Nice video Doug. Like many HAMs I just assumed higher is better in all terrains. I'll have to memory pack away the info in your video for future reference. 73
It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? It’s sort of like S-meter to the left. Higher is better if you can get high enough to clear houses, hills, and foliage.
I am finding here lately that not much beats a 1/4 wave vertical on my 40x60 shop roof. The vhf/uhf on my roof competes with my GP-9 that is 30 feet up my tower (tip below the top as I am worried of lightning hitting it). The 102" whip is a monster with the current band conditions on 10 and 12 meters. I ran 750 watts into that whip for the contest last weekend and was heard by most stations I called. 73, KF0BBU
Thanks for the informative video. I put up an X-50A last week that I picked up at a silent key sale. It’s mounted about 6 feet above my roof and seems to work quite well. We are in a fairly high location with no blocking hills, but I hadn’t considered the effect of the foliage.
@@n4hnhradio BTW, I purchased an FT-DX10 at the same sale. It is my first HF radio. Your videos on the DX10 have been my main source of education! Really helpful! 73. KF0OKT in MN
I’m glad you found the sample videos helpful. There are 100 total. The rest are at: Patreon.com/N4HNH. They are numbered because the tutorial series starts simple and goes into more depth with each video. I want my viewers to master their transceiver.
Same antenna here. I have mine mounted with the base at 20' above ground and it works amazing! My house is kind of down in a low spot at the bottom of the neighborhood.
I used 10ft sections of Well Pipe that I bought at lowes, threaded on the ends use a coupler (same section at lowes) it won't bend, works great .. comes in 2 sizes.
Nice video Doug. Like many HAMs I just assumed higher is better in all terrains. I'll have to memory pack away the info in your video for future reference. 73
It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? It’s sort of like S-meter to the left. Higher is better if you can get high enough to clear houses, hills, and foliage.
another great ‘splainer
Thanks, Jerry!
I am finding here lately that not much beats a 1/4 wave vertical on my 40x60 shop roof. The vhf/uhf on my roof competes with my GP-9 that is 30 feet up my tower (tip below the top as I am worried of lightning hitting it). The 102" whip is a monster with the current band conditions on 10 and 12 meters. I ran 750 watts into that whip for the contest last weekend and was heard by most stations I called. 73, KF0BBU
Thanks for the informative video. I put up an X-50A last week that I picked up at a silent key sale. It’s mounted about 6 feet above my roof and seems to work quite well. We are in a fairly high location with no blocking hills, but I hadn’t considered the effect of the foliage.
Your mounting location is ideal. I have foliage and a hill on three sides. You should have no problems.
@@n4hnhradio BTW, I purchased an FT-DX10 at the same sale. It is my first HF radio. Your videos on the DX10 have been my main source of education! Really helpful! 73. KF0OKT in MN
I’m glad you found the sample videos helpful. There are 100 total. The rest are at: Patreon.com/N4HNH. They are numbered because the tutorial series starts simple and goes into more depth with each video. I want my viewers to master their transceiver.
I do not miss the ftm-400 😊. Moved to the ic-5100 after I found out how many advanced shack features it had.
Same antenna here. I have mine mounted with the base at 20' above ground and it works amazing! My house is kind of down in a low spot at the bottom of the neighborhood.
Like me, you are likely benefiting from the higher angle of radiation, versus a higher gain antenna.
Chainlink fence top rail is carried at every large home improvement store, is 10ft, and 12 bucks a piece
I used 10ft sections of Well Pipe that I bought at lowes, threaded on the ends use a coupler (same section at lowes) it won't bend, works great .. comes in 2 sizes.
You could have gotten chain link fence to rails for much less. They are 10 feet long and fit together. Heavy galvanized steel.
First rule of thumb ...... get it above local obstructions. Second rule is .... best coax with the least loss.
Third rule… if you cannot get it above local obstructions, use the method this video is about.
@@n4hnhradio Yup...............👍
Old idea but I use chain link fence top rail 10 feet each
Yeah, me too. It isn't as heavy as real mast, but it's all you can get in 10 foot lengths anymore.
Yep, available everywhere. $20 bucks last I purchased. Love that top rail. Very handy
Who coined the term take off angle? I have never seen my antenna fly. Angle of radiation would be a more appropriate term.
It isn't the antenna that flies. It is the angle that radiation takes off from the antenna.