Thanks Motters. It seems like such a long time ago that I filmed this! At the risk of destroying the magic of television (or UA-cam as the case might be) I'll admit that this was actually filmed over a month ago, before I went to the USA! I'm hoping to be back on the air, and also active on UA-cam soon. I'm now back in the UK (having passed all of the exams 2 days ahead of schedule) but have unfortunately been bed-ridden for the last few days with a mild chest infection, which kinda sucks to be honest! Once I recover from that, I'll be back!
Thanks Andy. It's good to be back home but I'll let you in on a little secret..........this video was actually filmed at the end of October before I went to the states..........sorry to spoil the illusion! I am back in the UK but unfortunately I'm struggling to kick the tail end of a mild chest infection. I decided to release this video in the interim to keep things ticking over while I'm absent on sick leave! The trip to USA went very well. It was every bit as intense & stressful as I anticipated. Having said that, I did manage to complete the training course (& associated exams) 2 days early, so I can't of done too bad. I'm just glad it's over as it had been weighing on my mind for about 6 months. Once I recover from this damn chest infection I will be back to livestreaming & filming some more content for UA-cam soon!
Yep, worked really well on 40m but performance was a little disappointing on 20m. I'm not sure if that was the orientation of the antenna, poor band conditions, or the radiation pattern of a full wave wire? Maybe a combination of all three. Ultimately it was an interesting experiment but not what I would consider to be a "practical" SOTA antenna. Those masts are too big & heavy to carry any great distance. It also takes up a lot of space on the summit, so really not an option for busy summits where you are likely to see other people.
James, thanks for this interesting video! In the past I have investigated several different setups and created models for this 20m long EFHW (with a 6m tall GF mast). My conclusion was that an inverted-L (or more precisely an inverted-7) probably produces the best radiation pattern for 40m and 20m. On 40m, the horizontal radiator part works well for NVIS and on 20m the vertical radiator part helps for a flat radiation. This and more can be found in my 50+ page portable 7-band EFHW antenna document. Antenna experiments are fun! 73 Stephan
Hi Stephan. Interesting to hear your conclusions. Where can I find your antenna document? I would be interested to have read through! I think you are right about the inverted L (or inverted 7 if you prefer) being a really good compomise between DX on 20m & NVIS on 40m. In an ideal world I would say that I think it's better to have a horizontal antenna for 40 (almost all of my 40m contacts are sub 500 miles around the UK, I don't really use 40m for chasng DX) and have a separate vertical antenna for 20m (which is where I work most of my DX). Unfortunately, not everyone has the option of putting up 2 antennas. If you can only have one antenna for both bands then I agree the inverted L is the best compromise.
@@AmateurRadioUK Hi James, thanks for your reply! Yes, the inverted-L is probably the best compromise for NVIS on the lower bands and DX on the higher ones. You'll find my document using my call plus EFHW. Sorry, but I can't post a link or even use more concrete terms, otherwise G will del. my post. You make great and authentic videos, thanks a lot!
Yep, definitely not one for busy summits. It takes up a lot of space. Those "portable" masts also become quite heavy after you've carried them a couple of KM. Somehow I can't see this becomming my regular SOTA setup!
Hi James, Jaysus fair play for carrying them poles up the hill!! 😂 Interesting experiment though indeed... Im considering switching to a 20m 1/4 wave vertical light wire running up the sota 8m mast, then use the tuner in the x6100 for 40m..
Would be interested to see how that 1/4 wave vertical works for you Dave. You might get some loss in the coax due to the high SWR but for SOTA you are only going to have a short coax run. My guess is that it shouldn't be that different to running a loaded vertical (which I do regularly in the form of the Slidewinder). Do a video fo it if you do try that.
Good video James and interesting antenna setup. When I saw the low cloud surrounding your summit I thought the clag would set in and you would get your usual soaking. Seems the Weather Gods have given up trying to dampen your enthusiasm. Nice pile up you had there. I've had some success using EFHW antennas and I must try some more activations using them again soon. 73 Chris M0RSF
The weather Gods did give me a bit of a soaking on my way up but I put my waterproofs on and carried on regardless, giving them the 2 finger salute as I went! I think they got bored at that point! Like you, I've always had really good results with EFHW antennas. I've also found them to be really good DX antennas when mounted vertically on a fibreglass mast with a bit of height above the ground. Obviously that's only really practical on the upper HF bands.
Good experiment James
Great to see you are active James. It taking part which counts. Doesn't matter how you get there.
Fantastic work mate.
73😊
Thanks Motters.
It seems like such a long time ago that I filmed this! At the risk of destroying the magic of television (or UA-cam as the case might be) I'll admit that this was actually filmed over a month ago, before I went to the USA!
