[VHFcontesting] indoor antennas on 50 MHz

[Robert Cumming]

Never underestimate what can be done with a minimal  antenna.

On one of my trips to TI2 land with a IC706MKIIG, I carried 2 
antennas, a Roll up "Mini G5RV" advertised for 10-40M and a Cubix 
KingBee quad for 6M (4el) and 2M (7EL).  I went through a mess with 
the customs officials and they didn't release the 706 until I 
obtained my TI License.  That took My entire first day there and much 
pushing by my wife a Costa Rican national who know just what buttons 
need pushing (I had the application forms filled out but needed to 
visit the Radio Control office and a lawyer to get the license before 
they released the Radio from customs.  My wife vowed never again 
would I carry the radio there on vacation.

What caused the radio to be stopped was not the radio in a Attache 
Case with power supply but the 6' long box with the quad.  when asked 
what was in the box I said an antenna for Ham Radio.  when asked if I 
was carrying a radio I replied yes and it wads impounded by the 
customs officer.

After getting the License and retrieving the Radio from Customs I set 
up the radio and the mini G5RV and with the help of a small MFJ tuner 
was up and running on HF.  Conditions were good on 10 and 12 meters 
so I decided to listen on 6M and found it open to Brazil and 
Argentina and other countries in South America via 
TE  propagation.  The mini quad tuned well with the MFJ tuner and I 
was on the air on 6M.

My intent was to go to Radio Shack (yes they exist there too) the 
next day and get a few sections of TV mast to mount the Quad.  I 
found out they didn't sell it and found out from Keko (TI5KD) that 
most people used Steel water pipe for masts.  Now try fitting 3 meter 
sections of 1" pipe in a MiniCooper.  It just won't fly.  So the quad 
remained in the box and I used the wire for the next 2 weeks logging 
a slew of contacts in both North and South America on 6M.

On later trips I just carried the G5RV and 50' of RG8X and the 
tuner.  It worked well on all bands from 40-6M as an inverted "V" 
with the apex about 30' in a tree.  Maybe the reflections off all the 
"Tin" roofs helped.  I don't know but the Mini G5RV remains my travel antenna.

The station consists of a IC706 MKII G, an Astron 20A Switching 
supply and a MFJ 901 10W tuner.  It all fits in a Attache Case 
Including the antenna, Mic, Key and Paddle.

The Moral, don't worry about the antenna.  Just get on the air and 
operate!  Yes the 7element M2 beam at 48' here at the Home QTH with 
700 watts works better but the wire works better than nothing.

VRY 73

Bob Cumming
W2BZY
QRV 160M-3CM (no 5760)
from EL98hr



At 10:42 AM 2/28/2007, Dan_K9ZF wrote:
>While I agree that dipoles and loops work, and are much better than no
>antenna, I would hesitate to recommend them to "new VHF+" ops.
>
>I think the many hours of white noise between QSO's keeps a lot of the
>new hams away from weak signal stuff.  And using compromise antennas
>systems will increase these hours considerably.
>
>Put up what you can.  But realize that more antenna equals more QSO's.
>
>73
>Dan
>--
>K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269
>Check out the Rover Resource Page at: <http://www.qsl.net/n9rla>
>List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
>Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
>
>
> >
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