Community Forums

2001 Gas Dutch Star · 02-23-2005, 12:38 PM

I have a question on mounting a ham radio hf antenna before I do it. Has anyone had the problem of the slides wanting to activate when starting to transmit.A local ham here has mounted his antenna on the ladder and has this problem.He just pulls the fuse before transmitting. It is grounded thru ladder to frame...he says his ladder shows ground to chassis I question that?? Before I mount my antenna I want to know if anyone has had this same problem and what you did about it.

WD4BHM

2001 Gas Dutch Star · 02-23-2005, 12:38 PM

I have a question on mounting a ham radio hf antenna before I do it. Has anyone had the problem of the slides wanting to activate when starting to transmit.A local ham here has mounted his antenna on the ladder and has this problem.He just pulls the fuse before transmitting. It is grounded thru ladder to frame...he says his ladder shows ground to chassis I question that?? Before I mount my antenna I want to know if anyone has had this same problem and what you did about it.

WD4BHM

tom wilson · 02-24-2005, 05:32 PM

i mounted my 2 meter antenna on the rear ladder and it does not cause any problems.
go for it.
ke6vay

2001 Gas Dutch Star · 02-25-2005, 11:42 AM

Thanks for the input I also have a 2 meter antenna mounted on the ladder with problems but my question is with a HF antenna 20,40,80 meter antennas.

Don in E Texas · 02-25-2005, 02:25 PM

What kind of HF antenna? Vertical? Remember that 1/2 of the radiation is not from the antenna, but rather from radials from the base of the antenna. Sounds like this is a vertical that is mounted on the rear ladder without any thought to the lower portion of the antenna; ie the radial, or ground, connection. Sounds like a good way to have RF all over the coach --- can see how slideouts go crazy --- and can cause interference to TV's (will not make his neighbors happy when they can't see their Soaps)..

Make sure the base of the antenna has a good RF Ground.. don't rely on just the ladder for a good ground. Just a thought.

Wire antenna and antenna tuner might be another choice.

don
K5IEC

2001 Gas Dutch Star · 02-26-2005, 04:31 PM

Thanks Don for the suggestion

The type of antenna being used is a ham stick.
When I install the one on my coach I am going to run a good chasis ground and mount mine to the trailer hitch at the frame of the coach instead of the ladder and also ground it to the frame via a strap from base on antenna to frame and see what happens..

Thanks
Jimmy