QRP Club

QRP Station => Antennas => Topic started by: IZ5ZCO on December 18, 2013, 18:52:10 UTC

Title: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 18, 2013, 18:52:10 UTC
I use a 5 m long whip... and you?  :-[ :D

(https://www.qrpclub.org/foto/mfj1979.jpg)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: DF5WW on December 18, 2013, 19:07:38 UTC
Not /P yet but will start next spring. Have a 12m Spiderbeam Heavy Duty GFK Pole. Think it´s good for nice ladderfeeded antennas like doublets, vertical dipoles, up & outers or 4 x 7m tripple leg.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 18, 2013, 19:32:16 UTC
I will try also this windom for 10/20/40 meters...

(https://www.qrpclub.org/images/win.png)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: KI6J on December 18, 2013, 20:38:52 UTC
My favorite is a 4 element monoband beam on a 50 foot tower on a mountain top. But I don't get that every outing.

A factor in my choice of temporary, portable antennas is that I don't want to carry and hang coax, and I don't want to have to lay down a radial field.  So, I tend to use antennas that can be fed at or near the ground, and that have high impedance feedpoints, such as an EFHW, half-square, or bobtail.  Another antenna I often use on 20m and above is a full-wave quad loop, also fed with a short feedline near ground level.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 19, 2013, 02:13:42 UTC
This Yagi reminds me the mast of an ocean going sailing ship... for this reason, Stu, I name you mainsail trimmer.  :D
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: KI6J on December 19, 2013, 04:15:41 UTC
Thank you for the honor, Captain.  My rigging will run true.

That yagi is a beautiful sight.  She flies two days per year on our Field Day.

Stu
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IZ5ZCO on December 19, 2013, 10:52:03 UTC
Yes, it's very fine! I'm only a ship owner. The skipper will be chosen by the community. :)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: GM0LVI on December 19, 2013, 23:31:22 UTC
Much depends on where I'm operating from.
In the past when operating from a beach side studio in Greece I've used a home-brew loaded GP for  17m and 15m. I designed it to fit in a suitcase.
Working /P in Scotland I use a 8m fishing pole with resonant GPs for 20m and 17m and also a Hustler mobile whip with attached radials on the bike rack of our mobile home. (Fishing pole is the best though).
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: T6EC on December 20, 2013, 11:22:35 UTC
I'm currently using the Buddistick with an additional 22" (x2) section and a Shock cord whip that's 106" for a total 12.5 feet with a 6' diameter capacitance hat which electrically extends the antenna to about 18.5'.

Grounded off the roof of my (metal) living container, it has served me well so far.

(http://files.qrz.com/c/t6ec/4b67eabc2934e677d41bbf5c286595a6.jpg)

Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: UR3LCM on December 21, 2013, 01:40:04 UTC
I use wire antennas: Inverted V for 40m, vertical Delta Loop for 20m, slopper/dipole for 10m.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: sm5mek on December 21, 2013, 09:31:56 UTC
I have used several different antennas, for portable use i like Black Widow, 3 bander 40, 30,20, have been operating SOTA with this antenna and getting out over Europe and to most northen parts of Sweden from mountain near Bollnäs with 10W. I also like the little Outbacker but homebuildt suprisingly good at 80m at daytime, worked from Uppsala to Ystad south of Sweden with good report. They are both fast to handle and take very litle space.
Also the windom wire antenna is really effective. Buddipole and buddistick is more mecano but good antennas, i have buildt my ovn model of this antenna. Also PAC-12 looks like buddistick. I for the moment are building an vertical with teleskopic rod on top and tunable fat coil in the bottom, Pictures will come on my qrp-blog. http://sm5mek.wordpress.com (http://sm5mek.wordpress.com) You can see all this antennas at my homepage http://sm5mek.se (http://sm5mek.se)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: m0jha on December 26, 2013, 21:14:39 UTC
with my KX1 I used a simple 42 foot end fed using the radios internal atu . Or A 52 foot doublet fed with balanced feeder to an EMTECH ZM2 atu .. I try and keep it as simple and light as possible ..
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: VE2TH on December 27, 2013, 02:04:16 UTC

I use Buddipole/Buddistick antenna, full size no coils, with one or 2 radials. I tune my antenna with the AA-54 RIG EXPERT antenna analyser.

On ten meters I use a 2 element full size beam built from Buddipole parts, and on six meters
I use a 2 or 3 elements full size beam.

I sometimes  use EFHW on 40/20/10 meters  when I have some trees in the area.

