These are all good suggestions. Thanks to all.

Is there any reason to believe that the telephone pole-to-house drop will cause RFI? We hardly ever use the phone, and it is not shared.

I have done some more measurements and I'm certain i can put up a 40 meter dipole wire antenna, and I have a plan to put up an inverted V in the spring when I put in a privacy fence along one side of the yard.

Perhaps in time I'll two wire antennas and one mast that shares a two verticals: a vhf/uhf and possible one for HF.

In terms of radio, I am leaning toward an Icom IC-718. Any thoughts on an antenna tuner for the wire antennas?

I'll probably power everything with a 30 amp power supply running to a RIgRunner and Powergate with battery backup.

Thanks all.

KD0KVV

I suppose this is one of the most frequent questions from new guys.

I am trying to decide which antenna to run for my first HF set up. I live in an older part of the city where house are fairly close and all utilities run pole-to-house from the alley. My house is a 1 1/2 story brick bungalow with a "normal" pitched roof. Right now I have a 1 3/4" OD conduit extending above the back of the house, attached to the facia of the gable. The bottom of the conduit rests on the roof of an addition. This mast is easy to access. There's a TV/Scanner antenna there now, and that will come down.

On that mast I want to put a simple VHF/UHF antenna, perhaps the Arrow J-pole or a simple dual-band vertical.

Then there's the HF antenna issue. I think I could go with a vertical attached to the mast, provided I can get some offset from the VHF/UHF antenna. They won't be used for TX at the same time. Cushcraft MA5 or MA6 would be nice since they are under 15'. The R8, at 28', is pushing the height. A Diamond CP725H looks reasonable, too, even with the 5' 9" radials. I'm not sure we have an elevation restriction, but we may have a "visible from the street" restriction. I'm also trying to be somewhat discreet.

I might be able to swing a wire dipole, something along the lines of a G5RV. I could attached one end of the dipole to the mast and the other end would extend over the yard to a garage, where I could easily mount a tripod mast. I think I can get 80 feet in total length doing it that way. Putting a tripod on the roof of the house doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I sounds like a leak waiting to happen.

Even if I can get the proper distance for a dipole, one potential challenge is that my pole-to-house telephone drop crosses the yard diagonally. I'm pretty sure I can get the wire of the dipole a few feet higher than the telephone line, I just don't know if that would cause much RFI. The pole-to-house power line is at the edge of the yard.

The dipole would be about 20 feet off the ground.

I don't think I'll work anything lower than 40 meters, although I certainly would not mind the option if I can make it happen.

I have options, none sound ideal. I'm just looking for the most logical, I guess.

I welcome thoughts. Thanks in advance for everybody's assistance.

If I could get him to do house work that would probably cost extra.

I meant that it means fewer wires and "electronic doo-dads," like a a copper pipe mounted to the wall for grounding.

My wife is already not keen on having a bunch of radios. 

Wonderful, thanks for your help. I'm pretty sure I can handle that. Plus I have a buddy who is an electrician so I'll ask him to look it over.

This will keep the shack nice and clean. My wife will appreciate that.

I am in the process of designing my station and making a list of the things I need. I plan to run just 2 radios (an HF/Multiband and a 2-meter/70cm dual band) and the appropriate accessories (antenna switch, tuner, SWR meter, etc.) from a single power supply. The power supply will likely feed to a PowerGate with battery backup and then though a RigRunner, where the radios etc. will be plugged. All equipment will be modern, likely new.

Is it essential that I earth-ground each radio and accessory chassis, or will the power supply ground through 3-prong AC plug be sufficient? I would rather not mount a copper pipe to my wall and the run a ground wire through it, as my station will be a small portion of a shared room and I am trying to keep it as tidy and discreet as possible.

Thanks.

Doomsday theories coming from people who make fame by instilling fear and anger are not likely the best theories. It's market-driven drivel with little merit.

For "prepping," I figure our citizens have to learn to become better problem solvers and more self-sufficient. There's way too much dependence on our various institutional and governmental infrastructures for us to effectively mitigate and manage any type of significant catastrophic event. Heck, even natural disasters are compounded because people simply aren't prepared to deal with adversity.

As for China, their survival depends on our greed. That's what got us into our position in the first place. Perhaps they'll take advantage of that, perhaps they won't.

As for communications readiness, perhaps thinking in the rule of 3s will help: have a plan, have a back-up and have a back-up for the back-up. That might mean multi-band radios, phones, smoke signals, semaphore flags, signal lights, etc.

They most important element is a community willing to support each other in various ways through the collection of individual strengths and skills. I'm more concerned about with whom I will communicate that exactly how I will communicate, but the how is still important.


That's probably the best quote I've read in a long time. More time focusing on skills, less time listening to people who get paid to elicit a reaction.

Thank you for the feedback.

I would like to have a portable antenna to mount on a lightstand tripod that collapses very small (25") and raises to about 7 feet. This would be the mast for whatever antenna I use, whether a vertical, roll-up j-pole or eventually a yagi. It can support 3.5 lbs, so everything needs to be light weight.

The idea is to have a compact package that includes the tripod mast and maybe a couple antenna options. This kit can be easily stashed in my truck and thrown in luggage or a backpack for operation almost anywhere, even when trees are an option.

I started with a simple MFJ 1/4 wave mini-mag mount antenna (sometimes called the Hersey's Kiss mount). To make a ground plane, I cut a 19" X 19" metal screen and covered the edges with aluminum tape. I placed the antenna on top and put a small piece of steel underneath to connect with the magnet. I put this on top of a wood fence post. I got a signal out but reports were that I had considerable white noise at repeaters 35 miles out from the top of a high bluff. The noise may have been more a matter of distance than an inefficient antenna. I used the screen because it will roll up into a PVC tube. This set up would be easier to deal with if I did not have to do a ground plane.

I will use this primarily with an a VHF HT boosted by a 35-watt amplifier (it's the Mirage B-34), which will be powered by a sealed battery. I may have a solar panel for it eventually. The radio gear will be in a Pelican or similar case.

The concept of the rods came to mind as a solution for a take-down antenna. They are threaded, although I don't know the tread size right now.

I'm willing to consider buying a a commercial antenna but would enjoy home-brew more.

I hope this helps.

Thanks

KD0KVV

I'm pretty new to ham radio and am getting very interested in portability for location operations.

I'd like to build a few highly portable antennas, starting with 2 meter, the only band I am currently operating. I think I can build a 1/2 wave vertical antenna with sections of firearm cleaning rods, in either brass or aluminum. I want 1/2 wave since it does not require a ground plane.

I'm trying to figure out what I can use to screw the antenna into that will then allow me to add the appropriate feed line. I'd like the base to mount to a 1/4-20 screw thread to attach it to a compact photo light stand.

The only option I can think of now is to solder a 1/4-20 nut to a sheet of metal, possibly a round electrical box cover, and then mount a mag-mount base to it, provided I can screw the cleaning rods into the base. The tip section of the rod will be cut to provide the appropriate total length for 1/2 wave.

I should add that I have considered using an MFJ 332 mag mount with an MFJ 1714 telescopic antenna, but I need something that will handle the 35 watts from my amp. I don't think the 1714 will take 35 watts. Besides, I though it would be more fun to create this myself. 

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your consideration and ideas.

KD0KVV