Tram 1411 - Impressed

[Louisiana Mudd]

So... I do a lot of RTL-SDR stuff and needed a new antenna for a traveling setup. While I'm not much on the one fits all antenna but I wanted to try one that would cover 500khz to 1.7Ghz for scanning while also accommodating my new RCI-39VHP. I know, I know, that is a tall order but I went after it anyway. I looked around and decided on the Tram 1411 despite it's very poor reviews in regards to transmitting. I ordered the antenna along with a folding antenna tripod stand that raises up to around 6.5ft putting the antenna base at around 6ft. I received the antenna and stand two days ago, the discone has 8 bottom elements 2 of them with adjustable radials, 8 short horizontal elements, and a 55" whip up top giving right at 102" overall height. I scanned the bands with a HackRF One and got awesome coverage from 22Mhz to 1.3Ghz, without expecting much I plugged in the 39VHP and holy crap. On the 11 meter band I was sitting at 1:1 on 20 1:3 on 1 and 40, the receive was great and the transmit was awesome. I was able to get out to 5 different states from Louisiana with West Virginia saying that I was coming in strong and super clear. Guys I will be the first one to call a pile of crap a pile of crap but this thing is a beast sitting at 6ft off of the ground. I have not been able to test all transmit bands but the manufacturer advertises 26-27-46-49-72-144-220-440-900-1290 MHz. I'm not saying that this is the holy grail of antennas but for a traveling setup you really can't go wrong.

Mudd

 

[nomadradio]

Textbook name is "discone". Popular for military and naval shipboard use.

Intended from the ground up to be broad banded.

73

 

[Louisiana Mudd]

Indeed, my point is that these are not the norm for transmitting.

 

[autotuner]

Indeed, my point is that these are not the norm for transmitting.

I ran a Diamond discone for a year or so when living in an apartment. Just on the balcony rail. Surprisingly it worked well on multiple bands.

 

[Louisiana Mudd]

I ran a Diamond discone for a year or so when living in an apartment. Just on the balcony rail. Surprisingly it worked well on multiple bands.

Man this thing rocks on 11m for sure, it performed way better than I thought that it would. So far I have to give this one a 9/10, the only reason that it does not get a 10 is because it has a 200w limit. I threw 100w at it and it did its job for sure. I really am happy that I found something that I can take on the road with me to serve as my SDR and 10/11 meter antenna needs.

 

[2NC995]

I use an older radio shack discone antenna for monitoring, particularly mil air and public service. I don't use a whip on mine (and I don't transmit with it).

Discones and biconicals are both used by the military.

One thing I wonder about antennas like the tram, or to a lesser extent my Radio Shack antenna...is it functioning as a discone at 27mhz?

I mean, even being broadbanded by design, they had to add a loading coil, a whip and extended and loaded radials to get it down that far...seems like it’s just a basic ground plane antenna at those frequencies?

 

[Louisiana Mudd]

I use an older radio shack discone antenna for monitoring, particularly mil air and public service. I don't use a whip on mine (and I don't transmit with it).

Discones and biconicals are both used by the military.

One thing I wonder about antennas like the tram, or to a lesser extent my Radio Shack antenna...is it functioning as a discone at 27mhz?

I mean, even being broadbanded by design, they had to add a loading coil, a whip and extended and loaded radials to get it down that far...seems like it’s just a basic ground plane antenna at those frequencies?

Seems to be the case, sort of a hybrid so to speak.

 

[Blackcat630]

I put up a tram discone on a stand off on the side of the tower. It's at about 25 ft. I wouldn't want to put it up any higher. I already have to attenuate half my channels because its picking up stuff 50-70 miles away.. I'm trying to just pick up my local PD, 911, Sheriff ect.. it's kinda overkill for my needs. It makes a great scanner antenna though I have never transmitted through mine...

 

[Louisiana Mudd]

I put up a tram discone on a stand off on the side of the tower. It's at about 25 ft. I wouldn't want to put it up any higher. I already have to attenuate half my channels because its picking up stuff 50-70 miles away.. I'm trying to just pick up my local PD, 911, Sheriff ect.. it's kinda overkill for my needs. It makes a great scanner antenna though I have never transmitted through mine...

Loving this thing for a portable, I just cranked up the radio 21AM.

 

[Highway Man]

How do you like that 39vhp?

 

[Louisiana Mudd]

How do you like that 39vhp?

I like it, there is no SSB but it does not hurt my feelings. The radio has six bands so there is much room to talk.
Here is the freq table (attached), it has a lot of power so there are no issues getting out.

 

[xm49north7]

Indeed, my point is that these are not the norm for transmitting.

It is basically a 1/4 wave ground plane , with many elements, no reason it would not work ok.

 

[Louisiana Mudd]

It is basically a 1/4 wave ground plane , with many elements, no reason it would not work ok.

Thing is that it had very poor reviews in relation to transmitting on the 11m band. When I hooked it up and fired up the radio the performance was a 10/10 and being a portable setup it is very easy to set up and tear down. The stand, antenna, coax, and misc supplies all fit into one carry bag. Perfect setup for both RTL-SDR and 10m / 11m.

Hope all is well my friend, stay safe stay well...

 

[xm49north7]

Thing is that it had very poor reviews in relation to transmitting on the 11m band. When I hooked it up and fired up the radio the performance was a 10/10 and being a portable setup it is very easy to set up and tear down. The stand, antenna, coax, and misc supplies all fit into one carry bag. Perfect setup for both RTL-SDR and 10m / 11m.

Hope all is well my friend, stay safe stay well...

whatever works, long as swr is good, and it gets out, I did look up a photo, it is not a huge antenna, so more like about 1/8 wave, sounds like you have a winner, might have to look into playing with one of these. I am a junky for antenna fiddling

 

[Louisiana Mudd]

whatever works, long as swr is good, and it gets out, I did look up a photo, it is not a huge antenna, so more like about 1/8 wave, sounds like you have a winner, might have to look into playing with one of these. I am a junky for antenna fiddling

It is a total of 102" with the whip on top, I put it on a 6' collapsible stand which is working out really well, the legs extend out pretty far which creates a good bit of stability. I go between Louisiana and Texas quite a bit so this setup is perfect for me right now, also it complements the RCI-39VHP really well.

After a total breakdown I can have the antenna up and ready to go in about 3-4 minutes.