I built a PAC-12 antenna for my K2 (low power version) about 2 years ago. I used #14 solid copper insulated house wire on 1" PVC pipe for my coils. I made coils for 40M thourgh 10M. I use 4 radials made from 22 ga twin speaker wire for all bands, using 16 foot ones for 40M, 20M and 15M, and 8 1/2 ft ones for 10M. The internal tuner in my K2 brings the VSWR down to low values on all bands. I feed the antenna with 30 feet of RG58 and use BNC connectors. YES, the center conductor of the feed connector needs to be connected to the top side of the antenna. I take my K2 hill topping frequently and run on the internal battery. When 10M is open, I've worked South America with the K2 on SSB from an Oregon butte. While in Danville, Virginia I worked many stations both here in the US and in Europe on 20M from a motel's third story window. I just clamped the bottom rod to the window sill, the PAC-12 was stuck out horizontally and I ran the ground wires on the floor inside the motel room. I've also worked Puerto Rico, Brazil, Costa Rica and France with this setup on 20M SSB while sitting on a dock in Hampton Roads, VA with the PAC-12 propped up vertical against the wood railing, the radials strung both ways along the dock. With my positive experience with this antenna, how easy it breaks down into a small package, IMHO, its one of the best take along antennas.
Just my $.02 worth. Rich W3ACO
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