-239 socket, for two Hamsticks or two Sierra Slims.
That could make for a quick to build antenna. http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-347 
Here are links to the Hi Sierra dipole mount and Sierra Slim sticks: http://www.hamcq.com/sierra-slim-hf-antennas/dipole-mount/prod_181.html http://www.hamcq.com/mobile-hf-antennas/cat_5.html?ccUser=974dcd7361461bae02a8db346fa10259 Here is the Hamstick / Lakeview Co. main page: [url[http://www.hamstick.com/[.url] http://www.hamstick.com/hfmobile.html http://www.hamstick.com/hfmobile.html Here is a page with hamstick type antennas (and a good price when buying two) and a dipole mount: http://www.k1cra.com/catalog/product.aspx?productID=1970 Two sticks, dipole mount, coax, and a mast of some sort. |
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This was my first homemade antenna. It can be made in 30 minutes and for less than $10.00.
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The round caps werent too much of a pain really.
I mad an Olivia contact in Uraguay and a PSK in Chile with that antenna. I do think the posititon of the antenna may be hampering my outcome but so far Ive gotten good results. Had a voice and a digital contact with aa (from the forum) and he is in NH and Im in NE. A Free Man and I have yet to get a great QSO though. My building techniques on the inside may not be proper either. |
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Quoted:
Very good. Still making good contacts with that? Sure wish I could find some flat end caps around here. Lowe's and HD seem to just sell rounded ones and they suck for putting the SO-239 in them. I run them sideways through my bandsaw to lop off the rounded part and leave a flat surface on which to mount an SO-239. |
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Maybe a "zip-cord" antenna?
I think I saw this detailed in the ARRL Antenna Book. Get like a 100' roll of cheap speaker wire from a dollar store unzip the proper amount for the dipole antenna to work and then put a figure-8 type stopper knot at the top and the remaining unzipped portion serves as a feed-line. In the book they tested several wires and 75 -ohms was the typical transmission line impedance. Just run it to a tuner and it should be fine (tuner may not even be necessary but really helps field day type antennas, that you don't have a lot of time to mess with, work). I think a dipole in free air (at least 1/2 wavelength up, which wouldn't be too hard for 20m and up) is about 73-Ohms anyways. |
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This might be fun to try.
http://www.antennex.com/hws/ws0902/hardline.html I have a 40 meter magloop I made from 2" copper pipe and a big ceramic vacuum variable that works really well, but I'd like to try this simpler version sometime. |
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I might know where I can get some hardline. Might be a fun project.
I was looking at the Moxon antenna last night. |
| GA everyone. Thought I'd give you an update on the final results. We ended up building a 40M hardline antenna and a 20M Moxon. To be honest we had so many other antennas up that I never got around to putting the 40M on the air but the Moxon worked well. It sure was bigger in real life than it looked on the drawing board. :-) Thanks for the ideas! |