Thank you very much. I have just started back into portable and mobile HF. I have a SOTABeams QRP 20m EF and an MP1 Super antenna but sometimes I want to be able to set up quickly and operate from my car in remote areas here in North Devon UK. I saw this antenna being advertised, but I needed better information regarding its operation and you have supplied it. Brilliant. I'm ordering now. Should be parked by the Atlantic by Tuesday evening. Cheers.
Enjoyed this video with the comparison of the different mag mounts and their positions. You started the video talking about the bonding of the vehicle. I have found it VERY important to obtain the most counterpoise available by bonding the vehicle completely. If your hood was not bonded to the rest of the vehicle that could be a big reason for the different reading. The tri mount proved the capacitance connection of a mag mount is very important. You saw that with the single mount on the ridge. If you are planning on doing portable ops with your car I highly recommend bonding all doors, hood and other metal components. Just like a large radial field helps with a vertical a bonded vehicle creates a larger counterpoise. Thanks for doing this video. 73. Steve, k7ofg.
Hi Stephan. I've heard of bonding the vehicle and It's seems to be a mixed bag. Some say it helps, other say it doesn't. If it helps for 40m, I'll definitely try, but at the moment I want 20m to work well. Thx for the tips.
Hello, hope it's not too late to comment here... quite interesting video, thanks. I happen to have the 3 single-band variants of this antenna for 10, 20 and 40m. I'm quite happy with these. Bandwidth is quite narrow on 40m as expected, but on 10 and 20m I get good SWR across the bands. I use a large diameter magnet mount (~ 20cm/8in diameter) set right in the center my car's roof which doesn't have a sunroof like yours, so more metal there. I was actually wondering why you keep setting your antenna to quite off-center spots in this video? For 20 and 40m, I also connect a wide ground braid that goes from the bottom of the SO239 to a nut at the hinge of the hatchback of my car. It does help.
Bonding, bonding is key to your HF bands, minimum bonding straps 1”. Hood corners each side, your doors each hinge, your back your hatchback bonding both corners, your muffler to frame, if you have a catalytic converter muffler clamps and 1 feet before and after the catalytic converter for bonding, also body to frame. Driver side and passenger side of vehicle bonding every 18”. The radiator antenna is looking for RF, your trying to get the RF closest to the bonding potential not at but closest too. HF in a vehicle requires lots of bonding. There is no way around it. There is a good video by Mr bbi subject is called bonding, and another video is called install of vehicle is another video he lays out. Those videos will get you more educated on your vehicle and your bonding potential. Also electrical from your alternator to your battery to your frame requires bonding as well. Your ECG computer if you do not have any 31 material ferrites when you key up it will play havoc with your wiper blades your fuel pump your headlights just the name of few. You need those ferrites at the ecg computer at least 3-4 on each cable harnesses. I understand about the non-mentor that you do not have have your ever tried joining a repeater club? If you have more question, please do not hesitate to ask
Thanks timbrusky. Thanks for the tip, maybe bonding will help me get better on 40 meters. I don't use a mag mount any more, I use a hatchback mount that screws on the metal of the hatchback and I get continuity to the hatchback all the way to the front of the car with a multimeter. It would be interesting to know if bonding will give me better reception or coverage. So far, it's doing well. I know it can be improved. I'll check these videos and give them some thought. Thanks for posting a message. -73.
Have you ever operated actually mobile with this long antenna? Of course it would require a tri-mag mag mount. I recently had an HRO sales rep tell me to remove the rubber boots and put aluminum foil on the metal after scraping off the paint. Then put one layer of brown mylar packing tape to protect the car finish. He said the capacitance would increase quite a bit.
How long antenna are you talking? Tri-mag mount by itself does much more in lowering your SWR, but the number one thing I do is to place a choke near the mount, this way common mode current won't come back to my rig.
yeh tnx WC0O I really enjoy with your explanation in this night. you reach to the main point what I looking to it. I bought HF 20 meter Mobile antenna and I will try it by using a different mount which I already keep it ready for HF antenna. any issue I will inform you if you not mind and please let me know your experiences ;) A41UK
Thank you very much. I have just started back into portable and mobile HF. I have a SOTABeams QRP 20m EF and an MP1 Super antenna but sometimes I want to be able to set up quickly and operate from my car in remote areas here in North Devon UK. I saw this antenna being advertised, but I needed better information regarding its operation and you have supplied it. Brilliant. I'm ordering now. Should be parked by the Atlantic by Tuesday evening. Cheers.
