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Non-Resonant antenna for QMX POTA operations


 

Parks On The Air (POTA) with my QMX (#133) has found a 100% activation success rate using a simple wire antenna that tunes 40M and 20M with the aid of the 4 State Tuner. 18 gauge speaker wire with one side 15 meters and the other side 7 meters is tied in an electricians knot at the center and then 10 meters is left together zip cord style terminating with banana plugs. This plugs directly into the 4 State Tuner without the need of a balun. I throw the ends into trees and support the center with a Jackite telescoping pole up 32 feet that just conveniently leans into the overhead tree foliage. I have now activated over 20 parks with this setup using a QMX and full voltage 13.8v LiFePO4 battery. Everything fits into a small box and when carrying my pole it looks like I'm going fishing!

Interestingly, the AGC issue caused me to briefly switch to using the QCX-Mini, but the non-resonant antenna has a buzzy side tone with the QCX-mini that the beautifully shaped CW envelope in the SDR QMX totally eliminates! So I just very quickly turn down the volume when a loud station follows a faint one. Signals from all across the USA come in loud and clear. Thank You Hans for the perfect POTA machine. 72, Sandy KB3EOF


 

Could you post a sketch of your antenna?? Thanks? Dan


 

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Sure thing Dan - here is a sketch and photos. It is a simple OCFD and I optimized it for 40-30-20 meters using antenna modeling software (MMANA). The 4 state tuner tunes it easily on those three frequencies (and above). Sandy KB3EOF



aa0jr Jakob
 

Great setup at low cost. One thing just wonders me: is the QMX connected to the ANT side of the tuner?


 

Yes - I noticed that too late! My bad, the QMX should connect to XCVR. 72 Sandy KB3EOF


 

The tuner should be the last in the chain. QMX is transmitter and hooks up to TX side of the tuner, ANT hooks up to ANT side.

On Friday, August 25, 2023 at 12:19:08 PM MDT, aa0jr Jakob via groups.io <aa0jr@...> wrote:


Great setup at low cost. One thing just wonders me: is the QMX connected to the ANT side of the tuner?


 

Please post pix, Sandy.

73 Jim K1IR