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  1. #1
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
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    New antenna on the way

    Well I finally broke down and brought a new antenna. My old wire was down and mowed over. I just ordered a 5BTV that I plan on mounting on the chain link fence. I am temporarily unable to get on the roof due to a knee issue that requires some work so a ground mount will have to do. Some new coax to go along with it. Time to clear the desk in the shack and get ready.


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

  2. #2
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
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    Well the Antenna is here and waiting to go up. Hopefully it will like the fence mount but busy right n with Christmas things. I am hoping this thing works well once I get it in place.


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

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  4. #4
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
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    A ground mount vertical with good reviews helped. $200 in gift cards from a workplace wellness program participation and a $50 coupon with some cash back on capital one shopping put the 5BTV in my price range. I think after the gift cards and coupon the antenna came in under $50 out of pocket. After my knee gets fixed I may get a new wire or two up but until then I will try this. Now to find the time to get it mounted.


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

  5. #5
    Administrator N8YX's Avatar
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    Do yourself a favor: Get the 30M trap (off eBay if you can), convert the thing to a 6BTV and lose both the 40 and 20M spiders.

    You'll thank me later.
    "Everyone wants to be an AM Gangsta until it's time to start doing AM Gangsta shit."

  6. #6
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by N8YX View Post
    Do yourself a favor: Get the 30M trap (off eBay if you can), convert the thing to a 6BTV and lose both the 40 and 20M spiders.

    You'll thank me later.
    Is there an issue with the spiders? I have always used wires of different layouts and my vertical experience is limited to hamstcicks. I have never used 30 meters so was not really worried about it when I got the 5BTV. now for an interesting question, will a couple hundred hundred feet of chain link fence be enough of a ground plane for it? I can always add radials but was hoping to go without until I got a few dying pines removed.


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

  7. #7
    "Usual Suspect" WZ7U's Avatar
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    Elevated radials will let you get away with four. The fence will work IMO, but I wonder how it will skew the pattern. Ground mounted takes the most radials.

    Can you mount the btv 10' up on a fence post and string just 4 radials?

    Like that post was...
    Moving on, my posts are not helpful

  8. #8
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WZ7U View Post
    Elevated radials will let you get away with four. The fence will work IMO, but I wonder how it will skew the pattern. Ground mounted takes the most radials.

    Can you mount the btv 10' up on a fence post and string just 4 radials?
    I was looking at the top of a 4' fence post for the initial mount. After I get rid of a couple of the dying pines I may move and raise it some but still on the fence


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

  9. #9
    "Usual Suspect" WZ7U's Avatar
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    Any way you can pivot a 10' section of mast up against a stout fence post with the antenna attached?

    Maybe plant a.4x4.into concrete and attach a pivot of sorts to it
    Last edited by WZ7U; 12-13-2022 at 11:39 PM.

    Like that post was...
    Moving on, my posts are not helpful

  10. #10
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WZ7U View Post
    Any way you can pivot a 10' section of mast up against a stout fence post with the antenna attached?

    Maybe plant a.4x4.into concrete and attach a pivot of sorts to it
    Probably in the future but not right now. I am still trying to convince the better half we need a tower....


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

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