Hi All

Me and my brother are in the process of purchasing a all band radio for each
one of us. For a general opinion - what would be the most accessible radio
for a total blind person to purchase.

73
Kallie
ZS6KCS


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Danny Dyer
Sent: 24 October 2009 09:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Looking for an HF antenna that I can use in an apartment.

 A ham on another list frequented by "sight challenged" radio amateurs, =
recently posted a request which has generated some feedback, and I =
thought folks on this list might also prove helpful in his search.  =
Lacking Space, I include only his question, followed by his email =
address, &my rejoinder.
Any thoughts will be much appreciated, Thanks, Danny Dyer, Wb4idu."Hi, I =
have this great TS-2000, and it works great on VHF and UHF.  =
Anythingbelow 144 Mhz is a problem.  I purchased an MFJ antenna that is =
supposed to be used from 80 to 6 meters, but it didn't work well.  I =
could tune it with
no problem, but it didn't receive well.  The antenna has a ten to =
twelvefoot element that you extend, and there is a counter poise that =
you hook to it.  I was able to receive some CW on 80 meters, but not =
much elsewhere. The driven element is at a 45 degree angle, and the =
setup is made to latch to a window.  I don't remember the model of the =
antenna. I'm looking for something thatI can use here in my apartment.  =
I'm on the first floor, so I don't have a lot of height to work with.  =
The management
says they wouldn't mind having a small antenna set up outside, as long =
as it can be maneuvered around for keeping up the landscape. Here's my =
basic question.  What antenna would best suit my purposes?  I've
heard good reports on the Buddy Pole, and that may be the way to go.  =
It's
compact, can be easily moved from location to location, and is self =
supporting.  I'd be curious about how well it works.  I've once used a =
Butternut vertical with a Yaesu radio, and I was able to get DX contacts =
into France and Russia.  I'd love to do that again with the Buddy Pole, =
but I'll take what I can get. If anybody knows of something that I could =
put up in the apartment, such as aloop around the ceiling, I'm happy to =
look at it.  The main thing is it can't be too noticeable, and I'd like =
to be able to work some stations with the setup. Thanks for any help. =
Kevin Minor, [log in to unmask]
*Danny's answer.Hi Kevin, Thanks for your post, it has  already, and =
should continue to=20
generate some good  feedback.
First of all, I find your observations about the MFJ antenna, whatever =
it=20
is, to be interesting.  I'm sure the tuner in the rig, effectively =
matched=20
the rig to the antenna, but  I'm Not sure as to how you then "tuned the=20
antenna to get max signal to noise on its' intended frequency band.
These antennae normally use 1 of several methods/whether there are =
"taps" at=20
different points along the coil, to which you atatch a jumper; a sliding =

coil sleeve, which goes up and down along the coil; or maybe a slug =
inside=20
the coil which you moved up and down in some manner:  there's normally =
some=20
type of tuning or matching apparatus for those antennae to maximize use =
on=20
particular bands.
But regardless of how, the fact you were able to hear CW signals on 80=20
meters, but little to no signals anywhere else, both encourages, and =
puzzles=20
me.
(I wonder if you tried to use the antenna on the inside of the =
apartment's=20
window, or on the outside of it.  If on the inside, the fact that you =
heard=20
signals at all, may bode well for the apartment's lack ofsignal blocking =

materials in its' walls, floors, and or ceilings.)/ {To further check =
out=20
this point, If you have a portable short wave radio, preferably one with =

SSB&Or CW Receiving capability, using good batteries and the included=20
telescoping antenna, tune around  160, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, =
and=20
10 meters/maybe setting a memory on each band, while indoors ,to see how =
the=20
signals sound./Now, take the radio outdoors and listen to the =
differences in=20
signal strength between the two areas.
If you get fair to good signals indoors, you've got a lot of hope for =
help.}
[If you only tried to use the mfj antenna indoors, we'll discuss other=20
possibilities later.]
While we're on the subject of the MFJ, please excuse a dumb question, =
but,=20
Are you sure you deployed and tested that antenna according to its'=20
directions?---and that there wasn't either a short in the coil, or an =
open=20
wire somewhere?   Because Even with rotten band conditions, you'd =
normally=20
presume that signals on 60, 40 and or even maybe 20 or 30 meters  =
mightbe be=20
at least as, if not more, receiveable than those on 80 meters.Other than =
that MFJ antenna, if in fact it won't do what you need=20
it to do, I wonder what your situation is, 1, in terms of how long you=20
intend to stay at that apartment,  and 2, as to your "sightedness, and =
or=20
availability of knowledgeable sighted help.
Assuming you plan to stay there for more than several months, If the=20
apartment management is ok with an outside antenna,
if you can get some sighted reccanoitering and deployment help,  to size =
up=20
the possibilities for a  G5RV or similar commercially available antenna, =
or=20
somewhat cheaper but similar homebrew Dipole antenna, using trees or =
other=20
"already installed on site, items for support, such an antenna is likely =

