Need advice for "rapid deployment antenna"

On the pole support front, I have taken to guying a walking pole to start with, using three guys with a running loop on one end, which tightens around the handle of the walking pole, and a fixed loop the other, which goes on the peg. Very quick to set up, even in strong wind. No knots to tie / untie with numb fingers. The fishing pole is then bungied to the walking pole. It is easily manageable for one person, and quick to raise and lower the fishing pole for antenna changes etc.

Adrian
G4AZS

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Thatā€™s an interesting idea Adrian.
Is it secure enough?
How long do you extend the walking pole?
Must give it a go next time iā€™m out.

72
Pete :gb:

With a bit of practice, itā€™s no problem to put up an inverted-V dipole single handed with no need to guy the pole independently and only one trip to each peg. I find I only need assistance if the wire gets tangled in heather, and I only need multiple trips if I get the pegging out wrong in the first place.

That being said, I did it wrong many times before working out how to do it right!

Martyn M1MAJ

It seems very secure compared to directly guying my 5m pole. In high wind I use two bungies, one at the top and one at the bottom - unless the ground provides a good register for the base of the pole.

I use the walking pole at normal walking length, probably about 1 metre.

Imgur

Imgur

Especially convenient in circumstances like this, where holding and guying a pole could be awkward. I could have chosen an easier spot within the AZ, but this was a VHF activation, where relative height can be very useful.

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I think, if you are going to use only 14mhz, a mono band dipole, inv. vee, rg174 coaxial, 6-9m pole, and 2 more guys to help rod to stand will do.
If you are going to make it on several bands, I like the linked dipole, but you must spend times gettng up and down the pole for every band change.
Iā€™m using now a norcal doublet, less weight, no need to move the antenna once set up, and with a 4:1 balun usable from 7 to 28 mhz. I only need about 7-10 mins to set it up, and then, forget it!
But you know, on antennas, you can find as many oppinions as hamsā€¦ :wink:
73 de Mikel

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My dipole is cut for 80m, and has links for 60m 40m 20m and 10m Unless there is a particularly perverse dip in the ground, I find I can reach as far as the 40m links without dropping the antenna. I am well below average height. I just grab the wire where I can reach it, and walk along pulling it down until I get to the link. The pole bends a bit but thatā€™s fine.

To change the 20m or 10m links I do need to drop the antenna. I used to think this was a pain until I decided to try the ā€œjust do itā€ method. Pick up the pole at the bottom and move it towards the back guy peg, letting it fall gently. 5 seconds at most. Change the links. Reverse the process, picking up the pole at the base and flipping it back into the air, simultaneously walking it forward to plant it back on the ground where it was before. 10 seconds at most. No need to unpeg anything - if it stayed up before it will stay up afterwards as you havenā€™t changed the geometry.

If you have an assistant available, as I often do, you donā€™t even need to take the wire all the way to the ground. Just drop it enough that the assistant can reach the links, holding the pole at a suitable angle. Then just flip it back into position.

Martyn M1MAJ

Actually, Iā€™ve done the same process -last weekend i.e.- and sometimes, f.i. when more than one are operating on the summit, IMO itā€™s better to work with sintonized antennas to minimize interferences, I admit. But while you (me) are making all that dance (always supposing you are on a summit wide enough, and without breathe or trees around to make it more difficult), with the norcal you simply push the band change, and ready. Even more when it is raining or snowing and all is wet. You have not to go out from your shelter to do all itā€¦
And for the record, I really like the linked dipoles, but now we are talking about speed and ease :wink:
73 de Mikel

@EA2CW: But norcal doublet need an ATU and I donā€™t have one.
@EA2IF: Thank you for the info, brought one from Decathlon today.
@G4AZS: Nice idea to use the walking stick to secure the fishpole. I looked at you Flicker stream, nice photos.

