aerials

What you need is a tapped whip.

Have a look at ebay item No. 300151088337

You will also need a base for the antenna ebay item No. 300151992278

Usual disclaimers, etc etc.

The tapped whip and base will be your best option, but make sure that the antenna has the frequencies that you are most likely to use. (most important)

NO NO NO
You will HAVE to get a proper HF aerial, either an autotune, or a multitap with the right frequencies.
Shane

Orange
You will need a proper antenna to use with your Barrett, I was trying to find a website link for you , one place had them for $350.00, I paid $275 for a new at Terlins in Perth, I think it would be a good idea to check out VKS-737 Website,and do a search for Tapped HF Antennas for VKS 737.

Doug

I use a "famparc" tapped whip which works extremely well.They are available for $130 dollars with all the VKS channels on them.
Just do a search on famparc and you will find out more info.

If you buy a tapped whip, make sure you know which organisation you want to join beforehand so you buy the whip to suit.

Regards
David

Hi Orange

I have the same radio got it real cheap tried make a di-pole and longwire AE, Fiddled around with ugly baluns and AE tuners all to no avail. bought a tapped whip works great

rgds
Ian

You will find that an autotune aerial will set you back as much money as the set (about $1500+ I believe).
Tapped whip with at least 8022 and 5455 for VKS is obviously cheaper.

Third option is to buy (or make) a SuperRod aerial, as sold at Electric Bug in Adelaide. Its a 9metre (yep its huge) fibreglass or graphite fishing rod that simply folds down to one metre in length. It has a wire up the middle, which is about 8.9metres, which is the correct length for 8022MHz. The wire hooks up to the coax centre wire, and the coax goes back to the PL259 connector on your set, and the coax sheath is well earthed to the body of your vehicle. I've used it as both an emergency aerial by itself, but you can also run it through an autotune. Takes less than a minute to set up. Given the huge size, it outperforms all other vehicle aerials - base stations almost always receive me as a 5x5. Used to cost just under $300 from Electric Bug.

The autotune aerials are great if you are swapping channels a lot but if you just want it for emergency use then the simple tapped aerial or even the wire up a tree approach is good. In fact you need this even with an autotune since Mr Murphy will make sure the sophisticated autotune will not work when your emergency happens.
cheers
alastair

I got my antenna from "famparc" for $130, you can find them at :

http://www.qsl.net/vk3frc/club_projects.htm

Regards
Neil