Hi, As a new foundation pass and someone already set up for mobile on 11m in my daily courier Sprinter. I ordered the Ampro that covers 12m before I found this video. I was so impressed I immediately got the 10m version. I have a Sirio new DV style hard body mount with S0239 antenna fitting. On 11m I was using a Sirio 4000 silver MW. It never SWRd well at all. I checked everything, grounds went over everything with a multimeter and although it was acceptable it was far from being great. 1.6 - 2.0. For these HF antennas I bought a Sirio S0239 to 3/8 adaptor whacked up the 12m and in very little time SWRd it at 1.2 across the usable 12m band. Amazing. One thing I will say is that personally I would not want to be driving along with one of these on a magmount unless it's one of those large tri pad ones. The 12m is too tall to stay on the van for driving (high roof Sprinter) I bash trees etc all the time with the Sirio but I think with the 12m Ampro at this height I'd also be knocking motorway gantries all day long. Fantastic antennas, considering the price I am extremely happy with them. Was straight into DX on 10w with great reports and SWR. I only have the 10m and 12m version.
Fantastic antennas, it was on your recommendation I bought the 20m hamstick. And then followed up by the 40 & 80m ones later :) they work flawlessly. Great starter antenna for a new ham like myself last year and I still use it.
Thank you. I have been badly bitten by the stationary-portable bug. I sold my FT817ND and got myself a Xeigu G90 (extra few watts) and have been using my old mag mount with a Diamond CL20. I'm really enjoying myself again on SSB in some very remote areas here in North Devon. I'm just about to order Ampro-40. The only downside is I'm just getting competent on CW (12-15 wpm) but can't get the SWR to a usable level on the lower frequencies on the bands. It's mind-boggling how far you can get out.
If you want to persist with the mag (single mag?) try choking the coax as close to the feedpoint as you can using a 240-31 toroid and wrap it around this 8-9 times. Not ideal but it might help with taming 40m?
I have used the Hamsticks (Lakeview versions) and have had fairly good results with them. I did find adding a shunt coil between the feed point and ground broad banded the antennas considerably. I started with a one inch diameter coil of about 10 turns and with enough spacing to keep turns from shorting out from vibration. I first tuned the Hamstick to the resonance point I wanted. Then I connected the coil. I adjusted the coil by changing spacing and shorting turns until SWR was at a usable value. Takes a bit of time, but worth it. I was getting about 100KHZ on 20 meters. Another trick is to replace the set screws that hold the whip in place with either a screw with a knob head, or weld an Allen wrench to the set screw. By adding file marks to the whip at various points, one can adjust the whip length to resonate at preselected points on the band. The shunt coil does not need to be readjusted when changing bands
They are good antennas. Matter of fact when I got home this morning from work at 730am, I gave out a .ca on 40 meter marine net freq and a station came back from Florida and I was in nj. He told me I had a very good signal since I was running 100 watt output into a mfj auto tuner with the hamstick type antenna mounted on a triple magmount on the trunk of car. Lots of people trash those antennas. I guess some works than others.
Big Fan of the Ampro style mobile Antenna Tim as is I've said before, bought some after seeing you videos when I got my M7 callsign. For the money I can't see how they can be beaten, though yours look better quality then mine as the whip is just the wire with 2 grub screws holding it in place. I have 40 & 20m but going to get 10m & may try 80 for laughs.. Helps having a HEMA point 3 miles down the road to park up near the top I think. Having more enjoyment mobile then at home as my newly installed all band vertical gets out well but is getting S8 QRM on 20m & S9+20 on 40m, not my house either... 👎😩 keep up the great videos.. 73s
I have used these for decades. A capacitor at the base will improve the match and keep you below 3:1 for more bandwidth. I just used one on a portable tripod with four radials and activated a POTA location on 20 and 40. Very efficient and affordable antennas!
