Friday, September 11, 2009

New HF antenna

Well I've finally erected the new antenna, hardly new since it's been sitting in a box for over 12 months in my shed!
Its a Force 12 C4S, six element beam with a linear loaded element for 40 mtrs, all on a 12 ft boom.
The basic antenna tunes up well but the 40 mtr element needs further tuning, just as soon as the weather permits.
I've also added a new rotator, a Yaesu DXC 1000, purchased at an excellent price from our local Yaesu agent, City Online/ Hamshack, Thanks Geoff and Kylea.
I've mounted the Brainer GST-3 2 & 70 vertical above it , improving my vhf / uhf fm signal appreciably as its now an extra 5 mtr higher.
I now need to spend some time tidying up the coax runs and maybe refitting the guys, though I dont really need them..
After that I will concentrate on making the rest of the 2 mtr beams for the club beacon project and getting that up and running.
One day I'll start on the 23 cms EME project, but I think that may end up being after Xmas as work and the rest of the projects are taking up all of my time.
At least the good lady is happy now as the tower was stopping her from planting 48 rose bushes! The first time in my 27 years licenced when the wife has actively encouraged me to put up more antennas !
I bought an FT 60R handheld today to use on our Tasmanian Holiday in January, it will prob end up in a drawer when we get back but it will be useful for the holiday.
The icom IC-Q7r is just a bit too under powered to be useful on the trip and the 5 watts from the Yaesu will make life a bit easier.
I'm looking forward to our club trip to Muresk in 2 weeks time, a decent bit of contesting and good fun too.
73
Keith

1 comment:

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