The Portable Antenna Kit

Here is the details on the portable antenna kit I use. This Sunday I set up in my back yard, as my regular antenna is current unserviceable.

The operating position was using the terrace furniture for the Icom IC7300 and the Emtron EAT300A ATU

A Squidpole and a 40M dipole as an inverted "V" worked great

Details of the Portable Antenna Kit I have assembled.

VK2WI ARNSW Sunday Morning News. 
Great signals on 40M AM and 30M SSB 
OK on 5.425kHz (VKE580)

Our Trip to Victoria - Antennapalooza

  Our Trip to Victoria - Antennapalooza - 3th to 5th December 2021

Our hosts Ian VK3BUF and Di 

All set up for tomorrow

The crowd arrives on day 1

An Aerial Shot from the video below by Drop Table Adventures

Video thanks to Drop Table Adventures

A boom lift is handy

Us and the others staying at the top of the paddock 

Ian was a presenter on HF Mobile Antennas

A bit of CW on 40M in Chris's mobile shack

Time to pack up

Modifying and Equipping Our Motorhome 2 Continued...

 The 2m/70cm/CB antenna mount was fitted and the Transceiver plugged into a cigarette Lighter to power it. Looks really messy!

The IVECO is quite a complex vehicle and difficult to add additional systems to. The VHF/UHF Amateur radio only draws a maximum of 5 Amps and there is a sub fuse panel behind the dashboard. The use of a Fuse Tap is not the preferable way of adding a circuit, but a better solution than intruding into the back of the fuse panel.

The Co-Ax cable made it though the grommet. 

Things are quite tight in here! 

There was a convenient earth point.

The end result is a lot more pleasing to the eye.

The planned install of a HF Transceiver draws up to 20 Amps and will need a direct connection to the battery and will also need the services of someone younger than I who is familiar with the Iveco electrics.

Automotive Electrics is a young persons game.

Modifying and Equipping Our Motorhome 2

The next item to be fitted is the antenna mount.

This is the 2m/70cm/CB antenna mount. 2m is an VHF Amater Radio Band, 70cm  is a UHF Amateur Radio band and CB is often what gets referred to, in error, as "The UHF". Used by Truck drivers and travellers.

In truth the UHF Radio Spectrum is used by many services such as, Government and Public two way radio/data, Digital TV, Garage Door Openers, Car Remotes, Military, Amateur Radio etc and CB uses a small part of the UHF spectrum too.

Depending in which state you are in dictates the rules on mounting antennas, light bars etc, so check with the rules that apply to you.

Some states frown on antennas on the drivers side  and anything that sticks out beyond the dimensions of the vehicle. Having said that I'm constantly amazed in what we do see on the road!

Deni Ute Muster 2014

The install of a commercially available mount was quick and easy once I knew where. 

A neat solution

Now to run in the cabling through the firewall gland and tap off the 12 volt power.

DX Group Reunion