[TowerTalk] Matching ladder-line fed linear loaded dipole

[Tom Osborne]

Hi Tom

I have the same type of antenna I use while camping.  It is about 100 feet 
of wire fed with some 300 TV twinlead.  It works really well, but one thing, 
you do need to have a good ground.  I have just used a big, long screwdriver 
stuck in the ground.  Not the best, but it helps a whole lot getting rid of 
the stray RF.  I also use a hose clamp to hook the grounto the water pipe if 
the campground I camp in has water hookups.  I know a lot of them use PVC 
underground, but the steel pipe does go into the ground.  Without the 
ground, I get all sorts of RF floating around in everything.  While you 
might not be able to get the best ground while camping, anything will help. 
73
Tom W7WHY




> I recently purchased the Cobra Extra Light Jr., a 70 foot dipole, >fed 
> with  ladder-line, for use while camping.  There are different >ways that 
> I can use  it.  I have been connecting the antenna to an >SGC-tuner 
> (SG-231) for use with a K-2/100.  On 80 meters with >100 watts, there was 
> a lot of stray RF, getting into the audio, and giving rf bites when 
> touching the mic.