I'm hoping to be back on the air, and also active on UA-cam soon.
I'm now back in the UK (having passed all of the exams 2 days ahead of schedule) but have unfortunately been bed-ridden for the last few days with a mild chest infection, which kinda sucks to be honest!
Once I recover from that, I'll be back!
Great to see you back James. Hope usa went all ok 👍
Thanks Andy. It's good to be back home but I'll let you in on a little secret..........this video was actually filmed at the end of October before I went to the states..........sorry to spoil the illusion!
I am back in the UK but unfortunately I'm struggling to kick the tail end of a mild chest infection. I decided to release this video in the interim to keep things ticking over while I'm absent on sick leave!
The trip to USA went very well. It was every bit as intense & stressful as I anticipated. Having said that, I did manage to complete the training course (& associated exams) 2 days early, so I can't of done too bad. I'm just glad it's over as it had been weighing on my mind for about 6 months.
Once I recover from this damn chest infection I will be back to livestreaming & filming some more content for UA-cam soon!
@AmateurRadioUK get well soon James is good to have ya back
Good pile up!! Nice experiment with a fairly low wire. Just shows what can be done.
Yep, worked really well on 40m but performance was a little disappointing on 20m. I'm not sure if that was the orientation of the antenna, poor band conditions, or the radiation pattern of a full wave wire? Maybe a combination of all three.
Ultimately it was an interesting experiment but not what I would consider to be a "practical" SOTA antenna.
Those masts are too big & heavy to carry any great distance. It also takes up a lot of space on the summit, so really not an option for busy summits where you are likely to see other people.
James, thanks for this interesting video!
In the past I have investigated several different setups and created models for this 20m long EFHW (with a 6m tall GF mast). My conclusion was that an inverted-L (or more precisely an inverted-7) probably produces the best radiation pattern for 40m and 20m. On 40m, the horizontal radiator part works well for NVIS and on 20m the vertical radiator part helps for a flat radiation.
This and more can be found in my 50+ page portable 7-band EFHW antenna document.
Antenna experiments are fun!
73 Stephan
Hi Stephan. Interesting to hear your conclusions. Where can I find your antenna document? I would be interested to have read through!
I think you are right about the inverted L (or inverted 7 if you prefer) being a really good compomise between DX on 20m & NVIS on 40m.
In an ideal world I would say that I think it's better to have a horizontal antenna for 40 (almost all of my 40m contacts are sub 500 miles around the UK, I don't really use 40m for chasng DX) and have a separate vertical antenna for 20m (which is where I work most of my DX).
Unfortunately, not everyone has the option of putting up 2 antennas. If you can only have one antenna for both bands then I agree the inverted L is the best compromise.
@@AmateurRadioUK Hi James, thanks for your reply!
Yes, the inverted-L is probably the best compromise for NVIS on the lower bands and DX on the higher ones.
You'll find my document using my call plus EFHW. Sorry, but I can't post a link or even use more concrete terms, otherwise G will del. my post.
You make great and authentic videos, thanks a lot!
Very interesting!!!! Thank YOU very much !!!! de US4ET Victor . 73 !!!
That’s an interesting and impressive setup James, only really viable on summits with very few people around I would suggest.
Yep, definitely not one for busy summits. It takes up a lot of space.
Those "portable" masts also become quite heavy after you've carried them a couple of KM. Somehow I can't see this becomming my regular SOTA setup!
Hi James,
Jaysus fair play for carrying them poles up the hill!! 😂
Interesting experiment though indeed...
Im considering switching to a 20m 1/4 wave vertical light wire running up the sota 8m mast, then use the tuner in the x6100 for 40m..
Would be interested to see how that 1/4 wave vertical works for you Dave.
You might get some loss in the coax due to the high SWR but for SOTA you are only going to have a short coax run.
My guess is that it shouldn't be that different to running a loaded vertical (which I do regularly in the form of the Slidewinder).
Do a video fo it if you do try that.
Good video James and interesting antenna setup. When I saw the low cloud surrounding your summit I thought the clag would set in and you would get your usual soaking. Seems the Weather Gods have given up trying to dampen your enthusiasm. Nice pile up you had there. I've had some success using EFHW antennas and I must try some more activations using them again soon.
73 Chris M0RSF
The weather Gods did give me a bit of a soaking on my way up but I put my waterproofs on and carried on regardless, giving them the 2 finger salute as I went! I think they got bored at that point!
Like you, I've always had really good results with EFHW antennas. I've also found them to be really good DX antennas when mounted vertically on a fibreglass mast with a bit of height above the ground. Obviously that's only really practical on the upper HF bands.