[TenTec] magic wire antennas

[NJ0IP]

When I was in the U.S. Army Signal Corps about 35 years ago, we often had to
come up on weird frequencies at a moments notice.

Using this "B&W dummy load", we were able to establish communications all
over the world, from Viet Nam to D.C. (I was located in Berlin).  Our output
power was 2KW.  

Oh yes, let me add, I was an experienced ham.  Most of the people working
with and for me were not.  They needed something which was "Plug-n-Play",
not "Plug-n-Pray" and could be tuned to all frequencies.

Of course we had an army manual with tables portraying wire lengths for
building dipoles for all the various frequencies.  Any of the guys could
read the table and build the dipole.  Most hadn't a clue what to do if for
some reason the antenna did not resonate on that frequency at that
particular location.  Yet the mission required us to be up on a frequency in
short notice.

Give me two hours notice and I'll build a better antenna for any frequency.
Give me 5 minutes notice and I'll go get a cup of coffee, crank up the
power, and make the contact on the B&W.

It's horses for courses, guys.

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Curt
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:18 AM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] magic wire antennas

What's really funny is I also remember all the talk
that review caused about how it was a dummy load.
Please then, someone on here explain why they are
still in business selling their "dummy loads"? Why are
they still being sold?  The B&W folded dipoles some
people say are dummy loads too. They use them all over
the world in government installations. So why are
these dummies who make these dummy loads still racking
in the cash after all these years, why oh wise men on
here, why?

--- K5lxz at wmconnect.com wrote:

> Hello All,   I remember the Maxcom review in QST and
> it reminded me of an 
> anatenna I made back in 1973 that a now silent key
> refered to as a "magic wire 
> antenna".
> We were asked to demonstrate ham radio at a
> bicentennial celeberation and I 
> made a wire antenna for 80 meters that was made from
> 'steel' electric fence 
> wire.   This antenna was broad (low swr) from one
> end of 80 to the other.  Truly 
> I thought for a few moments that we had discovered
> what everyone had been 
> looking for.
> Only problem was the kwm2 could not be heard outside
> the confides of the 
> operating position.   Yep!  just another dummie load
> that made me feel like the 
> dummy.
> 73s all and good dx,
> Ray
> W5EW
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> 

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