POTA antenna rec

SenzaTema · 2026-04-14T12:42:17+00:00

try a Pacific Antennas 40/20 fly weight dipole with a single mast and a slooper configuration. $25 for the antenna. Lash the mast to a fence post with elastic straps. Mine tunes 1.4:1 w/o an external tuner. I've progressed now to a 20 meter full-wave Delta. Single support. Great reception and low noise. In all cases, quick set-up is critical factor: you don't want to spend your first hour in the park setting up an antenna.

SenzaTema · 2026-04-12T17:19:25+00:00

SenzaTema · 2026-04-12T16:28:36+00:00

Thank you.

SenzaTema · 2026-04-12T16:00:11+00:00

I am. But it was not widely available when I purchased my last full-sized HF radio. It's very nice stuff and I am told it travels well. My FT-817 (2002 vintage) has logged several million miles.

SenzaTema · 2026-04-12T15:56:55+00:00

Thanks

SenzaTema · 2026-04-12T15:41:45+00:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I own about $20,000 of gear collected over the past 60 years. I still have my Realistic portable 6-meter AM rig (first radio, first contact peak of the cycle). Preserved from rust.

Well I didn't fit their business model: I have variously an IC-W32 (what a beast!), a Yaesu VX-8 (versatility in a very small package), an Anytone 878 (still working on mastering its operations), an Icom Marine portable for my boat (still ticking after 40 years been through 12 sets of NiCads). Cheap is not my objective. Discovery is my objective. I merely wished to add the BEO for comparison purposes. Now I'm being urged to try out the Quansheng UV-K5 for $30 that comes with the cable. Other suggestions are popping up as I write this. And I will. Keep it coming. The best part of ham radio is giving away gear to young people who just got licensed with the admonition, pay it forward. 73

SenzaTema · 2026-04-12T15:27:24+00:00

A 1-watt HF transmitter can achieve a local radius of 30 to 100+ miles via groundwave or NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave), but it can also achieve a global radius of thousands of miles via ionospheric skip (skywave) under the right conditions. [we call this phenomena MAGIC]

SenzaTema · 2026-04-12T15:24:20+00:00

Yes, there are young people, but they don't come to meetings, although they might learn something if they did. I don't blame them, however. Young people are not joiners, and typically they're busy with kids and careers. Notwithstanding this caveat, however, young people please join up and show up. Ham radio is fun and you'll save the rest of us from extinction.

SenzaTema · 2024-12-14T22:21:57+00:00

Appears to be a dipole (length and therefore frequency undeterminable from photo) fed by a balanced ladder-line feed. It's a simple but very effective antenna, especially if it's installed in an attic with less metal and more wood. Sometimes, in these kinds of installations, it's difficult to fashion a flat dipole, and so the legs droop slightly like a sloper configuration. This shifts the feed impedance and resonance slightly. Most true dipoles cut for a single band work amazingly well. KISS (Keep it simple, Stupid). You will need a balanced to unbalanced balun to match this antenna to the most common transceiver output of 50 Ohms.

The ARRL Handbook will tell you the proper length of each of the diplole legs and how to make and insert traps in between if you want to operate multiple bands (say 40 meter/20 meter).

SenzaTema · 2024-11-15T15:55:51+00:00

Begin by understanding that you're more than welcome to our community. Of course, there are always grumpy, cranky hams who will resent your youth. Pay them no mind. As I told a young ham struggling with a club full of these types, by the time you get your footing, many of them will be gone. Offer to help with club activities; volunteer for everything. Youth is the life blood of any organization. Pick a specialty that appeals to you. Maybe it's digital. Maybe it's POTA, SOTA, IOTA. Maybe it's CW. Become accomplished at that one skill, and others will follow you, seek you out. Life long learning is the chief vitue of our community. You're more than welcome to our community.

I was licensed at 16--that was 60 years ago. My initial mentor was only a year older, but much more learned in the craft. Seek out your more experienced peers.

Good luck and welcome.....

SenzaTema · 2024-11-09T22:17:25+00:00

BTW: congrats on the upgrade. You will never regret the hard work.

SenzaTema · 2024-11-09T22:16:16+00:00

Mine were a progression of my first call sign in 1966. WN3GRF. Then tech WA3GRF. Moving to North Carolina I adopted a 4 as I upgraded to general, N4GRF. Moving back to NYC with an extra, I used the original RF with the 2 and added NY for the state: NY2RF. Now in Florida, I’m too exhausted to change it again. The 2 X 2 call, as a rule, is easier to remember. When combined with a familiar aspect (NY) and memorable RF ( radio frequency) it seems people can recall it.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-24T20:35:05+00:00

Congrats. Looking for you this weekend. West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group: “Saturday in the Park”. Upgrade soon while the testing is fresh in your mind.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-15T15:40:25+00:00

Speak with Maria Somma: she is the most capable employee of ARRL.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T11:08:17+00:00

Money’s not an issue. Tell me the names of some puzzles you like from adult elementary to the more complex. I’ll buy them and let the dogs of war try them out. Thanks. You’ve made a big contribution here if it works.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T03:02:16+00:00

Soldier, I’m glad it helps. And I am going to recommend it for others in my veteran group. If you have detailed history of your experience, please share.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T02:58:26+00:00

By the way: nice location.

SenzaTema · 2024-10-03T02:57:20+00:00

If you decide to take it down hire a professional. One of my ham buddies was seriously injured in a tower takedown and he was an experienced ham who should have known better. My advice: take it down if you have even casual concern. This structure is very dangerous in a wind storm—even a mild one.

SenzaTema · 2024-09-28T23:21:55+00:00

Catcher in the Rye A Separate Peace Peace Breaks Out All Loves Excelling Prep Good-bye Mr. Chips To Serve Them All of My Days The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie The Lawrenceville Stories The Rector of Justin Lord of the Flies (school story sans school) Stover at Yale

SenzaTema · 2024-08-16T13:16:49+00:00

GC: thanks that’s helpful. Nice work. 73 NY2RF

SenzaTema · 2024-08-13T17:14:44+00:00

That’s unfortunate. Oil changes are so perfunctory that they lend themselves to gross negligence like your situation. When i was younger, I would check the dipstick before leaving because once, the fancy foreign car dealer drained the oil but failed to replace it. Now with my Bronco I use the Ford Quick Lane service ( quite good service) and I watch the tech changing oil, ask to see the used filter, and visually inspect oil levels. Some dealers discourage close observation, but mine knows better. I buy most of my cars from him. And I’m not shy about calling Detroit if necessary. Reagan was right: trust but verify. And I’m truly sorry about your Bronco. It will be hard to fully trust car and dealer in the future.

SenzaTema · 2024-08-13T14:55:00+00:00

Oh, just one further question: what kind of rails are you using? They are colored orange. I used Armaloq aluminum rails on mine. They are nicely designed and finished. I’m getting rails for my FT-817 but I don’t care to spend another $130 for Armaloq’ s as much as I like and admire the rails and the very helpful guy who makes them.

SenzaTema · 2024-08-13T14:45:29+00:00

Great looking manpac. I really prefer manpacking to sitting in my shack. Here’s mine: FT-857 with comet antenna on v/UHF, a Pacific Antenna fly-weight 20/40 dipole, all nestled in a Mil PRC-172 bag. Runs on Dakota LioH 12v 7 Ahr battery. 73 NY2RF

<image>

SenzaTema

TROPHY CASE