If you need any informations, plans, let me know.

72, Michel
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: K9FXR on December 27, 2013, 17:18:47 UTC
I have been using a Ventenna HFp vertical and I couldn't be happier.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: GM0LVI on December 27, 2013, 22:17:08 UTC
I used a Buddipole in dipole configuration on the back of our motor home and it worked quite well for a low dipole. I've also used a Ventenna and it also performed well and was a good multi-band bit of kit although a bit of a fiddle when changing bands.
I sold the Buddipole and Ventenna and built my own 20-10m GP from ex-CB antenna tube with a loading coil wound on PVC water pipe and a telescopic tip from a domestic radio radio antenna. I designed it to fit into a suitcase for holiday use. It's lighter than the Ventenna, performs as well if not better on the higher bands but isn't nearly as well engineered or robust.

My holiday radio kit, all that's not shown are the radials >
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: SM5JAB on December 29, 2013, 20:30:53 UTC
Either a 6m vertical made out of a fishing rod OR top corner fed half-square for the band in question. I recommend for everyone to try out a half-square!!
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: NA1DX on December 29, 2013, 21:27:21 UTC
I use a buddipole setup with an MFJ 1979 17' whip.  With the coils, I can tune easily on 80m-40m.  Without the coils, I can tune 20m-6m.  I use the 17' whip as vertical and two shorter buddipole whips as radials.  I have used a longer wire for a radial on 80m-40m.  I use the setup to operated from beach trips over weekends, and when in Aruba (P40DE) last summer.  I operated QRP with the KX3.

Doug, NA1DX
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: ev6dx on January 03, 2014, 18:58:30 UTC
For portable work I use vertical, Inverted Vee with the open line. And the most popular antenna at clubmen of RU-QRP - VP2E powered since the end. http://ua6hjq.qrz.ru/ant/mfj902.htm (http://ua6hjq.qrz.ru/ant/mfj902.htm)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: UA9OTW on January 04, 2014, 07:25:38 UTC
For outdoor I use home made - VP2E, END FEDZ EF-20, END FEDZ EF-10/20/40 and long wire with tuner Elecraft T1.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IK5YOJ on January 08, 2014, 15:45:49 UTC
Hi, I have a Buddipole for 2m to 40m bands. Adjustable for differents configurations: NVIS, vertical dipole, orizzontal dipole, V dipole or 2 elements in 2m, 6m, 10m. I have also a Yaesu ATAS25 used with a tripode.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: G0BVZ on January 10, 2014, 18:42:16 UTC
20 years ago, 1/2 size G5RV,  now a simple doublet; both inverted V, both supported by glass fibre pole.

If weight/size is a problem, 10m hookup wire terminated with 9:1 unun --->>small tuner. This is multiband and can be hung with whatever comes to hand.

My favourite antenna is the one with me when I want to operate!!

Vic
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: ur5avl on January 11, 2014, 19:12:05 UTC
My portable ant is  home made  3 bands (80-40-20m) Inverted V with 2 jumpers on each legs and 15ms of RG58 coax. (https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/264070_431617283548360_159556638_n.jpg)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: KD8PFB on January 12, 2014, 17:34:17 UTC
My current favorite QRP antenna is a 40m New Carolina Windom with a 10' vertical radiator. The antenna is 20ga stranded wire and the radiator & feedline are a continuous 35' length of RG-174U micro coax with an RCA connector on the end. The radiator/feedline are interrupted at 10' down from the 4:1 balun, with 10 wraps of coax around a ferrite rod as a line isolator/1:1 balun to impede RFI to the radio. It all fits in a 1-quart freezer bag for backpacking.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flyfishohio/Ham%20Radio%20stuff/40mOCFWindomMicro-10A_zps36614e0c.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/flyfishohio/media/Ham%20Radio%20stuff/40mOCFWindomMicro-10A_zps36614e0c.jpg.html)

Here is the 4:1 balun that is housed in the PVC tube. The feedline is knotted inside the endcap of the tube, then soldered to the balun for sturdiness.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flyfishohio/Ham%20Radio%20stuff/40mOCFWindomMicro-8_zpse443ac9c.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/flyfishohio/media/Ham%20Radio%20stuff/40mOCFWindomMicro-8_zpse443ac9c.jpg.html)

Here is the line isolator/1:1 balun at 10' down from the 4:1 balun.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flyfishohio/Ham%20Radio%20stuff/QRP%20Windom/40mOCFWindomMicro-3_zps888dfbe0.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/flyfishohio/media/Ham%20Radio%20stuff/QRP%20Windom/40mOCFWindomMicro-3_zps888dfbe0.jpg.html)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: yo9ipf on January 21, 2014, 08:54:24 UTC
     I use  homebrew vertical 40-20m antenna, 4 radials. Excellent for working in QRP, SOTA and Field Day.
73 by Florin, yo9ipf
http://i44.tinypic.com/10cma2o.jpg (http://i44.tinypic.com/10cma2o.jpg)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: AE7UT on January 21, 2014, 19:24:12 UTC
I have several "SOTA" type antennas and each has it's use.