Hi Tim I have just qualified for my 2E0 callsign and want to go /P for HF can you tell me where you get your Ampro Hamsticks from cheers just fell onto your channel from the DX Commander site on facebook keep up the great work look forward to you next vids. cheers Phil 2E0FJQ
phil hall hi Phil congrats on the 2E ... brilliant stuff. Ampros ... I get mine from Nevada Radio. Think Moonraker do them too. Appreciate the comment. Thank you! 73
I got mine from the chip butty emporium at Kirton Lindsey (Knights) These were branded "Watson" - same thing. 17 metres, I worked North Carolina and Isle of Man in the same qso
I use a 10 on 11 metres (I'm not an amateur!!!) and it does good has got me all over the country to Ireland into Germany (near Dresden) and generally across Europe
Could two of those be used in a loft, in some kind of inverted V type aerial for 10 meters, I can't really put anything on the outside of the building.
Let me tell you my story about fitting these by drilling the bodywork. I am really experienced at fitting antennas by drilling holes in the car, but I hit a snag with these. I decided to drill the back wing of a hatchback so I needed some sort of angled mount. I got a good quality DV mount with the angled adapter. It all went in fine. I added a spring to take some of the strain off the bodywork. Antenna tuned up fine. Great results on 20m. Until I drove off and it went horizontal nearly hitting the car behind. Basically the DV mount was not a solid lump of plastic. The centre conductor could rotate if there was enough force applied and it didn’t take much force. I think the answer would be a CB ball type mount but that requires a genuinely flat panel and modern cars don’t really have flat enough areas to do that on. I am driving a mini at the moment and considering using the tow hook fitting in the bumper to fit an antenna. People do this with some success. By the way you should try screwing the 40m antenna into the bottom half of the 10m one when you are stationary. Will need some adjustment but will improve your bandwidth and performance. In my youth I used Larkspur whips on a leyland mini. Full size 20m quarter wave while driving. Valve rig with an inverter! GM4SVM
..and the few dB you may lose with the short length, you'll MORE than make up on, if you run CW. Nice video Tim.. I cut my teeth running QRP on the cliffs on the Dorset coast many moons ago, Great times... 73
Watching some of your videos Tim. Really enjoyed this one. Looking at some mobile options for my van conversion, or “mobile station” in the amateur world!
Well apparently you have to ground them or they transmit all over the place. I'm trying to use MFJ one for 20 meters. It tripped breakers in the house just tuning the antenna.
@@timg5tm941 I live in an apartment and I was trying to use the car as an antenna mount. So I guess RF was coming back into the apartment and blowing my breakers. Only the ones that are AFCI. The radio, antenna tuner, and artificial ground were inside the apartment. I'm not sure what I will do, but that won't work as is. I'm using of the those 3 magnet mounts to hold one ham stick. It wasn't grounded at all.
Anyone used the ampro 160m and 80m mobile antennas or the sandpiper versions ...thinking of giving 80/160m mobile ago ...would only be mounted on a triple magmount ....no drilling permitted !!!
Hi Steve .. common consensus seems to be that the 80m whip whilst useable, is not too good a performer. I'd imagine the 160m whip would only be worse. The Ampro whips for example work ok on 40 and become very good from 20 and up. I really enjoy using mine on 20 especially parked by the sea! 73
Thanks Tim. Well for 20-10 I have no need (I can do to further improve grounding but it works v well anyway). For 40 I have issues with a creeping swr with the single mag so will try with a triple to see if that improves. Might well do a vid. 73
I have a MFJ 10m version it will go down to 26mhz no problem on a mag mount on my car but you will be over 2.1 on 29mhz the band spread on it is very good on 10 it covers the whole band under 2.1 proper ground would improve things I imagine
I firgot to mention I tried 40 meters, but results were not as good as pn the higher bands. A lot depends on the size of the vehicle. My car was 1991 Geo Metro convertible. WB4BKO.
