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1-9 of 9 messages
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Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequencies
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by AG4DG on May 10, 2003
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Has anyone here used a Hamstick dipole on multiple frequencies? While 2 Hamsticks are cheap, 16 Hamsticks (2 for each HF band from 10m to 80m) are not. (Too bad there isn't a Screwdriver antenna dipole. Of course, Hamsticks have the virtue of being light and easy to support while the various Screwdriver antennas are heavy and require sturdy supports.)
Let's see. Hardly anyone uses 17m, so you might as well use your 20m Hamsticks and a tuner here. Hardly anyone uses 30m, so you might as well use your 20m or 40m Hamsticks and a tuner here. 15m is near the third harmonic of 40m, so you might as well use your 40m Hamsticks on 15m. A Hamstick dipole on 10m is almost as large as a regular 10m dipole. So if you have room for a 10m Hamstick dipole, then you might as well just use a cheaper wire dipole, which takes up no more room and has no more weight. 10m is close to 12m, so you should be able to operate 12m on a 10m antenna with a decent tuner.
So we're down to 20m, 40m, and 80m. That's a savings of over 60% off the cover price. :) At $25 each, that's only $150 instead of $400 for 8 bands. $150 doesn't quite buy 2 monoband Isotrons and only buys about 1/3 to 1/2 of an MFJ loop antenna (and 80m is not available).
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by KZ1X on May 10, 2003
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I think what you want is either a Buddipole (manual tuning) or a SteppIR (motorized, automatic tuning).
Hamstick dipoles are poor enough performers by themselves on the band they're cut for.
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by K0BG on May 10, 2003
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Using a hamstick cut for 20 meters and 17 using a tuner might work. The other way around, and you're asking for trouble.
They are lossy to strat with because they are short, and the helical winding has a large amount of distributed capacitance. The high voltages present will soon zap a hole in the insulation someplace rendering the antenna worthless.
And understand, they're lossy on receive too. You'd be a lot better off with a dipole especially cost wise.
Alan, KØBG
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by KD3V on May 11, 2003
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I want to clarify one thing about the performance of hamsticks.
I quote from KZ1X, "Hamstick dipoles are poor enough performers by themselves on the band they're cut for."
It is apparent that KZ1X has not used a hamstick or rarely used a hamstick in a well mounted position.
My 7 band hamstick tree (and 4 bands on the mobile) described a few weeks ago just worked into South Africa on the LONG path the past two mornings and I was a true S-7 both days using only 100 watts. Yes, the other fellow had 4 elements. But Q5 at S-7 is just as good as Q5 at 20ver!
During these days of reduced sunspots activity and the occasional geomagnetic storms, I still work all across the Pacific ocean with 100 watts on all bands 20m thru 10m.
I present this information since there is often too much inaccurate information carelessly put forth about various ham gear without foundation. These careless statements can dissuade new hams from trying something that will work when done correctly!
Anyone who wants to know how GOOD the $20 hamsticks are can read my article and those of many others that show clearly that they work extremely well for the money and ease of use!
We all know there are "better" antennas... but not for the price!
Be careful about casual statements denigrating something because often there are reasons other than the basic product that keeps something from working up to its potential. Hamsticks WORK VERY WELL! for the $20 and for how easily they are mounted and swapped out.
I recently worked a ZL2 who commented last week that he has never worked a US stateside mobile using a screwdriver antenna! But he works US mobiles with hamsticks quite frequently! Honest! His statement! I know screwdrivers work too but he suspects that the long coil sections mounted so low next to the body hinders there performance. My hamsticks are dead center in the middle of my roof on my car and I am in the logs of five VU2s and many ZSs..
So please! Avoid the "authoritative statements" made without foundation.
Go try a hamstick! Mount it properly and as high as possible and go work the world! Many people do!
One more thing... I can change bands much faster using hamsticks than someone using a buddipole. But these antennas are designed for different purposes and should be 'compared' in such a casual fashion either.
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by KZ1X on May 11, 2003
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Actually, I've been using Hamstick dipoles since the mid 1970s. I've used them as everything from emergency antennas to primary station antennas, to repeater antennas on 1000' TV towers!
In fact, I was using them before you could buy ready-made mounts, so I fabricated my own. I have over 26 years' experience with Hamstick dipoles.
If it's all you can put up, they're great. And, lightbulbs have been used to work DX.
But my advice for new HF hams stays put. A wire dipole costs MUCH less than a Hamstick dipole, so, price is NOT the issue here. Better to get an effective antenna for one or two bands and make relaible contacts than to tune an already-very-lossy antenna and wonder why you're not making many contacts. Been Elmering for 16 years and this is the #1 frustration among new hams.
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by N6AJR on May 11, 2003
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I have an hf set up in my pickup and I use a 10 and a 40 meter hamstick ( iron horse brand, 600 watts) and use a mfj945E tuner with dual cross needle swr meter built in. I use this on all bands, 80 is so so on the 40 and the 40 works good on the 20 and 15 but all the rest go on the 10 meter.
I run 300 watts cw / 600 ssb this way with out trouble. I have a knott bb3 screwdriver to put on there but ain't got around to it yet...:) this works ok but individual antennas would work better. ( or finally mount the screwdriver!!)
73 tom N6AJR
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by N3ZKP on May 11, 2003
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<< Too bad there isn't a Screwdriver antenna dipole >>
Actually, there is, although it is rather pricy. Check out the High Sierra web page at www.cq73.com.
Lon
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by N6AJR on May 11, 2003
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also fluidmotion antennas make an adjustable dipole ( and a yagi) from something like tape measure tape, with holes in it that run in and out of their tubes(plastic) by little motors that are controled bu a computer chip. 73 tom N6AJR
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RE: Using one Hamstick dipole on multiple frequenc
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by W0FM on May 15, 2003
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Actually, I used two Hustler mobile masts, back-to-back, for a dipole for several years. I used the Hustler MO-3 masts (54" each), added the VP-1 multiple 3-reasonator adapter plate and four Hustler reasonators to each end. That gave me one dipole with automatic (and fairly broad) bandswitching on 20-15-17 and 10M. You can change to other bands as you wish by simply swapping reasonators.
Not as lightweight as a single Hamstick, but less money for the amount of coverage I enjoyed.
73,
Terry, WØFM
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