Antenna Identification

[RudeMule]

Can anyone help me out identifying this antenna? I spotted this outside of an abandoned building in a tiny rural town. Its possible that I may be able to get my hands on it, but Im not sure what it is or whether its worth the effort.
I am in the process of studying for my technician test and thought it might come in handy for a novice?

Thanks

 

[belvdr]

I'm no antenna expert, so take this with a drum of salt. I see 3 loading coils so possibly an HF vertical. When I see loading coils, I think compromised antenna (i.e. not very good performance). I wouldn't bother.

 

[dave3825]

Best thing to do is google the address the antenna is at to see if you can get the name of who ever owned/ leased/ rented the space. Then search the FCC to see if you can find a licence. Then the license may point to its actual use.

 

[kb5udf]

Strongly resembles an HF trap vertical. It looks like a hustler 4-btv without the capacity hat.

 

[prcguy]

Its a three bay coaxial dipole array for VHF, similar to a KRECO stacked coaxial but without the ground radials. It may actually be a KRECO and the ground radials were never put on.

Here is a KRECO and I have several in my garage.

 

[RudeMule]

Best thing to do is google the address the antenna is at to see if you can get the name of who ever owned/ leased/ rented the space. Then search the FCC to see if you can find a licence. Then the license may point to its actual use.

Looks like that building was owned by the city until the mid 90's or so. My guess is it may have been used for the municipality and/or fire district?

 

[merlin]

Hi Gain made one of these. 4BTV. The loaded stinger at the top is likely Hustlers RM-80-s
Had one back in the late 60s
Amazon.com: Hustler 4-BTV HF (10/15/20/40) Vertical Amateur Ham Radio Base Antenna : Electronics

Closer look, prcguy called it.

 

[merlin]

Strongly resembles an HF trap vertical. It looks like a hustler 4-btv without the capacity hat.

Yea, that is what I thought also but this is VHF.

 

[Golay]

Like prcguy said, it's probably VHF. Looks very similar to a two coil antenna I once had that was made by Antenna Specialist.

 

[kenh2os]

Ya thats an HF multiband antenna. I was thinking of getting one for monitoring ease.

 

[prcguy]

Ya thats an HF multiband antenna. I was thinking of getting one for monitoring ease.

Its not an HF antenna, its a stacked coaxial VHF. I have some in my garage.

 

[majoco]

If it was an HF ham band antenna, the 'traps' would be at different distances apart. The photo shows the sleeves equal distances apart making it a stacked dipole antenna for VHF/UHF.

I have a Hustler 18AVT/WB stored in my garage. It receives well on the frequencies you tune it to, but very narrow bandwidths if you want to transmit - something like 25kHz at CW end of 80m.

 

[K7MEM]

I think "prcguy" has the closest guess. Or, the structures that look like traps, could be the phasing networks needed for a co-linear vertical. Possibly a better picture would help identify it.

I have a 5BTV and, except for the fact that a 5BTV has traps that appear similar, it looks nothing like it. The feed point for a 4/5BTV is completely different. (Well, I did have a 5BTV, until lightning struck and the 80 Meter Resonator exploded. Now I guess it's a 4BTV.)

I am in the process of studying for my technician test and thought it might come in handy for a novice?

The extra aluminum and mast might be useful, but I doubt it would be good for any of the bands available to the Technician, without a lot of work.

Good luck on your Technician test. While your at it, study for the General test as well. You can usually take it right after passing the Technician test. If you pass, you will have much better HF band access.