2008 KØS, Strange Antenna ChallengeSM
Atlanta, GA
Amateur Radio Club
2008 KØS Strange Antenna Challenge(SM) Special Event Atlanta Satellite Station:
I recommend following the above links. These guys really did a "Strange Antenna Field Day" and it looks like a ton of fun! I think we could all learn something by taking a page from their playbook. -73- Erik N0ew
Copper Mesh Strange Antenna!
The copper mesh material is called Stuf-Fit and comes in 20' and 100' lengths. The orange spools are Home Depot el-cheapo extension cord reels. The fiberglass mast is a Max-Gain Systems 21.5' telescopic mast. www.mgs4u.com No tuner was used in the system just a High Sierra multi-ratio UNUN for step-up or step-down impedance transformation at the feedpoint when indicated.
The name for it "Stepp Armstrong" is a play on words because it works like a SteppIR vertical in principal but it needs to be tuned manually by cranking the reels.
Busy at Work!
Hello Erik,
K2UFT working the WPX CW contest on a "Stepp Armstrong" multiband vertical strange antenna. I'll have to go back and clean up the magic marker log sheet but he worked Canada, many states, and Bosnia among other places with 100 watts +- on 10M, 15M, 20M, and 40M.
The ubiquitous 20M ladder and several other strange antenna embodiments were in use around the event. Some far stranger than others and many turned out to be very effective.
One guy, Billy, KI4KGK got some really good antenna system ROI courtesy of some bamboo and Reynolds wrap. I think his system was an example of a good McGyver antenna construction exercise.
Arnold, and Bill are both quite energetic uniters. The QTH of Ron KI4WLT worked out great because of the ample space. We just needed some band diversity which is why I ended up tuning down to 40M with my SAC. It amounted to a small scale Strange Antenna field day.
Regards, Dave
...If it is metal...
...If you can tune it...
...If you can load enough power into it...
...You too can make contacts!