[TowerTalk] Speaking of AV-640

[K8RI]

On 8/15/2012 9:02 PM, Dan Schaaf wrote:
> Gregg
>
> I use an AV-640. The feedpoint box is 7 ft above ground. Any closer and the
> tips of the droopy radials get close to the ground and that is not
> recommended.
>
> It stands out in the open on a tilt over base, similar to the one GAP sells.
>
> I worked recently into D64K Comoros Island and into 9M4SLL Spratly Island on
> 30 meters with it. Both approx 9,000 miles from here in different
> directions.
>
> I also have a full 1/2 wave vertical on 40 and the two antennas perform
> equally well .
>
> Mounting it at a shed or house will be tricky. Especially when you have to
> raise and lower it to make the tuning adjustments. That is why I use the
> tilt over base. The antenna is easily walked down once the retaining pin is
> removed on the base.
>
>
> Best Regards
> Dan Schaaf
> =================================
> K3ZXL www.k3zxl.com
> 60 Meters www.60metersonline.net
> =================================
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gregg Seidl
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 8:54 PM
> To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Speaking of AV-640
>
> I haven't used a vertical in decades and those were ground plane types when
> I was a poor young novice.
> I bought an AV-640 to use as a back-up or second antenna and I'm wondering
> what seems to work best at mounting it.I have several choices:ground mount
> it with the bottom being 5 or so feet off the ground. Mount it to the side
> of my metal shed with the bottom 5 or so feet from the top of the shed,this
> would place the base about 24 feet above the ground and out in the open but
> it would be 50 feet or so from the 14.4Kv line to our transformer. Third
> choice would be to mount it about 15 feet or so up on a metal pipe that
> would be guyed and cemented in the ground. I want to try SO2R on RTTY only.
> I am totally deaf in one ear so I can't do SO2R on SSB and I'm not good
> enough on CW. Any thought or ideas would be great.

As long as there is a good line of sight from the antenna to the horizon 
it should do well. That  means I'd rule out mounted close to the ground, 
but at 24 feet it should do well as long as it's not near another 
antenna.  I did have to move one of the 40 meter, center fed, half wave 
slopers as it was affecting 40 meter operation.

My SO2R operation is set up to allow me to use the rig in the shop, or 
the one in the house on the same antennas.

Mine is mounted on a 2" X 24' Al pole. I purchased a manual winch, a 
couple of pulleys, and some 5/16"double braid synthetic rope.  Whether 
mounted at the end of a building it's easy to crank up and down. I have 
the rope anchored to a 10' guy anchor pole. It then goes through a 
pulley on the 24' Al mast at the 10' level, through a pulley at the top 
of the guy anchor pole and down to the winch.  It can be raised or 
lowered in less than a minute.

Once the initial settings are done there should be little need for 
raising and lowering it after that.  Basically it will cover the entire 
bands from 40 through 10 and about half of 6-meters.  I only had to 
adjust the frequency on 40 and six.  The other bands were OK using the 
settings in the manual.

73 and good luck

Roger (K8RI)


>
> Gregg K9KL
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