Hi Q versus Vertical

[Frank MacDonell]

I am looking for an antenna to work 6 thru 80 meters in a condo
development. I presently own a k3/10.

Stealth is a very strong consideration. It seems that a SteppIR
Vertical or Hi Q antenna would make sense. Does anyone have experience
with these two antennas for this type of application? Thanks you for
your time and expertise.

--
Frank KD8FIP
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[Dunc Carter - W5DC]

See:

http://vibrotek.com/w5dc/w5dcant.html

It's not exactly what you asked for but it might give you some useful
ideas.  The WARC bands and 80 meters are not  shown in these early
pictures.  The upper half of 80 meters is a wire that's parallel to the
wire until it reaches the pole where it then goes up and over the
townhouse to a short fiberglass pole mounted in a vent pipe and then
down toward an enclosed patio.  The wire is bare, stranded, #26 copper
clad steel and seems to survive well ( winds to 80 mph so fan plus
several snow storms up to 2 feet) as long as you don't kink the wire
during assembly.  The lower half of the 80 meter wire is parallel to the
40 wire and includes a coil under the deck at it's midpoint.  It's been
good for 112 dxcc entities since summer; best/longest distance on 80 so
far is DS1REE.

Dunc, W5DC

Frank MacDonell wrote:
> I am looking for an antenna to work 6 thru 80 meters in a condo
> development. I presently own a k3/10.
>
> Stealth is a very strong consideration. It seems that a SteppIR
> Vertical or Hi Q antenna would make sense. Does anyone have experience
> with these two antennas for this type of application? Thanks you for
> your time and expertise.
>
>  

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[Mike K2MK]

Hi Frank:

Lots of K3 users have the SteppIR BigIR vertical. I know this from being a member of both Yahoo groups. You might want to pose the same question on the SteppIR Yahoo group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SteppIR/

And I just thought you would like to know that SteppIR has just announced the addition of an optional coil to the SmallIR that will make that antenna work on 80 through 6 meters as does the BigIR. The SmallIR is half the height of the BigIR. Just a bit more stealthy. Maybe it can be made to look like a flagpole.

73,
Mike K2MK


From Frank KD8FIP:

I am looking for an antenna to work 6 thru 80 meters in a condo
development. I presently own a k3/10.

Stealth is a very strong consideration. It seems that a SteppIR
Vertical or Hi Q antenna would make sense. Does anyone have experience
with these two antennas for this type of application? Thanks you for
your time and expertise.

Frank KD8FIP

[PD2R]

The antenna by itself maybe small, but keep in mind that in order to make it
function properly, you need radials and lots of 'em.
If you mount the vertical on the ground, radial length is less important. If
you mount is with elevated radials you need at least 2 tuned radials for
each band to make it work.
But you can find that info on the SteppIR Website as well so you probably no
this already ;-)

73, Maarten
PD2R

2010/1/3 Mike K2MK <[hidden email]>

>
> Hi Frank:
>
> Lots of K3 users have the SteppIR BigIR vertical. I know this from being a
> member of both Yahoo groups. You might want to pose the same question on
> the
> SteppIR Yahoo group.
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SteppIR/
>
> And I just thought you would like to know that SteppIR has just announced
> the addition of an optional coil to the SmallIR that will make that antenna
> work on 80 through 6 meters as does the BigIR. The SmallIR is half the
> height of the BigIR. Just a bit more stealthy. Maybe it can be made to look
> like a flagpole.
>
> 73,
> Mike K2MK
>
>
> >From Frank KD8FIP:
>
> I am looking for an antenna to work 6 thru 80 meters in a condo
> development. I presently own a k3/10.
>
> Stealth is a very strong consideration. It seems that a SteppIR
> Vertical or Hi Q antenna would make sense. Does anyone have experience
> with these two antennas for this type of application? Thanks you for
> your time and expertise.
>
> Frank KD8FIP
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://n2.nabble.com/Hi-Q-versus-Vertical-tp4246657p4247140.html
> Sent from the [HAM] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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[Tom KG3V]

I have the Hi-Q 4/80 screwdriver antenna and have only used it mobile so  
far. It is a great antenna as far as mobile operation goes. I may use it  
parked in the driveway as one of my "fixed" antennas for some upcoming  
contests.You could use the Hi-Q antenna with radials or just leave it on  
your vehicle, then you don't need the radials. I don't know if that is  
convenient for you (location of the vehicle relative to the operating  
position), but it is an option.

