[VHFcontesting] Rover antennas off-vehicle

[Bill Burgess]

Some wonder how to rove with antennas off-vehicle.  My first roving is shown in the photos to be found on:

www.webshots.com   search for ve3cru

These start in June 2003, 6 months after I got my first license.  The grids in the VHF photos are FN14ba 600 fasl in a farmer's field, FN13ax at water's edge of Lake Ontario, FN04ma 1100 fasl north of Oshawa at a lookout, and others in Microwave.  My microwave gear was wbfm 10 Ghz @ 40 mw with 25 db horn, and 24 Ghz 5 mw with 25 db horn for antennas.

Erecting off-vehicle in FN14, I set up the 7 foot stepladder with mast attached after driving in the anchor points.  Then loosely attaching the guys so as to not knock over the ladder.  Next, tighten the guys.  I used swedged 1.25" chain link top rails, but telescoping pipe easier and perhaps safer.  Nobody coached me on antenna placement, so note I put the 18 elmt Cushcraft 4218XL on the top with 29 foot boom, then carefully hoisted pipe vertical and climbed the ladder to stack it.  Be sure to attach coax first, and a rope at the end of longest antenna to steer them.  Then added the Tonna 5 elmt for 6.  Worked well.

In FN04ma, I took advantage of the lookout platform to anchor the mast to, and working from the platform made life easier.  Used generator power.  Used a bucket full of old U-clamps at the end of the rope to prevent rotation.  All transported within the Chev Venture van as no roof racks.

Got a 432 rig by winter, so added the Cushcraft 24 elmt Boomer to the stack.  Snowdrifts blocked FN14ba so moved to FN14cb and anchored to a wooden gatepost at a construction company. Wx was -20F and windy.  At FN04ma, put 6 and 432 on the mast, and stretched the 29 foot Boomer across the railing on the 14' square platform with a rope atttached, and slid it along the railing to direct it.  Worked out well, saved a lot of frigid exposure.  Coax acted like a Slinky in -20F, uncoil and it comes right back to you.  Connectors froze on the  antenna so left connected at teardown in FN04, as 15 miles from home.

Note the curious hams in vhf photos who drove 60 miles to see what this newbie was doing and how successful I was.

Most will never use such big antennas, so have no fear of setting up off-vehicle.  It is a lot of fun.  Adapt whatever you have to fit your situation and needs.
The Hills Are Alive, With The Sounds Of (your call)!  Go for it!

73,

Bill   VE3CRU/R