That naughty little antenna of mine has been up to no good again. This time I know what its up to and I'm (reasonably) well prepared.
Living on the west coast brings with it a few challenges. High winds and salty air arre the two which normally spell the death of anything remotely metallic. However I've found another little gem courtesy of my Hustler 6-BTV.
Owning a vertical is a big compromise. Performance is sacrificed for low visual impact and its a compromise I'm prepared to make. What I'm not too keen on is 'less than optimal' engineering. By which I mean jubilee clips. There are a few of these on the Hustler and they are simply not man enough for the job to coin a clanky term. Whenerver the antenna moves then the opportunity for the finely tuned stick to detune itself by alterting the length. This time I've found some 1 1/8" PVC pipe and cut off a load of lengths in wonky er I mean imperial untis to match the manufacturers recommended start point. When the weather is a bit more conducive and I can pinch the clubs analyser I'll have another go at tuning it so its resonant on the right frequencies.
A quick tip or two...The jubliee clips that came with the Mold Amateur Radio Club's Hustler 6-BTV were pretty rubbish. I assume they were the ones it came with! Anyway much better ones made of stainless steel can be purchased at any boat's chandlers or on line. As can stainless self tapping screws. I would suggest you replace the clips retune and then drill some little holes and add the self tappers so the elephants, sorry elements don't move. A fibre washer will prevent water ingress through the screw hole or a wrap of tape. Now even if the clips work loose the antenna should stay tuned where you want it. Are you aware the 6-BTV works well on 6 metres? and have you done the 17 metre mod? A dead easy way to add two more bands for next to nothing.
ReplyDeleteOne note: our club's 6-BTV is now corkscrew shaped after some high winds. Need someone with a tube roller or lots of new bits of ali.
73 Steve GW7AAV who prefers wires.
You're right Steve. They were the puny ones that came with it. I think even larger stainless ones would more likely crush the thin tube. I'm not quite ready to blow holes in it by trying to weld it.
ReplyDeleteA threaded tube with a suitable locknut would work better for me though. The plastic tube is ok for short term but no great solution. Something lying about in the workshop and 5 minutes with a hacksaw.
I've not done either of the mods in fact I wasn't even sure there was a 6m one. I'd be very interested in that one
The 6m thing is not so much a mod as it just works quite well there. It may depend what parts of the other bands you have tuned the antenna for so just check the SWR on six and it should be quite good. I know three guys around here that use theirs on 6m and they always give similar reports to stations to what I am hearing on my 5/8ths vertical.
ReplyDelete73 Steve GW7AAV