Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
I have great success with a buddistick and setup using a small antenna analyser. I use a camera tripod as a base to get it a couple of feet off the ground and it is quick and easy to setup anywhere. If it's going to be a long walk I use wire and toss things into trees. The wire winders that come from the buddistick people are ideal. I tie nots in the wire at the quarter wavelength points for each band (you can feel them when setting up in the dark). Paired with a length of thin coax with a choke on the antenna end and it's about as light as you can get. The tuner in the KX3 is brilliant. Peter, VK4JD -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Smith Sent: Monday, 28 January 2013 10:26 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3 Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band. I have the MFJ telescopic with the taps you plug into for the different but there must be something better out there. What have others used that they have been pleased with performance of? I have checked the reviews of others and most seem to be not much better than what I have, the Perth among them. 73, Fred/N0AZZ __ 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
[Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band. I have the MFJ telescopic with the taps you plug into for the different but there must be something better out there. What have others used that they have been pleased with performance of? I have checked the reviews of others and most seem to be not much better than what I have, the Perth among them. 73, Fred/N0AZZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band. I think you just summed it up nicely yourself. These telescopic antennas with loading coils at the bottom are all going to be many dB down from even a modest wire antenna on a push up pole, like a Jackite kite pole. possible exception: you are on a beach with your ankles in salt water. Fact is, you -can- make contacts on anything, including a dummy load, when conditions are great. Another fact is, conditions are not always great. My opinion is that if you put some thought into how to get some wire in the air, something that is packable and easy to set up, (Like the kite poles) you will be far more satisfied than messing with the small tapped coil (or adjustable coil) jobs. Yes, they will work- sometimes. But you'll get far more operating performance and enjoyment out of something else. It's fairly simple to bungee a pole to the edge of a picnic table, and you can easily have an 88ft doublet up as an inverted vee in no time. Good luck, Bruce, N1RX __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Well Antenna theory and operation, like the rest of physics, always hold true (nuclear blasts don't count)... so the more radiating surface (wire length or tubing surface) you can get in the air... the better. There is also a convenience factor, meaning whatever it is needs to tune for the band of operation and be easy to put up. Convenient low gain options: Long-wires are easy, cheap, and wonderful. Kites, balloons, weights tossed into tree limbs with fishing line, dangling down the side of buildings, etc. Push-up verticals are great too, but they need a counter poise of some sort (for the other half of the antenna... as it were), so include at least 3 radials (three obviously because they will be elevated... not dug into the ground for portable ops). Convenient portable gain options: 30-6 meters...Superantenna YP3 and portable tower is very worthy trapped beam antenna (I use this on dxpedition every year with amazing success), Spider beams, other wire beams that are simple to assemble... like wire verticals or delta loops. All excellent choices... There are many antennas in the category that others will fill in as favorites. Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band. I have the MFJ telescopic with the taps you plug into for the different but there must be something better out there. What have others used that they have been pleased with performance of? I have checked the reviews of others and most seem to be not much better than what I have, the Perth among them. 73, Fred/N0AZZ Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ/ PJ4HZ Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch Staunton, Illinois email: b...@wjschmidt.com __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Fred, for many, my self included, as long a wire as high up in a tree as I can get it, with a counterpoise about 50' long is my favorite. The antenna wire up in the tree and going down to ground at the far end, and to the rig (Via BNC to binder post adapter) is typically about 130' in my use. I have had great success and it is cheap, light, compact. If I am going to the beach or mountain top (no trees) I use either my Buddipole or the Ventenna, whichever I brought; they both work very well for me. Enjoy that KX3! 72 de Dave, W5SV On 1/28/13 6:26 AM, Fred Smith wrote: Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band. I have the MFJ telescopic with the taps you plug into for the different but there must be something better out there. What have others used that they have been pleased with performance of? I have checked the reviews of others and most seem to be not much better than what I have, the Perth among them. 73, Fred/N0AZZ __ 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] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Look at the PAR end fed wire. So convenient, well made, works like a CHAMP. Use it with my own KX3. http://www.lnrprecision.com/ Have fun! -73- W4SK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Ok I give up I have some 31' telescoping fiberglass windsock poles collapse to 4' but still a hassle to setup. The guys, ground stakes, ground rod, counterpoise'sbut it will work well. At home now I have 75' of low loss RG-58U terminated with a BNC connector, I can go out on the deck and use all my antennas at home