Julian, G4ILO wrote:
The idea of using a counterpoise made from a "roll-up" short wave
antenna seems a good one. Unfortunately as so often I find myself
cursing the fact that I do not live in the US because I have no Radio
Shack shops where I can obtain one.
I almost bought the radio shack antenna until I realized it was insulated
wire. I guess that if it is only partly unwound, then the end will have a
coil on it.
I wouldn't want to have that on the end of a dipole but I just don't know
about that the use in a counterpoise. (I hope some else comments on this )
If we can assume this is OK to do then you could just solder a wire or a
clip to the end of the measuring tape or use a small nut and bolt scraping
the shield.
You can also take a plastic chalkline that carpenters use, discard the
string, put wire on the spool with clips on the end.
If you take 2 of those and some chopsticks and rubber bands then you also
have a dipole with open feed ladder line.
This idea is Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA's Idea and it is called the "MINIBAC"
Here is the page on it
I am using some # 22 wire and I get 77 feet on each chalk line. The secret
is to completely unwind each line.
73 DE Sharyl W3VET
Just to you Julian,
Is it SWR bars on the transmitter that you are referring to for your
measurements?
If you are using an antenna analyzer you may be near a commercial
transmitter 5 miles or so and the readings can be pretty weird.
