I just tried something with a couple of the new Buddipole pieces, and it worked very well. Though I’d pass it along. Not OT, I think, since Elecraft sells these.
My problem has been getting an antenna above the roof line at my townhouse in the city. Antennas are not allowed, but the patio between each townhouse and its garage is private. The problem is that both roofs are higher than the original Buddipole would go, giving me a clear take-off angle of more than 60 to 80 degrees in every direction. Buddipole now sells a longer mast which fits perfectly in the same tripod, though it requires one of their guying collars. And there is a longer extendable whip. And 12 inch arms.
The configuration for 20M is the tall mast topped at the T’s vertical mounting by both of the original arms, two of the 12-inchers, and the longer whip with all but 6 inches extended. The counterpoise is 17 feet of wire down from the Tee at an angle of about 135 degrees, which also acts as a third guy line. No coils. Incredible result, for a Buddipole – SWR less than 1.5:1 across more than 50 KHz of the CW segment of the band. And a good part of the whip is above the roofline. A thing of beauty.
For 30M, the same result by adding above the T another 12 inch arm, one coil tapped at six turns, another 12 inch arm after that, and then the rest of it as for 20M, with the counterpoise unwound to 23 feet. The 1.5:1 bandwidth on 30M is a little narrower, but not much. No fiddling with coils or whip extension to change bands – just remove two 12 inch arms and the coil, wind up some counterpoise wire, and it’s back to 20M.
Unless someone is standing in the patio, which cannot be seen from the street, the whip is effectively invisible. I don’t know how wind will affect it, so just collapsing the mast brings it all down within the lee of the building
As always, YMMV.
Ted, KN1CBR
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