RV Camper Vertical Dipole

[p1879]

prcguy: I encountered your comment, in the old thread you referenced, that answered my question about the length of the end-fed Par element for 11m. Thank you.

I have this same antenna, untested so far, that I think was cut to around 17'6''. You assured me I may be "close enough".

Thanks, p1879

 

[prcguy]

prcguy: Do you recall how long your radiator (wire) was on the 11m version of the Par-EF ?

Thank you,
p1879

I need to locate it, all I found was my 10m version.

 

[slowmover]

prcguy: Do you recall how long your radiator (wire) was on the 11m version of the Par-EF ?

Thank you,
p1879

The EF-11 (11M version) first linked in Post #16 is:

End Fed Half Wave Antenna,
26.8-27.5 MHz,
100W SSB/CW,
50W AM/DIG,
17 ft. 6 in

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[slowmover]

 

[prcguy]

Here is a twist on the subject. Years ago I made a 64:1 EFHW transformer for the upper HF bands using two FT-240-52 cores and mounted it to some fiberglass U channel for a future project. While digging around the garage yesterday looking for things to toss out I came across a 15ft whip antenna for a PRC-47 transceiver and got to thinking.....

Here is the result, a portable CB/10m vertical half wave antenna that's 2ft long when disassembled. The 2:1 VSWR points are around 26.9 and 28.5MHz and its working great connected to my AT-5555NII. I have an adjustable compression cap at the feedpoint where I can optimize the VSWR and I think this antenna will handle about 500w ok. This should make a good travel CB/10m antenna if you have a portable mast to stick it on.

 

[slowmover]

I’m grateful for your willingness to experiment. “The cheerleader in the kitchen”, right kind of effect (one’s wife; to reference another thread).

As I don’t know what will transpire between here and the end . . I don’t have to have a set formula is dawning realization.

This RV Park project will move along slowly (months to get 4-5?) as it comes down to the other persons interest (or that of a couple). What antenna works well at one location may need to be something else at another. Camper-mounted, tree-hung, free-standing, etc.

I much appreciate the addition.

What can be stowed away for travel seems first requirement (met above), performs well (thanks for graph), and parts re-purposed will appeal to some at this locale.

Thanks. It’s a nice Christmas gift towards the end of a small & unrelated group of people being able to talk at a distance without intermediary.


As a side note, the first vehicle outfitted (re-fitted with same gear) consisted of same 2’ antenna + mount relocated to roof with “good coax”, and trusty ol’ truck driver special 40-channel given clean power & new interior mount.

Wouldn’t get a mile previously. I left the park today and from a GPS-corrected air mile distant high ridge (relative; river valley) at 4.1-miles we could converse. Barely. On a quiet channel. Mid-day, no Skip. (Did quite well up to 2.0-miles).

I don’t think that coincidence.
Was buried under Skip yesterday.

So “we” did it. “We” may be the hardest bridge to cross in this:

Found my big truck GPS a couple of days ago. Correlated distances against phone to landmarks everyone already knows (One road in/out).

This neighbor passed me as we were both heading home two days ago and this re-lit his spark (truck driver also, but sidelined by injury; “spare cash” non-existent) as I pulled over to check his 1-mile and 2-mile.

Today I knocked on his door and offered the test. He didn’t look good. Needless to say both he and I are glad he took it on himself to participate.

Now there’s a man besides myself can talk effectively in immediate environs (where the extant rig of his was “made good” in bonding hood & cleaning vehicle grounds) as there’s a second test station for whomever is the third person to hear us both.

Now I know why I’ve mentally insisted to myself that my Lincoln 2 have it’s’ associated Liberty wireless mic in my pickup. All I could foresee was truckstop parking lot. Seeing is believing versus having to walk, bike or drive around this place when a phone isn’t convenient or no one answers — brush-clearing as it continues, someone fishing the river, a quick recommendation of a supplier for X — if but one vehicle nearby has a radio and several homes are also on the air.

“Group Chat” is a turn-off for some.
Can hear whats in their voice is another thing.

From the RR end — the kindness of strangers — the value of a shared interest forum made visible, real, where the How To man-by-separate-man was just a starting point.

We

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[prcguy]

I’m grateful for your willingness to experiment. “The cheerleader in the kitchen”, right kind of effect (one’s wife; to reference another thread).

As I don’t know what will transpire between here and the end . . I don’t have to have a set formula is dawning realization.

This RV Park project will move along slowly (months) as it comes down to the other persons interest (or that of a couple). What antenna works well at one location may need to be something else at another. Camper-mounted, tree-hung, free-standing, etc.

I much appreciate the addition.

What can be stowed away for travel seems first requirement (met above), performs well (thanks for graph), and parts re-purposed will appeal to some at this locale.

Thanks. It’s a nice Christmas gift towards the end of a small & unrelated group of people being able to talk at a distance without intermediary.


As a side note, the first vehicle outfitted (re-fitted with same gear) consisted of same 2’ antenna + mount relocated to roof with “good coax”, and trusty ol’ truck driver special 40-channel given clean power and new interior mount.

