No surprise on radio shack, I wouldn't touch their BNC connectors with a 40 
foot mast.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Howell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 5:20 PM
Subject: Re: A QRP portable antenna and question


> Buddy,
>
> I am going to see if I can find these. I thought maybe the Radio Shack =
> would have something, but alas they had these twist-on BNCs that would =
> not work for what I wanted and they had one that used a set screw =
> arrangement, but no use either. ALthough it would probably be a nice =
> emergency repair plug. Amazingly (or not) they did not have the solder =
> BNC type connectors, so I'll dig about and find something like what you =
> have. I'm sure Joel at RF COnnections wil have millions of them in all =
> shapes, colors, and likely that connect themselves. :)
>
> 73
> Scott/N3BYY
> On Jan 14, 2012, at 3:28 PM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
>
>> Hi Scott,
>>=20
>> I used a BNC to dual binding post adapter for this purpose. Forget =
> where =3D
>> I got mine, but it has a BNC connector with two standard binding posts =
> =3D
>> attached, such that one wire is connected to the center pin and the =3D
>> other is ground. Dead easy that way.
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> On Jan 14, 2012, at 1:37 PM, Scott Howell wrote:
>>=20
>>> Hey good people,
>>> =3D20
>>> Well all this antenna talk got me thinking about an antenna solution =
> =3D
>> for =3D3D
>>> my KX1. I was reading a Q&A on the Elecraft site and they recommended =
> =3D
>> a =3D3D
>>> 24-foot piece of wire connected to the center of a BNC connector. =
> THen =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> you would attach a 16-foot piece of wire. However, what was not =
> stated =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> and what I wanted to know (not having put hands on this =
> configuration) =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> where do you connect the 16-foot piece of wire that is acting as a =
> =3D3D
>>> counterpoise?
>>> Here is what Elecraft states on their site.
>>> Q:  What's your favorite field antenna?  A:  A rotatable log-periodic =
> =3D
>> at =3D3D
>>> 100', fed with home-made ladder line. (Just kidding!) What we =3D
>> recommend =3D3D
>>> in the KXAT1 manual for 40-20 m is about 24' of #26 insulated =3D3D
>>> copper-clad steel antenna wire (available from The Wireman), used as =
> a =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> vertical or "sorta-vertical" radiator. You'll also need at least one =
> =3D3D=3D
>>=20
>>> ground radial, 16' or longer (more on that below). The wire can be =
> =3D3D
>>> tossed into a tree, or, if a tree is not available, supported by a =
> =3D3D
>>> portable mast or other support. The 24' length can be loaded on all =
> =3D3D
>>> three bands (20, 30 and 40 meters), and the wire itself weighs under =
> 1 =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> ounce. Performance of this antenna varies with wire length, height, =
> =3D3D
>>> ground characteristics, and the nature of surrounding objects, but in =
> =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> general will be much better than a short, loaded vertical, and may =
> =3D3D
>>> outperform a low-mounted dipole or inverted vee. Even on 40 meters, =3D=
>
>> the =3D3D
>>> 24' length will perform very well once matched by the tuner. A 33' =3D
>> wire =3D3D
>>> length should be avoided since it's close to a half-wave on 20 =
> meters. =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> For 80 m, a resonant antenna is recommended. It should be possible to =
> =3D
>> =3D3D
>>> use an 80 m antenna on multiple bands. A loading coil is another =3D3D
>>> possibility to get a shorter antenna running on 80 m.
>>> =3D20
>>> So, Just trying to figure out the best way to do this and input =3D3D
>>> appreciated. Yeah I should be getting good at antennas before long =3D
>> since =3D3D
>>> I have to put something together.
>>> =3D20
>>> Thanks,
>>> 73
>>> Scott/N3BYY=3D3D