VE6AB Antenna Werks
10-60 Meter Portable Antenna
The 10-60 meter vertical antenna as seen here is of my own design and build.
With the antenna shown on the cover of the 2018 June issue of QST, and email arriving in my inbox as to what the antenna is, I have supplied links below that describes the various components making up this antenna.
With plans for operating HF away from the road, whether it be in the backcountry, or on the ice of a frozen lake like I have in mind for my first excursion away from home with this new setup that I have been assembling, I needed a portable antenna to use with my Yaesu FT-897ND..
For some time I wanted to acquire a transceiver capable of being operated off internal batteries with an output of 20 watts or so, without having to transport a external battery that required more space in my sleigh that I normaly use for ice-fishing, but will become the new transporter for my the gear I will be taking out on the ice.
If I want to operate with 100 watts out, I can utilize my 30 caliber power-can as an external power source.
I have other antennas in my antenna arsenal that I have built in the past that I could have used, but they need extras like my push-up mast, and that was not an option, as I wanted an antenna that would not need any need of push-up masts, tripods, and other supports, as I wanted the system I had in mind to be very portable.
So after doing research on the various options to me, I sat down at my computer and after some time spent with my EZNEC antenna modeling software, I came away with a design that I felt would suit my needs.
I had originally thought about building a dipole, but felt the antenna would end up larger in size that what I wanted, so I went with a vertical design.
Once I got in to the shop, it only was a matter of time with bits and pieces of aluminum, brass, stainless-steel, Delrin, PVC, and other sundries, that I ended up with the antenna you see here.
Of course I needed a case to fit it in, and a trip over to my favorite surplus store with my tape-measure in hand, I scored myself a new case meant to store arrows in for the archery enthusiast.
It only required minor modification to become an antenna storage box for my new vertical antenna.
Note...the coil of wire in the right side of the case is the 6 tuned radials, not the feed coax.
It also should be noted that I deploy the antenna somewhat differently these days, as I don't use it as a stand alone antenna stored in the case, but use and store it along with a manpack, that I put together as shown in one of the links included here.
Click on the photo for a closer look at the antenna.....
Inside the coaxial junction box.....
https://www.jerryclement.ca/MachineShop/Antenna-Werks/i-8jRsp3w
The 10-60 meter coil up close.....
https://www.jerryclement.ca/MachineShop/Antenna-Werks/i-nxTnTQq
The antenna in the field......
https://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Portable-OPS/i-nV866gj
The antenna and its companion manpack......
http://ve6ab.blogspot.ca/2017/03/manpack-communications-system.html