Hello Tim, You mentioned a 160 meter ampro hamstick. I’ve scoured the internet and haven’t been able to locate one. Are they available in the UK? Thank you in advance Howie WA3MCK
Hi Tim I have the 20m stick but really into my dx and want something for 40m,am new to mobile just waiting for radio to arrive but want a good dx antenna for 40.can you recommend a decent but well tried antenna for 40m please mate.thankyou
Try a mono band 20m end fed half wave from UK antennas or if you have another 2m of space try the shortened 40 20 10m end fed Halfwave from someone like Hamtenna or Hyendfed
Hi,
As a new foundation pass and someone already set up for mobile on 11m in my daily courier Sprinter. I ordered the Ampro that covers 12m before I found this video. I was so impressed I immediately got the 10m version.
I have a Sirio new DV style hard body mount with S0239 antenna fitting. On 11m I was using a Sirio 4000 silver MW. It never SWRd well at all. I checked everything, grounds went over everything with a multimeter and although it was acceptable it was far from being great. 1.6 - 2.0.
For these HF antennas I bought a Sirio S0239 to 3/8 adaptor whacked up the 12m and in very little time SWRd it at 1.2 across the usable 12m band. Amazing.
One thing I will say is that personally I would not want to be driving along with one of these on a magmount unless it's one of those large tri pad ones. The 12m is too tall to stay on the van for driving (high roof Sprinter)
I bash trees etc all the time with the Sirio but I think with the 12m Ampro at this height I'd also be knocking motorway gantries all day long.
Fantastic antennas, considering the price I am extremely happy with them. Was straight into DX on 10w with great reports and SWR.
I only have the 10m and 12m version.
I use the 80 meter version and get very good results despite using it on a mag mount.
I use a Yaesu ft450d and use the internal ATU for good matching.
Fantastic antennas, it was on your recommendation I bought the 20m hamstick. And then followed up by the 40 & 80m ones later :) they work flawlessly. Great starter antenna for a new ham like myself last year and I still use it.
Mike1074 DX cheers mike
Thank you. I have been badly bitten by the stationary-portable bug. I sold my FT817ND and got myself a Xeigu G90 (extra few watts) and have been using my old mag mount with a Diamond CL20. I'm really enjoying myself again on SSB in some very remote areas here in North Devon. I'm just about to order Ampro-40. The only downside is I'm just getting competent on CW (12-15 wpm) but can't get the SWR to a usable level on the lower frequencies on the bands. It's mind-boggling how far you can get out.
If you want to persist with the mag (single mag?) try choking the coax as close to the feedpoint as you can using a 240-31 toroid and wrap it around this 8-9 times. Not ideal but it might help with taming 40m?
I have a couple of these Antennas Tim and they do work great 👍 you're right. 73
Cheers buddy
I have used the Hamsticks (Lakeview versions) and have had fairly good results with them. I did find adding a shunt coil between the feed point and ground broad banded the antennas considerably.
I started with a one inch diameter coil of about 10 turns and with enough spacing to keep turns from shorting out from vibration. I first tuned the Hamstick to the resonance point I wanted. Then I connected the coil. I adjusted the coil by changing spacing and shorting turns until SWR was at a usable value. Takes a bit of time, but worth it. I was getting about 100KHZ on 20 meters.
Another trick is to replace the set screws that hold the whip in place with either a screw with a knob head, or weld an Allen wrench to the set screw. By adding file marks to the whip at various points, one can adjust the whip length to resonate at preselected points on the band.
The shunt coil does not need to be readjusted when changing bands
Thanks for the info ... sounds interesting and might look into this for the 40m version. 73
@@timg5tm941
"Screw with knob head" = "wingnut" in the USA.
@@usernamemykel or "thumbscrew"
They are good antennas. Matter of fact when I got home this morning from work at 730am, I gave out a .ca on 40 meter marine net freq and a station came back from Florida and I was in nj. He told me I had a very good signal since I was running 100 watt output into a mfj auto tuner with the hamstick type antenna mounted on a triple magmount on the trunk of car. Lots of people trash those antennas. I guess some works than others.
