Looking for a Portable HF antenna!

[RoyThomas]

Hello
I am new to this forum and HF.
I am looking for a portable low cost HF antenna. Not much space is available for me to deploy the antenna. Please suggest the commercial options available in my case.
73s
Roy Thomas

[5B4AJB]

Hello Roy
Welcome to the forum!

First of all, you need to know which HF bands you want to operate.

Lots of hams use the Buddipole, with good reviews:-
http://www.buddipole.com/buddipole.html

Most of the small/portable commercial HF antennas are priced $200-$500, which is out of my price range.


I prefer homebrewing, it isn't as hard as it may seem and is extremely rewarding.
Maybe a base loaded vertical or, (my favourite) a magnetic loop.

Plenty of homebrew here:-
http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Antennas/Portable/

[NM5GB]

The Buddipole is an EXCELLENT antenna and if you get the larger coil with it will tune just about anything you want. Another good choice is: http://chameleonantenna.com/ a little heard of antenna but for stealth, limited space, and abillity to work 70cm to 80m it has no peer.
Now this being said about these 2 antennas neither is "propoganda" I have and have used both of these antennas extensively and both work as advertised. My 2 cents worth.
73's
Sarge

[m0bov]

I use a SuperAntennas MP-1, in the UK its a fraction of the price of a Buddipole or similar antennas and very quick to tune and deploy.

[m0lsx]

Best limited space antenna is a roach pole & wire, with an earth stake as a counterpoise.
I personally use a 20 meter wire fed via a 9:1 Balun & against an earth stake as my portable antenna of choice.
It is cheap, easy to erect & dismantle, it's lightweight & VERY versatile. I have run my antenna as a Vertical against a medieval church tower, with a 10 meter counter poise wire to the earth stake whilst suspended from a Light post & suitable tree & whilst strung up between several fence posts about 3 - 4 feet from the ground & all with good results.

[K7KBN]

If you have some trees around there in India, you can put up a center fed doublet, using parallel line and a good tuner. Length will depend on what band(s) you want to work.

[GØJLX]

Hi Roy,

A good all HF band cheap portable antenna is the "Bandspringer" - just 82 feet of wire as high as you can get it at one end for the antenna, fed against another 82 feet of counterpoise wire run along the ground in the same general direction as the antenna half. Tunes up on all HF bands 80m-10m.

Do an internet search for the details. I use 4mm banana plugs to connect mine and keep it all on a single winder for hilltopping portable use. Works great !

73 de Andy, GØJLX

[kenny]

How portable?

I use a Comet H422 V dipole on a 3 meter telescopic portable tripod mast from moonraker.

It was a compromise to avoid planning problems............the local planners thought my V dipole would contravene planning regs if permanantly installed..........something about spoiling folks views.........


So its now a portable antenna and not subject to planning regs..........:-)

Run it through a home built AT 11 auto tuner and it works quite nicely.

kenny mac
MM5DOG