Wolf River Coils TIA (Take it Along) Antenna Review (

This is the completed review of the Wolf River Coils TIA (Take it Along) HF antenna. (See #952 for first video.) It's a very portable, easy to assemble and disassemble, and a stinker to tune, antenna. We used a nanoVNA along with nanoVNAsaver software to get a broad picture of where it tuned. We were able to achieve tune on all bands, 80-10 (We didn't try 60 but it should tune there as well.) This antenna can be used mobile (on one band at a time), portable (it's greatest strength) or even in a fixed location (again, one band at a time.) See the video for lots of details. I purchased this antenna with channel funds (funds provided by people like you). It was not a freebie from the manufacturer.
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[@eddy2561]

Informative video....I purchased two extra collars which I tune for three different bands, in my case 80, 40 and 20 meters. so, using the 3 different tuning collars which I leave in place pretuned, I simply move the "shorting" wire to the appropriate band collar which is already tuned for that band......super simple and fast once setup. Also, 6 radials precut to about 15' - 20' each. 73/K6SDW

[@brentN4BDW]

Hey Dave, great video and GREAT product! I have the WRC Silver Bullet Mini coil that I’d bought to use with my MFJ whip. Marking locations on the coil is a great tip, I actually did this already and recommend it. I set mine up in the yard, spent (maybe) a half hour going through 40, 60 and 80 meters and once I found the sweet spot using my meter, I took a fine-tip red Sharpie and put a mark on the top of the collar nearest the coil, and a mark on the coil pvc between two turns, and now during a POTA I can quickly change bands and resume my activation.

[@btaylor1948]

I purchased the WRC 17ft whip which I use with a home brewed ground spike. The whip without the coil tunes nicely on 20 thru 6m. I use 15 8ft-3in radials (2.5m) connecting to the spike in groups of 5 with power pole connectors to the spike. The radials are bright yellow to prevent people from walking into the radial field. It works great, really great for my POTA activations. I have the whip marked for each band and have a tuning spreadsheet where to shorten the whip (all thanks to K8MRD). Thanks for the work you do. Bob WB6TIS

[@yobuddi]

Excellent review. Had a lot of info that I hadn’t seen elsewhere. Thanks

[@wildbill1]

I also have this antenna. I use it with 2 different collars pre set the bands also attached a jumper wire that goes direct to the whip for 20 and above. Also I have experimented with different radial lengths and found that more shorter are better than less and longer. Also switched over to aluminum screen instead of radials and it performs really well. Also have attached it to a tri magnet mount onto the roof of my truck(not driving but stationary), worked well. Different ground plains will give you different results and you will have to retune

[@otrdriver6767]

Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with us. Have a great evening.

[@bktx1975]

You may have mentioned this, but they do offer a 17 foot whip that collapses down to about two feet. This allows for a portable, fully resonant quarter wave vertical on 10-20 meters. You can always use one of their coils to get 30 meters and lower, but in my own opinion there is no reason to buy the shorter whip and coil for the higher bands when there is the option to have a lightweight, portable fully resonant antenna. I do agree about the radials - I kept the 3 supplied radials and made three sets of three radials, each 16.5 feet long and attach them to the legs with a spring clip. With all that said, I really enjoy my setup (I also have the "Sporty Forty" coil for 40 meters) and it has worked really well for the two POTA activations I've done so far.

[@WeedyCreek]

I have this and, for me, it works very well for my portable rig. I've been trying the window screen ground plane instead of more traditional wire radials and, so far, it works pretty well but ymmv. Thanks for the review Dave. 73! W7PMR

[@dougtaylor7724]

I love mine. Have the Plantinum one. Why they use the 3 long radials in a mystery to me. I use 6 twenty feet long and it’s way better. I have used six 15 foot radials but tuning the thing is really finicky.
All in all they are great.

[@d3w4yn3]

I've been curious about these, not bad price point, I think this review has me leaning toward buying one and experimenting!!!

[@N2YTA]

I have the TIA and some (most) of WRC's products. They're a great value, you can't go wrong.

[@truckinguy92]

I call BS in length doesn’t matter and more shorter are better than less longer while lying on the ground. I’ve done a lot of experimenting with this very subject. I’m using the WRC Sporty Forty and the Chameleon 17’SS whip on a tripod/ground spike. I laid out 12 16.5 radials and the SWR was over 4:1, then removed 4 and it dropped to 3:1, removed 4 more and it dropped to 2.5:1, folded the last 4 in half and it dropped to 1.2:1. So now that’s 4 radials @ 8.25’. I took 2 sets of my 16.5 radials & made them 33’ long so now I have 4. Sliced a little bit off the end of each one and got a 1.3:1 or less across the entire voice portion of 40m. Then I removed the coil and tried 20m, this got me about a 1.6:1 across the whole voice portion of 20m which isn’t bad but not good enough for me.
Like I said earlier I call BS on the length and number of them lying on the ground doesn’t affect resonance. This is why I use my EFHW whenever I can, no need to retune to change bands.

[@vironpayne3405]

Good video. Good tip on marking the coil.

[@jerryKB2GCG]

I find my JOC-12 antenna much easier to tune and the 20/40 bands have a starting point marked.

[@samgrieg2542]

JPC-12

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you, Dave.
Have a great week. N0QFT

[@natep121]

How big of a difference does a 213" vs 102" whip make?

[@AlexanderGrotewohl]

Please don't drive around with this on your car.. the collapsable whip is not meant for that.

[@Jiminico]

Dave, love the channel. But, with all due respect, I see you are still having way too much trouble with the WRC and haven’t learned anything since your first video review of it.. ..way too much to list. Your warning about shortening the whip for 20 meters and above with the stock 102” whip is wrong, except for when you get to 10 meters then you could shorten it, but, it’s better to just remove the coil and only use the whip. Yes, you can try to do it your way collapsing the whip for all the bands and have narrower bandwidth and more trouble tuning etc, but why. It is not recommended. And 20 meters with the coil is NOT high Q at all. You can get the whole band from 14.000 to 14.350 if you tune it in the middle of the band and the lower and higher edges of the band will still be very good swr and not need a tuner. Not totally flat, but with a little curve with lowest dip and swr in the middle. If you put the top of the white collar edge even with the top coil you are pretty close to on the money for 20 m to start. I have to question what you are doing when you are holding the coil upside down when referring to which direction the collar supposed to go for which bands and you are on the wrong end of the coil. I’m not a salesman for WRC, but thought you are not giving a fair review and presentation of it. The collar could be improved upon, but is totally capable. Btw, I noticed your plastic set screw is missing from your collar. 73