your least expensive and best hope.
Indeed, it may be possible/depending on how the buildings are =
configured, to install/_only if management approves_ a wire dipole under =
the overhang of
the roof, And Or, possibly even using=20
the rain guttering of the building as a radiating element for an =
antenna...stranger things have=20
been successful.
     Now of course, if the dipole idea's not practical, a butternut or=20
similar "base station" vertical , may be your simplest and best way to =
go,=20
preferably one designed to work with no to few radials,/depending on the =

metal pipe three or four feet in the ground, for grounding and =
counterpoise.
I've had several such verticals over the years, and although not as=20
effective as some other antenna types, they'll still "get you out."
And since both the dipole, and the simple vertical, tend to be pretty=20
semipermanent, /(removable if necessary,)not real hard to deal with, and =
or=20
look at,/if done right, items, apartment management will likely be ok =
with=20
them, if installed with regard to the overall looks of the place. Now, =
If you tried to use your MFJ on the inside of the apartment, you'll =
likely=20
find it will do better outside, whether mounted semipermanently or =
strictly=20
temporarily.  If you have a metal porch, and or balcony, or fire escape, =

atatching the clamp to one of its' railings will usually work pretty =
well.=20
It's also possible that a mobile type antenna, might be a =
possibility/I've=20
successfully used some of the hamstick type of single band =
antennae,/there=20
are several varieties, Lakeview, Iron Horse, and several others, using a =

simple 3/8thsby24 threaded magmount guttermount, or mirror mount.
For that matter, one of the Texas bug catchers, or maybe , a hustler =
mobile=20
antenna/one of the possibilities with those, is their three coil&stinger =

mounts, allowing for three different band coils with  short radiators, =
to be=20
atatched at the same time.**additionally, I believe that hustler 3mount=20
plate could be used with hamsticks as well.  I've never had or used a =
buddy=20
pole or buddy stick, although I understand they're built well,  and =
their=20
customer service is ranked very highly, although a blind friend who's =
used=20
one reports they're a little "fiddley" for a blind person to find quick=20
matches on.  Any of the buddy pole, buddy stick, blue star, MP1, Pack 12 =
and other similar Screwdriver antennae, require retuning of the coil to =
achieve matches, so
that any of these antennae you put outside, you'll either have to set =
and forget at some point of match and make up for it with your rig's =
tuner, or go
outside to retune after significant band changes.  There are however =
motorized mobile screwdriver type antennae, which can be mounted =
outdoors and powered by a 12volt or so included motor, enabling =
"pushbutton
from indoors, tuning of the matching network of  the antenna.  Also, =
I've been in contact with a Brazillian ham, Alexander Grimberg, who's=20
developed an Allex Loop/magnetic loop antenna designed for 20watt max, =
use=20
on 40-10 meters.  Allex has used blind hams to help in the development =
of=20
the unit, and it can be verry accurately matched, by tuning it by ear =
for highest signal to noise ratio, with the _Only One, variable =
capacitor built into the unit.
Finally, in my estimation, the simplest  most blind friendly antenna =
answer I've used  which supports at least 150 watt transmissions, is the =
Super Antennas MP1 Antenna system.  In brief, it is a manual screwdriver =
type=20
antenna, meaning that there's a coil sleeve which one slides up and down =

along the basic/40meter through10meter coil, which has the 4foot =
telescoping=20
antenna mounted to its' top, and 2 1foot sections of rod mounted =
underneath=20
the coil.---there's also an 80meter coil one can place between the basic =

coil, and the lower rod sections, or used by itself _without the basic =
coil,=20
to load up on sixty meters.  ***all connections are made via=20
3/8thsby24Threads, and the mounting clamp, or tripod, or rigside =
mounting=20
plate, all have coax female to 3/8by24thread atatchment adapters. At any =

rate, this antenna/which I understand is similar to , but much =
_lessexpensive, than the bluestar antenna,
allows for very accurate, by ear, highest signal to noise ratio/best =
/lowest swr tuning,  and is a pretty efficient little antenna.  And of =
course, There are other options. If I can be of any further help, please =
contact me, thanks, Danny Dyer, Wb4idu.