Shirley.
I know Steve being a SB1/II builder and just about every one of his test
gear and digital dial bits over the last 15 or more years. He designs
really slick radios.
I have two of the PAR EF40/20/10s. I have them setup with stackable
wires for any band from 60M through 10M. I found some connectors
that are like spade lugs but they latch into each other in a hook like
way so the don't pull apart. I have to find more of them. Killer for
segmented wires. Usually used for 40 or 20M in my case so one
wire does it.
The idea of multiple antennas is not a killer for portable as often many
bands are unsuitable for the next few years or not a best choice.
The 10M antenna weighs in as fairly light (3.7 oz with the antenna
wire) but If I'd used a BNC connector and a QRP sized coil it would
be very light. I was thinking of FD and back yard use not packing it.
At the QRP power level I've gotten under 1oz for the box and the
wire can be very light as well (#26 Polystealth at .38 pounds per
1000ft ). After all I think in terms of .050 braided nylon cord
for hanging wires for temporary use as I often change and add
antennas here. Reality is often the antenna can be the lighter
part of the radio kit.
I also understand light weight. Usually the trail friendly radios are not
FT817 DC to daylight radios and typically 1 to 3 bands so a 80-10
antenna makes for much extra weight. I've watched people try and
get a 80M antenna up and mostly not succeed when the highest
thing around is maybe a 15ft high rock. Dense wooded areas
present challenges as well, its the branches in the way. Biggest
issue is an antenna that is viable on a hilltop with 25mpg gusts
and not a tree in sight.
I feel that's even more divergent from Johns work here as he is
working on Baluns and transformers that don't melt at 100 to
QRO power levels. A pair of FT240-43 are not light when put
in a Polycarbonate box. At QRP levels the problem is
manageable and the losses can be kept down. Its a big
part of the considerations that go into matching the radio
to whatever antenna..
That and I'm likely one of the few that does things like run 10M
and do DX country hunting at the bottom of the solar cycle when
everyone else feels 20 is dead for DX. ;) I chalk it up to my
many years of VHF/uhf commercial work and my affinity to
VHF and UHF. That and I tend to favor phone(SSB) so
some bands like 30M are not my tea and digtial modes
means dragging a computer of some form.
However with that, going to the field with a portable radio
weight is a big factor, and the bands most likely to get contacts
typically have been 40 and 20. An 80M antenna is big and
daytime absorption is high and bands above 20 and likely to
be the level of sketchy most want to take on. So 60-20M
are the likely ones.
FYI: my favorite antenna for odd cases on the 160 and 80/75M
bands is the Grasswire, lossy and long at about 130ft but
universal rubber duck for HF and flat places. With the
transformer its under a half pound mostly for the ferrite.
Allison