Good luck,

Tom, KG3V


On Jan 3, 2010 7:00pm, Maarten van Rossum <[hidden email]> wrote:
> The antenna by itself maybe small, but keep in mind that in order to make  
> it

> function properly, you need radials and lots of 'em.

> If you mount the vertical on the ground, radial length is less important.  
> If

> you mount is with elevated radials you need at least 2 tuned radials for

> each band to make it work.

> But you can find that info on the SteppIR Website as well so you probably  
> no

> this already ;-)



> 73, Maarten

> PD2R



> 2010/1/3 Mike K2MK [hidden email]>



> >

> > Hi Frank:

> >

> > Lots of K3 users have the SteppIR BigIR vertical. I know this from  
> being a

> > member of both Yahoo groups. You might want to pose the same question on

> > the

> > SteppIR Yahoo group.

> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SteppIR/

> >

> > And I just thought you would like to know that SteppIR has just  
> announced

> > the addition of an optional coil to the SmallIR that will make that  
> antenna

> > work on 80 through 6 meters as does the BigIR. The SmallIR is half the

> > height of the BigIR. Just a bit more stealthy. Maybe it can be made to  
> look

> > like a flagpole.

> >

> > 73,

> > Mike K2MK

> >

> >

> > >From Frank KD8FIP:

> >

> > I am looking for an antenna to work 6 thru 80 meters in a condo

> > development. I presently own a k3/10.

> >

> > Stealth is a very strong consideration. It seems that a SteppIR

> > Vertical or Hi Q antenna would make sense. Does anyone have experience

> > with these two antennas for this type of application? Thanks you for

> > your time and expertise.

> >

> > Frank KD8FIP

> > --

> > View this message in context:

> > http://n2.nabble.com/Hi-Q-versus-Vertical-tp4246657p4247140.html

> > Sent from the [HAM] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

> > ______________________________________________________________

> > Elecraft mailing list

> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm

> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]

> >

> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net

> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

> >

> ______________________________________________________________

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[Julius Fazekas n2wn]

Hi Frank,

As mentioned elsewhere, radials are key to good performance. Verticals will work, and sometimes not badly either, with less than optimum radials. The key is high density under the feed point. Flashing may be a good option, a metal roof would be great.

That being said, I know a lot of folks who love the SteppIr vertical. It probably is a good antenna for 40-6. Any base fed vertical will be less efficient than one with a top hat or inductor, at least half way up (preferably higher).

Probably the best question is what do you expect the antenna to do? Be competitive in pileups? Work tons of DX? Local ragchewing? Just CW or SSB or both? The answers will help you focus on a specific antenna better.

For the money a Hustler 6 BTV Antenna is a good place to start. It's a bit narrow on 80/75, but you can find out how well a vertical will work for you, then consider something like a SteppIr.

That's assuming you don't want to build your own, which can be virtually free if you're a decent scrounger.

73,
Julius

Frank MacDonell wrote

I am looking for an antenna to work 6 thru 80 meters in a condo
development. I presently own a k3/10.

Stealth is a very strong consideration. It seems that a SteppIR
Vertical or Hi Q antenna would make sense. Does anyone have experience
with these two antennas for this type of application? Thanks you for
your time and expertise.

--
Frank KD8FIP
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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[Julius Fazekas n2wn]

Have to say I like what you did Dunc!

Elegant and sounds like it's effective to boot!

73,
Julius

Dunc Carter - W5DC wrote

See:

http://vibrotek.com/w5dc/w5dcant.html

It's not exactly what you asked for but it might give you some useful
ideas.  The WARC bands and 80 meters are not  shown in these early
pictures.  The upper half of 80 meters is a wire that's parallel to the
wire until it reaches the pole where it then goes up and over the
townhouse to a short fiberglass pole mounted in a vent pipe and then
down toward an enclosed patio.  The wire is bare, stranded, #26 copper
clad steel and seems to survive well ( winds to 80 mph so fan plus
several snow storms up to 2 feet) as long as you don't kink the wire
during assembly.  The lower half of the 80 meter wire is parallel to the
40 wire and includes a coil under the deck at it's midpoint.  It's been
good for 112 dxcc entities since summer; best/longest distance on 80 so
far is DS1REE.

Dunc, W5DC

Frank MacDonell wrote:
> I am looking for an antenna to work 6 thru 80 meters in a condo
> development. I presently own a k3/10.
>
> Stealth is a very strong consideration. It seems that a SteppIR
> Vertical or Hi Q antenna would make sense. Does anyone have experience
> with these two antennas for this type of application? Thanks you for
> your time and expertise.
>
>  

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