outdoors. Fred/N0AZZ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Beford Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 7:15 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3 Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band. I think you just summed it up nicely yourself. These telescopic antennas with loading coils at the bottom are all going to be many dB down from even a modest wire antenna on a push up pole, like a Jackite kite pole. possible exception: you are on a beach with your ankles in salt water. Fact is, you -can- make contacts on anything, including a dummy load, when conditions are great. Another fact is, conditions are not always great. My opinion is that if you put some thought into how to get some wire in the air, something that is packable and easy to set up, (Like the kite poles) you will be far more satisfied than messing with the small tapped coil (or adjustable coil) jobs. Yes, they will work- sometimes. But you'll get far more operating performance and enjoyment out of something else. It's fairly simple to bungee a pole to the edge of a picnic table, and you can easily have an 88ft doublet up as an inverted vee in no time. Good luck, Bruce, N1RX __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Have a look at multi-band off-centre-fed dipoles, loads of examples and good reading here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/windom_antenna/ Also covers baluns and tuners David G3UNA __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
I'll second that. I have the PAR 40/20/10 and it works great. Also good when there are no trees around is the Buddistick. It works well up to and including 30m, but not so well on 40 with the original whip and coil. Gil. -- PGP Key: http://keskydee.com/gil.asc On Jan 28, 2013, at 9:32 AM, W4SK wrote: Look at the PAR end fed wire. So convenient, well made, works like a CHAMP. Use it with my own KX3. http://www.lnrprecision.com/ Have fun! -73- W4SK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
I'm checking out each and every one of the antennas suggested a really good mix. One question the Buddipole vs. Buddistick which is best and the main performance issues between the 2 from those using them? The Par is very interesting, I might be wishing for too much but the WARC bands would be nice on the 10/20/40m 8). What seems to be the issue on 40m with it? I could live with the 3 bands but would hate to lose 40m. Thx 73, Fred/N0AZZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
The wire pulled up into a tree and tuned with the KX3 ATU works well for me 40 ft with 3 16 foot radials on the ground). So also does a PAR end fedz antenna, though I just have the 20m version. Sometimes putting a wire into a tree isn't the ideal (like on some SOTA peak activations). For that, I've found that the AlexLoop Walkham works amazingly well for something so easy to carry and set up. Big downside is the expense, but it has worked extremely well for me on 15, 20, and 30m. Not enough datapoints to comment on 40m or 10m, but it does tune up on those bands. Chip AE5KA On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:29 AM, Fred Smith m...@mo-net.com wrote: I'm checking out each and every one of the antennas suggested a really good mix. One question the Buddipole vs. Buddistick which is best and the main performance issues between the 2 from those using them? The Par is very interesting, I might be wishing for too much but the WARC bands would be nice on the 10/20/40m 8). What seems to be the issue on 40m with it? I could live with the 3 bands but would hate to lose 40m. Thx 73, Fred/N0AZZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
The PAR works great on 40m, it's the Buddistick that is inefficient on that band with the original coil and whip. A magnetic loop isn't hard to build. You can get an air variable capacitor, say 100pF, some soft copper coil from the hardware store and PVC tubing for support and build one in no time. The downside is the narrow bandwidth and potentially lethal voltages, but they work great. Here is one I made for 6m: http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,325.0.html And for 30/40m: http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,180.0.html I have enough copper left for a 10-30m version as well. Much cheaper than buying an already made one from Europe... Gil. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
The par end fed z has served me well portable - used it for 2012 field day and placed second in our class - although we did have a hex beam as well for daytime operation - when 40 went long in the middle of the night - the par end fed did great. I typically get into eastern Europe with the par antenna when conditions are good. I used the 40-20-10 matchbox and turned it into a 30m monobander that also works great on 15m - so you can get 5 bands with two pieces of wire . I never got any distance with the Buddistick and sold it. Ariel NY4G Sent from my iPhone On Jan 28, 2013, at 12:16 PM, Gil G. g...@keskydee.com wrote: The PAR works great on 40m, it's the Buddistick that is inefficient on that band with the original coil and whip. A magnetic loop isn't hard to build. You can get an air variable capacitor, say 100pF, some soft copper coil from the hardware store and PVC tubing for support and build one in no time. The downside is the narrow bandwidth and potentially lethal voltages, but they work great. Here is one I made for 6m: http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,325.0.html And for 30/40m: http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,180.0.html I have enough copper left for a 10-30m version as well. Much cheaper than buying an already made one from Europe... Gil. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Makes me want to run out and build one right away!! :-) Lou, W0FK Gil G. wrote ...The downside is the ... potentially lethal voltages - St. Louis, MO K3 #2513, P3 #620, KX3 #0036 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Best-Antenna-Portable-Tabletop-Operation-for-KX3-tp7569238p7569272.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
