Antenna Books for Amateur Radio

I enjoy antennas and want to understand them better. One tool for understanding antennas are antenna books. For some one or two is enough but I have many. The same story may be rewritten many times but one account may lead to that aha moment. I find some at good prices used at Amazon or EBay. I was not used to buying used books but they are fine. Be careful buying and check around. A retail seller might be reasonable. Universal Radio has a good listing. I setup a Google+ community for Antenna Books at

https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/113458356669096623783

I will post ones I have in my collection. Add yours! N4KGL

BTW  I find Successful Wire Antennas Edited by Ian Poole G3YWX. to be well done, complete and up to date. I highly recommend it.

One Mile RaDAR Packup

During October, I experimented with end fed antennas supported by 31 ft poles. I even acquired a cart to carry the poles and spikes. I was betting on the performance of larger signature antennas to make up for their weight and bulk. In RaDAR the focus on setup, make five contacts and move at least 1 kilometer will lead you to think hard about just how large a pack-up and antenna setup to use. In the November 2nd RaDAR contest I did use the 31 foot poles but I paid a price pulling my cart through the loose sand at St Andrews State park. With a four hour time constraint of the contest, you want to minimize the time between locations.

My first outing since the RaDAR contest was by foot to a walking park one mile from my home QTH. So I reverted to my smaller pack-up based on the Alexloop that fits in my backpack and the tripod also attaches to the backpack. I included some luxuries including a light table and hunter's chair. I also could not resist taking a fiberglass pole just in case. (did not need it) There could be lighter packups but this is light enough for a one mile trip.

I deployed the Alexloop at the park location EM70DF90RB. My 1st QSO was 45 min long with Al W0ERE in MO on 18.125. Then I worked KD2JC in NJ on 21.050 and 14.052. This was followed by XE3ARV on 10.108. Now the real test of the Alexloop is 40 meters. I got a 599 from KC4HCH near Mobile AL on 7.050. To top it off I met up with a RaDAR op Pat N5VMO in TX also on 7.050.

The performance of the Alexloop would be hard to beat on four bands including 40 meters for such a small setup. The time to make the contacts seems to be more a function of opportunity than the antenna itself. It may be that when the solar cycle declines that it will be a different game. It seems that most of the creatures in the animal kingdom depend on speed and simply carry themselves.. This is not a bad lesson for RaDAR ops. So consider this carefully for your pack-up and antennas. Less is often better despite the lure to take more.

Melissa KK4SYL and Marv KK4DKT came by for a visit.

N4KGL RaDAR Contest Outing November 2 2013

The RaDAR Contest is currently twice a year, the first Saturday of April and November. We are lucky in Northwest Florida that those two days are possibly the best weather days of the year. Just because it is good weather here does not apply to Canada and England. But they participated as well.

I took advantage of the St Andrews State Park for the November 2nd Contest as I did last April. St Andrews State Park is one of the most popular State Parks in Florida. You just can't beat white sand beaches to operate from.

St Andrews State Park with 1 kilometer markers

I decided to start from what I labeled The Dock. It is not exactly a beach but has shoreline with tall grass. The unique aspect of RaDAR Pedestrian Mobile is deploying making five contacts and then redeploying to another location at least one kilometer away. This year I used a cart that doubles as a table.

A beach cart that doubles as a table.

It is a great cart but frankly nothing pulls that easy in loose sand. It slowed my one kilometer transit time by 7 minutes. I had all my gear on it. So next time I think I will spread the gear between the backpack and the cart.

I had spent the prior month experimenting with using a LNR 40/20/10 End Fed matchbox with a custom length of wire. The matchbox will work any band if you cut the wire for a half wave. So at Location 1 I wanted to focus on 40 meters. I deployed a 66 foot wire with two 31 foot Jakite poles. The top section should help with NVIS contacts.

Location 1 with 40 meter half wave

gear on the cart table

I had three 40 meter CW contacts; Tom WD0HBR in Dothan AL, Bob WB4BLX and Don KK4QAM in Sweetwater, AL. I then took advantage of 2 meter Simplex. I had a SlimJim on a crappie pole. I worked Junior KG4ITD in Bristol FL and Frank W4IMH in Fountain Florida. That is pretty good DX for simplex.

Next was the one kilometer transit to Sandy Point in the park.  It has saltwater view over most of the azimuth. So if saltwater is an advantage I would have it there. I deployed a 33 foot wire almost vertical to a 31 foot Jackite pole. I flipped the cart to use as a table.