Wouldn’t get a mile previously. I left the park today and from a GPS-corrected air mile distant high ridge (relative; river valley) at 4.1-miles we could converse. Barely. On a quiet channel. Mid-day, no Skip. (Did quite well up to 2.0-miles).

I don’t think that coincidence.
Was buried under Skip yesterday.

So “we” did it. “We” may be the hardest bridge to cross.

Now there’s a participant besides myself can talk effectively in immediate environs (where the extant rig has been “made good” in bonding hood & cleaning vehicle grounds) as there’s a second test station.

From the RR end — the kindness of strangers — the value of a shared interest forum made visible, real, where the How To man-by-separate-man was just a starting point.

We

.

The same transformer can be used as a vertical tree hanger replacing the whip with about 18ft of wire. Or as a bi-directional horizontal wire, good for DX while reducing local chatter.

 

[slowmover]

Associated post:

Post in thread 'My Radioddity QT40 review'
My Radioddity QT40 review

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[slowmover]

“I Took the TinySA Ultra+ ZS407 RF Hunting in an RV Park… Here’s What Happened”​

Linked for my own reference as to usefulness of tool plus embedded links for accessories.

Glad to see a retailer with whom I’m comfortable is carrying:

TinySA Ultra Spectrum Analyzer | Antenna Analyzer | 100kHz-5.3GHz | PC

Unlock powerful performance with the Radioddity TinySA Ultra — your all-in-one solution for advanced signal analysis. Covering an impressive 100 kHz to 5.3 GHz frequency range, it handles everything from basic spectrum analysis to complex Ultra mode testing with precision. Seamlessly connect via...

www.radioddity.com

NanoVNA-H4 Vector Network Analyzer | 10kHz-1.5GHz | 4.0” Touch Screen

Power Up Your RF Toolkit with the NanoVNA-H4 – Featuring a broad 10kHz to 1.5GHz frequency range and a 4.0-inch LCD touchscreen, it delivers a clear, user-friendly interface for fast, precise signal analysis. Whether you're an engineer or a radio hobbyist, it enables accurate measurement of...

www.radioddity.com

I can't assume everyone with a camper would want a CB.

— Performance problems of every sort could arise whether at the individual install or due to location-related interference. Single radio rig, or affects many (maybe all).

VNA + S/A look promising.

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[slowmover]

Besides (or, with) an AM/FM radio:

From comments:

“ . . I got different results in campgrounds around here.

Some LED lights were quite noisy .

The old florescent lights were quite bad.

1 power transformer made a bussing with crackle sound in AM radio .

Some gas golf carts make RFI .

Some power stations do . some Portable gen sets do as well.

Some China MPPT units are real bad with inverters.

Some micro waves make RFI .

The only RFI I get from scooter is the starter noise. The motor drive on my 48V EZ GO is quite noisy only from a short distance . Has that PWM motor controller. Most of the newer ones do

“ . . In my experience, the tinySa/s are ok for sensitivity but not perfect. I have one, it isn't a high 7 gig version but I doubt that the sensitivity was improved that much. The reason I'm mentioning this is if the SA were to be able to see any of the devices you tested it should have been the LED light. They are one of the noisiest devices out there. The next is a Samsung AC charger or the like, also very noisy. I had to change over to 12v powered chargers and it cut my noise factor way down.

“ . . Put one of those little log periodic antennas on it for best results.

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[EAFrizzle]

TinySA Ultra Spectrum Analyzer | Antenna Analyzer | 100kHz-5.3GHz | PC

Unlock powerful performance with the Radioddity TinySA Ultra — your all-in-one solution for advanced signal analysis. Covering an impressive 100 kHz to 5.3 GHz frequency range, it handles everything from basic spectrum analysis to complex Ultra mode testing with precision. Seamlessly connect via...

www.radioddity.com

NanoVNA-H4 Vector Network Analyzer | 10kHz-1.5GHz | 4.0” Touch Screen

Power Up Your RF Toolkit with the NanoVNA-H4 – Featuring a broad 10kHz to 1.5GHz frequency range and a 4.0-inch LCD touchscreen, it delivers a clear, user-friendly interface for fast, precise signal analysis. Whether you're an engineer or a radio hobbyist, it enables accurate measurement of...

www.radioddity.com

VNA + S/A look promising.

They're great tools to have for all sorts of radio diagnostics. Get a set or two of in-line attenuators, especially if you're going to hook a directional up to the TinySA for hunting, because the front end can toast easily in a strong field.

The NanoVNA is one of the best investments a radio guy on our level can make, IMO. Building, tuning, and installing gets easier to troubleshoot. You'll appreciate having them.

 

[prcguy]

I have a TinySA ULTRA that goes to 5.3GHz that a friend gave me and I use it for all kinds of stuff. I recently used it with a three element VHF Yagi to DF a rouge transmitter jamming the marine band for the USCG and it worked better than the HT with variable attenuator we used in training for such an event. Using it with a narrow 100KHz span and 5dB/div is good for rough bearings then switching to 1dB/div gives much more accurate bearings than using a radio with S meter or attenuating the signal and listening for noise either side of the peak.

