Quick and easy antenna for RD contest

[VK5FACE]

Because I have no permenant antenna setup yet I am looking into building an antenna that is quick and easy to run 40m. I have narrowed it down to an inverted v or a 1/4 wave verticle with 3 or 4 radials. Which would you pick

Cheers

Andrew

[VK3ZPF]

Because I have no permenant antenna setup yet I am looking into building an antenna that is quick and easy to run 40m. I have narrowed it down to an inverted v or a 1/4 wave verticle with 3 or 4 radials. Which would you pick

Cheers

Andrew

Without doubt I'd go for an inverted vee. I've tried vertical on 4m with 4 radials and found too much noise.

[VK3YE]

Inverted vee as suggested is fine. If coax fed it will have a reasonably low SWR on 15m (not the greatest antenna up there but if there's propagation to VK4 & 6 you'll work them).

But if you wanted to be quicker and dirtier you could do without the feedline.

Stick 10 metres of wire into the centre connection of your rig's SO239 and run out the window to a tree. Then another 10 metres to the SO239 outside on the floor or along the ground outside.

This is prone to RF problems with 100w but should be OK with 10w. It will also have more noise on receive than the inverted vee. Still, you'll be able to work out to about 1000km on 7 MHz with it.

If you've got room for 20m of wire, then at night add an extra 10m for 3.5 MHz, and take it off in the daytime.

[VK5FACE]

I think I'll go with peter's option as it will be cheapest (just $25 for some washing line cord to hold the wire up) hope to hear everyone on the air in the contest

Cheers

Andrew

[VK4WDM]

Hi Andrew

Mucking about with wire antennas is a really fun part of the hobby, but beware, you could become a TAWAN which is a life-long affliction for which there is no cure.

I will be operating VK4KG in the RD contest and hope to work you. Don't forget to try 15m - your 40m dipole should work ok.

73

Wayne VK4WDM (hopeless TAWAN case - just ask my wife, she has been tripping over, or ducking under wire for 45 years)

[VK5FACE]

In Testing Some Stuff Tonight I Think Ill Go With The Inverted Vee. I Have Read That Because The Legs Are At That Angle That The Feedpoint Impedence Is About 50 Ohms. Is This Correct. Also Would I Be Able To Use A Whip Antenna Mount As A Feedpoint. Attaching One Leg To The Screw Terminal And One To The Outer Metal Bracket. Hope Someone Has An Answer For Me

but beware, you could become a TAWAN which is a life-long affliction for which there is no cure.

Im Assuming TAWAN Is An Acronym For Something But I Have No Idea What It Means. Any Enlighenment

[VK5ZD]

Totally Addicted Wire Antenna Nut

[VK4WDM]

Exactly that

After 45 years, I still can't over the buzz of feeding some RF into a piece of wire and communicating.

My wife tells me that when/if I end end in the nursing home all they will need to do to keep me happy is give me a piece of wire to twiddle with.

Andrew, don't get too technical about it. An inverted V is a very forgiving antenna. It does not have to the exact V shape. You can twist it or turn in any plane and it won't change much in effectiveness. Just make sure that the ends are not low enough for people or pets to touch (Electromagnetic Radiation safety rules).

Any wire will do. I use cheap plastic covered wire that is sold for controlling irrigation systems for portable antennas. Make the ends a bit longer than the book says and then trim for lowest SWR (does not have to be 1:1), stick it up in the air and have some fun.

73

Wayne VK4WDM