My favorite is probably an LNR EF-10/20/40  with a 7 meter carbon fiber telescoping fishing pole.
I can lash the mast to a tree/fence/quad/rock outcropping.
I can use 2 small guy strings and the wire to hold it up if nothing is available.
Set up time is about 5 minutes.  It always performs well.
I also use the EARCHI EF antenna the same way.  This is nice because you can use 100 watts.
The LNR is limited to 25 watts.  My unscientific opinion is the LNR works better.

I also really like the AlexLoop but again your limited by power.  Set up is really fast but to QSY
takes readjustment which is a PITA if you jump around much.  It's light in the pack and great
when there are no trees or rocks to easily put up a mast.

I love the SotaBeams Band Hopper II.  It just takes a bit longer to set up and weighs a bit more.
Not a big deal unless your packing in quite a way.  I think it probably has the best 40 meter results
for me.  I also use it if I'm setting up for a multi-day campout.  I usually use a Jackite 10 meter mast.

I also have a Buddipole that is great for the upper bands.   I use the longer whips and can get
15/17 with full length elements as a dipole.   BUT it's really heavy and not what I'd want to back
in more than a mile or two.

I don't think any of those antennas have disappointed me.  I've had good results with them all.
It's just a matter of what your environment is like and how much you want to pack in.

73
Stan AE7UT



Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IW2MXE on January 22, 2014, 16:02:28 UTC
Hi All, I use EFHWA in my QRP activity but I design new Short Vertical antenna with suspend radial similar to Buddy Stick.
I do a coil and I use a whip (5m) from MFJ-1979
Here is a link of my project and a picture of antenna.
http://iw2mxe.jimdo.com/autocostruzione/antenna-buddistick-mxe/ (http://iw2mxe.jimdo.com/autocostruzione/antenna-buddistick-mxe/)





Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: PA1FJ on February 06, 2014, 22:14:03 UTC
My favourit QRP Hollyday antenna is the Buddistick!!
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IK1FZH on March 14, 2014, 15:17:43 UTC
I am using and like windom from 20 mt to 10mt using tuner Z817.

Look at my post for tomorrow sked, Paolo Ik1 fzh
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IZ5ZCO on March 16, 2014, 11:21:48 UTC
Me and my Rybakov (10 mt).

(https://www.qrpclub.org/images/me.jpg)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: 5B4AJG on March 30, 2014, 20:54:09 UTC
Hi,

For easy /p I've found that my Transworld Traveller 2010L works very well. All I need is my FT-817nd with 10mtrs of coax and the above antenna. Everything fits into the antennas supplied carry bag. Set up takes less than a couple of mins.

73, Richard de 5B4AJG.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: yo3fvr on April 07, 2014, 09:13:47 UTC
Very good results I have with MAAS HVT-400 multiband whip, with PFR3 and FT-817nd+LDG Z817 autotuner. 73!
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: PH9E on April 19, 2014, 12:16:59 UTC
My MFJ 1979 keeps surprising me. This telescopic whip can be extended to 5 m and is useable as a quarter wave vertical for 10 and 20 m (the bands I'm allowed to operate on). I usually mount it on a small tripod (appr. 1 m off the ground) and use an elevated quarter wave radial cut for 10 or 20 meters.
Best result: 8000 kms to Aruba Island in the Dutch Caribean, from my small urban backyard, running 5W out of my Yaesu FT-817ND.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: W4RQ on April 30, 2014, 03:07:56 UTC
My favorite is a home brewed Small magnetic Loop, made it using a cigar box donated by a local smoke shop, housing an old AM Radio dual ganged tuning capacitor. A uhf connector mounted on either side of the box connects to the two stators. The loop consists of LM-400 coax and I have two. A 50 inch diameter for 17m, 20m, & 30m and a 33 inch diameter for 10m, 12m, and 15m. I feed the loop with a transformer coupling using an FT140-43 toroid core and 2 to 5 turns of wire, and a short RG-174 coax to my KX-3. It is compact and easy to transport, and sets up on a picnic table.  The loop favors DX and it is amazing to me that it works so well!  I will soon make a shorter  6m loop of LM-400 coax to make my little cigar box antenna even more versatile. At a cost of less than 50-USD, My Small Magnetic Loop is a real 'smok'n' portable antenna!
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: nx1p on July 04, 2014, 15:11:03 UTC
1) If I am climbing a mountain, then, the LOCFD (linked off-centerf-ed dipole) see www.nx1p.com (http://www.nx1p.com)
2) If I am on a beach or a one night camp ground, then the BRAVO 7K.
3) If I am in a portable/fixed location for multiple days, then the foldingantenna.
4) If I am in a hotel room and want to be totally frustrated then the buddipole.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: VE2TH on July 04, 2014, 19:28:26 UTC
For us, it is BUDDIPOLE or Buddistick, always full size, no compromise.

