HF portable Wire antenna

Thanks Peter - But Wow! Price is way out there, maybee! Might try to buy from the UK then, that one was 19 pound. Should be able to get it to aussy for under a $100. Just found one in Australia that is just over $100. Thanks will keep looking. Cheers Tony

Here is that link - just trying to locate the seller from there. http://www.mncarg.org/docs/oziwire.doc. Cheers Tony

Found the seller - Seems a good deal and you get to make it yourself. Link is - http://www.mncarg.org/kits.html. Seems good to me. Cheers Tony

Lakecomms site may be down but you can still contact Doug through www.hfoz.com.au
Ian

Thanks Ian will try those as well. The above Kit looks OK! Regards Tony

Tony
The coffs harbour group Ozi Wire HF Antenna kit looks excellent and at $99 I doubt that any of the commercial suppliers can match that price and they state it covers all 4x4 frequencies.

It also hopefully helps an ameteur group get some funding.

Handy if the 9350 auto breaks down.

Im just getting my NGT upgraded by Lakecomm and what I thought was a simple Eprom upgrade is now a total upgrade including hardware due to my NGT being an early model.

Ian

Ta Mark. Funny used HF Radio for years with work but only ever had to turn them on. Time I learnt a bit. Making one myself would be an option. Do not think I could get the parts for under the Kit price quoted above. Maybee? Cheers Tony

Thanks Doug. Found that link just after I posted. It looks like a good kit and Price. Cheers Tony

Ta Darian. My thought was if I damaged my main antenna for what ever reason in a remote spot and needed help. Was looking for a cheap backup when I remembered using this type of antenna in my work base camp. Will the wire substitute for or only aid the current antenna? Cheers Tony

Now you have heaps of info to wade through Tony ! Here's some more :-o) ... An article by Peter Collise (ex SA Police).....http://www.4wdonline.com/News/1997/971228.radio.html
As mentioned, my experience is only within the scope of VKS operations and a simple long wire is all I need at times (proper HF comms for international distances is all double dutch to me) - going back to the early outback HF years, wires are all they had anyway as I understand it........the early units even had a wire connection point at the back, in addition to a coax point for a rod type antenna. In the case of my Barrett (same for most autu-tunes), the long wire comes in IF you have lost or broken the whips that screw onto your autotune, or those whips aren't getting out far enough - you take the whip off and run the wire from the screw on point - horizontal orientation may do, but elevated is better, and pointing away from the base you are trying for might be better too - I've even seem informed instruction on running the wire along the ground toward the base you are trying for ! At times I've run a fishing line up into a gum and dragged the wire up with that - whatever - unless you are in the poo, sometimes its better to forget it and have another red :-o) - comms might be better in the morning !

Darian. Yes If I can my nut around all this then everyone will be able to ask me the question. I have lots of homework to do. As long as there is no test should be ok! Cheers Tony

Ta John. Know how is the problem at the moment. Working on that side & looking for info. One day I will be an expert - that is when I make all the mistakes getting it done for the first time. Regards Tony

A end-fed full wavelength will not load up with an autotune aerial - it has a very high impedance that needs a special tuner.

I realise that, Mike, but if used purely as an emergency backup you'd disconnect the auto tune and connect the long wire directly to the set.

Thanks Topcat. That looks easy enough. Cheers Tony

Ta Mike. Will think about what you have said and work it out. So what you are saying the kit that I located above is no good because I have a radio with an autotune? Regards Tony

Tony

The Oziwire kit uses a tuning arrangement in the grey box to let it work with any frequency.

The problem is with the suggestion to use any length of wire greater than a wavelength, or the diagram that shows a dipole that's a quarter-wavelength from end-to-end.

Hi Mike,

I meant to clarify my post a bit better but you beat me to it. I use both types of setup you mention with the radio either in the vehicle or out. I should have mentioned this & thank you for noting this as when the radio is in the vehicle, only section of one quarter wavelength wire length is connected to the the centre conductor of my whip antenna spring base & the other (with insulator fitted on the end) & a length of cord tied to the other end of the insulator which I tie to any near tree branch ( if available). I only use the SWR meter when I want to setup another freqency of different wire length. Cheers.

Hi Folks,

a Half wave diapole as per the diagram will work well enough, however I would suggest the addition of a BALUN .

The problem is that the diapole is a Balanced antenna and the feedline from the radio (co-ax) is Unbalanced

Hence we use a type of transformer called a BALUN to match the feedline to the antenna , if you dont use a balun then your feedline may radiate and the antenna is not as good as it could be

You can buy a suitable BALUN at any ham radio shop for about $60-00 .. there are a number of different types of balun but a 1:1 type that will go from 3--30 Mhz would be fine for simple dipole antennas

If you really want to go the whole hog I would suggest using an antenna tuning unit and VSWR meter with the radio/antenna

If you want to lean more about antennas and radio , then most amateur radio clubs in Australia offer weekend courses for the entry level foundation license which even if you dont wish to get an amateur license would provide useful information for the remote traveler should he/she need to improvise emergency comms in the bush

You can find info on the foundation license and /or you local radio club at www.wia.org.au

Best 73 John Vk3ARK