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copper vertical
- Thread starter Dolmetsch
- Start date
I dont know folks. I am able to crack pileups. With most below us here running a linear and who knows what power (and certainly it would be at the light dimming level ) the mere fact that I can step in with 120 watts and get through in one or two calls is making me think I really like this antenna. If it was purely prop I shouldnt have a prayer given the competition. Worked a Northern England and a Guatemela today with ease. Both were bathed in QRM from many folks calling . Finally it is a fun hobby again. I like working the far stations. I guess I am not much of a conversationalist but I do enjoy the long haul stuff. Still though I have never yet worked a DL (German) station on phone. And I even speak the language to a workable level although face to face speaking is a lot easier than by radio (or telphone). That is my goal for the moment.
I am now wondering what I would have to spend to build a 40 meter version in 1 1/2 copper.
Don
VE3LYX
I am now wondering what I would have to spend to build a 40 meter version in 1 1/2 copper.
Don
VE3LYX
A forty meter would cost about $150 to make. More than I want to spend right now. The 20 m though is doing a wonderful job. I have worked a different country every day i have been on. Still though I have not heard any Dl etc German stations.
I live in hope
Don
I live in hope
Don
Dolmetsch,
I 'know' the ground system has to be lousy because I believe your description of it. A single ground rod is a terrible RF ground unless the conductivity of the 'dirt' where you live is very extraordinary. A ground rod along with those two radials you planned to install, is also not the 'best' RF ground in the world, but it would certainly be better than just a ground rod. I'm not disputing the contacts you have made. But think what that 'list' could consist of if that ground system wasn't so lossy!
- 'Doc
I 'know' the ground system has to be lousy because I believe your description of it. A single ground rod is a terrible RF ground unless the conductivity of the 'dirt' where you live is very extraordinary. A ground rod along with those two radials you planned to install, is also not the 'best' RF ground in the world, but it would certainly be better than just a ground rod. I'm not disputing the contacts you have made. But think what that 'list' could consist of if that ground system wasn't so lossy!
- 'Doc
I see. Well I have no idea what that ground is like conductive wise.
What would that list be like? It would be the same because I make a call each day to get a new contry on this antenna. usually one or two trys is enuf hwever this morning in 5 minutes did a DK1 , a TI8 and a F5. The DK was qrm-med out so if you want to throw it out I will but he did comeback with my call exact the first time. The rest were good reports and the band is not the best today. I am basing my results on Empherical data having lived here since 1983 and had no fun and now I can crack Dx easily. I know the band is hot now but I have been through that before here. Could be the ground is damp right now and that is why it is working as we had a lot of rain before the big freeze . I am going to operate as is till it goes schlecht . Then i will try radials to see. Should it stay good I am leaving well enuf alone. If it aint broke dont fix it thing. You see I have alrady here another vetical, a wire one i made and it is about 20 feet from this one. It was my emergency antenna here and I have used it from time to time but it never in its best day came close to performing of this one. In fact it is still wired up and could be tried if I changed the cable. This copper pipe vertical has a bit broader bandwidth for SWR measurements (best between 14.050 and 14.190) I am really excited about its perfomance. If i was a ham with limited space or resources or both this deal is a good solid solution to both problems and can be built and installed in an afternoon. As Martha S would say, "that is a good thing." Do i think it is the worlds best or better than this or that? No but i do believe it is a better than average deal and for the cost and performance to me at least fanstastic. I like dx ing. I have been there even with my beam when first coming here when i couldn't break a pile up and have gone contactless for days on end. When i moved here I was doing well at the other place and was only off air for a weekend at best. This was not a good location , now it is . I am happy. We willlsee what summer and dry ground brings and deal with it appropriately. I am more curious now to see.
I am not a super competent HAM . In my Automotvie careeer & hobbies I know the formulas and can calculate almost anything. It is a stretch for me in this one but I do enjoy it and strive to understand it better each day. I tend though to be perfomance oriented. When something works I quickly like it. And I do like this little chunk of copper with its truck ariel on top and soup can lid capacitance hat between them.
That is where I am at at the moment anyway.
Don
VE3LYX
What would that list be like? It would be the same because I make a call each day to get a new contry on this antenna. usually one or two trys is enuf hwever this morning in 5 minutes did a DK1 , a TI8 and a F5. The DK was qrm-med out so if you want to throw it out I will but he did comeback with my call exact the first time. The rest were good reports and the band is not the best today. I am basing my results on Empherical data having lived here since 1983 and had no fun and now I can crack Dx easily. I know the band is hot now but I have been through that before here. Could be the ground is damp right now and that is why it is working as we had a lot of rain before the big freeze . I am going to operate as is till it goes schlecht . Then i will try radials to see. Should it stay good I am leaving well enuf alone. If it aint broke dont fix it thing. You see I have alrady here another vetical, a wire one i made and it is about 20 feet from this one. It was my emergency antenna here and I have used it from time to time but it never in its best day came close to performing of this one. In fact it is still wired up and could be tried if I changed the cable. This copper pipe vertical has a bit broader bandwidth for SWR measurements (best between 14.050 and 14.190) I am really excited about its perfomance. If i was a ham with limited space or resources or both this deal is a good solid solution to both problems and can be built and installed in an afternoon. As Martha S would say, "that is a good thing." Do i think it is the worlds best or better than this or that? No but i do believe it is a better than average deal and for the cost and performance to me at least fanstastic. I like dx ing. I have been there even with my beam when first coming here when i couldn't break a pile up and have gone contactless for days on end. When i moved here I was doing well at the other place and was only off air for a weekend at best. This was not a good location , now it is . I am happy. We willlsee what summer and dry ground brings and deal with it appropriately. I am more curious now to see.
