[DX-CHAT] Portable Tower Antennas
For the last year and a half, my local club (spearheaded by our incoming President N3ZK... go to www.n3sh.org for details) has been raising funds to purchase a mobile tower/trailer. We arbitrarily divided the project into three phases -- Phase 1 was for the tower itself (we got a really good price on a 30' crankup from Tashjian Towers -- formerly known as TriEx), Phase 2 for the trailer, and Phase 3 for the antennas and related stuff (coax, rotors, etc.) We completed the fund raising for Phase 1 over a month ago, and the tower is now enroute. This weekend saw us meet the Phase 2 goal, and the trailer itself will be delivered in about 2 weeks. So, now we're on the Phase 3: The antennas etc. Anyone have any good suggestions for HF VHF antennas that are both: (a) lightweight and (b) easy to assemble/dis-assemble for quick transportation? We had originally hoped to work something out with Lightning Bolt Bob, but Lightning Bolt Antennas went out of buisness last year. And we have a Hex Beam, but that's not neccesarily what we want to keep permanently with the tower. Anyone have any other suggestions? Oh -- I should mention that there will be wire antennas (some dipoles, some long wires, etc.) stored with the trailer. What we're looking for is something a little more directional. (Sadly, my old Butternut HF4B, given to the club a few years ago, got nailed by a tree branch courtesy of Mother Nature and was not salvageable... or so I'm told, anyway). And coax itself shouldn't be a problem as we have a large stock of that in the Field Day hoard. 73, ron w3wn Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
RE: [DX-CHAT] Portable Tower Antennas
I like a beam that screws or hose clamps together, rather than rivits, for example for your application. Mosley uses SS self tapping screws, which can be used over and over and if the holes enlarge, u can get larger screws and keep on going. My TA-33 + 40meter kit has been put up 4 times in as many locations... including its latest home in Thailand... is a golden oldie. A quad is a poor choice due to its shape ... on a short tower the lower part of a full size 20 quad will drag near the ground. And you do not really want to repeatedly assemble and disassemble a quad... if u have ever made one, u know what I mean. HyGain beams use SS hose clamps but tend to be a bit heavier. Force 12 will be what everyone will tell u to get, but I do not trust just dropping the rivits into the holes and putting tape over the temporarily inserted rivit. The Force 12 design works against repeated disassembly over the years of use. Cushcraft matching device also is not sturdy for repeated disassembly, altho their solid rod elements (VHF) are nice and can usually be bent back into near straight several times prior to breaking. The mini beam... name forgotten... which has many brass rods capacity hats on the ends of the elements is very poor due to breakage of the brass rods my direct experience with that one. Several mfg. make DXpedition versions which should be explored. This advice is exactly worth what you just paid for it 73 Charles Harpole, HS0ZCW [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ Type your favorite song. Get a customized station. Try MSN Radio powered by Pandora. http://radio.msn.com/?icid=T002MSN03A07001 Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
