Thank you Rudolph for the guidance. I will read up more this week. And yes, I don’t have a swr meter and need to get one.
Venkata Appala > On Aug 7, 2023, at 12:06 AM, Rudolph Ackerman <rudolph_acker...@yahoo.com> > wrote: > > Venkata, I'm also new to this as well. What I have been using is very > close to the MFJ 1979, its a 17ft whip sold by Wolf river coils. They sell > the whip, plus several mounting options. I have their large tripod set up. > They also have a coil they make that you can put under the whip antenna > for 40 meters. > > The whip antenna, large tripod, shorty 40 coil and Radial Kit was about $150 > shipped. This will give you 10 - 40 meters. It takes me 10 minutes at > most to set up that antenna, lay out the radials, and run the coax. > > Note even using the large tripod i suggest you get some tent stakes to hold > the tripod in place. With out the stakes the wind blow it over once and > thats an easy way to break the whip antenna. > > The one down side to this antenna is you have to adjust the length for each > band you want to use. So if you set it up for 20 meters (fully extended) > and then decide you want to work 15meter you have to go out and shorten the > whip and check the SWR for that new length. Here are the lengths for each > band, > > 20 meter 204 inch’s > 17 meter 159 inchs > 15 meter 134 inchs > 12 meter 120 inchs > 10 meter 101 inchs > > For Coax I suggest ARB as they are local (off 290) The ARB240 cable would > be a great option for you. You can even get it in different colors. > > http://www.wolfrivercoils.com > > https://www.amazon.com/JFOUTU-8pc-Pack-Galvanized-Fluorescent-Pitching/dp/B09JBFJ1MW/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1HPPIW1BGK3NL&keywords=tent+stakes&qid=1691383446&sprefix=tent%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-14 > > Note when using the whip antenna, you will need a way to check the SWR to > ensure you have the antenna at the correct length. Yes I check it every time > I set up my antenna. For this I use a Nano VNA. This is about the lowest > cost way to check you SWR and it does other things as well. R & L > electronics is the best place to get a Nano VNA. When I said I can set up > my whip in 10 minutes that includes checking the SWR with my NANO VNA. > > https://www2.randl.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_8620&products_id=75145 > > > Im in Oregon now, using this set up with my DX-FT10 radio. I have reached > from AK to FL on voice and all over the world with FT8. Thats with just > owning my radio for a month now. > > > Let me know if you have any questions? > > Rudy Ackerman > KF5QYG > > > > > > > > On Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 06:21:21 PM PDT, Venkata Appala via BVARC > <bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote: > > > > > > Hello all, > I am working on setting up a temporary HF antenna that I can setup or take > down when not in use. For this, I am exploring MFJ 1979 telescope antenna. I > am not sure if this is the right choice yet. My idea was to use some > mount(yet to figure this out) in the backyard, run the cable inside the home > when I want to use HF. In addition, when I am visiting some park, planning to > mount if using some mag mount. I don’t have much of a backyard and wanted to > see if this antenna can be used at home and when I am visiting places. With > this info, I have few questions. Please bear with me as I am absolutely new > to Ham and might ask dumb questions. While reading, one thing I realized is > that, the antenna depends on the bands I wish to use. Well, at the moment, I > want to start with something that can get me on air for commonly used > frequencies where I can listen in and learn how to use the radio. At the > moment, all I have is a HF transceiver with builtin tuner. > > 1) Is 1979 a good antenna? It appears it is around $70 and I am assuming this > can get me started without breaking any bank. > 2) Coax…looking at the options, this seems like a candy store and I can’t > figure out which one. I am guessing something around 50 ft in length might > work and my limited research shows LMR 240 might be good option. Is this true > or should I find a better alternative? > 3) Any suggestions on mounts for the antenna that I can use in the backyard? > > Ps: Thank you to Ed and Richard for pointing me in the right direction at > Fulshear farmer’s market. I am also researching on end fed antenna but this > will be a build/diy project. > > Thank you for all the guidance and suggestions. > > 73 > > Venkata Appala KJ5BVS > pradhan...@gmail.com > > > > > ________________________________________________ > Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club > > BVARC mailing list > BVARC@bvarc.org > http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org > Publicly available archives are available here: > https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/ ________________________________________________ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list BVARC@bvarc.org http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
