Hey Rick,
Thanks for reminding me of his KH6 call. Yes, I have used a number of
mobile antennas on top band. Each with their own quirks.
The last time I was QRV on Top Band from the car (I think) was the SPTDC (or
was it ARRL160?) a few years back and I ran my big SA-680S mobile antenna on
my mini with 4 really long top loading wires coming down off the regular top
hat on this wonderful antenna to all corners of the car.(normal pic on
qrz.com) I think I might have worked 1 EU (A G-stn iirc) but heard even
more EU. I think I had to retune the screwdriver about every 10kc or
something like that. I also had an MFJ 100w tuner in line for one contest
where I was just not getting a good enough match to make my FT857D happy.
NA7TB and K7RAT were the big catches. REAL DX for a mobile station here in
grid FN66.
My whole point of talking about topband mobile was, if it can be done
mobile, then certainly, with some effort & ingenuity , you can get a
somewhat decent signal out from a home station on a postage stamp sized lot.
Thanks !
Mike VE9AA.and occasionally VE9AA/m & other calls.
KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup
truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt
amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on
hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run
QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S.
Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty
readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs
printed.
You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST.
That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading
coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about
top loading wires is right on, though.
73
Rick N6RK
Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada
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