Hi Kevin, I was excited to see another one of video adventures. The Mirror Lake area is one of our favorite places to camp. We were at Washington Lake just a few months ago and loved it. Thanks for your product reviews. Having a portable vertical that doesn’t require a large footprint should be in everyone’s go kit. I use the Super Antenna MP1 which is similar to the Chameleon. Both are great antennas. Thanks again for your video. 73 W1UTE
It is sad for me to see summer go. That is one of the most beautiful places on earth up there. I see that i don't need to tell you that. Thanks for checking in. 73 Kevin
You can use the SOTA app on a cell phone, running the POTA portion of the app, and FT8 to to spot yourself, even though you have no cell phone connectivity. You enter your park number, your call sign, and the operating frequency into the POTA side of the app on the phone. The phone will play out tones (FT8) reflecting call sign, park, frequency, etc. on its speaker, and use the radio mic to xmit the tones on the appropriate HF data frequency (i.e., 14.074 for 20M). The FT8 signal will be picked up, and the online (Internet) POTA app will spot you. There are a few videos on RUclips that show how this works.
The elevation extension rods appear to provide an RF pathway to ground. To reduce ground loss (the primary objective of an elevated radial or counterpoise system), it seems to me that the elevated PRV should be fully isolated/insulated from ground. With both the antenna and counterpoise isolated from ground, only one or two tuned radials would be required. With the PRV connected to a good conductive ground, via the extension rods, the elevated radials function more like a capacitive loading element than a true counterpoise. When the soil/ground is a poor conductor (which appears to be your case), then the PRV's connection to ground will be highly resistive (semi-isolated) and the radials will carry more RF current than the extension rod; i.e., function more like a true counterpoise than a capacitive loading element. Whatever the case, to optimize performance both the antenna (PRV) and its elevated radials should be *fully* isolated from ground. [Edited afterthought: mount the PRV and its radial puck on the ground rod, attach the extension rods and whip to top of PRV, lay the untuned radials on the ground. Much easier to deploy than elevated radials.]
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Would a portable antenna like the PRV help your activations?
Hi Kevin, I was excited to see another one of video adventures. The Mirror Lake area is one of our favorite places to camp. We were at Washington Lake just a few months ago and loved it. Thanks for your product reviews. Having a portable vertical that doesn’t require a large footprint should be in everyone’s go kit. I use the Super Antenna MP1 which is similar to the Chameleon. Both are great antennas. Thanks again for your video. 73 W1UTE
It is sad for me to see summer go. That is one of the most beautiful places on earth up there. I see that i don't need to tell you that. Thanks for checking in. 73 Kevin
You can use the SOTA app on a cell phone, running the POTA portion of the app, and FT8 to to spot yourself, even though you have no cell phone connectivity. You enter your park number, your call sign, and the operating frequency into the POTA side of the app on the phone. The phone will play out tones (FT8) reflecting call sign, park, frequency, etc. on its speaker, and use the radio mic to xmit the tones on the appropriate HF data frequency (i.e., 14.074 for 20M). The FT8 signal will be picked up, and the online (Internet) POTA app will spot you. There are a few videos on RUclips that show how this works.
The curve would be risky. I enjoyed your post.
Kevin that's a nice looking antenna and look well made 73 buddy!
Thanks Chuck 73 !
Looks good. I looked up the antenna and see it's $600 + or -. Wow. Looking for alternatives to lower my monetary output. Thanks
Can you make a video! I have a suggestion this antenna vs long speaker wire around a broom or stick with cheap Matchbox? Who would win?
👀 . . . 💯👍
The elevation extension rods appear to provide an RF pathway to ground. To reduce ground loss (the primary objective of an elevated radial or counterpoise system), it seems to me that the elevated PRV should be fully isolated/insulated from ground. With both the antenna and counterpoise isolated from ground, only one or two tuned radials would be required. With the PRV connected to a good conductive ground, via the extension rods, the elevated radials function more like a capacitive loading element than a true counterpoise. When the soil/ground is a poor conductor (which appears to be your case), then the PRV's connection to ground will be highly resistive (semi-isolated) and the radials will carry more RF current than the extension rod; i.e., function more like a true counterpoise than a capacitive loading element. Whatever the case, to optimize performance both the antenna (PRV) and its elevated radials should be *fully* isolated from ground.
[Edited afterthought: mount the PRV and its radial puck on the ground rod, attach the extension rods and whip to top of PRV, lay the untuned radials on the ground. Much easier to deploy than elevated radials.]