In preparation – psp
Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL gave his second talk on home-made wire antennas at the LRS meeting on 27th November 2013. For the report on his 2012 talk, click here.
Malcolm has been experimenting with a number of these vertical antennas:
λ/4 for 14MHz, 5/8λ for 28MHz and a Bobtail Curtain for 28MHz (top right in diagram).
Malcolm built a λ/4 vertical for 14MHz for only £3.50.
Malcolm (R) and XYL Sue in Swaziland.
The 5/8λ vertical is well-known on 144MHz.
Malcolm built one for 28MHz to take advantage of the recent sunspot-max conditions.
Effect of antenna height on take-off angle.
The 28MHz 5/8λ installed at the GM3TAL QTH.
DX worked by Malcolm on 28MHz from Dunfermline – even included Fairmilehead and Armadale!
Malcolm built a Bobtail Curtain for 28MHz.
The traditional method of erecting a high mast, using a gin-pole.
A second method, using rotation about a support point on a pair of lower masts.
Antenna erection using “Method 2”
Malcolm (L) and Marcel PA1JPS assembling the rotation point for Method 2.
Malcolm operated VHF-NFD with the Loch Fyne Kippers contest group.
Here they are using Method 2 to erect one of their masts.
Instead of lashing out big bucks on a commercial thrust-bearing for the bottom of the mast,
Malcolm has devised this inexpensive design using a PVC pipe-fitting and a sheet of metal.
A marketing pitch from the PVCPMB (PVC Pipe Marketing Board).
Which generated this response from the CBMB.
Bamboo mast using a single length supported on top of a tripod of bamboo poles.
Home-Spun philosophy!