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Radio => Antennas => Topic started by: Lamewolf on August 26, 2016, 08:06:28 AM

Title: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: Lamewolf on August 26, 2016, 08:06:28 AM
Title says it all, lets here from you and what you use in the field as a portable/tactical HF antenna ?
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: AD on August 26, 2016, 09:31:37 AM
For light fast up down but Most are MONO band Par LNR End Fedz
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamwire/4456.html
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: spacecase0 on August 26, 2016, 02:24:12 PM
I use this one
http://newsuperantenna.com/
not sure it is the best at all, but have made good contacts with it
and can be set up to use it while walking
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: DragoSapien on August 26, 2016, 07:22:57 PM
Superantenna for me also.
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: Tevin on August 26, 2016, 09:17:04 PM
Homebrew monoband dipoles made from 22 gauge twisted pair wire (shorted at each end) and a 1:1 balun.

Works GREAT on QRP.
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: GreekMan on August 27, 2016, 12:14:30 PM
tevin, I had to google twisted pair wire, but i still do not get how you make a dipole from it....
any lins?

and sorry for the offtopic question...
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: Lamewolf on August 27, 2016, 12:52:35 PM


and sorry for the offtopic question...

That's not off topic !
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: ghrit on August 27, 2016, 03:44:20 PM
tevin, I had to google twisted pair wire, but i still do not get how you make a dipole from it....
any lins?

and sorry for the offtopic question...
I'm sure there is a better description, but think folded dipole.
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: Quiet1 on August 29, 2016, 09:03:13 PM
Either random wire and a tuner, or an MFJ 40/20 trap dipole, depending on which I feel like hauling around.  The dipole gives better performance, but the tuner & wire is more versatile and covers more bands.
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: GreekMan on August 30, 2016, 11:16:33 AM
I'm sure there is a better description, but think folded dipole.

my mind went there,c os he mentioned sorting the ends, but I was perplexed cos I expect folded dipoles to have some inches  seperation of the 2 wires
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: Tempstar on August 30, 2016, 07:16:29 PM
I bought one of these on a suggestion in another forum.

http://myantennas.com/wp/product/efhw-8010/

I was totally shocked at how well it worked! I've been on Chameleons for years but now have a new field antenna. We recently used it with my 690s at a get together and everyone wanted to know what it was.
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: Tevin on August 31, 2016, 10:25:32 PM
tevin, I had to google twisted pair wire, but i still do not get how you make a dipole from it....
any lins?

and sorry for the offtopic question...

No, not at all off topic.

Here's what I'm getting at: Make your dipole out of two small gauge wires twisted together. All I did was strip the insulation off each end and and twist the bare wires so it is shorted at each end. You effectively have a single wire. From this you make a dipole. It is not a folded dipole.

I use 22 gauge telephone central office frame wire (not available retail). You could use doorbell wire, which is basically the same thing. It already comes as a pair. You could even get away with stereo speaker wire or lamp cord.

The point is to use a small gauge wire that is light, easy to carry, and relatively strong. i have dipoles for 20 and 15 that roll up and fit in a 1 quart ziplock bag and weigh almost nothing. The small gauge wire will not handle much power but it does not have to because I'm running QRP. They work great! 

Maybe I'll do a blog article or put up a video on my YouTube channel about this.
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: GreekMan on September 01, 2016, 08:23:13 AM
you should.  ;D
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: jdh on September 08, 2016, 05:26:18 PM
Tevin,

Are you talking about cross connect wire? 

If so it is about $55/1000 foot spool at Grainger, $30 at Altex, $35 at Fry's
Title: Re: Portable/tactical HF antenna - what do you use ?
Post by: Tevin on September 12, 2016, 05:54:05 PM
Tevin,

Are you talking about cross connect wire? 

If so it is about $55/1000 foot spool at Grainger, $30 at Altex, $35 at Fry's

Yes, you are right on the money. Cross connect wire is the same as CO frame wire. There's a lot of different brands and styles out there, but it's all basically the same stuff. Any 22 or even 24 gauge will work.

$55 for 1000 feet is a very good deal for retail customers. My employer pays $38 for a 3000 foot reel of 2 conductor, 22 gauge, but they buy literally hundreds of tons every year and get a hefty discount.

I did a google and found the stuff for sale all over the place, so I was wrong about it not being available retail.

https://www.google.com/?client=safari#q=cross+connect+wire+2+pair