Location 2: Sandy Point with a 20 meter half wave vertical

I was very pleased to work immediately Steve KF5RYI in Texas. Steve is a new ham that is embracing CW and RaDAR. This was followed by three more CW contacts and one PSK contact. The extra box that I have is the Ham Central Terminal, lets me do keyboard PSK without a laptop.

Time is a factor in RaDAR. I had just used up three hours of the four. So I packed up and traveled one kilometer back toward the dock. I setup the Alexloop but no luck in the final minutes.

Location 3: no luck with a few minutes left

Ten contacts and one of them PSK is a good outing. Of course last April I got 15 and was more mobile with the Alexloop and the backpack. The tradeoffs are what you ponder and learn from in RaDAR.

RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio originated by ZS6BNE. The Monthly RaDAR Challenge is on-going.  If you are interested in RaDAR visit the RaDAR Google Plus Community.

Lucy On the RaDAR

I was pleased hear about several international hams joining in on the RaDAR Contest. These include VA3KOT John in Ontario and Tom G0SBW in England. Another ham from England Lucy Lu M6ECG has shared her RaDAR setup and RaDAR experience.via YouTube. Please enjoy Lucy's videos below.

RaDAR Fun in October 2013

I had fourteen RaDAR outings so far in October taking advantage of nice weather here in Florida. I did a lot of experimenting using end fed half wave antennas. I did not do any redeployments. I am in planning mode for the November 2nd RaDAR Contest! SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS

10/26 Headland, AL Tailgate. I gave a demo of the KX3 and the Alexloop. I was assisted by Thomas WD0HBR of Dothan. I worked Finland and Alaska on 15 meters SSB.

10/25 Zombie Shuffle EM70CE It is a bit cold for night ops. 20 meters: W5QLF TX, WU1V MA, N9NE WI, W0UFO MN. 40 meters: W3KC MD all CW 5 watts KX3 with Alexloop. 72 N4KGL

10/24 EM70CE82 RaDAR Lunch N4KGL worked KD2JC Joe in NJ on 40 meter CW QRP X 2 QSO ant 66 ft end fed half wave 33 ft up and 33 ft over with 31 ft poles.

10/21 EM70CE82 RaDAR Lunch N4KGL worked 4A2I in Mexico and KP4SJ in Puerto Rico on 10 meters CW with KX3 10 watts and end fed full wave.

10/19 Jamboree On The Air EM70GM53 Deep Springs Park near Fountain FL. I used a fan dipole for 40, 20 and 17 meters. Our club was there for JOTA and got some scouts on the air. We also had a fox hunt for scouts.

10/17 RaDAR Lunch EM70CE82 N4KGL worked Larry W2LJ NJ, KV6Z in OK and WN9U in WI on 20 meters CW. K8CW on 17 meters CW. K5BQ in TX on 40 CW. I used 33 foot vertical wire with LNR matchbox on 20, 9 to 1 unun on 17 and elevated radial on 40. Marv KK4DKT joined me for a while. I called Steve KF5RYI but did not raise him.

10/15 EM70CE82 RaDAR lunch N4KGL worked K9AAA MI on 20 CW and worked N4DPU FL KS4IO FL & W6OAR CA on 15 SSB. I got S9 report from CA.

10/13 EM72NN Columbus GA 40 meters MO TX PA 20 meters MN FL VA ON TX TX & F6HKA 15 M CA Using 33 wire with LNR end fed on 20 and elevated radial on 40 and 15 meters

10/12 EL79IT Port St Joe FL N4KGL worked 20 meters CW: TX NC NC IA NH 15 meters CW: IA NH NJ AZ & EI4JZ 40 meters CW FL 10 meters CW: ZL1BYZ The ZL Made My Day. KX3 5 watts Antenna was 33 foot wire up to 31 foot Jackite pole.

10/10 EM70CE82 RaDAR Lunch 20 meters CW W3NP WV and N3RSD DE nice contacts. Ant 33 feet of ribbon cable with LNR Matchbox. This is half wave at 20 meters and strung vertical up a 31foot Jackite pole.

