I'd look in the manual or ask the manufacturer but I'd be very willing to
bet you need a good ground on that antenna, and sometimes bumpers need
grounding straps secured to other points to help that because the conductive
path isn't always that great. I'd check the instructions or ask the
manufacturer or someone with the same antenna and see because I'm about 99%
sure if you use a nonconductive mast it's going to cost you all performance
unless that's different from most HF mobile antennas.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 6:25 PM
Subject: Re: Need suggestions for better mast arrangement to safely raise HF
screw-driver antenna on RV
> Nope, John, what I have always had has been conductive, but the length
> I
> had before semed to de - tune the antenna, especially on the higher HF
> bands, like 10 and 15.
>
> I guess my dilemma is that I'm not sure how to come up with a good
> conductive mast that won't de-tune the antenna on certain frequencies, and
> not interfere with tuning on the ones I want.
>
> Maybe I have a lot to learn yet, which is why I appreciate this list so
> much.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 1:48 PM
> Subject: Re: Need suggestions for better mast arrangement to safely raise
> HF
> screw-driver antenna on RV
>
>
>> telescopic would be best I'd say though also you need something
>> conductive
>> because it needs the vehicle ground. If you have something nonconductive
>> right now, that's your problem.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 10:00 AM
>> Subject: Need suggestions for better mast arrangement to safely raise HF
>> screw-driver antenna on RV
>>
>>
>>> Hi, all.
>>>
>>> Well, I attempted to check into yesterday's 20-meter Cross-Country blind
>>> ops
>>> net from the RV, but was not successful.
>>>
>>> I believe my screw-driver antenna simply is not high enough on the back
>>> of
>>> the RV to allow me to get out well.
>>>
>>> The antenna is mounted with u-bolts on the back bumpber on a piece of
>>> pipe
>>> that is probably about thre or four feet high. This gets part of the
>>> screwdriver antenna and whip above the roof line of the RV, but it does
>>> not
>>> get it completely above the roof line by any means. The RV is
>>> approximately
>>> 12 feet high.
>>>
>>> Originally, I had used an arrangement with a longer piece of mounting
>>> pipe,
>>> but it turns out that the pipe was de-tuning the antenna, especially on
>>> 10
>>> and 15 meters.
>>>
>>> So, my question is this: Does anyone know of a fiber-glass or other
>>> type
>>> of
>>> non-conductive mast that I might try to get the screw-driver up higher?
>>> Obviously, I want to be safe here, and don't want to have to mess with
>>> guys.
>>>
>>> Something telescopic might be the best, but again, I would think it
>>> would
>>> have to be of fairly high quality.
>>>
>>> If anyone has any suggestions, I'll save them for future reference.
>>>
>>> Due to a number of other things going on right now that will put a crimp
>>> in
>>> the budget, I probably won't be able to do anything until next year's
>>> camping season, but it's always good to start thinking and planning in
>>> advance.
>>>
>>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
|