Ok, Petronel, great!
Iā€™m sure youā€™ll like it as itā€™s very helpful.
Even if you get to a very rocky summit, as long as there are some loosen rocks, you can try to quickly build a small cairn and hold the steel support in place for you to put the fishing pole vertical in it.
Cheers, Guru

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I was just out today testing a few antennas. My idea was for quick winter set up, or locations with treeless summits and the possibility of crowds. My first thought was a helical wind on the squid pole for 20 meters, but guying and supporting was more trouble than the EFHW. I went about as simple as one can get, 1 MFJ-1840T (40m) and 1 1820T (20m) telescopic whip, with 1/4 wave (on 40m) length of wire for counterpoise. 40m was FB, and I just touched it up with the tuner on 20 m. 12 QSOā€™s and even G4OBK DX on 20 (He was 579, I was 549). As simple as it gets, definitely not an EFHW or Norcal Doublet but it got the job done. Chasers have told me that 599 sigs are no challenge, they like digging out the weak ones :slight_smile: I started using these antennas with the FT-817 and no tuner, SWR was adjusted by shortening or lengthening the counterpoise. Here is a photo of the set up today. The 40m is on the rig, and the 20m is folded down laying against the bag.

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Well, at last that would be the fastest and easiest solution, just a small telescopic antenna tied to the rear of the FT-817 with a L SO213 adapterā€¦
Iā€™ve used it sometimes, achieving qsos with VK and NA (see EA2CW: "La Vida" (Life) EA1/CT-098, an odd activation. ). No need of poles, guys, or anything else (well, a pair of full size radials will help for sureā€¦) but I prefer, once there up at the summit, to use bigger and not too much complicated antennas. (I really thing that size matters!)
:wink:

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Hello,
I use sometimes on thin summit this Short Whip Antenna SPX-100 with 2 radials.
It works good enought, and it is a ā€œrapid deployement antennaā€.
Photo on summit here: https://picasaweb.google.com/GEOF6HBI/FAM118CaireDeLAgnel#5794822173003620498
Gerald

Today Iā€™ve made a linked dipole antenna for 20m/40m only using some 0.22mm wire and 8m of RG174. Choke balun or Guanella balun using 2x5 turns of RG174.

Was able to cut the wires to 1.4:1 SWR. Probably could do better but was cold and dark already :smile:. Didnā€™t had time to do some tests, but will do that tomorrow from a SOTA. Will have my GP Vertical with me as backup.

73,
Petronel

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I also favor the ā€œone-leggedā€ GP
I use another Decathlon pole support:

lighter, cheaper, and fits inside my backpack (and then holds my pens and pencil, and some plastic pegs;-)
in use , it looks like this:

(I seem to have better results if I keep the radial above ground, rather than laying on the ground)

73
Luc

Hi Luc,

What is the inside diameter of that pole support ? What is it called within Decathlon?

73 Andrew G4AFI

Itā€™s listed as a ā€˜Genier Bolay spike rod restā€™ I think on the .co.uk site:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/Buy/fishing%20spike?brand=GENIER+BOLAY

Although the link from the item seems to go to something completely differentā€¦ And itā€™s not in stock eitherā€¦ Apart from that itā€™s fine :wink:

Iā€™m sure someone with some ā€˜engineering equipmentā€™ could knock a few up for anyone whoā€™d be interested :slight_smile: I donā€™t think my hacksaw and black and decker workmate(*) would be really up to the job!

(*) Other brands are available

[edit] Oh, just seen the post from Lucā€¦ the link on the decathlon site is indeed to something that looks like he has (Need more coffee 'tis rather earlyā€¦)

Don
m0hcu

Hi Don,

Yeah the picture in the list is the wrong one but correct when you go to the item. Length = 25cm but no info on diameter. And not in stock as you say LOL.

73 Andrew G4AFI

I use a loop of bungee cord and three pegs. Loop the bungee three times round the base of the pole, then stick a peg through each loop into the ground to put the cord in tension. Stops the end of the pole going anywhere. Then the guys keep it upright. No good on stony ground, though.

73, Rick M0LEP

These rapid deployment ideas are very thought provoking. Butā€¦ there are an awfully large number of GM summits where there just isnā€™t enough soft ground for a long spike and you would need guys still because of the winds.

I might have a wander about a local Decathlon this weekend to see what other intriguing items can be found.

[quote=ā€œMM0FMF, post:39, topic:9787ā€]where there just isnā€™t enough soft ground[/quote]Aye. Goes with them still being summits, I guess. If they werenā€™s rock-solid theyā€™d have washed away eons ago. :wink:

I carry the bungee and spare pegs anyway. Spare pegs sometimes come in handy, and the bungee cord can also be used for securing things other ways. I think itā€™s now-usual mast-foot restraining duty came about because I had it in the bag for my first activation and needed something to keep the mast foot from wanderingā€¦

73, Rick M0LEP