Another time I was invited to visit a friends repeater site where there was a problem and I just by chance I had my TinySA with me. I used it to verify signals received off a master receive antenna but not out of the preselector/preamp finding a problem. I also used the TinySA signal generator to generate a test signal on frequency to verify reception on various repeater receivers. I was quite handy as there was no other test equipment available at the site at that time.

I see TinySA versions that go to 960MHz that are in the $50 to $60 range on Amazon that may work fine for most hams or CBers. Here is what a TinySA might look like set up for DFing a signal using 5dB/div and also what the signal generator menu looks like. BTW this TinySA was accidently run over by my truck and survived.

 

[slowmover]

Thanks to you both. Got to thinking that for those looking for a campground radio that the tools they’d want for home base station and automobile apply here as well. A long-term stay — “the season” — and it makes sense to want to dial-in performance.

I need them. Will get them.


“ . . BTW, this TinySA was accidently run over by my truck and survived”

Must be one of those Jeep things the rest of us won’t understand. 😁

.

 

[slowmover]

Thread 'AM/FM RETEVIS mb4 CB'
AM/FM RETEVIS mb4 CB

 

[slowmover]

“ . . Get a set or two of in-line attenuators, especially if you're going to hook a directional up to the TinySA for hunting, because the front end can toast easily in a strong field.”

That is linked in video along with carrying case, etc.

Like the CB handheld PRESIDENT Randy the accessories are what cause functionality to exceed initial perception.

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[prcguy]

“ . . BTW, this TinySA was accidently run over by my truck and survived”

Must be one of those Jeep things the rest of us won’t understand. 😁

.

More of an ADHD thing where my brain was focused on something else and I forgot the SA and antenna were leaning on my front bumper. My 3 element Yagi also looks much worse.

 

[slowmover]

More of an ADHD thing where my brain was focused on something else and I forgot the SA and antenna were leaning on my front bumper. My 3 element Yagi also looks much worse.

My dedicated electrical toolbox is a steel KENNEDY KIT I gave my father just about fifty years ago. He had his brothers’ K-K SoCal Douglas Aircraft plant toolbox used before being called up by the Navy in ‘43. It was his fly fishing box after his brother never returned from the Pacific.

Being from Colorado and getting up into mountains to fish on weekends brought back the same trips with his brother and others who were gone.

And a couple of months later I backed over the removable tool carrier with a 5,300-lb Chrysler T&C.

That handle still deformed.
I have the other box as well.

(Not exact, but close):



Character, right?

That tool carrier has made a whole lot of round-trips from the tailgate on radio installs.

I’ve previously advocated that radio purchase be followed immediately by H-F APACHE brand transport case. 3800 is right size for original box contents plus accessories (spare mic, etc) to be kept in vehicle.

S-A & VNA deserve something similar.
Small choices linked in vid.

$13 Apache 1800 (9”x 7” x 4”) looks a no-brainer.

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[slowmover]

From comments

“ . . You can make the foam much more useful if you coat it in a few layers of Plasti-Dip. It stiffens it and really improves it.”

I’ve tried several approaches with pick & pluck foam. Will try this one.

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[prcguy]

My dedicated electrical toolbox is a steel KENNEDY KIT I gave my father just about fifty years ago. He had his brothers’ K-K SoCal Douglas Aircraft plant toolbox used before being called up by the Navy in ‘43. It was his fly fishing box after his brother never returned from the Pacific.

Being from Colorado and getting up into mountains to fish on weekends brought back the same trips with his brother and others who were gone.

And a couple of months later I backed over the removable tool carrier with a 5,300-lb Chrysler T&C.

That handle still deformed.
I have the other box as well.

(Not exact, but close):

View attachment 194991

Character, right?

That tool carrier has made a whole lot of round-trips from the tailgate on radio installs.

I’ve previously advocated that radio purchase be followed immediately by H-F APACHE brand transport case. 3800 is right size for original box contents plus accessories (spare mic, etc) to be kept in vehicle.

S-A & VNA deserve something similar.
Small choices linked in vid.

$13 Apache 1800 (9”x 7” x 4”) looks a no-brainer.

.

What a coinkidink. This was my radio/car stereo installer toolbox from around 1976 through 1981. We had no inside installer bay and this went through many snowstorms and blizzards outdoors while I was upside down under dashes with car doors open and the cars filling with snow.

 

[slowmover]

What a coinkidink. This was my radio/car stereo installer toolbox from around 1976 through 1981. We had no inside installer bay and this went through many snowstorms and blizzards outdoors while I was upside down under dashes with car doors open and the cars filling with snow.

View attachment 194993

Guess we could market a special edition RR Radio Installer Box with letters of endorsement.

A K24B runs a bit higher price than in the 1970s.

Kennedy 24" Professional Hand Carry Tool Box - K24B

Shop Kennedy 24" Professional Hand Carry Tool Box - K24B from Penn Tool Co., where innovation meets precision. Experience our legacy of over 50 years in precision order now!

www.penntoolco.com

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