I looked at the buddipole and similar types, but quickly rejected the notion ... It looked to me like you need to rebuild the antenna every time you change bands with those gadgets And that just wouldn't work for me. I use a random wire with counterpoise with my KX1 and KX3 And rather than using trees for support, which can be a real PITA, I use a telescoping painters pole purchased at Lowes, support it with a speaker stand purchased from a music store (musiciansfriend.com), and guy it with rope It gets up to around 22 feet.. Don, N5LZ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Smith Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 5:26 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3 Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band. I have the MFJ telescopic with the taps you plug into for the different but there must be something better out there. What have others used that they have been pleased with performance of? I have checked the reviews of others and most seem to be not much better than what I have, the Perth among them. 73, Fred/N0AZZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Potentially lethal reminds me of one particular engineer I encountered back when I managed haz waste site cleanups. He was deathly afraid of nackle. Short exposure was known to be deadly to plant and animals, and worker exposure limits were very short. Nackle, I had no clue until I translated- NaCl. Sodium chloride. Table salt. We were investigating a brine plant site 30 years after it was abandoned. Potentially lethal if you fell in 30 years before. Need dose info. Frequency, power, distance, receptor. Exposure limits for 5W, 20m, to people are around 5 feet IIRC. Note: my arm is less than 5 feet long. My leg has been pulled so often it may be approaching 5 feet long (grin). Rich NU6T W0FK llader...@earthlink.net wrote: Makes me want to run out and build one right away!! :-) Lou, W0FK Gil G. wrote ...The downside is the ... potentially lethal voltages - St. Louis, MO K3 #2513, P3 #620, KX3 #0036 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Best-Antenna-Portable-Tabletop-Operation-for-KX3-tp7569238p7569272.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
I wouldn't give up. I routinely use a 31 ft kite pole with nothing more than a plastic tent stake driven into the ground. I unscrew the bottom cap on the pole, and put it over the stake. This prevents the bottom of the pole from kicking outward. I bungee the pole against a picnic table or the handle on the end of my small pop-up camper. I use 300 ohm tv twin lead up the pole, with velcro ties in a couple places to hold it. The twin lead connects to (2) 44ft lengths of 22 ga wire to form an 88 ft doublet- no balun. The twin lead connects directly to the rig (with an internal ATU. No ground stake, no counterpoise. no guys. The antenna itself, pulled out as an inverted vee with maybe 6-10 ft of twine attached to each end is all the guying you need, if the pole is secured to a table of some other object. Total time to set up, less than 10 minutes. There are many other possible configurations, of course. This one simply works for me, with minimal hassle, and reliable results. 73, Bruce, N1RX -Original Message- From: Fred Smith [mailto:m...@mo-net.com] Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 9:41 AM To: 'Bruce Beford'; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3 Ok I give up I have some 31' telescoping fiberglass windsock poles collapse to 4' but still a hassle to setup. The guys, ground stakes, ground rod, counterpoise'sbut it will work well. At home now I have 75' of low loss RG-58U terminated with a BNC connector, I can go out on the deck and use all my antennas at home outdoors. Fred/N0AZZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
Hello, I meant potentially lethal if you touch the loop while transmitting, as in electrocution, not RF exposure… But we are diverting from the Elecraft subject here... Gil. -- PGP Key: http://keskydee.com/gil.asc On Jan 28, 2013, at 3:21 PM, Richard wrote: Need dose info. Frequency, power, distance, receptor. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3
If you want something reasonably portable that will deploy quickly, you might consider the EFHW vertical antenna from the Emergency Amateur Radio Club in Hawaii: http://www.earchi.org/92011endfedfiles/Endfed6_40.pdf You can buy some or all of the parts needed from the club, and the cost includes Priority Mail shipping. The complete parts list an instructions are in the PDF file if you want to roll your own. I hate radials, so this turned out to be a great antenna. None required! You can hang it in a tree, or mount it on something like a 33-foot Jackite Pole. I've lost the source, but there is a video on YouTube that shows a ham in New York setting one up in an old umbrella stand on his deck. Check this out, also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWkpQ785Pjonoredirect=1 73 de Jim - AD6CW On 1/28/2013 6:12 AM, Dr. William J. Schmidt, II wrote: Convenient low gain options: Long-wires are easy, cheap, and wonderful. Kites, balloons, weights tossed into tree limbs with fishing line, dangling down the side of buildings, etc. Push-up verticals are great too, but they need a counter poise of some sort (for the other half of the antenna... as it were), so include at least 3 radials (three obviously because they will be elevated... not dug into the ground for portable ops). Convenient portable gain options: 30-6 meters...Superantenna YP3 and portable tower is very worthy trapped beam antenna (I use this on dxpedition every year with amazing success), Spider beams, other wire beams that are simple to assemble... like wire verticals or delta loops. All excellent choices... There are many antennas in the category that others will fill in as favorites. __ 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
