TAPE DIPOLE?

[N0EAP]

Hello:

Does any company currently produce an
HF "tape dipole", i.e. a portable antenna
with two spools of steel tape that can
be reeled in/out for the different HF bands?

Years ago, Hy-Gain made the HA-4000 unit
(which Collins sold as the TD-1), and they
 also made a cheaper 18TD model.

The spools were contained in a center
plastic housing that also contained the
coax connector, a balun, and a large eyelet
to hang the assembly with.

These were excellent designs (long since out
of production) for portable HF use, but
apparently no company has since picked up on
the concept to currently make something
similar...?

73,
Joel

[KB9UMT]

Hello:

You can make your own.....link to dipole:

http://www.onjapan.net/2001/hamfair/jf1dhm.html

Link to vhf/uhf beam w/tape:

http://home.att.net/~jleggio/projects/rdf/tape_bm.htm

http://www.frontiernet.net/~elisa96/w2ki/flexbeam.html


or of course as posted find an old Military one...good luck de kb9umt Don

[KE4SKY]

You can also buy a wire reel antenna cheaper than you can make one, if you figure your time as being worth any more than a burger flipper from SH Electronics. This one is tin plated, AWG24, 19 strands .035" and  134 feet long, marked with 9 tabs for 80 through 6 meters, you set adjustment with two 6-32 wing nuts, when coiled into the reel the uninsulated wire is shorted against itself so that it doesn't act as an inductor, stainless steel hardware, plastic case, it handles up to 100 watts maximum.  Nicely illustrated, go to www.radiobug.com

I have no relation to the company and haven't tried one yet, but plan to buy one for my RACES portable kit the first chance I get.

73 de KE4SKY
Virginia RACES State Training Officer

[KL0TS]

The website www.radiobug.com does not come up.  Do you have another web address?  I've currently obtained a lot of excellent info from your ARES site, please keep it up!

[KL0TS]

Sorry, I meant RACES site.  

[KG4RUL]

The site is www.radiobugs.com

Dennis - KG4RUL