I'm thinking of one in the spring time. Anyone have first hand experience with them?? I'm not sure if its going to be the 43' one or the 33'. My planned setup is my KX-3 with an amp and a tuner in the shack with LMR-400 out to the backyard.
I'm thinking of one in the spring time. Anyone have first hand experience with them?? I'm not sure if its going to be the 43' one or the 33'. My planned setup is my KX-3 with an amp and a tuner in the shack with LMR-400 out to the backyard.
Carl,Zero Five vertical antennas are good but they require a lot of space to be efficient. They've a low angle take off which mean that they're very good for long distance communication DX (like any other vertical antennas). The problem with long vertical antenna like the 43' or 33' Five Zero is they need a lot of radials around the base to perform well. At least 4 to 8 X 25' radials will be required at the base of the antenna. They also need to be above rooftop and/or above any large structures to prevent RF blockage.
If you want to be more portable you should start to look at something more simple to install and carry with you. Something that will offer you multiple installation options.
The CHA HYBRID Series is one of those antennas. They can be used with a collapsible vertical whip, mobile whip and all kind of wire antenna configurations.
http://chameleonantenna.com/resources/CHA-HYBRID-Operator-Manual-4.0.pdf
Carl
Mole.,If you've got room for the 43' vertical and have the ability to install the necessary radials and remote tuner, you'll have a very capable all HF band DX antenna. The antenna itself is only about $200, but don't forget about the remote tuner cost.
Wav,Bin hang a 43 foot piece of wire vertical from a tree or stand off from your tower, If you can not get it vertical then a sloper will work also.
Get it high enough in the air so you can feed it with ladderline and have a few (16 or more) ground radials under it, use an antenna coupler in the shack and have fun.
You probably have everything laying around in the junk box to make that 43 foot vertical