Antenna problem advice needed.

[K3HQL]

Hi all,
New here and looking for opinions to help out with an antenna problem. I am looking to operate on 10,20 and 40m. I have enough room and a place to mount a 20 foot pole and be able to lower it when I want. This situation will only be for about a year until we move. So I was thinking that something like an MFJ Hamstick mounted on top of the pole would be a good low cost alternative to get me running.

I know it is not the ideal situation but There is no possibility to string up a dipole at all so a vertical is best for now.I also realize that if I want to change bands that would mean changing the Hamstick to the band of choice. That would not be a problem as I have come up with an idea for a tiltable pole that I could quite easily take up and down at will.

The idea of using a hamstick is that I cannot really exceed 35 feet in height so whatever I do has to be within these parameters.

If I went with this idea I am thinking I would need some sort of groundplane for the Hamstick.

Any ideas hints tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Ian K3HQL

 

[Tommahawk]

If you have access to a attic you could certainly run a loop antenna inside. I personally don't like verticals that you can't have a good grounding, unless this is something you can do where you live.

 

[n5ims]

How about something like this --> Hy-Gain 14AVQ <-- only 18' tall and covers 10, 15, 20, & 40. They're probably available used (I see them often at hamfests anyway) if cost is a factor. If ground mounted, no radials are required (helpful yes, required no). I used one for several years both ground mounted (without radials) and pole mounted (with radials), and had very good luck with it both ways.

 

[LtDoc]

The "got'cha" with most verticals is the ground system they require. That ground system isn't the easiest thing to manage. Ground rods just aren't very good for an RF ground. A good ground system consists of as much wire in the form of radials that you can string on/in the ground. A lot of them is better than just a few. But, if you happen to have a fairly capable tuner, one radial laid on the ground -can- make for a usable 'ground'. Figure that a typical 1/4 wave 40 meter vertical is about 33 feet tall, and can be usable on the other bands you indicated, it wouldn't be totally out of reason. Add a small loading coil to that 20 foot pole and it could also work reasonably. What size coil? Beats me, but it shouldn't take too much experimenting to get it in the ball-park.
How about an inverted-'L'? String some wire from the top of that pole to a tree, fence, whatever.
Lots of possibilities...
- 'Doc

 

[uli2000]

I've got a G5RV jr. mounted at about 20 ft because at the moment that's the highest I can get it up. Is it great? Well, not really. It's great on 20 and 17 (with a tuner), 10 and 12 are ok, but very noisy on 40 and I can usually only work nvis with it on 40. A good part of that is the low height, but I also live about 150 yards away from a very noisy old power substation that is hopefully going to be shut off by the end of the year. I hope that helps on 40 a bit, but I also looking at a vertical for 40 and 80 as well.