I used an out backer out reach on one of the Alpha Delta tripods for a 
while.  It did pretty well, but I think my High Siera Screw Driver works 
better.  I haven't gotten the help to put up a wire antenna yet.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 7:21 AM
Subject: Re: some new antennas to play with


> Sounds similar to my Carolina bugcatcher I use on a tripod like the
> outbacker antenna uses but it's home made. That setup, has been a/b/ed 
> with
> a dipole, and I'll tell you what, it's right there if I do it right. That
> antenna is better than the outbacker on the same kind of mount and I think
> your antenna will work on a mount like that as well. If you've seen the
> tripod I'm referring to, it's actually very very easy to home make. I 
> think
> mine, with scrap aluminum from a friend of mine, only cost about $10 to
> build. Nice when from outbacker it costs 200 US, and even if I built that
> buying all the parts, I could have done it for $25 easy. There are a lot 
> of
> options, keep me posted, I'm moving in to an apartment very shortly and
> making very sure I can put up an HF antenna, a wire or something but that
> setup may be something I need for a couple weeks.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 2:12 AM
> Subject: some new antennas to play with
>
>
>>I picked up one of the MFJ hamtennas the other day.
>> I got the 20M resonator and whip.
>> It's essentially a 4 foot long  poll with wire wrapps up to a loading 
>> coil
>> near the top...then a 4 foot stainless steel whip attached on top.
>> the bass terminates in a 3/8's by 24 stud.
>> the whole assembly was pretty cheap so i figured i would try it out and
>> see
>> what sort of results I could get.
>> the shop didn't have any c clamp style mounts, so i'm fabricating
>> something
>> to atach to the balcony railing.  I picked up a bunch of 18 gage speaker
>> wire to use as counter poise as well.
>> I've also got a maggy mount with a 3/8's female connecter that i'm going
>> to
>> try out both mobile and perhaps at home if I can't find anything adequit
>> for
>> a mount.
>> I know I can probably get one of the c clamp style mounts online as well.
>> so far, with the antenna leaning against the wall inside on the fourth
>> floor, I am receiving far more on 20 meters than I was before.
>> I have the ground screw on the radio connected to the hot water heater
>> pipe
>> as a counter poise, but obviously it's far too long and not designed to
>> work
>> with the antenna...a few 16.5ft pieces of speaker wire should work well 
>> as
>> a
>> counter poise for now...attached at the bass of the antenna right at the
>> feed point.
>>
>> I also picked up a midland 18-325c dual band mobile antenna that i'm 
>> going
>> to use instead of the current quarter wave dual band on the vehicle.
>> Hopefully that will keep me into the repeater more consistently than the
>> quarter wave does now.
>>
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>