I am not a super competent HAM . In my Automotvie careeer & hobbies I know the formulas and can calculate almost anything. It is a stretch for me in this one but I do enjoy it and strive to understand it better each day. I tend though to be perfomance oriented. When something works I quickly like it. And I do like this little chunk of copper with its truck ariel on top and soup can lid capacitance hat between them.
That is where I am at at the moment anyway.
Don
VE3LYX
Now that I am back at the hobby I am digging through stuff. It was mentioned the band was hot. Well it is not. Solar flux is actually quite low. I checked the charts to see. Still worked an F4 no trouble. it is all starting to comeback to me now. Been digging through my parts stuff too. Found good stuff I forget I had.
Don
VE3LYX
Don
VE3LYX
ant; proj; parts.
Hi Don; Just a thought on your ant; projects . I,ve got a few things to offer you. Some ridgid single strand bare copper wire 18gauge ? its in 105 ft average roles .(have a few 100 ft) I,ve used on several projects , no sagging during winter months . Also some 1/2" hd plexie glass used from arenas & some 1/4 poly sheets . Also some random lenghts of rg-58, rg-8 etc. More here than i need , if your interested its yours let me know ? And i,ve bin putting plans together to put up a copy of your 20mtr g.p. in the spring to play with , thank god my wife is understanding of my hobby ! all the best Bob.A. lucky 13
Hi Don; Just a thought on your ant; projects . I,ve got a few things to offer you. Some ridgid single strand bare copper wire 18gauge ? its in 105 ft average roles .(have a few 100 ft) I,ve used on several projects , no sagging during winter months . Also some 1/2" hd plexie glass used from arenas & some 1/4 poly sheets . Also some random lenghts of rg-58, rg-8 etc. More here than i need , if your interested its yours let me know ? And i,ve bin putting plans together to put up a copy of your 20mtr g.p. in the spring to play with , thank god my wife is understanding of my hobby ! all the best Bob.A. lucky 13
I like it. Very cool. you could probably get away with hose clamps for the termination.
or nuts and bolts. I love love seeing creative solutions.
So far
GI0,CO6,PY2,PD2,SM6,EA8,IZ1,TI8,F5,F4,EW8,R7,PA3,LA5,VE3(portable 4 (florida)and EB1. I am on an hour max per day. Sig rpts range from 5.5 to 5.9 with 5.9 being about 70%. As you 20 M folks know this week the band is not the best but still doing the job. SWR is in acceptable range right up to 14.250 MHZ
And now to the $64 question? Why spring clamps? Cause I need to unhook to mow the lawn. These are not just clamps persay. They are clamps for electric cattle fencing so they are strong. If you had them on your finger you would be most unhappy. They are designed to be used in a "cannot fail" situation. Having rasied cattle for several years and used unattended electric fencing to keep wandering animals inside the fold I have never seen these fail even after several years. A good steer is not unlike a wandering $1000 bill with four legs and no brain. One cannot afford any posssiblity of escape (both from a profit motive and from liability if someone hit one of yours on the road)and these particular clamps are what is normally used. When mowing the lawn they will automatically be regularly checked and so I dont expect corrosion or loseness to be a problem.
Regarding a 40 meter vertical I talked to a plumber friend (after i paid for lunch) about some good uncorroded used 2 inch copper. We shall see what happens. I would like to get my 1 tube 40 meter glowbug on air too.
Don
GI0,CO6,PY2,PD2,SM6,EA8,IZ1,TI8,F5,F4,EW8,R7,PA3,LA5,VE3(portable 4 (florida)and EB1. I am on an hour max per day. Sig rpts range from 5.5 to 5.9 with 5.9 being about 70%. As you 20 M folks know this week the band is not the best but still doing the job. SWR is in acceptable range right up to 14.250 MHZ
And now to the $64 question? Why spring clamps? Cause I need to unhook to mow the lawn. These are not just clamps persay. They are clamps for electric cattle fencing so they are strong. If you had them on your finger you would be most unhappy. They are designed to be used in a "cannot fail" situation. Having rasied cattle for several years and used unattended electric fencing to keep wandering animals inside the fold I have never seen these fail even after several years. A good steer is not unlike a wandering $1000 bill with four legs and no brain. One cannot afford any posssiblity of escape (both from a profit motive and from liability if someone hit one of yours on the road)and these particular clamps are what is normally used. When mowing the lawn they will automatically be regularly checked and so I dont expect corrosion or loseness to be a problem.
Regarding a 40 meter vertical I talked to a plumber friend (after i paid for lunch) about some good uncorroded used 2 inch copper. We shall see what happens. I would like to get my 1 tube 40 meter glowbug on air too.
Don
Hello Don,
It's great to see you're still enjoying your home brew antenna. I really enjoy those I brew.
This is a great forum to be a part of, and we're glad you're here.
Why the suggestion on the clamps? It just seems that the helpful nature of the membership has kicked in once again and everyone is getting a kick out of your success. You know the strengths of the clamps you are using, however, it has been the experience of many of us that the recommended method of clamping has proven to be the best in our applications. We just want to see you continue to get the most from the antenna that you've put together. It's great to see the excitement you're experiencing and we want more of it to happen for you.
Happy DXing,
Homer/Charles
It's great to see you're still enjoying your home brew antenna. I really enjoy those I brew.
This is a great forum to be a part of, and we're glad you're here.
Why the suggestion on the clamps? It just seems that the helpful nature of the membership has kicked in once again and everyone is getting a kick out of your success. You know the strengths of the clamps you are using, however, it has been the experience of many of us that the recommended method of clamping has proven to be the best in our applications. We just want to see you continue to get the most from the antenna that you've put together. It's great to see the excitement you're experiencing and we want more of it to happen for you.
Happy DXing,
Homer/Charles
- No one is chatting at the moment.
...runna pile-up on 6m SSB