10/8 EM70CE82 RaDAR Lunch S53OQ Slovenia 10 SSB and WB4MNX KY 20 CW. Used end fed with coax up the pole to matchbox and wire sloping down. 73 N4KGL

10/7 EM70DD21GV St Andrews State Park next to Grand Lagoon. 40 CW: W2EFI NY, 20 CW: KB8KIK, 20 PSK: CO2RL Cuba, 20 SSB: N1PVT MA, VE6AO Alberta, 10 CW JF1IRW Japan. I was testing Trail Friendly End Fed near water with KX3 7 watts. I never expected Japan from FL portable. 7376 miles. This is fun! 73s N4KGL

10/5 EM70GM53 Deep Springs Park near Fountain FL. Greg N4KGL checked into SouthCARS with net control in VA on 40 meters SSB, worked CA on 20 SSB, TX & MO on 20 CW and CA on 10 meters CW. I used KX3 and the trail friendly end fed. MARV KK4DKT and I had a RaDAR outing together. The Deep Springs park will be the site of JOTA ops on Oct 19th.

10/4 EM70CE82 RaDAR Lunch. RaDAR to RaDAR 20 meter SSB QSO with KK4DKT Marv in Springfield FL We both we worked WB8CTC/P in WV. I also worked NG9Y running HW8 station on 20 CW. My rig KX3 10 watts to Trail Friendly End Fed. 73s N4KGL

10/26 Headland Tailgate

10/25 Zombie Shuffle night ops

10/19 Jamboree On The Air Deep Springs Park near Fountain, FL

RaDAR Lunch one of many

10/13 Columbus GA

10/12 Port St. Joe Florida

10/7 St Andrews State Park near Panama City, FL

The RaDAR-America Contest is Saturday November 2nd 2013. The rules are at this link. RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio originated by ZS6BNE. The Monthly RaDAR Challenge is on-going.  If you are interested in RaDAR visit the RaDAR Google Plus Community.

Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio Contest

RaDAR is a challenge when compared to any other contest. Moving stations are required to move the specified distance after every 5 contacts (The first 5 contacts could be made from the starting point). This will test rapid deployment and re-deployment. Each operator will use his own initiative to achieve his / her goals. 

Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE.

 See "RaDAR The Contest" at http://zs6bne.wordpress.com/

On Saturday November 2nd 2013, there will be the South African RaDAR contest and the RaDAR-America Contest happening concurrently 1400 to 1800 UTC. See the rules for RaDAR America at this link.

Have you made your RaDAR Contest Plans?

You have some time. The RaDAR-America Contest is Saturday November 2nd 2013. The rules are at this link. RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio originated by ZS6BNE. The Monthly RaDAR Challenge is on-going.  If you are interested in RaDAR visit the RaDAR Google Plus Community.

RaDAR encourages mobility.  I have chosen the pedestrian mobile category. Therefore, I must move .6 miles (1 kilometer) after making five contacts or make five contacts over the course of .6 miles.  I do not have to make contacts on my feet but I can. So I'll need an area to operate in. I am choosing St. Andrews State Park near Panama City Beach, FL. The park is an awesome location due to being surrounded by saltwater on three sides. I placed some markers on the photo that are 1 kilometer apart. I like Sandy point as it clear of obstacles and almost completely surrounded by saltwater. There is a good chance I'll oscillate between Sandy Point and the Dock.

I am thinking about using a 33 foot vertical wire supported by a 31 foot Jackite pole. I can tune that wire as a half wave on 20 and full wave on 10 with a LNR end fed match box. It also could be a 3/4 wave on 15 and a quarter wave on 40 with a counterpoise. But gee the simpler choice is to just go with the Alexloop which is also vertically polarized. 

The contest is 4 hours, 9 AM until 1 PM CDT. How many 1 kilometer trips can I make? That depends on a lot of factors and details to ponder.

You can see me on APRS as N4KGL-5 with my android smart phone. I use the RunKeeper app to tell my distance traveled. I use the HamGPS app to identify my grid square. The exchange includes grid square or USNG location. So if we work I'll be trying to get yours. My planned frequencies are below but hunt and pounce will likely be the order of the day.

40m CW 7055 kHz SSB 7185
20m CW 14050 kHz SSB 14342.5
15m CW 21050 kHz SSB 21437.5
10m CW 28050 kHz SSB 28400
2m FM 145.565 Simplex

Anyway I am counting on good weather and good propagation. It is a premier weekend for portable ops so get out and operate RaDAR if you can.

Greg N4KGL

St. Andrews State Park