Hey Bob, thanks for sharing the video. I agree with you, the best part of Ham Radio is how we all share our best ideas into the community! My ground radials are all silicon-coated orange wire with high visibility so no need for bright markers. As for the WRC tripods, I use 3x 14 cent lawn staples (6") to push over each leg at an angle. These are very inexpensive, small to pack and work extremely well in wind gusts even with the big whip 😀73 KJ6ER
Thanks Richard. I've had a few people ask me about that table. I've had it over 10 years and beat the heck out of it. They are pricey, but boy are they strong and convenient! Hangs on my garage wall just waiting for a reason to be unfolded.
Bob your video is great. The only thing I see is more money. I use Lowes yard Marker Flags. 25 ct, 18" high with many colors, under $11. On my radials I have cramped on wire terminals at one end, when deploying the radials, I put one of the flags through the terminal which holds it down and in place then place 2 more flags in the ground where the radials lay going back to the base and sometimes the only flags I use is at the terminals. I have 20 radials out with these flags. I also use the flags for my coax run after it leaves the radial field area back the radio. Believe me l have had no one come into the area when working. Yet I have had folks stop and ask what I am doing. For the legs I use my old gun bench sandbags, which are wrapped around the legs with Velcro to keep the legs down, it's never been toppled over in heavy winds. BTY, I use a 213" whip. Just my 2 cents.
Yard markers are a great idea. The thing about ham radio operation is you can spend tons, or little; the contacts and enjoyment are the same! Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed the video! Love my WRC and I usually use a 3 foot long ground rod at the beach, I’ve found that sometimes it’s too long. This is good info! 73 de K4OGO
Thanks Walt. I presume that ground rod comes up pretty easy for you, but holds everything tall and straight. Gotta love the beach sand. Just started playing with the RS-978; made 3 contacts out of my first 4 attempts this AM.
Try the 32x84 aluminum window screen, rolls out or in, in just seconds and seems to work equally well as a counterpoise, but YMMV. I can't wait to try it on the POTA WMAs this winter.
Ape, its not a sexy piece of gear in any way, but they just work. If you want to dial the coil in on a frequency best to have an analyzer. As always, your feedback is appreciated.
The things you put on the legs can be put on a lawn nail and used to put in guide wires. I am thinking about what I can put at the top of my Wolf River Coil to do guide wires, 550 card not wire. de W4DES east coast. Thanks for the information!
@@HOAHamRadio I have the longer legs on the back. Also have the bigger high power coil and the 2 that can go between the base and the coil. This can put the coil about 4 feet up. I don't know how to put a guide point on the whip without it sliding down the whip. But with the 2 about 18 inch parts under the coil, a plastic ring that will fit on the top of the coil with places to put guide ropes should help hold it. I am also looking for a hitch mount that should hold it without guide ropes. If my F150 can't hold it up then I don't need to be talking on it.
William, its not cheap nor lightweight, but is sure is a durable workhorse. Have had mine for over 10 years. I use it to support my table saw, miter box, and other stuff when I'm in construction mode. Its a convenience for my videos based on how quickly it sets up. Here is an Amazon affiliate link amzn.to/3BTc4Nc Tractor Supply used to carry them in store; not sure if they still do or not.
You can get an MFJ-1979 on Amazon, amzn.to/3Tmva41 Or Giga Parts maybe a little less. Wolf River Coil also sells replacement whips; there's are definitely less expensive, but not as robust at the MFJ-1979. Wolf River Coil are not cheaply made, they just have less material and therefore are a little lower cost--as long as you aren't hard on them they last a while.
I prefer ground spikes for the reason you point out. This was to help those who prefer to use the WRC tripod...lots of people out there love it and prefer it. Thanks for stopping by, watching, and commenting.
Get a $12 mirror mount, add a spike of your choice and you’re done. Better yet buy a quick release mirror mount, add an antenna stud mount all for $32 and you can attach it to virtually anything.
Hey Bob, thanks for sharing the video. I agree with you, the best part of Ham Radio is how we all share our best ideas into the community! My ground radials are all silicon-coated orange wire with high visibility so no need for bright markers. As for the WRC tripods, I use 3x 14 cent lawn staples (6") to push over each leg at an angle. These are very inexpensive, small to pack and work extremely well in wind gusts even with the big whip 😀73 KJ6ER
Another great option Greg, thanks for sharing how you pull it off!
Good stuff, Bob! I'll be honest! I'm digging that folding table / workbench! I'm gonna get me one of those too!
Thanks Richard. I've had a few people ask me about that table. I've had it over 10 years and beat the heck out of it. They are pricey, but boy are they strong and convenient! Hangs on my garage wall just waiting for a reason to be unfolded.
