OT: Hotel antenna

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OT: Hotel antenna

Dave Van Wallaghen
OT I know, but it does relate to my K2 ;-)

Wondering if anyone on the list might have a recommendation for a simple QRP
antenna for use in a hotel? My wife is attending a conference in Chicago in
a couple of weeks and I'm going with. When she booked the hotel, I just
asked that we get a room as high as possible. I'm not sure what we got yet.

I'm taking my K2 (I bought a nice Pelican case for it a few months ago) and
a few spools of small enameled wire. I was thinking of just using a 65' end
fed with a 1/4 wavelength counterpoise for 40m operation. I've also done
some reading on the W3EDP antenna.

Anyone have some decent experiences out there? Or, bad ones that I should
stay away from?

Dave W8FGU
K2 #5099

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Re: OT: Hotel antenna

n6wg
Dave
One thing you will need is a way to hold the wire
away from the side of the building.  A telescoping
fishing pole would be the easiest to take along
and draw no comments.  You can stick it out a
window and let the thin wire hang down in the
clear.
Good luck and 73
Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Van Wallaghen" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 10:58 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Hotel antenna


> OT I know, but it does relate to my K2 ;-)
>
> Wondering if anyone on the list might have a recommendation for a simple
QRP
> antenna for use in a hotel? My wife is attending a conference in Chicago
in
> a couple of weeks and I'm going with. When she booked the hotel, I just
> asked that we get a room as high as possible. I'm not sure what we got
yet.
>
> I'm taking my K2 (I bought a nice Pelican case for it a few months ago)
and
> a few spools of small enameled wire. I was thinking of just using a 65'
end

> fed with a 1/4 wavelength counterpoise for 40m operation. I've also done
> some reading on the W3EDP antenna.
>
> Anyone have some decent experiences out there? Or, bad ones that I should
> stay away from?
>
> Dave W8FGU
> K2 #5099
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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Re: OT: Hotel antenna

KENT TRIMBLE
In reply to this post by Dave Van Wallaghen
Unless your hotel is considerably dated, you won't be able to even open
a window, let along get an antenna out.

There is so much wiring, piping, metal, conduit, and internal noise in a
hotel, especially a high-rise, that you're not going to hear anything
anyway.

I've tied many times over the years and consider it a bust.

K9ZTV



Dave Van Wallaghen wrote:

>OT I know, but it does relate to my K2 ;-)
>
>Wondering if anyone on the list might have a recommendation for a simple QRP
>antenna for use in a hotel? My wife is attending a conference in Chicago in
>a couple of weeks and I'm going with. When she booked the hotel, I just
>asked that we get a room as high as possible. I'm not sure what we got yet.
>
>I'm taking my K2 (I bought a nice Pelican case for it a few months ago) and
>a few spools of small enameled wire. I was thinking of just using a 65' end
>fed with a 1/4 wavelength counterpoise for 40m operation. I've also done
>some reading on the W3EDP antenna.
>
>Anyone have some decent experiences out there? Or, bad ones that I should
>stay away from?
>
>Dave W8FGU
>K2 #5099
>
>  
>
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Re: OT: Hotel antenna

Joe-aa4nn
In reply to this post by Dave Van Wallaghen
Maybe a room on the south side.
The biferglass crappie pole is a good idea.
de Joe, aa4nn

My wife is attending a conference in Chicago in
> a couple of weeks and I'm going with. When she booked the hotel, I just
> asked that we get a room as high as possible. I'm not sure what we got
> yet.

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Re: OT: Hotel antenna

Bob Nielsen-2
In reply to this post by Dave Van Wallaghen

On Sep 3, 2007, at 10:58 AM, Dave Van Wallaghen wrote:

> OT I know, but it does relate to my K2 ;-)
>
> Wondering if anyone on the list might have a recommendation for a  
> simple QRP
> antenna for use in a hotel? My wife is attending a conference in  
> Chicago in
> a couple of weeks and I'm going with. When she booked the hotel, I  
> just
> asked that we get a room as high as possible. I'm not sure what we  
> got yet.
>
> I'm taking my K2 (I bought a nice Pelican case for it a few months  
> ago) and
> a few spools of small enameled wire. I was thinking of just using a  
> 65' end
> fed with a 1/4 wavelength counterpoise for 40m operation. I've also  
> done
> some reading on the W3EDP antenna.
>
> Anyone have some decent experiences out there? Or, bad ones that I  
> should
> stay away from?
>

I used a Superantennas MP2 (which Elecraft used to sell) with my K2  
from a 7th floor hotel room (6th floor as the Europeans count) in  
northeast France (Tourcoing) in 2004.  I was able to make contacts on  
20m all over Europe and also worked Tunisia and UAE (WPX contest  
weekend).  I located the antenna inside the room next to the window  
and used a 1/4 wave counterpoise laying on the floor.

Bob, N7XY
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RE: OT: Hotel antenna

Dave Van Wallaghen

Thanks for all the great replies on and off the list. Lots of good
suggestions. Now to see if I can get a room with a window that opens :-)

Thanks again and 73,
Dave W8FGU

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RE: OT: Hotel antenna

Jim Brown-10
On Mon, 3 Sep 2007 23:25:44 -0400, Dave Van Wallaghen wrote:

>Now to see if I can get a room with a window that opens :-)

You'll have the best luck on this in an old fashioned hotel as
opposed to a newer one.

73,

Jim K9YC



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Re: OT: Hotel antenna

Goody K3NG
In reply to this post by Dave Van Wallaghen
My last business trip I used an old Barker & Williamson apartment
antenna from the 6th floor.  They offer a newer model today (AP-10) that
is basically the same thing with a tapped coil.  This antenna is good if
you have a balcony or a window that opens without a screen.

On a previous trip I tried a wire down the side of the hotel from the
third floor with a ground counterpoise in the room.  It was a dummy load.

I've heard of many people using two Slinkies for a shortened 40m
dipole.  I've been told stretched out six or eight feet they resonate on 40.

As others have mentioned, operating from hotels is a crap shoot.  You're
never sure what windows you're going to have in a room and there's noise
sources galore.  Make sure you have a rental car or it's open bar at the
conferences if ham radio operating is a bust :-)

Dave Van Wallaghen wrote:

> OT I know, but it does relate to my K2 ;-)
>
> Wondering if anyone on the list might have a recommendation for a simple QRP
> antenna for use in a hotel? My wife is attending a conference in Chicago in
> a couple of weeks and I'm going with. When she booked the hotel, I just
> asked that we get a room as high as possible. I'm not sure what we got yet.
>
> I'm taking my K2 (I bought a nice Pelican case for it a few months ago) and
> a few spools of small enameled wire. I was thinking of just using a 65' end
> fed with a 1/4 wavelength counterpoise for 40m operation. I've also done
> some reading on the W3EDP antenna.
>
> Anyone have some decent experiences out there? Or, bad ones that I should
> stay away from?
>
> Dave W8FGU
> K2 #5099
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>  


--
Blog: http://thek3ngreport.blogspot.com/

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