Experimenting with Verticals in the Swamp
Part 1.5 - "In the mean time - continued"
Mac Steinmeyer, AF4PS, FP-51

OK, I lied. This will NOT be a two-part article on my experiments with stealth and portable vertical antennas. This is an update on the development of my vertical experiments focusing on my proposed radial array for the swamp multi-band vertical.

"LOOK THE DECK IS FINISHED!

This view shows the backyard prepped for the new sod. This view is from the newly finished deck. I ran PVC from the back of the house to the edge of the swamp, with a "TEE" halfway. Inside the PVC are my 300 ohm twin-lead and coax feeds. The coax stops at the half-way point in the yard.


RADIALS This one shows my kludged up radial connections. I have very limited tools and time. I found a 3/32" thick stainless steel - kinda heavy duty - gas stove "eye" drip pan with a three inch hold in the middle, drilled 16 holes around the circumference and tapped then for 6/32 stainless machine screws. My plan was to hook two radials to each screw, one on the bottom and one on the top, with a nut. I used 14g solid insulated wire from Home Depot. The length of the radials varies from 15 to 30 feet as my backyard is rectangular. I used a big galvanized nail to secure the end of each radial, and cut up old coat hangers "staple-like" fashion to secure them mid-way. As long as the guys laying the sod don't drag their feet....


I used a sprinkler valve protective cover for access to the feedline coming up out of the "TEE" for the vertical feed point. Both coax and twin- lead feedlines are available there.

Here's my plan for the base of the vertical. Remember that I can't leave this thing up. I dug a 4' hole and put some gravel in the bottom. Then buried a 1 1/2" thick-walled piece of PVC with dirt and concrete, with two 24" angle-iron stablizers. A cap goes on it when not in use. I found a 6' piece of thick walled (over 1/8") 1 1/4 metal pipe which slides easily into the PCV pipe. The mount for the vertical will attach to the removable metal pipe for storage in the garage when not in use, and the cap goes back on the PVC.

If the 6BVT doesn't arrive in time for the Sunday PIG net, I'll use the PAC-12 or St. Louis Vertical with the new radials. Hopefully, band condx will be favorable, and you will not have as much trouble pulling my little signal out of the noise!

Oh, Bill W4STX sent me this gator pic...


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-MAC-
AF4PS
FP-51