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Anyone tried this screwdriver?
- Thread starter nfsus
- Start date
Inexpensive for a screwdriver antenna.
However, any small screwdriver antenna that covers down to 80m is always going to be extremely lossy.
Of course any 80m mobile antenna is lossy but the larger screwdriver antennas do have an ERP on 80m typically around 3-5 watts where a small antenna would most likely be in milliwatts.
It takes a lot of internal coil to get a match that low and that affects the other bands as well. The other trade off is the coil wires are thin and can't take high power if an amp is going to be used.
The best small size screwdriver antenna would be the Little Tarheel HP which can handle 500 watts and covers 40-6m.
I use a 17ft telescoping whip for 80m when parked and that whip dramatically increases efficiency on 40 and 20m.
Just something to consider…
However, any small screwdriver antenna that covers down to 80m is always going to be extremely lossy.
Of course any 80m mobile antenna is lossy but the larger screwdriver antennas do have an ERP on 80m typically around 3-5 watts where a small antenna would most likely be in milliwatts.
It takes a lot of internal coil to get a match that low and that affects the other bands as well. The other trade off is the coil wires are thin and can't take high power if an amp is going to be used.
The best small size screwdriver antenna would be the Little Tarheel HP which can handle 500 watts and covers 40-6m.
I use a 17ft telescoping whip for 80m when parked and that whip dramatically increases efficiency on 40 and 20m.
Just something to consider…
I use the Harvest Outback 2000 as a portable antenna & it works great. I've never used it on 80 meters since it's not a band that I care much for.It does not have a motor so it's manually tuned.
I have the High Sierra Sidekick, close to the small tarheel. I use a 72" whip and while its not as nice as the 17' option I can tune 80 much better.
The longer the better!
Try a 17ft whip when your stationary (obviously). it'll really increase the efficiency. That'll make up some gain for not being able to run an amp.
On 20m (and above) you'll have to collapse it some because it's already a 1/4 wavelength on 20m.
Do it!
It's the MFJ-1979. It sells for $70.00
It collapses down to 27 inches so it easily stows away in a car and has a typical 3/8x 24 end thread that's used on mobile antenna studs.
I had a tar heel HP100 A given to me because it didn't move anymore. I found the 4wire molex plug and socket corroded badly and the control wires corroded. I took the 8 cap screws out and pulled the base off and found lotsa excess wire coiled inside. So I cut off the molex and wires back about an inch. I bought a kit of 4 contact weather proof plug and socket set. I had to buy the special crimper for the contacts. Just another tool for my collection. I also bought heat shrink with glue. The plug and socket set have silicone seals and nice contact pins that crimp easily with matching ratcheting crimper Now to remount it back in the tilt over mount.
I have an analyzer so I'll tune and mark with paint the resonant spots to watch while looking in mirror for center of each band.
I had a Yaesu screwdriver antenna but it didn't last long because of poor soldering job from factory. I had to cut the thick plastic cover from the base to find the poor soldering job. Which ruined the coil assembly. That was my second ATS120 first one was stolen.
I hope the HP100A will work ok. I have a high sierra 1800 that worked ok but was worn out (I think)
I have an analyzer so I'll tune and mark with paint the resonant spots to watch while looking in mirror for center of each band.
I had a Yaesu screwdriver antenna but it didn't last long because of poor soldering job from factory. I had to cut the thick plastic cover from the base to find the poor soldering job. Which ruined the coil assembly. That was my second ATS120 first one was stolen.
I hope the HP100A will work ok. I have a high sierra 1800 that worked ok but was worn out (I think)