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mobile antenna to base !

Thank you, D.B.

My little inexpensive SWR meter has a field strength scale on it.

Will use that!
 
Yeshua,
I've seen what you're talking about, but mine doesn't have the attached little antenna and I don't have the instructions for using it as a F/S meter.

2001,
What a cool setup! I've seen some unique ones before, but not one like yours! Thanks for sharing.
 
Riverman71 said:
Yeshua,
I've seen what you're talking about, but mine doesn't have the attached little antenna and I don't have the instructions for using it as a F/S meter.

2001,
What a cool setup! I've seen some unique ones before, but not one like yours! Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

71, does your meter have a port for the antenna?
 
Last edited:
When using a typical CB SWR/Field Strength meter, most recommendations will include placing it in a convenient location, moving away from it for at least a couple of wavelengths (using binoculars to read the meter!), and then keying the transmitter or having someone else key it. The ones I've used have been intensely sensitive to objects in their near fields, including people and pets, and their movement within that field. I watched a meter reading go from about 1/4 scale to full scale whenever the neighbor's chocolate lab got within about ten feet of the meter!
 
Beetle said:
When using a typical CB SWR/Field Strength meter, most recommendations will include placing it in a convenient location, moving away from it for at least a couple of wavelengths (using binoculars to read the meter!), and then keying the transmitter or having someone else key it. The ones I've used have been intensely sensitive to objects in their near fields, including people and pets, and their movement within that field. I watched a meter reading go from about 1/4 scale to full scale whenever the neighbor's chocolate lab got within about ten feet of the meter!
Click to expand...
I didn't know that. Instruction manuals don't mention the method you've described.
I always wanted a pair of binoculars
Static Electric Dog - YouTube
 
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That's good to know, Beetle.
Think I'll just say my antenna's resonant and not worry about it.

Yeshua, that little dog is hilarious. Looks kinda like mine did every time he was in my lap when I keyed the mic on my homemade 4' Firestik dipole. Guess I had a little RF in the shack so to speak.

I think I'll quit messing with these homemade antennas. Will a Maco V-Quad zip tied to the birdbath in my backyard work? That'll put it about 3' off the ground.
 
May have to get the Maco up higher than 3ft off ground for it to work correctly. Could be wrong though. Up and away from anything. About 10ft to ground minimum. If you can get the tip to 36ft, you will be about 1 wavelength above ground for 11 meters. That's where my antenna sits. I think I could use some more height, but a better antenna would most likely cure what I am not happy with, (rx levels aren't that great). But for a free antenna it works well!
 
222,

Wish I could put something up 36'! A 15' mast is the best I can do and keep the wife and neighbors happy. :sad:
 
Man I thought I had it bad!! My mast is about 18ft and then antenna is approx. 18ft as well. Puts the tip of antenna right around 36ft. Give or take a foot. I will or would recommend painting whatever you put up black as it seems to help with making the antenna "less noticeable" from a distance. Don't you just love some neighbors!! Here it's the ones behind me! And that is where I have my antenna mounted. Right next to the chimney. There is a large oak tree that is well over 50ft tall that covers it up from being seen too much at the front of the house. Backyard is wide open. One of these days when I get a weekday off I am going to go down and get a permit to put up a real tower setup! Heck I would be happy if I could go up 20 more feet. Should not be an issue. Antenna is very light. I am not sure if it's an A99 or what, it doesn't weigh much, and very little wind load as it's just a vertical antenna. But anyway try to get your Maco up as high as you can. At least 10ft to the ground from the base of the antenna. And if you are going to keep it low, then have to think about where you place it as it may cause some RFI/TVI issues I would think. Keeping it away from house and all other objects at that height may be critical. Or I am way off base. My wheels are definitely turning now as to where to place a new antenna myself now lol. Anyway good luck and have a good one. God Bless.
 
Okay let me eat my words. You should be okay with an 8-10ft mast per what reading I did, but I would still make sure to keep it away from all objects if possible. If possible pound a pipe down and mount antenna mast pipe to it. If there is an issue with the mounting pipe, just cut it off and pound it into the ground. Didn't realize the Maco V was a beam antenna. Sorry for any misinformation! Now that I see what we are talking about, makes sense the neighbors not liking lol! Paint it all black and give it a try. Might help some, but it looks like it just sticks out. Maybe a roof mount for a tv antenna would work for you. You could always say it's for the TV! Radio shack may have the roof mount. Shouldn't be too expensive. Might work well. Anyway wanted to say sorry for any mis info and have a folks one, God bless.
 
The DB said:
Think of a guitar string. You pluck it and it vibrates at a certain frequency. That is the resonant mechanical frequency of the guitar string.

With an antenna we are not looking for a mechanical frequency, but an electrical resonant frequency, but it is still the same concept, just applied a little differently.

Let me try and explain further, there are two types of "reactance", and the combination of those determines the antennas resonant frequency. The two types of reactance are inductive and capacitive.

If you take an antenna and add inductive reactance it is like adding length to the antenna, or adding length to the guitar string in the example above, they resonate at a lower frequency.

If you add capacitive reactance it is like shortening the the antenna or the guitar string in the example above. This is seen on the guitar when holding the strings when plucking them. Both of these cases leads to raising the resonant frequency.

In short, when working with antennas, resonance is the frequency at which inductive and capacitive reactances are in balance, or add up to 0.


The DB
Click to expand...

The bottom line is that I should tune my 11 meter vertical to 440 "A". Then it'll really be resonant.
 
I don't actually have the V-Quad. No way I'd get away with putting one up.

Some folks dream of retiring (I'm retired), and:

a. Lying on a beach somewhere (don't like the beach)
b. Traveling and seeing the world (haven't seen all of Texas yet)
c. Taking it easy and catching up on their reading (doing that)
d. Writing a novel (done that)
e. Taking up a new hobby (I'm taking up an old one - CB)

Me, I dream of moving to the country, putting up a 75-ft tower with a Moonraker atop it, then keying it up and actually talking to somebody more than a mile away.

Sorry to deviate from the subject matter of this thread.

Have a nice day, everybody!

Oh, and IT'S RAINING HERE!!! And has been for a good while. Not enough to end our drought, but will green things up!

Catch you down the road.
 

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