Antenna Ideas for RV Use

[FLYTYER]

Take a look at THIS

And see THIS for some other ideas. Make sure you check the Antenna Design button.

[FLYTYER]

Take a look at THIS

And see THIS for some other ideas. Make sure you check the Antenna Design button.

[Moder2]

That is very interesting Ted.

Might have another 'tenna project coming soon!

John

[wxsby]

I wanted to go with something fairly inexpensive. I got a 25' piece of aluminum angle and ran it from the ladder to the front AC unit, bolting it to both AC unit metal frames and to the ladder. I grounded the base of the ladder to the frame. At about 5 foot intervals, I screwed galvanized steel plates to the top of the angle. All the antennas I use on it are mag mounts, and I just put them on the galvanized plates. That is so when I hit low level overpasses and trees with them, they just get knocked over and not broken. I have a 2M/440 combo, a CB ant., and a 6M Hamstick. 6M is the closest to HF I've been working on the road. When I'm parked, I can use Hamsticks or the Hustler resonators for other HF bands, but I hate verticals on HF.

So when I'm parked I sometimes run a quarter wave, top loaded wire sloper. I work MARS nets regularly on 40 and 75, and the sloper never fails to cut it. The angle grounded to the frame is an excellent counterpoise, especially when I ground the frame to a good local ground with aluminum braid. If we're dry camping with no good local ground, I run about 25 ft of braid from the frame in the opposite direction of the sloper.

[wxsby]

The other end of the sloper can go to a stake in the ground, a tree, or if you have good friends as neighbors, another rig's ladder.

[wxsby]

The real prob now is when we bouight the motorhome, I was 8 years younger and a whole lot nimbler. I have to take down the verticals to park it in the carport, and that means a trip up on the roof at the beginning and end of each trip, and again if they get knocked down. I've never been impressed with verticals on HF, so I probably won't go with a screwdriver, but a friend of mine mounted an AH4 tuner on his ladder and ran a wire from it to his front AC unit, and he swears by it. I use a 706 MK IIG in the motorhome, and it is designed to work the AH4. Only question now, is do I re-doo the set up on my roof now, or wait until we get a new motorhome.

[FLYTYER]

Barry you gotta go with what works for you.

As you know, antennas are sometimes difficult to make work with motor home installations. I have seen many configurations and most work, but then some do not.

This summer, I will be working with a 40 mtr 1/2 wave vertical which does not need a ground or counterpoise. However, it does need a 4:1 balun or some other device to prevent RF from getting into the motor home.

[Moder2]

With all this antenna talk, I am curious if anyone has any experience with the Comet CHA 250B?

Yes, I know it has very mixed reviews, and a high cost, but I gotta say, a compromise is still better than not getting on the air at all. I am curious if anyone has used one in an RV setting and what they thought?

John

[TXiceman]

I considered a 250A before I went with the Butternut HF9V. Check the reviews on Eham...they are mixed.

Ken

[FLYTYER]

Well I finished construction of the vertical 1/2 wave and made the 4:1 balun.

Next I will be field testing it in various configurations and test it for bandwidth on 40 thru 10. While I will be using manual tuner, if it goes well I will go to a auto tuner.

I will post some photos soon.

[TXiceman]

Flytyer,


I will be on the radio some Friday afternoon and Saturday afternnon. Will also be on some on Friday morning. Plan to try 7.180 and 7.250 Mhz in the morning and mid day and afternoon try 20m, probably around 14.250 to 14.280. Depends on all of the good-ol'-boy nest.

I'll be trying to connect with Tom, KE5NCP. We plan to meet just over the OK/TX border. Maybe you can catch one or both of us.

[FLYTYER]

TXiceman...

Saturday is not good for me as I have to go to Baltimore, MD for a Lacross game. But I will listen on Friday.