[Elmers] Elmers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4

Wed Jul 29 16:42:19 PDT 2020

You are located in a tough spot to reach line of sight repeaters so I suggest a standard mobile VHF/UHF rig which typically runs 40 to 50 watts output.   Second, there are many commercial and home brew VHF/UHF antennas that are thin and will not be an eye sore.   Try a standard J-Pole or just a standard mobile whip from Comet or Diamond mounted on a metal baking sheet on a high point in the house.   An ironing board also makes an excellent ground plane for a mobile whip.   I used one for ISS contacts and my temporary 6 meter FT8 station.    

As a person who often runs net control on HF and VHF I really hate it when folks check in from marginal areas with a HT, they just don’t work well from difficult areas so If you expect the 705 at 5-10 watts to solve your VHF/UHF problems you might be wrong since your HT is already running 5 watts output so at 10 watts a 3db gain is a waste of money.  In the least you could purchase a FM Amplifier for your HT and run 20-35 watts but you might not like the complexity of cables and another power supply.   In the end I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing a NEW or USED FM mobile rig as there are many on the market from around $200.  Simple is better and Hieko must have a garage full of good units right now.

HF Antennas:  FIRST I am assuming you want to check into the 40 meter nets on 7240, 7250 or 7268.5.  It possible to hide your present dipole by lowering it to the roof by putting the ends on little pulleys and lower it when not in use.  Some folks have good luck with flag pole antennas, other folks who only operate at night time can use a push up mast or motorized mast to raise a wire.  I can’t imagine anyone looking for antennas in the dark of night.   

If you are handy you can easily build a SHORT dipole or use 2 Ham Sticks for your chosen band in dipole configuration, very cheap and easy.   A short dipole uses loading coils much like a HF mobile whip to load the short whip.  The overall length of the dipole can be sized to your requirements then ‘loaded’ to tune the antenna.    

There is another HF antenna solution that Works with some limitations but has a very low receive noise figure, a 1/10 wave length magnetic loop antenna works as good as a mobile whip antenna (HF) and most are operated just a few feet above the ground on a ladder.   Most folks build their own for less than $25 bux, a typical small magnetic loop antenna is 4 feet or less in diameter and can be built from PVC and RG8 coax. 

Thats my 2 cents worth ...... Bill Prats K6ACJ   

Sent from my iPad

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. New Member Questions (Tom Mattoon)
> 
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2020 17:16:15 -0700
> From: Tom Mattoon <temattoon at gmail.com>
> To: elmers at soara.org
> Cc: wa6ed at cox.net
> Subject: [Elmers] New Member Questions
> Message-ID:
>    <CAKZknJkT7jTDFdqOVKWDkyisH8meW3C74pDXSa+qOe+VeVhtZw at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> Hi Elmers,
> 
> My name is Tom KE6TM, and I am a brand new member of SOARA, having been
> elected by the Board on July 27.  Ed WA6ED suggested I connect with you
> regarding some questions.  A huge thank you in advance for any help you can
> provide.
> 
> I am a fairly new ham, having earned all 3 licenses in 2019.
> 
> Location: I am located in Dana Point just down the hill from Saint Edwards
> Church.  I live in a house that has a fairly strict HOA.
> 
> VHF/UHF:  I would very much like to participate in some of the repeater
> nets.  However, my only VHF/UHF rig now is a Kenwood TH-D74 HT with a
> Diamond antenna.  I am unable to reach the SOARA Laguna Beach repeaters for
> both Rx/Tx.  I am recognized by the SOARA San Clemente repeater when I
> announce a system test, but so far, no one has responded.  I don't yet have
> my SOARA private credentials to try to connect with Trabuco Canyon or
> Santiago Peaks area repeaters.  Fortunately, I am able to communicate
> clearly with the Clara repeater 145.220 in the same area.  I know that the
> SOARA repeater maps show my area as spotty for the Laguna Beach repeater.
> I intend to buy an Icom IC-705 whenever it is finally released, supposedly
> in a couple months.  It's my understanding that the 705 comes with a whip
> type antenna and has 10w power, or 2x my Kenwood HT.  Would you expect the
> 705 to be able to connect with the Laguna Beach repeater out of the box, or
> would it likely need a separate antenna?  Or should I work on an antenna
> solution for my HT that might also work on the 705 later?  What would you
> suggest given my HOA situation?
> 
> HF:  I have an Icom IC-7300 which I like very much.  I have a 51 foot jr
> dipole that is a couple feet above my roof held in place by clear fishing
> line.  The antenna works ok, but not great.  I have attempted to join
> several HF nets, but have not been successful.  I can hear and communicate
> with some contacts, but it's not consistent.  While the HOA has not
> mandated that I remove the dipole yet, it is an eyesore and I wouldn't
> blame them if they did.  I do have space in the attic for something, but I
> don't know if that will work given the surrounding metal etc.  Would you
> have any thoughts about what I could do for HF in a HOA house?
> 
> Again, many thanks in advance for any assistance you could provide.  I'm
> looking forward to meeting you one day when that becomes possible.
> 
> 73,
> Tom Mattoon, KE6TM
> temattoon at gmail.com
> 949-295-8806
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> End of Elmers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
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