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Post by M0ZIF on Feb 10, 2008 18:32:39 GMT
I am looking for a quad band antenna for 10m 6m 2m and 70cm base antenna. Still being a little green about the subject here, would a HF antenna and a ATU work?
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Post by k9do on Feb 10, 2008 23:41:07 GMT
I asked my hubby (w9hw) since he knows way more about antennas than me here is what he said:
I'm assuming vertical polarization and fm mode of operation is intended except maybe on 10 meters . Given this , I know of only 2 tri-band antennas covering 6 , 2 and 70cm . they are the Diamond V2000A (with 6M limited to 52-54 Mhz) and the Comet GP15 . 10 meters could be covered by a Solarcon A99 vertical . It would be asking a lot of one antenna to cover this range with a tuner and losses can certainly mount up which becomes more critical especially at higher frequencies .
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Post by M0ZIF on Feb 11, 2008 9:25:18 GMT
I've found a couple of antennas that are quad band, one comet and I cant remember the name of the other, but they are mobile whips so I'd need to add a ground plane to them, but it won't be as effective as a purpose built antenna that covers the freqs. Unfortunately the FT8900 only has erm 1 antenna input.
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Post by k9do on Feb 11, 2008 12:19:38 GMT
I've found a couple of antennas that are quad band, one comet and I cant remember the name of the other, but they are mobile whips so I'd need to add a ground plane to them, but it won't be as effective as a purpose built antenna that covers the freqs. Unfortunately the FT8900 only has erm 1 antenna input. I wasn't sure if you wanted a base or mobile antenna, I assumed you wanted a base. At least you found something that will work for you, it is better than no antenna.
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Post by M0ZOE on Feb 11, 2008 13:06:49 GMT
Unfortunately Linchey with antenna's there is always a compromise like with the shack in a boxes. You may get an antenna that has good gain on certain frequencies but they won't be good on others. I think the only way to get an antenna with great band coverage is to go for the old fashioned wire antenna's where you will get coverage on most bands with the aid of a good ATU but again the compromise would be that to cover most bands you would need at least 160 mtrs of wire. Then how you construct the antenna has an effect. i.e. you would get better reception and tx capability with baluns not sure if having two 80 mtr legs would make a difference or not perhaps someone could come and enlighten us as it is a really good topic of conversation. I do think however that to have 10 mtrs 6 mtrs 2 mtrs and 70 cms is going to have to have compromise some where but alas not sure where again perhaps someone could come in and give us a bit of a training session on this as I am positive there are many many amateurs out there into construction... Interesting topic Peeps...
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Post by k9do on Feb 13, 2008 23:01:51 GMT
Here's a antenna with all band coverage . The Maldol HVU-8 ultra compact 8 band HF/VHF/UHF vertical antenna with 80/40/20/15/10/6/2/70cm band coverage .
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Post by M0ZIF on Feb 14, 2008 7:20:12 GMT
ace I have however found that Maldol do a duplexer and triplexer that will allow me access to two or three antennas which will solve the problem as for random length wires, yes I have plans to put up a massive random wire
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Post by M0ZOE on Feb 14, 2008 15:09:35 GMT
Here's a antenna with all band coverage . The Maldol HVU-8 ultra compact 8 band HF/VHF/UHF vertical antenna with 80/40/20/15/10/6/2/70cm band coverage . That's excellent coverage Renae. Have you tried it personally and if so does it pull in signals well? I am interested to hear about how various antenna's do the job. Martin, We have a long wire that is 160 m but haven't got it connected up to atu at the mo and am going to have to get den on the case. Hope yours does the job when its up.
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Post by k9do on Feb 14, 2008 23:22:19 GMT
That's excellent coverage Renae. Have you tried it personally and if so does it pull in signals well? I am interested to hear about how various antenna's do the job. . No we do not have this antenna. Hubby knows a lot about antennas I asked him ....those were his words. he built our 160 meter antenna himself, Did the 17 meter modification on our Vertical. I let him handle the antennas ;D
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Post by M0ZOE on Feb 16, 2008 11:16:29 GMT
I let Den handle modifications too.... seems to know what he is doing better than me...lol Well thats my excuse and I am sticking to it...lol
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Post by k9do on Feb 16, 2008 14:14:18 GMT
seems to know what he is doing better than me...lol Well thats my excuse and I am sticking to it...lol Lol that is my "excuse" too ;D
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Post by 2e0rcs on Mar 19, 2008 15:16:15 GMT
why not use your tribander you already have martin for 2-6-70 and just go and by a virtical ant such as what renae said a solarcom or the old antron 99.Most amateurs use these kind of antennas for the 10m band and can go as low as 15m with great effect except ive one and dont use it as 10m wont be open till summer happen.but when the sunspot max hits us you can work the world. Its best to use an antenna switch and separate antennas for each band that way no conpromises are made and u can pick up a antron for next to nothing. Youve got to remember its only a quad band radio and the wavelenths are relatively small,and you dont need an atu for them sizes. Buying an hf set then thats when the bigger probs arise you should be ok martin. enjoy and experiment scott regards
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Post by M0ZIF on Mar 19, 2008 17:41:36 GMT
Heya Bud
I already have a Triple band VHF and a quad band HF now its just a case of getting a duplexer to allow the FT8900r to work with all four bands I usually keep channel one on either watch list for 6m and 70cm and the second channel on 2m calling but. In the summer it would be nice to be able to get onto 10m as well, although without SSB it should be interesting.
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Post by M0ZOE on Mar 20, 2008 17:52:10 GMT
My new ATU works well you will all be pleased to hear I am sure Martin it tunes the longwire which is not 160 mtrs but approximately 83 mtrs (sorry about mistake in original first reply on this thread) Long and tunes 50 Mhz (6 mtr band) I also think it will tune the wire on 10 mtr band (28 Mhz) but haven't tried yet as been busy playing on other bands and surprisingly not 2 mtrs lol Scott that was some good all round advice there and enjoyed reading it. Quite often an antenna might tune on a band immediately below or above so you can often get three bands tunning in on the one antenna so it does pay to experiment like you suggested I heard a conversation on HF the other day and an Italian was saying to another station that the length of a longwire did not have to be bobb on and it wasn't as important as one might at first think. Whether this is correct I do not know and I wouldn't want to risk it without some research into first.
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