I had a read and unless Ive read it wrong as it's after 12am here it goes on about electrons but doesn't really tell me anything. One this has been said is the RG58 has been soldered back into the SO239 and PL259 without the braided sheild being exposed so the black plastic has been slid in will this make any difference?

I have the antenna mounted on a 4x6 plate bolted onto the tow bar unit grounded with two copper braids attached to the chassis and tow bar unit.

I'm thinking untill I can get a screwdriver antenna I'll put the antenna back on the tailgate with a 1 inch length of copper braid up to each hinge to see if this resolves the SWR problem.  When I get a Screwdriver antenna the fun starts all over again

Tried fixing the antenna, via a plate to the tow bar by removing the tow ball and using the exisitng bolt holes. nothing I am not getting a good earth as the SWR is high except for 24-27.500 dipping either side 2m and 70cm are super high full scale SWR HF is also high. Does anyone know if towbars are towballs are coated with something. I have even tried copper wire from the plate under the antenna to the chassis and to the bolts on the tow bar, I know something is wrong as I have no continuety from the tow bar to the chassis bracket used to fix it.

I have an allotment over here in the UK and what to put an antenna up so when I'm there I can use the radio. The allotment is around 80foot by 20 foot, the antenna I thought about using is a wire one in an "H" configuration fed either in the centre on one of the legs, I can't stick a vertical up or any other style of commercial antenna so thought this wire one would be ok obviously with insulators on the poles which i decided would be about 10-15 foot tall so as not to make the antenna to noticable

How about a loop antenna ? they're light and small but very effective.

2E0BSS

I have just had to replace my car, the engine exploded, so I've replaced it with a Citroen BX Auto hatchback only issue I'm having is the boot lid is GRP/Composite so the SWR is high (on 2m SWR is 1:7-2:2+ on 70cm it's 2:5+ SWR warning doesn't turn on) How would anyone suggest I bond the antenna and still be able to open the boot lid to its full extent.

I'm experimenting over the weekend with the antenna on a plate of steel bolted between the tow hook and tow bar.  The antenna is a Diamond HVC7CX and the radio is a Yaesu FT857D uk spec.

While I'm here can I have an opinion on a Larry's Screwdriver antenna ? I'm considering it because over here in the uk antenna that cover 160-6m are incredibly rare to such a point I can't find one which cover the bands

Thanks
Charlotte 2E0BSS

I've been reading through the forums regarding antenna styles for restrictive areas. I have one of the worst I have no garden as I live in a block or semidetached flat on the ground floor. My council are really restrictive too as they are working on CB regulations with complete avoidance of Ham users.
Currently I use a half size fixed G5RV with the ends pointing downwards to fit on the buildings roof so my transmitting is limited to say the least the antenna sides are North/North East with both ends pointing to ground

Would a magnetic loop be of benefit? also is there anyway to make on multi band without getting massive? I've found one for 80 and 40

thanks

Just turned the radio on tonight just to get 9+ of noise all the way through the bands. I couldn't hear an italian station either that's worrying. The wonderful power company have placed a sub/relay station just next door to me oh and one of these automatic street light units now I'm really happy

I've heard it over hear in england it seems to be mainly CB users or unlicensed going into stores and buying Radio units and Ebay they buy them there. It's easy to figure out that it's a fake call as they will slip up or use a set of letters which haven't been issued

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Thanks for that I never realised that the FT 847 was the same as the 857 in a different case. The TS-2000 is above my budget even used ones. Going to have to review the situation and possibly budget. If I wasn't to bothered with the 4m but wanted to keep at least the 2m alongside HF,6 & 10 what would a good compromise be? I'm thinking about the FT-450 AT

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Thanks for the reply, 60m isn't important my license doesn't grant me 60m (5Meg)

$1000 is around £500 seems a good price considering I found one for £800.

TS-2000 new is way out of my budget @ £1300, second hand it's also £1000 again out of my budget. Guess I'm going to have to go with the FT-450 or IC 718 or even the 897 as I like my 857D

I'm still going to hold out for the 847 if I can get one at a sensible price.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Does anyone know if there is anything which can compare to the FT 847 for what it can do?

Also what is a good price to pay for one? I know most of you are in the USA so I will simply cut the price in half. If anyone in the UK has a 847 forsale can you let me know by Email please

Thanks charlote 2E0BSS

The new FT-450 looks ok not as nice as the 847, sadly deleted and hard to get hold of at a reasonable price.

Can the 450 go QRP power levels? I'm guessing it must be able to run 30 or so watts for top band I  don't seem to be getting a straight answer My local stockist says yes, today in belguim I got told no it can't go to lower powers and the brochure doesn't say it can it seems the radio can just run 100watts.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Not sure if this is the right area to put this but here goes.

In the next few days I'm off to Europe and I want to buy a Yaesu FT 450 AT now I cannot find a dealer anywhere can someone let me know where there is a dealer either in France,Belgium, holland or Germany who stocks the radio please.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Good choices unless I can get a used FT 950 that's out as it's way above my budget a new one is around £1200+. I quite like the new FT 450 AT as it offers almost all of what I need or want with the exception of the 2m part. I quite like the Icom 718 or the Kenwood 480 SAT. If I can get anything used within the set budget then I'll be considering more but at present the three finalists and possibly the 4th are

FT 897D
FT 450AT
IC 718
480 SAT

I will continue to look though.

Charlotte 2E0BSS

Simply turn the power down to 1 or 10watts whatever power you want without grounding anything. With my 857D I can turn the power down to 5 oh HF 2 on 70cm's and 5 on 2m and the fan still comes on, no idea if the uk spec is different appart from the 5mhz and weather than the usa version.

Charlotte 2E0BSS