Wouldn’t you in reality be building an ocfd to some degree then?A lot of people are quick to admonish this antenna design, citing antenna theory. I hold an Amateur Extra license and have a good understanding of antenna theory. Or, since the word "theory" gives some purists heartburn, I'll say antenna "fact".
These antennas do not go against antenna fact. There's no magic here. Simply put, they have more going for them than against them. That's all.
Is it a dipole or a ground plane with a single radial? There's no right answer. If a dipole, naysayers scream, "Where's your balun? Where's your balun? Where's your 1:1 balun?!" I don't use baluns on my dipoles. Never have. There are millions of dipoles in use performing majestically without baluns. Can "RF in the shack" occur without one? Sure. But that's not always the case. And rarely to the extent of being a problem.
If it's a ground plane, naysayers scream, "Where's your grounding? Where's your grounding? You don't have it attached to an 8-ft ground stake!" I don't ground my ground planes. Never have, be it a Radio Shack GP, Astro Plane, CLR2, A99 or Gainmaster. Adverse effects noticed? Zero.
With both designs, naysayers scream, "Your coax is radiating! Your coax is radiating! Your coax is part of your antenna!" So? I couldn't care less.
Do these antennas provide gain? Absolutely not. Same as dipoles. But they will get you on the air in fine fashion at low cost and effort. So attach a vertical of some sort 103" in length and connect it to a wire of approximately 105". Mount it a few feet off the ground or at a height of just 6" with the wire radial lying directly on the ground. Doesn't matter. Trim the wire for lowest SWR and you are done. Get on the air and have fun. It's that easy, everybody. I guarantee you'll be surprised at the performance.
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Ground mounted cb vertical antenna
- Thread starter nfsus
- Start date
nfsus, I believe the feedpoint on ocf dipoles is typically 1/3 from one end. My antenna’s feedpoint is basically at the halfway point from the end of the vertical to the end of the wire.
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I mentioned this all before. I am still using the Bob's CB RV mount. Only about 15 feet in the air off the side of the shed with EMT conduit and a 4X4. Two 7 foot Firstik for a 1/4 wave bent Dipole. Bottom leg at 30 Degrees. Being working fine. Not a big stick. Cheap, been holding up to storms. I can talk on local SSB net Sunday night with the old guys when conditions are clear. Washington, PA to Butler, PA. Some skip, Channel 19 to I-70 and I-79 no issues. I had used 9 foot whips. I had viewed the article on Firstiks website about the 7 footers. Bob's CB keeps them in stock. I get a little quieter performance with the Firestiks. TY all.
Just use the bottom section of tube of your Hustler 5BTV on it's mounting base and you'll have a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna for 10/11m depending on how you adjust the length.
You'll need to put down some radials as someone posted earlier and connect them to the bracket of the 5BTV.
How do you mount the bottom one at a 30 degree angle? I find it easy to do when using wire for the radial but not when using another mobile antenna.
I agree with everything you had said.
I just like to add, disconnect your antenna and listen, then try to transmit!
Wow! Now... there's no gain!!! What happen!
This wasn't to knock your post. No not at all.
As most iof us know, antennas are compared to Dipoles as far gain. DBD Well now days Isotropic. DBI. Am I saying this right?
This was met more for humor! And of course for the young at heart!
There is definitely gain in a Dipole. Like I had mentioned, disconnect the coax from any dipole or ground mounted car antenna whip, anyone will see there was gain before disconnecting that coax.
Sorry I had to get this out !!! But your whip antenna surely works, ask me how I know! Isn't antenna experimenting fun! Okay most of the time. 73, I enjoy these posts. Thank you.
BOB's CB puts together a stainless steel mount Bob calls a RV Mount that is used to mount on the top of a RV rear ladder. It has the studs for the vertical and ground leg. I upgraded the studs to a heavier ones for use as a base station antenna. Nothing fancy.
I checked it out and it’s perfect. But it’s pricey and takes while to get one. I think I can make something similar.
Thanks for your help!
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