Enjoyed this video with the comparison of the different mag mounts and their positions. You started the video talking about the bonding of the vehicle. I have found it VERY important to obtain the most counterpoise available by bonding the vehicle completely. If your hood was not bonded to the rest of the vehicle that could be a big reason for the different reading. The tri mount proved the capacitance connection of a mag mount is very important. You saw that with the single mount on the ridge.
If you are planning on doing portable ops with your car I highly recommend bonding all doors, hood and other metal components. Just like a large radial field helps with a vertical a bonded vehicle creates a larger counterpoise.
Thanks for doing this video.
73.
Steve, k7ofg.
Hi Stephan. I've heard of bonding the vehicle and It's seems to be a mixed bag. Some say it helps, other say it doesn't. If it helps for 40m, I'll definitely try, but at the moment I want 20m to work well. Thx for the tips.
Hello, hope it's not too late to comment here... quite interesting video, thanks. I happen to have the 3 single-band variants of this antenna for 10, 20 and 40m. I'm quite happy with these. Bandwidth is quite narrow on 40m as expected, but on 10 and 20m I get good SWR across the bands.
I use a large diameter magnet mount (~ 20cm/8in diameter) set right in the center my car's roof which doesn't have a sunroof like yours, so more metal there. I was actually wondering why you keep setting your antenna to quite off-center spots in this video?
For 20 and 40m, I also connect a wide ground braid that goes from the bottom of the SO239 to a nut at the hinge of the hatchback of my car. It does help.
Bonding, bonding is key to your HF bands, minimum bonding straps 1”. Hood corners each side, your doors each hinge, your back your hatchback bonding both corners, your muffler to frame, if you have a catalytic converter muffler clamps and 1 feet before and after the catalytic converter for bonding, also body to frame. Driver side and passenger side of vehicle bonding every 18”. The radiator antenna is looking for RF, your trying to get the RF closest to the bonding potential not at but closest too. HF in a vehicle requires lots of bonding. There is no way around it. There is a good video by Mr bbi subject is called bonding, and another video is called install of vehicle is another video he lays out. Those videos will get you more educated on your vehicle and your bonding potential. Also electrical from your alternator to your battery to your frame requires bonding as well. Your ECG computer if you do not have any 31 material ferrites when you key up it will play havoc with your wiper blades your fuel pump your headlights just the name of few. You need those ferrites at the ecg computer at least 3-4 on each cable harnesses. I understand about the non-mentor that you do not have have your ever tried joining a repeater club? If you have more question, please do not hesitate to ask
Thanks timbrusky. Thanks for the tip, maybe bonding will help me get better on 40 meters. I don't use a mag mount any more, I use a hatchback mount that screws on the metal of the hatchback and I get continuity to the hatchback all the way to the front of the car with a multimeter. It would be interesting to know if bonding will give me better reception or coverage. So far, it's doing well. I know it can be improved. I'll check these videos and give them some thought. Thanks for posting a message. -73.
The Tri mag mount gives you better RF bonding which will narrow your bandwidth, and make it a higher Q antenna. Perform better
Have you ever operated actually mobile with this long antenna? Of course it would require a tri-mag mag mount. I recently had an HRO sales rep tell me to remove the rubber boots and put aluminum foil on the metal after scraping off the paint. Then put one layer of brown mylar packing tape to protect the car finish. He said the capacitance would increase quite a bit.
How long antenna are you talking? Tri-mag mount by itself does much more in lowering your SWR, but the number one thing I do is to place a choke near the mount, this way common mode current won't come back to my rig.
Appreciate the videos 📹!
73 my SoCal friend. 🌞🏖
Keith (KN6ETI)
Wow, Roger That. Thank you so much for the generosity. I appreciate it. -73
As always - really great video, nicely done. Very informative. Facing similar issues with mounting my first mobile rig.
73 my friend
KN6ETI
yeh tnx WC0O
I really enjoy with your explanation in this night. you reach to the main point what I looking to it. I bought HF 20 meter Mobile antenna and I will try it by using a different mount which I already keep it ready for HF antenna. any issue I will inform you if you not mind and please let me know your experiences ;) A41UK
Now I use a mount on my hatchback. Are use the diamond K400. I do this because The ground plane is better.
@@frankwc0o diamond HF20FX
that's the name of antenna HF20FX. I use steel amount, welding to the back side tier Toyota FJ 2014.
I'm not sure if this Japan will be in good situation of SWR😬
!
Antscope is pretty addictive.
It is. It's fun when you have a computer with you. You can see all the details.