I have had excellent results using the Chameleon V1 antenna for portable use http://www.chameleonantenna.com . We first used it in February when we helped out in Haiti. It covered 3.5 to 500Mhz. Used it on HF MARS freqs, 2mtrs and even used it to extend the range of the GMRS radios we used around the field hospital at the airport. You can see the Haiti installation in one of the pics at the bottom of this article http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-operators-provide-communications-supp ort-in-haiti
For portable/emergency use, I am now using two V1 antennas as a vertical dipole. This avoids the need to use counterpoise wires. Makes for a very easy, fast antenna to set up. Also, we have very successfully used a single V1 on a 42' sailboat mounted on the cabin. Jack W4GRJ / AFA4DG -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tom W8JI Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 6:46 AM To: ussv dharma Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Re Vertical for portable use <<<<QUESTION: this is a solo dxpedition, I am 75 years old. the antenna farm will most likely be vertical and located right at the shore line. What suggestions do you have for me to construct for antennas? Susan>>> Susan, Without details like the bands you want to use and which bands are most important, it is difficult to answer. Most answers you will get will probably be based on manufacturing advertisements and feelings rather than how things really work. Manufacturers through their advertisements have largely brainwashed us as a group on antennas. :-) The Butternut HF6V and Hustler 6BTV are about at the top of the all-band gain (80-10 meters) and have nearly identical performance. They both are trap verticals, although one of them pretends it does not have traps. 73 Tom ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html