First antenna in the air!

[KC2UGV]

Don't know if "in the air" is really appropriate, but I got my 2M dipole (Was vertical in my attic at the old QTH) attached to a little bracket off the garage.

It's nice being able to hear stuff on the radio again Next up: Figuring how to run my fan dipole. I don't have the benefit of an attic (Well, a crawl space); and my lot isn't conducive to an inverted V. I think I may just have to sink a tower, at least a decent TV antenna tower attached to my garage like my landlord at the old place had. Not sure.

This Saturday, I'm throwing something up, be it a single wire, just to get to hear (And, maybe QSO on low power) because I'm dying to get this shack at least functioning 100%, even if sub-optimally for now.

[W5GA]

Corey, check out a 4-BTV, and add 12/17m to it with some PVC and a couple bits 'o wire. Doing it that way allows QRO, which the factory made add on's don't. Don't know how big your lot is, but there's no law saying radials A: have to be in a circle and B: that they have to run in a straight line. I did mine with some years ago with 32 radials of various lengths, none measured as doing so when they are on the ground is a waste of time. The longest was about 35', the shortest was about 20', all arranged in a bow tie going E/W. Worked like gangbusters...one the OK section in the ARRL DX test a few years in a row.

And, by the way...those antennas are CHEAP!

[KC2UGV]

I've got to check that antenna out. House just isn't in the right position to do an inverted V (Well, I guess it could be...), and I don't think a fan dipole will work here. But, I might have to ask my Realtor(TM) ham-friend, N2KKM what her opinion is :D

KELLI! I NEED A SITE SURVEY! lol

[N8YX]

+1 on the 4BTV. I would think about the 6BTV version inside some PVC pipe, disguised as a flagpole. You don't need the capacity hats and other such protruberances of the 4 and 5-BTV series with the 6-band setup so flag-poling one is easy.

What type of rig do you own? Any chance of using a remote tuner and random wire/radial system with it? I own several Icom transceivers which can interface to an AH-2 antenna tuner via control and bandswitching cable; if I was in your situation I might consider mounting the tuner on a plate then using a nearby tree to support a cage monopole. Feed the cage element with the tuner and lay down a bunch of radials as a counterpoise.

An inverted L also works good in this application.

[KC2UGV]

+1 on the 4BTV. I would think about the 6BTV version inside some PVC pipe, disguised as a flagpole. You don't need the capacity hats and other such protruberances of the 4 and 5-BTV series with the 6-band setup so flag-poling one is easy.

What type of rig do you own? Any chance of using a remote tuner and random wire/radial system with it? I own several Icom transceivers which can interface to an AH-2 antenna tuner via control and bandswitching cable; if I was in your situation I might consider mounting the tuner on a plate then using a nearby tree to support a cage monopole. Feed the cage element with the tuner and lay down a bunch of radials as a counterpoise.

An inverted L also works good in this application.

My rig is an FT-840. I could do the remote tuner, it'd have to wait till I get the dollars lined up, but it's doable. Disguised? Pfft! No HOA's here lol

I might give the inverted L a shot, can't hurt, and it's all fun. I've got plenty of wire to do it, and plenty of coax.

[W3WN]

Are you patriotic?

If you are, and your front yard is decent sized (with no inconvenient overhead electrical wires in the wrong place), then I have three words for you:

Flag. Pole. Vertical.

...I have to finish the front steps tonight (ran into a few problems last night, nothing insolveable but I need another stringer & a few more 2x4's), then some more railing. That's tonight & tomorrow, weather & school open house permitting. Saturday & Sunday, the 4' x 12' extension on the side. And THEN I install the FPV.

[WØTKX]

I have all this room, and I only have a 144/440 Arrow J-pole up. I better hurry up.

Though I think I'll get it together before 'IzE does. :stickpoke:

[KG4CGC]

Have you considered a dual band configuration set up as a slopper?

[NQ6U]

Have you considered a dual band configuration set up as a slopper?

Slopper? Is that an antenna made out of a bedpan?

[KG4CGC]

Slopper? Is that an antenna made out of a bedpan?

Bedpan, tin can, king of Siam, body slam. The Slopper antenna can be a longwire or a dipole.