At the beach, sometimes one or 2 X elements verticals Buddistick, with one radial each in salt water or very near, when the tides are lowering.

When in a park or a campground, and if there is a "CHAIN LINK FENCE" I put my special bracket and screw my Buddistick, once again full lenght for the band I want to operate.

No chain link fence, then I use one radial, which is adjusted with the AA-54 Antenna Analyser.
And I put that radial in the direction I want to, because I noticed some directivity in the direction
this radial is pointed. The end of my adjustable radial is always at about one meter above the ground.
This way I can adjust my antenna very easily by adding or removing one turn at time, with the help of the wire line winder.-

1- One telescopic whip 2.8 meters long

2- For 10 meters, only the whip adjusted with AA-54 Analyser. same for 12 meters.

3- For 15 meters, only the whip with 1 X 56 Cm arm

4- for 17 meters, again the same whip with 2 X 56Cm arms

5- For 20 meters, again the same whip with 4 X 56 CM arms

On six meters I also use a 2 or 3 elements full size beam for 50 MHz.

With the tripod & the long telescoping mast, I have this beam fully directional (Armstrong method, by hand) and it is one wavelenght above ground.

Next time I shall try a 5 element beam for 50 MHz built entirely from Buddipole parts.

On ten meters I sometimes use a 2 elements beam built with 4 X long whips and arms for the boom.

All the needed parts including coax, etc, are in only one long bag which is 107 X 18 X 18 Cm.made from 1000 denier Cordura Plus padded nylon utilizing industrial strength nylon thread and double-stitching at all stress points.

I use this system for 12 years now, and very satisfied, because I can use it anywhere, and I also can try many configurations.

Another important point, it can be assembled in only 10 minutes and dismantled much more faster, especially when meteo annonced some thunderstorm.

You will find more informations on: www.buddipole.com (http://www.buddipole.com)

For those who do not know, you can buy only the parts you want for a special usage.

If you want more informations:

A- check www.buddipole.com (http://www.buddipole.com)

B- Check the Yahoo Group, where you can find a ton of precious informations from other users,

C- If I can be of any help, let me know.

All the very best to all, and HAVE FUN EVERYDAY.

72/73, Michel VE2TH, Georgette VE2RH The OM/XYL TEAM.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: PD5L on July 05, 2014, 16:51:54 UTC
 I use a hyendfed and 12 meter fibreglasspole. 73' PD5L
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IV3DSO on August 20, 2014, 11:04:54 UTC
I am a fan of the delta loop and I built one for 10 and 15 meters. light, cheap and very efficient. Has a tilting system that it allows the opening and closing with one person ... here it is.

Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: KC8AON on November 05, 2014, 20:15:10 UTC
My newest favorite is a vertical half rombic antenna.  Its fed from the end, only requires one support, works all bands less than 2:1 swr without a tuner (yes it really works).  I built my own with information found at the link here: http://www.korpi.biz/hr.pdf (http://www.korpi.biz/hr.pdf)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: M0KCP on November 22, 2014, 11:19:49 UTC
Hi All

I like to keep my portable ops lightweight. So I normally use a Buddistick. With my 817, 12v SLAB and keyer, it all fits in one small backpack. So, mountain or beach, I can setup where I like, quickly.

My mono band inverted V antennas do work better.  But it's more to carry and takes longer to setup.  Changing bands is a pain, because, of course, you have to tear-down whole thing again. 