Bob your video is great. The only thing I see is more money. I use Lowes yard Marker Flags. 25 ct, 18" high with many colors, under $11. On my radials I have cramped on wire terminals at one end, when deploying the radials, I put one of the flags through the terminal which holds it down and in place then place 2 more flags in the ground where the radials lay going back to the base and sometimes the only flags I use is at the terminals. I have 20 radials out with these flags. I also use the flags for my coax run after it leaves the radial field area back the radio. Believe me l have had no one come into the area when working. Yet I have had folks stop and ask what I am doing. For the legs I use my old gun bench sandbags, which are wrapped around the legs with Velcro to keep the legs down, it's never been toppled over in heavy winds. BTY, I use a 213" whip. Just my 2 cents.
Yard markers are a great idea. The thing about ham radio operation is you can spend tons, or little; the contacts and enjoyment are the same! Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed the video! Love my WRC and I usually use a 3 foot long ground rod at the beach, I’ve found that sometimes it’s too long. This is good info! 73 de K4OGO
Thanks Walt. I presume that ground rod comes up pretty easy for you, but holds everything tall and straight. Gotta love the beach sand. Just started playing with the RS-978; made 3 contacts out of my first 4 attempts this AM.
@@HOAHamRadio awesome! Good DX my friend!
BD7-Maple provides the UHF to 3/8 24 option now. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Java Joe, he also just recently improved it to be stronger; I'll have a very brief video out on it in a few weeks.
Someday 3-D printers will be full-time RVer friendly, lol. Cheers, Davey - KU9L
Thanks for watching Davey, Cheers.
Not bad. I use three .64 cent Walmart tent stakes to hold the legs down. So far so good.
Tent stakes seems like a good simple and easy approach; nice. Avoids the expense of a 3D printer as well.
This is what I do, too. Works and it's simple.
@@imarunner2 Keep it simple!
Try the 32x84 aluminum window screen, rolls out or in, in just seconds and seems to work equally well as a counterpoise, but YMMV. I can't wait to try it on the POTA WMAs this winter.
I've seen a few others taking this approach recently, interesting.
Nice job with the video, I’ve debated getting one of those coils a few times 👍
Ape, its not a sexy piece of gear in any way, but they just work. If you want to dial the coil in on a frequency best to have an analyzer. As always, your feedback is appreciated.
Thats a good idea Bob, I like the high vis yellow, but I prefer my 3d prints in Crayola red, looks good against the black radio.
I would have though Fire Engine Red...as you like to let the smoke out 😀
@@HOAHamRadio I've never let the smoke out of anything - that had red 3d printed parts.
Great video. Seems like a great antenna. 73s KF0EAU
Wolf River Coil, simple but affective!
great ideas...good call on the color. Red or orange would be much more visible against green grass
Hunting vest orange, I think that's the color. It will attract the deer also : )
Nice!!!
Thanks for watching Psyops. I still crack up every times your user name pops up on my screen.
I have the WRC SB1000 and a lot of wind in Iowa.. This is a great idea.. I like.. Thanks for sharing.. k0klb
Maybe weld a fitting to a york rake to attach that WRC to 🙂
The things you put on the legs can be put on a lawn nail and used to put in guide wires. I am thinking about what I can put at the top of my Wolf River Coil to do guide wires, 550 card not wire. de W4DES east coast. Thanks for the information!
Great idea Donald, take the support higher up on the whip. Thanks for sharing.
@@HOAHamRadio I have the longer legs on the back. Also have the bigger high power coil and the 2 that can go between the base and the coil. This can put the coil about 4 feet up. I don't know how to put a guide point on the whip without it sliding down the whip. But with the 2 about 18 inch parts under the coil, a plastic ring that will fit on the top of the coil with places to put guide ropes should help hold it. I am also looking for a hitch mount that should hold it without guide ropes. If my F150 can't hold it up then I don't need to be talking on it.
Where did you find the folding table? 73 AE4OY William Peacock EM-81UF Blackshear, GA 😎 (OLDYELLA)
William, its not cheap nor lightweight, but is sure is a durable workhorse. Have had mine for over 10 years. I use it to support my table saw, miter box, and other stuff when I'm in construction mode. Its a convenience for my videos based on how quickly it sets up.
Here is an Amazon affiliate link amzn.to/3BTc4Nc
Tractor Supply used to carry them in store; not sure if they still do or not.
Where can you buy the whip part of your antenna? Been looking for one to replace a broken one.
You can get an MFJ-1979 on Amazon, amzn.to/3Tmva41 Or Giga Parts maybe a little less. Wolf River Coil also sells replacement whips; there's are definitely less expensive, but not as robust at the MFJ-1979. Wolf River Coil are not cheaply made, they just have less material and therefore are a little lower cost--as long as you aren't hard on them they last a while.
What not get a mirror mount connet to something you can drive into the ground
I prefer ground spikes for the reason you point out. This was to help those who prefer to use the WRC tripod...lots of people out there love it and prefer it.
Thanks for stopping by, watching, and commenting.
Get a $12 mirror mount, add a spike of your choice and you’re done. Better yet buy a quick release mirror mount, add an antenna stud mount all for $32 and you can attach it to virtually anything.
@ tom smith great suggestions! So many options to fit every possible situation.