SSB / Ham Antenna

[la5zo]

For the past months we have had regular contact with LA8OZ/MM who is in the South Pacific. He gets through to us Hams in Norway with a decent signal using 100 watts to an 18 feet whip mounted on the push pit. The antenna is matched via an automatic antenna tuner. The antenna is made by pulling a wire inside a telescopic fibre grass fishingpole. He also uses the backstay, but the whip is far superior for long haul contacts on the higher bands.

Geir/LA5ZO
S/Y Ocean Viking

[btrayfors]

Geir,

Yep, verticals often have better long distance propagation (DX) due to their lower vertical angle of radiation.

I'd wager your friend would do even better with a vertical dipole cut for the 20-meter band. They work like gangbusters for really long hauls.

Here's how to make a marinized one which will stand up to the rigorous ocean environment, including hurricanes.

Click twice on each picture for full resolution.

Marine Antennas

Bill
WA6CCA
S/V Born Free

[AnchorageGuy]

FYI, For anyone interested, we finished the install and it is working great. We posted it here, The Trawler Beach House: Is It Hard To Install A Single Side Band Radio? . Chuck

[la5zo]

Thanks for the dipole suggestion Bill. I know many Hams use them in various sizes. The neg. side used on a boat: They are monoband antennas.
But as it's a simple construction it's easy to rig and use.

On a boat one would be interrested in an efficient antenna that requires little space and mounted away from other signal consuming arrays, like masts/spars etc. The other important thing is that they are efficient on many bands.
This whip is tuned by his ATU - is the best option for for long distance HF.
For MF and up to 6 MHz he uses the aft stay which gives him better results.

Geir/LA5ZO
S/Y Ocean Viking