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Limited space, antenna restrictions and HOA’s….there is hope!!
10 June 2012 | by 
 |
| Not to shabby |
The SWR for such an antenna mounted undercover is below...
7.000 - 7.060 = 2.58- 2.03 tuner brings it too 1.01
14.000 - 14.060= 2.26-2.08 tuner brings it too 1.01
21.000 - 21.060= 1.01-1.15
28.000 - 28.060= 1.15-1.12
Extra bands with tuner
18.068-18.100= 1.01-1.01 with tuner and 9.98 after tuner
10.100-10.130=1.01-1.01 with tuner and 9.13 after tuner.
So where can 5 watts QRP power and an attic antenna go??
Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Jordan, South Africa, all of South America, England, Greece, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Niger, Algeria,Gambia, Alaska,Turkey, Ascension Island.........and the list could go on!!
How about 1 watt........
Germany, England, Scotland, Italy, South Africa, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, Sweden,
Lets move things down to 100mW's
Portugal, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Madeira Island, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic and so on.
Until I get an attenuator 100mW's is a low as my K3 will take me new adventures await me when my Hendricks 41dB step attenuator is built.
Some QRP highlights
1. Contact with HA8JV with 100mW's which worked out to 45,868 miles per watt contact.
2. This year I have worked 73 DXCC countries and am working towards my Diamond Jubilee award by year end.
3. Up to this point 80 contacts that are 1,000 miles per watt or more.
4. Lastly and most important......having a loads of fun!!!!!
If your situation does not allow you to install a dipole or similar medium size antenna my first QRP antennas were two mobile whip antennas made into a dipole configuration. With these antennas I was able to add to my 1000 miles per watt count......and more. So don't let some restrictions stop you from taking advantage of our hobby because less can mean more!!
UPDATE.......as Julian G4ILO has reminded me with his comment, I forgot to mention all the above was done with CW.
6 Responses to “Limited space, antenna restrictions and HOA’s….there is hope!!”
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The DX-EE is 40′ long. My attic is 44′ long. But it works. I can get it to tune on 6m as well, though I’m not going to turn in a very good score for this weekend’s VHF QSO party… the openings just didn’t favor South Carolina.
I run mostly digital modes at 30W or less, and have worked the Americas, Africa, Australia, and all over Europe. I think the antenna is interacting with the ridge vent or something, as I get a very good signal off the north-facing end of the antenna (but not the south).
Good afternoon Tom, I have never tried to tune it on 6m as I have not really used that band much. I too had worked digi modes mainly PSK and RTTY but not with the DX-EE. As for it interacting with “stuff” antennas and radio signals are very funny things and when you add the attic combo to the mix some off the wall events can happen.
Thanks Tom for taking the time to comment and read the blog have a good what is left of the rest of the weekend.
Mike
VE3WDM
Mike,
Just goes to show that one doesn’t have to have a high-powered rig with a huge antenna array to have fun. Congrats and keep it up!
Good morning Garth, also the great propagation we have been having sure does help as well. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment Garth.
Mike
I live in an old motel now apartments have a 90 foot longwire and mfj tuner,I am blessed.
Good evening Brian, A 90 foot longwire will sure do the trick along with a tuner the bands from top to bottom are yours for the tuning!
Mike
VE3WDM