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Freebander

Registered: 05-2011
Location: S. Cheshire
Posts: 70
Karma: 0 (+0/-0)
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Review & Problems !


.

Hi Peeps.

My antenna 'set up' is described more than adequately in my original post. Since posting last, in addition to the Yaesu FT-767GX, I got my grubby little hands on a Magnum Deltaforce, quite cheap, in really good 'nick' for 75 Pounds. It 'hears' as well as the Yaesu (I can instantly switch), and I am sure that the 30 Watts of SSB from it will be heard almost as well as the 100 I get out of the Yaesu.

When I have saved up some more of my Pensioners Pennies, I may upgrade the Delta Force to an S9, if that is OK with you guys !!

Right.... You wanted a report on this Vertical, that I bought off Flea Bay for 95 Crinkly ones...

Image

 I was asked to report on how this antenna works in practice - so here goes.

I am using the antenna on top of a 9ft steel pole - Radials cut to length 1/4 wave for 10/11/15 & 20 Metres. Attached to the 'Earth' terminal at the base of the antenna, and 'folded' around my 12ft X 12ft rear yard.

At the feed point the feed co-ax has been coiled (21ft of it) around a Plastic Bottle to make an 'Ugly Balun' (Google It !!)... This makes an RF choke to eliminate the 'Outer' of the co-ax carrying RF back into the shack or radiating.

The antenna is robustly constructed, just like a normal 'Silver Rod', but with a fibreglass next to top section that has what looks like a trap or coil half way up its apx 4ft length. The shorter top section also has a coil or trap - they can be seen in the picture.. It was very quickly assembled, and joints, including the PL 259 at the base were sealed up with self amalgamating tape. Felt tip marks had been put on the sections as to where the sections joints should be positioned.

40 Metres on 7.035 just knocks out my computer, and Hi Fi Speakers (switched off!) buzz like crazy !! Can't risk TVI so have abandoned using any frequency below 14.070 which gives me a reasonable SWR of 30W RF Out and 3 Watts Reverse .. I use PSK 31 on this frequency..

11 Metres and 10 Metres - which with the promise of higher sunspot activity over the next couple of years is where I want to be, and why I bought the Magnum !!

Here are the readings at Max output (30 W) from the Magnum from 25Mhz to 30Mhz in 500Kc Steps. Watts RF Forward and Reflected

25.00 - 24 X 15
25.50 - 25 X 15
26.00 - 26 X 18
26.50 - 26 X 18
27.00 - 30 X 18
27.50 - 30 X 15
28.00 - 30 X 3
28.50 - 30 X 3
29.00 - 30 X 10
29.50 - 30 X 12
30.00 - 30 X 12


So it would appear to me, that I need to do one of two choices .....

1. Lengthen the antenna by about 6 inches to bring the SWR minimum point into the 27 - 28 Mhz area. (I still won't 'hear' any better, but will get more Watts of RF Up the Spout).

2. Put the 'blinkin' thing in the bin, and buy a 'bog standard' £25 5/8 Silver Rod. I feel that this antenna is a series of compromises and with coils or traps, I am losing milliwatts in, and several watts out !! ...... Then sell the Yaesu 767, and just SWL with my Icom PCR 1000 from 26 Mhz down, using an active antenna.

In this 'Old Farts' Bungalow Complex, I can't use anything too high, obtrusive, or string wires anywhere. I am also at about the lowest point ASL in this area !!

Opinions / ideas welcome !!!

73's de

Terry

.

---
26 FB 89
Kenwood TS520SE HF Tx
Yeticom Optima 10/11/12 Mtrs Tx
ICOM PCR1000 - 100 Khz to 1300 Mhz Rx
5/8 Wave 'Venom' Silver Rod
Wire dipoles 40/20/15 Mtrs
M0AQC Digital Modes Interface

17/Jul/2011, 1:29 am Link to this post Send Email to Ivy Watts   Send PM to Ivy Watts Blog
 
porky69 Profile
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DX-pert

Registered: 04-2008
Location: usb & lsb
Posts: 774
Karma: 6 (+6/-0)
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Re: Review & Problems !


hi terry the magnum deltaforce is a very nice radio ive been after on for months,
there not much diffrent than the s9 to be fair only the s9 has blue led lights !!!
17/Jul/2011, 10:18 pm Link to this post Send PM to porky69
 
Ivy Watts Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 05-2011
Location: S. Cheshire
Posts: 70
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Re: Review & Problems !


.

Thanks for the response .... My Delta Force has bright green illuumination !!! It is a 'Minter' and well worth what I paid for it.

Since posting last I have spent some time surfing around the internet, and the Yeticom Optima looks a really good one - one on Flea Bay at the moment I might have a 'Punt' at !! Be nice to run the Deltaforce and the Optima side by side and do an (A - B) comparison.

I have also just lashed £29 out on a 'Venom' 5/8 Silver Rod antenna, from Truck King, which when it gets here and erected, I will also do a (A - B) comparison with the £95 'Wonder' that doesn't seem to be as good as claimed !! Looked at Sirio's and all the 'expensive' options, but can't see much difference performance-wise between all of them !!