I agree! I think the hobby can attract snobbery at times. These antennas are easy targets in that regard ... but even easier to use and they work! 73
Worked VK on 40m 10 watts using a Ampro good information Tim
Alan M6WHH great contact Alan
Big Fan of the Ampro style mobile Antenna Tim as is I've said before, bought some after seeing you videos when I got my M7 callsign. For the money I can't see how they can be beaten, though yours look better quality then mine as the whip is just the wire with 2 grub screws holding it in place. I have 40 & 20m but going to get 10m & may try 80 for laughs.. Helps having a HEMA point 3 miles down the road to park up near the top I think. Having more enjoyment mobile then at home as my newly installed all band vertical gets out well but is getting S8 QRM on 20m & S9+20 on 40m, not my house either... 👎😩 keep up the great videos.. 73s
James Hickman thanks for commenting James
I have used these for decades. A capacitor at the base will improve the match and keep you below 3:1 for more bandwidth. I just used one on a portable tripod with four radials and activated a POTA location on 20 and 40. Very efficient and affordable antennas!
Thanks for the info!
Hi Tim.Yes great aerials and I've had some excellent results with my set up using a triple magmount.73..Ian G7HFS.
Great to hear that Ian - hard to beat in terms of value for money aren't they? Thanks for the comment and for watching 73.
Hi Tim I have just qualified for my 2E0 callsign and want to go /P for HF can you tell me where you get your Ampro Hamsticks from cheers just fell onto your channel from the DX Commander site on facebook keep up the great work look forward to you next vids.
cheers Phil 2E0FJQ
phil hall hi Phil congrats on the 2E ... brilliant stuff. Ampros ... I get mine from Nevada Radio. Think Moonraker do them too. Appreciate the comment. Thank you! 73
I got mine from the chip butty emporium at Kirton Lindsey (Knights)
These were branded "Watson" - same thing.
17 metres, I worked North Carolina and Isle of Man in the same qso
Thanks for the idea. Just made my first contact on 20 meters with a ham stick and a mag mount on top of my pickup. It works very good. Thanks K7WHN
Brilliant! Hope you enjoy mobile Hf
I use a 10 on 11 metres (I'm not an amateur!!!) and it does good has got me all over the country to Ireland into Germany (near Dresden) and generally across Europe
Nimrod yes the Ampro 10 shows a below 2:1 SWR down below 27.000 MHz.
Could two of those be used in a loft, in some kind of inverted V type aerial for 10 meters, I can't really put anything on the outside of the building.
Definitely or as a flat dipole
Let me tell you my story about fitting these by drilling the bodywork. I am really experienced at fitting antennas by drilling holes in the car, but I hit a snag with these. I decided to drill the back wing of a hatchback so I needed some sort of angled mount. I got a good quality DV mount with the angled adapter. It all went in fine. I added a spring to take some of the strain off the bodywork. Antenna tuned up fine. Great results on 20m. Until I drove off and it went horizontal nearly hitting the car behind. Basically the DV mount was not a solid lump of plastic. The centre conductor could rotate if there was enough force applied and it didn’t take much force. I think the answer would be a CB ball type mount but that requires a genuinely flat panel and modern cars don’t really have flat enough areas to do that on. I am driving a mini at the moment and considering using the tow hook fitting in the bumper to fit an antenna. People do this with some success. By the way you should try screwing the 40m antenna into the bottom half of the 10m one when you are stationary. Will need some adjustment but will improve your bandwidth and performance. In my youth I used Larkspur whips on a leyland mini. Full size 20m quarter wave while driving. Valve rig with an inverter! GM4SVM
Wow ... I’ll look out for those mounts! Might try that 40/10 suggestion. Thank you! 73
..and the few dB you may lose with the short length, you'll MORE than make up on, if you run CW. Nice video Tim.. I cut my teeth running QRP on the cliffs on the Dorset coast many moons ago, Great times... 73
Good stuff - nice location
Great advice! Thanks Tim!
Glad it was helpful!
Watching some of your videos Tim. Really enjoyed this one. Looking at some mobile options for my van conversion, or “mobile station” in the amateur world!