Cheers
Rob M0KCP



Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: sm5mek on November 23, 2014, 14:21:05 UTC
I like my 4 bands vertical, no need of tuner for 17 -40 meter, only use the right connection on the coil. It is easy to build at home. Use 6m fishing pole or hang it in a tree. See more on my home page. (http://www.sm5mek.se/antenner/four-band-vertical-four-ant/)  8)
(http://www.sm5mek.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/SANY1000-150x150.jpg)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: GM0LVI on November 24, 2014, 21:23:12 UTC
I like my 4 bands vertical, no need of tuner for 17 -40 meter, only use the right connection on the coil. It is easy to build at home. Use 6m fishing pole or hang it in a tree. See more on my home page. ([url]http://www.sm5mek.se/antenner/four-band-vertical-four-ant/[/url])  8)
([url]http://www.sm5mek.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/SANY1000-150x150.jpg[/url])

Looks good Jenny. Is there any chance that you could post a sketch of the circuit. I might have a try a making one like yours.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: GM0LVI on November 24, 2014, 22:57:07 UTC
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/davenlucy/GPsml_zpse33a5d36.jpg) (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/davenlucy/media/GPsml_zpse33a5d36.jpg.html)

This served me for several years as my favourite (and only!) portable antenna.

Here’s a 10-20m top loaded GP I made a few years ago. I needed an antenna that was shorter than full size because I often operated from a studio in Greece that had another studio directly above and I didn’t want my antenna intruding on the view above and annoying other guests. I also needed an antenna that would fit into a standard suitcase.
The tubing is salvaged CB antenna parts (bought for next to nothing at a car boot sale). The insulated  base section – bottom in the photo, is made from fibreglass tube I’d left over from making quad spreaders. And the coil section is wound on plastic water pipe with wire I salvaged from an electric motor and wrapped in self-amalgamating tape. The top section is an old transistor radio antenna.
Each thin tube section is topped with a small length of wider tube to allow the next section to connect. The wider top sections are riveted to the thinner sections and to ensure connectivity and security a banana plug on a short lead (riveted) connects each section.
I didn’t want to take a set of radials for each band so I cut a set for the lowest band (20m) and then doubled back the wire until it was the theoretical length for the next highest band, cut the insulation so that I could QSY by just clipping a crocodile clip to the bared wire. I repeated this so I had 20,17,15 and 10m covered. I missed out 12m. I were to repeat this construction I’d just wind the radials on formers and mark them at the critical points and this would give a bit added flexibility tuning on site.
The centre core of the coax connects to a wing nut on the bottom tube and the radials to a washer terminal soldered to the coax. The short length of connecting coax terminates in a PL259 connector.
I did the initial tuning at home using an analyser and it was quite a fiddle involving sliding the second section up and down inside the base tube and then fine tuning with the top ‘radio antenna’ section. Once I’d found the critical points I marked the sliding section with felt pen and an engraving tool. You can see the hose clip I use to set the length and prevent telescoping.
For support I’ve used a 5 litre water bottle with a hole in the lid as a base and Velcro (hook and loop) straps to attach to balcony uprights. I’ve found that the ‘radio antenna’ top section has an added bonus as it allows me to tilt the top section if I’m near the point of intruding into eye space in the studio above.
There’s a photo of the antenna (and me!) in action on my QRZ page. I can’t say it’s my favourite antenna as I far prefer a full size GP. And the jury has still to decide if the Buddistck I used from that particular studio last June was any better than my home-brew effort. In earlier years.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: sm5mek on November 25, 2014, 09:08:16 UTC
I like my 4 bands vertical, no need of tuner for 17 -40 meter, only use the right connection on the coil. It is easy to build at home. Use 6m fishing pole or hang it in a tree. See more on my home page. ([url]http://www.sm5mek.se/antenner/four-band-vertical-four-ant/[/url])  8)
([url]http://www.sm5mek.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/SANY1000-150x150.jpg[/url])

Looks good Jenny. Is there any chance that you could post a sketch of the circuit. I might have a try a making one like yours.
All info is on my homepage at adress http://www.sm5mek.se/antenner/four-band-vertical-four-ant/ (http://www.sm5mek.se/antenner/four-band-vertical-four-ant/) all in English. Higest fq is radiator and after that i did one coil for every other band on lower fq. Tuned coil by coil with 2 proper ground wire.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: KC8AON on November 25, 2014, 17:08:12 UTC
My favorite righ now is a "vertical half rombic"  see my post" All band no tuner needed antenna (This is and endfed antenna) on this forum for more information, but its an all band endfed wire that requires no tuner at all.  Just put it up and start operating any band you wish.  No, its not the most efficient design in the world, but for all band operation including 160 meters, its a great design if you happen to have an all band rig.  SWR less than 2:1 10 thru 160 meters and very simple to errect !  Here's a link to my post about it: https://www.qrpclub.org/qrp/index.php?topic=859.0 (https://www.qrpclub.org/qrp/index.php?topic=859.0)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: ON6KZ on July 21, 2015, 09:02:19 UTC
I like my Alexloop magnetic loop antenna. Covers 40m to 10m. Very lightweight and it takes only 2 minutes to put it together.
Restrictions: max. 10 W CW / 20W SSB.

