Posted: 11/3/2011 10:49:29 AM EDT
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was scrolling around 40 looking for someone to talk to. Heard lots of garbled noise, but couldn't tune-punched the AM button and voila, there he was. Tuned up the antenna, and called CQ. I'd never made a AM Contact before, and actually couldn't believe I was doing it over 881 miles on the random wire only 8' above the ground @ 100w-Neither could he. Once he dialed in his pre-amp we were good.
all new to me-thought I'd post....found him on 7.286 |
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Quoted:
was scrolling around 40 looking for someone to talk to. Heard lots of garbled noise, but couldn't tune-punched the AM button and voila, there he was. Tuned up the antenna, and called CQ. I'd never made a AM Contact before, and actually couldn't believe I was doing it over 881 miles on the random wire only 8' above the ground @ 100w-Neither could he. Once he dialed in his pre-amp we were good. all new to me-thought I'd post....found him on 7.286 Sounds like a nice QSO. This random wire intrigues me. How about posting some info about it? Pics would be nice. I really need to get something (anything) up so I can get up on HF. Vulcan94 |
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This may help hold over....
Caution, learning about and constructing a random wire antenna will remove all excuses to Not be on the air! it's the easiest way to talk! ETA link |
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Bro it's Soooo simple, almost embarrassing! RG-8X from the tuner feeds a LDG 4:1 Balun. Balun ground side goes to ground rod about 1/2 way in ground. the Positive end feeds 75' of #14 wire strung up about 8 feet off ground. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow! Yaesu FT-857D check! RG-8X check! LDG YT-100 tuner check! LDG 4:1 Balun time to break out the CC! 75' of #14 wire check! I even have some electric fence standoffs that I can nail to the trees to hold the antenna wire. Plenty of trees to mount the antenna check! I will be sure to check out this thread tomorrow when I get home from work. Vulcan94 |
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a little used LDG Z100 i got at local hamfest for $80....it's a super simple little tuner-I'd imagine it's very similar to a built-in unit.
Universal Link It was simple and cheap-it works too, just what I needed! 
FWIW: it looks like my antenna likes the following bands: 40 17 20 12 80 and I failed to mention I did add a counterpoise that runs parallel to the antenna on top of the ground-it is tied to my ground rod and is also 75' long |
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a little used LDG Z100 i got at local hamfest for $80....it's a super simple little tuner-I'd imagine it's very similar to a built-in unit. Universal Link It was simple and cheap-it works too, just what I needed!
FWIW: it looks like my antenna likes the following bands: 40 17 20 12 80 and I failed to mention I did add a counterpoise that runs parallel to the antenna on top of the ground-it is tied to my ground rod and is also 75' long For an experiment, try another 7.5 feet on the end of the counterpoise....
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Somewhere maybe my ARRL antenna book I saw where someone figured out how to make a multi band counterpoise out of the tv rotor control cable. I don't know what a resonant c/p would do to a random wire antenna tho.
Have you experimented with the antenna any higher off the ground? or in a sloper configuration? |
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Somewhere maybe my ARRL antenna book I saw where someone figured out how to make a multi band counterpoise out of the tv rotor control cable. I don't know what a resonant c/p would do to a random wire antenna tho. Have you experimented with the antenna any higher off the ground? or in a sloper configuration? I've not done anything since stringing up. I want a 500'+ loop and have plenty of room, just been to lazy to get it done. that, with the success (or at least what I'd consider success) I've had with the wire-I'm pretty spoiled. and StanPro- Seven and 1 half feet...added to the end? humor me 
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Sounds like a nice QSO. This random wire intrigues me. How about posting some info about it? Pics would be nice. I really need to get something (anything) up so I can get up on HF. Vulcan94 Didn't realize how hard it was to photo a wire antenna! 
LDG 4:1 Balun hanging in the doorway to my 'shop' at the barn. 
the wire leaves the antenna side and goes up to this hook and para-cord to stand off and gain some height. 
another-wider shot-yes I know my roof is busted 
tossed over a few branches on nearby trees in pasture-look right under the SCW you may be able to see wire 
The other end, tied off to a tree trunk with a bungee cord and para-cord...this is just above my reach to prevent me from killing myself! sorry for the suck pics, but it's so simple.......it's hard to photograph |
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If you're running 100 watts or so you don't even need a tuner. I'm going to test this out with my 817:
Balun Designs 9:1 balun for end fed wire Consult that chart for wire lengths. Pick a length for your favorite bands and use them all with no tuner. |
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Thanks for the pics! I ordered a LDG 4:1 balun last night from Universal Radio. Look like I ordered that same model as yours.
Now I just have to find the time to put everything together. I'll be off work from 11/16 to 11/27 so I guess I know what I'll be doing with my time. What I plan on doing is to to mount the balun in a nearby tree and then string the wire from tree to tree using some electric fence insulators. I was planning to use a spring to terminate the end of the wire so there would be some play when the trees move, but using a bungee cord sound like a better idea. I'm going to trim my wire down to 74' and for the counterpoise I'm going to try Stanprophet09's idea and lengthen it to 81.5 feet. Vulcan94 |
| Well....the ol' random wire didn't do so good today...during the EAS ARFCOM Net...while I was able to QSO with Pic in PA, and hear SargeRN in NM, I couldn't get the NC or TN fellas....that was a surprise due to the success I've had in the past with NVIS and the random wire. My ears were dull today as well.....still, it's what I've got and I know that I can talk to Piccolo-he'll bring the Calvary! |
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Well....the ol' random wire didn't do so good today...during the EAS ARFCOM Net...while I was able to QSO with Pic in PA, and hear SargeRN in NM, I couldn't get the NC or TN fellas.... Dont be so hard on yourself
There were times that I could hear you in Washington State... The QRM was pretty high here, along with my reallyshitty ontheflymakeshift antenna. Some days are sometimes just better then others 
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Well, I finally got time to put up my random wire antenna similar to yours. The only difference is that I had to use some steel electric fence wire to run to the grounding rod. I will try to run a counterpoise for it tomorrow. I hope that having to use that electric fence wire won't be a problem. If it is I'll just have to buy some more wire. Hooked up my FT-857D and YT-100 tuner to it and did some tuning around. Didn't really hear a lot but I did listen to some guys ragchewing on 3.895. I do believe that I just have to build myself one of the windom that A_Free_Man designed in his "Antenna for Arfcom New Ham" thread that is now in the archive.
At least I now have something to play with! 
Vulcan94 |