At present pushing 120 Watts of RF on a dead key up the antenna to try and dry it out - its absolutely 'persisting' here !!

Regards,

Terry

.

Last edited by Ivy Watts, 18/Jul/2011, 2:00 pm


---
26 FB 89
Kenwood TS520SE HF Tx
Yeticom Optima 10/11/12 Mtrs Tx
ICOM PCR1000 - 100 Khz to 1300 Mhz Rx
5/8 Wave 'Venom' Silver Rod
Wire dipoles 40/20/15 Mtrs
M0AQC Digital Modes Interface

18/Jul/2011, 1:57 pm Link to this post Send Email to Ivy Watts   Send PM to Ivy Watts Blog
 
porky69 Profile
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DX-pert

Registered: 04-2008
Location: usb & lsb
Posts: 774
Karma: 6 (+6/-0)
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Re: Review & Problems !


nice one terry your starting to get a good station togeter, the venom antenna works very well, i look forward to your comparasion review
18/Jul/2011, 8:29 pm Link to this post Send PM to porky69
 
Ivy Watts Profile
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Freebander

Registered: 05-2011
Location: S. Cheshire
Posts: 70
Karma: 0 (+0/-0)
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Re: Review & Problems !


.
COMPARISON ON DELTA FORCE WITH 5/8 SILVER ROD

OK, so I bid on the 2 week old Yeticom Optima on Flea Bay, and went to £170 (+£6 P&P) and £176 is only a few quid short of the £220 for a new one. So when the bidding on Flea bay then went to a stupid £184, I ordered a new one - It is also the last new one available in UK at the moment !!

This morning my 'Venom' 5/8 Wave Silver Rod arrived from Truck King (£29 Post Free).
Within an hour I had taken down my £95 Multi Band Vertical (Now on Flea Bay for about £50!), and replaced it with the Silver Rod. Sadly because of restrictions, I can only mount the Silver Rod on an 8ft pole, so not expecting a lot !!

WOW!!! .... Checked the SWR on 27.555 Called CQ, and straight away Lars 13FB101 in Germany called me back on 27.570, and we exchanged reports of 5 X 7 each way - not outstanding, but exciting for my first contact on the 'Dark Side'.

I then set to, to make a SWR Graph of the Silver Rod Antennas performance with the Delta Force and with an external SWR/Power Meter. Again .... Another WOW !!

I measured Forward and Reflected Watts, plus SWR from 25.161Mhz to 29.500Mhz at 500Kcs intervals all at 'Max' RF Out of the Delta Force (30W SSB).

To save boring you with the whole measurements - here is a brief idea ....

Useable Frequencies without an ATU or Antenna adjustments.......From 25.150 to 29.00Mhz - SWR just under 3.0 at both frequencies with 28 Watts Fwd and 3.5 Watts Reflected.

'Sweet Point' .... 27.750Mhz - SWR 1.4 - 30 Watts Forward and 0.9 Reflected.

The SWR is under 2.0 from 25.500 to 28.500Mhz.

That, to me is a VERY Broadband and good Antenna.

Next Problem ... How can I easily get down to the 24.500Mhz Amateur Band that the Optima covers, AND be able to use 28.000 to 29.500Mhz Amateur Band as well. Current (Pun) thoughts are to use an ATU just for lowering the 4:1 SWR I will have at each extreme. It will probably lower the Optima's 50 Watts SSB down to about 35 Watts of radiated power.

Compare this with the readings off the £95 'Wonder' in the Header Post of this thread !!!! - It has to go !!!

Next - we await the arrival of the Optima, and do some comparisons with the Delta Force over about a month, to decide which radio's I am keeping !!!

73's de Terry the Terrible.

.

Last edited by Ivy Watts, 20/Jul/2011, 3:33 am


---
26 FB 89
Kenwood TS520SE HF Tx
Yeticom Optima 10/11/12 Mtrs Tx
ICOM PCR1000 - 100 Khz to 1300 Mhz Rx
5/8 Wave 'Venom' Silver Rod
Wire dipoles 40/20/15 Mtrs
M0AQC Digital Modes Interface

20/Jul/2011, 2:37 am Link to this post Send Email to Ivy Watts   Send PM to Ivy Watts Blog
 
scottydog61 Profile
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Registered: 11-2010
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 24
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posticon Re: Review & Problems !


You could try putting a counterpoise on it 10meter length of bell wire or similar and trail it out.I bought one of those pro whip portable antennas for use at the caravan or static mobile and had great results with it on all bands with atu.I can put it up in under 5 minutes and it goes down to under a meter when collapsed.

---
26FB036
26CT441
Scotty
AT5555
http://www.sunderlandusedoil.co.uk/
TTI 1100 cb/10meter
24/Jul/2011, 10:37 am Link to this post Send Email to scottydog61   Send PM to scottydog61 Blog
 


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