(http://i60.tinypic.com/15d9fgy.jpg)
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: IK5XCT on September 16, 2015, 23:41:52 UTC
I like my DXLOOP .. an interesting project with a higher gain compared to Alexloop .... i use 1,2m external diameter with Cellflex 1/2" (copper ext. diam 12,3mm) .. AlexLoop use 1m with RS217 (cooper ext diam7,35mm) ... the theoretical gains are higher (20m DXLOOP efficiency than the dipole positioned half-wave height: 66% -- 20m ALEXLOOP efficiency: 37,8%), (40m DXLOOP efficiency: 15,1% -- 20m ALEXLOOP efficiency: 5,1%) .... You can see my project  http://www.qsl.net/ik5xct/ (http://www.qsl.net/ik5xct/)   lookat DXLOOP  or watch this video https://youtu.be/quADHsJWWjA (https://youtu.be/quADHsJWWjA) ... Anyway .. Alexloop is a good product but very expensive !!!
(http://www.qsl.net/ik5xct/Immagini/dxloop_ik5xct_diameter.jpg)
with me in SOTA QRP trekking expedition
(http://www.qsl.net/ik5xct/Immagini/sota_monte_matanna2015_ik5xct.jpg)

Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: W6VFW on December 29, 2015, 21:49:42 UTC
My favorite is the Par Endfedz 10-20-40 with my 31 foot jacktite fiberglass telescoping pole. I am setup in just minutes. When I feel like struggling a little, I use my buddiepole antenna. I like it, but just takes too long too setup.
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: AL7JK on February 10, 2019, 17:57:59 UTC
Enjoying this discussion of portable antennas. Last
summer obtained a telescoping mast from spiderbeam.
All manner of longwires, loops etc. strung up quickly
and easily.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/y56B4vvDbZHDcvTw7 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/y56B4vvDbZHDcvTw7)

73
AL7JK
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: GM0LVI on February 10, 2019, 19:20:35 UTC
I've also got a Spiderbeam pole and use it to support a 20/30m trapped GP when we go the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. It's a VERY windy location so have to ensure the pole is well guyed!

Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: AL7JK on February 11, 2019, 14:16:44 UTC
Greetings Dave ! Having my morning coffee and viewing
your excellent photography at:
https://dxnews.com/gm0lvi-p/ (https://dxnews.com/gm0lvi-p/)
 Any advice on how you guy your mast under such
windy conditions ? When I purchased my mast
the folks at spiderbeam had this webbing
sewn in a unique shape for attaching guy lines.
I've yet to try it.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vbno7s7EgLFzfM7u6 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vbno7s7EgLFzfM7u6)

73
AL7JK
Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: GM0LVI on February 11, 2019, 15:57:39 UTC
Greetings Dave ! Having my morning coffee and viewing
your excellent photography at:
https://dxnews.com/gm0lvi-p/ (https://dxnews.com/gm0lvi-p/)
 Any advice on how you guy your mast under such
windy conditions ? When I purchased my mast
the folks at spiderbeam had this webbing
sewn in a unique shape for attaching guy lines.
I've yet to try it.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vbno7s7EgLFzfM7u6 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vbno7s7EgLFzfM7u6)

73
AL7JK

I guy the mast at the 7m height and also lower down a few metres above the base. The radials which are made from fairly strong wire also prove a little support, though I try not to put much stress on them.
I did get that fabric guy ring from Spiderbeams but wasn't terribly pleased with it and now use a pair of plastics guy rings from Sota beams - these are slightly tapered on the inside and form a very snug fit on the pole.
https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/antenna-supports-and-hardware/?sort=pricedesc&page=2 (https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/antenna-supports-and-hardware/?sort=pricedesc&page=2)

Title: Re: What's your favourite antenna for portable activity?
Post by: AL7JK on February 11, 2019, 23:18:24 UTC
 Thank you for the sotabeams info Dave.
Will look into their products.

73
AL7JK