What a great idea using the vehicle as a mount, I wonder if the radials are still required as the vehicle could be used as a counterpoise? I got mine today and found that adjusting the length of the extendable antenna to make it approximately 10 cm shorter gave me great SWR on 40 meters.
That’s what I’m interested in comparing. 40m tuned fine without any radials, but the band was dead. There’s no good indicator of performance. But yes I’m essentially wondering if the vehicle looks like many short radials, and is fine on it’s own.
Glad you like the antenna mate . But what I would look at it grounding it a little better . I'd say that you have rubber feet on your roof racks of the car , So just for an added bit of grounding I'd tru an earth lead to the chassis rail (some sort of a quick attach set up) . Do another sweep on the VNA and see if you get a different match . Cheers Anthony VK4GTX
Hi :) I have a few things to try when I do get out again. It’s noisy near a city, but fine in the bush, and much easier on the back setting it up than throwing a line over a tree branch!
The electrical length of your counterpoise is the sum of all of your radials (not sure how you split the cable - if you split it into 4 strands you get 20m electrical lenght). DX Commander has experimented with lengths and number of radials, it's on his YT channel.
If you have the fence it sounds like a proper Earth, but I can usually count on having nothing man made on hand, other than what I bring. I have noticed the noise simply for using a vertical, but on remote trips that should be much less an issue.
Aloha Brek, to be honest, you shouldn’t need to worry about elevating this PAC-12 antenna unless you’re worried about a bunch of Quokkas climbing all over your antennas. 🤪😂🤣😂 Todd WH6DWF 🇺🇸
@@digitaldreamer5481 It isn’t for elevation. It’s supposed to be simpler to set up since the mount is left there. Im also convinced that at least on some HF bands, that the vehicle itself is a suitable counterpoise without the need for wire. It is also neater because the vehicle is always right there
@@BrekMartin My joke didn’t have anything to do with elevation per se, it was just a little American humor that I have learned over the years from my best friend, Peter, VK6GIA, who lives in Byford, very close to Perth and Rottnest Island, where the Quokkas are protective species and look like miniature kangaroos. They were made famous two decades ago when someone drank too many oil cans of Fosters, kicked one intentionally and he quickly found himself in a hospital, not knowing how he got there. Quokkas are known to be friendly and lovable at times and truly represents the Land of Oz. 😂🤣😂🤙🏻
So cool, amazing portable antenna, wide open space and beautiful scenery. Thanks for taking time to upload this vid.
Thanks again :) School holidays now, so that’s the end of the quiet!
True, but the road traffic gets better. Seasons greetings to you and yours
What a great idea using the vehicle as a mount, I wonder if the radials are still required as the vehicle could be used as a counterpoise? I got mine today and found that adjusting the length of the extendable antenna to make it approximately 10 cm shorter gave me great SWR on 40 meters.
That’s what I’m interested in comparing. 40m tuned fine without any radials, but the band was dead. There’s no good indicator of performance. But yes I’m essentially wondering if the vehicle looks like many short radials, and is fine on it’s own.
Glad you like the antenna mate .
But what I would look at it grounding it a little better .
I'd say that you have rubber feet on your roof racks of the car , So just for an added bit of grounding I'd tru an earth lead to the chassis rail (some sort of a quick attach set up) .
Do another sweep on the VNA and see if you get a different match .
Cheers
Anthony
VK4GTX
Hi :) I have a few things to try when I do get out again. It’s noisy near a city, but fine in the bush, and much easier on the back setting it up than throwing a line over a tree branch!
The electrical length of your counterpoise is the sum of all of your radials (not sure how you split the cable - if you split it into 4 strands you get 20m electrical lenght). DX Commander has experimented with lengths and number of radials, it's on his YT channel.
It couldn’t be calculated that way on the vehicle because of the ground plane/s.
I use the Jaws (Chameleon) and clamp mine on a metal fence. It works well.
If you have the fence it sounds like a proper Earth, but I can usually count on having nothing man made on hand, other than what I bring. I have noticed the noise simply for using a vertical, but on remote trips that should be much less an issue.
Aloha Brek, to be honest, you shouldn’t need to worry about elevating this PAC-12 antenna unless you’re worried about a bunch of Quokkas climbing all over your antennas. 🤪😂🤣😂
Todd WH6DWF 🇺🇸
@@digitaldreamer5481 It isn’t for elevation. It’s supposed to be simpler to set up since the mount is left there. Im also convinced that at least on some HF bands, that the vehicle itself is a suitable counterpoise without the need for wire. It is also neater because the vehicle is always right there
@@BrekMartin My joke didn’t have anything to do with elevation per se, it was just a little American humor that I have learned over the years from my best friend, Peter, VK6GIA, who lives in Byford, very close to Perth and Rottnest Island, where the Quokkas are protective species and look like miniature kangaroos.
They were made famous two decades ago when someone drank too many oil cans of Fosters, kicked one intentionally and he quickly found himself in a hospital, not knowing how he got there. Quokkas are known to be friendly and lovable at times and truly represents the Land of Oz. 😂🤣😂🤙🏻
Radiation sitting to close to the antenna too !!!!
Wachu talkin bout Willis? It’s QRP of the same power as a handheld radio that sits next to your face.
@@BrekMartin better your head n brain than mine ! Enjoy👍