[VHFcontesting] Roving / Portable

[beamar]

My portable setup is something that happened over a period of time, with no master plan, at the start. What it has evolved into is an umbrella base ($5 at a hamfest), with three sections of 1" TV type extension mast, four feet long, for the mast. I have a dipole for 6M, a M2 7 element for 2M, a M2 18 element for 70 cm and an M2 35 element for 23 cm. I realize that the M2 23 cm yagi probably is not as good as a loop yaghi, but it is more survivable, than a LY, being hauled around in the back of a Toyota Prius. Also, I found that rear mount antennas made my mast lean over, so I went to all center mount antennas. If my car got totaled with all the antennas in it, I would start from scratch, with the Directive Systems Rover antennas. I use wing nuts on all the U bolts and crimp type coax connectors.

I bought an Aluminum tripod with two mast sections, at a hamfest, for $50, for my 5760 gear. I weight down each leg with a "stone" that I purchased at the garden department, at Home Depot. This has worked out well. I would probably go with something like this, for the lower bands, if my umbrella base were lost. 

The setup, described above, minus the 6 and 2 meter antennas, will be deployed as W4FWS/4 (multiop), EM91hb, Jekyll Island, GA, during the August UHF contest. We will be operating, from the beach and will have a clear shot up and down the coast. 

Put some thought into it, Mike. Maybe you will get it right on the first pass. 
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Buddy WB4OMG