++++++++++++++++++ From: "Stuart Rohre" To: , "elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 16:23:48 -0500 Tom, The Force 12 Sigma 5 would better survive mounted near ground level and not up on a tower if you get any strong winds. It has only 50 feet of control cable for its relays that must switch at the center feed point to select matching coils for the various bands. It is made of portable grade materials such as wing nuts to assembly the sections, and lightweight thin elements of aluminum tubing. I would not put it high up in open wind. It will work just about as well six feet off the ground or less, down where the house and surrounding area can shield it somewhat from destructive winds. As long as you have about 25 feet or more clear around it, it should do fine on the ground mount. We used one such as this 2 weeks ago and worked lots of grey line DX Canada to Venezuela from central Tx even with 20m in terrible propagation shape and only 40 watts SSB. 73, Stuart K5KVH ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 14:25:24 -0700 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Mark Perrin Subject: [Elecraft] Fwd: Sigma 5 Antenna >Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 14:23:23 -0700 >To: padretom at earthlink.net >From: Mark Perrin >Subject: Sigma 5 Antenna > >Saw your question re use of Sigma 5 antenna on the Elecraft reflector. > >I have had a Sigma 5 antenna for a year now, mostly using as a travel >antenna - were it works great. I have also had occasion to loan it out to >new hams, to help jump start them in hobby, and in once case to a long >time ham who moved last year and had just not gotten back on air. > >My experiences with it as travel antenna in various Caribbe locations and >IOTA trips to VE7 have been great. We also used it last year at Field Day >in an industrial parking lot, with huge KV power line nearby - no problem, >worked fine. > >New hams seem to like it and it gets them on HF without waiting to figure >out what kind of antenna they want, problems with apartments, XYL >concerns, etc. Just get them on the air is my motto, and the Sigma 5 >antenna helps with that for sure. > >And in the case of the ham friend off the air for a year - he used it for >a month just after Christmas, and turns out that he was operating it for a >while with the Sigma 5 lying on the ground - unknown to it, had blown >over. Still worked! Go figure. > >Very simple antenna to put together. I did modify it by adding another 50 >feet to the control line, to get it our further from operating location >when using power. Love this little antenna. > >vy 73 de Mark N7MQ ++++++++++++++++ From: "Dave-KK7SS" To: , "elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 16:14:57 -0700 Tom, I've had a Sigma 5 for about 3 years now. It was my only antenna until a few mopnths ago when I put a dipole at 18 ft. :-\ It has served me very well. Here ia what I sent another who asked about my Sigma 5.... ""As for the Sigma 5; I have a small city lot, bounded on the East by power, telephone and cable lines- North and South by a 6 ft chain link fence and on the West is the house with its' aluminum siding. The poor old Sigma 5 sits on the ground in the middle of all this!! *BUT* with 5 W of SSB I've worked into Beijing, Tokyo, Alaska, Terra del Fuego and Europe (and a 'pipeline' into Texas and Arizona!!). It works very well for me. And as it breaks down into 2 ft pieces, I can take it when I go camping... it sits on a Campbells' soup can (to keep it from making a hole in the grass) held up by three 3/16" nylon guy wires to three tent stakes in the grass. They (Force 12) do a heavier duty version called a GT 5. It has thicker wall tubing and has 4 ft long pieces. My friend, W7UNX, has bought and installed it and is satisfied with it. It's strong enough for his XYL to hang some flower pots on (to fool the neighbors!!) My other antenna is a W1INN 42 ft multi-band dipole at 15 feet. It covers 80/40/20/15/10. It works great to lower the QRN but normally doesn't hear or talk as well as the Sigma 5. It likes bigger signals. And the Sigma 5 covers 5 bands including the WARC bands - 20 thru 10" I'm very satisfied with it Any more info I can give you??? Bet regards Dave KK7SS +++++++++++++++++++ From: "Douglas Westover" To: "Buddy Brannan" , , "Mark Perrin" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] portable antenna Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 15:40:10 -0700 I second this recomendation..a bit pricy but a super antenna for 20 through 10 meters. Doug W6JD ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Perrin" To: "Buddy Brannan" ; Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 1:53 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] portable antenna > Take a look at the Sigma 5 - great antenna in general, and perfect for > portable operations. > > Mark N7MQ +++++++++++++++++ From: "Dave-KK7SS" To: "Douglas Westover" , "Buddy Brannan" , , "Mark Perrin" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] portable antenna Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 16:35:57 -0700 Buddy and all, I second the fact that the Sigma 5 is a great antenna - I've been using one now for about 2 to 3 years now. I like it for JOTA and Field day,,, BUt, and a big but, is that you will need to feed it 12 volts through the switch unit if you want to operate any band other than 20 meters. I t does *not* havd latching relays... Dave KK7SS > I second this recomendation..a bit pricy but a > super antenna for 20 through 10 meters. +++++++++++++++