Matt I’m very pleased you enjoyed this one. I’m going to take a keen interest in your van conversion too. 73
Hi Tim, what magmount base would you recommend for use with the Ampro Hamsticks please?
If you have enough metal a single. If not try a triple
Just came across your channel Tim. I like it. Subbed!👍☘️
Thank you!
Hi Tim,
Great video, before buying an Ampro antenna I want to ask you, whether it is possible to tune them for CW?
73 de DL1EJO Holger
Yes, absolutely
Well apparently you have to ground them or they transmit all over the place. I'm trying to use MFJ one for 20 meters. It tripped breakers in the house just tuning the antenna.
Were you using this on the car outside the house?
@@timg5tm941 I live in an apartment and I was trying to use the car as an antenna mount. So I guess RF was coming back into the apartment and blowing my breakers. Only the ones that are AFCI. The radio, antenna tuner, and artificial ground were inside the apartment. I'm not sure what I will do, but that won't work as is. I'm using of the those 3 magnet mounts to hold one ham stick. It wasn't grounded at all.
Anyone used the ampro 160m and 80m mobile antennas or the sandpiper versions ...thinking of giving 80/160m mobile ago ...would only be mounted on a triple magmount ....no drilling permitted !!!
Hi Steve .. common consensus seems to be that the 80m whip whilst useable, is not too good a performer. I'd imagine the 160m whip would only be worse. The Ampro whips for example work ok on 40 and become very good from 20 and up. I really enjoy using mine on 20 especially parked by the sea! 73
The_Radio_Op 2E0TWG-Tim hi Tim ...thanks for information...more or less what I was expecting...maybe try a 40m version cheers steve
Hi Tim. Great video. Do you earth your mag mount? Tim M0JGW
Thanks Tim. Well for 20-10 I have no need (I can do to further improve grounding but it works v well anyway). For 40 I have issues with a creeping swr with the single mag so will try with a triple to see if that improves. Might well do a vid. 73
@@timg5tm941 thanks Tim 73s
I am not sure if the 10 meter capable to be tuned to work 27 Mhz CB Band
It has an swr less than 2:1 from 27.200 upwards so covers most of the CB frequencies too. 73
I have a MFJ 10m version it will go down to 26mhz no problem on a mag mount on my car but you will be over 2.1 on 29mhz the band spread on it is very good on 10 it covers the whole band under 2.1 proper ground would improve things I imagine
I firgot to mention I tried 40 meters, but results were not as good as pn the higher bands. A lot depends on the size of the vehicle. My car was 1991 Geo Metro convertible. WB4BKO.
Ah yes size of ground plane
Hello Tim,
You mentioned a 160 meter ampro hamstick. I’ve scoured the internet and haven’t been able to locate one. Are they available in the UK? Thank you in advance Howie WA3MCK
I’ve found two UK retailers that sell them: Moonraker and Nevada Radio both selling at £59.95 but both showing out of stock.
Hi Tim I have the 20m stick but really into my dx and want something for 40m,am new to mobile just waiting for radio to arrive but want a good dx antenna for 40.can you recommend a decent but well tried antenna for 40m please mate.thankyou
The Ampro 40 works well but you need a good grounding at 7 MHz and below. 73
I have 2 21mhz ones , make a brilliant portable rotary dipole
Coiled like the old c.b. firestick which I did drill into rear quarter of my 2002 BMW in the 70s...may I burn in hell!!!!!
Ha!
73 IS0AMW
Thanks
has anyone ever used an Ampro for home base?
With radials they can be used also with 2 as a dipole
@@timg5tm941 is there a reasonably priced mono band 20m antenna that you would recommend? Thanks Tim 73 Rob
For HF at home?
@@timg5tm941 yes for a Home
Try a mono band 20m end fed half wave from UK antennas or if you have another 2m of space try the shortened 40 20 10m end fed Halfwave from someone like Hamtenna or Hyendfed
too much talking.. no demo....sorry...
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