HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile

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HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by KF6HHH on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Hi all, I have a Yaesu FT-897 that I use for my base. I only have a wire laying on the roof, which does't always work too well as an antenna (severe XYL antenna restriction). I'm also involved in ARES, so would like to be able to do HF mobile during times of emergency. I just read a story about having a mobile HF antenna on an extendable painters pole that can also be used on a mobile. When it comes to this stuff I pretty much need a plug and play type set-up so I was just wondering if someone had a recommendation for an antenna set-up. Something that will tune itself basically and has a quick attach/detach set-up. Just looking for ideas. I figured I could get a bucket and make it an anchor and use the antenna in the back yard and then do a quick disconnect and put it on the truck when needed, using the FT-897 until I get a few extra $ and can get a mobile HF rig. Thanks for all the help, 73 Dan'o :} KF6HHH

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by K0BG on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The problem is, the antenna ends up not having a ground plane under it. thus, RF flows down the control wires (if any) and down the coax; as common mode current. The result? It just doesn't work well from any aspect. Mounting a mobile antenna on a vehicle, and feeding it with coax from inside the house would work much better if you do the install correctly. If you want to know how to do mobile correctly, go to my web site. Alan, KØBG www.k0bg.com

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by KF6HHH on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
No way to really run a coax from the shack to the truck, so that wouldn't really work for me. I'm trying to find the article I read, but if I remember correctly, there were radials and stuff set-up on the back yard mount then you just popped off the top part (Screwdriver, I believe) and did a quick attach on the vehicle. Actually, if I remember correctly, this was on an antenna site and the reason I didn't want to do it was the cost was like $1000 for the mobile and home kit, so looking for less expensive alternatives. I've seen your site before, so I'll check it out again, thanks for the reminder. 73 Dan'o :} KD6HHH

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by K0BG on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Dan, base station verticals require radials, and a lot of them if you want any level of efficiency. When you use a mobile antenna to do this with, you're adding insult to injury. You're always better off with a decent base vertical. A Hustler 5BTV or if you have the budget, a Big SteppIR vertical. Alan, KØBG www.k0bg.com

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by KF6HHH on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I have a big antenna restriction, the XYL, so no BIG antennas allowed if I want to keep peace in the family. I've looked at those antennas and thought about a temp set-up, but the problem is I need a mobile set-up so this would double my cost, so trying to find a good mobile set-up that would double as a back yard back up since I don't plan on getting rid of the wire. Dan'o :}

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by WA7NCL on September 22, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
convert the "wire on the roof" to a doublet. Feed with home brew balanced feed line (thin wires with really small spacers). Use a small balanced tuner. Should work great with thin wire on roof, spaced just off the peak. Or try end feeding your thin wire "on roof" with auto tuner mounted outside of the house, grounded to an outside water faucet pipe. Hide the tuner in the shrubs. Run RG 174 to the tuner so its really thin. Something like the SGC tuner would be ideal. Antennas aren't always store bought expensive chunks of aluminum with loading coils. The secret to stealth antennas is thin wire, as much length as possible, as high as possible and some sort of impedance matching and feed system that is appropriate. Think outside the commercial antenna box.

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by KF6HHH on September 22, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I have 60' of wire attached to a 1:1 balun, so a total of 120' in a "U" configuration, and the balun is hooked up to regular coax which goes to an antenna tuner in the shack. I don't remember the name of this type of antenna, but this is what was recommended to me and I have been using for years. Is this basically what you mean? This was the best set-up for me into the shack and to keep the XYL happy. I do need to try some other stuff, but I only have one tree and it's pretty much impossible to get a line up in it anyway. Thanks for the advice. 73 Dan'o :}

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by W3LK on September 22, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
<< I have a big antenna restriction, the XYL, so no BIG antennas allowed if I want to keep peace in the family. >> Do you have veto power over your wife's hobbies? :) 73, Lon - W3LK Naugatuck, Connecticut

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by KF6HHH on September 22, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The wife has requested no big antennas, and I respect her request. If I wanted to push the issue I could, but at what price. Technically, this is her house as she owned it before we met, so I give her a little leeway when it comes to how she wants things to look.

RE: HF antenna recommendation for home and mobile	Reply
by W3LK on September 22, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
<< Technically, this is her house as she owned it before we met, so I give her a little leeway when it comes to how she wants things to look.>> I guess that puts you up the creek without a big antenna. <gg> 73, Lon - W3LK Naugatuck, Connecticut

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