Hello all, I backpack the AT here in the US and I've always wanted a small, lightweight HF antenna that won't break the bank. I finally have designed one that works great for QRP portable use.
I call it the "WA3WSJ Bead-Wire Antenna." It made from bead wire, yes jewelry bead wire that is used to make bead jewelry! Wall Mart sells it over here packaged in a 40 foot spool. I even use the spool to store the antenna. A spool sells for just under $2.00 US. I take one 40' spool and tie on around 50 feet of 30lb test fishing line to one end. This is used as my radiator wire. I tie a small loop on the end of the fishing line. This loop just slips thru a 1oz. sinker and this is used to throw up into a tree etc. I also purchase two more spools and cut three 16 foot ground radials using the bead wire. I now have one 40' radiator wire and three 16' ground radial wire that I throw out around to operate. I use a BNC to two binding-post adapter that plugs into the antenna bnc on my Elecraft KX1. The whole antenna fits on one small spool and weights-in at 2oz! Parts for the WA3WSJ Bead-Wire Antenna: $6.00------3ea. 40' bead wire spools @ $2.00 ea. $3.00------1 set solder less banana jacks Radio Shack # 274-721 $2.00------ large spool of 30lb fishing line So for around $10 or $11 US dollars you have a very nice compact and lightweight qrp antenna that will tune on 20m,30m and 40m. I have worked Europe with this antenna using my KX1 @ 3w on 30m. ENJOY! 72, Ed,WA3WSJ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
