[HiDARG-MEMBERS] Folding HT antenna

[Steven Fletcher]

Jeff

I'd love to see this documented even if the science of it is not 
perfect.

It is something I have thought of doing

BTW last night on our UHF simplex net (446.575) I did a shoot out 
between the $20 guaranteed for life antenna and the $10 titanium Chinese 
antenna

the $10 antenna won

not scientific but somewhat indicative

steve



Steve Fletcher
Phone: 541-699-1909
Grant County ARES Emergency Coordinator
K7AA
My Blog <drawingforth.org>


------ Original Message ------
From: "Jeff Moore" <tnetcenter at gmail.com>
To: "HiDARG Members" <hidarg-members at hidarg.org>
Sent: 7/12/2019 7:19:41 PM
Subject: Re: [HiDARG-MEMBERS] Folding HT antenna

>Hi Mike,
>
>I got a digital field strength meter from Kent at the meeting last 
>night - one of the QRPGuys kits.   Playing around with it last night in 
>my room was somewhat inconclusive - likely because I was way too close 
>to get meaningful readings from it ( 10 feet).  So I suspect that to do 
>realistic tests I need at least 100 feet of separation between the 
>ht/antenna and the meter.  I'll need help to do it.  It looks like I 
>have access to a couple of other Field Strength meters (one a military 
>surplus unit and one that looks like it could be homebrew with John 
>Ogden's name on it).  I have no idea if any of them actually work, the 
>QRPGuys unit- seems to work but, I haven't tested the other two units.
>
>So, do you want to get together with a bunch of HTs and antennas and 
>see what we can figure out???  We can go to a local park (open the 
>invitation to the entire club) and set up an ad hoc antenna test range 
>and play radio!  Or . . . .?
>
>Jeff Moore  --  KE7ACY
>
>
>
>On Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 1:31 PM Mike Williams <kb7klt at gmail.com> wrote:
>>I would be interested in comparing my cushcraft 4-ele too...also have 
>>other homebrews to look at.
>>de Mike KB7KLT
>>
>>On Wed, Jul 10, 2019 at 3:38 PM Jeff Moore <tnetcenter at gmail.com> 
>>wrote:
>>>Hi Everyone,
>>>
>>>I figured there would be some interest in this antenna.  I have the 
>>>28.3-inch version, there is one longer version and two shorter 
>>>versions.  Note that the ad on Amazon also includes a couple of 
>>>different length extension cables, so be sure you're ordering the 
>>>antenna not one of the cables(unless you want one fo the cables:-)!
>>>
>>>I'm still testing this antenna, but so far it's at least as good as 
>>>the antennas I have and I think the longer (42-inch) version will 
>>>work really well with a GO BOX that has VHF/UHF capability.  It's 
>>>also available with both a female SMA connector and a male SMA 
>>>connector so it will fit on a lot of radios (provided you get the 
>>>correct connector).
>>>
>>>Anyway, for the price - hard to beat!!!   here's the link:
>>>
>>>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RRPC8VQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
>>>
>>>These are ham band antennas so be aware that they will probably not 
>>>work very well outside the bands - I noted a reviewer who was 
>>>complaining that the antenna didn't seem to work at 150 MHz or 466MHz 
>>>(both outside the ham bands).   Testing these antennas (or most HT 
>>>antennas) with an antenna analyzer can be tricky since the chassis of 
>>>the ht is often used as a pseudo-ground-plane and inserting the 
>>>analyzer between the antenna and the radio may not give you a good 
>>>reading.  A better testing method is to use a field strength meter at 
>>>a set distance from the antenna/radio being tested.
>>>
>>>Does anyone have a field strength meter???  We could set up a quick 
>>>and dirty antenna test range that would reveal just how effective a 
>>>particular antenna is based on actual RF output!  I've heard that the 
>>>results of such testing can be very revealing.
>>>
>>>Enjoy!!!
>>>
>>>7  3
>>>Jeff Moore  --  KE7ACY
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>HiDARG-Members mailing list
>>>HiDARG-Members at hidarg.org
>>>http://hidarg.org/mailman/listinfo/hidarg-members_hidarg.org
>>_______________________________________________
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