Antennas

Let me start by saying it's hot here in Florida...nearly unbearable.  So, needless to say, I have not been out playing ham radio portable in the past couple of months.  However, I have been looking for a new antenna system.  I have several options already.  I love the Chameleon F-loop antenna for the ease of deployment and the fact that there are no counterpoise requirements.  The Wolf River Coil and whip option is great as well.  I think it may perform better than the mag-loop, but it requires one (or many) counterpoise wires along the ground.   This becomes a trip hazard in high traffic areas in parks and such.

Those antennas are fine, but we know that in the world of antennas, the simplicity of a dipole rules. Now, I have a Windcamp 40M off center fed dipole I have used with my 100 watt FT-891, but I want something small and lightweight to use with my FT-817 or my newer Recent RS918 qrp rig. I would also need a way to deploy it. So, after seeing a local ham and friend using this antenna at a portable event, I decided on the Sotabeams 3 band linked dipole (20, 30, 40 meters) and the 10M telescoping mast.  I plan to run this in an inverted V arrangement.

Well, that's the plan. A new antenna to fill a niche that is currently empty. I look forward to the better performance I should get from a dipole. The antenna is on order and I look forward to getting out and getting on the air...once it gets a little cooler.